Jun 2008
This American Life (#358 Social Engineering)
June 30, 2008 | 15:21 Filed in: Entertainment
TAL is always awesome, and usually has something touching or powerful that - of course - makes me cry. There were a couple of things in this episode.
The middle part was about Dave Dickerson and his father and an incident that happened 30 years ago when he was still a boy and a lesson his father taught him. The lesson didn't work out the way it was intended, but what Dave learned was that there can be second chances and learning that helped his father feel better about the incident. There was a very touching moment at the end of the piece that made me pretty weepy. 3 hankies
The next piece was by Amy Silverman, the mother of a daughter with downs syndrome. There was some question about how high-functioning her daughter was, but Amy still came to the realization that being her daughter's parent was going to be a life-long task. I have a daughter with severe autism who I'll likely be taking care of for the rest of my life. I don't mind that so much, but I do weep at the thought of the life that she won't be able to lead. No crushes, no boyfriends, no husbands or careers or children. No epiphanies, conversations, or passions. All I can do is keep her as happy as I can. 3 hankies
The middle part was about Dave Dickerson and his father and an incident that happened 30 years ago when he was still a boy and a lesson his father taught him. The lesson didn't work out the way it was intended, but what Dave learned was that there can be second chances and learning that helped his father feel better about the incident. There was a very touching moment at the end of the piece that made me pretty weepy. 3 hankies
The next piece was by Amy Silverman, the mother of a daughter with downs syndrome. There was some question about how high-functioning her daughter was, but Amy still came to the realization that being her daughter's parent was going to be a life-long task. I have a daughter with severe autism who I'll likely be taking care of for the rest of my life. I don't mind that so much, but I do weep at the thought of the life that she won't be able to lead. No crushes, no boyfriends, no husbands or careers or children. No epiphanies, conversations, or passions. All I can do is keep her as happy as I can. 3 hankies
Blue's Clues (Blue's Sad Day)
June 30, 2008 | 09:50 Filed in: Entertainment
At the end of the show, the green puppy just didn't understand that repeatedly knocking down Blue's block tower was making her sad. Made me tear up a bit in sympathy with Blue, which made me laugh at my pushover-ness. Evidently, even frickin' Blue's Clues can make me weepy. 2 hankies
Senator Obama Goes to Africa (2006 DVD) #3
June 28, 2008 | 21:23 Filed in: Politics
In the part of the Documentary about Senator Obama's visit to a Darfur refugee camp, there was as shot of a huge crowd of refugee children, and I got weepy at the idea that somebody could find any justification to force children into such dire situation. 1 hankie
Right after there were some refugee women relating stories of husbands and children being killed before their eyes as they tried to flee the ethnic cleansing. 3 hankies
Right after there were some refugee women relating stories of husbands and children being killed before their eyes as they tried to flee the ethnic cleansing. 3 hankies
Senator Obama Goes to Africa (2006 DVD)
June 28, 2008 | 20:36 Filed in: Politics
I got this DVD from Netflix, and it's pretty interesting. As Obama was talking about he and his wife getting publicly tested in order to get more people to participate in the CDC's testing program, a subtitle came on the screen about the fact that 1.3 million people in Kenya are living with HIV/AIDS and that a further 1 million children are orphans because of AIDS. It's heartbreaking. 2 hankies
Appurushîdo (Appleseed 2004)
June 28, 2008 | 16:14 Filed in: Entertainment
Toward the end of the movie, just before the final fight, Doonan makes a little speech before jumping out of the building essentially saying that it doesn't matter that the computer projections see a dire future for humanity: the future is what we make it, so we have to fight to make it better. Then she jumped from the building into a falling power suit, and proceeded to engage in one visually amazing battle. Corny in spots, but absolutely visually beautiful movie. 2 hankies
Senator Obama Goes to Africa (2006 DVD) #2
June 28, 2008 | 05:35 Filed in: Politics
Senator Obama was visiting a branch of a Chicago bank that was doing micro-lending to entrepreneurs, and as these local Kenyans were relating their stories of enterprise, Senator Obama's voice-over said:
"What's missing, for a lot of these folks, is NOT good ideas or a powerful work ethic, but what's missing is access to capital."
Social justice is a concept very dear to me and is precisely why I'm a Fire-Breathing Liberal and why I like Obama so much. 1 hankie
"What's missing, for a lot of these folks, is NOT good ideas or a powerful work ethic, but what's missing is access to capital."
Social justice is a concept very dear to me and is precisely why I'm a Fire-Breathing Liberal and why I like Obama so much. 1 hankie
Todd and Penguin
June 27, 2008 | 16:47 Filed in: Entertainment
I read a boatload of webcomics. I have 50 dailies, and about 30 M,W,F and maybe 15 weeklies that I read. One MWF that I really like is Todd and Penguin. It's one of three comics by David Wright, and they're all side projects for him (he writes for his local paper, if I recall). He and I have corresponded in the past and he's a nice guy doing his thing: raising a family with his wife and working on comics when he gets a chance.
Not too long ago, he introduced a new character to T&P in the form of Sicily the dog, and today, I guess he ended her story line. That's a rather unsympathetic way to phrase something that actually made me cry a good bit. It was a tenderly done strip and really got me weepy. 3 hankies
http://www.toddandpenguin.com/d/20080627.html
You should go back and read the whole series, or at least go back to when Sicily was introduced in order to get the full effect.
http://www.toddandpenguin.com/d/20071031.html
Not too long ago, he introduced a new character to T&P in the form of Sicily the dog, and today, I guess he ended her story line. That's a rather unsympathetic way to phrase something that actually made me cry a good bit. It was a tenderly done strip and really got me weepy. 3 hankies
http://www.toddandpenguin.com/d/20080627.html
You should go back and read the whole series, or at least go back to when Sicily was introduced in order to get the full effect.
http://www.toddandpenguin.com/d/20071031.html
Northern Exposure #90
June 25, 2008 | 15:41 Filed in: Entertainment
The episode has a 3 ghosts of Yom Kippur theme (like the Dickensian Christmas Carol) and toward the end when Joel is asking - begging - the ghost of future whether the death of Heyden was possible or certain I got a little teary. He obviously 1 hankie
Also, during the episode, when Ed sees the pain that Holling is in over the fact that he feels that he failed his oldest child, Ed offers to literally be a scapegoat and carry Holling's sin in order to give him relief. After the hunt, when Holling thanks Ed, it felt very sincere and made me even more weepy. 2 hankie
Also, during the episode, when Ed sees the pain that Holling is in over the fact that he feels that he failed his oldest child, Ed offers to literally be a scapegoat and carry Holling's sin in order to give him relief. After the hunt, when Holling thanks Ed, it felt very sincere and made me even more weepy. 2 hankie
State of Belief 6/21/08
June 23, 2008 | 14:37 Filed in: Politics
Rev. Gaddy was interviewing Mitchell Gold and Mr. Gold related a story about a young gay man in Texas who was raised Evangelical and who was so appalled by his own sexuality that he would repeatedly physically harm himself because he thought he was such an abomination. He even took a razor and cut the word "fag" into his chest. He also talked about the high rates of suicide amongst gay teenagers. As he related this, he started to choke up at the injustice of a culture that would make anybody so hate themselves for simply being who they are. It made me choke up, too. 2 hankies
Northern Exposure #87
June 23, 2008 | 11:44 Filed in: Entertainment
Maurice has the violinist cornered and comes to the realization that he's ruined this otherwise good man and lets him escape. When Barbara the Trooper confronts him, and he lies to facilitate the violinists escape, even when he knows it will cost him his own hopes of a relationship with Barbara. Standing up and doing what's right even when it will cost you... how can that not be worth a few tears? Pride, determination and a bit of sorrow make the eyes go misty. 1 hankie
Although I do occasionally wonder why I relate so strongly even to fictional characters.
Although I do occasionally wonder why I relate so strongly even to fictional characters.
Northern Exposure #84
June 23, 2008 | 00:03 Filed in: Entertainment
Ron and Eric's wedding. Weddings always make me misty-eyed. Been there, myself. It's hard to link yourself to one person supposedly for life, no matter how much you know you love them. Worth it, though. I wouldn't trade my years with Dawn for anything. 2 hankies
(Special side note: Northern Exposure was way cutting edge. Taking on gay marriage in 1994? Brilliant!)
(Special side note: Northern Exposure was way cutting edge. Taking on gay marriage in 1994? Brilliant!)
Where the hell is Matt?
June 22, 2008 | 18:27 Filed in: Humanity
Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.
Sometimes, I just see something that so reinvigorates my faith in this fantastic creature that is Homo Sapiens. Artisans and engineers and poets, we are the height of evolutionary achievement, and yet we are selfish and jingoistic and sometimes downright crazy.
I so thoroughly enjoyed this video and so thoroughly felt it's power that I was both laughing and crying for nearly it's entire duration. 4 hankies
Northern Exposure #78 (2)
June 21, 2008 | 18:14 Filed in: Entertainment
The birth. It was a cute mash-up of the town being excited and the impending parents working their way through the labor. I've said it before - childbirth is one of the most amazing experiences of a person's life. 2 hankies
Northern Exposure #78
June 21, 2008 | 17:48 Filed in: Entertainment
Shelley meets an apparition of her soon-to-be born daughter at various stages of her upcoming life. It's a hokey device but still got me weepy. Watching my son grow from infant to toddler to boy has been one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. I'm excited about watching him become the man he will be. 1 hankie
Discover Magazine - The Body Electric
June 20, 2008 | 15:18 Filed in: Entertainment
My son and I were watching a Discover Magazine on the Science Channel, and we were watching "The Body Electric," about how electrical impulses help control the body and various functions. The first part of the show was about a young man named José who was paralyzed in an accident. Here, we had to stop the show so I could explain to my son what "paralyzed" was. I explained that the accident had broken some of the bones in José's neck, and the pieces of bone had then damaged the nerves that allowed José to control his arms and legs. He immediately started to cry for José. Which made me cry. It took us awhile to calm back down and watch how they were using technology to try to help José regain some finer motor control in his hands. It was pretty rough there for a bit. 5 hankies for him, 3 hankies for me.
Double Dare 2000
June 20, 2008 | 07:03 Filed in: Kids
My son and I were watching Double Dare 2000 on Nick GAS and as the episode ended, the family playing completed the obstacle course and won every prize. We ended up cheering them on, and when they won I got a little misty-eyed. 1 hankie
Daily Show - Jun 17, 2008 - Lara Logan
June 18, 2008 | 12:10 Filed in: Entertainment
"...And I looked at the reporter and I said, "Tell me the last time you saw the body of a dead American soldier? What does that look like? Who in America knows what that looks like? 'Cause I know what that looks like. And I feel responsible for the fact that no one else does...""
An amazing young woman. She had me and the show's audience spellbound with her frank honesty. 2 hankies.
An amazing young woman. She had me and the show's audience spellbound with her frank honesty. 2 hankies.
Rachel Maddow Show 6/17/08
June 18, 2008 | 06:25 Filed in: Politics
When Rachel is talking to Paul Rieckhoff and she mentions "The Andi Foundation," in the memory of Andi Parhamovich. 1 hankie
I remember the Air America radio show where Rachel shared the sad news that Andi had been killed and vividly remember crying my eyes out as Rachel just broke down on air over the loss of her friend.
I remember the Air America radio show where Rachel shared the sad news that Andi had been killed and vividly remember crying my eyes out as Rachel just broke down on air over the loss of her friend.
Phyllis and Del
June 17, 2008 | 21:02 Filed in: Politics
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/16/samesex.couple/?iref=mpstoryview
"Breaking ground is nothing new in the nearly six-decade relationship of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon.
The lesbian couple were the first to participate in a 2004 challenge of California laws against same-sex marriage, exchanging wedding vows only to see the ceremony voided later."
55 years they had to wait. Social Justice is important to me, and this is an important step. The story of these two ladies and their struggle to be treated fairly and their victory in the end made me weepy. 1 hankie
"Breaking ground is nothing new in the nearly six-decade relationship of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon.
The lesbian couple were the first to participate in a 2004 challenge of California laws against same-sex marriage, exchanging wedding vows only to see the ceremony voided later."
55 years they had to wait. Social Justice is important to me, and this is an important step. The story of these two ladies and their struggle to be treated fairly and their victory in the end made me weepy. 1 hankie
Jun 16, 2008 Daily Show - Moment of Zen
June 17, 2008 | 19:32 Filed in: Entertainment
This hit me hard. This laid me low. I was immediately sobbing not only because this man by all available evidence was a fantastic father and son and his family is deeply hurting, but because I knew exactly what he was talking about. I was there for the birth of both my children and I wept each time I saw one of my children enter the world. 5 hankies.
Gore Endorses Obama
June 16, 2008 | 19:44 Filed in: Politics
National Anthem:
Obama hasn't even started speaking, yet. It's the National Anthem. It always makes me cry. Without fail. Pride, sorrow, joy and determination. It contains some very powerful imagery to a civics-geek like me. 1 hankie
Introduction:
Governor Granholm intoduced Gore and Obama and I got misty eyed. It's hard not to hope for the future. 1 hankie
These guys are rockstars. The crowd is climbing the walls.
Gore is speaking - bet there'll be some tears during this speech.
Gore: "with the force of reason and logic..." Don't know why this made me tear up, but it did. 1 hankie
Obama hasn't even started speaking, yet. It's the National Anthem. It always makes me cry. Without fail. Pride, sorrow, joy and determination. It contains some very powerful imagery to a civics-geek like me. 1 hankie
Introduction:
Governor Granholm intoduced Gore and Obama and I got misty eyed. It's hard not to hope for the future. 1 hankie
These guys are rockstars. The crowd is climbing the walls.
Gore is speaking - bet there'll be some tears during this speech.
Gore: "with the force of reason and logic..." Don't know why this made me tear up, but it did. 1 hankie
Northern Exposure #73
June 15, 2008 | 21:30 Filed in: Entertainment
Joel loses a patient in this episode. Somebody he cares about and admires and who he desperately wants to not die. But she knows it's her time, and is accepting. He isn't, though, and he shows up at her house to try one more time to raise her spirits only to discover that she's just passed.
I held it together until Ruth Anne said, "We put her in her green dress. You know, the one with the white collar. She always wore that for company." I had to chose the clothes my wife was buried in. I didn't pick her most professional suit, or her most ornate; I chose a casual outfit she'd purchased just a week or two before that she was excited about and really looked good on her. It was a brown sweater skirt combo that looked so lovely on her olive complexion and I remember she was so proud of it. I remember being torn about choosing it. She loved it so much, so it was appropriate, but she had just bought it, and something seemed wrong about not keeping it. The fact that it would never again be worn if I didn't choose it still hadn't sunk in.
2 hankies.
I held it together until Ruth Anne said, "We put her in her green dress. You know, the one with the white collar. She always wore that for company." I had to chose the clothes my wife was buried in. I didn't pick her most professional suit, or her most ornate; I chose a casual outfit she'd purchased just a week or two before that she was excited about and really looked good on her. It was a brown sweater skirt combo that looked so lovely on her olive complexion and I remember she was so proud of it. I remember being torn about choosing it. She loved it so much, so it was appropriate, but she had just bought it, and something seemed wrong about not keeping it. The fact that it would never again be worn if I didn't choose it still hadn't sunk in.
2 hankies.
Watching MSNBC Russert Special Report
June 13, 2008 | 15:53 Filed in: Entertainment
It's tough to watch, but I'm watching MSNBC's special coverage remembering Tim Russert. I didn't always agree with him, but you couldn't help but like the guy. He was honest, if not always thorough. Truly Journalism has lost one of the greats. And far too young. Far too young. 4 hankies.
Addendum:
Keith Olbermann is in tears on the air. 4 hankies.
Addendum:
Keith Olbermann is in tears on the air. 4 hankies.
Requiem for Tim Russert
June 13, 2008 | 15:42 Filed in: Entertainment
When a giant falls, it shakes the very foundations of the Earth. RIP, Mr. Russert.
Digg Zinger
June 12, 2008 | 12:42 Filed in: Entertainment
Just about the perfect response with "It's a trap!" Made me laugh out loud, but, more oddly, it also made tears spring to my eyes while I was laughing. 1 hankie.
http://digg.com/odd_stuff/Evil_Empire_PIC
Newer Technology USB 2.0 Universal Drive Adapter
June 12, 2008 | 08:10 Filed in: Tech
This has to be one of the best purchases I've made in a long, long time.
Newer Technology USB 2.0 Universal Drive Adapter
I have two defunct macs sitting in a closet along with two defunct FireWire Hard Drives for a total of 7 IDE hard drives floating around, unused. My running macs are all SATA, though, so I had no way of utilizing all these drives. The inventory ended up being a 20GB, 2x40GB, 3x80GB and a 200GB. Plus an IDE SuperDrive (DVD R/W).
What I didn't consider is that there was still recoverable data on almost all of them. One of the 80s is dead, but so far the rest are mounting up fine and I'm finding all sorts of lost treasure on them. A couple of years ago, when I was migrating my data from my old G4 to the G5, about a third of my music library got corrupted, and I never found out until after the G4 was no longer functioning. All the files were MP4s that I'd ripped from my own CD collection, and I was able to re-rip some of it, but it turned out that when I sold my Miata, I left a 40 CD case in the car that had my absolute favorites. So I still had jewel cases for all these fantastic albums, but no longer had the disks and therefore no way to get those songs back into my library.
Well, last night I found a 4 year old back up of the G4 on one of the drives that had all the missing music on it. I stayed up way too late listening to Soul Coughing and Nine Inch Nails and Violent Femmes songs I hadn't heard in years.
And I've just now plugged in the last 80GB drive only to discover some old Final Cut movies I made of the kids a few years back and an iDVD build I'd made for sending out to grandparents and relatives. I'd assumed they were also lost forever.
I've always been a big fan of Other World Computing for their FireWire drives, but this adapter is fantastic. It's worth way more than the $30 they're charging.
Post Script:
One of these is the old startup drive for the G4 and I found a ton of installed games on it - Jedi Knight, Jedi Academy, Halo, Elite Force, Elite Force II, Neverwinter Nights, Myth III, Quake, Quake 3, WoW (version 1.10!) and even a 10GB full install of EverQuest for Mac.
That last is very tempting. EQ can't hold a candle to WoW, technologically, but there's something about the world of Norrath and it's various environs that totally captured me when I played it. I have memories about places in EQ and even dreams about them as if they were places I'd really experienced. I had many gripes about the game, but I also loved it dearly. Of course, one of my main gripes was that this was the Macintosh version of EQ and the server (Al'Kabor) was mac-only. That made it a small player base of mac elitists. I love Macs and won't use anything else, but I'm not the biggest fan of old-style mac users. It's gotten better in recent years as the growth in market share has diversified the user base, but back in the old days mac users were a pretty monolithic crowd. Either artists or teachers and almost all with a superiority complex that drove me crazy. I had some great friends in EQ, but most of them were from the small niche of tech-savvy mac people where I was. Sadly most of them had PCs, too, and I lost quite a few over time to EQII or Eve before WoW came along and solved just about every problem I had with MacEQ.
I still dream of it, though, from time to time...
Newer Technology USB 2.0 Universal Drive Adapter
I have two defunct macs sitting in a closet along with two defunct FireWire Hard Drives for a total of 7 IDE hard drives floating around, unused. My running macs are all SATA, though, so I had no way of utilizing all these drives. The inventory ended up being a 20GB, 2x40GB, 3x80GB and a 200GB. Plus an IDE SuperDrive (DVD R/W).
What I didn't consider is that there was still recoverable data on almost all of them. One of the 80s is dead, but so far the rest are mounting up fine and I'm finding all sorts of lost treasure on them. A couple of years ago, when I was migrating my data from my old G4 to the G5, about a third of my music library got corrupted, and I never found out until after the G4 was no longer functioning. All the files were MP4s that I'd ripped from my own CD collection, and I was able to re-rip some of it, but it turned out that when I sold my Miata, I left a 40 CD case in the car that had my absolute favorites. So I still had jewel cases for all these fantastic albums, but no longer had the disks and therefore no way to get those songs back into my library.
Well, last night I found a 4 year old back up of the G4 on one of the drives that had all the missing music on it. I stayed up way too late listening to Soul Coughing and Nine Inch Nails and Violent Femmes songs I hadn't heard in years.
And I've just now plugged in the last 80GB drive only to discover some old Final Cut movies I made of the kids a few years back and an iDVD build I'd made for sending out to grandparents and relatives. I'd assumed they were also lost forever.
I've always been a big fan of Other World Computing for their FireWire drives, but this adapter is fantastic. It's worth way more than the $30 they're charging.
Post Script:
One of these is the old startup drive for the G4 and I found a ton of installed games on it - Jedi Knight, Jedi Academy, Halo, Elite Force, Elite Force II, Neverwinter Nights, Myth III, Quake, Quake 3, WoW (version 1.10!) and even a 10GB full install of EverQuest for Mac.
That last is very tempting. EQ can't hold a candle to WoW, technologically, but there's something about the world of Norrath and it's various environs that totally captured me when I played it. I have memories about places in EQ and even dreams about them as if they were places I'd really experienced. I had many gripes about the game, but I also loved it dearly. Of course, one of my main gripes was that this was the Macintosh version of EQ and the server (Al'Kabor) was mac-only. That made it a small player base of mac elitists. I love Macs and won't use anything else, but I'm not the biggest fan of old-style mac users. It's gotten better in recent years as the growth in market share has diversified the user base, but back in the old days mac users were a pretty monolithic crowd. Either artists or teachers and almost all with a superiority complex that drove me crazy. I had some great friends in EQ, but most of them were from the small niche of tech-savvy mac people where I was. Sadly most of them had PCs, too, and I lost quite a few over time to EQII or Eve before WoW came along and solved just about every problem I had with MacEQ.
I still dream of it, though, from time to time...
The Matthew 25 Network
June 12, 2008 | 05:46 Filed in: Politics
I'm not the most religious guy (I'm a cultural Christian, but not a believing one), but I teared up when I saw this quote about a new Democratic group targeting the Evangelical vote:
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
Now, I'm a proud Liberal despite all the negative connotation right-wingers tries to spin into the word, and I can think of few better definitions of a Liberal than the person Jesus is describing, here.
And I think it fits beautifully into the simple idea that defines Liberalism, as a whole:
"Liberty and Justice for All."
1 hankie.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
Now, I'm a proud Liberal despite all the negative connotation right-wingers tries to spin into the word, and I can think of few better definitions of a Liberal than the person Jesus is describing, here.
And I think it fits beautifully into the simple idea that defines Liberalism, as a whole:
"Liberty and Justice for All."
1 hankie.
Voting Republican
June 11, 2008 | 11:26 Filed in: Politics
Hard not to cry when you think about all that institutionalized injustice. 1 hankie.
Politically Direct 6/8/08
June 10, 2008 | 05:42 Filed in: Politics
David Bender (show host) was talking with Dick Durbin (D-IL) about Obama's candidacy and the fact that Bob Dylan endorsed Obama. They discussed how they didn't think he'd ever endorsed a candidate in his 50 year long career, and Durbin was just floored and immediately starts quoting Dylan lyrics! I got weepy 1) because Dylan is an amazing poet, and 2) because Durbin obviously had soul enough to appreciate that, too. Just reminds me why I love the Democrats. They at least try to do the right thing and they do have the souls of poets and determination of zealots in working toward a better society. They're willing to spend the blood and sweat and, yes, the tears to make this a free and just nation. 1 hankie
WWDC '08 Keynote
June 10, 2008 | 03:50 Filed in: Tech
I woke up in the middle of the night and went ahead and streamed the WWDC '08 keynote, and I teared up when the crowd roared at the introduction of the iPhone 3G. I tell ya, any strong emotion. 2 hankies.
Now, I own an iPhone, and it's been a revolutionary product, as is, for the last year that I've had it. With the 2.0 update, I can really see this becoming a computing platform, in it's own right, and with the GPS in the 3G iPhone, this is nothing short of a quantum leap in the way we interact with data, and how data interacts with us. It's going to be fun to watch the evolution of apps for this thing. I'm sure that's a contributing factor to how strongly I feel about this.
Now, I own an iPhone, and it's been a revolutionary product, as is, for the last year that I've had it. With the 2.0 update, I can really see this becoming a computing platform, in it's own right, and with the GPS in the 3G iPhone, this is nothing short of a quantum leap in the way we interact with data, and how data interacts with us. It's going to be fun to watch the evolution of apps for this thing. I'm sure that's a contributing factor to how strongly I feel about this.
Northern Exposure #63
June 08, 2008 | 18:00 Filed in: Entertainment
The scene where Shelly is singing to the crib and Holling joins in - totally made me laugh and cry at the same time. Very touching. 1 hankie.
Northern Exposure #60
June 08, 2008 | 14:18 Filed in: Entertainment
The fight where Bernard talks the Millers out of fighting and where one of the Millers says "It'd be like tearing down a wall that I've been leaning on for my whole life." I laughed out loud with tears in my eyes... 1 hankie
In the same episode, where Joel reads the Kaddish for his uncle. Very moving scene. 3 hankies.
In the same episode, where Joel reads the Kaddish for his uncle. Very moving scene. 3 hankies.
The Instance #109
June 07, 2008 | 18:12 Filed in: Entertainment
"The Instance" is a World of Warcraft podcast that I listen to, and this week, they dedicated the episode to a man, a father of a listener and a WoW player, himself, that had recently taken ill and passed away. 2 hankies.
http://www.myextralife.com/wow/
http://www.myextralife.com/wow/
Net Neutrality
June 07, 2008 | 13:07 Filed in: Politics
This is a powerful video. Seeing the people affected and the people becoming activists on this critical issue moved me. America is a country of activism. Every step of the way activism has made us a more perfect union. Abolitionists, Suffragettes, Unions, Peace Protestors, Consumer Advocates, Environmentalists, Net Neutralists and now even Obama donors/volunteers. Movements of people who have identified injustice and have fought to correct it.
This is patriotism: perfecting your country.
2 hankies.
Northern Exposure #58
June 05, 2008 | 21:08 Filed in: Entertainment
As the episode finishes and fades to black, before the credits roll, there's a dedication for this episode.
Dedicated To The Memory
Of Our Good Friend
JOHN "YOMI" ROTHLISBERGER
1919-1993
These always make me cry. This obviously was a person who touched the lives of others, and now they're missing him, deeply. 1 hankie
Dedicated To The Memory
Of Our Good Friend
JOHN "YOMI" ROTHLISBERGER
1919-1993
These always make me cry. This obviously was a person who touched the lives of others, and now they're missing him, deeply. 1 hankie
Northern Exposure #58
June 05, 2008 | 21:01 Filed in: Entertainment
Toward the end of the episode, Maurice is sitting in the house he grew up in and is visited by an apparition of his dead brother as a child. Maurice gets the opportunity to apologize to his brother's memory for long unforgiven, almost forgotten childhood grievances. 2 hankies
Northern Exposure #56
June 05, 2008 | 18:33 Filed in: Entertainment
The end of the episode Chris reveals his light sculpture and they play Ebudae by Enya (from "Sheperd Moons"). Don't know if it's the Enya (I have every album through "Memory of Trees" but literally haven't listened to any in years) or it's the epiphany point in the show. Just moved me. 2 hankies.
Obama in 30 Seconds
June 05, 2008 | 09:17 Filed in: Politics
Watching the winner and the runners up - they all made me weepy. I'm just flooded with a sense of relief and hope. The country actually has a chance of moving in the right direction, again. Multiple hankies.
http://obamain30seconds.org/
http://obamain30seconds.org/
NZ Book Council
June 05, 2008 | 05:16 Filed in: Work
This is a bit of an odd one. Follow me closely, if you will.
I was reading this article on Digg.com:
http://digg.com/arts_culture/How_to_Sneakily_Read_Books_at_Work_Awesome_Website
Now, I love to read and I'm as curious as the next ape, so I follow the link and check out the site. It's an interesting site, though I don't know how effective the gimmick will actually be. I try to read a poem by T. S. Eliot but instead get a message saying "It's not available in your area." I guess this makes sense since I'm not in New Zealand. Now, the site has me in full-screen mode, though, and my eye catches "encourage your friends, click here" at the bottom and I'm hurrying along and just assume that's the way to exit full-screen mode so I click. It's turns out to be a mailto link opening an email document saying "Make yourself look busy. Start reading a book." and "Take back some of your leisure time. Click this link." With the URL for the site below.
Ok, now here's where it gets a little esoteric. Their zeal for reading advocacy made me well up with tears.
I'm seriously a pushover, aren't I? 1 hankie
I was reading this article on Digg.com:
http://digg.com/arts_culture/How_to_Sneakily_Read_Books_at_Work_Awesome_Website
Now, I love to read and I'm as curious as the next ape, so I follow the link and check out the site. It's an interesting site, though I don't know how effective the gimmick will actually be. I try to read a poem by T. S. Eliot but instead get a message saying "It's not available in your area." I guess this makes sense since I'm not in New Zealand. Now, the site has me in full-screen mode, though, and my eye catches "encourage your friends, click here" at the bottom and I'm hurrying along and just assume that's the way to exit full-screen mode so I click. It's turns out to be a mailto link opening an email document saying "Make yourself look busy. Start reading a book." and "Take back some of your leisure time. Click this link." With the URL for the site below.
Ok, now here's where it gets a little esoteric. Their zeal for reading advocacy made me well up with tears.
I'm seriously a pushover, aren't I? 1 hankie
Why did we find Nemo, again?
June 04, 2008 | 15:10 Filed in: Entertainment
Over the years, my kids have loved the various Pixar movies. Unfortunately, since my son is typically in charge of the kids DVDs, we've lost not a few. A couple of days ago, I re-purchased some DVDs we'd owned, before, but no longer had: Bugs Life, Monsters, Inc. and Finding Nemo. My son just put Nemo on and now I'm remembering why I never enjoyed this movie much. I'd been a widower for less than a year when we got the DVD, and I remember now how much it shocked and hurt me to see the Marlin character have to lose his loving spouse and have to struggle on and raise his kid as best he could, alone. Ugh. It still twists me up, inside. Six years out from the accident, now, and I'm doing pretty alright, but also I just don't think about it much.
This movie makes me think about it.
This movie makes me think about it.
Obama Video clip on Gawker
June 04, 2008 | 02:53 Filed in: Politics
I was watching a clip of Obama's speech where he confirms that he'll be the nominee. Made me cry... again!
http://gawker.com/5012879/
http://gawker.com/5012879/
Obama Victory Speech - June 3, 2008
June 04, 2008 | 00:48 Filed in: Politics
I'm finally getting a chance to watch the whole Obama speech. I know this is going to be rough for me because it's been so long coming, and so important. Blogging it as I watch it.
He's thanking his wife and kids. 1 hankie.
He's thanking his grandma who helped raise him. "Tonight is for her." 2 hankies.
"I will be the Democratic Nominee..." 1 hankie - again! I caught this, earlier, when I flipped over from 30 Days. Still chokes me up.
People are holding up "Unify!" signs. 1 hankie.
They're cheering him to the rafters. 1 hankie.
"I respect his many accomplishments, even if he chooses to deny mine." The crowd cheers him to the rafters, again. 1 hankie.
"...give our veterans the care and the benefits they deserve when they come home." 1 hankie.
"...that is the legacy of Roosevelt, and Kennedy, and Truman..." 2 hankies.
"...cities in Michigan, and Ohio, and right here in Minnesota, He'd understand the kind of change people are looking for." 1 hankie.
"or where he spoke tonight in New Orleans..." 1 hankie.
"That's why I'm running for President of the United States." 2 hankies.
The crowd is chanting "Yes, we can!" 3 hankies.
"...That uses religion as a wedge, and patriotism as a bludgeon." 1 hankie.
"We are always Americans first!" 2 hankies.
"So it was for that band of patriots in Philadelphia..." The tears are just flowing, now. 4 hankies.
"That this was the moment..."
"so that it may always reflect our very best selves..."
...
That was almost cathartic. I cry a lot (as I've documented in this blog), but I haven't cried that much at one time in quite awhile. Pride and hope and joy mingled with a bit of sadness at the current sad state of this great nation. We're going to fix it, though. We're going to elect this man President and have a strongly Democratic House and Senate and we're going to save America again.
He's thanking his wife and kids. 1 hankie.
He's thanking his grandma who helped raise him. "Tonight is for her." 2 hankies.
"I will be the Democratic Nominee..." 1 hankie - again! I caught this, earlier, when I flipped over from 30 Days. Still chokes me up.
People are holding up "Unify!" signs. 1 hankie.
They're cheering him to the rafters. 1 hankie.
"I respect his many accomplishments, even if he chooses to deny mine." The crowd cheers him to the rafters, again. 1 hankie.
"...give our veterans the care and the benefits they deserve when they come home." 1 hankie.
"...that is the legacy of Roosevelt, and Kennedy, and Truman..." 2 hankies.
"...cities in Michigan, and Ohio, and right here in Minnesota, He'd understand the kind of change people are looking for." 1 hankie.
"or where he spoke tonight in New Orleans..." 1 hankie.
"That's why I'm running for President of the United States." 2 hankies.
The crowd is chanting "Yes, we can!" 3 hankies.
"...That uses religion as a wedge, and patriotism as a bludgeon." 1 hankie.
"We are always Americans first!" 2 hankies.
"So it was for that band of patriots in Philadelphia..." The tears are just flowing, now. 4 hankies.
"That this was the moment..."
"so that it may always reflect our very best selves..."
...
That was almost cathartic. I cry a lot (as I've documented in this blog), but I haven't cried that much at one time in quite awhile. Pride and hope and joy mingled with a bit of sadness at the current sad state of this great nation. We're going to fix it, though. We're going to elect this man President and have a strongly Democratic House and Senate and we're going to save America again.
30 Days - Coal Miner #2
June 03, 2008 | 21:56 Filed in: Entertainment
The miners got Morgan a going-away present. A knife engraved with, "For Morgan, now you're one of us." 1 hankie.
30 Days - Coal Miner
June 03, 2008 | 21:23 Filed in: Entertainment
Morgan interviews a coal miner who hopes for a better future for his kids than coal mining. During the discussion it comes out that his father, too, was a miner who also hoped that he wouldn't become a miner. This is a dangerous job and it breaks my heart to see people shackled into a life they never chose by an economy they were never allowed a say in creating. 1 hankie
Barack Obama Clinches the Nomination
June 03, 2008 | 21:17 Filed in: Politics
I just saw Barack Obama announce that he will be the Democratic nominee for President. I'm crying with joy and pride and even, yes, relief. We need this man to lead us out of the hole that the Bush Administration has dug over the last 8 years. 3 hankies
My Name is Earl #27
June 03, 2008 | 12:30 Filed in: Entertainment
At the end of the episode I got weepy when all the freaks showed up to cheer Earl on for his dive and decided they weren't going to be ashamed, anymore. 1 hankie
Today's Ctl+Alt+Del Comic
June 02, 2008 | 15:51 Filed in: Entertainment
First, read the comic in question, then come back and see if I make any sense:
http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comic.php?d=20080602
My first reaction was, “Does he have kids? A wife? Has he been through this?” I have, and it’s something I almost never talk about. My third child (a little boy we’d already named) was on the cusp of the third trimester when my wife was in a car accident. I lost them both. The joy of my two older children made me feel the loss of this almost-little-boy so strongly because I already knew what I was losing. It’s scary how much you love your kids, and I knew I’d never get to know him and love him. Just mourn for the life he never got to have.
It took me almost three years before I was done grieving for them, and it’s now close to six since the accident and I’m only writing about it because it’s upsetting to see people (even fictional characters) in this situation. At first, I thought that Tim Buckley (the creator of CTL+ALT+DEL) must just be tossing this in for drama and not have any real experience with it from his own life. How could he? If you’ve been through it, blithely tossing it into your gaming webcomic to “stress test” (his words) his characters’ relationship is just not something you’d do.
Except he says he has been through this (though, he manages to sound extremely ego-centric and self-aggrandizing and oddly flippant when he does talk about it).
“Some many years ago, long before I started the comic, I was in a relationship and we suffered a miscarriage. Now, this relationship was toxic to begin with and doomed to fail regardless, so that the miscarriage was the straw that broke the camel's back came as no surprise. It was a pregnancy neither of us wanted in the first place, so the event didn't effect me nearly as much as it would, say, a couple who was trying for a child. Still, I saw the emotions it can bring up first hand, and I saw how it could truly hurt someone.”
Someone. Just not him, obviously. I’m sure somebody could write about this in a meaningful and profound way, but, again, just not him.
I already don’t read this comic. I tried, years ago, when I first encountered it, but it’s always been too vapid and shallow and almost too masturbatory (his real audience is himself - other readers are just incidental). I saw a twitter about it, this morning, or it would’ve gone completely under my radar. So I’m not trying to start controversy or shame the writer or cost him readers (I don’t think his typical readers would understand either, to be honest). I’m just saddened by the associations this particular comic dredged up, and and disappointed that Buckley’s not deep enough to truly grasp the emotional depth of his current subject matter.
http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comic.php?d=20080602
My first reaction was, “Does he have kids? A wife? Has he been through this?” I have, and it’s something I almost never talk about. My third child (a little boy we’d already named) was on the cusp of the third trimester when my wife was in a car accident. I lost them both. The joy of my two older children made me feel the loss of this almost-little-boy so strongly because I already knew what I was losing. It’s scary how much you love your kids, and I knew I’d never get to know him and love him. Just mourn for the life he never got to have.
It took me almost three years before I was done grieving for them, and it’s now close to six since the accident and I’m only writing about it because it’s upsetting to see people (even fictional characters) in this situation. At first, I thought that Tim Buckley (the creator of CTL+ALT+DEL) must just be tossing this in for drama and not have any real experience with it from his own life. How could he? If you’ve been through it, blithely tossing it into your gaming webcomic to “stress test” (his words) his characters’ relationship is just not something you’d do.
Except he says he has been through this (though, he manages to sound extremely ego-centric and self-aggrandizing and oddly flippant when he does talk about it).
“Some many years ago, long before I started the comic, I was in a relationship and we suffered a miscarriage. Now, this relationship was toxic to begin with and doomed to fail regardless, so that the miscarriage was the straw that broke the camel's back came as no surprise. It was a pregnancy neither of us wanted in the first place, so the event didn't effect me nearly as much as it would, say, a couple who was trying for a child. Still, I saw the emotions it can bring up first hand, and I saw how it could truly hurt someone.”
Someone. Just not him, obviously. I’m sure somebody could write about this in a meaningful and profound way, but, again, just not him.
I already don’t read this comic. I tried, years ago, when I first encountered it, but it’s always been too vapid and shallow and almost too masturbatory (his real audience is himself - other readers are just incidental). I saw a twitter about it, this morning, or it would’ve gone completely under my radar. So I’m not trying to start controversy or shame the writer or cost him readers (I don’t think his typical readers would understand either, to be honest). I’m just saddened by the associations this particular comic dredged up, and and disappointed that Buckley’s not deep enough to truly grasp the emotional depth of his current subject matter.
Obama Stump Speech - Mitchell, South Dakota
June 01, 2008 | 15:44 Filed in: Politics
Who doesn't get misty-eyed at the hope and promise of this man's candidacy? I hope that the Democrats don't let Hillary drag this thing to the convention. We so desperately need this man as president and we can't afford to keep giving McCain a free pass. We've got to get Barack out there as the official candidate taking McCain on. 1 hankie
Northern Exposure #48
June 01, 2008 | 10:39 Filed in: Entertainment
End of the episode. Vindication, epiphany, reflection. Very emotional. 2 hankies.
On a side note: I'll be glad when I'm done watching these Norther Exposure DVDs. They're too well written and I succumb too easily to their charms. I can think of the shows completely on a technical level and still be moved by them. Of course, those are the DVDs worth buying.
On a side note: I'll be glad when I'm done watching these Norther Exposure DVDs. They're too well written and I succumb too easily to their charms. I can think of the shows completely on a technical level and still be moved by them. Of course, those are the DVDs worth buying.
Northern Exposure #48
June 01, 2008 | 10:09 Filed in: Entertainment
When the judge is calling up the townspeople as character witnesses on Chris' behalf, Holling is explaining how Chris had helped Holling pay back taxes with an "indefinite loan," (pay back as you're able, no pressure) and that "that's the kind of friend he is. That's the kind of man he is." I know these are fictional characters, but the raw expression of friendship and admiration for a person worthy of it is pretty powerful. It really came across in the delivery by the actor who plays Holling. 1 hankie.
Northern Exposure #48
June 01, 2008 | 09:58 Filed in: Entertainment
In the first courtroom scene where the argument is first made that Chris isn't the same Chris who'd jumped bail six years earlier, the judge says she's hear the case after a one hour recess. Chris' lawyer pipes up and says, "I could really use two, your honor." The judge looks at him over the top of her half-moon spectacles in a a withering way and says they'll recess for one hour. That made me laugh, but I also teared up. I honestly have no clue why there were tears in my eyes, but there were. 1 hankie.
Northern Exposure #47
June 01, 2008 | 09:31 Filed in: Entertainment
The final scene, where Joel calls Yvgeny in Isreal and haltingly tries to explain why he's calling really choked me up. 2 hankies.
Northern Exposure #47
June 01, 2008 | 09:05 Filed in: Entertainment
The Joel character is explaining to Ed the suppression of the Russian Jews as he looks over Yvgeny's dossier. He explains how Yvgeny's life is repeatedly disrupted for practicing his faith, but then says, "Don't worry. That's not the end of the story. You know where he is now? Israel. He made it." Made me tear up pretty heavily. I'm a total bleeding heart and the idea of escaping oppression is a powerful one. 2 hankies.