notes from behind the coffee counter

Well another year is come and gone and now is the obligatory time to reflect on one’s past. Fortunately, my birthday falls between Christmas and New Years so my self reflection seems more timely (then again I really don’t know any other way.) 2008 was a good year for Jen and I. The both of us have decided that Portland, OR is going top be our next home. This is after spending two weeks in that state.

I must say that the two of us have become more home bodies than anything else. We go out less and spend more quality time together now than we ever had, even when we were dating. With our four crazy cats life is really settled for us. Jesus, we rarely go to the movies any more, and I have a degree in film studies. It must a function of the net and Netflix. When we do go out its to spend time with friends and sometimes family. But mostly friends. Looking back at this year our relationship with a couple across town has become closer (you know who you are). They are our best friends because we share the same values in life. Jen and I are thankful for them. OK, enough of the wishy washy stuff.

Speaking of home, we’ve done some work to the house that we are sure will help its value when the time comes, if it comes. In fact the idea of parting with this place doesn’t really please me so it might end up being a rental. Living in a college town has its advantages.

Jen is busy working on her PHd, while I’ve been busy working on, well just working and playing. But that doesn’t mean I’ve haven’t come closer to things I want to pursue once Jen graduates. I rediscovered photography again finally moving into the digital age (kicking and screaming I might add.) I’m hoping that a MFA in photography is my future, but nothing is in my planned outlook.

What a crazy year its been here. The election simply galvanized this town and became a major part of my life all fall. I can’t remember where the month of October went. I think I literally spent from Labor day to election day online. It was fucking insane. I actually got into email discussions that lasted all day like chat rooms. I think I can say that this was the first election in internet time. Really. I’m looking forward to the next administration, and I wish him (and by extension the rest of the country) good luck. We’re gonna need it. But I feel for the first time in my life I voted for the right guy. I know he’s gonna fuck up here and there but I trust him. That’s all that matters.

The other big story for America has been the economy. Well needless to say its the same here. But I must say this: I still have a job and I’m thankful for that. And I must add that I’m probably one of a very few Americans who doesn’t have anxiety about getting laid off. By sheer luck or what, I’ve been at UPS now 13 years. Even as a part time employee (my only job I might add) I’m doing fine. Bills are paid one time and we’re not starving. UPS, as of right now anyway, seems to be chugging along fine as the economy implodes around us. There are probably plenty of reasons for this but who knows why anything works anyway. Peak (the official UPS term for “The Christmas Season”) was as busy as it has been since I transfered here. If it wasn’t on the news I would have never known that the Christmas sale season was off this year. Looks like I picked the right company thirteen and a half years ago. It helps that Jen and I refuse to live beyond our means. With the exception of my love for a certain computer company’s toys I never really over spend my money.

So what’s on the list for next year? Well another two week trip to Portland. More time with our friends, especially when the next season of Mad Men starts. Definitely, new windows for the house in the spring and some landscaping work (maybe redoing the living room, too.) Jen will be done with all her course work and heading into her quals. Oh yeah, one of those unibody MacBook Pros and maybe a home server to boot. I can dream can’t I?

Very funny light set up in the form of The Flying Spaghetti Monste on Flickr.

According to The Huffington Post this morning the top three Google searches for Christmas morning had to do with iTunes. Out of the top 25 searches, 12 had to do with Apple, all having to do with iTunes, the iPod or the iPod Touch.
So, I say to Sir Alan Sugar: Yeah, right.

Pardon Lasts One Day for Man in Fraud Case – NYTimes.com

Can a sitting President revoke a pardon he had already issued (in this case in less than 24 hours)?

If so, could Obama revoke any of Bush’s pardons? If the answer is yes Obama can, then try out this scenario: say Bush pardons Cheney. Could Obama then revoke it? If so, how could Bush argue that he can’t revoke a pardon, if he has already set the precedent?

Or does only the pardoning president have the power to revoke a pardon he issued? (My guess at the right answer here.)

Quiz tomorrow.

UPDATE:
Interesting legal argument here. It seems that the pardon might not have been finalized, as in sealed. Interesting quote here:
“The president has the power to lift criminal consequences from someone, but not to unilaterally impose them, which a pardon revocation does.”
So, I would think that a President can’t revoke a past president’s pardons except in cases like Marbury v. Madison (see Michael Froomkin’s, a Professor at The University of Miami School of Law, blog here.) Interesting read here on pardons.
Froomkin updates his blog here and now sees it as a non issue, based on the fact that “nothing had been signed or sealed.”
I like the commenter’s theory, though.
(Thanks to The Daily Kos)
God, I love this legal shit. Should have gone to law school.

Bristol Palin’s Future Mother-In-Law Arrested On Drug Charges

The new season of The Wassibillies premieres. Can’t wait.

iPod touch ad puts a new slant on things – The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) Apple’s iPod Touch ad on Yahoo Games site was really cool. Unfortunately its down but TUAW still has this video posted for it. Very Cool. Even cooler is this YouTube Video for the Wii

Have you ever wondered what Rahm Emanuel’s inbox looked like? I love Axelrod’s message.

I love these, especially the one by Digital Corp’s, Ken Olsen in 1977: “there is no reason for any individual to have a computer at his home”

And finally in the usual year end list making thing, this one is good for a laugh, now that the election all over.

And my new line for the week, from Mad Men first episode where the CEO of a cigarette company says: “We’re selling America here. The Indians gave it to us, for shits sake!” I’m still laughing.

Rod Blagojevich misconduct has got me thinking on political scandals, you know the kind where we attach -gate to the end of it. So what do we call this one, Senate seat salegate, Illinois governorgate, or most likely Blago-gate? (It be interesting to see how many young people really know what that -gate means.) The Attorney General of the state, Lisa Madigan, has decided to ask the State Supreme Court to remove him from office. According to the New York Times,

Ms. Madigan argued in court papers that “the pervasive nature and severity” of a federal corruption case against Mr. Blagojevich had rendered him “incapable of legitimately exercising his ability as governor.”

I don’t how this would work. He hasn’t been convicted of anything yet. Can he be removed just for being accused of something? (I’m playing devil’s advocate here.) She also asked for a restraining order if the high court decides not to remove him. Essentially that just stops him from doing any unreversable harm while the legislature sorts this out. Basically the court gets to stay out of this as it is a political mess. Impeaching would take forever. Fuck, he could resign and ask Pat Quinn, the lieutenant governor to pardon him (like that’ll happen.) The Republicans suddenly want an election to fill Obama’s vacated seat while the Democrats will be happy if Quinn just appoint someone. See the predicament this jackass has created?
So my solution? (Come on you knew it was getting to this.) I think we need to do like the Romans did. You hand the jackass a knife and tell him “there’s the tent and don’t come out. If you do I have Titus Pullo here to take care of you.” Very simple, no impeachment trials, no Supreme Court hearings just a man who eliminates himself from the problem. Its the honorable thing to do. And to prevent life loving jackasses from being political dickheads in the future the law should be simple, you corrupt the office, its life in prison, no parole (and real prison, not the federal–work –on – my– backhand–country club.) Period.
“And remember, Carthage must be destroyed” – Cato.

Obama Pledges Public Works on a Vast Scale – NYTimes.com:

About fucking time. I knew this was coming. This is why I voted for this man. WE, the tax payers, gave the banks billions of dollars and they still aren’t lending money. Job losses are falling of the charts. If one of the Big Three goes we’ll all be selling apples on the corner two for a nickle. Over a half a million jobs gone last month alone! Wait until the Silly Season is over, when retail lets them out of the doors.
If private industry doesn’t want to lend money or hire people, then the government should be free to do it. It worked in FDR’s administration with his Public Works Project. Granted, the Second Word War was probably the largest public works project ever and led this country to the become economic world leader. Gotta love the conservatives:

Conservative economists have also long derided public works spending as a poor response to tough economic times, saying it has not been a reliable catalyst for short-term growth and instead is more about politicians gaining points with constituents.

Got a better idea? Didn’t think so. Of course its going to cost an insane amount of money, but what’s better, a depression? Of course the Bush and other Republicans have argued against spending this much money because “will leave a huge bill for the next generation.” This coming from a an administration that ran through money like fucking water. Its bad unless of course its for their rich buddies. Can’t wait to see him board that helicopter out there.

The Last Word: Odetta – The New York Times: “”

Major loss. Not just a beautiful voice, but one of the defining soundtrack of the civil rights era. Whenever I listen to her I always have black and white images of those years scroll through my mind. A few years ago I found a bunch of her stuff on CD. Needless to say she resides in my iTunes library. She will be sorely missed. Sad thing is she wanted to sing at Obama’s inauguration, according to the New York Times.
(I didn’t know the Times had a feature like this, great way to post a documentary obit on someone.)

Had to post this. The only thing I like about the Silly Season.

Ah, that felt good. No really.