Mar

31

Endangered species.

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A recent post by the great thinker Kyle evidenced a misunderstanding about what efforts to save endangered species are really about. Kyle’s source Adam Brown (at Cracked) expressed disbelief that saving peregrine falcons as a species could ever be outweighed by the number of humans saved by widely employing DDT (which would presumably reduced the number of mosquitoes, and so mosquito-spread diseases, like malaria). Kyle and his source miss the point. I agree that if we could be assured the demise of peregrine falcons would only result in the demise of peregrine falcons, we’d be a lot closer to deciding whether to attempt to save all those people from malaria. But we cannot be so assured. Natural systems are systems. The extinction of peregrine falcons could trigger all sorts of other upsets in the natural order that may, ultimately, when the dominoes are done falling, exterminate humanity. The problem is we just don’t know. Every time a species goes extinct, we lose another avenue for self-preservation. So we try to keep everything as close to how it was as possible. Or at least keep our options open, using zoos and other unnatural preserves of what once was, so that we can at least attempt to restore a species that, as it may turn out down the line, to have been absolutely instrumental in keeping homo sapiens from going the way of the dinosaurs. The whole “endangered species” movement is at least in part about not fucking with systems we don’t understand that, ultimately, support the human race’s survival.

Mar

31

Fuck political parties.

Filed Under Olympia, Politics | 1 Comment

As an alternate for Obama, this evening I attended a training put on by the Obama camp for the Thurston County Democrats’ upcoming county convention. Waste of time. The useful information–like the fact that the April 5th date is inapplicable to those of us in the 3rd Congressional District and 22nd Legislative District, or that precinct-level alternates are eligible to run as statewide delegates–could have been communicated more effectively in a page or two. The bulk of the evening was useless information and the sort of the “rally the troops” condescension that makes me want to burn political parties to the ground. For over two hours, I listened to the Thurston County Sheriff endorse Obama (eloquently, if uselessly, given the audience), the “training” organizers blather about how the site they chose for the county convention has insufficient parking, several people complain that because they live in the 2nd Congressional District, most of the information presented really doesn’t apply to them, several other people complain that they’re being priced out of being state-level delegates by the suggested $50 donation and the cost of gasoline and lodging, and at least one person point out the discrepancy to the Democrats championing “GLBT” diversity, but failing to recognize transgendered individuals by forcing delegates into either the “male” or “female” box. Which is not to say these were not legitimate items for discussion. But the planners were absolutely awful at explaining themselves in a succinct and helpful manner.

And, more to the point, I was constantly on the verge of asking why a party that self-styles itself “Democratic” completely fails to choose its nominee in a democratic manner. The caucus system itself is already designed to disenfranchise more people than necessary. [While I acknowledge the limitations of a traditional primary vote, it at least has the advantage of not turning away those with disabilities (the caucus I attended was decidedly wheelchair-unfriendly), those with jobs that require their presence on Saturday mornings, and those who are not particularly interested in sitting around for several hours to cast a vote.] But then to follow it up with a severe whittling down of the number of representatives? At each stage, each “delegate” represents more and more people, and is more and more empowered to change his mind about whom he is supporting. The system is designed to encourage seedy lobbying and bribery. And if that weren’t enough, only 51 of the 97 national delegates from Washington are actually chosen at the congressional district level. The balance are chosen because they’re party leaders, because they’re “diverse” (read: black, legless, bisexual, and under twenty-five), or because they’re “super” (read: elected to “important” positions, like Governor or U.S. Senator). This sort of system is enough to make you give up on the whole damn voting system and give over the political decisionmaking to a random number generator.

But that’s the wrong impulse. The right response, after learning more about how fucked up the political system in this country, is to want to limit as much as possible the amount of sway political parties have. I want the Thurston Democrats and Republicans to have as much political power as the Thurston County Economic Development Council or the League of Women Voters. In other words, take the political parties out of politics. Let the people decide with as few or as many filters as they want. If the endorsement of Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire matters to an individual, that’s fine. But her status as a superdelegate, and her resultant influence on ballot access, is completely unacceptable. If I don’t care what Governor Gregoire thinks about which presidential candidate is viable or qualified, I should be able to reject her advice. Under the current system, I cannot. And that’s un-American.

Mar

30

Wedding planning.

Filed Under Wedding | 3 Comments

More than most weekends in recent memory, the weekend that is now coming to a close was filled with wedding planning. Celebratory bubbles were purchased. Work on the chuppah continued. A tentative menu was set with the caterer. Specific processional and recessional sequencing was conceived. Much information about the relationship and individuals involved was communicated to the officiant. Some music was played, and choices made about what tunes when. Pastafarian vows were considered. Exhausting.

The meeting with caterer was particularly tiring. Many topics we had not thought of before were broached, including what sort of accent linens we want on the tables. Many topics we had thought of before were left unsettled, like how do we drop off the wedding cakes at the reception hall if no one will be there until three in the afternoon and not have it fuck with our shit? And the subject of the vegetarian entrees caused panic in the frontwoman, such that she invited the sous-chef up from the kitchen to deal with me. I started the conversation by specifically ruling out pasta as an option. Which killed the “vegetarian lasagna” and “pasta primavera” defaults. The sous-chef started by mentioning gnocchi, before seeing that I meant business. Indian food, baked tofu, and other assorted standards made an appearance, and were rejected because the menu isn’t really just about me. Ultimately, I’m reasonably satisfied with the explanation why my entree of choice at Carmelita is a non-starter (essentially, in a buffet setting, the risotto cakes would dissolve into the ragout long before guests get served), and why foul was not a reasonable (i.e. cost effective) option (essentially, the Olympia-based caterers have just as much difficulty obtaining fava beans as I do). And I’m reasonably satisfied with the choice we ultimately made: an artichoke, olive, chick pea, and couscous dish. Although I was a little miffed when the sous-chef made some crack about it being just like a Moroccan classic without the lamb. But it was tiring because the wedding caterer industry has a history of doing things a certain way, and deviating from that causes the caterers concern.

Mar

30

Beer.

Filed Under Food & Drink, Olympia | Leave a Comment

As someone who enjoys drinking beer, I was pleased to find Olympia has a pretty solid beer shop in Gravity, a rockin’ beermaking supply store in HealthCrafts, and a fantastic microbrewery in Fish Brewing Company. And did I mention they’re all within walking distance of my house?

To help me remember what beers I’ve tried, I decided to start using All Consuming to keep track. This replaces Coastr, which was never exactly what I was looking for.

Mar

30

Blintzapalooza.

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The Olympian ran a piece about Temple Beth Hatfiloh, the current incarnation of one of the oldest Jewish communities in Washington State, with roots back into the middle of the nineteenth century. Given that Eurasian derivatives didn’t really play much of a role in Washington history until the middle of the nineteenth century, that’s pretty damned old. Accompanying that piece? A nod toward the annual Blintzapalooza, featuring cheese blintzes with fruit, bagels with lox, and reasonably priced used books. D and I attended and picked up a few books and a few blintzes. Hooray!

Mar

26

Sesame Street Sings!

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After suckling at the teat of Sad Kermit, I thought it might be nice to mentally compile a track listing for an album featuring Sesame Street characters singing popular songs. The only one I’ve thought of so far is Oscar the Grouch covering Jonathan Richman’s “True Love Is Not Nice.” Suggestions?

Mar

26

The General.

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For such a landmark film, Buster Keaton’s The General came as something of a let down. Not that it was a bad film. Far from it. Even for today, its locomotive chases (think car chases, but with trains) are nothing short of extraordinary. Its plot (guy urged to enlist as grunt in Confederate army by pro-war hoochie, rejected because he has a real job, then goes on to prove himself militarily anyway with subterfuge, luck, and a big pair of brass balls) still seems fresh. The Civil War backdrop, I’m told, is more accurately constructed than many of its contemporaries (e.g. Birth of a Nation, Gone with the Wind). But something was missing. And that something was the humor. I’m not immune to finding Keaton funny; I thoroughly enjoyed and laughed at Seven Chances. And there were a few moments in The General that were giggle-worthy. But overall, although I was engaged by the story, I was not laughing. Which for a famous comedy is something of a shame. Anyone else have this reaction?

Mar

23

Console vs. game.

Filed Under Gaming | 3 Comments

Man, can Henry Rollins speak. A cross between a Denis Leary-style comedian and a “This American Life” essayist, but inhabiting the body of a self-deprecating former 80s pop star with absurdly enhanced stamina and rage. I guess I’m trying to describe is Michael Palin, born in an alternate universe in America a couple of decades late, and joining a Washington, D.C. punk band instead of a comedy troupe. Or something.

After over three hours of listening to non-stop amusing anecdotes, political rants, and a pretty entertaining demon voice, I was impressed with Mr. Rollins’s packed-house performance at the Capitol Theater last night. But something rubbed me the wrong way. Well, a lot of things rubbed me the wrong way, because like most political comedians (which is primarily what the former Blag Flag frontman has become), his stage naivete and overrsimplification (which may or may not be representative of his private self) gets grating after a while. But that comes with the territory any time there’s a one-sidedness and performance aspect to what’s being said. No, what bothered me about Mr. Rollins was that he referred to an Xbox 360 as a “game.”

See, many older people who came of age before video games were an at-home staple don’t seem to be able to get their heads around the word “console.” Hell, I’m not sure I was aware of the term when I first managed to convince Santa Claus to drop an Atari 7800 in my lap, so I can’t blame them for not getting the lingo straight. But there’s something awful about people using the word “game” in place of “console.” “Gaming system” would be fine. “Machine” works. “Thingy that the game goes in” will do. But Xboxes, Wiis, PlayStations, Gameboys, and Geneses are not games. Any more than a football field is a game. Or a computer with Minesweeper pre-installed is a game. They are equipment.

So, Mr. Rollins, when you get on stage in the future with a story about grown men fighting over an Xbox 360 as evidence that Christmas is awful, please pay attention to what you’re saying. The Xbox 360 is a console, not a game.

Mar

20

Questions about “The Office.”

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Mar

19

Southland Tales.

Filed Under Film | 1 Comment

A few thoughts after viewing Southland Tales:

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