September 30, 2003
The War on Fellatio
Indonesia wants to ban oral sex. Oh, and homosexual sex, natch. Says the Indonesian Justice Minister: "It's still in its early stage. We're still collecting input from various parties and experts."
This passage is from the entry on Indonesia in the World Fact Book:
Current issues include: alleviating widespread poverty, implementing IMF-mandated reforms of the banking sector, effecting a transition to a popularly-elected government after four decades of authoritarianism, addressing charges of cronyism and corruption, holding the military and police accountable for human rights violations, and resolving growing separatist pressures in Aceh and Papua.
Let''s see: oral sex...oral sex...anal sex...nope, I'm not seeing any mention of massive oral/anal sex orgies in the streets of Jakarta. But I guess the Indonesian government has different priorities. It's okay for their people to go to bed hungry and maybe get knocked around a little by the local army hooligans, but God forbid they give each other a few minutes of pleasure.
So does this rant get me put on some kind of Indonesian surveillance list?
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Old Tech Doesn't Die; It Just Fades Away
Kodak has announced that it will no longer produce slide projectors. Wow. I have vivid memories of my parents hauling out the slide projector whenever we had company. Makes me wonder how many more years until the VCR meets the same fate.
Back to work...
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 12:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 29, 2003
Proximity
Late this morning, there was a shooting at the Hennepin County Government Center. The Government Center is almost adjacent to my building and I used to work there when I was clerking for a judge. I had some strange experiences while I was there, but nothing like this. Once, we had a gentleman attempt to bring a lawsuit against a local hospital because he was convinced that it was responsible for implanting a tracking chip in his leg. That was a little bizarre, but I never feared for my personal safety.
Back to work...
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 12:32 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 28, 2003
Verse
So I'm sitting here in the glow of my screen and trying to think of something to write. I'm feeling lazy, so here's a poem I wrote a few years back. I promise not to subject you to this kind of thing on a regular basis.
Flame
Looking at me,
I'm not much.
The body that curves
and twists like a slow river.
The voice indistinct and muted,
barely heard at a dinner party.
The plastic tube disappearing into
the hollow of my neck.
I'm the All-American Superhero.
I'm the Invisible Man.
I'm the Circus Freak.
I'm like a forgotten flame,
burning quietly in someone's hearth.
At times, I'm little more than an ember
lying among the ashes.
And I need the breath of another to
give me life.
Other times, I'm a forest fire,
powerful and cunning and fast,
scorching the earth while old men
sleep in distant watchtowers.
For now,
I'm content to sit on the end
of your candle, flickering
in the night breeze and casting
a ribbon of shadow across your sleeping face.
And I'll still be burning when you rise with the sun,
the light coming through the window and
streaming through your hair.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 10:07 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 27, 2003
Would You Like A Jelly-baby?
Permit me to geek out for a moment...
First, the theatrical trailer for The Matrix: Revolutions is way cool. It might just make up for the Philosophy 101 lectures in the last movie. And word is that the trailer for Return of the King will be released on the Net on Monday. What would I do without broadband?
And The Doctor is returning! My dad introduced me to Doctor Who when I was a kid when it was on PBS and I instantly fell in love with it. Tom Baker was by far my favorite. He had that cool scarf and that slightly maniacal look in his eye. That show also kept me company during my frequent childhood hospitalizations. I haven't seen it in a long time but I'm looking forward to seeing how they update it.
I was out buying some clothes in downtown today. When did fishnet stockings make a comeback? I saw them on a saleswoman and they looked spectacular.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 06:06 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 26, 2003
Apples & Honey
I'm leaving in a little while to go to a friend's house for dinner. Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) begins this evening and, while I'm not terribly observant, my friend and her family do their best to give me an annual dose of Jewish tradition. So I don't have much time to blog anything else right now; perhaps later tonight.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 04:40 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 25, 2003
Playing the Waiting Game
I've had my present wheelchair for almost nine years now. I'm long overdue for a replacement. My wheels are clacking like a shopping cart and the motors have seen better days. So in March I started the process of getting a new chair. I'm still waiting. The tricky part has been getting approval for the type of chair I want. I'd like one with rear-wheel drive, which makes for a tighter turning radius. But so far, MA has rejected my request. Twice. Sooner or later, I'll get what I need, but I wish it didn't take so damn long.
This morning, I was down in the parking garage under my building and waiting for my nurse to open up the van. We were joking around and I said something like, "Suck my dick!" a bit too loudly. Apparently, there was this old man standing behind me and he must have overheard me. My nurse reported that he had his hands on his hips and a rather disapproving look on his face. I laughed all the way to work.
Bad cripple!
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 09:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 24, 2003
Every Sperm Is Sacred!
I got The Meaning of Life in the mail today along with the aforementioned Thing from Another World. In my humble and completely irrelevant opinion, TML is the best Python movie. I can appreciate The Holy Grail, but frankly I never found it that funny. But TML has great bits like the opening musical number and Death accusing the American house guests of constantly proclaiming "I just wanna say...!" And let us not forget the infamous wahfer-theen mint. The first time I saw that scene, I almost became physically ill myself.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 23, 2003
HL Mencken Was Right
Just finished messing around with the Homeworld 2 demo. It's pretty cool. I liked the first Homeworld but never finished it. The interface takes some getting used to, but I was surprised by how quickly the mind adjusts to thinking in three dimensions.
And now I must get off the computer before my eyes roll out of their sockets and plop onto my desk. But before I go, check out this book cover. I have this book (not this edition, of course), I love this book, and all I can say is...WHAT THE FUCK?! Has consumerism just driven us completely INSANE? Are we trying to prove to the rest of the world that our culture can't be beat when it comes to superficiality and pure inanity?
I mean, jebus.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 09:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 22, 2003
Hope Springs Eternal
Remember when Bush looked unbeatable? When it seemed like he was a towering Colossus against the various lawn gnomes of the Democratic Party?
I'm kind of amazed that Clark has this much name recognition this early. I don't think he'll be the nominee, but I don't think you could find a better candidate for veep.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 09:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Spycam
I just came across a link to this cool little keychain digicam from Phillips. The resolution isn't bad and it's only $99. I'll have to scour Google for reviews.
What would be really cool is a camera built into my glasses that could be activated by an eyeblink.
Anyway, back to work.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 01:01 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 21, 2003
Literary Pursuits
Jonathan Lethem's new novel, Fortress of Solitude, is receiving plenty of critical attention lately. I always meant to check out some of his earlier science fiction, but just never got around to it. I'll probably pick this up as I'm a sucker for sprawling, coming-of-age sagas. I try not to listen to the critics when deciding what books to purchase (I refuse to read The Lovely Bones for at least another year) but this one intrigues me.
And yes, I'm still plugging away at my own book. A little under 10,000 words at last count. I'd like to be at the halfway point by year's end.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:03 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 20, 2003
In My Solitude
Just saw American Splendor tonight. A remarkably funny yet sad movie. I saw aspects of my own life in those of the characters. There's a sequence where the real Harvey Pekar and his friend Toby are discussing how they cope with the loneliness in their lives. And I started to think about how I deal with my own loneliness. By reading. By watching television. By writing things like this blog. And maybe I look to my nurses too much for companionship. It's not like I don't have friends, but most of them have families now and I don't see them much. When I was interviewing for new nurses this summer, I deliberately looked for people who I thought I'd like hanging out with. I went out with one of them tonight and it is nice to have people who I enjoy spending time with. But they are, after all, paid to be my friends. And this is probably how the rest of my life will be. While it's probably not the life I would have chosen had I any say in the matter, it's still sweet and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 11:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 19, 2003
Drive
I had to facilitate a three hour meeting today, which was a fitting end to the week. Tomorrow, I think I'm going to the oh-so-trendy Uptown neighborhood to see either American Splendor or Lost in Translation. This will also give me the opportunity to go for the first drive in the van with one of my new nurses. I just wish I hadn't told her the story about how I was once riding with my dad and brother and we hit a lamppost in a parking lot, causing me to fly out of my chair and leaving me in a crumpled heap on the floor. But I didn't tell her about the time when the van died on the highway at 1 in the morning, my ventilator battery almost dead, and how an ambulance had to come and take me home. And I didn't tell her how the van once ran out of gas in mid-December and how my nurse had to push it two blocks to a gas station.
After all, there's no point in making her even more nervous.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 11:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 18, 2003
Frankie Says Relax
Thanks for the kind comments about how to handle my Asshole Neighbor. I have a little more perspective on things now and I realize that I was letting that situation stress me out more than it should. Actually, I've been feeling tense in general. Between managing my nursing care and work stuff, I'm probably like a violin string that has been stretched a little too taut. So this weekend, I need to have some fun, even if it's just going to a movie or something. Any suggestions?
And for any of my readers being visited by Isabel tonight, I hope you're somewhere dry and solidly built. I was watching CNN earlier tonight and the reporting struck me as a little hysterical, but I think we live in an age where news networks are in Hysterical Mode 24/7.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:51 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 17, 2003
All The Lonely People
I've written before about my Asshole Neighbor. After last night, I've decided "Asshole" is too kind of a term. Yesterday, I received another phone call from the concierge stating that neighbors were complaining about pounding and banging noises coming from my unit. Completely mystified (I might have been vacuuming, but that's it), I decided to go next door and try to work things out. AN opens the door---in his underwear, no less. I politely ask him if I'm making too much noise. He claims that he didn't make the complaint, but that he was about to. Then he lays into me and accuses me and my nurses of making noise at all hours and being completely inconsiderate of everyone else on the floor. He says he's tired of coming home from work and hearing the beeping of my ventilator. I try to explain that sometimes the ventilator alarms when a tube disconnects, but he clearly does not give a shit. Anyway, he finished by threatening to complain about me at the next association meeting and other people would as well.
Fucking asshole.
I've concluded that there are a lot of lonely people in this building who direct their misery towards other convenient targets. And I'm convenient. I'm amazed at how petty and self-absorbed we humans can be. But I refuse to feel like a trespasser in my own building. Life is too short. And of all the things I need to worry about in my daily life, Fucking Asshole Neighbor is at the bottom of my list.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 16, 2003
Mug Shot
This is kind of cool. My mug is one of the many featured on Warren Ellis's site. Check it out.
My dad is visiting and I can't write when he and my sister are arguing. Frustrating, yet comical.
Oh, good. Ashcroft is now going after the librarians. Maybe he had to pay late fees on one of those horrendous Left Behind novels. Have you seen those things? One of the main characters, according to a review I read, is named Rayford Steele. Is this name supposed to be representative of strong, white Christian masculinity? Or were the authors stoned and watching a lot of porn?
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:01 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
Go, Go, Gadget!
October is a busy time for those of us in disability pollicy/advocacy. The federal government marks October as National Disability Employment Month and I have a series of trainings, events, and assorted happenings for which to prepare as October quickly approaches. It's good to be busy after a quiet summer, but it's also a bit stressful because I'm always afraid I'll forget to do something or let something slip past my attention. Fortunately, I think my past experience as a law clerk has given me the organizational skills necessary to stay on top of multiple projects. I also have a Palm Pilot, which is helpful. If you look in the bag I carry to work, you'll find my Palm, iPod, digital tape recorder, and cell phone. I never thought I'd turn into a total gadget slave, but I suppose it was inevitable.
Huh. I start writing about disability stuff and it morphs into observations on my geek fetish. My mind scares me sometimes.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 12:39 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 15, 2003
Freak Show
My apologies to those of you who came to this site earlier today only to be staring at an error page. I, um, kinda forgot to pay my hosting bill this month and didn't realize it until I tried to access the site today. Oops, my bad.
I watched the first episode of HBO's new series Carnivale last night. Overall, not bad. Good introduction to the characters and a great job of putting the viewer in a specific time and place. And the healing scene at the end with the dying vegetation was a great visual. The title is a bit pretentious, but I'll give that a pass for now. I think dramas with complicated story arcs are better served on cable vs. broadcast networks. Witness Farscape or Buffy. Broadcast networks don't want to worry about how to attract new viewers to shows with layered backstories and elaborate mythologies. They want easy concepts with simple plots. Something you can turn on and understand in five minutes. There's nothing wrong with that, but it'd be nice to see the networks take more chances on scripted dramas.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 14, 2003
Bookworm
I read quite a bit. To the immediate left of my desk is a bookcase crammed full of paperbacks and hardcovers of assorted genres. Mostly fiction with a dash of history and current events. And I read pretty fast, which means that every couple minutes my nurse or whoever has to turn the page for me. Nobody has ever complained about performing this minor task, but I do wish that e-books and readers had been more successful. I know I can download some titles onto my PC, but I don't want to be chained to my desk whenever I have the desire to read. I'd love someone to invest a small electronic device that has the resolution of paper and would allow me to turn pages with a simple switch interface of voice command. I've tried mechanical page-turners, but they're big, clunky, and unreliable. This theoretical "BookPad" would have to be lightweight, have a decent battery life, and preferably use an existing open-source OS to keep costs down and make it affordable for everyone. Any bored inventors want to take a stab at this?
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 09:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 13, 2003
Put It On Our Tab
This is enlightening and more than a little scary:
The old claim that Republicans are the party of fiscal restraint is simply laughable. It's more accurate to say that they have a strong aversion to spending on anything that isn't connected to the War on Terrorism (however tenuous the link may be). I wonder if, when Bush and his inner circle were gleefully ramming their tax cuts through Congress, did they even contemplate that lowering revenues might not be a good idea just before taking on the major responsibilities of rebuilding a nation? Oh, but that must have been back when our president was still opposed the whole nation-building concept thing.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:48 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 12, 2003
Cheez Doodles for the Soul
I spent a few hours today trying to squeeze a few more Mhz out of my processor. It's a 2500+ Barton and I have it running a little over 2.0 Ghz but I have to keep an eye on the CPU temperature. I don't want a repeat of my last debacle.
I see that one of my favorite authors, William Gibson, has stopped blogging to work on his next blog. I can understand the view that, for a writer, blogging can be a little like eating junk food while trying to stick with a diet. But while I'm not a successful writer, I think I would continue to blog even if I'm published. It's a good warm-up (or cool-down) to the much more demanding task of writing something that is actually supposed to be interesting. Here, I can be completely and mind-numbingly boring without fear.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 11, 2003
It's Alive!
Computer is up and running after receiving several major organ transplants. Prognosis is good. For the geek-minded in the audience, I'll post the specs tomorrow. I still need to get the new speakers hooked up so I can start pissing off my Asshole Neighbor again. Asshole Neighbor called the concierge at 3 am last week to complain about a mysterious "scratching" noise coming from my place. Jerk.
And my new case is real purty. Pictures may be forthcoming.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 11:09 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 10, 2003
Payoff
Today, I was greatly relieved to learn that my independent nures received their first paychecks. The billing process is complicated and if something gets screwed up, you have to wait another two weeks to get paid. And since I'm the one handling the billing for right now, I was terrified that I would screw something up. I didn't want to let my staff down by messing things up the first time around. But everything appears to have gone smoothly and there's a certain satisfaction in knowing that I successfully orchestrated all this. From the initial decision back in May to do this to guiding all the nurses through the paperwork to advertising for and bringing in new nurses to setting the schedule and doing the billing, this has been all my doing. Once my last couple remaining staff become independent, I will be entirely in control of my own care. And everyone is here because I want them here. I'm lucky to have such a cool and dedicated staff and I'm absolutely thrilled with the two new nurses who just started a couple weeks ago. And once we've been doing this for a while, maybe I can use my position within state government to make it easier for others to do this.
But for right now, I'm just taking a moment to relish my minor little achievement.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 07:50 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 09, 2003
Quel Surprise!
Naomi Darvell gives me a kind mention in Clean Sheets. Thanks, Naomi!
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Jam
On the way home from work today, I got caught in a huge traffic snarl two blocks from my building. It turns out that there was a car in flames in the parking ramp that's connected to the building. I couldn't even get into the ramp and had to park on the street and walk home. Just another adventure in city living.
With my recent computer expenses, I might have to reevaluate my planned trip to London in the spring. But maybe I'll get lucky and get a big tax refund. Another possibility is to visit my friend in Boston. She's a resident at Massachusetts General and she's also the most brilliant woman I know. Can any Bostonians recommend a good time of year to visit?
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 08:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 08, 2003
Use Your Illusion
Still no word from NewEgg on when my order will ship. It better be soon because I'm starting to miss my aggregator and all the other little things that are customized on my system.
Stumbled on this at BoingBoing. Pass the bong.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 10:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 07, 2003
Stop Talking
I love football, but I hate most football announcers. Especially the ex-jocks whose alleged duty is to provide "color" commentary. Said "color" usually consists of painfully obvious remarks about the game or some lame attempt to engage in verbal repartee with the real announcer. Do we really need two announcers anyway? The guys who work in radio are far less obnoxious. I think they have a better understanding that people are interested in the game, not the braying of a former player.
I have a love of classic science fiction films from the 40s and 50s, so I think I'll pick up the new DVD version of The Thing from Another World. The dialogue in this movie is sort of proto-Tarantino; rapid-fire and sarcastic.
For those of you who are curious, the cause of my computer calamity was a combination of poor case ventilation and dust build-up. That is something that will definitely be addressed when I do my rebuild.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 05:12 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 06, 2003
Improvisation
Well, I just dropped $500 at NewEgg for new computer parts. My motherboard and probably my video card are both fried. So I've jury-rigged my sister's notebook so that I can at least do a little writing. It's weird to be writing this at someplace other than my desk. And this screen is too small! If you're waiting for an e-mail for me, you better write me again because I don't have access to my address book.
Ugh. I'm not feeling very inspired right now. Maybe later.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 06:30 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 05, 2003
Please Stand By
My computer is in the shop as I type this. If I'm lucky, I'll get it back tonight or tomorrow. Must...fight...withdrawal. Shaking...uncontrollably. To make matters worse, my cable connection was down last night and I was forced to connect to the Internet on a dial-up connection on my sister's notebook. Oh, the horror!
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 12:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 04, 2003
911
If there's anyone in the Twin Cities who can provide me with some low-cost computer repair, I'd really appreciate it. For some strange reason, my system crashed overnight and now it won't even boot. Help!
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 12:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 03, 2003
Won't You Be My Neighbor?
I have a new mission in life. I need to find a way to get to know my Extremely Cute Neighbor. I thought Extremely Cute Neighbor had moved out because I hadn't seen her in some time, but then I ran into her as I was leaving for work this morning. She is a simply lovely brunette. Maybe I can borrow a cup of sugar or something. But that might not work if she stumbles across this blog and discovers that my crippled ass don't cook...or bake. I could try chatting her up in the elevator, but how much chatting can you do on a thirty-second elevator ride? My engaging personality needs at least a full minute to work its mojo. What to do? Any advice is welcome.
I spent way too much time today clearing up a bureaucratic snafu that almost prevented my independent nursing staff from getting their first paychecks, which would have been rather embarrassing for me. I'm pretty protective of my staff and I'd hate to see any of them suffer financially because someone forgot to fax a certain document. So here's hoping I finally have all the bugs worked out of the system.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 09:37 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 02, 2003
Upgrade
My video card, along with my motherboard and processor, is due for an upgrade soon. My current equipment is nearing two years of use and I employ a Two-Year Rule of Obsolescence for this kind of stuff. So I was pleased to see that ATI is releasing the All-in-Wonder 9600 Pro. This card should let me record and burn television programs to disc so that I can send them to my brother while he is in Europe. Notice how I resort to altruism to justify my hardware purchases. Sad, really.
The Guardian has an interesting article written by a psychologist that analyzes President Bush's behavior, with particular emphasis on his authoritarian tendencies. Nothing the author says really surprises me, but draw your own conclusions.
Another day, another potential Earth-killer asteroid. This one doesn't look like it's all that (as the kids say), but I'm curious to see how our leaders would cope when confronted with a real threat. Would it be more efficient to destroy the offending rock or nudge it off course? Any amateur scientists have an opinion?
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 05:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 01, 2003
Operators Are Standing By
I woke up this morning feeling feverish and a little nauseous. I don't think think m coming down with anything, but I kind of wasted the whole day away because I didn't feel like doing much, not even write. Feeling better now and I should be back at work tomorrow.
Someone e-mailed me and asked me what I thought of the MDA Telethon, which just ended a few hours ago. To be honest, I try not to give it much thought. Believe it or not, I was dragged out on display for a couple telethons back when I was a kid. I remember being kissed on the cheek by a cute local news personality and thinking that I was the shit. But by the time I was a teenager I realized how exploitative Jerry Lewis and the MDA really is. Every year they bring out some cute kid who is nothing more than a tool used to play on Joe and Jane Schmoe's pity for the poor crippled children. Even the local newspaper gets invited to the pity party; just look at this article that appeared in today's Minneapolis paper. I understand that pity is a natural reaction upon seeing someone with a disability, but it is a reaction borne out of ignorance and a reluctance to understand what a person with a disability really experiences on a daily basis. I don't need pity. Mr. Lewis has said that if people like me don't want pity, we should stay home. The idiocy of this statement just reflects the arrogance and condescension inherent in the whole telethon culture. And I'm suspicious about where all that money goes. Private charities have their place, but I'd prefer that everyone pay fifty more dollars in taxes a year to ensure that everyone with a disability has access to the services they need without feeling compelled to kiss the ass of some has-been actor with a Messiah complex.
Aren't you glad you asked?
Posted by wintermute2_0 at 09:04 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack