Sunday, Sadness, and Suckage

"You didn't go to stake conference this weekend."

"I was busy!"

"But if Michael Badnarik had been in town you would have made time to see him."

"Yeah, But--"

You could have gone, but you didn't because you have your priorities backwards you sorry, pathetic son-of--"

"Please! I'm trying! It gets so stressful, and I don't know anybody anyway."

"You are disgusting. I don't understand you at all."

"Niether do I"

I'm sorry, but I feel like that. I know its probably not that big of a deal, but I feel like a failure. I'm not going to institute, because there aren't any times when I don't have class, and I've skipped church to do work twice already. It's not okay. Plus I'm not reading my scriptures or praying at all. That's why I don't feel like I deserve any help most of the time. Sigh.

Yeah, so moving on, I am in the labs again working on my website project, but it seems to be coming along pretty well now, so I decided to do an update. I hope you all enjoyed the pictures in the previous post. It was really neat to be there.

So I feel sad because a lot of people seem to have already made some close friends to do stuff with, and I still find myself alone a lot. I can't wait for break, college is really stressful. Especially with all the extracurriculars I am doing.

Anyway, life just seems to be going pretty slow and low right now. I just don't feel fulfilled right now, and I am praying its not because this isn't the right thing for me to be doing, because I really think I want to be in the entertainment industry, and I've already put so much into it.... Argh

I'm going to get back to work now, wish me luck or give me a call and we'll chat for a little bit on my phone. (For those of you with my number)

Victory Parade!

Click on the Photo for more pictures of the action!

Ezra Horne's Christmas Wish List!

Here is my 2004 christmas wishlist! I will also create a link on the sidebar for this list, which should be updated fairly regularly. I need to get some more specifics on the electronics stuff, so I can give you all a better idea of what I want and need, but other than that, get it all for me! ;)

The Red Sox Win the World Series, and I was in the Shenanigans

Well, I'm alive, but I just had to experience the feeling of being in a huge crowd of people, so I decided to go down to Fenway and 'get in on the action'. I took some pictures with my film camera, and a few with my camera phone, but I've yet to get the film developed, and the cameraphone pictures suck.

So when I got on the T at about 12:55am, they told me that they were no longer running trains into Kenmore, the stop at Fenway park. So I decided to get off there, and boy, there sure was enough going on. I couldn't believe it. Traffic was stopped as people flooded the streets, chanting, jumping, giving high-fives and more ludicrisness. I saw someone passing out bottles of beer, people pissing against fences, and people lighting newspaper on fire. One of the pictures I have show the sidewalk COVERED in shredded newspaper, and there are about 7 newspaper stands all toppled over with people standing on them.

Perhaps the most interesting chant of the night was "Please don't shoot me, *clap* *clap* *clapclapclap* Please don't shoot me *clap* *clap* *clapclapclap*" I joined in, because I felt it was so true. People were pointing out in a way how rediculous the idea that by shooting into a crowd you can control anybody. What a great night.

At one point I was trying to get a photo over the top of a police car and I was barked at by an officer dressed in riot gear to "get on the sidewalk". So I did.

Over all, it was an incredible experience. I of course had to walk home, but I stopped at the Prudential Center and went to Krispy Kreme and got a pumpkin spice donut and a classic glazed. (I actually ended up with TWO glazed becuase the guy forgot to out the glazed donut in my bag, and so when he went to get me one, he threw in an extra without me even saying anything! No wonder that place is successful, they understand customer service: FREE DONUTS!)

So this morning I got up to do my broadcast operations job for GME, and I was thinking to myself "why do they need me to be here? It's all automated, nothing will go wrong"

So I got my answer.

As the show ended and the tape rewound for immediate re-air, it started playing immediately! (For a little background, the tape has a minute of preroll with colorbars and tone and a slate, the tape actually begins rolling before the feed is taken to the air. It's called a take delay) Someone had forgotten to program the 68 second take delay for GME! So I had to think fast and remember my training which was to take the FS1 feed (the fiber optic feed) and put GME back on the Emerson Channel, then I had to re-adjust the tape position in a matter of seconds to make sure that it went up the moment it was on the air.

In retrospect, I shouldn't have touched the VTR, I should have taken FS1, waited until their out and then taken VTR5 manually, it would have been smother, but it was the first time I had dealt with the situation, and so I was a little frantic.

Then I had to go to Visual Arts class and take my essay test. Lets just say that is sucked, and it reminded me A LOT of AP English because we had to write 2 compare/contrast essays in one hour and forty-five minutes on two pairs of artworks. But I actually think that She-Fe's knowledge helped me stay calm, so I guess I have to thank her again.

So I guess that's all for right now. I have to get on the ball with this web essay project for digital culture, but you know me, with my laziness, I won't be working until sunday. ;) Goodday all!

Kids on the Beat!

I'm watching this hilarious fake TV program called "Kids Show" and its actually super not for kids. They have this one part of the show where this little girl interviews people coming out of a public restroom, and the theme music is goes like this "Kids on the Beat, Kids on the Beat! Beat Kids! BEAT KIDS!"

Beat Kids? Oh my gosh!

This COULD be it!

I'm sort of scared, because this could be the first time the Boston Red Sox have won the World Series in 86 years, and I don't have any doubt that they will do it.

And the city will burn.

Look at what happened here in Boston when we won the ACLS! It will be sooo much worse. And I have a Visual Arts essay test tomorrow, along with the first third of a paper on an artwork. That's why I am down in the computer lab right now working. There are surprisingly quite a few people here.

Please forgive me for sounding sacrilegious, but I hope they lose the game tonight.

This is for two reasons. I really want the Sox to win, but I kinda want them to win in game seven, so they are in Boston on HALLOWEEN. Also, it's more exciting when they don't have such an impressive lead.

But considering they already have one run, I think it's going to happen tonight.

The Yankee's fans here are really bitter, and I can't say I blame them. It must be super annoying to have people be so obnoxious about their team. Yankee fans are a lot more subdued. I don't know if that's because they use tranquilizers or what.

Hey! Now that's an idea! To control drunken riots, the Boston police could require all alchohol to have a small amount of sleep-inducing drugs! So buy the end of the game, everyone would feel so tired, they'd fall asleep right at the bar!

Okay, maybe mixing drugs into peoples' drinks isn't the hottest idea, but neither is rioting. People have the right to celebrate, they don't have the right to destroy property. But it's bound to happen again, and since there is nothing we can do about it short of removing more civil liberties, I'm going to live with it, and I'm going to like it.

I wrote this the other day, and I think it nicely sums up my feelings:

"Freedom is freedom. You can't choose to only have the freedoms that are positive, or to get rid of the freedoms that are negative. You are either free, or you are a slave.

I will not be a slave. And if it means giving up my security, so be it. I'm free--nothing short of total liberty is acceptable"

Well, wish me luck getting my work done, and of course, GO SOX!

Michael Badnarik's Stump Speech on NPR

Listen to this!

I'm in the Computer Lab, and I'm TRYING not to screech with laughter!

Oh my gosh! I just saw this video at Ebaum's World and was laughing soooo hard! Watch the kid in the last seat on the right! (This is a video file, so dial-up users are not recommended.)

Sorry Its Been A While

I'm sorry that I haven't posted since friday, but I have been very very busy trying to get my act together, and the fact that my computer is totally suckin' doesn't help me one bit, since I have to update at a lab.

My last class let out about 35 minutes ago, and I've checked all my blogs, my facebook, and my e-mail. So I decided to let you know what I should be doing instead of blithering on at this pointless website!

1. Write out all the content for my 20 page website that is due monday for my Digital Culture Midterm. This includes finding pictures, research, and webdesign. (None of which I can do in my room)

2. Go to the MFA (Museum of Fine Arts) and write the first third of my paper for Visual Arts class, which is due Thursday or Monday, I'm not sure.

3. Read/skim chapters 4-11 in my "Living With Art" Textbook, and study the formal elements of art for our compare/contrast test on thursday.

4. Get some sleep at some point.

Other than that, I'm pretty good. I got a hair cut the other day, and it was the fastest haircut I'd ever received. I gave her a nice tip because I was feeling generous. The haircut cost 14 dollars plus tip. I couldn't believe it.

Yesterday I went to Cold Stone Creamery for the first time (not counting the free-bies I got at the "sneak preview" of the Harrisonburg location) and had a "Gotta Have It" size with half Cake Batter and half Pumpkin, with whipped topping on top. It was SOOOO good I almost wet my pants.

But after I was finished eating, I realized that I felt disgusting, fat, and sick. It's a good thing too, because I won't go there very often. I went with some friends and they tipped the people and those whores didn't sing! I couldn't believe it!

What else happened. OH! This morning I bled profusely. I got out of the shower and went to my room, put on my underwear and I noticed a smear of blood on my leg! I looked for the origin and found that the whole underside of my left forearm was smeared with blood, which was pouring out of a pin sized whole near my elbow.

I quickly grabbed a paper towel and started to clean up the blood, but it wouldn't clot! I put the paper towel over the spot, and the towel became rather blood soaked. Mind you, none of this hurt, but it was really starting to freak me out. So I grabbed a new paper towel, and since I had no ace bandage, I duct taped the paper towel tightly over my arm to stop the bloodflow.

Now that the crisis was temporarily solved, I looked around and noticed that their was blood on my towel from when I dried off, and there were two large drops of blood on my desk, and as I walked back towards the bathroom I found at least two more drops of blood on the ground (I cleaned them up as best I could).

I'm fine now. The duct tape tourneqet (sp?) worked fine, but now I have to wash my towels, too.

What else... Oh! The reason I didn't go to the health center was becuase I had to be in the broadcast studio by 8:45am to moniter GME when it came up. They aired the second package I have edited for them, on the "Head of the Charles Reggatta" which was here this weekend. So, yea! I'm an editor!

Then I went to visual arts class for review before our mid-term. But guess what? Our teacher decided not to show up, and cancelled the review! I couldn't believe it! I imagined him at home sipping a coffee thinking "oh man! I'm so funny! I made those morons get up for no reason!" It was greatly funny to me.

But anyway, I am going to try and eat better, I have decided never to get pizza unless it is absolutely nessicery (like, I have to go, NOW) and I have started to think more about the assemblige of items on my plate and being more balanced. I put on some weight this summer sitting at a desk all the time and eating Denny's, and I want to be "thin and gorgeous" by the time spring rolls around. I'm proud of myself because I now mix this orange/mango flavored water (it's sugar free, calorie free, etc) with Sierra Mist or Mt. Dew, providing a very great flavor-taste at half the calories! When I first got here, I used to get two 8 ounce cups of soda with each meal. Now I am effectively only having 4ounces, since I'm mixing! But I still need to cut out consption outside of class. IE my room.

Well, I think this post helped to fill you guys in a little bit--oh!

Yeah, so one other thing. I was worried about doing my home teaching for church because we have five women to teach, and I'm very busy. So you know what the Lord went and did? He said, "Ezra, you not only can do that, but you can be assistant home teaching coordinator!" So yeah. Now I've got even more responsibility. But I guess I must be able to do it. It's really not that much more work, but it also means since I'm going to be calling everyone up asking for their home teaching, I have to be an example and get mine done.

Thy will be done, I suppose. ;)

I Never Thought Having Classes Cancelled Would Be A Sad Thing

Yeah, so apparently the news is being broadcast around the country. One of Emerson's students, Victoria Snelgrove '06 died when police shot "less-lethal" weapons into the crowd, and she was hit in the eye.

Classes are cancelled today, and counselling is being provided. I did not know her, but I fell bad enjoying my cancelled classes because I know of the great price at which it came.

I think the police have gotten too much power, and were terrified, and made a mistake firing into the crowd. But her death was definately a freak accident. Those bullets shouldn't have killed anyone.

Please say a prayer for her family and friends to be comforted.

And remember, use your head. When you are in a mob, never allow yourself to be caught up in the excitement so much that you lose sight of your own personal safety. I thank God that I chose not to go down there. I know friends who got tear-gassed. You are responsible for your safety, and as soon as you see anything that makes you uncomfortable. Leave. I know you have a right to assemble, but when some in the group are not being peaceful and begin destroying other peoples property, you need to get out of the way and let the police bring them to justice.

That is all.

The Morning After

Suprisingly, everything seems pretty normal and ho-hum. Although you get a general sense of happiness, desipite the fact that everyone is exhausted out of their minds from being up until Lord knows when.

Everyone here at Emerson appeared to be fairly responsible in their celebration. Of course you probably saw the footage of morons setting off fireworks in Kenmore Square by Fenway Park, but that was the exception rather than the rule. Over all, people were excited and euphoric about this awesome and miraculous come-back.

Suprisingly few people were absent from morning classes, a good indicator of general responsibility and awareness.

But anyway, I finished editing the Boston Irish Film Festival package for GME last night, and it aired this morning. Apparently the producer liked it or didn't have time to change it, because it was exactly as I had edited it. I also got about 2/3rds the way through a piece on third party candidates for ECTV's 'Speechless', which will be taped tommorow.

So I'm editing, and I'm actually voulenteering to edit more next week. I like editing, and I'm so happy to be 'back in the saddle' proverbially speaking. I may even go out and become a cameraman for 'The Ladies Room' on ECTV. It's all coming together, I just have to watch myself and make sure I don't get overwhelmed.

Homework due within the next 12 days includes a twenty page website on what we've been learning in our digital culture class (I've yet to choose a specific concentration) and a rough draft of my Visual Arts essay.

So I'm keeping busy. I hope you all are too, so sleep well, eat right, and God bless.

RED SOX WIN!

Reality IS the Best Place For Material

You know, reality IS the best place to find stuff about which to write.

So I went to a meeting of "Young Republicans For America" tonight. I know what you're thinking--Ezra's a Libertarian! Well, that's exactly on why I was there. On their flyer they said "Young Republicans for America is not about petty politics, it's about America. Democrat, Liberal, Conservative, Republican, Green, Libertarian, or Independant, we welcome all points of view."

They basically directly asked me to come by including my party on the flyer. So I went tonight, and because of the Red Sox/Yankees game, only 2 people outside of the four original members came. So the co-founder Christian is wearing a blue shirt with the top button open, the collar up, and a black jacket and slacks. Then, over the top of his shoulders (His arms NOT inside the sleeves) is a black trenchcoat. He says that he is from Brazil, but has lived in numerous other places around the world.

He starts to talk to us and he says "a lot of people ask me why someone who is not eligble to vote in America is so interested in politics." As he does this, one of the other memebers is playing some sort of light violin/classical music on his laptop. Christian continues on, saying "When I came to this country [the music swells] I thought I was coming to the land of the free and the home of the brave. And I came to Emerson College expecting to find intelligent and open-minded people. But I was wrong." And then TURNS HIS BACK TO US AND LEANS ON THE WINDOWSILL, LOOKING OUT OVER THE CITY! "I found that if you expressed your political opinions and they were not in line with the masses, you are ridiculed."

OH MY GOSH. I am sorry, but there is nothing funnier to me than a guy with a trenchcoat draped over his shoulder, giving a speech about american politics with classical music in the background, and gazing out over the city. I cracked up so bad! I couldn't help it. You HAVE to have seen it, because it was so unreal.

Anyway, their organization sounds pretty good because they plan on raising people's respect and awareness of other parties and ideologies. (For those of you who don't know, I live on an Ultra-Liberal Campus, where half the guys are gay, and the ratio of Republicans to Democrats is 1 to 100.)

Yeah.

So anyway, what else has happened today. OH! This morning I got a call at about 8:55 from Nate at Master Control for ECTV. I am supposed to be IN Master Control at 8:45 on tuesdays and thursdays so that I can put in the Good Morning Emerson record tape. Well, because I was late, that meant the by the time I got the tape in, it was already about 2 minutes into the program. That is like a cardinal SIN on television.

Fortunately, everyone seemed pretty cool about it, even though I beat myself up the rest of the day for it.

But fortunatly I have a chance to redeem myself by editing a "package" (a pre-recorded video segment of a show) for GME. Hopefully it will be stellar and I will gain fame and respect! (More respect than fame, I just want my colleauges to know my skillz.)

I've also found myself coming down with Red Sox fever. I tried my hardest to remain ambivilant, but when your whole floor SCREAMS everytime the Sox get a run, you can't ignore it. Besides, I'm a big fan of the underdog, and I want to see this city EXPLODE when/if they win the series. That would be the first series win since 1918! There would be insanity.

So I guess that's all for now, but certainly not all forever.

My feelings exactly!

Believe it or not, I don’t know if I’m going to vote this year. It’s true. Election Day is November 2nd and I still have no idea what I’m going to do. You would think someone such as myself, who happens to write a column on politics, would have it all figured out by now. But if you thought that, you would be wrong. I’m an undecided voter in a battleground state; I’m everything the candidates like, except for the fact that I don’t like the candidates. With the big day coming up strong now, I’m thinking I might stay home.

I tend to find this election annoying. For starters, I’m sick of all the media-types and celebrities trying to guilt me into going to the polls. Part of me wants to skip the election this year just to spite them. It’s getting to be ridiculous already. Every time I turn on the TV, I’m bombarded with messages about how voting is my civic duty. Jason Alexander, Tony Hawk—all of them seem to be saying the same exact thing: It doesn’t matter who I vote for, as long as I vote. I don’t understand this. If it doesn’t matter who I vote for, then why am I voting to begin with? What is this, a practice run for when it starts to count a few years down the road? Voting for the sake of voting seems like a pretty lousy reason to vote, if you ask me. If I’m going to vote, I’d at least like to vote for someone I believe in. Like Jesus.

I’m also sick and tired of brand name get-out-the-vote campaigns. MTV, for instance, tells me to “Choose or Lose.” Well, what will I be losing, exactly? My marbles? My lunch money? Do I get to choose what I lose? It makes a difference, you know. A little clarity would go a long way towards helping me decide here. I could probably live without my marbles, but definitely not my lunch money. I’d also prefer not to lose my friends and family members in a military draft—FYI.

...read the whole article here...

FREE G-MAIL ACCOUNTS

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111th Post!, Terrible occurrence, and other normal components to Ezra Horne's blithe and pointless life

Wow, what a long post title! I love it! Anyway, this marks the 111th post on Ezra's Ramblings. Not an incredible achievement, but it is three consecutive ones in a row. I think that's pretty special. So to commemorate this 111th post, I'm going to write "Blogger" one-hundred eleven times.

Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger Blogger

I'm sorry I'm a terrible, terrible retard. It's just an excuse to get my word count up. So I hope you didn't actually waste time counting them out, because there certainly ARE one-hundred eleven 'blogger's right there.

Moving right along to the 'Terrible Occurrence'. I was asked by Nate at ECTV to program the broadcast computer to air a women's soccer game that had been taped earlier that day. They would run it over to me and I would go up the 7th floor, program the computer, then go down to the seventh floor and put the tape into the VTR. (Video Tape Recorder, for all I can tell, the exact same thing as a VCR). Sounds simple right?

Wrong.

They game ran over, so they were late getting it done, and so the guy who was bringing me the tape, Fred, didn't leave until about 7:30pm (This program is scheduled to air at 8pm. It took 20 minutes for him to arrive on the T. It was now about 7:50pm.

So we meet in the Ansin building (home of ECTV) and he hands me the tape. Here's the bad news. I'm not on the 'authorized list' to enter the building after hours. So I have to talk/argue with the guy for three minutes explaining WHY I need to get into the building right now. He finally relents and unlocks the elevator for me.

So I get to the 7th floor, swipe my access card and go inside. I log the information into the broadcast computer but something doesn't seem right with the totals. To keep this story brief, I will just say that it took almost 4-5 minutes to figure out what was wrong. Then I was going to go downstairs to the third floor to put the tape in. And I couldn't find the key in the desk. I found it pretty quickly and I hopped into the elevator. As I stepped of the elevator, something happened.

The burglar alarm went off.

To my credit, I remained very calm and said to myself, "Self: You have a job to do, and you haven't done anything wrong. Just get it done." So I marched to the broadcast operations suite, and put the tape into the deck. Now they had told me that it wasn't "quite" re-wound all the way. So I pressed rewind.

And nothing happened.

Mind you, the alarm is still wailing, and I have like a MINUTE left. And then I remembered something for ninth grade when I was trained on how to linear edit at Great Falls Television. The faceplate controls on these VTR decks will not work unless they are switched into LOCAL. The decks are all switched to 'REMOTE' so that the computer can remotely control them to air programming! So I toggled the switch and rewound the tape. (Alarm continues to wail) Everything thing looks good, and I go down to the third floor.

Then of course, a campus police officer showed up. Now, fortunately, I know these guys because I see them three times a day getting the key for my channel changing job. So I had to tell this whole story to them, and he had to file a report. Oh brother. Fortunately, I wasn't in trouble, and they said not to worry about it, that I just need to get my boss, Amy, to give me authorization to access that floor in the future. (Well, she was supposed to do that, but didn't).

So with a fast beating heart, I walked back to my dorm, went up to the third floor, and turned on the TV to the Emerson Channel. And I saw BLACK. Not good. Not good at all.

I called Nate, told him the story as I marched back to ECTV, thinking with dread at the idea that I may have to trigger the alarm again to fix the problem. Fortunately Nate told me that I could force the program (since I had remembered to switch the REMOTE/LOCAL switch back to REMOTE) from the 7th floor broadcast computer. AND FORTUNATELY there was a DIFFERENT guard there, who had NO IDEA about what had just occurred, so I got the 7th floor with no problems, and aired the programs successfully, albeit 20 minutes late.

I know that this was a long story, but it was a very very weird experience. I am proud of myself in a way for my courage in the face of such ridiculous circumstances.

A lot of other things happened yesterday, too. I did a bit of walking, because I walked down to Shaw's and back twice, once to go grocery shopping with Kendra, one of our RA's, and two, I was walking back from one of the buildings and I passed Ang, Rachel, and Kayleigh, who were going to get cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory. So I walked with them. But I didn't get cheesecake, instead I went to the Starbucks where Layne (she lives on my floor) works, and bought a 'venti' size Pumpkin Creme Based Frappachino (No coffee). I felt like a sellout ho, but I loved it.

So, yeah, my life is weird.

I'm Here at ECTV, using their "Sunflower" Mac

My laptop is totally suckin', so I used my exclusive ability to enter the ECTV station and use their computers. So I'm using one of their computers, which happens to be a 'sunflower' iMac. (You know, the one with the attached screen and the combo drive in the half-sphere base)

So I'm listening to the audio blogs of Michael Badnarik, and it's really great to hear how hard this man has been fighting for freedom. I actually got the opportunity to explain to my ENTIRE Concept Development class about Michael Badnarik and David Cobb being arrested and the CPD/ASU case! It was sweet, and I think I may have lit a fire of liberty or two. Yesterday I talked to an 'independant' whose beliefs seemed to parrallel the Libertarian platform, so I directed him to www.badnarik.org. I hope he ended up visiting. Over all, I've been trying set the hearts of the people I meet on fire with liberty, and it seems to be working. It's no wonder the republicrats don't want to debate Michael--people LOVE his ideas.

Anyway, I was thinking of taking the commuter rail down to Wellesley College to see Anna, but her grandparents are up for the weekend and she is showing them around. So that didn't work out.

Speaking of which, Jake Sasseville will be coming to Emerson College on the 23rd, so I'm excited to see that kid, another familiar face.

I apologize for not posting regularly the past few days, but since my computer is messed up, I can't do them on my computer, and I ususally write my blogs after midnight, when the labs are closed. So that's what's been up. Yesterday I helped shoot 'Speechless' again, but once again I hardly did anything. I some times wonder how I am going to deal with being a filmmaker, if I am so easily bored and distracted. It's something that I definately have to learn, because you have to stay where you are assigned and do your job, even if you see some one needs help, or you're not busy, because the people that do those things have to know exactly what's happening and who is doing what. It's hard.

So as I was saying, life is pretty cool--they had fresh melon slices in the dining hall today, because it is open house, so I gorged myself on watermelon, which was SOOOO good.

I miss my friends. A lot of people know me here, but I can't seem to find some one who likes to do stuff with me, like wander around the city on saturdays, or randomly do things with no point. I just miss that a lot. I like college, but it's hard, because it's exhausting and sometimes lonely.

What a Day

Today was pretty cool. I woke up around 10am, got up lesiurely, eat some cereal, showered, and then hoped the 'E' train to The Boston Museum of Fine Arts to get the name and artist of the painting which I am going to do my art paper on.

Upon returning home, I went upstairs, chilled out on the computer (I do this way too much for my comfort.) and then ate lunch, then studied for my Media Arts exam tommorow until about 2:30pm.

I then remembered that I needed to turn in this week's timecard to ECTV. So I headed on down to the studio to do that, and while I was there I bumped into Nate, who was supposed to train me in Broadcast operations over the weekend, but didn't. So he showed me how to do it, and I will be doing it tommorow. Oh BOY!

So anyway, that's going to be pretty fun, since I have to get up at 8am to do it. (I know, I'm such a whiner)

But after he trained me, I scrurried over to Digital Culture Class, which was unusually boring. I had to duck out fifteen minutes early so that I could change and get ready to go to dinner at Jackie Liebergott's apartment. She is the president of Emerson College, and she got about 15-20 kids to come to her apartment at THE RITZ-CARLTON TOWERS to have dinner. It was a nice dinner, but typical catered fair--you know, bizzare salad with weird dressing; (This salad had mixed greens, feta cheese and suger coated pecans! It was the wierdest 'flavortaste', and it certainly didn't send me to the moon) chicken, rice and asparagus. Yeah, exciting. But it was good, and really nice to be able to talke with the president. She's hilarious because she's about 4'11' and has the funniest voice you will ever hear.

But after dinner we went and had dessert at the Little Building Dorms, (they had cheesecake, WHOOPEE!) with a Q&A session. It was good to express concerns and congratulations. All in all a priceless experience. And afterwards I got to take some leftovers, (4 pepsi's, 4 bottles of water, and a mini cheesecake) So that's always cool.

Then I went BACK to ECTV for an 8pm editing workshop. It wasn't so much training for HOW to edit, but training for ECTV's particular needs, IE how much leader, how much trailer, etc etc. All basic, but important stuff.

Then I chilled out at ECTV for a while, got some pretzels, went to the ECTV general meeting, which lasted (thankfully) only 10 minutes.

So here I am. I guess I did a lot of ECTV stuff today. I PROCLAIM THIS ECTV DAY! (Actually, I'll be doing a lot of ECTV stuff tommorow morning, so maybe I'm just really involved.)

Thanks for listening to me ramble! CALL TODAY FOR FABULOUS PRIZES!

I'm Sorry to My Friends, But If I Hold a Differing Opinion, You're Probably Not Going to Like It.

I just want to apologize in advance for all the backlash I am sure to get for calling Kerry supporters "shortsighted fools"; Bush supporters "stupid sheep"; and calling Socialists and Communists just plain "stupid".

But I want to point out that this doesn't mean I respect the sheep, the fools or the stupid people any less. I just ademently dissagree with them, and I'm sorry that I sometimes use stronger words... but at least I don't scream "cut his mic" like Bill O'Rielly or something.

Please forgive me for being preoccupied with politics. I'm sure after Kerry wins the election on Novemeber 2nd I'll calm down significantly and get back to writing about normal everyday life.

Goodnight everyone.

Communism and Socialism Suck--Here's Why

A transcript from a class on the United States Constitution by Michael Badnarik:

Communism: Is a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common.

It’s is not yours!

That’s why Communism is bad, that’s why we’re against Socialism. Not because they’ve got a red flag, or because they march funny, it’s because they’re taking all your property away. And when they take all your property away, they take away all of your rights! …

Winston Churchill said, “If you are twenty years old and you are not a Socialist, you have no heart. If you are forty years old and you are still a Socialist, you have no brain.”

Now what’s Churchill trying to tell us? Well, if you’re twenty years old and you’re listening to the advertising for Socialism. What does Socialism say? “We’re all going to have health care, we’re all going to have education, that we’re going to just live together, everybody’s just going to share everything, and we’re all going to sing ‘Kumbaya.’ Socialism is wonderful! How many people want to vote for wonderful socialism?

Well when your twenty, yeah, you’re idealistic “We just want everybody to love each other.” Isn’t that great?

Where’s all that healthcare coming from? Where’s all that free education coming from? Well, from the government. Where does [sic] they get the money from? Oh! I finally figured it out—forty years later. That’s not very much fun. So when you’re young and stupid, Socialism sounds like a great idea. When you finally grow up (hopefully not to late) Socialism sucks!

…somebody asked Karl Marx, “What would you need if you were going to start a Communist government from scratch?” … The Communist Manifesto is the answer. It’s not very long, basically just a term paper.

Read it. Why? Because a want you to be a Communist? No. I want you to know how they are attacking you. You have to understand the enemy.

The ten planks of The Communist Manifesto: Plank number one: abolition of private property. No property, no rights.

If I stand up on a soap box and I say, “I’m going to start a government where I’m going to take all your rights away.” How many people are going to volunteer? Nobody with half a brain!

So now Karl Marx stands on a box and says, “I’m going to start a new government and we’re going to take everybody’s property away.” They’re signing up like flies! … Basically the problem is they don’t understand that property and rights are related. If they take your property, you have no rights. And once you understand it, then you understand why Communism is evil. It’s not just a personal opinion, it’s evil: we’re taking your rights away.

Now, the other nine planks to The Communist Manifesto are basically just methods for doing the first thing. How are we going to take your property/rights away?

Well, number two is a heavy progressive income tax. A progressive income tax means that the more money you make, the higher the percentage. Do we have a progressive income tax in the United States? Yes! Can you say “I-R-S?” They don’t put the percentages, they change it and they convert it. If you make between 5,000 and 10,000 this is how much you pay. Between ten and fifteen this is how much you pay, and they give you the number. Well get your calculator and figure it out: the more money you make, the higher the percentage. What do you think [is] the highest percentage the IRS has ever collected? Right now I believe the top percentage is about 33%.What do you think the maximum was that the IRS has collected in history? Ninety-eight percent!

Between 1941 and 1942 during World War II, there were some people who were taxed 98%! That’s almost all! How come we didn’t have another American revolution? To hell with the Germans! I’m going to get my gun and start fighting here! You’re going to take ninety-eight percent of my stuff? You’re going to have to take it! If you think you are big enough to take it, come right on ahead! But I’m not going to give it up! That’s ridiculous.

[Plank Three:] abolition of all rights of inheritance. If your parents die, the government is going to take half. Why? What did they do to get half? They just want to make sure that they don’t leave you a million dollars so that you can get more and more money. It’s a lot easier to become a multi-millionaire if mom and dad leave you one [million] to start with! We don’t want that to happen!

[Plank Four:] confiscation of all property of immigrants and rebels. You ever fly internationally? You have to fill our a card, if you’re carrying more than 10,000 dollars they’ll take it! You want to leave the United States and go live someplace else? Goodbye! Leave all your money here! I have friends who want to move to New Zealand. They are trying to figure out a way to put their money in an offshore account so they can keep their money.

[Plank Five:] a central bank. We’re going to talk about the Federal Reserve.

We can go right on down the line. Ten out of ten items in The Communist Manifesto are here in the United States right now. Did you know that you live in a Communist country? Are you glad that you live in a Communist country?

What are you going to do about it? We’ve got to draw the line somewhere.

I'm So Depressed and Pissed Off Right Now

Well, I'm sitting in a computer lab on campus, surfing the web and crying inside. Why? Well, there are several reasons. One is that the power supply on my laptop has gone wonkey (messed up) and will not power the laptop properly without being held just right.

But secondly and more importantly, I am depressed because it seems so impossible to win, to stop the duopoly from controlling everthing.

I guess most Americans don't mind, because once the Democrats and Republicans have outlawed third parties, they will merge into the one party, and then we won't even have to vote.

Honestly. The AZLP lost its hearing concerning the CPD. Why? Not because they aren't right, but because the judge was a memeber of the duopoly. I mean, how can we re-establish our rights and freedoms if when all of the judges are republicrats? I don't know, and it gets me really down.

I love liberty, and I know that if Michael Badnarik could get into the debates, he would change the course of American politics, and we'd all be better off. But both Kerry and Bush are cowards. They know that they can't allow Americans to be exposed to the truth, or they would lose the election. And that's one more thing that Kerry and Bush agree on--no third parties, they cause too much thinking.

I went out to Staples to see if I could get some corrugated plastic signboard to make a sign for the freeway, but they had closed, and it just irked me, I can't even do that. I need zip ties, paint, boards, etc. I hate it.

You know what else? We can't get into the debates because we can't get 15% in five independant polls. We can't get 15% because we can't get our message out. In fact, most polling agencies don't even include Michael in their polls! So how are we supposed to get 15% in 5 independent polls?

Do you realize how much money the kind of coverage a debate gives a candidate would cost?

30 second commercials on prime networks during prime-time hours cost around (According to the American Association of Advertising Agencies) $332,000! That means that in order to get 45 minutes (90min debates divided by 2) of national, commercial-free airtime would cost $28,980,000!!!! As of 1998, the Libertarian party had 25,000 due paying members. That means that to raise that much money, each member would have to contribute $1159.20!!! And not every member could afford that, so at the very least, 14,490 members would have to MAX OUT their 2,000 contribution limit. Thats over two-thirds!

So you can see how annoying it is. Those goons get 74.6million dollars in federal money to run their election in the first place, the media covers them ALL THE TIME, and they get 26million dollars worth of air time EACH TIME THEY DEBATE ARGH ARGH ARGH.

I'm crying inside because I know that it will be YEARS before we see major changes. But as Thad said the other day:

"Don't quit something because it's an up hill battle. Often the most rewarding are up hill. If you are scared or too busy or whatever to climb mountains you will never get anywhere...you need to take on what you believe and don't let anything stop you."

Spoken like a true lover of freedom.

I'm not going to give up, I just need to start small. It is very time consuming to fight the system, you know. Especially when they control the media, the money, and the police, and the many americans will not think for themselves.

You wanna know why so many people are still voting for Bush even though he is a total MORON? You wanna know why people are voting for Kerry even though he's not going to end the war or stop the PATRIOT act? It's partly because many of the Bush supporters are stupid sheep, voting under the false pretenses that you must support the government and the president no matter what. It's partly because the Kerry supporters are shortsighted fools who don't realize that more programs equal more spending and more taxes! But more importantly, it's because the Republicans and Democrats have made people think that they are the only choices. (Maybe excluding Ralph Nader, some how HE gets 2.2% of the media coverage in this election) If everyone KNEW they had solid, reasonable alternatives, and people got over the "wasted vote" syndrome, we would see drastic, dynamic change. But no. People will continue to say: "It's to important to vote for a third party this year".

Well boys, so was the 2000 election, so was the 1996 election, so was the 1992 election, and so on. It's a fallicy that is perpetuated by the big two to keep them in power. Show them your disgust. Michael Badnarik is the only truly fiscal conservative candidate. He's the only one who will STOP ENFORCEMENT of the PATRIOT act and pressure congress to repeal it. He's the only one who will get out of foreign entanglements and END the iraqi war. He's the only candidate who flatly opposes government involvement with your personal life--aka supports gays RIGHT to marry.

It all makes me want to sit down and weep. Yes, vote for Kerry, and watch your taxes go up, the death toll rise. Vote for Bush and watch the taxes go up, the deficit increase, the death toll rise, the enemies list lengthen.

Vote for Badnarik, and hear freedom ring.

Kinda What I Figured...

2:54PM
Michael Kielsky of the Arizona LP explains in detail:

The Arizona Libertarian Party and co-plaintiff Warren Severin were represented by attorney David Euchner.

Arizona State University was represented by Carrie Brennan of the Attorney General’s office.

Commission on Presidential Debates was represented by Glen Hallman of the firm of Gallagher & Kennedy, physically in court, as well as Lewis Loss, General Counsel for the CPD by phone.

The judge started by ruling that the service was sufficient for purpose of notice of this hearing. Then, each side was given 30 minutes to argue the issue.

Euchner reserved 15 minutes of his argument for rebuttal, and argued the case based on the violation of Arizona’s Constitution, Art. 9, Sec. 7, which prohibit gifts to private entities. He presented additional arguments based on the 1st Amendment, the 14th Amendment equal protection clause, and case law which was on point.

Carrie Brennan argued the doctrine of latches (that the delay in bringing this suit worked an unfairness against the defendants). She further argued that the funding was provided by private parties, that there is great value to the University in hosting this, and that case law provides that such expenditures are allowed as long as they are not excessive or unreasonable.

Finally, she stated that there is an adequate remedy for any violations of the constitutional gift clause, therefore injunction is not appropriate.

Glen Hallman argued that Libertarians are not a special protected class, thus only a rational basis test applies to the equal protection argument, and using that test, the Libertarians were not discriminated against.

Lewis Loss argued that the CPD is non-partisan, and that Bush & Kerry would not proceed if Badnarik were admitted to the debate.

Euchner then rebutted, arguing that nobody remembers the location of the debates, and thus there is no value to the University in this expenditure, in other words, it is a gift to these two parties. As an example, Euchner argued that the only way debates are even remembered for any time is if they are parodied, such as on Saturday Night Live, and the rerun repeatedly. Further, even with a rational basis test on the equal protection clause, the judge should find for the Libertarians, because the discrimination is so blatant.

At the conclusion of the arguement, the judge issued his ruling from the bench:

1. No restraining order, because of the doctrine of latches, and that there appears to be sufficient public purpose for this debate.

2. The Plaintiffs may continue to pursue damages for any violations of the constitutional provisions.

In summary, we couldn’t stop the debates or get Badnarik in, but we may still be able to hold them accountable through damages.


I figured as much.

Goodmorning Rain!

It's 9:30am, and it has just started to rain. It's only about the third time its rained since I've been here.

Okay, I actually forgot I had started this blog post and have gone to class. I'm back now, and it is now 12:13pm.

Anyway, I am watching a real debate, the third party debate between Libertarian party, Green Party, Constitution Party, and Socialist party filmed on 10/6/04. It is awesome. They are taking real, unscreened questions from the audience. Try that, Bush and Kerry.

The hearing on the civil complaint against the CPD and ASU by the Libertarian party has just ended, and I am anxiously waiting for what has been decided by the judge.

I'm sooo excited.

Talk more later!

Taking The Commuter Rail -- Wicked Fun

So Yesterday I went to go visit my friend Tanner and his girlfriend, Nancy, in Tewksbury, Mass. In order to do so, I had to take the orange line to North Station and board a commuter rail to Wilmington.

If you ever get the chance to take a train ride, please do it. I can't describe how truly wonderful it is to slide along the steel, peaking into all the backyards, watching the cars stop as we move along. There is very little vibration and you don't have to worry about missing your exit or getting sideswiped, it's marvellous. It makes me sad that we don't have more feasible railroad systems in this country.

So anyway, while I was visiting with Tanner and Nancy, we went to Wal-mart (which was fun because I hadn't been to one in almost 2 months) and K-mart in a vain attempt to find the board game 'Parcheezi' (I bet I spelled that wrong.) NO ONE HAD IT. I mean, it's only a classic. They had moronic games like 'Hi-Ho Cherrio' and 'Cooties'.

Oh well. So we rented a movie called "History of the World: Part I" by Mel Brooks. It was very very funny. Mel Brooks actually played many of the parts, instead of just one. I'd recommend it.

HMMM. I've got to do lots of reading today, but I'm (obviously) procrastinating. Actually, the most important thing to do is probably to get studying for Media Studies. We have our first test on Thursday. Wish me luck!

More updates as soon as possible! Yours in Liberty, Ezra Horne

Kerry's Water War

Kerry isn't indecisive at all! Hahahaha. Read this selection from an article in the New York Times by Matt Bai:

"....On an evening in August, just after a campaign swing through the Southwest, Kerry and I [Matt Bai] met, for the second of three conversations about terrorism and national security, in a hotel room overlooking the Ferris wheel on the Santa Monica pier. A row of Evian water bottles had been thoughtfully placed on a nearby table. Kerry frowned.

"Can we get any of my water?" he asked Stephanie Cutter, his communications director, who dutifully scurried from the room. I asked Kerry, out of sheer curiosity, what he didn't like about Evian.

"I hate that stuff," Kerry explained to me. "They pack it full of minerals."

"What kind of water do you drink?" I asked, trying to make conversation.

"Plain old American water," he said.

"You mean tap water?"

"No," Kerry replied deliberately. He seemed now to sense some kind of trap. I was left to imagine what was going through his head. If I admit that I drink bottled water, then he might say I'm out of touch with ordinary voters. But doesn't demanding my own brand of water seem even more aristocratic? Then again, Evian is French -- important to stay away from anything even remotely French.

"There are all kinds of waters," he said finally. Pause. "Saratoga Spring." This seemed to have exhausted his list. "Sometimes I drink tap water," he added. ..."

I could have bought a DVD player, but instead I'm investing in Liberty

I just donated another 25.00 dollars to Michael Badnarik, raising my contributions up to 50.00 dollars. That may not sound like a lot, but its something. I only hope that one day I will be half the man Michael is. I swell with pride when I heard these words:

"I read the declaration of independance years ago. But now I understand the dedication that they had. We owe it to them, and I am fighting as hard as I can for liberty. What if George Washington hadn't done that at Valley Forge? 'You know it's really cold, you know we're fighting against King George--I know we really have no chance--let's put out the campfire and just go home. We'll leave it to our children and our grandchildren.'

That's not The American Spirit; that's not the spirit of heros.

Do you understand how important this is?

We keep reading American history, fouth of July is our favorite holiday--we fly the flag; we wear red, white and blue; and we go 'Gosh, isn't it wonderful to be an American.' As we sit by, and let them create 'Free-Speech Zones'?

Am I straddling the fence for anybody here? How badly do you want to do it?

Do you feel the fires of liberty burning inside? Because that's where it lives.

It's not the Constitution, it's not The Bill of Rights, it's not a peice of paper in Washington. You want to burn the Constitution? Do you want to shred the Bill of Rights? I don't care! You're not going to shut me up, you're not going to get my guns, because it's not the peice of paper that gives me my rights. It's the fact that I am standing here and no body is going to shut me up. If I can get my finger on the trigger, you will never get your hands on my gun.

Am I straddling the fence for anybody here?

We have to win. Our posterity, our children, our great-grandchildren--we owe it to them. This is the right thing to do. And John [Campagna] and I are going to continue doing this--with or without your help.

Because it is the right thing to do.

I feel so good reading that, over and over again. It rings with conviction and desire--something the duopoly totally lacks. Michael, I stand behind you, and so does everyone who understands what are forefathers meant by life, liberty and property.

God Bless America, again.

Michael Badnarik: My Own Personal Hero

Michael Badnarik and David Cobb were arrested friday night about fifteen minutes into the debate. And guess what? BIG SURPRISE--total media blackout. Ralph Nader gets 2.2% of election coverage, while Michael Badnarik, a presidential candidate backed by the largest third party in the country, gets POINT ZERO-FIVE PERCENT (0.05%) He's on the ballot in 48 states and D.C.

Only C-SPAN mentioned it briefly the next morning, while on the internet, only the 'alternative' media like Fark.com, Slashdot, PBS, etc.

This sickens me so much. But Michael and David are out of jail, they probably will have to pay a fine or something, but that's no big deal. If you are interested in reading more about this, click on any one of these links:

Pictures
Article
The AP notes the incedent in there article about the debates
Pro Green party article

I could go on, but if you want to find more information, it's not easy, because its only alternative media. Try googling it.

Both Cobb and Badnarik have participated in FOUR none-scripted, real debates so far this election with a fifth schedualed for Oct. 15th. They always invite other candidates (Kerry, Bush, Nader, Petrouka) But only Petrouka has ever joined them. I guess the Republicrats are to scared to debate a real candidate. Anyway, I am praying that the AZLP (Arizona Libertarian Party) succeeds in either stopping the third debate or getting third parties (specifically Michael Badnarik) allowed into the debate. How are they doing this? Here's the article: (Please read it)
Shutting down round three of the Bush - Kerry Infomercials


I'm going to post some more later. But I am PRAYING that the judge issues the immediate injunction to stop the debates unless all candidates are included. Then we'll know that if the debate is completely cancelled its because of fear and cowerdace on behalf of the 'big two'. Suck it Kerry and Bush!

BADNARIK: A Real Patriot

"IT IS NOT TOO SOON FOR HONEST MEN TO REBEL ..."
Badnarik: I will debate or be arrested

October 8, 2004
For Immediate Release
Contact: Stephen P. Gordon
Office: (512) 637-6867
Cell: (256) 227-8360
communications@badnarik.org

Michael Badnarik, the Libertarian Party's 2004 presidential nominee, will debate John Kerry and George W. Bush in St. Louis on Friday. Or he'll go to jail instead.

"A majority of Americans say that I should be included in the events sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates," says Badnarik, 50, of Austin, Texas. "And the CPD, as a non-profit, has received special treatment from government on the requirement that they be non-partisan in their activities. Bi-partisan is not non-partisan.

"Unless I am allowed to participate, the debates become a massive campaign contribution to two of the candidates, illegal under the very campaign finance laws those two candidates have passed and signed as Senator and President."

At 8 p.m. on Friday evening, Badnarik, along with the demonstrators expected to assemble in protest against his exclusion, will proceed to the police line erected to keep himself and the other legitimate candidates out during broadcast of the "bi-partisan campaign commercial."

And then he will cross it.

"We'd have preferred to see John Kerry and George Bush stand up like men to debate the issues facing America," says Badnarik's communications director, Stephen Gordon. "However, they have interposed the machinery of government between the American people and the honest debate which must precede any honest election. Now it's up to patriots like Michael Badnarik to force the issue." In Arizona, the Libertarian Party is taking the state university to court to prevent the expenditure of state money on a similar event.

Badnarik has previously debated David Cobb, the Green Party's candidate; Michael Peroutka of the Constitution Party; and Walt Brown of the Socialist Party. Kerry and Bush, as well as Independent Ralph Nader, declined to participate in those debates. Tomorrow morning, he will proceed from a New York taping with Bill Moyers to St. Louis, ready to take on the Republican and Democratic machines in defense of American democracy.

Voters in 48 states and the District of Columbia will be able to vote for Badnarik on November 2nd. More than 600 Libertarians currently serve in public office across the United States.
-30-

Additional press information:

- The protest will proceed from Northmoor Park on Big Bend Ave., just south of Washington University to the corner of Big Bend and Forsyth, where the police line is expected to be arrayed. Badnarik's crossing onto the Washington University campus will take place at that point, some time between 8 and 8:15 p.m. Badnarik and Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb plan to cross the police line together.

- The headline quote is from Thoreau, and intended to apply to the US occupation of Iraq:

"In other words, when ... a whole country is unjustly overrun and conquered by a foreign army, and subjected to military law, I think that it is not too soon for honest men to rebel and revolutionize. What makes this duty the more urgent is the fact that the country so overrun is not our own, but ours is the invading army." -- Henry David Thoreau, On the Duty of Civil Disobedience

Arizona Libertarians File Civil Suit To Stop Debate

EXCITING!

Phoenix - Arizona Libertarians filed a civil complaint yesterday seeking to shut down the third scheduled presidential debate between President Bush and Senator Kerry. This debate is scheduled for October 13 at the Arizona State University (ASU) campus in Tempe. Representatives of the Arizona Libertarian Party (AZLP) and of the Badnarik presidential campaign conducted a joint press conference after filing the complaint with the Maricopa County Superior Court.

When asked by reporters why the case was filed, AZLP Vice Chair Barry Hess responded, “They have absolutely no right to use our tax dollars for what is effectively a very expensive television commercial for Bush and Kerry. This case is about equal protection of the law and specific violations of the Arizona Constitution.” ... Click Here to Read the Full Article!

The Times They Are A-Changin'

My apologies to Bob Dylan for using a line from his song to adorn my pithy webspace.

But you may have noticed that this particular space is looking a TINY bit better. I removed the long standing Michael Badnarik flash animation, and will be (at some point) replacing that with a small photo/link to badnarik's site in the sidebar.

Additionally, the ads have moved to the bottom of the page, the google search field is gone, and the Archives list his been fixed so it actually is INSIDE the sidebar.

I've also added another site counter in the side bar.

All in all, I think these changes were long overdue and make the page look a little bit less sloppy. I'll post a little bit more tonight. Until then, BON VOYAGE! (Don't know why I said that.)

Interesting Article

I was reading Miscellanous Objections today, and I came across this article. Edwards was slick as a fox bringing up the GLBT issue.

Photoshop MEYHEM!

In my Digital Culture Class, we have been working with Adobe Photoshop and learning some of the basics for image manipulation. It's been a whole lot of fun. We've had three workshops so far, and each time we were given a set of images to work with, shown what to do, and then we were supposed to do it. Well, I had to add some stuff to mine, as you'll see. My apologies in advance to the copywrite holders who I have stepped on to make these images, I just wanted to learn and share!

Here they are! (I didn't post them here because I want to keep the page load speed up.)

#1 Lord of the Robots

#2 Skinhead Rolemodels

#3 Terminator's Reconstructive Surgery

Yeah, I'm sorry, but for an average work time of 30 minutes, and after minimal instruction, they are not too bad. Have a great night! I'm getting behind on reading again!

Sweet Surrender! (Don't ask me what that means)

Today I took the cover off of the air intake vent to check the condition of the filter--and SUPRISE! That's what I found! There are definately years of grime and sick nastiness all over it. (The two clean spots come from where I pulled a thick layer of lint and dust sprewed everywhere, and the large one in the middle comes from an obstruction inside the duct, making it impossible for air to pass through that part of the filter.)

Random Thought: If Cheney randomly pulled out a Glock and shot Senator Edwards in the chest during the VP debates, it would be the most newsworthy event ever. I mean, you could just see that guy stewing in his seat. I wish we could get like a CNN scroll bar that could display the other persons thoughts while they were speaking. It would be a HOOT!

On a side note, I think the Democrats are going overboard. Cheney probably didn't lie about meeting Edwards. Give the guy a break, I know the Democrats want any ammunition they can get, but consider this: Cheney "meets" thousands of people a year, and attends many meetings and events. I can forgive the fact that he forgot, and secondly, maybe he didn't forget. I know that I don't really consider it "meeting" to sit next to someone or thank them for speaking. Meeting is talking to one another. And that is the first time Cheney and Edwards have talked face to face.

I also don't think that Cheney is that bad for supporting the president. This administrations enemies and our former allies already think we are stupid and don't know how to run our country. Its bad enough that the people are divided. If the president and the vice-president were divided, no one would listen to us! Cheney has made the choice to support the president, and I can respect that, because of his position. That's not to say I would do the same thing, but that's the decision he made when he ran with Bush in 2000, and he's not going to change his mind.

Anyway, on to lighter matters:

I had a dream that the T lines were automated, and a car was stopped on the tracks above ground on the green line, and the train stopped short (but in time) and everyone was hurled to the ground. Weird.

Took the T over to the State street station, and walked to my bank to cash a check my father sent me. On the way back, I noticed a T sign (indicating a station) much closer to the bank, so I went in, and it was access to the aquarium station (the stop right after State St.) So I walked down...and down... and down... (three long flights of stairs) until finally I emerged at the far end of the platform, as the outbound train left the station. The people who had just gotten off the train went up the clacking escalators, and I was struck with the awesome realization that I had the entire station to myself! It's very odd to been in a cavern that is actually underneath an underground 10 lane highway (the Big Dig) that is as long as a city block, but be all alone. The place echoed the clack, clack, clacking of the escalators, and I shouted

"This station is empty and abandoned! Except for me!"

It sounds corny, but it was a glorious experience while it lasted.

Fall is Here, and I'm Getting Involved

The sun is setting sooner, the leaves are changing, the air is cooler, and the apples are perfect! Fall in New England is here, and I think it is wonderful. (Of course, in a few months when it's -30F with the wind chill, I'm probably going to want to die) But right now I love it!

Anyway, today I tracked down some cardboard and built an extension on the end of my desk, effectivly utilizing formerly unaccessable space. (Unbeknownst to him, Thaddeus old desk, which used an empty weedwhacker box for a support, gave me the idea to use cardboard instead of wood). It doesn't look incredibly flashy, but it doesn't clash, and it gets the job done. When you consider how ugly college furniture is in the first place, its really not that bad. Once again, if I had a digital camera I could take a picture for you, but I don't.

I'm also starting to realize that my schedule is filling up pretty rapidly. I've got to work out time management, but I've done pretty well, I think. I don't remember if I said so or not, but I am the PA (production assistant) in charge of Guests for the Emerson Channel program 'Speechless', and I'm doing some assistant shoots for random events on campus. Also, I should be making some segments for 'Speechless' too.

Yesterday I learned a little bit about the Bolex film camera. This is an ACTUAL FILM CAMERA, and I'm so excited to use one on Friday morning, when I and some other students from the film group "Women in Motion" will take some film shots. Some of the neat things about this camera is that it is windable, and when fully wound, it can run for 18-21 seconds in one shot, limiting your shout lenght, obviously. Also, being film, we will not be recording sound (at least this time) but It's going to be terrific.

Sent in my absentee ballot yesterday, so I'm glad I've got that done and on its way.

I need to get reading on my homework--but have a wonderful evening!

Today was interesting to say the least

Well, you've seen the drama. Moving on to the normal parts of my life:

Today I had my Concept Development Course, in which we learned about the proper formatting of a screenplay and we talked about memerable or intruiging characters. It was, as always, a great class.

Someone in the Public Safety finally told me that I could give them my drivers license and keep the key all day, effectively saving me FOUR trips a day, and countless prescious minutes. All in all, it is a much better arrangment.

It's been a triring day. I got a call from David, my brother, which was a lot of fun, since I haven't heard from him since I began school. I also had my digital culture class, which was great. We had some great disscussion about how we are becoming less and less autonomous, as we develop this technology which allows us to strech ourselves across time and space, becoming "electronic nomads". Fascinating.

We also watched this movie called Koyaanisqatsi: Life out of Balance. It is an amazing peice of, for lack of a word "art film", which exposes our urban landscape in a new way, with an incredible soundtrack by Phillip Glass.

I better get started on my 3-5 page art paper that's due at 10am tommorow, huh?

Goodnight all!

Oh Boy, I Have Alienate More People Again

I'll try to keep this brief. You're absolutely right, my blog is on the internet, and it is public. I realize now that was a mistake, since I no longer control who views the blog. My intent was not to please anyone.

1. I am not perfect, so if you want to find something about me to tear down and pick apart, its not difficult or impressive.
2. If you don't like what I say, you don't have to read. No one forces you to come here.
3. The lines of internet property are still being drawn. With physical land the laws are clear--you can control what people do and say on your property, but internet property is still unclear.
4. This blog is written for me and my friends and family.
5. You're view of how the internet and my blog should be run is just that--your view. Thanks for sharing, and I'll think it over.

I'm still in a lot of turmoil over this. It just pisses me off to no end, and none of the options appeal to me right now.... I don't know what I'll do regarding this blog. But thanks for your opinions.

I am going to move on, however. That's one thing that Thad was right about, I am taking things from these people to seriously. I know they are my enemies, and by responding in the first place, I am encouraging them. That's what flamers do...if I hadn't played their game, they'd have moved on to someone else's blog right now. Thanks for helping me realize that problem.

Is This True?

I just received this comment. Is it true? You decide.

From a different person, who knows who the first poster was...

It's funny cause people who you consider friends...well if they post anonymously, you treat them like shit however if they say something you don't like and post their names, it's ok and it's just debate. Sounds like you change depending on the situation just like the people who are running for president do. Hypocrisy!

Besides, I do remember a third party being involved in a presidential debate in the past, but perhaps you are too young to remember it. Ross Perot. So if he could get in to debate with the "big leagues" why can't anyone else these days.

You think you are so much smarter than everyone else and you simply aren't. You are entitled to your opinion but you need to step back and see the flaws that are within yourself.
I've now completely lost faith that you are the person I once thought you were. It's a shame too. You had so much potential.

Apparently someone I don't know and never met had lost faith in me. What did they have faith in me for? What is the motivation? I have faith in Michael Badnarik to be a man of principle and to do the right thing based on what I've seen. What are you hoping for?

People apparently want perfection. Well, I'm human, and will never be perfect. Yes I remember Ross Perot, but he was allowed into the debate because the Bush campaign WANTED him in the debate. (Read More About Perot Here) Second, the reason I treat anonimity with no respect is because they deserve it when the only reason they are posting is to tear down as much as they can. I have no regrets about that. Wanting to know who you are talking to is not hypocritical. Neither is it flip-floping. I've always been that way. Diedrich: I'm sorry you expect people to be perfect, because you are going to have a rough time in life if you can only believe in pefection.

Oh, once more about the debates: read up about WHY they can't get into the debates at www.opendebate.com. You'll see that it was very fluky that Perot got in.

In closing, once again I feel hurt, because I've been attacked. But it's not the first time, and I know it will not be the last. I know I'm not the smartest person, being at college reinforces that over and over again. But I never said anything here was cut in stone, gospel truth. I'm a learning, growing, 18-year-old human being, who is trying to make personal sense of this world. Obviously I want every one to like me, but that's immpossible. If I pandered and tried to get everyone to agree with me, I'd be, as you say Deidrich, a hypocrite, acting just like the two candidates I dissagree with.

"The world will not evolve past its current state of crisis by using the same thinking that created the situation."

Albert Einstein

174th SemiAnnual General Conference

I forgot to update yesterday, but I was so tired when I got home at about 10:30pm, I basically sluffed about and went to bed.

So this weekend is the 174th Semiannual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. That means that the leaders of the church broadcast a world-wide meeting--Every latter-day saint in the world watches this program--live. It's really quite a massive program, because they translate it into over 60 languages simultaniously, including Tagalog, Quiche, Slovenian, Pohnpeian, Kekchi, adn Cakchiquel, to name some of the strangest sounding ones. For a full list Click Here.

So the general broadcast lasts Saturday and Sunday, with two two-hour sessions a day, totaling eight hours. Plus a special two-hour Priesthood Session on Saturday night. The conference happens twice a year, and it is quite an event.

Fortunately for me, I was able to attend all three sessions yesterday, and really enjoyed hearing the speakers, and of course the Prophet. I wish I had noted who spoke about forgiveness during the monday morning session, because I need to get a copy of that. Everything he said hit such a cord with me that I had to leave after he was finished to cry. He was speaking directly to me, I know it, and I could feel that apostle's love for me and his ernest desire to help. It's good to know, and gives me a little more strength.

Today, because I have so much homework to do, I will stay home and listen to the broadcast over the internet. (I was going to do work yesterday, but it didn't happen.) It takes between 20 minutes and 40 minutes to get to the church, depending on whether or not you catch the trains right and they don't get delayed. So inbetween sessions yesterday, rather than going home or doing the homework which I had brought, I decided to go up to MIT and see Justin Curry. He met me, and oddly enough Dusty Sharpes was us from his school visiting too! So he showed me quickly around the campus. But the most exciting part was his dormitory--he told me it was the most expensive dormitory ever constructed, and I could believe it.

As you walked up to it, there is no scale, because there are THOUSANDS of windows in the building. This is because there are three 2x2ft windows stacked for each floor, making it appear much taller. I can't really describe this building very well, because it is so incredible. If Frank Lloyd Wright had been crossed with a cubist Salvador Dali, this is what he would have made. It was amazing. Please visit MIT Projects Page to see more pictures, as I LOVE this building. Here are some selected pictures:


So anyway, that's all folks!

Ridin' the Rails and other Ills

Since my October T-pass began working today, I hopped on the T and went down to the library to get a library card and return one that I had found on the ground. After that, I got on again, transfered to the Blue line and went out to the end of the line, which is in a place called "Wonderland"--but don't be fooled. It's stupid, there is nothing there. So I got back on the T going inbound, and got off at the Logan Airport Station, and took a shuttle bus into the Delta terminal. While I was there it was an incredible blast from the past, as I used to fly out of Boston pretty frequently while I was living in Maine. I saw the Rube Goldberg Machines that they have in the ticket terminal, and the little playarea on the side. It's too bad you can't go through security without a ticket anymore, because I would've gone in and explored some more. Then I rode some escalators and moving walkways, trying to get good views on the INCREDIBALLY complex systems that they have. Totally amazing to see--I wish I had someone to share the fun with, though.

Lot's happened today, and yet at the same time very little happened. I had to get up at about 8am to return a key to the Emerson Channel, and then I checked my e-mail and showered, and then I went to Concept Development.

That is hardcore my favorite class. When we do Instant Story, I laugh SO HARD. In the story my group wrote, we had references to the movie Phonebooth, the tv show Aqua Teen Hunger Force and something else, we were on a roll. I should type that up and post it for you, but I don't have the written copy.

After class I had lunch and got a call from Elizabeth, the segment producer for "Speechless" wanting to know if I could help her film/edit a segement this week, but I couldn't because this weekend is General Conference. However, they are going to be "using" me in the future for segement production. This all is great news. Then later today, I was e-mailed and offered to job of Production Assitant in charge of Guest/Audience Hospitality, or something fancy like that. I took the job.

I have all this homework that I should be doing, but instead I am writing in this silly blog. The consistant size of my posts is pretty sweet. I spend about an hour a day updating my two blogs (one is for a school assignment), even though very few people read them. Argh. Pirates.

Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers need to make another album. I mean, when they sing christmas songs, my heart melts. AMAZING. ;)

Listen A-hole...

If you think your so darn clever to leave your "revealing" posts which are retarded and prove nothing, you should be man enough to step up to the plate and identify yourself instead of leaving an anonymous comment like a wimp.

Why wasn't Michael Badnarik there? Oh, I don't know, lets try the fact that third parties aren't ALLOWED in the debates.... Michael Badnarik does debate--a real debate, like the kind high-school debate teams have, and the libertarian party had an OPEN DEBATE and invited ALL PARTIES CANDIDATES to participate, but both Kerry and Bush declined. Sounds like your candidates are the one's who were AWOL... Oh wait! That's because they don't have positions, they have answers which change depending on the demographics and poll ratings of the group they are infront of.

Here is an article supporting this evidence: I dare you to show me where Michael Badnarik, Ralph Nader, David Cobb, and Michael Peroutka among others were invited.

OPEN UP THE DEBATES

The Washington Post
David Broder
Thursday, September 30, 2004

Almost unbeknownst to the citizens of this great republic, our election process is being bent in opposite directions by legal and institutional forces oblivious to each other -- and to the damage they are doing to the workings of our democracy.

One set of players -- Congress, the courts and regulatory agencies -- has opened the presidential campaign to massive and hugely expensive intervention by groups outside the two-party system. The airwaves are filled with ads and the battleground states are crawling with workers financed by independent groups at least nominally uncontrolled by the Republican or Democratic parties or the George Bush and John Kerry campaigns.

At the same time, the presidential debates that are probably the single most important part of the contest have been negotiated privately by the two major candidates' personal representatives and are being presented by an organization representing the two major parties -- and only those parties.

It is not difficult to make a case for either of these arrangements. But the juxtaposition defies logic and can distort the overall campaign process.

Much has been said -- here and in other commentary -- about the enlarged role in this election being played by non-party groups, the so-called 527 and 501c organizations that were created as vehicles for unlimited large donations of "soft money," which the McCain-Feingold law said the two major parties could no longer accept. Millions of dollars have flowed into these new channels, and the impact of their ads and voter mobilization efforts is significant.

Some regard this as a dangerous loophole in the law and argue for restricting these outside players. But in a free society, there is a principled argument for protecting individuals' right to express their views on candidates and issues at the time the nation is choosing its leaders -- rather than requiring that all spending be controlled by the office seekers or parties themselves.

When it comes to the debates, recent practice (since 1988) has given the sponsorship to the private, nonprofit Commission on Presidential Debates, formed by the two major parties and headed by former chairmen of the Republican and Democratic national committees. The commission has been successful in institutionalizing the debates, which were only intermittently scheduled and too often allowed to lapse when they were in the hands of the television networks or the League of Women Voters.

For that the country can be grateful. But controversy has grown over the commission's ground rules, which tend to restrict participation to the Republican and Democratic nominees. The exclusion of Ross Perot in 1996 and of Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan in 2000 was the subject of protest and litigation, but the commission stuck to its guns. This year, once again, it is only Bush and Kerry who received the coveted invitations for 4 1/2 hours of prime-time discourse on all the TV networks.

It is perfectly sensible to assert, as the commission does, that voters are most interested in seeing direct interaction between the two candidates who actually have a realistic prospect of winning the election, rather than cluttering the screen with a bunch of also-rans.

But if the law allows (and in some ways encourages) both donors and grass-roots activists to go outside the two-party system to participate in the campaign, then what is the logic of restricting the debates to those who have passed through the major-party primaries and conventions?

It would be better to recognize the special and valuable role of the major parties -- as we do by subsidizing their general election campaigns with taxpayer funds and by ensuring that their nominees get to debate -- but at the same time to leave the door open for outsider participation, both in debates and in independent campaign spending and activity.

The way to do this is to nudge the TV networks to carry one more presidential debate -- open to all those candidates who have qualified for ballot position in a majority of states. Scheduled early in the autumn, such a debate could provide valuable exposure this year for Nader, Green Party candidate David Cobb, Libertarian Michael Badnarik and Constitution Party candidate Michael Peroutka. Major-party nominees could be invited to join them if they wished.

Should any of the minor-party candidates strike a chord -- as Perot did when allowed into the 1992 debate or as Jesse Ventura did in Minnesota in 1998 -- the public reaction, as measured by polls, would be enough to qualify him for the later debates with the major-party nominees.

It is possible to preserve the advantages of the two-party system and still have an open democracy. It ought to happen in 2008.

If you are actually interested in educting yourself, which I highly doubt, you can visit OpenDebates.com and read up. So F off. Say something productive for once.

Presidental Debate, Video Taping, and Whatever

I didn't watch the presidential debates tonight, for several reasons. One being that I was busy taping, and two, I don't need to hear the scripted ramblings of two men with essentially the same agenda. Besides, John Stewert and the Daily Show showed me the funniest parts anyway, saving me time, and we all know that time is money. This time it was specifically true.

I was video taping this screening of a film called "About Baghdad" and the Q&A which followed. I really had a great time because I was getting paid, watching a movie that I thoroughly enjoyed, and was video taping something. So FINALLY I felt somewhat involved.

I'm also procrastinating on my homework. Not that I'm "behind" but it will take a while to read all the stuff I need to read.

Thanks for the encouragement. I am feeling a little better, but I still need a friend.