zondag 31 januari 2010

zondag 31 januari 2010 Up at 6:30. Turn on BBC News. I listen to BBC World Service most of the morning. Listen to Charlie Gillett's World Of Music. What a cool show. I listen to the music of Tunis, Algeria, Mauretania, South Korea, USA, Panama and France. How eclectic! The Forum talks about The power of earthquakes from African cities to the arctic.

Watch movie - Children Of Dune, Part 2.

Have we found the new Messiah? Or have they set them on fire?
The persona of the evil Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, Alia's maternal grandfather whom she had herself killed as a child at the end of Dune, begins to assert control over her, and threatens to overtake Alia's consciousness altogether. Jessica and Irulan plot to spirit Leto and Ghanima away to safety, and Jessica herself flees Alia's wrath by seeking unlikely sanctuary with House Corrino.

Leto gives himself the opportunity to fake his own death and buy time to figure out how to overcome Alia. It's another stay-inside-all-day day.

zaterdag 30 januari 2010

zaterdag 30 januari 2010 Up at 4:38. Play movie - Children Of Dune, Part One.
Paul Atreides (Alec Newman), also known as Muad'Dib, has led forth the Fremen of Arrakis to overthrow the Padishah Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV and forced the Corrino family into exile on Salusa Secundus. Now leader of House Corrino, Princess Wensicia (Susan Sarandon) continues to plot the Atreides downfall during her exile. Paul knows his destiny... and there's no way to escape it.

Leto is Paul's "pre-born" son. They both understand each other... "We go forward. We go back." Paul knows that he has meddled with the future... of all possible futures.
Leto (James McAvoy) keeps appearing to Paul - haunting him - in prescient visions.

Paul seems to deny it, but there are two children - Leto II and Ghanima. After the movie, I listen to Mind Over Matters. Mark Danner speaks at Seattle's Town Hall. Topic - Torture: Stripping Bare the Body.

Then Jemery Rifkin speaks about his new book The Age Of Empathy and he talks about human genetics... moving toward The Empathic Civilization.

Jeremy Rifkin sounds rather pessimistic about our possibilities. Another luke-warm shower. Rice and curry chicken salad for breakfast. Listen to Wait, Wait. Neil Sedaka plays Not My Job. Neil is an amazing man. During his 50(plus)-year career, Neil Sedaka has written and recorded some of the catchiest tunes in pop history, including Calendar Girl, Breaking Up Is Hard to Do, and Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen. The game is called "Oops ... we can glue that back together, right?" Three questions in honor of museum visitor who tripped and put her hand right through a priceless masterpiece by Picasso. Then I listen to KUOW's Weekend Edition - 'The Forgotten Faces Of Seattle's Original Battle In Seattle' Wow! The infamous USS Decatur. Then Rick Steves' program - Rome! I'm expecting to visit Michael, but he never calls me back. Watch episode - Legend Of The Seeker - Light. Pizza for dinner. It's rainy. Night, night.

vrijdag 29 januari 2010

vrijdag 29 januari 2010 Up at 1:50. Turn on BBC News. Tony Blair is giving live testimonial to the Iraq War Inquiry. He sounds rather forceful with his explanations. (I don't believe him.) Report - Blair Denies 'Covert' Deal With Bush To Invade Iraq.

I listen to the proceedings for a little while and doze off to sleep again. Awake just before alarm. Pizza and two fried eggs for breakfast. My coffee is rather strong. Turn on Stephanie Miller. A caller talks about how the Arabs would be insulted if we let the gays into the army. Steph remembers what Ellen DeGeneres said... "What would upset the Taliban more than a gay woman wearing a suit in front of a room full of Jews?" It's Fridays With Fugelsang! Today, he's has quite a few clever limericks with a political tone. The shower is merely warm. Up to Blockbuster to drop off a movie. Back to my place to pack my lunch. Streetcar to work. 10 to 11 - Breaks for Anne, Olivia, Kenn and Patty. Fire Drill! Charmaine is smart to keep the kids in the classroom. It's easier to get them out our back door. 11 - Charmaine's lunch. Six Sea Otters play in the Bike Room. Patty and I head them down for lunch time just before Noon. 12 - Teresa's lunch. Six Dolphins eat lunch. Nolan gets the first diaper... I do all the diapers. We have some extra help at nap time. Nice. 1 - Kenn is subbing for Pam and it's his lunch. Dolphins sleep, but I can hear Alex making a lot of noise next door. He's fighting his nap. Stella and Piper wake up just before I leave to do Patty's lunch at 2. Six Sea Otters sleep through the whole hour. I manage get away 4 minutes early to catch the 3 o'clock streetcar to d'town. Switch on my radio to listen to The World. The report of Avatar In The Amazon is fascinating. Reporter Melaina Spitzer joined a group of indigenous leaders from the Amazon in Ecuador’s capital Quito, to see Avatar on the big screen in 3D.

Mes félicitations à la nomination de Phoenix - Grammy pour le meilleur groupe d'Indie. Allons-y!

Catch a #10 up to Cal Anderson Park. Walk around a little. Shop at QFC for Mount Vikos Kasseri goat's milk cheddar cheese, soup and minced clams. I have a plan to make another clam stew... tomorrow... perhaps. Listen to music - Seal.

I haven't heard Seal in a long time. He's beautiful. Tired... Go to sleep.

donderdag 28 januari 2010

donderdag 28 januari 2010 Up at 4:38. Turn on AM 1090. I get just the last few words of Bill Press before Stephanie Miller comes on. Steph mentions a little thing that happens during last night's speech - Justice Alito Mouths: 'NOT TRUE' at State Of The Union. Republicans are sitting on their hands during the whole speech. The Republicans' Sit-Down Strikes During The SOTU. For example... No Republicans stand for tax credits for small businesses to create new jobs.

Screw jobs. Beans on spaghetti for breakfast. Up to Kaladi. Jeremiah makes some chamomile tea for me. I like his choice of Sirus radio stations... nice and mellow... to go with my herbal tea. Back to my place. Shave and shower. Walk up Westlake to work. 10 to 12 - Planning time for Anne. Tanja covers for Elaine. Eight Starfish are playing in the Bike Room. We need to get ready to go to Dance Class. It's easy to walk them up and walk back, but they are rather wild at Dance Class. Tanja gets them focused for a book time while I change 8 diapers. 12 - Up to Wildflowers to set out nap mats. I'm done in 30 minutes. Downstairs to help in the kitchen. Kim is out sick. I need to wash the lunch dishes. Tanya helps sort out the new dish bins. Then I set out the afternoon snack - cottage cheese and graham crackers. Easy. Streetcar to d'town. Drop off stuff at home. Walk up to Whole Foods to get some things - salad bar, curry chicken salad and dip. Back to my place. Podcast of The World. They talk about how the poorer nations are donating very much to Haiti. Two reports - Zambia Church Raises Funds For Haiti and Ghana Concert For Haiti Relief. Turn on MSNBC News. Rice and curry chicken salad for dinner. Watch movie - Animal House.

Eric Stratton is such a scamp. Otter: Let me give you a hint. She's got a couple of major-league yabbos. Boon: Beverly! Otter: No. But you're getting warmer. Here's another: "Oh God, Oh God, OH GOD!"

Omega Theta Pi (ΩΘΠ) initiates their new men. Chip Diller begs for more.

I conk out in the middle of the movie. Such a busy, tiring day.

woensdag 27 januari 2010

woensdag 27 januari 2010

Dream - I am taking a tour around Niagara Falls. A lot of water falling. Very impressive.

Up with alarm. Turn on AM 1090. Bill Press topic of discussion - State of the Union tonight: What do you want to hear? On The Stephanie Miller Show - New York Times columnist Frank Rich calls in to talk about his latest column, After The Massachusetts Massacre. Roast chicken on rice for breakfast. Shower and shave. Hal Sparks joins TSMS in the L.A. Studio for another edition of “Humpdays With Hal.” He’s bringing his video equipment - as well as with his unique insights - so I need to visit The Hal Sparks Hot Sexy Cam Show! Hal is really something...

Hal watched Rachel Maddow last night. (I didn't.) I need to check it out. Report - The Economy In The Obama Era... with graphs and Rachel's commentary. James K. Galbraith, economist and professor at the University of Texas, talks with Rachel Maddow about the pitfalls of a federal spending freeze and the progress President Obama has made so far in salvaging the economy. Streetcar to work. 10:10 to 12:45 - Planning time for Patty. Jessica covers for Charmaine. Six Sea Otters play with bubbles, books and babies... emphasis on the books. Jessica reads to them while I change diapers. Then we walk to the Bike Room. It's funny not to have a climber anymore. Maya starts to throw up when we leave the Bike Room. Oy! Then Nolan trips and bites his tongue. Blood gushing. MAJOR OY! Luckily, Sharyn can help us out. Call this Bodily Fluids Day. We send Maya home. It's rather hectic dealing with all this at lunch time. 1 - Teresa's lunch. I find tranquility with 6 Dolphins sleeping. 2 - Patty's lunch. Five Sea Otters are napping, but Alex wakes up early. Charmaine deals with him. I hear him saying something like "knee" over and over. (?) Is Alex one of the new Knights Who Says Ni? Maybe he needs a nice shrubbery instead of a nice nap. Walk mostly up Terry Avenue to my place. Drop off stuff. Walk up Pike to B'way. Drop off $3 in the donation jar at Kaladi. At home, I turn on the podcast of The World. Roast chicken on spaghetti for dinner. Watch the State Of The Union on CNN. A photo of my desktop during the President's speech...

It's not meant to be a political comment, but it's interesting that President Obama is saying, "We got to get it right!" when I take it. The models on my desktop are trying to "get it right," too. Watch movie - The Day After. Quote: "Hiroshima was peanuts."

I remember the night of November 20, 1983 as I watched "The Day After" how ABC did not run any commercials after the nukes went off and that right afterwards the network had a special news program in which Dr. Carl Sagan introduced us to the idea of a "nuclear winter" and the fact that the reality of a nuclear exchange would be much worse than we had seen. I watched with my friends Kevin, David, Ross and Sean at the little Lake Union bungalow on Fairview. David said, "Here it comes." We held our breath as the first bomb explodes above Kansas City.

dinsdag 26 januari 2010

dinsdag 26 januari 2010

Dream: I'm invited to some friends' place just to hang our and eat pizza. I'm down in the rec room, sitting on the couch watching TV. Some guy starts to do stomach crunches on the floor. He stops to stretch, and he comes around behind the couch and says some words into my ear. I think that this guy is straight. Is he taunting me? He bends over to give me a nice long kiss. His beard tickles. I moan and say, "C'mon. Are you teasing me?" Then I wake up... 3:45.

Turn on BBC News - listen to HARDtalk. They're interviewing Turkish Nobel Prize-winning writer Orhan Pamuk about politics and European prejudice and Turkish prejudice. It gets intense at times. Burrito and satsuma for breakfast. Do my taxes on-line with TurboTax. It takes 40 minutes to fill out the forms. $454 refund. Not bad. Up to Kaladi for some of Jeremiah's extremely tasty coffee. Hang our for a few minutes to play with my blog. Buy a Kaladi baseball cap - $16. Leave the change - $4 - in the Médecins Sans Frontières jar... a collection started by the students of the NW School. Back to my place. Shower and shave. Walk up Westlake to work. 10 to 12 - Planning time for Anne. Kenn covers for Elaine. Eight very busy Starfish play freely. Toys are strewn all over the classroom. While I pick up the toys - the kids deliver the minimum of assistance - Kenn does some diapers. Wow! They have too many toys! Eventually, we get organized and take a walk around the campus of FHCRC. Nice day for a walk. Just up to the Light Sculpture and back.

The group does well, but a couple of them are getting tired. They'll have good naps. 12 - My break. 12:15 to 1:15 - Teresa's lunch. Five Dolphins sleep. Classical music for nap time. 1:15 to 2:15 - Pam's lunch. Three kids wake up early. I take them down to the Bike Room. We hang out in there while other kids join us after their naps are over. 3 - Walk up Westlake to my place. Drop off stuff. Take a short walk to Pike Market... without my radio. I make it back to my place before the sun sets. I need Collective Soul. I love the DVD that they made in Morroco. They start with Heavy.

The guys visit a souq in Marrakech to do a little shopping, chat with the people and do a session.

The kids love Gel. They dance and chant with the band.

Roast chicken and the last of my burrito for dinner. Watch movie - Captain Zoom In Outer Space.

maandag 25 januari 2010

maandag 25 januari 2010 Up at 4:35. Solid night's sleep. Thank goodness. Turn on BBC News. They talk about Obama's First Year. Read an article - Queer Kids Of Queer Parents Against Gay Marriage. Perhaps because the gay marriage movement has forgotten about the plurality and diversity of queer communities and queer activism conducted in our name – we realize that it’s hurting us, not helping us. Interesting. Switch to Stephanie Miller. She chats with The Rude Pundit. He muses rudely on the Supreme Court campaign finance decision and the Massachusetts election. Spicy shrimp rolls for breakfast. Bath. Up to Kaladi. Lauren makes some chamomile tea for me. Hang out for a few minutes in the shop. Back to my place. Listen to Stephanie's interview with Greg Palast. He seems really concerned with the Supreme Court’s campaign finance decision. Check out - Manchurian Candidates: Supreme Court Allow China And Others Unlimited Spending In US Elections. Turn on Weekday. Fascinating interview with Patti Smith. She talks about her experiences in New York City and her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe. She's visiting Seattle to promote her new book - Just Kids.

Streetcar to work. I discover that a lot of people had the same stomach bug that I had - Patty, Andy, Elaine. Empty space until 10:45. Andy and Margot need me while they take their kids to the potty. Then I go outside to help the Sea Otters. 10:45 to 11:45 - Lunch prep for Dolphins and Sea Otters. 11:45 to 12:45 - Patty's lunch. Jessica is subbing for Charmaine. The kids sit down for lunch and eat pretty well. Jessica does the diapers while I clean up the lunch mess. Ryan conks right out. 12:45 - My break. 1 to 2 - Olivia's lunch. Six Seahorses sleep. It's very quiet. 2 to 3 - Jessica's lunch. Alex wakes up sad, and Patty can't get him back to sleep. Patty mentions to me that his "problem-solving abilities are not very good after a short nap." Hah! Walk up Westlake. Mondo burrito at the Convention Center. Short walk around d'town - Union Square, Rainier Square, Benaroya Hall, the #41 bus tunnel to my place. Turn on Chicago Progressive Talk. They play an old show of Ron Reagan. Turn on MSNBC to watch Hardball and Countdown. Report - White House Hits Reset Button. Munch on my burrito for dinner. I can never eat the whole thing. Play movie - Earth Girls Are Easy. When and where did I record that?

zondag 24 januari 2010

zondag 24 januari 2010 Up at 12:21. Turn on BBC News. Incredible report - Man Freed From Under Haiti Quake Rubble... after 11 days! Play an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Defector. In addition to his regular role of Captain Picard, Patrick Stewart also played the role of the holodeck character of "Michael Williams" in the opening scenes of the episode. Stewart requested this out of his love for Shakespeare, himself a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Confrontation. The ship's Romulan occupant requests asylum as he is being pursued by a Romulan Warbird. Both ships cross the Neutral Zone but the Warbird engages its cloaking device and heads back for Romulan space when the Enterprise begins protecting the other ship.

The crew on the bridge are in a tense situation. Who's that cute guy at the helm?

The Romulan scoutship up close. Picard assigns Geordi La Forge to dissect the Romulan vessel, though it auto-destructs before he can do this.

The defector is taken to sickbay to be checked out. A little row incurs between the Romulan and Worf. Curses are exchanged, and Riker chimes in... "Your knowledge of Klingon curses is impressive, but, as a Romulan might say only a veruul would use such language in public."

On Ten-Forward, Setal explains to Data that his defection has come with a very terrible price. He misses his home world. Data says that he's never been to Romulus. "The loss is yours. For I have visited over a hundred different worlds and none possessed the awesome beauty of Romulus."

Behold, glorious Romulus.

Next... Play movie - The Day The Earth Stood Still (2009).

A large unknown object with a speed of approximately one-tenth the speed of light is due to impact Manhattan in approximately 78 minutes.

Princeton professor Dr. Helen Benson - a member of a scientific team - approaches the alien orb.
A being named Klaatu emerges from the sphere, around which the military has established a perimeter. Amidst the confusion, Klaatu is shot. A gigantic robot emerges, emitting a sound that paralyzes humans and disrupts all electrical systems in New York City. Before the robot can take the being back, Klaatu orders it to shut down.

Klaatu will be interogated. Polygraph Operator: I'm going to ask you a series of control questions. Are you currently in a seated position? Klaatu: Yes. Polygraph Operator: Are you human? Klaatu: My body is. Polygraph Operator: Do you feel pain? Klaatu: My body does. Polygraph Operator: Are you aware of an impending attack on the planet earth? Klaatu: You should let me go.

Helen is curious why Klaatu has come to our planet. Klaatu tries to explain. Our planet is in trouble because of us - human beings. Helen Benson: You came to save the Earth... from us. You came to save the Earth *from* us.

[Seated at a McDonald's, Klaatu begins speaking to Mr. Wu in Mandarin] Klaatu: You've been out of contact for a long time. Mr. Wu: I had a dangerous assignment. This is hostile territory.
John Cleese as Professor Karl Barnhardt, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist who specializes in the evolutionary basis of altruism. Helen takes Klaatu to him to further change his mind.

John Driscoll: So is it a machine or a living thing? Flash Chamber Colonel: Both. Or neither. John Driscoll: What do you mean 'neither'? Flash Chamber Colonel: It seems to be some sort of silicone-based hybrid. We're calling it GORT: Genetically-Organized Robotic Technology. John Driscoll: The military and their acronyms...

I think Gort is awesome!

Professor Barnhardt: There must be alternatives. You must have some technology that could solve our problem. Klaatu: Your problem is not technology. The problem is you. You lack the will to change. Professor Barnhardt: Then help us change. Klaatu: I cannot change your nature. You treat the world as you treat each other. Professor Barnhardt: But every civilization reaches a crisis point eventually. Klaatu: Most of them don't make it. Professor Barnhardt: Yours did. How? Klaatu: Our sun was dying. We had to evolve in order to survive. Professor Barnhardt: So it was only when your world was threated with destruction that you became what you are now. Klaatu: Yes. Professor Barnhardt: Well that's where we are. You say we're on the brink of destruction and you're right. But it's only on the brink that people find the will to change. Only at the precipice do we evolve. This is our moment. Don't take it from us, we are close to an answer.

Gort is subjected to experiments in an underground facility in Virginia. After receiving the order from Klaatu, it then transforms itself into a swarm of self-replicating insect-like nanites that begin destroying everything in their path back to Manhattan.

Helen's son, Jacob, takes Klaatu to his father's grave and begs him to resurrect him. Klaatu: There are some things I can't do. Jacob Benson: But you have powers. Klaatu: I'm sorry. Jacob Benson: Please. Please! Klaatu: Jacob, nothing ever truly dies. The universe wastes nothing. Everything is simply, transformed. Jacob Benson: Just leave me alone.

After the movie, I turn on BBC. I sleep for a couple hours. The light outside wakes me up. Odon soup for breakfast. Nice hot bath. Putter around the apartment. Walk down to University Street Station.

Train to Uwajimaya.

Buy some baked chicken, sushi and sake. #106 back to my place. Listen to A Prairie Home Companion - live from Rochester, MN. Walk in a light rain to my friendly, neighborhood Barnes & Noble and browse through some books. Henry V is interesting. "Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more. Or close the wall up with our English dead!" (Act III, Scene I). I don't buy anything. Back out in the rain. What's with the crowds? Oh! I see. They're going to Xanadu. Back to my place. Turn on Tavis Smiley. He talks with Howard Dodson - the director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture - about The Gentrification of Harlem. Chicken and potato salad for dinner. Watch some classic Star Trek - Balance Of Terror and Mirror, Mirror.

zaterdag 23 januari 2010

zaterdag 23 januari 2010 Up at 1:48. I went to sleep early, so I woke up early. Play movie - Young Frankenstein. One of my favorites.

Sorry?

Train trips to Transylvania can be interesting... especially the conversations. "Let him, let him!" Let him do what? Guess.

When you get to Transylvania, you may enjoy a roll in the hay with Inga.

Frau Blüche wants to help Doktor Frenkenstoon... Fronkensteen settle in... with Ovaltine? He responds bluntly: NOTHING! Thank you! I'm a little - tired! Frau Blücher: Then I vill say... goodnight.

Oh, that's cute. Eye-gor enjoys nuzzling next to Herr Doktor.

LIFE! DO YOU HEAR ME? GIVE MY CREATION... LIFE!

This is a nice boy. This is a good boy. This is a mother's angel. And I want the world to know once and for all, and without any shame, that we love him. I'm going to teach you. I'm going to show you how to walk, how to speak, how to move, how to think. Together, you and I are going to make the greatest single contribution to science since the creation of fire. Inga: [from outside] Dr. Fronkensteen! Are you all right! Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: MY NAME IS FRANKENSTEIN!


Still not ready to go back to sleep. I will not sleep. Play Star Trek - 2009. Nero - A particularly troubled Romulan. "I've been waiting for this day my whole life... This day of reckoning," He wants vengeance for the destruction of his world. He destroys the planet Vulcan.

I get this interesting capture... of Acting Captain George Kirk saying "I love you" to his wife just as the ships collide.

[Kirk drives his stepfather's Corvette toward a cliff. As he skids sideways, he jumps out before the Corvette falls off while he hangs on the edge of the cliff. The Iowa cop chasing him steps off his bike as Kirk climbs off the cliff] Young Kirk: Is there a problem, officer? Iowa Cop: Citizen, what is your name? Young Kirk: My name is James Tiberius Kirk!

Sarek: [to young Spock] You will always be a child of two worlds, and fully capable of deciding your own destiny. The question you face is: which path will you choose?

Vulcan Council President: Why did you come before this council today? Was it to satisfy your emotional need to rebel? Spock: The only emotion I wish to convey is gratitude. Thank you, Ministers, for your consideration. Live long and prosper.

Slusho - You can't drink just six! Star Trek is vamous for its bar scenes... and bar fights.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy: I may throw up on you. James T. Kirk: I think these things are pretty safe.

Leonard 'Bones' McCoy: Don't pander to me, kid. One tiny crack in the hull and our blood boils in thirteen seconds. Solar flare might crop up, cook us in our seats. And wait till you're sitting pretty with a case of Andorian shingles, see if you're so relaxed when your eyeballs are bleeding. Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence. James T. Kirk: Well, I hate to break this to you, but Starfleet operates in space. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy: Yeah. Well, I got nowhere else to go, the ex-wife took the whole damn planet in the divorce. All I got left is my bones.

I love this movie at so many levels - including characters Sulu and the Russian whizkid, what's his name? Chanko? Cherpov? Ensign Chekov, Pavel Andreievich. Spaghetti and a couple fried eggs for breakfast. Turn on BBC News. They interview Kader Abdolah - the author of The House Of The Mosque. Keep laying in bed listening... more interviews, sports, politics, etc. Try to take a shower, but there's no hot water. Turn on Wait, Wait. They play Not My Job with Mark Halperin - author of Game Change. "You're the one and only — and we do mean only — Prince of Seborga." Walk up to Whole Foods to get a few things. Drop off stuff. I need to stretch my legs some more. I have been stuck in my apartment for too long. I walk up and down First Hill, Capitol Hill and around d'town. I have my radio with me. Turn on Hawaii Radio Connection on KBCS. They take me from Waimanalo Beach to Waikiki. I cruise all the beaches with Google Earth. Beautiful hotels and reosrts - The Kahala and The Kaimana. I want to go! Next is Rick Steves on KUOW.

I love my radio. Rick Steves' subject - The Mexican Borderlands: The Rio Grande and Baja California. He interviews Keith Bowden who spent the better part of a winter canoeing the length of the Rio Grande from El Paso to the Gulf. Pad Thai With Tofu for dinner. I conk out soon after dinner. I have a lot of sleep to catch up with.