The march was, in my estimation, a success. The press is reporting over 100,000 attendees on Saturday, and even if I can’t provide a head-count, I’ll vouch for the size of the crowds. Things took a while to get moving, and it was frustrating to spend so much time standing around in the street, but [...]
Tomorrow morning I’ll be flying to DC to participate in the anti-war rally. It’s part of a three-day event, although I’ll only be there for the first day. While I don’t think it will get much attention in light of the on-going natural disasters, it should be interesting. And, it is sadly necessary. When I [...]
I’m experimenting with a new photo slideshow tool called SlideShowPro. Here are some photos I took while on an architectural tour of Chicago by boat. Let me know what you think, before I waste a lot of time learning this system. Share/Bookmark
It took multiple flight changes and rescheduling and even a final 150 yard “Don’t close the door!” dash, but I made it back to Miami. Now I just need to work my way through the mountain of things demanding my attention while I’m “on vacation.” Does anyone know how to achieve that idyllic state wherein [...]
Hell. We got to the airport and found that our flight home was canceled on account of Rita. Fortunately, the ever-delightful Paige offered shelter for the night. Now we just need to be at O’Hare at 5:00am and begin the long wait for a new flight home. Share/Bookmark
Sunday was spent meeting with friends and family, doing yet more walking, and visiting the Art Institute of Chicago. And then walking some more. Millennium Park I had heard that this was a remarkable museum, and I was not disappointed in the least. We saw the current special exhibition, Toulouse-Lautrec and Montmartre, which was fabulous. [...]
After Paige’s birthday dinner we went in search of a jazz club. Sadly, we couldn’t find any place willing to accept a unscheduled party of nine on a Saturday night. (Go figure.) But we did find a piano bar called The Redhead who was willing to listen to (cash-based) reason. The drinks were cheap (by [...]
I made it into Chicago, although I was tired enough that I slept through the takeoff of the plane. (I can only hope that the roar of the engines sufficiently muted my inevitable snoring.) It was a direct flight on the foolishly named discount carrier Ted, and was both pleasant and inexpensive. Once I reached [...]
Wow, things went to hell in a hurry at the office. Once word got out that I was going on vacation the hyenas started circling my desk, and suddenly there was a list as long as my arm of “right now” projects. When I had to shut down and leave the office at 5:30 last [...]
Samuel R. Delany’s Dhalgren is one of my favorite books. Even so, I had never thought to compare this extended prose-poem on life in the ruins of a major American city to the New Orleans situation. Nonetheless, some good points are made. If you are interested in an interesting (and brief) thematic overview of the [...]
There’s a lot going on around the HQ this week. See for yourself: At work I’m finishing up the prep for the rollout of a system I don’t particularly like (and with some potentially negative professional consequences), a rollout which starts on Thursday and concludes Monday. Friday night Paul McCartney — you know, that guy [...]
HMS tells us that the report of journalists being denied access to certain areas of New Orleans has been confirmed by MSNBC. So we’re obviously headed for full cover-up more now. Quelle surprise. Incidentally, if you have bookmarked Half Mad (ex-)Spinster (and of you haven’t, why on earth not?!), make sure you use http://halfmadspinster.com, without [...]
As you may have heard — unless you have become so numb you can’t read any more — there’s a story going around that an order has been issued preventing photographers from taking photos of the bodies in New Orleans. The general consensus is that the government is preventing this, in the same way that [...]
On Sunday I went to a cook-out of a friend’s house on the water. Much rum was consumed, and it was good. Of course, the main thing people wanted to talk about was Katrina and the government’s failure (particularly at the highest levels), so my stress didn’t fall as much as I had hoped. Yesterday [...]
The continuing tragedy in the Gulf and the hideously degenerating American political situation in general — aided and abetted by work-related obscenity — are keeping me in a state of perpetual anger and frustration. I try to find positive and pleasant things to do to pull out of the spiral of despair, but it’s hard [...]
Via Metafilter, two interesting items regarding the New Orleans disaster. First, a link to an great weblog I am sad to discover under such awful circumstances, Looka! There’s a lot of terrific material here, but of particular interest is the listing of local musicians and there whereabouts. And for those who may not have heard [...]
I’ve never been to New Orleans. It’s one of the few cities I have wanted to visit just for its own sake, not to meet up with friends or family. When I met the Half Mad (ex)Spinster, her passion for the city was contagious, and increased my desire to see the French Quarter. In fact, [...]