Aug

24

California.

Filed Under Personal | 3 Comments

Tomorrow, D and I are flying to California. San Francisco, to be precise. But we’re actually then driving south to visit D’s brother in Lompoc. Where we’ll see J, A, and the new baby R. En route, we’re planning to stop off in Monterrey. Because a week in Lompoc is not a desirable outcome.

Aug

22

Astral Weeks vs. The Wire.

Filed Under Broadcast Media, Music | Leave a Comment

Had a moment when I thought I heard Van Morrison singing “Stringer Bell” in “Ballerina,” which was recorded way back in 1968. Wild reference, no? Exciting. Moved “The Wire” up in my Netflix queue as a result.

Then was disappointed to discover that Stringer Bell’s name was actually the composite of two Baltimore figures named Stringer Reed and Roland Bell. And that I had misheard the lyrics, which are actually “is ring a bell,” a line which is preceded by “all you gotta do.”

I suppose this is what happens in modernity: the perception that certain things are knowing, intelligent gestures, or at least real, interesting coincidences gets ruined by the easy fact-check-ability the Internet provides. Ugh. No more magic.

Aug

21

Should I be suspicious…

Filed Under Personal | 2 Comments

…that my doctor, during the first physical examination I’ve had since I was a teenager, asked me to turn my head and cough? Is that actually done by reputable medical providers anymore? Or is he fucking with me? And why did the nurse set out a big pile of lube on the counter if he wasn’t even going to bother checking my prostate? And why on Earth would he suggest medication as the first line of defense against mildly inflated blood pressure? And should I be concerned that I got one and a half tetanus shots because the first shot blew up in the nurse’s face?

Aug

20

Not-actually-high conversations always leave me puzzled in hindsight.

Filed Under Politics | 3 Comments

Can anyone tell me what Hudson and I meant when we suggested we ought to advocate the “Netflix model of immigration” in the reform movement? And why we thought Obama would find it obvious?

Aug

19

Westlaw.

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My firm ditched our Westlaw subscription a while back. Partly because the Bar Association started offering included-with-dues access to a retarded stepchild version called Casemaker. And partly because, being in Olympia, the Temple of Justice sits only a few minutes walk from my office. And, well, they’ve got taxpayer supported pretty comprehensive Westlaw access there for the taking. And, unlike at the King County Courthouse, there’s usually a terminal open.

Over the past week or so, while I’ve been drafting responsive briefs, I’ve been up at the Temple several times. On one occasion, I realized that it pays to examine printing cost policies before printing. Twenty-five cents a page can add up, especially when combined with a “no card” policy and a generally light-on-cash wallet, to an embarrassing trip to the ATM. On another occasion, while searching for something or other, I happened upon an order in the very case I was researching. That’s right: my name came up on Westlaw. Without me searching for it specifically. Is that cool or what?

Aug

18

Exhausted.

Filed Under Law, Personal | 4 Comments

I haven’t had a day off in weeks. What with writing a response to an incredibly poorly written Rule 56 motion (which not only neglected to state the summary judgment standard, but also completely missed the point of summary judgment by attaching hundreds of pages of exhibits that address disputed issues of material fact, and only got around to argument during the last four pages of the twenty-five page brief). And banging out a response to a motion for reconsideration/motion for discretionary review certification that’s making my earlier victory somewhat less exciting. And preparing for several jury trials. And completing a jury trial (not guilty!). And attending a two-day capacity building training. And working on the house by e.g. building a raised bed, reshuffling and organizing belongings, using a ski and a rake to move the backyard hose under the deck, planning to build and install a shelf, and actually installing overpriced shades that turned out to not to be what we ordered. And getting on the phone with JC Penney, trying to get satisfaction.

After all that, it’s amazing I found time to read the second Stephanie Meyer book and giggle and sob like a demented female tween. Although at this point I’m steeped enough in “True Blood” vampire mythology to be, well, bothered by the discrepancies. It’s also amazing that I’ve been able to discover and largely consume the men who look like old lesbians photo-blog.

Aug

13

So 2000 and late.

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As much as I can’t stand Black Eyed Peas, I’m always amazed at how much worse Fergie’s contributions make otherwise awful songs. It’s a gift, frankly, that keeps me from listening to pop radio more than I do. That and the reprehensibly overplayed Soulja Boy. That said, I am digging Eminem’s latest dis record. And revisiting my favorite Fiddy songs sans Queen mashup.

Aug

1

Olympia City Council election.

Filed Under Olympia | 6 Comments

Got my ballot in today’s mail for the upcoming August 18th primary election. Apparently I’m only eligible to weigh in regarding Position Nos. 4 and 5 for the Olympia City Council.

The contenders for Position No. 4 include Karen Veldheer, Amy Tousley, and Karen Rogers. Ms. Veldheer (1) is a home schooler, (2) had shitty residences built, then sued the builder about their shittiness, and (3) let her domain registration lapse. Ms. Rogers met my wife when she came a-knocking at our house. Ms. Rogers apparently is one of the “don’t wall off our waterfront” nutjobs, and got into a fight with D. So Amy Tousley it is. At least she appears competent.

The candidates for Position No. 5 are Janine Gates, Stephen Buxbaum, and the incumbent Jeff Kingsbury. I have complicated feelings toward Mr. Kingsbury. Never met the guy personally, but have a lot of friends that get a distinctly bad vibe from the guy. That said, he seems to ridicule the appropriately ridiculed, has made reasonably good decisions on the Council in the past, and runs a damned fine theater in downtown. So I’m torn. Janine Gates appears to be saying mostly the right things. Although I’m a little concerned about opinion regarding the isthmus rezone, she appears to have thought about her position, and her position is a little more nuanced than some. But ultimately, I’m most impressed with Stephen Buxbaum, who seems to have a better answer than Gates about why she’s running against Kingsbury in particular, as well as better experience and specifics regarding handling the budget situation.