Opie and Richie and the Election

You may have already seen this video making the rounds, but if not, you’ll enjoy watching this from Ron Howard.

more about “Opie and Richie and the Election“, posted with vodpod

Bassetts for Obama

Tbogg, basset-lover and blogger that he is, brought this video to our attention. There is something about floppy basset lips that makes me laugh. How about you?

Debating about the Debate

Do I really want to listen to the debate tonight? Maybe a movie would be a better idea. Shoot, maybe categorizing my spare change would be more fun.

The debates have their moments, but they usually just seem a waste of time. I’ve already voted. Nothing is going to change my mind at this point.

Well, here’s something to play with if you get bored watching the debates. Do click on things and see what happens: Palin as President.

Obama Got One Vote Today

No, this isn’t an inspirational anecdote about someone who decided to vote for Obama. No, this is just a post to say that I went out and voted today.

I love voting early. I just have to go down to the county offices and you can get in and vote. If you live in Coconino county, here are the locations you can go and vote: Early Voting Sites.

My biggest issue with voting is that the list of propositions can confuse me. I must study them, discuss them with others, and then make my list. This year it’s easy. Vote no on all of them except the last one. Not many would agree about the last one. That’s the proposition to increase the state legislators’ salaries. It rarely passes, but my belief is that the low salary only allows the wealthy to run for office. And who knows? Someday I may want to run for office — it would be nice to have a salary greater than $26,000.

I also usually fret over the judges section — where we are asked whether this judge or that judge should be retained. How the heck should I know? I don’t want to vote to retain someone who is a judicial idiot, but i don’t want to vote to get rid of someone who’s been doing a decent job. Usually I just don’t vote that section. Until today’s discovery: a site that reviews the judges’ performances. The Arizona Commission on Judicial Performances gets feedback from attorneys and other judges. I checked the list that Coconino county voters would vote on and the three judges look pretty darn good.

So I voted today, and you know what? It feels pretty darn frakking good. Fingers crossed, prayers said, and may this election turn out good.

Tonight’s Debate

Okay, I got to hear a good chunk of the debate, but missed the first half hour due to working late. I’m thinking Obama won tonight, but it’s hard to tell how it looks to people when you only listen on the radio. Of course, the debate also seemed pretty boring. I’m falling asleep here.

I’m going to vote this week. I love early voting. The debate hasn’t changed my mind…like it would. Please let’s get some grown-ups in charge. I’m voting for Obama.

VP Debate Survival

I survived listening to the Vice Presidential debate. Whew. Palin survived, using lots of those “Mavericky” talking points. Biden was engaging. I bet it doesn’t change much in the race.

I’m happy I didn’t do the Palin debate drinking game. Words like “doggonnit” and “maverick” were used enough to give alcohol poisoning.

Gee Whiz — Crazy Day

So I drive down to Sedona today to have some stitches pulled by the periodontist who did some surgery on my mouth two weeks ago. It was a lovely day, except for a huge plume of smoke rising above Oak Creek Canyon (controlled burn? Maybe). I stop and have lunch in Sedona, drive up and stop for groceries, come home, open up the laptop, and discover all hell is breaking loose.

The bailout failed? Wow. I’m actually happy that it did, but do hope we get something in place in the long run that isn’t such a giveaway to the Wall Street idiots.

The Dow loses 777 points? Now that will certainly put pressure on Congress to do something. I just hope they do something smart, but don’t have high hopes. You know what I’d like? If all those folks who made tons of money working for the banks that screwed up could be taxed up the ying yang. If tax dollars are going to make their life right again, then let them pay for a good share of it.

I’m just wondering what else is in store for us. I wonder what happens when I go to my regular dentist tomorrow for a filling. Will I return to work and discover that stockbrokers are jumping out of windows on Wall Street?

I’m telling you, interesting days we live in. My retirement funds may disappear, but at least my teeth will be healthy.

I Feel Pretty….Pretty Tired

I survived the first week of the semester, one of the busiest times of the year for me, plus I had to watch all the Democratic Convention speeches at night (damn, Obama gave a great speech, didn’t he?). So, let’s just say that I’m tired.

This three-day weekend is a wonderful chance to lounge about, and even though I’m on call today, it’s really quiet at work and I had a chance to catch up on some snapshotting in Second Life. Now in Second Life, I don’t feel pretty tired, I just feel pretty.

Last week I saw a blog post on Fashion Planet showing off some clothes from Zaara, plus a cute, curly hairstyle from Fetish. I ran out and bought both. I certainly am not doing anything social in Second Life, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting new hair, skin, and clothes.

Here I am in Zaara’s Anjuna in green and Fetish’s Adora hair in black. The glasses are from Solar.

I would dress like that if I could. Casual, fun, and showing my belly button. Of course, in Real Life, no one wants to see my belly button. Trust me on that.

I bought the skin I’m wearing in the above photo from Nora. She had a great going-out-of-business sale a few weeks ago and I picked up this Samantha skin in the Ginger tone in Green Apple makeup at great prices. I’ve picked up a few more skins, because I can’t help myself. The following skins are the Nora skin (I’m showing off that green eyeshadow), KA skin in Drama in the Pale tone, KA freebie Special Edition skin in Dark Tan, and Tres Very’s Fuchsia Fit in the Tan tone:

I purchased the new hairdo from Find Ash. It’s the Clever Trickster in Neo Black. I keep thinking of hitting the big Hair Fair in Second Life, but I know I’ll go crazy and buy everything.

I put together an outfit with a shirt I bought at Zaara’s called Indian Summer. It’s in green and plum. I didn’t buy a pair of pants or a skirt to go with the top, and discovered that the bold colors don’t look right with jeans. Luckily, I’m a crazed shopper. I stumbled across these green capris from Aoharu in my inventory. Never worn, they now have a blouse I want to wear with them. The jewelry is from Zaara’s and is part of the Melange set. The shoes are Armidi’s Viniani Heel in Eggplant. The makeup is the Tres Very Fuchsia Fit in Tan.

It’s not often that one can wear such a symphony of lime and plum. It certainly looks more vibrant than I feel, sitting here on the couch. Ah heck. I feel better after putting together these snapshots. Let’s just say that I feel pretty!

More Conventional Me — I’m Jazzed

Man, what a great set of speeches tonight at the Democratic Convention. Jeez, Bill Clinton is amazing. The speech started slow, but when he warmed up I did not want the man to stop. His ability to lay out what the Republican rule did to us just got to me:

“…he (McCain) still embraces the extreme philosophy which has defined his party for more than 25 years, a philosophy we never had a real chance to see in action until 2001, when the Republicans finally gained control of both the White House and Congress. Then we saw what would happen to America if the policies they had talked about for decades were implemented.

They took us from record surpluses to an exploding national debt; from over 22 million new jobs down to 5 million; from an increase in working family incomes of $7,500 to a decline of more than $2,000; from almost 8 million Americans moving out of poverty to more than 5 and a half million falling into poverty – and millions more losing their health insurance.

Now, in spite of all the evidence, their candidate is promising more of the same: More tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans that will swell the deficit, increase inequality, and weaken the economy. More band-aids for health care that will enrich insurance companies, impoverish families and increase the number of uninsured. More going it alone in the world, instead of building the shared responsibilities and shared opportunities necessary to advance our security and restore our influence.”

Update: Video of Bill Clinton

And I bet most people missed John Kerry (I gather the TV networks have to have network talking heads pontificating about the speeches and not actually showing the speeches), but Kerry was awesome.

Update: Video John Kerry’s speech

The Bidens finished things off with verve and then Obama showed up. It was a great night.

I am so excited about tomorrow night and Obama’s speech.

Conventional Me

I’m sitting here listening/watching the convention. I’m listening to NPR while keeping the video streaming from MSNBC.com. I’m looking forward to Michelle Obama’s speech. I also thought it was great to see Teddy Kennedy on stage.

It’s rather nice to sit back and relax and listen to this. No commercials, lots of options for seeing what’s going on — NPR cuts out lots of speeches, but I can catch them on the streaming video, yet if NPR has something fun to talk about, I can mute the video.

I hope Michelle does a great job. I love listening to her talk. She’s not going to be a bland First Lady, that’s for sure.

Update: she delivered a wonderful speech…and her daughters are too cute.

My Man!

That man is Howard Dean. He was one of the keynote speakers at Netroots Nation. I do love him so and it was great watching him talk.

If you want to catch some of the events going on at Netroots Nation, uStream provides a lovely stream of various panel discussions. Check it out.

Now it’s bedtime. It’s an early start in the morning. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, will conduct a Q&A at 7:00 AM my time. That’s in the morning. Coffee will need to be made.

NN in SL

Does that title make sense? Well, it’s Netroots Nation in Second Life, but that’s one long title, so let me shorten it. I can shorten it even more by just using NNSL. Yes, the lazy person’s way of blogging — use acronyms of few letters.

Well, tonight is the kick off event for Netroots Nation and we’re streaming the video of Howard Dean and Wesley Clark into Second Life.  There’s a Second Life panel discussion, dancing, and movie-going.  I’m ready for it.  Here’s today’s schedule as listed at the NNSL web site:

… All times are Second Life Time, also known as Pacific Daylight Time:

1:00 PM — An SL/NN Meetup! Here’s a chance to do some comingling with the Austin crowd at Netroots Nation. Yes, Austin and Second Life will meet. Head for the Netroots Arena.

5:30-6:30 PM — Austin Keynote Address: Gov Howard Dean and (ret) Gen Wes Clark. This will stream into Netroots Arena.

6:30-7:30 PM — “What They Said” Commentary by Joan McCarter (McJoan), Jimbo Hoyer, GenJCChristian Homewood and Cliff Schecter. This is a Second Life panel held at Netroots Arena.

7:30-10:00 PM — SL Opening Party. We’ll be chatting and dancing at the same time – very easy to do in Second Life – at the Netroots Island Ballroom.

9:00-whenever – “The Corporation.” It’s a special Netroots Nation screening of “The Corporation” at the Marxist/Lennonist Party Headquarters (this will open up the SLURL for the location, which is not on Netroots Nation Island ).

It’s fun meeting new people to Second Life, plus the SL old-timers who are showing up for their first political event in SL. Why don’t you join us!

Netroots Nation – Second Life Style!

I’d say I’m tuckered out, but I’m too excited to be tuckered out! Next week is the big Netroots Nation convention in Austin, Texas. It’s the annual gathering of political progressives.  So, am I going to Austin and that’s why I’m excited? Heck no! It’s Austin in July, why would anyone get excited? Nope, I’m staying  right here on the couch with my laptop. There is a Netroots Nation in Second Life convention also. Yep, Ms. Moran Singh is going all conventioneer style next week in Second Life.

What’s even more fun, and what’s leading to some of the tuckered out feeling, is that I’m one of the organizers for the Second Life event. Yep, I’m in charge of the Social Events. Yeah, me, Miss Unsocial.

Everyone’s been incredibly involved creating this event. We’ll be streaming video from Austin, plus putting on our own panels. We’ve worked hard on creating buildings, ballrooms, orientation areas, exhibition booths, and all kinds of things. The learning opportunities keep coming my way.

Here’s a view of the ballroom at Netroots Nation Island (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Yearly%20Kos%20Convention%204/156/59/24/):

Ballroom at Netroots Nation Island

Here’s the orientation area. Any newbies can find themselves right at home. They can even pick up some freebies, including avatars and outfits.

Netroots Nation Island orientation area

For more information about Netroots Nation in Second Life (or NNinSL for short), check out the web site and blog. It’s free. Anyone who cares about politics, community organizing, health care, economics, and anything else to do with how our country is run, should join us.

So, what does a fashionable person wear to Netroots Nation in Second Life? What a silly question!

Moran in her NNinSL t-shirt

Oh, My Aching Feet

I’m home from the 4th of July parade. Yes, I did walk in the parade — I carried the DFA Obama for Change banner — and I have to say that I’m now quite the pooped parade walker. My feet are killing me. I’ve got them on ice, and I think a nap is definitely in my future.

As for the parade, it was it’s usual fun madness. The Republicans booed us, but in a nice way, with smiles exchanged by all. Others whooped and hollered when they saw our Obama shirts and the banner.

The parade goers do have it hard in election years, as the parade extends even longer due to all the candidate entries. We had several near us. There was Howard Shanker, running for AZ CD-1, Mary Kim Titla came up to Flagstaff to make an appearance, and Ann Kirkpatrick had a “float” in the parade, but I didn’t see if she was actually there.  There were plenty of folks running in the local races too. Tom Chabin and Chris Deschene were there, both running for the Legislative District 2 race. I think Mark Haughwout was there too but I didn’t meet him. I did talk to one of my favorite candidates. Kara Kelty is running for Corporation Commission. She used to be on the City Council and I’ve always liked her. She’d faced a campaign against someone challenging her nominating petitions. She won that battle.

Now, I do know that the Republican side of things was also represented in the parades, but the parade organizers somehow decided that the Republican groups and the Democratic groups should have some good distance from each other. Good decision!

Well, that nap waits for me, and then I want to finish some things up for the Netroots Nation in Second Life convention that begins in less than two weeks. I’ll be writing more about that later.

Oh! I almost forgot! Happy Independence Day!

Parading Around for Obama

It’s official. I am “marching” in the 4th of July parade. Okay, with my bad feet it’ll be more like limping, but I’ll be ready for it. We’ll carry some Obama signs and hand out Obama buttons. We should get a good reception from the Flagstaff crowd.

There’s nothing like living in a small city where you can easily limp in the parade.