The New Road

Terri Schiavo's death

Jeb had this to say about Terri Schiavo's death; "Many across our state and around the world are deeply grieved by the way Terri died. I feel that grief very sharply as well..." He should feel it sharply because he is responsible. He put Michael and the courts into a position where they couldn't give an inch to make Terri comfortable. If they had the right to lifers would have jumped on it and used it as an example to take a mile.

This was a case of extremes. Extremes in the law, and extremes of religious fervor. When things are taken to the extremes then everyone involved suffers. Had this not been politicized, had every detail and nuance of every action and opinion been scrutinized endlessly then accomodations could have been made. We all know that the leway that exists in the exercise of law and in the practice of religion is there because we are all human. But when you shine the bright light of the media on it then judges, police and politicians necessarily move to the extremes.

If Jeb were serious about his concerns then he should look to himself first. It was his own intervention, and then that of the Congress and his brother, that created this polarization.

It didn't need to be this way, and it isn't this way in most circumnstances. I've worked with hospice in the past. These are good people who provide a necessary service that allows people to die with dignity. It's a crying shame that the Republicans and the pro-life movement have been so thoughtless as to drag these good people through the wringer like this.

What a good American

Here is a off-camera clip from Sean Hannity. Yeah, he's such a good American.

Strange Schiavo encounter

I went to Fresh Choice for lunch today. Figured it would get me out of the house and get me some greens I needed. Anyway, I park and start walking towards the restaurant when right beside me a dog starts barking inside of an SUV. A locked SUV. With the windows rolled up to about 2 millimeters of air space. On a relatively hot day. So I'm thinking, this doesn't seem good, though the dog doesn't seem to be in real distress.

So I walk over to the mini police station, which is located right near the restaurant. Nobody home. I go back to the car, get the license plate number and figure that if the dog is still there after lunch I'll call the police.

Then I get to the restaurant and I'm greeted by a greeter.

Greeter: Welcome to Fresh Choice. Have you been here before.

Jack: Yes.

With that she turns away and starts cleaning the tray line. You see Fresh Choice is a salad place. You first get a tray and a plate. Then you go and fill up your plate on this long line of salad bits.

Anyway, I get to thinking about the dog, and about my cellphone. Plus I'm stuck in line right next to the greeter.

Jack: Do you know the number to the little police shack thing in this building?

Greeter: No. Why do you ask?

Jack: There was a dog stuck in a locked car with the windows rolled up. I tried the station but nobody was there. So I figured I would give them a call and have them come out.

Greeter: Yeah, the dog could, what's that word again?

Jack: Asphixiate.

Greeter: You could call 911.

Jack: Seems a little severe. I'll just drop by the station on the way out.

Greeter: It's California. They take animal life more seriously than human life.

Wo! What a second. What the hell was that? My mind is reeling. I don't even know what to say. What the hell have I walked into. So I delay, a little too long and...

Greeter: You don't think so?

Jack: I don't think there is any case law to prove that.

With that she walks away. Granted, my come back was totally lame. But come on, you just don't expect that. And I'm horrible on the fast comeback. But seriously, what the hell was that?

First off, let me make this perfectly clear. If there had been a baby in the car seat in the car I would have never left the area. I would have called 911, and if I had seen the baby in distress in the car with the windows rolled up I would have gotten my tire iron and smashed through the windows.

Second, um, hell no. In California you will go to jail for killing your baby in a car with the windows rolled up. You might go to jail if you do the same to a dog.

Seriously now, I know that California has more protections for animals than some crack-head state that allows cock fighting, but is that a bad thing?

This craziness has to stop. I heard some crap on right wing radio a couple of days ago where the commentator was ripping apart some P.E.T.A. site by claiming what they would do to save an animal, and then talking about what we aren't doing to save Schiavo. Huh? No connection given. Just this is what P.E.T.A. would do, and this is what other people wouldn't. And then he would go on to slam on P.E.T.A. for a bit. Can't we have both at the same time? So in order to love animals I have to hate humans? And in order to love humans I have to abuse humans? Makes no sense.

Anyway, as I say, the silliness is at an all time high.

Fox on Schiavo

Whenever Republicans jump well over the line like they did with Schiavo I love to watch Fox News try to contain the damage. Last night was particularly funny.

Fake Host Guy: But what about these polls that say that 80% of Americans believe that Congress acted overstepped it's bounds?

Neo-Con Guest: Well, I think they asked the wrong questions. I think if you were to phrase it differently, say something like this; "Do you think that Congress didn't overstepped their bounds?" Which is not only a fairer question, but also more grammatically appropriate. Then apply the same numbers as the results from the original question a shocking thing happens. It turns out the America agrees with President Bush and the Congress and feels that they acted appropriately to...

Unfortunately it's not just Fox News. CNN loves milking the divide as well. Recently they showed a graph that shows a huge split between Republicans and Democrats on Schiavo. I don't remember what the question was, but the result was Democrats 58% and Republicans 52%. But the graph they showed this on had the axis values between 50 and 60, so there was a tremendous gap visually. Of course, when you looked at it on a graph with reasonable axis values, oh, say, like 0 and 100, there was scant difference at all.

Wow!

There is some serious believing goin' on round here.

Schiavo

I've been watching in awe over the last couple of days as the Republican party crucifies itself in this Schiavo debacle. Bush has wisely stepped out at 70% of Americans agree with me that the Congressional move was clearly an overstepping of it's boundaries. His numbers dropped from 53% and rising, to an all-time low at 43%. Apparently my fellow Americans find hypocrisy and raw abuse of power worse that lying his way into a war. But I digress.

The hypocrisy of the Repbulican supporters amazes me. They say they believe only in heterosexual marriages. But I guess that's not good enough since Michael has been getting death threats and Jeb went so far as to see if he could dissolve their marriage. I guess being straight isn't good enough. You have to also agree with the varied and confused positions of the United States Congress and the radical right conservatives in order to have any control over your life.

They are the party of law and order, and yet they are calling for Jeb or W to break the law and send in the storm troopers to rescue her.

They scream judicial tyranny when the courts decide against them. While the same people were in love with the courts in 2000 when the Supremes decided Bush v. Gore.

They are the pro-life party yet their members call up Michael Schiavo and dispense death threats.

They want smaller government and yet back this intrusion into someone else's private affairs.

They are the party of "states rights" but then abuse the federal power that they have when they are in control to enforce their will on the states.

They want to keep Terri alive, but seek to cut the funding that pays her Hospice bills.

They want to cap damages for malpractices lawsuits. The very same type of settlements which is paying for part of Terri's medical expenses.

And worst of all, you have Bush signing "Terri's Law", when years ago when he was a governor he signed a law which just pulled the plug on a six month old kid in Texas, against the wishes of his parents. Why? Because the kid's parents couldn't pay the hospital bills. That's compassionate Christian conservatism for you. In Texas if you can't pay the bills they will pull the plug.

And I won't say worst of all, because this is pretty bad so far, but I think what pisses me off the most about all this is how partisan it is. This is all just a dog and pony show for the base. And it's a miscalculated one at that. Since 83% of Americans understand this for what it is, a political exercise meant to damage the Democrats. Who have, I might add, wisely stayed far away from this train wreck.

I do find particularly galling this hatred of Michael Schiavo. The guy obviously realized early on that Terri wasn't coming back from this and has moved on while trying to give Terri some dignity in death. It's a tough role to be in and he is really fighting hard for what he believes in and what he thinks Terri would have wanted. And the way he has been dragged through the mud by Repbulicans is dispicable. Without knowing him, and without a shred of real evidence they impugn his character.

I certainly haven't and wouldn't slam on her parents. Without actual facts to the contrary one has to assume that everyone involved is working from a position of what they think is best for Terri. I have no doubt that her parents are doing that.

Calling him a murderer and God knows what else. Makes me sick.

For the record, I do not wish to live in a permanent vegetative state. Nor the related state of minimal consciousness.

Surround sound fun

Here is a bit of walking in my shoes time for getting coffee yesterday. To listen to this properly you must have headphones on and they must be on the correct ears. This a binaural recording that provides a surround sound style experience. It was recorded with two microphones, one over each of my ears. So you have to play it back the same way to get the effect.

Apparently I'm Old School

I was asked a while back by an editor at DevX to provide some perspective on programming both from the days or yore and how it relates to what we do today. I think I come out sounding kind of gruff in comparison to the other guys. None of whom I know, by the way.

Music is a feelin' you have to believe in...

Here is a sweet podcast out of the Antilles. Check out #5 and jump to around 7:30. Check that out, then jump to the beginning and just enjoy.

Schiavo pickel

Whether you agree with the Schiavo ruling from Congress or not you have to see what a pickel they have gotten themselves into. Sometime in the next 96 hours there is going to be an appeals court ruling, then a Supreme Court opinion on Schiavo. Frankly I doubt that these courts will put the feeding tube back in, though they may if only to save the ass of the Republican party.

If they don't then the Republicans have themselves in a real bind. I was listening to the local Republican radio station this morning and they were of the opinion that Bush should send in Federal Marshalls to seize Schiavo, and to of course, arrest the husband and try him for attempted murder. But what a hell of a mess that would be. Now you would have a woman in a permanent vegatative state in the custody of the Federales.

At which point, who knows what the hell is going on. There is no law or precedent because this is all new. Never before has the Congress ruled this way in such flagrant disregard against the Constitutional ban on bills of attainder. And it's obvious to me that, like the war in Iraq, the reactionary Republican party jumped on an opportunity without understanding the consequences.

They clearly saw a way to motivate the base and they jumped at it without thinking about it. Now they are potentially in danger of inheriting Federal control of a woman in a vegitative state. In addition they mistook their support. So now only the real hardliners support them. 70% of American's think that Congress overstepped it's bounds. This could backfire on them big time and demonstrate, hopefully once and for all, that having fascist extremists in control of the Federal government is a recipe for disaster.

Federal marshalls seizing Schiavo with guns drawn. That's going to look really bad on Democratic ads against Jeb Bush in 2008.

I've actually been trying hard to stay away from this Schiavo mess. For me personally, it's something that has been decided already by the courts in Florida and is a personal family matter. I think it's disgusting how the Republican party specifically mentioned this case in their memorandum and how they could use it as a political tool against the Democrats. But now that they have I think it's fair for me to make a political analysis of it. And from what I can see, they have dug themselves a huge hole and jumped right into it.

From what I can see the Democrats have shown remarkable restraint. They understand the complexity of the situation, and understand that the Federal government has no jurisdiction in it. So they backed of until the Republicans decided to abuse their power.

Pixel roller

And now for something amazingly good.

Best cover ever...

I've said it before, and I will say it again. This is the best cover ever. Period. Full stop.

Cute Megan Pictures

More cute pictures of Megan from Florida:

Ghetto shrines

I was walking to the office this morning from where I parked and I walked past a telephone pole covered in flowers, pictures and teddy bears. One bear in particular stuck in my mind as it was suspended about ten feet off the ground. I wondered how anyone, without a ladder, would do that.

The company parking garage is right across the street so I asked the gaurd there, a friend of mine, who does the work on that pole. He called these things 'Ghetto shrines'. Sometimes it's a telephone pole, other times it's a cross in the ground or an electrical box. These are covered in flowers, bears, pictures, even CDs in one installation I saw. They commemorate people who died there.

The guard went on to tell me the story of what happened. A guy in a wheelchair stole a truck, then got into a high speed chase with the cops. When he saw they had him boxed in he put the truck into reverse and they, in his words 'lit him up'.

Now there is this telephone pole where that's the closest thing to where he died. And it's literally covered all the way around, up to about six feet, in flowers. And not dead flowers, but bright beautiful fresh flowers. And there is that bear, nailed in it's gut about ten feet up. The security guard says it's some thirty-something lady that does the work. Nailing that bear, I suppose using a ladder, ten feet up on this pole.

Amazon typing

I'm not sure what the point of this is. But it's very cool anyway.

Photoshop for Dungeons

If I were still into D&D I would be all about this. It's kinda like CAD software for Dungeons. With the exception that it's 2D. It's very cool though. And the results look sweet.

Confluences

The geekiness of GPS continues. Now there is not only Geocaching, but also Confluence finding.

Episode III trailer

I saw the new Episode III trailer in front of Robots. It looks really dark and good. Ack! I can't believe I'm going to go to another one of those movies. Every time I come out of one I kick myself for having gone. Now I'm going to do it again. I'm such a sci-fi addict.

They also had a very short trailer (I think) for Ice Age 2. It was a comic bit with the squirrel where he was going after the nut again and causing a dam to break.

Start with the glossary

Here is a weird idea for tech book writers. Start with the glossary. It's a great way to figure out exactly what terminology you want to use. And the extra research any gaps in your knowledge of the subject.

No dog park until June

I tried to take poor Oso to the dog park today. He's been kinda mopey without Megan or Lori. When I got there the sign on the gate read, "Closed until June 1 for renovations". Three months? For renovations? It's a dog park. I can see a week to pick up poop, but geez, three months. That's just crazy.

I guess Oso and I will hit the trail tomorrow. He's like Tigger. He needs to bounce.

Not so godly after all

After visiting the South recently I kinda guessed something like this would happen:

This past week, leaders of five mainstream Protestant denominations came together to speak in one voice. Standing shoulder to shoulder, leaders of the Episcopal Church USA, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church (USA), United Church of Christ, and United Methodist Church together condemned the 2006 Federal budget proposed by President Bush as unjust by biblical standards. They couldn't be more correct.

"The 2006 Federal Budget that President Bush has sent to Capitol Hill is unjust," they said. "It has much for the rich man and little for Lazarus," harkening to Jesus' parable of the beggar Lazarus at the gate of an anonymous rich man. Lazarus, you'll recall, finds his reward at the side of Abraham in heaven when he dies, while the rich man burns in hell.

It's a grand and ancient tradition. The biblical prophets would be on the White House lawn, the steps of the Capitol, in the chambers of Congress, the Law in one hand, a fistful of indignation in the other, condemning the outright aggression of this administration against the poor.

It's clear to me that Bush and the Republicans aren't for all religions. Well, that's clear to anyone. What's less clear to everyone, except me, is that the religion of the Republicans is restricted to white evangelicals in the middle and upper classes, period. Others need not apply.

Republican are very much still the party of the segregation and of the "dixiecrats". Despite their belief in the golden rule we still had Republicans knocking on doors before the election telling Democratic voters that the election was on November 3rd. Republican police officers in Florida knocking on the doors of black voters and discussing the when and where of how to vote while tapping on their guns. Republicans in Ohio calling black voters to tell them that their court records would be checked before they were allowed to vote.

Despite their Christian belief in the sanctity of human life they still applaud the torture at Abu Ghraib and talk gleefully about the use of white phosphor in Fullajuh. Some even go so far as to consider Musulims subhuman and call for their extermination.

That's not the Christianity I know. If that's the moral compass of Christianity then somebody needs to get their compasses cleaned.

I'm not a Christian and I never have been but I will put in out there right now that I have a better moral compass than Bush, the neo-cons or his supporters. Particularly when it comes to understanding that all men, regardless or race or creed are created equal. Everybody has the right to exist. Nobody has the right to say that certain people don't have the right to exist. And torture is never right or proper. It's simple common sense. If you need a book to tell you that you need your head examined. And if you think I need to read the Bible in order to understand basic morality, you are nuts.

Arnold, just another Republiscum

My mom asked me what I thought of Arnold. I said that he might be ok. He was shaking things up and so forth. And that's good. But I wanted to see what his re-districting structure looked like. Because if it was too crazy then I would be sad because Arnold will have been exposed for what he is. Just another fascist Republiscum who believes liberals have no right to exist and should be exterminated. Oh well, too bad I was right. The fascist domination of the country continues.

Megan

Invisibles

I love this invisibles game. Of course I can't get but one or two on each page. But the work that goes into removing the face and hands and recreating the fabrics is amazing. Look at the picture from Garden State. He used the background to take out the face, then inverted it inside the clothes.

Megan and Lori on the road

Megan and Lori are off to Florida for a little while, then on to Houston. I miss them already, as does Oso.

A-B-C-D

Megan is getting pretty close with the whole A-B-C-D thing.

Wow, bad news for Trek fans

According to the woman who plays T'Pol in Star Trek Enterprise:

There is an awkward silence when the subject of the final episode is broached. "I don't know where to begin with that one," she finally stammers. "The final episode is ... appalling."

Wow. That can't be good.

Squeeling Megan

Some sounds from Megan playing: one, two, three, four, five, six

Oral history and Brown Bear

I took a microphone and a sound setup to South Carolina with me. My Mom and I spent two hours today doing an oral history, and she also recorded Brown Bear, Brown Bear for Megan. She doesn't like her voice but I think it sounds great.

Daddy OK

If Megan were here she would pull herself up the bed. Her stockinged feet would make tiny depressions in the blanket as she would trounce over to me. I would catch her as she fell into my arms. We would hug for a second. Then she would break the embrace, and look at me quizically. "Daddy OK?", she would ask. I'd think for a second, smile and say, "Daddy OK."

Bittersweet night

My Mom came home from the hospital tonight. It's Carlos' birthday so I baked a cake and we had an awesome vegetarian lasagna that a friend of theirs made for them. Mom gave Carlos an iPod that I picked up for him. And I gave her a copy of Tiger Woods PGA Golf so that she would have something to play to keep her mind off of how bored she will be over the next couple of weeks. It's all so happy and sad at the same time.

As I write this I can hear Carlos' iPod Mini. While I was watching the Fog of War and Carlos was sleeping his machine was busy burning a copy of the Pearl Fishers. Which he then synced to the Mini and is now listening to on a volume so loud that I can hear it at the other end of the apartment with the door closed.

I mentioned the iPod idea to my Mom who hijacked my iPod to relax with classical in the hospital. I said that it would be around $200 for a small one. Turns out I was right and that it was the cheapest of them all, a 4GB iPod Mini. I felt bad but it turns out that Carlos is excited by what he has and is worried that he won't have enough space on his laptop to store the 4GB of tunes for his iPod. So I told him he could use it as an external hard drive if he wanted to do that.

I think the iPod will help out a lot with the long waits that come with this sort of thing. My guess is that Mom will share Carlos' or get her own pretty soon.

I'm going to say that I want more time, but that's just because illnesses make you realize what little time we have. I'm certainly not going to sell my Mom short. She is a brave fighter who will give it all she has.

Ack! Mail frustration

The only place in South Carolina that seems to have a fully working connection that I can send mail over is a little Internet Cafe outside the hospital. Now I'm back at my mother's condo and nothing seems to convince any of my outbound mail routers that an Earthlink DSL connection is ok. Grrrr...

Update: As the comments pointed out, port 25 is blocked by Earthlink. I actually have an Earthlink account that I was supposed to cancel a while back but forgot about. I used that account for my outbound traffic and now it looks good. People seem to be getting the mail I'm sending out. Woo hoo!

South Carolina

I flew into South Carolina yesterday. As I was driving around listening to the radio, that had three FM religious stations, but no NPR that I could find, on of the announcers started talking about 'ricin'. Now, ricin is a deadly biotoxin, so I got nervous. Turns out it was just her way of saying 'racing', and the blurb was about NASCAR. NASCAR is big here.