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    Saturday, January 31, 2004

    Much Lighter

    Check out this ToTC post for a much lighter politically themed entry.

    NOW WITH PICTURES!

    posted at 9:19 AM

    Tuesday, January 27, 2004

    I Call Bullshit

    So, as the numbers roll in, it looks like yet another Democratic Primary is ready to go to the blandest, most unappealing candidate. To me, this is very upsetting.

    You’ve probably gathered by now (and possibly from before) that I was – and still am – a strong supporter of Howard Dean. I like his record, I like his balance of social programs and fiscal conservatism, I like that he was among the first public figures to stand up to the current administration, and I like that he’s from New England … and I scored 86% compatibility via SelectSmart’s online quiz.

    There are a lot of reasons Dean’s campaign looks like it’s going downhill. While it may be a little tired, I can’t help but notice the staggering amount of negative journalism given to Dean over the last few weeks. For a profession that is supposed to maintain objectivity as its foundation, reading stories describing Dean as “maniacal,” “hysterical,” etc., with storm fronts of innuendoes about “electability” just makes me feel so … damn frustrated. I’m not even getting into the use of the word “liberal” as a slur. Writers are no longer writing to inform, and it is disgusting.

    I just don’t understand how the vast majority of people in this country can be so blasé about an oligarchy of mediocre, closed-minded plutocrats running up deficits, getting us into wars, alienating virtually all of our allies, rolling back environmental protections, tearing through Constitutional rights and civil liberties for the benefit of a handful of people already too rich to care.

    By having almost all of his money coming from individuals contributing $100 or less (myself included), Dean looked like he was going to be something different. When it comes down to Election Day, I’m going to vote for whoever is not George W. Bush. I just hope I can do it without longing for something that could have been much, much better.

    I apologize for this uncharacteristically serious rant. This is just getting me very fired up lately.

    posted at 9:36 PM

    Sunday, January 25, 2004

    Brains.

    So it's been a while. I know.

    But I figured instead of going through the motions of one of those "Hey, I'm not dead (yet! ha ha), so please read my crap again" entries, the ones that everyone kind of thinks are cute, but kind of annoying. Well, you know what? Screw it. I'm dead. So don't expect much.

    Just pretend that any entries from now on have been written by Zombie Casey, and attribute any long periods of inactivity to me having to out and eat some brains or something.

    January, as you may have guessed, has been a little bit hectic. The whole moving back to California, getting started in the new job, getting my life back in order thing has been taking up most of my time. Good news is that just about everything (except for the money situation) has been great. The new job is a lot of work, but great (this weekend, I took a PS2 and copy of SOCOM home ... for HOMEWORK), seeing all the L.A. people I like again is great, and helping out recent-transplants Chris and Sara has been great, too.

    I just got a very nice email from the writer at Jon's Mind (an excellent site that you should visit often, by the way) that will hopefully help to light a fire under my writing desk. Unfortunately, that fire has yet to be fully lit, and I apologize for not being able to think of anything really pressing to share right now.

    Except maybe that we got our TiVo working and it is better than I could have ever imagined. I even figured out a way to get it to work without having a phone line, even though the people at DirecTV told us it couldn't be done. I don't want to put out a ringing endorsement right now, but based on all the experiences I've had with people at DirecTV, TiVo, and TigerDirect, I will say that I will never, ever go back to cable if I can help it ... but if I should want to pay a ton of money for a crummy product and rude service, I'll know who to turn to.

    More later. For now, brain-hunting.
    posted at 5:57 PM

    Tuesday, January 20, 2004

    Big Fat Berlin Update

    Check out Tale of Two Cities for a huge update on my dirty, dirty town.

    More substantial personal-style updates to come soon. I promise.

    No, really.
    posted at 7:25 PM

    Sunday, January 04, 2004

    Certified Badass

    Last night, I arrived back in Los Angeles. Looking out the window of the plane, I saw solid white and red bands on the lanes of the 405 Freeway. Everything is back to normal.

    The flight there was pretty awful, in other words completely normal. I flew Southwest Airlines for the first time. If anyone out there has flown with them before, you know that the first time you go through it, it's a little weird. No assigned seats, check-ins at each connecting flight, "colorful" employees. I guess it's the wild wild west of airlines. Truth be told, aside from the late planes, the lost ticket jacket with baggage claim stickers (thank you, TSA inspectors), and sinus infection that made it feel like the right side of my skull was going to explode on the descent into California, it wasn't all that bad. At least they fed me some pretty good snacks, which most airlines don't even bother with anymore.

    Recent-Los Angeles-transplant Laurel was kind enough to pick me up from LAX, and we came back to my apartment, had some delicious, delicious Baja Fresh burritos, and talked nerd while I sorted through my enormous pile of mail. Mostly bills and credit card applications, but I got a Spanish postcard from Wolf and a surprise card from long-ago-Slowkid Velvet (she graduated at the end of my freshman year), who is apparently about to get a Ph. D. in English. According to her letter, her "dissertation will change the way people look at English Renaissance literature produced or commissioned by law students between 1590 and 1640." Go get 'em, Velv.

    It's kind of weird, but now I think I miss New England more than I did when I first moved out here. I got to see and do 95% of what I wanted to do while I was there, and after a few days, didn't have the horror of a job search ruining it for me. Thanks to everyone who made my stay so enjoyable, especially Quinne and Dov for coming way out of their way to see me, and the kind folks at Berlin Station Cafe who plied us with alcohol and townie charm, as well as a Naked Karaoke t-shirt.

    Also, thanks to my dad for getting Scottie and I into the Berlin P.D. shooting range. Turns out we're both really good shots. Really good. We had a shooting contest before we left, where we each shot one clip trying to hit the target's left or right ear. Scott got 2 out of 8, and I got 5/8. Shooting at an ear. A fucking EAR, people! You'd best watch yourself, from now on, Los Angeles. I am a certified badass.

    Startin' my new job tomorrow morning. Wish me luck.
    posted at 4:06 PM