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This Is What Democracy Looks Like
November 3, 2008 – 5:31 pm
Phonebanking in the Mission. Awwww, yeah.
Ted Stevens CONVICTED on All Seven Counts!!!
October 27, 2008 – 10:14 pm
Ted Stevens CONVICTED on All Seven Counts!!!, originally uploaded by noveltimes.
Ah, the sweet sound of justice. And what sound might that be? Me screaming with delight in response to news that the nation’s longest sitting Senator was today convicted for seven counts of corruption. WOOO-HOOOOO!!
This has been coming for a long time. Stevens and his Senate partner-in-corruption Don Young have been ruling the Alaskan roost for too long and with too much disdain for the people and country they claim to represent. The Politico reports the following details about the case:
The indictment charges Stevens with failing to report on his financial disclosure forms $250,000 in “things of value” including remodeling work on his home, a Viking grill and a sweetheart deal on a Land Rover.
The indictment further alleges that “during the same time he was concealing his continued receipt of these things of value from VECO and [VECO executive Bill J.] Allen,” that Stevens “received solicitations for official actions from Allen and other VECO employees, and that Sen. Stevens used his position and office on behalf of VECO during that same time period.”
In exchange, according to the indictment, the oil services company asked Stevens for help with company projects in Pakistan and Russia, as well as a National Science Foundation grant to a VECO subsidiary.
The piece goes on to say that prosecutors may be close to an actual bribery charge. Needless to say, this doesn’t bode well for the Republican’s chances this election season. Can’t think of worse timing, really. And I can’t think of a better present for anyone that would like to see some accountability from our “elected” officials.
Badass Obama is Badass…but he still needs our help.
October 20, 2008 – 4:44 pm
Badass-Obama, originally uploaded by noveltimes.
Allrighty. I’m officially putting out the call to all of my peeps to help get out the vote. As the polls continue to tighten, these last two weeks before the election are critical to fight Republican smears and Democratic/Undecided complacency.
Helping to ensure a long-overdue regime change is easy. Sure you can donate, but time is running out. We need people hitting the phones to make sure that all registered Obama supporters actually vote, and vote early if at all possible. I spent three hours phonebanking yesterday and it was fun, inspiring and contagious. I met a bunch of great folks and I’ll be going back as much as possible between now and November 4.
If the very sight of John McCain or Sarah Palin make you cringe, or if you care about where we are headed as a country, than you owe it to yourself and any progeny you may have (or choose to have in the future) to get off your ass and doing something. Remember, this time around we are fighting racism, voter fraud and suppression, ennui and so much more that threaten the remaining shards of democracy in America. But we are also fighting the good fight. So get out there, people! Visit www.barackobama.com today and contribute your time, money and hope. We need it, and now.
As some final motivation, watch this clip of John McCain lying through his teeth about his campaign’s desperate, last ditch attempt to use fear-mongering robocalls to scare Americans his way. Truly disgusting.
Phone for Change
October 19, 2008 – 1:30 pm
Right now I am sitting in a San Francisco alley, calling Indiana voters and encouraging them to vote Obama and vote early. So far I’ve talked to two Barack supporters! It feels great to be encouraging democracy and I’ll definitely be doing more of it in the final run-up to the election.
Drive for Change…and the Emergency Room
October 17, 2008 – 11:05 pm
Well, I should be somewhere in Nevada right about now. Instead, I am nursing my wounds and praying for a speedy recovery. You see, I cut myself something fierce while making dinner tonight. Four stitches fierce. Certainly enough to curtail a trip to another state for the weekend. And, unfortunately, too much to allow for any kind of guitar playing for a few weeks.
Consequently, my much bally-hooed weekend of mobile blogging ends with this iPhone photo. Apologies in advance for the gore. Trust that it hurts me more than it hurts you.
Internet Everywhere
October 16, 2008 – 10:57 pm
And so the advance of the Internets continues. Email to the left of me, web browsing to right. Yes, that can only mean one thing - I got an iPhone!
I must admit, it has been a few weeks now. OK, closer to a month. Or two. And it has taken me this long to post my first iPhone blog entry. But no matter, the interlude is all the better to confirm my terrible love for this terrific new gadget. Spotty connectivity and barely acceptable battery life notwithstanding, the iPhone is truly incredible — be it maps, media or straight up knowledge, it’s all their at my fat, clumsy fingertips.
And so, this weekend I’ve decided to put the power of the mobile internets to good use. Starting tomorrow, stay tuned for mobile blogging of my weekend canvassing for Obama in Nevada. Awwww, yeah.
As a preview, here is the obligatory iPhone self-portrait. I promise to do my best to avoid more of the same this weekend.
David Byrne & Brian Eno, Perfect Together
October 6, 2008 – 5:45 pm
So I’m going to see David Byrne tonight at the Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco. How awesome is that? Even awesomer if you consider that he will be performing tons o’ tunes from his new collaboration with Brian Eno! Yeah. Eno. I’m sure we’ll hear some old favorites, but give Everything That Happens Will Happen Today a listen. It’s tops.
Okay, Universe, here’s the deal…
September 16, 2008 – 11:28 pm
…I need a new place to live. In San Francisco, to be exact. Sometime over the next month or two. Duboce Triangle would be ideal! Other great neighborhoods would be Panhandle, Lower Haight, Hayes Valley, Western Addition or Mission/Dolores Park. I like those neighborhoods, and for someone like me without a car, they are nice and central.
I really think I’d prefer to live on my own again…that means a studio or 1 bedroom. However, I would also consider a shared living situation with one or two other people — either good folks that are looking for a housemate or an open 2/3 bedroom apartment that I can fill with friends.
I do have a few preferences for the particulars:
- bike parking/storage
- good light preferably with backyard/garden space
- gas range
- clean, spacious, closet space
- environmentally/socially conscious housemates
You know I’m a good tenant: no pets, no car, non-smoker, excellent credit with a stable job, very conscious and handy around the house. What else could a landlord want? Consequently, I think I deserve a great place that meets my needs and is affordable. Very affordable.
So that’s the scoop, Universe. I’ve put all my cards on the table, so how about you show me what you got?
So Awesome…And So True
September 3, 2008 – 10:24 pm
Sorry all you car owners, but these days, this really is how I feel. Mad props to my man Justin for snapping this one, on Milvia St., across from Berkeley High. And, of course, to the rock ‘n’ roller who penned this priceless piece o’ graffiti.
