Georgy Russell for Governor Blog

best gallery ever

2005-04-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

Well I've never actually been to Marianne Boesky, but this gallery has a collection of some great artists and I'm not talking about totally big names which every other gallery claims. Mary Ellen Mark is incredible, and you can see her series on Twins at the website. I also like Murakami of course and his protege Ban who is showing public art in NYC right now. Check out Barnaby Farnas, though he's probably passe now, Sue de Beer has some nice color photos and Nara is fun too. Take a look...

http://www.marianneboeskygallery.com/artist/

Red Sweaters

2005-04-02T09:57:00.000-08:00

This is interesting - knitting a mini sweater for each soldier who has died in Iraq - over 1500 right now. I wonder if they'll meet the goal, and with how many knitters.

http://www.redsweaters.org/

today's fave artist

2005-03-06T22:17:00.000-08:00

Is Karen Reimer. I love this juicy fruit one. I also like a few found here, the black and white notebook paper (first image) is great and pink laffy taffy ... tres chic.

thiebaud

2005-03-03T12:43:00.000-08:00

I love artists, and this is a nice article on one I love. I'll be going to see him next month at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco, and I can't wait. If you do read the article, you can read the rest of the Wallace Stevens' poem here.

Wayne Thiebaud is one of my favorite artists because...well because I just like his paintings. They make me feel like a child. (You know, writing "wayne thiebaud is one of my favorite artists because" makes me feel like a child too, in grade school, doing writing assignment.) Maybe that's because most of his works are of such innocent subjects, like desserts (pie, cakes, ice cream, cupcakes), candy, and toys. For me, his paintings remind me of times when I enter a french bakery, peer into a glass case lined with tarts, cookies, and cakes, and think that the items aren't food but art, too beautiful to eat. I think of times in my childhood when, as a perfectionist, I'd try so hard to scoop a perfect ice cream cone or frost a homemade cake like a professional would. He often uses peaceful muted tones, and my favorite aquamarine "Tiffany" blue. Of course, he is not without a sense of humor, and the painting whose name I like the best is "Big Suckers".

ummmmmm

2005-02-14T11:26:00.000-08:00

i've been proud of her lately but i just don't know how to feel about this!

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash3bt.htm

I'm Back

2005-02-07T14:57:00.000-08:00

So I'm reading Tom Wolfe's latest, I am Charlotte Simmons. It's modern, easy reading and reminds me a little too much of my college days at Berkeley. Co-ed dorms, frat parties, basketball players, you know the deal.

Anyway, today a friend sends me my least favorite NYTimes reporter's latest article. (Yes that would be Elisabeth Bumiller. Some call her Bush's Monica. I don't know much about that but I do know she sucked moderating the Democratic Primary debate and she writes about the President like one of his children might.) So what insight does Ms. Bulmiller have this week ... the President is also reading I am Charlotte Simmons. Okay, so the book is definitely his speed, and we know he's a party animal so I'm sure he's into the subject matter. No surprise then, that this President who once admitted to watching CARTOONS would pick up this book. Nor should it surprise us how forthcoming he is about the extent of his free time.

"Mr. Bush, who does his reading for pleasure on Air Force One, on weekends and before bed at night, has long said he prefers books to channel surfing, although he does watch television sports."

Wait ... what?! HE READS WEEKENDS AND EVENINGS??? And still has time for TV? When is he running the country? Whoops, I mean when is he running the world? Hold on...let's see here, he does explain why he's reading, and clarifies just how much:

"I'm reading, I think on a good night, maybe 20 to 30 pages," the president told Brian Lamb of C-Span in an interview at the White House last month. "I'm exercising quite hard these days, and I get up very early, and so the book has become somewhat of a sedative. I mean, maybe there are some other old guys like me who get into bed, open the book, 20 pages later you're out cold."

EXERCISING QUITE HARD?? Ok, so the guy has time for working out HARD and reading trashy novels. Does he still watch cartoons?

Mr. Bush added that "in this job, there are some simple pleasures in life that really help you cope. One is Barney the dog, and the other is books. I mean, books are a great escape. Books are a way to get your mind on something else."

Yah that's right Georgie, please get your mind on something else. You know what, just forget about the war for a while, take a luxurious escape back into your college days, and you know what, have a few drinks while you're at it. I'm sure the soldiers won't mind. Oh and in case you're running out of things to read, looks like there's another book out that might suit you.

Yak Farmers Yak It Up, with the Help of Pun

2004-05-27T10:56:00.000-07:00

Tell me that my title for this blog entry should not be the title of this article (yah, I picked it up from /.) .

The Jury Is In

2004-04-12T13:29:00.000-07:00

Phil M was first to write in with the name of everyone's favorite Benji wannabe, second was Greg . Drumroll please....BOOMER!
Another contender for title of Benji Wannabe was a dog named Rusty, sent in by David, which actually is more similar to the name Duster, but the photos I found of a television dog named Rusty resemble a German Shephard - not Benji.
Thanks to everyone from me and my brother, who was ecstatic to have the answer but subsquently shocked when he found that I blogged to get it!

Here's a site where you can read Boomer nostalgia and see photos of the little guy!
Just Boomer!

String Cheese Continued, Benji Dog look alike

2004-04-06T14:52:00.000-07:00

Got a couple of answers to my question, the first from "the web" or rather this site which has answers to a lot of questions, and the second comes from a good friend in Oakland. Both sound more like part of a DNA course to me ("protein strands") than something you'd put in a kid's lunch, but what do I know?

Now that we've got that one out of the way, my brother Archie SWEARS that there was a Benji dog knockoff on television for a short while. Does anyone know of the name of wannabe Benji? He says Duster. I think he's wrong.

7. What makes string cheese "string" apart?

Patti: The cheese is made so all of the fibers are formed in one
direction. The cheese curd is pressed into one long mass and then
stretched with a machine. This process causes the protein fibers to end
up all in a parallel fashion. When the cheese is taken apart, it
naturally separates into a "string" or long strip. The separate strings
will stretch even more when you eat them if you pull the ends gently
away from each other. Some of the string cheeses will spring back (like
elastic) to it's original string length when the ends are released. The
more expensive brands stay stretched because there is more cheese in
them that the cheap stuff.

Wolf: String cheese is a quick cheese. The process for making this
cheese doesn't require as much blending or attention. The results are
that it forms layers of cheese rather than a solid formation of blended
cheese. These layers easily separate when pulled. The original intent
wasn't to create a cheese that was stringy, but they had to come up with
a name that would explain it's texture so that people would by it. Thus
string cheese

The second comes from a good friend from Oakland:

"String cheese is just another form of mozarella. Unlink other types of
cheese, when you make mozarella, you don't cut the curds after their
initial formation, you *stretch* them. The stretching of the fresh curd
is what allows it to develop those long protein strands that make for
ooey-gooey pizza fixins, and other such delightful cheesyness."

Question

2004-04-05T12:49:00.000-07:00

Why is string cheese stringy?

Homeland Security

2004-04-03T19:34:00.000-08:00

As reported here, an Oakland baggage screener claims the federal government fired him because of his efforts to unionize his co-workers. Apparently, organized workers interfere with defending terrorism. According to TSA chief James Loy, who signed an order in January 2003 forbidding collective bargaining by the 56,000 airport baggage screeners, "Fighting terrorism demands a flexible workforce that can rapidly respond to threats,'"... "and unions could hinder that flexibility."

And let us not forget President Bush's famous last words regarding TSA employees when the Homeland Security Act was passed, "The Department of Homeland Security will have nearly 170,000 employees...As federal workers, they have rights, and those rights will be fully protected."

Certainly they will have rights - just limited rights.

The 1947 Taft-Hartley Act allows the President to seek an injunction ending strikes that "imperil the national health." In the case of federal employees however, invoking this Act isn't even necessary because by law federal employees aren't allowed to strike! Not including Homeland Security employees, 59% of today's federal work force is unionized. The FBI and CIA, understandably, are prohibited from joining unions (their union membership was banned in 1978 in the name of national security). Federal workers who are unionized however, are not allowed to bargain over pay.

So if it's not pay, what's at stake here for the baggage screeners? Federal workers' unions bargain only over issues such as the weight of uniforms and how workers can be deployed. I sincerely hope that our efforts to fight terrorism in this country aren't impeded by lighter outfits on the guys and gals operating the metal detectors.

Windows Lovers

2004-03-24T16:44:00.000-08:00

http://www.saunalahti.fi/~jylppy69/swf/windows_rg.swf
Make sure you try all the apps - word, paint, shutdown, etc.

Rummy

2004-03-17T16:11:00.000-08:00

An interesting video from moveon.

Russia to US: Pot Kettle Black

2004-03-16T14:44:00.000-08:00

Putin's re-election has stirred even more doubts about the viability of a Russian Democracy. Despite abuses of government resources, media bias and ballot stuffing, all observed by European organizations, Putin's not ready to have members of the Bush administration tell him what fair election practices are.

Secretary of State Powell had this to say, ""Russians have to understand that to have full democracy of the kind that the international community will recognize, you've got to let candidates have all access to the media that the president has," Mr. Powell told "Fox News Sunday."

To which Putin responded, "No one has a right to think that if they criticize others, they cannot be criticized themselves," he said, adding, "Nearly four years ago we watched in bewilderment how the United States electoral system suffered glitches."

In another article, he goes even further, "Many so-called developed democracies have a lot of problems with democracy, including in their own electoral procedures," Putin said. "Almost four years ago we were amazed to see the American electoral system fail."

Hmmm, if that's not Putin telling the pot to stop calling the kettle black I don't know what is.

Maybe this (which is perhaps more appropriately a candidate for calling for people who live in glass houses to stop throwing stones"): Putin's Cheif of Staff Dmitry Kozak says Russian voters "do not need anybody's advice" and added, "Russia will keep a close eye on this year's presidential elections in the United States."

Bush of course played good cop, personally congratulating Putin, and McClellan, White House Press Secretary, said Bush emphasized Mr. Putin had "an opportunity to deepen Russia's commitment to reform — market-based reform and democratic reform."

Oh yeah, and don't forget Bush said in 2001 "I looked (Putin) in the eye. I was able to get a sense of his soul."

Polygamy Ok, Homosexuality Not

2004-03-16T14:38:00.000-08:00

This article states that a bloc of 50 Islamic States (backed by the Vatican) is trying to put an end to Kofi Annan's plan to grant benefits to partners of gay employees. Annan plans to recognize any gay marriage that is recognized it's country of origin, he also plans to extend support to those engaged in civil unions. Interestingly enough, the UN currently allows polygamous employees to split their spousal benefits among a number of wives.

Oakland Tribune Article

2004-03-16T13:13:00.000-08:00

From my favorite political reporter at the Oakland Tribune.

Extra Credit for Voting

2004-03-09T16:22:00.000-08:00

Forget bribing teens to bring in Kleenex to make up for education cuts, bribe them to vote against them!

See this recent proposal by outgoing State Senator John Vasconcellos, who wants teens to vote.

I'm not sure how Vasconcellos came up with his calculations - 14 year olds get 1/4 of a vote, 16 year olds get 1/2 a vote.

In my experience, 14 year olds and 16 year olds have pretty much the same level of sophistication, in many cases it's equivalent to that of 18 and 21 year olds.

I do think it's an interesting idea, however, to encourage young people to become more involved in politics. And in fact, at age 14 I was definitely a sales tax paying, public transportation using citizen. At 16, I worked 20 hours or more a week - paying a fair amount of income tax, gas tax, sales tax, not to mention social security.

If you look at the most recent ballot measures 2 of the 4 directly affect 16 year olds - school bonds and increased bridge tolls. Budget fights among our elected officials continuously revolve around school funds. Politicians pontificate incessantly about "the future." Should we let the future have some say?

Most importantly, however, is, I think, the issue of getting young people involved. Vasconcellos is perhaps taking the cigarette company approach - get 'em hooked early! The older they get the less likely they are to start. When it comes to voting, this may very well be the case. As a 14 year old I had much more free time than I did as an 18 year old college student. I was more active in politics, locally and nationally. Many times I actually had to accompany my mom to the polls after work.

Teenagers, simply because they are required to attend school, are more likely to have a strong sense of community. They see the same teachers everyday in a setting where they can discuss at length the issues affecting them. High School seniors in California take Civics/Government, yet much of what they learn is not immediately applicable through voting. It's quite possible that our teenagers could be the most educated voters in the electorate.

The opposition states teens can more easily be fooled. Republican Ray Haynes has this to say, "There's a reason why 14-year-olds and 16-year-olds don't vote. They are not adults. They are not mature enough. They are easily deceived by political charlatans."

"They are not adults?" Thanks for that insight Mr. Haynes! Words of wisdom undoubtedly gained in your adulthood.

Political charlatans? Like who? Arnold? George W? Surely the existance of these charlatans (I'll let Haynes name names) means that they are currently fooling some adults. Our current electorate was fooled into believing Bush's tax cut for the rich was going to help the economy. Kids will be the first to tell you that a tax cut for lower income brackets, e.g. themselves, will result in increased spending.

I say bring 'em on in. What's the worst these kids can do? Elect a movie star into office?

Grades for Sale

2004-03-08T19:11:00.000-08:00

I thought we were well past offering extra credit for classroom monetary contributions or the equivalent. Apparently, Cupertino and Palo Alto are still living in the dark ages. This story was run here in the San Jose Mercury, and on local news stations. There was no mention of discrimination on NBC local news, and just a brief mention in this article. A teacher says she will allow a student to write two paragraphs if they don't have the money - somehow I think this is more difficult than ordering mom to pick up some kleenex at the store, or asking your parents to bring home some latex gloves from their medical practice. Even the teacher admits this.

"``In six years of teaching, I've got to tell you I think I've read two to three of those papers -- total,'' McElwee said. It's probably easier for students to ``just raid their mom's pantry.'' "

Well, duh.
I'm pretty disgusted by this. I know there's a budget crunch (I thought Arnold would help with this) but I truly believe if the teachers appealed directly to the parents, they'd get the kleenex and the latex gloves they needed. Let's get a little more creative here. Try asking local merchants. How about starting a campaign - teens for tissues! I'll donate a box if they make it easy online.

If they want the kids to do the work, then set a goal for the whole class - ten boxes of tissue donated total equals extra credit for everyone. Twenty boxes equals one free late pass for EVERYONE. How hard is this?

The best part is that the teachers who engage in this accuse the teachers who don't of being theives. From the article,

"Teachers who offer the incentive say it's the easiest way to stock up on often overlooked school necessities -- items that teachers regularly whip out their own wallets to buy. One South Bay teacher says colleagues who don't offer extra points for supplies sometimes swipe tissue boxes from those who do."

Ironically enough, one teacher is said to have BEEN creative in acquiring tissue. His imagination led him so far as to engage in guess what? Thievery.

"This year, Harker English teacher Mark Mitchell went with the extra-credit option for tissue. Before that, he resorted to another creative tactic.

``I used to steal them from the office,'' Mitchell admitted, thinking back a few years to when he taught at The King's Academy, a Sunnyvale private school."

2004-03-07T12:54:00.000-08:00

CNN tonight will air “Life Inside the Dean Campaign” at 8pm. I’m curious. I’ll watch. Especially after having been on the receiving end of Dean’s end of campaign email barrage, which in a lot of ways, was a metaphor for all of the things that were so right (standing up for what you believe, bringing people back to politics) and so wrong (fragmented organization, inexperienced workers, no central command, and a general “conflction” based perhaps on the inability to meld front runner status and the accompanying politics with off beat support base) with the campagin.

Sometimes when a guy gets dumped (or even a girl) he pretty much freaks out and a) will do anything he can to get the girl (or dude) back or b) spends lots of time espousing the woes of a dumpee or finally c) promotes a new self to show why it's ok he was dumped and why the relationship was in some way, shape, or form, useful.

Many will, in fact, do all of the above. As did Governor Dean.

He lost. Let's face it. He lost. One on his mailing list wouldn't expect too much communication after Wisconsin - maybe a rudimentary "Thanks" or perhaps, a "Help! I'm out of cash!" (Although, in Dean's case, the latter seemed unlikely considering they’d raised a LOT of money.)

Dean started off his post-campaign correspondence with an email deceivingly titled “Thank You.” Really, it should have more appropriately been labeled, “Jilted techies Jilt Dean,” as it is one of the worst peices of writing I've seen in a while, and I’m assuming someone wrote it on behalf of the man himself.

Excerpt one:

"As the fight moves forward, I have some things that I specifically want to ask of you." Seems okay. From this line, one would expect to be told three things he or she needed to do, three discrete tasks, directed “specifically” by the man himself. In short, three things to get on immediately.

Well not quite. Task one seemed viable, "First, keep active in the primary. We are still on the ballots…" Okay, so he wants us to vote for him anyway. Definitely doable. Smart? I’m not sure, but he’s giving orders here so we'll go with it. The next task wasn’t quite actionable. "Secondly, we will convert Dean for America into a new grassroots organization, and I hope you stay involved." Stay involved – what should I do exactly? That’s kind of general. Finally, the third “task” was simply an observation. "Third, there have been a lot of people who have decided to run for
office locally as a result of this campaign." To his credit, he followed it with this line, "I encourage you to run for
office and support candidates like you who run for office. " No action items here unless you’re one of probably at most 1000 who is running for office. Thanks for taking the time out to get specific with your requests, Governor.

(Read – we got dumped but we can still get back together! Or read – I’m not sure what’s going to happen now that we got dumped, I’m just getting comfortable with the feeling that I got dumped and in doing so I need to share this with you)

The thank you email goes on to further lose it’s way in discussing "change."

“Change is hard work. Change does not happen simply because you go to a rally and simply because you make phone calls -- and I know how hard everybody has worked. But change is a process that you can never give up on.”

(Read – we screwed up but we can make it better second time around if we just stay together!)

So, how do we continue on with this process of change? Should we stop going to rallies? He knows how hard everyone worked making calls, did they screw up? Were they not supposed to be making those calls? If change is hard work but it doesn't simply happen because you work hard then what's missing?

Next paragraph is even weirder.

"Change is the state of America and change is the state of humankind. The history of humanity is that determined people overcome obstacles. It is natural for people to resist, but it is also inevitable that we will win."

If it's inevitable that we win then why do we have to work so hard? If change is the state of America then why doesn't change simply happen? WHO IS WRITING THIS STUFF? DUBYA? (Read – we got dumped, but we might be okay. People get dumped all the time)

Okay so email #1 was bad. But I had no idea it would get worse. Less than 24 hours later comes another message - same sender "Gov. Howard Dean, M.D." Same reply to address. New subject line. "A message from Howard Dean." Well, duh - it's From Howard Dean. How many email clients these days only show subject line? And who sends emails and refers to themselves in the third person?

This message is much more brief, which is good considering it’s redundant. It starts off with:

"We can still send delegates to the convention, and we should. If you are in a state with district, and state conventions, please make sure everyone goes, so that we send all the delegates we are entitled to. If you are in a state that has not yet voted, be sure to vote. We'll have a great time at the convention."

Thanks for reminding me to keep active in the primary. Apparently today doing so is fun. Yesterday it was hard work, and it was about how feeling like losers is part of this struggle. Today we're deserving and we're gonna party like it's our birthday, or something like that. (Read – we got dumped but it’s okay we got dumped because we’re all the better for it)

Oh wait – nevermind!! I take that back. We have worked hard - Second paragraph gets into tha, and reminds us we did lose, but it’s okay to lose. No no hold on, not so fast there - we might still have a chance at winning:

“Thank you all for how hard you have worked, and how much money you raised. And thanks for getting involved. It feels a hell of a lot
better to try and lose than not to try at all. In any case I have to say that I don't really feel like we have lost. We only lose if we
quit. There is an enormous amount of power in numbers, and we can still change this country (and that is exactly what we're going to do!).”

What is going on here!? Did we lose? Are we going to win? Should I make phone calls? Should I go to rallies? I am so confused.
And did he just say “hell?” Did he scream “hell?” I want to scream hell! What the hell is going on here!

(Read – Ok, now that I’m comfortable having been dumped let me tell you - this is what it feels like to be dumped – and I’m transitioning to (c) – almost there but not quite. Soon I can tell you WHY it’s okay we got dumped)

Maybe Generation Dean can clear things up. Twenty four hours later, I get an email from Amanda Michel, Generation Dean. If I thought the previous emails exuded dumped boyfriend syndrome, an email every day for three days is borderline stalking! Let’s see if she has any words of wisdom. Opening paragraph:

“You are Generation Dean. You built this network from the ground up, at high schools and colleges, at punk shows and bars, through your network
of friends and even through your Buddy Lists.“

Punk shows?! What? Punk was 80’s wasn’t it? I mean yeah there are some die hard punk rockers out there but they sure aren’t mainstream. No wonder we lost. We were campaigning at PUNK SHOWS! Not to mention HIGH SCHOOLS! I turned 18 the first semester of college. No wonder we lost! Our “network” couldn’t vote!

(Read – We got punks and kids into politics and this is why the relationship was worthwhile even though we got dumped)

Maybe Dean’s planning to run in 2008? Is he starting the kids early? Hoping punk will make a comeback? Oh well it’s gonna be four years before we find that out.

So, now that Amanda cleared up why we lost out of the way, let’s move on to how we can still “win.”

“If your state’s primary or caucus is coming up, think hard about whom you’ll vote for. Howard Dean will still be on the ballot, but
you’ll also have to make a choice about whom you want to take on George W. Bush in November.”

Now I have to think hard? This hard work is tiring me. But anyway, I guess this means don’t vote for Dean, cause there’s now way he’s taking on Bush in November.

Next paragraph:

“It’s now down to a two-man race: Senator Edwards versus Senator Kerry. It’s more important than ever to vote your conscience.
This is still about taking on the special interests. This is still about changing politics as usual in Washington. And, most importantly, this is
about removing the most right-wing politician America has ever seen.”

(Read – shoot, I thought I’d transitioned into (c) but it looks like I’m regressing back to (a) – we can still get back together!)

Wait. Vote my conscience? Changing politics in Washington? Taking on special intereset? Does this mean I should vote for Dean? Two man race? As of this email Sharpton and Kucinich were still in. Thanks for dissing them. My conscience tells me that this is politics as usual – ignore everyone in the race but the front runners. Oh yeah – but vote your conscience – consider voting for the guy who dropped out! The guy who dropped out like typical politicians would – because he wasn’t going to win. Don’t vote for the guys who really are about change – the guys who risk embarassment to have their issues heard. The guys who work tirelessly for this notion that you call change.

I don’t have a problem with people voting their conscience and voting for Dean – but leave out this two man race talk! It flies in the face of everything for which the campaign seemingly stood.

Alas, we shall see if CNN has any to insight offer on the matter – what really was going on behind the scenes? Or rather, if it will be a nostalgic walk through overused footage, politics as usual, and a whole lot of (c).

No Small Fry!

2004-03-05T08:34:00.000-08:00

A great reason to shop at Fry's!

Slogan for Kerry

2004-03-04T15:30:00.000-08:00

Fully Vetted

Compassion

2004-03-04T11:42:00.000-08:00

Quite interesting that all of the photos including people in Bush's "compassion" photo album are simply of colored people. For George W, interacting with blacks and latinos is being compassionate. I can only figure that these photos are here for the voters who are not minorities, so they can point to them and say "See, George Bush supports minorities!"

What We're Up Against

2004-03-03T17:28:00.000-08:00

Bush's TV Ads. He has over 100 million dollars to spend versus Kerry's ~3. If there is ever a time to donate, I think it's now.

Hot Ties

2004-03-02T16:13:00.000-08:00

I saw Senator Kerry last Friday evening. He came to my hometown, Oaktown, for a rally at the Teamsters Hall on Hegenberger, near the Oakland Coliseum. Lines of supporters stretched around the corner. I couldn't believe the crowds - surely all of those people couldn't have been there to see Kerry!? Was there a special guest attending? I peeked in the window, and there I saw Cruz Bustamante. No special guests in sight.

Slowly, people passed through metal detectors, and eventually the rally began. Phil Angiledes, one of the few courageous Democrats to stand against the "bipartisan" effort put forth by Arnold and Steve Westly, started the ceremonies. Meanwhille, twelve hundred people stood outside, noses pressed against the glass (well not all of them of course, only the front row). It felt much like a fish bowl, and sadly, the windows fogged up from the inside, leaving the onlookers with only a cloudly view of Insurance Commissioner John Garimendi's two, yes count them two, black eyes. Little explanation was given for his black and blue, and little cover up was applied. Something about a fence on his ranch, lots of jokes about "fighting" the HMOs. I'm not sure why they felt Garimendi needed to show up in his condition. Puzzling.
On the heels of Garimendi's appearance came Bustamante's. Phil Angiledes belabored the words "honest, decent, inegrity" before bringing out Cruz. He didn't use these words just once, but some of them 3 times each. "A decent man, an honest man..." "Gee," I thought, "he must be talking about Cruz because no one else would allow such an introduction." Cruz bounded out on stage, in an unusally bouncy and giddy Mr. Spacely moment. He said something about peope voted no on the recall and elected him governor. Someone else used this line too, thing is, I think they should have left it at No on Recall. I doubt many people voted for Cruz and voted Yes on the recall. In any case, Cruz was greeted by what sounded like BOOOOOOOO to me. He told the audience "You know what the press will think you are saying. You guys are so funny." This indicated to me that the guy thought they weren't booing him but instead were saying either "Cruuuuuuuz" or "Buuuuuuuuste." I have met the guy, and he did seem just that out of it. Oh well, maybe they were cheering for him, in a funny sounding sort of way.

On to the guest of honor - for whom apparently most of these 1500 plus (including those outside) people turned out to see on - get this - a Friday night! I watched Kerry walk, pracitcally unnoticed, around the rear of the room on his way up to the stage. The man could use a few ballet lessons, maybe some yoga (Teresa - would you get on that please?) - his shoulders are hunched, the look is perhaps exaggerated by his height (6'4" I'm guessing) and his lanky build. However, for the first time in my life, I actually think a hunch suits someone. I still haven't put my finger on why It is Kerry can carry off (no pun) a slumped shoulder walk - but he does, and boy does this guy do it with style. I'm not talking argyles, either.

Kerry donned a tie of course, one of a collection of what I've come to term his Hot Ties. It was somewhere near a celadon color - went quite well with his pale blue shirt and navy suit. Kerry really is his own man when it comes to fashion - strays from the norm - white shirt, red tie. I'm curious what Queer Eye would have to say about Kerry. (I'm guessing they'd tell him to lose that mustard colored barn jacket, or at least go with a different color.) Unfortunately, his belt lost me. I termed it a "Crossover belt" chosen perhaps, to unite the constituencies - it was some sort of shiny black leather or possibly a very subtle snake skin - this aspect was fine with me, as was the width - an appropriate inch and a half, or slightly less. The problem was it had simply too much metal, so much that it crossed over into western wear territory. The buckle, of course, was metal, but so was the keeper and the end. The latter in particular was very shiny, itself comprising at least an inch and a half square. Overall though, the man looks good. He's flattened his hair a bit, so as not to look to French (commentary from the pre Dean days when Kerry was the front runner), and his appearance was generally dapper and Lincolnesque.

Now, for one final observation - American Girl, by Tom Petty - great song, but John, do you really want this to be your campaign theme song?! Perhaps William Hung can come up with something. A crossover tune.

Yankee Heiress vs. Southern Belle

2004-02-21T20:27:00.000-08:00

Now that we no longer have to obsess over the elusive Judy Dean, we can focus our attention on the race between the Teresa "International Sophisticate" Heinz Kerry and Elizabeth "Miss American Girl" Edwards.

Teresa Heinz Kerry, that’s TeRAYsa not TheREEsa. Born in Mozambique. Fluent in five languages. Daughter of a Portuguese Doctor. Studied in South Africa. Studied in Switzerland. Ten Honorary Degrees. Winner of the Albert Schwiezter medal for Humanitarianism.

She has three sons and two step daugheter, and one grandchild. She established the Women's Institute for a Secure Environment in 1996 to educate women about retirement security. She was first introduced to John Kerry at an Earth Day Rally. She married him on Memorial Day.

She’s Roman Catholic. She’s belonged the Democratic party for … one year. She has over $500 million from her late husband’s ketchup fortune. Yes, she's an heiress. Step aside Paris. Let's not forget she signed a prenup. But she’s into Chinese medicine, meditation, and tai chi. She drinks green tea and injects Botox.

Elizabeth Edwards. Veteran's daughter. Soccer mom. PTA member. American Literature student. UNC educated lawyer.
She met John Edwards in Law School, and married him the Saturday after taking the bar exam. She had 2 children in her early thirties, one of which passed away in a car accident, and the other is a senior at Princeton. But, in what is perhaps the oh so Sex and the City fashionable, she gave birth to two more children in her forties, Emma Claire is five, and Jack, is three.

She worked for the North Carolina Attorney General, and clerked for a U.S. District Judge. She is a Goodwill volunteer, but not just any Goodwill volunteer. This woman managed to work for the Goodwill book room. My Goodwill does not have a book room, in fact I've never seen a Goodwill with a book room. But God knows, Elizabeth Edwards would find the book room if they had it.

As if that’s not enough… Don’t like soccer? You can apply for Elizabeth’s lacrosse scholarship. Not into sports? She runs a computer lab (probably not a LINUX shop but we’ll give her a break.) Don’t like the Goodwill? She’s a March of Dimes fundraiser - who doesn’t love babies?

Seems like there's something for everyone to like here! But since I'm a Cali girl, I'll give you a Cali's guide to the first ladies. Keep in mind we're talking about Democratic women here, no need to worry about reproductive rights and the like.

So Cal
THK - botox and proud of it
EE - LA lawyers sign up here

Nor Cal
THK - green tea, tai chi, meditation. over educated. earth day.
EE - geek girl for all you geek guys. bookish. vintage clothes, or at least vintage publications.

Crossover
EE - Soccer mom, PTA mom, older mom
THK - grandmama
EE - stand by your man, tell him when he's wrong.
THK - what's mine is mine (well at least $500 million of it!)
EE - Methodist
THK - Roman Catholic

Arnold

2004-02-13T08:22:00.000-08:00

Is Arnold trying to pull the Richmond Roadrunner votes from me or what?

Doonesbury

2004-02-09T17:08:00.000-08:00

The blogger bubble.

Massachusetts Just Keeps Getting Better!

2004-02-04T13:58:00.000-08:00

This amazing photo actually came from Scott in Arizona.

Massachusetts, the other American Idol

2004-02-04T09:31:00.000-08:00

Massachusetts is on it's way to becoming Georgy for Gov's second favorite state, after Cali, of course. They've got their linux on and now this! I wonder how the lovely Mitt Romney feels about this.

America's Idol

2004-02-04T09:30:00.000-08:00

My favorite Cal Bear's fifteen minutes continues here!

2004-01-29T14:51:00.000-08:00

This takes linux bashing to new heights!

Go Bears!

2004-01-28T20:58:00.000-08:00

pretty cute

Don't Trip(pi) on the Way Out!

2004-01-28T15:28:00.000-08:00

Sorry Joe - Didn't know Howard was reading this.

Dean Mothers

2004-01-26T17:50:00.000-08:00

I saw a photo of Howie's mama in the NYTimes and my first reaction was, "This woman looks rich." So I told a friend that, and searched for the article on google news. I find this. Please tell me, who says that kind of stuff?

2004-01-25T20:46:00.000-08:00

It’s no wonder “Judy Dean” kept her maiden name. I would have too, especially if it meant my medical practice was on the line. An angry doctor? I had one of those once. He was an ear doctor. I asked him if what he was going to do would hurt. His response, “Are you going to have babies?” My answer, “Well yes someday I hope to.” And suddenly he simultaneously put me in a lot of pain and said “That’s going to hurt a lot more than this!” Really, Howard is no longer a doctor, so I’m being unfair.

A few days before the big whoopsies, I realized that I’d never seen Howard Dean kiss a baby, and that, moreover I couldn’t imagine him doing so. I’m not sure why. I think it really has nothing to do with his personality, and more likely, it’s because he always wears those scratchy looking gray suits. The fabric is just wrong - too cheap, too harsh, and too dull next to the delicate softness of an innocent child.

This baby issue was just another hint at a bigger problem I’d seen with the Dean campaign – media mistakes, over and over. The New York Times magazine cover article was a the first in a series of coverage, which made me go “Uh oh, either these guys are totally not in control, or they don’t know what they are doing." Who lets a volunteer get in front of a reporter (and a times reporter at that) and tell her that he once laid in the fetal position in his underwear (still not sure if they were tightie whities or boxers) sipping from a carton of orange juice amidst a sea of cat hair to which he is allergic only to be pulled from the throngs of depression by none other than … the Dean campaign!!!!!!

If this guy is telling a reporter this, he’s probably told a few others. Or maybe not , maybe it was just a really good reporter. In any case, who says that?! Not your average twenty-something. Not you average heart broken twenty something. There had to have been warning signals. And even if there weren’t blatant clues that this guy just might spill the beans, there had to have been other oddballs running around dropping breadcrumbs. To avoid a caption which reads “Jilted techies for Dean” (translation to average readers “losers for dean” … jilted techies are in no way shape or form cute, cuddly, or seemingly successful) you make rules. NO TALKING TO REPORTERS.

So that one was pretty bad, and the list goes on. Joe Trippi appears on CSPAN over the weekend looking perfectly slimy. His hair is greasy. He needs a shave. And, worst of all, his shirt is slightly unbuttoned, he’s not wearing a tshirt, and what do you know the man reveals a little more chest hair than I’m interested in seeing. So he’s a campaign manager, not a candidate, but still, GROSS!

And another thing, when people think you’re off your rocker, don’t derive the moniker for your supporters from the word MANIAC.

As for the big one, yeah well, maybe Howard should stop rolling up his sleeves from now on. I’ve never knew someone could so fervently roll up his sleeves. I also didn’t know rolling up sleeves was a prerequisite for presidents. Dean made it on The View though. (Yes, embarrassingly enough I watched that show yesterday morning in the hotel gym.) After a segment on where to look for jobs, they showed some of the worst jobs in America. Along with Relationship Counselor to Britney Spears, they had Anger Management Advisor to Howard Dean! Whoopsies!

Ironically enough, this Howard Dean, who criticized Bush to no avail is now trying to be like Bush. “They’re writing his obituary and stuff, but I remember when McCain beat Bush in New Hampshire and everybody said Bush was dead. Check his address now.”
This one was just a little hard for me to swallow. We get what he’s saying. You don’t have to win Iowa or New Hampshire to win the presidency. But, first of all, it draws an analogy between the two, one that I’m certain no other Democrat wants to see extend beyond patterns of elections. It also assumes Howard will lose New Hampshire before the primary takes place. I say pick up a baby, and a couple of cashemere sweaters, and maybe a muzzle or two for the volunteers, and Dean's good to go.

General Clargyle

2004-01-11T17:11:00.000-08:00

In General, Argyle I like

I saw Clark last week in this NYTimes article donning an argyle sweater, in attempt to appeal to female voters. I don't particularly like it, I think it would have been better with fewer colors, or at least fewer contrasting colors. The green AND the maroon are just too much. In any case, today I read Dowd's column, here, criticizing the General's fashion statements, and political fashion statements in general. Dowd posits argyle is as annoying as Paris Hilton wearing the oh-so-trendy Kabbalah bracelets. While I did find Clark's choice pretty close to one of the ugliest argyle sweaters I've seen in a long time, I like argyle, in general. I didn't say On General I like Argyle, or I like argyle, on General, but argyle socks, yeah, I wear them all the time. Argyle sweaters - once in a while, in fact I'm on camera in one here (scroll to the bottom). More important than my penchant for argyle, though, is what Ms. Dowd neglected to mention, that is, argyle was popular this year, for women. JCrew, Banana Republic, and Benetton all carried the sweaters. FOR WOMEN. I know this because I saw them at the stores, and, note that these are not stores where argyle is always in. So, while Clark picked an ugly argyle, we should not dismiss his choice, or that of his stylists, without first acknowledging the possibility that Clark is just trying to be in with the season. Despite Ms. Dowd's awareness of the Kaballah craze and of the army fatigue obbsession, she's neglected to mention that argyle had its hand at a comeback. Who is it then, that's behind the times? It would perhpas be more apt to say, that even though leopard prints or flares are in FOR WOMEN (they aren't really) it doesn't mean Clark needs to wear them to appeal to women.

AWOL

2004-01-08T22:08:00.000-08:00

I'm back. I took some time off to pursue my next project. My next possible project. Have to tell you about that one later.

Annnnywayyyyyyy...

First of all, the "out of control site" is a fake. Thank you to my responsible readers for first of all taking so much pleasure in it and secondly for letting me know it's an urban legend. Unless urban legend is an urban legend. But whatever.

Secondly it looks as though Dean is doing pretty well out there, but I've finally decided I'm a Kucinich supporter. Yes, he is totally unelectable. But, in the primary there really is little excuse for not supporting a candidate because he is "unelectable." I've seen the guy in person and he's not half as bad as I thought he was going to be. So in that sense, he was impressive! Plus, he wants to cut defense spending.

Why is he unelectable? I mean he's not REALLY 'cause he got elected to Congress. He's just not Presidential electable. "Americans would rather have strong and wrong than weak and right." Clinton said that. Kucinich is right on a lot of things, and I'm sure many people would say he's "weak" in one way or another. If you think about it, strong certainly is a common complement to wrong, guess it helps to be forceful and stand your ground when you aren't going to get anywhere on your idea alone.

Friendster, fun while it lasted? I'm getting a ridiculous stacktrace when I login. And I keep getting it. Quite humorous, actually. Here is an excerpt:

Connection was closed due to the following exception: ** BEGIN NESTED EXCEPTION ** java.sql.SQLException MESSAGE: Communication link failure: java.io.EOFException, underlying cause: null ** BEGIN NESTED EXCEPTION ** java.io.EOFException STACKTRACE: java.io.EOFException at com.mysql.jdbc.MysqlIO.readFully(MysqlIO.java:1242) at com.mysql.jdbc.MysqlIO.reuseAndReadPacket(MysqlIO.java:1428) at com.mysql.jdbc.MysqlIO.checkErrorPacket(MysqlIO.java:1775) at com.mysql.jdbc.MysqlIO.checkErrorPacket(MysqlIO.java:1752) at

This goes on for pages. Does that look like $13 mil of VC funding to you?!?! Hmm maybe?!!! How much did six degrees get? Probably a lot more :)

thong tha thong thong thong

2003-12-14T21:43:00.000-08:00

matching thongs! Note the feet, and the moves are truly awesome.

What you find on the internet...

2003-12-10T10:53:00.000-08:00

I like to use the expression "out of control" when I think a person's actions, or some other phenomenon are just over the top, unexpected or unexplainable. In IM speak, it's OOC, and I think this website, sent to me by a friend deserves like the OOC of the century! OOCOTC! I read through it wondering if it was a joke, but I'm 99% sure it's not.

I'm all for freedom of speech, obviously, so now it's my turn to exercise amendment one.

First of all, take a look at the "Habu's Corner." Yes, corner, that's all Habu gets because Habu, an elephant, is apparently an Indian Elephant, (the red dot and the outfit tipped me off), and believes in too many gods. Here's what they say re: Habu:

"Wouldn't you rather have just one God who loves you a bunch than a bunch of gods that don't love you at all?"

Next up we have the Atheist, who is grumpy and bitter (and apparently likes coffee and lounging in a robe!). If you see one (this site is for kids) TELL YOUR PARENTS OR PASTOR RIGHT AWAY AND DO NOT TALK TO THEM! How will kids be able to distinguish between a coffee drinking robe wearing Christian and an Atheist?

So the BEST part of this website is their cafe press store, where you can buy cards for your grumpy Atheist friends, and BETTER YET THONGS!!!!! This is the ULTIMATE MOOD KILLER THONG if I have ever seen one. The funny thing about it is that like the girl wearing it is basically proposing to the dude she's with, so it doubles as the ULTIMATE FEMINIST THONG!!! Problem is, I think that you should really ALREADY be married by the time that the guy gets to see the thong, so maybe this is like the ULTIMATE I'M CONFUSED THONG!

Finally, I have to say that the Shalom tee for girls is super cute.

I learned that Howard Dean is an Atheist, so if you're reading this, and you like him, perhaps buy a few packs of those cards and mail one everyday! No wonder the guy is so grumpy and bitter!

Current Bachelors, Future Governors

2003-11-30T11:39:00.000-08:00

And they said it was "only in California." This guy is running for Governor in Texas. His name is Kinky, need I say more?

From his bio:

"Kinky always claimed his only accomplishment in the Peace Corps was to introduce the Frisbee which the natives used to make their lips big."

This NYTimes piece on him is rather entertaining.

As for California Governors, I bumped into Andrew Firestone, The Bachelor, (sans fiancee) a few nights ago in San Francisco. He says he's running for Governor next. I'd love to see him take out Arnold in 2006.

Thing is, I'm not sure he can do it, because he also said something to the effect of "I'm just the image of whatever ABC wants me to be." How sad is that? Come on Andrew, we've had enough spineless politicians, if you want to win in 2006, well, you're going to have to buff it up a bit.

This blog is dedicated to...

2003-11-25T11:50:00.000-08:00

First off let me link this funny flash.

Now for the dedication part. Ok so not this blog, but this blog entry, is dedicated to my dad because today is his birthday and I'm not *sure* if he was hinting at wanting his very own entry for his birthday but he might have been. (I don't know who I'm dedicating this entire blog to but I can tell you right now it ain't Arnold.) As you know, I have not been bloggin' for a while (I can explain this, but I'd rather just blog), and today, November 25, 2003, I get this email from my dad. It's his birthday, but he makes no mention of that in his email. He simply complains about me not blogging saying I sucked him him with this "first one is free" crap and now nothing!

Really, I'm wondering if he logged on this morning to see if MAYBE there was a birthday wish in the blog. I sincerely doubt it, considering he's not really into celebrating himself. Although, that one is debatable. Because, you see, his name is George, and it's easy to say that you don't want to celebrate yourself, when in fact you indulge in it EVERYDAY by naming your DAUGHTER after you. (To this he will respond I have a great grandmother named Georgina, (on my mom's side) and that in fact, my name was going to be Ernie, short for Ernestine. ERNIE FOR GOV, how sad.) Oh and yes I do have a brother, an older brother, named Archie, he's got red hair. So they were not hoping for a boy.

But really, my dad can be pretty funny and ego-less. When I told him I had to write an essay on my three biggest accomplishments, he offered these suggestions:

(1) Getting Up Everyday and Brushing My Teeth
(2) Potty Training

He also pretended to be a bum once, to embarass me. I guess it was convincing - my friends were reaching in their pockets for quarters, that was until I yelled out "DAAAAD-uh!" in a my most irritated 13 year old voice. I was 24.

I'm not going to talk about how my dad is, he's 9 years older than mom, and, his older sister thinks he looks older than she does, but as the bum story previously established, he doesn't care what she, or anyone thinks.

I know you hate presents, so I've got a free Knoppix cd for you, which is Linux for commitment phobes, because there is no installation required. Oh yeah and I wanted to get you a shirt for your birthday. I looked around and tried to find it, but I haven't yet so I might just have to get it made. It's going to say "blog this" and you can wear it around all your friends who have no clue what blogging is. I found one which says "I'm blogging this" but I mean you don't even have a blog (yet) and what blogger wants people to know he's a blogger?

So, dad, to you I dedicate this blog entry. I hope you watched that little animation and "enjoyed" it.

(He hates that word. Especially when it comes with food and from the mouth of a waitperson.)

The Next Star Wars Kid

2003-11-19T13:30:00.000-08:00

Though, he will probably have a career after this. Dead ringer for Chunk from Goonies, thanks to Brad for resolving that for me.

New Gov

2003-11-17T17:55:00.000-08:00

Ahhh, metaphors

Merriam Webster's Phat New Words Stir up Some Drama

2003-11-10T16:33:00.000-08:00

MccyD's not so happy about one of those words I linked you to a few days ago. And I must say that the McJOBS similarity should be a touchy subject.

Wifebeaters

2003-11-10T16:29:00.000-08:00

So, considering his stance on domestic violence, I wonder how Mr. Dennis feels about the white tank tops which are perhaps now more commonly known as wife beaters. Should we stop calling them this, should we keep calling them this? Do they draw attention to the problem of domestic violence or do they belittle the offense? Dennis, anything on this would be appreciated.

Dennis Kucinich

2003-11-10T03:29:00.000-08:00

I went to see Presidential Candidate Kucinich in Palo Alto on Saturday. He spoke for a while, and then in deference to what was billed as a "town hall" meeting, and more widely, a forum, he took questions from members of the predominantly white audience.

The candidate highlighted his "Department of Peace, " which not only provided a framework for a direct attack on his opposition by way of a discussion of the war in Iraq, but gave him the opportunity to embrace a role as spiritual leader.

He spoke of our collective responsibility to create a culture of peace, and asked "is there a way to live where we can be more optimistic, more full of hope?" Focusing on a "oneness" and a "sense of being" he referred to people as "brothers" and "sisters." Domestic violence and child abuse, the existence of which makes spiritual enlightment is simply unattainable, weighed heavily on his mind. We need to "challenge old attitudes" men have about women, about dominance over women, and somehow teach a respect which cannot be taught. Calling for a "more gentle society" where our people know "what it means to hit someone." "Child abuse is not talked about in a national way," and there too, must we "challenge old attitudes" such as those he was brought up with: Children should be seen and not heard.

As for Iraq, Mr. Kucinich challenges what seem to have become old attitudes there. "We can pull out." He believes that if we focus on why we got into the war, or perhaps more accurately, why we should not have gotten into the war (false documentation of an Iraqi deal with Niger for Uranium, the lack of a 9-11 connection, recent news that Sadam Hussein attempted to avoid an invasion), that we can safely, carefully replace our troops with those of the UN, effectively pulling out. All the while recognizing that the "motivating factor for the war is oil and the privitization of Iraq's resoruces."

The Q&A section provided a bit of humor for this audience member. I've forgotten the first question. It came from a man who seized his opportunity at the mic and gave his own speech, in which he cited numerous newspaper articles regarding the war only to lead up to the statement that this was not a war for oil, but for Israel. Audience response climaxed at this point, having gone from individual shouts of "What is the question!!?" to a collective "BOOOOOOOOOO!"

The second question was regarding policies for clean water and air, and came from a woman named Rainbow.

A Vietnam veteran for peace asked if DK would punish GWB for avoiding the National Guard.

My favorite question was from a die hard Kucinich supporter. His initial statements about his Kucinich table outside, his mailing list, his other mailing list, made me think he wasn't going to ask a question at all, but instead rally for supporters. How pleasantly surprised was I when he said "So my question is, why should I continue giving you money and time when it appears you have no chance of winning?"

DK's response:
(1) "If you vote for me, I will win."
(2) His grassroots efforts don't show up in the polls
(3) Winning aside, his presence keeps the other candidates honest in the debates.

This is sad

2003-11-08T23:12:00.000-08:00

I just visited Merriam-Webster and I see a link from the front page telling me to "Get my phat new words." I bite, and end up here, where I find they added killer app, def, phat, funplex, brewski and some other ridiculous words.

I'm a little slow

2003-11-07T20:08:00.000-08:00

But I just realized that Mac users are being discriminated against. I'm sure you're saying "what else is new?" or perhaps thinking "mac users deserve it." It's time for us all to join the mac users and fight Penn State who is sanctioning this behavior! Napster only provides Windows downloads and it's time for Steve Jobs to step up.

Go Joe

2003-11-07T09:53:00.000-08:00

More from cnet on Penn State's weasely Napster deal.

"The money I pay could go to much better things such as rebuilding the network or better lab equipment," wrote Penn State senior Joe Jarzab in an e-mail to CNET News.com. "Almost every single student I have talked to is outraged that their money is going to a program that they don't even want...(and that) their money is being sent to the music industry without their consent."

The last line is key. I hope this one backfires.

When all else fails, pick your president for his or her OS

2003-11-06T16:19:00.000-08:00

Who's running what?

Before you click, take a guess as to which presidential candidates are running open software, and which aren't.

Penn State Caves to RIAA and Corporate America

2003-11-06T15:46:00.000-08:00

Penn State is charging students an extra $160 in fees (mandatory) for "technology resources." Some of this money is going to the RIAA, by way of a deal with Napster to give students "legal" access to music. Corporations involved stand to benefit, and are open about it. Here's a quote from the news.com article:

"By offering free access--or access funded by school fees--labels and music services hope that students will develop habits that continue when they leave college.

"This deal encourages a new generation to try a legitimate service, enjoy and adopt it, and later when they have more time and money, continue it," said Mike Bebel, president of Napster, which is a subsidiary of CD- and DVD-burning software company Roxio. " "

I don't think universities should play a role in helping students develop habits to support corporate America. Berkeley did this by forcing Pepsi on it's students - they were the only soda machines available on campus. Students will be required to pay 99 cents for songs they want to keep permanently or burn to a CD. How will this be charged? Directly to their accounts, or do students have the ability to opt out from being charged? I'd like to know if Penn State is getting some sort of a kickback, or if they are doing this simply because they feel it's a "service" to their students. Or perhaps it's a way to keep pending litigation at bay.

ETA

2003-11-05T17:32:00.000-08:00

Any ideas when the first rapper will bust out with a blog?

The dark side of offshoring, and I'm not talking about job losses

2003-11-05T17:09:00.000-08:00

Who knew?
An Pakistani woman who does medical transcription for a Texan, who works for a woman who contracts for UCSF, threatened to publicize a presumably innocent patient's medical records if the Texan didn't pay up. When they called her on it, she said it was merely a threat, and she never planned to act on it. The threat was retracted.

The UCSF contractor gave this money quote:

"I can't believe this happened," Kaneko said. "We've been working for UC for 20 years, and nothing like this has ever happened before."

Ummm, yeah. Well, have you been offshoring for 20 years?

Time to put the brakes on this offshoring thing, get some international law in place.

The article is printed here.

Matricked

2003-11-05T17:01:00.000-08:00

I saw the MATRIX today. My company had a screening at 9am this morning. Very nice of them. However, it doesn't change the fact that this movie really sucked.
I fell asleep. Need I say more?

Yes, actually I do want to say one more thing about this "Trilogy," mostly for people who have seen the movies. What's up with those ripped up sweaters? And how much would it suck to be a costume designer for that movie?! Sooooo boring.

Talk of the Nation

2003-11-04T21:02:00.000-08:00

Props given to Georgy for Gov, by Ken Rudin, during today's NPR Talk of the Nation. Listen up here

Hmmm....

2003-11-04T13:18:00.000-08:00

If blog aggregators are blaggers, what do we call blog analysts?

Gob Smacked

2003-11-04T10:56:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Peter, a self described "English Georgy enthusiast," for this:

"I'm not sure if it's of English or Australian origin, but read "Gob Smacked" as "Astounded to the point of being struck dumb"

Gob = mouth

Smacked = err. well "smacked" "

Modified Costume

2003-11-04T10:15:00.000-08:00

fun stuff, sort of.

eVOTE

2003-11-04T07:55:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to vote today.
Unfortunately, you'll have to get up to do that. Australia's working on an evoting system, it's Linux based. You'll still have to get up to vote, but you can read the source code online, and submit bug reports.
The reporter leaves us with this quote, from the lead programmer, who at one point says he's "gob smacked" (what does that mean?):

"...we've all got a stake in who's in the White House these days. I'm actually prone to think that the rest of the world should get a vote in your elections since, quite frankly, the U.S. policy affects the rest of the world so heavily."

I dunno if I want this guy building the American voting system, back door for Aussies! Hmmm, on the other hand maybe I do - Aussies & Germans voting in my next election - victory!

How Much is Too Much?

2003-11-03T21:56:00.000-08:00

"There are about 2.9 million active weblogs ('blogs'), containing about 81 GB of information. "

That's a quote from this study, updated for 2002, which details how much data is out there, and how much would be out there if everything were digitized. Clearly, I need to blog more because 81GB can practically fit on my hard drive alone.

"Instant messaging generates five billion messages a day (750GB), or 274 Terabytes a year. "

5billion messages per day!? And just think, we get to IM for free.

It's not over til it's over

2003-11-03T21:34:00.000-08:00

On the same day 16 people died in Iraq, the NY Times magazine prints this article about the miscalculation on the Bush administration's part regarding post-war Iraq. Yes, the war is officially "over" and has been for some time. Rieff tells us why any intelligent planner would have forseen, and perhaps avoided, the "unpredictable" chaos that is in fact causing these casualties.

Titled "Blueprint for a Mess," this article comes on the heels of Seymour Hersh's Stovepipe (October 27 issue of the New Yorker) piece, available here, which was labeled "Bush's Bad Intelligence." Hersh explains how the Bush Administration changed the way the CIA was run - and how they enabled what would normally be considered "noise" to not only show up on the radar screen, but to be cause for war.

Gas Tax

2003-10-30T22:28:00.000-08:00

I realize now that I didn't make it clear what I thought re: gas tax. A gasoline tax by itself unfairly hurts poor people, and I don't like that. However, if the revenue obtained via the gas tax is used to reduce the burden of other taxes - a reduction which will help *only* poor people (and not oil companies or other large corporations), then a gas tax is perhaps interesting.

Happy Halloween!

2003-10-30T22:24:00.000-08:00

How cute is google all dressed up for the holidays!?

Jonesin' for Oil

2003-10-30T11:37:00.000-08:00

This
opinion piece from the Economist discusses what we all know - we're addicted to oil, and the way to thwart this is to look to alternative technologies - technologies which already EXIST (though I'm not sure bioethanol is the right one). The way to cultivate use of them, the author suggests, is with a slowly increasing gas tax, the profits from which should be used to lower other taxes. Interesting thought.

Opening Up

2003-10-30T11:10:00.000-08:00

Props to Vietnam, here is an article about the Minstry's efforts to popularize open source software. They are blatant about their desire to rid the country of Microsoft.

2003-10-29T16:19:00.000-08:00

"Dean declared himself a "metrosexual," the buzz phrase for straight men in touch with their feminine sides, as he touted his accomplishments in "equal justice" for gay and lesbian couple."

More here

At first I thought maybe he's been reading my blog - the entry about the Democratic Party needing sex appeal, but his waffling on the metrosexual matter shows he missed the point about not being a wimp.

He also said he likes Wyclef Jean, did someone tell him to say that? I mean is Wyclef not like the safest rapper to say you like? Come on, take a risk and tell the people you like fifty cent!

You Are My Friend

2003-10-29T10:53:00.000-08:00

A friend just sent this to me.

Halloween

2003-10-28T14:12:00.000-08:00

Being the recall obsessed Californian I am, I thought that the cast of characters in this year's recall election might make a fun group costume. Gary Coleman would be hard to do, but Mary Carey, Angelyne, Gray Davis, Arnold, Arianna, Cruz Bustamante could all be done relatively easily. In light of the LA Times story, I'm wondering how many jokers in the Castro will dress up as Arnold & one of his victims. The Bill Clinton, Monica Lewinsky pair was certainly popular in past years. As for me, I'm not sure what I'll go as. Last year was a Drama Queen :)

ho ho ho and a bottle of rum

2003-10-22T21:11:00.000-07:00

Drama

' "Is our current situation such that 'the harder we work, the behinder we get'? " he wrote.'

Is "behinder" a word? No. He got the saying wrong, google tells me.

"The hurrier I go, the behinder I get"

Unemployment

2003-10-22T10:52:00.000-07:00

Can the Governor, or more importantly/seriously, his staff, collect unemployment?
UPDATE:
According to EDD, it looks like Davis cannot. Most of his staff may not be eligible either.

Germany

2003-10-21T21:06:00.000-07:00

For anyone who'd like to view the Glamour Germany magazine, I've scanned it, and it can be viewed here: 1 2 3 4 5

Apparently, in Germany the race was between me and Arnold, exclusively.

2003-10-20T23:13:00.000-07:00

Blog Aggregators - Will they be nicknamed blaggers? That's a bad one, but still!

Hey Ladiez! (sorry, not talking about the beastie boys song here)

2003-10-20T15:48:00.000-07:00

During Lockyer's speech he expressed overwhelming joy with his newborn baby, and new wife, both of whom came with him to the conference. He mentioned how incredible it is to have a baby so late in life - he's 61 or 62 I think. Lockyer went on to tie the birth of his son to why he voted for Arnold (reasons like Diego needing healthcare and education). He then said something to the effect of, "I'm sorry ladies, you are not also able to have such an experience."

Drama

2003-10-20T07:56:00.000-07:00

God bless Bob Mulholland, who was the only one to bring up the victims of Arnold's aggressive acts of groping and demand justice.

On Saturday, at the close of the conference, Mark Barabak took questions from the audience, and eventually called on Mr. Mulholland.

"Sixteen women," he said dramatically.
John Feliz, McClintock campaign manager, on the panel, responded with a shout of "Bill Clinton."
Mulholland continuted, "When 16 women independently pick Schwarzenegger out of a lineup for sexual abuse and the campaign even today, it's all politics, this strategy, those tactics! If somebody did that to my wife, I'd want to kill the bastard. Will we ever get an answer from your candidate?"
Sean Walsh replied that they were looking for witnesses, at which point one audience member yelled "ALL MEN!" Another responded with, "Not true!" Mr. Walsh continued, saying there would be no investigation.
Garry South then asked if Arnold was lying when he said he'd look into the charges, and George Gorton shouted, to both Mr. South and Mr. Mulholland, "YOU LOST! IT'S OVER!"

2003-10-19T19:46:00.000-07:00

More info on Massachusetts effort to bring free software into the government.

Soundbites

2003-10-19T10:15:00.000-07:00

Apart from Lockyer's confession (below), there were some great soundbites from yesterday's meeting of the minds.

"We knew that if it became a charisma fest we had a problem."
- Larry Grislano, Davis campaign

"This was a textbook case of mixed message. And it was disingenuous (on Cruz's part)."
- Garry South, Davis campaign, on Cruz's entrance into the race.

"Did the FPPC kill Cruz, or did he kill himself?"
- Karen Getman, former FPPC Chairwoman, and moderator

"A lot of us were members of organizations in the 60's. We had funny hair, funny clothes. Well I say a lot of us, but I don't mean Republicans"
- Richie Ross. Bustamante's Campaign , regarding Cruz's decision not to address MECHA membership

"Arnold made his way to the top of two of the most competitive industries - Bodybuilding and Hollywood"
- Don Sipple, Schwarzenegger Campaign

"What's his name? What's his name? I forget his name."
- Sal Russo, RecallGrayDavis.com , trying to remember Ted Costa's name

Puke Politics?

2003-10-18T22:10:00.000-07:00

I attended a recall recap or "post-mortem," as they called it, at my alma mater, Berkeley, today where Attorney General Bill Lockyer gave the keynote speech, labeled early on in the address as the "Why I voted for Arnold" speech.

The answer, according to Bill, in the form of a quote from Arnold was, "Bill, you listened to my heart and not my party." And yes, this cheesy commentary brought to us by Bill Lockyer of "puke politics" fame.

Lockyer said that it was an otherwise crappy list of candidates (no offense taken, Bill).

Sign My Billz

2003-10-16T11:28:00.000-07:00

As well all know, Gray Davis signed several bills early this week, against AS's will (but what Arnie failed to point out was that had Gray not selectively signed/vetoed bills, all would have automatically become law).

The new legislation includes a bill which increases the redemption fee for recyclable containers. 2.5 cents goes to 4 cents, 5 cents goes to 8 cents. We're finally on par with Oregon, I was always envious of Oregon's 5 cent recycle rate. The intention of this bill has been described as one to "encourage recycling." I don't know about you, but I never directly see any of this recycling money, since I dump recyclables in a bin for the city to pick up. It will clearly increase revenue for curbside recyclers, and other states with higher refunds have higher recycling rates, but how exactly do we motivate middle class people to recycle more in California if they're not clear where the money ends up? And yes, these are less than environmentally minded individuals, the ones who aren't currently recycling.

The upside of this bill, which has gone unreported as far as I know, is that all those diligent freelance and homeless recyclers have just increased their income by over 60%! It is for these pioneers of the urban wasteland I celebrate AB 82!

Another interesting bill is the Clean Bathrooms Bill - "Every public and private K-12 school must keep bathrooms stocked with toilet paper, soap and paper towels or hand dryers. Restrooms must be cleaned regularly and remain unlocked when students need them."

I fully support clean bathrooms at schools, but I can't believe we have to use our state legislative power to ensure such things. In any case, I don't know why they didn't add to the bill (found here mandatory hot water, and functional drinking fountains. These things were lacking at my high school. We also had severe problems in our junior high and high school lockerooms, couldn't they have legislated cleanliness there as well?

Away From Home

2003-10-14T10:10:00.000-07:00

Despite the letter writing campaign, all is not well in peaceful Iraq.

I also find it interesting that the Bush/Cheney website has a better formula for letter writing than they used in Iraq, where all the letters appear to be the same. Their site has a place where you can write a letter to the editor, composing it using their app, which allows you to select and arrange pre-authored paragraphs any way you'd like. Check it out here.

The Democratic Party - Ain't no Party

2003-10-11T22:33:00.000-07:00

With Republicans controlling Washington and now California, one has to wonder what the Dems are doing wrong. While I care more about California, America, and our future than the Democratic party, I feel at this point the latter is critical to acheiving my agenda.

Gray Davis didn't just lose the election on October 7, he was FIRED. It took a celebrity rino to beat him but if this isn't a wake up call to the Demcratic Party, I don't know what is.

There are many things they did wrong in this campaign, but the overarching problem I saw was an entirely defensive campaign - too many Davis players shouting "It's not fair!" This is not attractive in a leader - we want to see strength and resolve.

A perfect example of this attitude is found in the campaign's response to an email showing that AS's camp was trying to stack the town hall meeting "with shills for their campaign, Republicans who would disrupt and attack the governor." "We find that deeply troubling and deeply disrespectful to the process," Davis's spokesperson said, terming the tactic "dirty tricks."

Dirty tricks? Give me a break. This is child's play. Politicians, especially Governors, are supposed to be able to handle this kind of stuff. I can only imagine this response is part of the "we aren't dirty politicians" makeover Davis was trying to win with. They picked the wrong makeover. (As I've said, the appropriate makeover would have been Queer Eye for the Political Guy. That would have won the gov some serious points, and been a superb comeback to the Groprah Winfrey appearance.)

The thing is, it's not just Gray Davis who's on the defensive, it's the party in general. What happened in California is reflective of problems we see at the national level.

- Lack of party unity - Bustamante made this clear when he frayed. 10, now 9, Democratic presidential candidates.
- A party devoid of an overall vision - Davis signed legislation all over the map at the last minute in a desperate attempt to get votes. It backfired.
- Reactionary politics - This stems from a lack of vision, it can be seen with the unending George Bush attacks, and presidential platforms based on what he's done wrong. No Child Left Behind is great in theory but it doesn't work. Propose something new.
- No sex appeal - This may sound silly, but sexy, which has really come to mean something other than "sex appeal" is in, perhaps too much so. I don't find Arnold attractive at all, but apparently people do. (The grope me anytime quotes are a testament to that). Davis and Bustamante on the other hand - rating pretty low on the sex appeal factor. (polaroid cameras? not sexy!)

Numbers Game

2003-10-10T00:34:00.000-07:00

Davis haters insist on pointing out that Arnold got more votes than Davis did in 2002 (as well as 2003 of course). What they neglect to point out is that Davis got more votes than he himself did in 2002.

Duh - more people voted in 2003, like more than a million more.
Now if Davis had gotten LESS votes in 2003 than 2002, that might be worth mentioning. But gloating that his opponent this year got more votes than he did last year is well, pointless as an attack against Davis.
Perhaps Simon is the one we should mock re: 2002 vs 2003 numbers.
Is Simon that much of a dud that he wasn't able to defeat abhorrent Gray Davis? A real Republican like Simon couldn't do it, so they had to bring in a movie star to finish off the job.

The company we keep

2003-10-09T16:25:00.000-07:00

Don Sipple worked on AS's campaign. He also worked for both Bushies, and Wilson. He was accused of beating two of his wives, detailed in Mother Jones .

2003-10-09T14:37:00.000-07:00

darn, i lost. we lost.

one funny story from the campaign trail involves my encounter with cruz bustamante. during the campaign finale, cruz came up with the brilliant idea of doing "polaroid photostops" around town. the idea was that cruz would cruise around, pop into shops and ask random people if they wanted to pose for a polaroid with him, because he is just so, well, dashing!
(i mean really, at least use a camera phone. polaroids are super 80's.)

i just happened to be in the castro campaigning the day before the election, and cruz just happened to be there, photostopping.

when i saw a small crowd making it's way down the street i realized what was going on. i made my way up to what turned out to be cruz, 10 or so reporters, and 2 guys holding Bustamante signs (one was homemade, the other printed). I pinned the passers by with the Georgy buttons I had stuffed in my handbag. As one (planted?) guy yelled from across the street yelled "Cruz I voted for ya!" another guy on a vespa yelled out "I didn't!" I ran to him and handed him a button too - he hates the Death Penalty and hates Cruz. That's my kinda guy. Having been left alone without my campaign staff, I quickly ran out of buttons, and called to Sean & Rich, who were at the car, to bring more.

As the phone rang, I somehow sezied an opportunity to walk side by side with the Lt. Governor. I introduced myself to him with a handshake and the words "Hi, I'm Georgy Russell," all the while, with Cruz on my left, the phone was ringing on my right ear. As we made our way down Castro, shoulder to shoulder, cameramen and photojournalists walked backwards down the street filming and photographing us. Sean finally answered, "Can you bring more buttons?" I said.
Cruz, is his characteristic deep sing songy voice said, "Why yes, I can do that."
Guess he thought I wanted him to bring more buttons. I can't beleive the guy was so out of it - not sure why I'm baffled by it, I mean, he was after all, Polaroid Photostopping.

I subsequently mentioned to him that my mom lives near Casino San Pablo, and we were very worried it would turn into Las Vegas style casino.
"Tell your mom to call me at the office, and we can discuss this. What's your name again?" "Georgy Russell."

I gave a few more guys buttons, and they wore them in their polaroids with Cruz.
He stopped into a Mexican restaurant, at which point some guy asked "Cruz, cruz, what do you think of Gay Marriage?" I jumped right up and told the guy I was a candidate who supported it. Gave him a button. Cruz answered next, and as he did, I considered pinning a button on him. Having had my personal space invaded only a few days ago by Arnold's morons, I decided not to do it. Chicken. Held it up to the lapel for a nice photo op though. It's unfortunate that this all took place on October 6. Had it been earlier, the photos might have made front page.

Clearly, the guy didn't know his competition. Even Arnold's guys had a clue about that.

T

2003-10-08T19:18:00.000-07:00

Think Davis will work as a fundraiser on my next campaign?

2003-10-06T10:58:00.000-07:00

If nothing else, vote against Arnold because:

1) he had a secret meeting with Ken Lay
2) once he's governor, he can put an end to the $9 billion private lawsuit the state has against power companies.

Enron memos state plans to undercut Davis - remove the legal threat - recall Davis!

Here is a link to a story explaining it in more detail.

2003-10-05T10:03:00.000-07:00

I went to a Davis rally yesterday at an Oakland Union in the morning, and Arnold's Pleasanton rally in the afternoon.

I'm not sure what the final count was on Davis's rally was, I estimate max 100 non-press, non-elected officials were there. Pretty much everyone was white (Oakland?), and about half of them wore Wesley Clark shirts. Di Fi, Nancy Pelosi, Jerry Brown, Jesse Jackson, Barbara Lee and dozens of local pols were there. The event was, well, unimpressive, and though this was perhaps by design, it left me feeling like the Democrats aren't really trying anymore. Are they too busy packing?
A huge "NO ON RECALL" sign hung behind the risers on which officials stood. It seemed to be strategically placed for press photographs, but in what one photographer pointed out was true Democrat fashion, the officials jumped right up on the platforms, and completely blocked the sign. "I'm a Democrat," he said. "Republicans would never do that."
Davis showed up in his traditional garb. As I've said already, the man needs a makeover (Queer Eye for the Political Guy). The first step in the No on Recall campagin should have been to get Davis a new shirt - ANYTHING but white or shiny blue, preferrably with button down collar. He looks overdressed, and his look is not at all endearing. I won't rehash everything I said before on the subject, but one point to stress - GRAY please roll up the sleeves, take off the jacket.

It's clear that the Dems are running a fight the recall campaign, not an elect Davis campaign. Barely winning last year, you'd think they might try the latter.
The approach the Davis camp is taking communicates one thing - "We are on the defensive, and we are scared of AS." They are trying to scare voters into voting no, "If they get rid of the governor, what do you think they'll get rid of next." While I'm also scared, I want my team to look a little stronger. Davis's line "I will focus like a laser" sounds like it was written for AS, and doesn't work for Gray.
I spoke to a few people working on the campaign, and my disappointment with it. The response was that they were running a "complex" campaign (does complex ever translate well with the electorate!??!?), and that they weren't trying to get any "new" supporters, but instead to solidify the union base. What happens if a lot of people turn out to vote who have never voted before? Oops.
Oh yeah, and and one guy defended Cruz's committee to accept Indian Gaming contributions - "That's just what you have to do, you have to set up committees like that."

So, on the other side of the fence, we have Arnold's mostly white rally in Pleasanton. I hear the final count was 3,500 people. On first glance it seemed to be a much better party than the Oakland rally, complete with live music. Metal detectors were located at the entrance, and no signs were allowed in. Once we got inside, they passed out hand made signs! Too funny. They said things like "Dad's for Arnold," "Hasta la vista Davis," and "Don't Busta my Taxes." (pun on cruz, but don't you want to bust taxes - like arnold suggested with the wrecking ball on the car - bust the car tax?)

Many people were happy to see me there - "This is better than meeting Arnold!" One guy stopped traffic to get autographs for his vanpool. This is all evidence that people are looking for a personality in their candidate, something to counter the "Gray" years.

Others, like security, were threatened. They took note of me on the sidelines, and as I made my way deep into the crowd, the guards freaked out - asking my friends and the people who were surrounding me where I went. I watched security try to follow me - they lost me almost immediately. I made my way up to the front, close to the podium and waited.

Arnold's arrival was surreal. His "Running Man" bus pulled up behind the podium very, very slowly. The bus has his face painted huge on the side of it, and as the doors opened, the crowd, of course, goes wild.

Arnold fans resort to violence

2003-10-03T07:56:00.000-07:00

Arnold kicks off his bus tour:

"At that instant, a 3,600-pound wrecking ball was dropped 50 feet, crushing an older-model Oldsmobile on which the words ``Davis Car Tax'' had been spray-painted." -- chron

And they made fun of Gallagher for smashing watermelons.

2003-10-03T07:55:00.000-07:00

Elaine Stockton, groped by Arnold, appeared on the Today Show this mornning. She was interviewed by "Lester," Matt Lauer's substitute. They went over what happened, and in closing, he said, (and I am paraphrasing here) "I have to ask you, are you a Democrat?" "I would rather not answer that." Good Answer.

2003-10-02T08:20:00.000-07:00

Finally, the LA Times gives us what we all knew existed ... GROPINATOR

2003-10-01T08:05:00.000-07:00

Schwarzenegger borrows 4.5 million for his campaign, just another example of Republicans (Issa) of buying their way into leadership.

"California's new campaign finance law, Proposition 34, sought to limit such loans, barring candidates from loaning their own campaigns more than $100,000. But the Schwarzenegger campaign maintains that the initiative allows candidates to obtain a bank loan of any amount."
-- sacbee

Also, more evidence that Prop 34 was designed for a plutocracy - only wealthy people can borrow millions of dollars overnight. The article suggests that Arnold will be more beholden to his contributors now, hmmm. Campaign on "no special interests," borrow money, get elected, and then solicit special interest to repay his loan.

2003-09-30T23:15:00.000-07:00

Yup, Bustamante makes Davis look good:

"The poll also showed that of likely voters who supported the recall, one in three would be dissuaded from voting for it if they thought Bustamante would become the next governor. The effect of that number was so strong that the recall would be defeated, nearly two to one, if voters thought Bustamante would win. " AP

Does this mean that Davis camp should be campaigning for Bustamante, indirectly pushing voters to vote AGAINST the recall? Perhpas that would be more effective than the anti arnie charades, more difficult to do though. Strange thought.

Good to see Arianna's dropped out, and is now voting NO on the recall.

"Ms. Huffington said she had opposed the recall from its inception as anti-democratic. She entered the race because the recall offered a low-cost opportunity for a progressive candidate to win the governorship with a mere plurality, she said." -- ny times

That is not true - she said she was voting yes when she was at Berkeley.

2003-09-28T12:02:00.000-07:00

I just caught a rerun of K Street's second episode. Anyone who tells me that DC is not interested in Arnold needs to explain the strategic placement of a "Join ARNOLD" sticker in the back window of a car in minute long plus scene with John Slattery (and who I think might have been Congressman Dreier).

2003-09-27T12:46:00.000-07:00

Down and Dirty - Schwarzenegger swore he wouldn't do it. He's the people's governor, he will govern without "fear or favor." Typically one attacks when he is afraid. His latest ad attacks Davis directly, and Arnold definitely seized the opportunity to attack Arianna when the debate moderator allowed him too. I guess he forgot his original pledge that he would "never attack." (How interesting would it have been for him to have responded with something like "Personal attacks only serve to belittle the office of the Governor, and the importance of this debate?")

Arnold explains the anti Davis ad/no attacks contradiction in the Chron as follows "What I meant by negative is that I would never attack anyone personal, because personally I have nothing against anyone." (Still unclear how he can justify the debate remarks.)

Gray Davis has decided to fire back. Interestingly enough, in the same Chron article, published just after Schwarzie's ad, the response from Steve Smith, Davis campaign director was

"The general rule is that you can't ignore negative attacks, but we are not running against Mr. Schwarzenegger," Smith said. "Our opponent is the recall. We have not gone negative on candidates on the second part of the ballot."

In a different article another member of the team speaks up:

"Ragone said the ad acknowledges Davis' momentum. 'You do not shoot at people when you are in front of them' "

(I just realized Smith's statement may not be true - My photo is featured in one of his ads, along with the words porn king & local gadfly. Seems like negativity to me.)

In any case, Gray Davis has now decided to go "negative" against Schwarzie directly - does this mean he's not in front, or did he decide to turn around and fire a few shots just to make sure the opponent was wounded, in case he got up and made a comeback?

I'm not sure how effective it will be to go against Arnold. Gray Davis camp is saying they can't let Schwarzie's lies go unanswered. But will the ads push people to vote No on the recall? It almost seems to me this ad, which I have only read about, might push Republicans to support McClintock. From what I've noticed talking to voters, especially young ones, those of them who are on the fence about Arnold are those who like him for his celebrity more so than his politics. Pulling them over to the Gray Davis camp will take someone with a little more charisma than Davis himself, and more than attacks on Schwarzenegger's voting record. It might be better to pit celebrity against celebrity, and find a Hollywood hotshot to face off with Arnold, on Davis' behalf. Another option would be to rally young voters to speak up for Davis - even on TV. Youth can be very compelling, to both young and old alike. Unfortunately, Davis is out of favor with his recent fee hikes.

I see a lot of "accomplishment listing" when it comes to marketing Davis. This is not at all compelling to me. Even if they are "true" (we all know how you can twist the truth and often times statistics) Gray Davis's accomplishments don't convince me to care. Can't anyone find more info on Karl Rove's April meeting with Arnold? Tie him to the Bush administration, show what Bushies do with deficits, and squash any ideas that a Republican will reduce a deficit, especially with a no new taxes pledge.

What's unbelievable to me is that Arianna Huffington supports the recall. Seems to me she's tailoring the campaign to fit the candidacy. She's running as an independent, attacks the partisan duality from both sides. In essence, she'll be helping Arnold, her arch-enemy with her YES vote.

2003-09-25T10:46:00.000-07:00

The Great Debate

I think Gray Davis was possibly the true winner. I said this last night to KRON 4 and other media immediately after, but now it seems everyone is saying it this morning. Glad to see they're stealing my soundbytes. I should probably revise it to be "I'm the true winner."

Arnold...He managed to dodge the issues, and entertain the audience at the same time. In fact, I think Arianna was sincerely laughing at Arnold when he jabbed her. He let one golden opportunity to slam Arianna on her support of 187 go - probably because he didn't rehearse it.

Peter - Which Peter was this? Apparently both of them like to play the "broken record" when it comes to debates. For Ueberroth it was "Jobs, Jobs, Jobs," Camejo, "Charts, charts, charts." When he skipped and hit on something else, his presentation seemed disorganized, his passion unnecessarily clouded his message.

Patronizing Bustamante, (aka Mr. Spacely from the Jetsons) should have taken the high road. He really was the only one laughing when he mocked Arianna, definitely upstaged by Arnold in that regard.

Arianna did her usual mudslinging against GWB. Her vociferous banter with Arnold served only to highlight her experience in punditry, not leadership. By engaging him, she justified his one liners and actually made him look better. She just doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut.

McClintock - if there were less comedy, he would have looked pretty good, but with all the excitement surrounding him, he came across as stiff and a little boring. Otherwise, he stuck to the issues fairly well.

By the way, did ANYONE say how much they would spend on healthcare?

2003-09-21T22:38:00.000-07:00

"They're going to ruin 'em," that's what I told the NY Times Michael Falcone about people like Sharon Davis and Arianna Huffington with their non-blog blogs. They'll turn blogging into something else - something contrived, perhaps written by a handler, you know, something uh well, boring. "It's a place where I can say whatever I want, regardless of whether it's on "message," personal, or political." Yup that's what I told him. No one gets to tell me what to say in my blog. Well at least, I won't be responsible for listening to them. Maybe that's just my naive candidacy at work.
But, here we go...the Sac Bee, accoridng to kausfiles , is going to censor Weintraub's blog . I'm wondering if Weintraub can just do a blog breakaway, keeping his column with the bee, and moving his blog over to blogger.com or some other server. Probably not. What's in a blog anyway? And when will it make it into the dictionary? Sometime around when "meetup" makes its way in as a noun?

2003-09-21T22:01:00.000-07:00

Was Davis English in another life? In Britain they jokingly refer to each other as "guv'nor." I hear from a native that in prisons over there, they call wardens governors. They transitioned to using "guv'nor" for commoners to imply one was being bossy. Perhaps we can blame all of the favoritism given to the Prison Guards on this confusion, but just so you know Gray, we're in the States now, guv'nor.

2003-09-13T00:30:00.000-07:00

Arianna Huffington made her way to my alma mater yesterday. I gave her a thong, informed her that she lost to me on the AOL poll, and apparently made Van Jones very nervous. Read on.

I sat alone in the UC Berkeley IGS Library at 4pm, working on some last minute changes to my 200 word statement for tomorrow's democratic caucus, 4 people walked in. My laptop prominently displays my sticker, and having been busy campaigning, I was surrounded by buttons and paraphernalia. One of the four was someone I knew from IGS. The other three made in apparent that they were part of Arianna's "team." They demanded a row of seats reserved for important people, though it wasn't clear to any of the four who those important people would be. I sat quietly as they barked out more demands just feet from me, without as much as a glance my way.

Come six o'clock, a few people arrived, wearing what were quite possibly the LARGEST political buttons I have ever seen (with ironically tiny writing), and finally noticed my bumper stickers and 2 inch buttons were being handed out to and worn by people in the library. For the next 5 minutes, an oversized button wearing woman, didn't leave my side, and seemed to be eavesdropping on my telephone conversations.

Soon after, Huffington arrived, much taller than I expected, though those Ferragamo shoes probably gave her an additional 3 or 4 inches. She began her Q&A session, and soon into was asked why she thought there weren't more women in the race. I don't really remember if she answered the question, but as we have all heard her say, many times, she said "I am the only viable woman in this race." Lucky for me, someone next me shouted out "GEORGY." Huffington turned toward us, only 8 feet away from her, and exclaimed, "Georgy!" recognizing me immediately. Hmmm, interesting. At least I'm viable enough for Arianna to know *exactly* who I am.
In any case, I responded to Huffington with "I actually beat you in the AOL poll."
"Well of course you did! That's 18-25 year olds."
Hmm, interesting. The audience looked pretty much like your average college kids. 18-25 year olds. Oops.

Ahh well, back to the Q&A. I was very disappointed with Ms. Huffington. The perfect example of her answers was the one she gave to my question.

"My name is Georgy Russell, I'm a UC Berkeley Computer Science graduate, a software engineer, and, oh, I'm also running for Governor. What will you do about the offshoring of tech jobs?"

"Tech jobs moving offshore you mean?"

"Uh, yes"

Arianna launched into a brief discussion of how screwed up worker's comp is here. Well, yeah, it is, but I mean that's NOT really what is causing the offshoring. It's more like this - in India, salaries are at best 1/3 of what they are here. Worker's comp turned into slams on Cruz, and maybe even then Gray Davis, oh yeah and of course the two party system. I can't remember exactly, I was so lost at that point, wondering what exactly did Cruz do to cause salaries to be so low in India? I know he's involved with Indian gaming, but that's not the same Indians.

Anyway....after the "Q&A" which would be more appropriately titled, Q&D for diatribe, I jumped right up to the front and presented Arianna with what I thought was one of the most sought after political tchotchkes in the state - a Georgy for Governor thong!

"Give it to him," she said, pointing to a white guy next to her. Guess she didn't hear that the Oakland museum wants one of those babies! He took the thong, held it up as I had, by the side strings, made a disgusted look, as if I had worn it or something, and said, "This is just what we want," somewhat sarcastically, though lacking entirely any sense of humor. He stuffed it away somewhere shortly thereafter.

Now I have to hand it to the columnist, because she did do one thing right - she didn't touch the thong. Oh but if she had, what a photo op that would have been!

Eventually she made her way outside, and posed for photos with a few of the 18-25 year olds. I waited patiently with two photojournalists and two
documentarians who were following me that afternoon.
Van Jones approached me, trying to scare me away it seemed.
"Georgy what is it that you need?"
"What is it that I need?"
"Yes, is there something I can do for you? Is there something that you need?"
"Oh, no I don't need anything. Just waiting to chat w/ Ms. Huffington. I wanted to let her know that I can help her understand the tech offshoring issue. I mean, you and I both know it's not a worker's compensation problem."
"Oh oh, wow, that's really nice of you . Yeah most of the time candidates don't want to help each other. That's really nice of you. Who are these people?"
he said, pointing to documentary hipsters.

"They're making a documentary."

"On you? On you??!"

"Yup, on me."

2003-09-10T17:31:00.000-07:00

In light of his popularity, or lack thereof, I'm wondering how Gray Davis would fare if he did a special Queer Eye for the Political Guy. Arnold has ostensibly opted for the casual look, over the traditional political garb. He's seen without a jacket in his most recent television ad, and prefers a blue shirt over conventional white. Frequently, he leaves the tie at home,
and when he's out an about as Arnie from the block, he wears a polo shirt, donning the Join Arnold emblem.
Now Arnold is no fashion plate, his style at best matches that of a clean cut frat boy, but Gray Davis, who is devoid of
creativity, also lost sight of variety somewhere on the way to Sacramento. Whether he's bro-ing down with public school kids, or signing a bill into law, he's wearing a gray suit, a white shirt (maybe blue if he's feeling spicey) and a tie. While this may all be done under the guise of professionalism, it may very well be isolating voters. A wardrobe analysis might tell us he's far from malleable and unable to adapt to the situation at hand. Does this reflect his approach to legislation? Simple modifications here and there might lessen his rigidity, and could have helped him in cutting a budget deal.
His current dress undoubtedly makes the morning routine easy, but I'm sure he could get the queer guys to hook him up
with a "How to get dressed" guide, and even a schedule. The only problem of course would be, keeping the cost down - we can't have taxpayers paying for designer shoes and tshirts, but if he does it on the show, I bet they'll foot the bill.

2003-09-08T13:19:00.000-07:00

I'll risk sounding trite, and say what every other good pol says - we are in dire need of educational reform in California. It's time we recognize the value of an education system, and adjust ours accordingly. Education is a pillar of our economy, without it we will be unable to build and maintain a strong economic standing. Businesses do not want to locate in a state where employees will have to send their kids to private school, nor where recruiting efforts will have to be done outside the state. Innovation thrives in educational institutions, where revolutionary ideas in business, technology, art, and music are born.

In California, and America, the desire for higher education should be honored, and there should be no financial impediments to getting it. Quality education should be accessible nearby, and government must provide students with the means to finance education when needed. The approach California has taken recently does not reflect this seemingly logical notion. California treats its problems: high prison rates, economic instability, unemployment, increased reliance on welfare, for example, with band-aid solutions, instead of viewing them as part of what is a long term endeavor, and taking preventative measures to target the source of the problems.

In Los Angeles, nearly 25% of adults over age 20 have less than a high school diploma. In the US, the rate is 15%. Undoubtedly, an undereducated population will not be a prosperous one. 70% of US citizens living in poverty, on welfare, or unemployed are limited in their literacy skills. The same can be said for inmates. It seems we can trace the ills of poverty and crime to lack of education. Modern solutions for these problems are reactionary - 3 strikes for example - and target the symptoms of a poorly educated society.

The importance of education extends beyond traditional K-12 system. It has been demonstrated that children who have a pre-school foundation are more successful once they reach grammar school, yet pre-school education is available only to those who can afford it. A universal pre-school system will bring us closer to guaranteeing future generations of Californians are more productive than past. At the other end of the system we have higher education. If we consider the economic trends of the last 40 years, we see that the highest growth industries in California are those employing the largest number of college educated Californians, which tells us that economic growth and higher education go hand in hand. California must realize its economic growth to be a function of its educational investment. However, we must not let a focus on academics cause us to lose sight of the fact that not everyone in California will go to college, and that our economy and society should also encourage and respect vocational training and careers. A final point - we are faced with increasing globalization, and forced to compete in an international arena, where workers are trained to work all over the world. Our education system in California should be compared against not just other states, but other countries worldwide.

2003-09-04T15:02:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of the questions I was asked at my Berkeley speech:

Q: "How come you put up the thong?"

A: "It is very cute."

Q: "What will you do after the election?"

A: "Move to Sacramento"

Q: "As the Governor how do you feel you will actually be able to exercise power over the budget?"

A: " Line Item Veto and bully pulpit"