party party all da time
G: Friday we had a party. It was
kind of close to Halloween so I said dress up if you want. Jun was one
of the first to arrive; he was dressed as a priest. I was still in work
mode, but decided since someone had dressed up I had better too. So
when it was time to turn into "Party Gina" I turned into an elf. I
ended up with more of an elaborate costume than I planned. Then the
most amazing thing happened. Everywhere I looked, people were looking
like elves and Vulcans! It was magical.
Saturday night I went over to the Looney's for a celebration of Andy's
and Josh's birthdays. Happy Birthday, Andy and Josh! Many guests had
already come and gone, and there weren't a whole lot of people there. I
gave Andy a couple of mix cd's I burned for him. I hung out for a
while, and then played a few rounds of Trip'D with Lori. Sometime after
that, a few of us got into a hold'em game. I've only played a few times
over there, but the last time I made money so I was into trying again.
John showed up right when we started (he had been at another game party
where he played Loopin' Louie and Social Class). I took all his money
and he bought in again. I lost most of it but came out ahead in the
end. John more or less broke even.
Sunday night we went to the New Deal Cafe for Rich's
art opening. There were lots of
friends there and nice hors d'oeuvre. Izolda's sister brought a
gigantic cake with a copy of one of Rich's drawings on it. Pretty
amazing. Oh, the art is really awful and cute and well done and neat.
Go see.
After the cafe closed some of the hangers on met up at Rizolda's house
to continue reveling. Was fun.
J: I spent a good part of the
weekend and Monday reconstructing Lori's loft (thanks to Joey, Dorian,
and TV Tom), moving furniture between three houses, and putting
furniture together again in Lori's room. By Tuesday I had that good
soreness, and I was happy that I hadn't destroyed my back. I celebrated
by washing dishes and playing poker.
two lists
My country is good because:
- We have possibly the most free press on the planet, and a wide
open internet.
- We run a mostly secular, representative government.
- We can petition our government, campaign, and vote.
- We have laws for due process and against self incrimination.
- We have laws against unreasonable search and seizure.
- We welcome immigrants, and have a rich variety of ethnic and
cultural groups.
- We promote equal protection, and strive for equal rights.
- We have a diverse, creative population of artists and musicians.
- We have invented amazing things, like the internet, lasers, and
jazz.
- We have sent men to the Moon, and robots to other planets and
outer space.
My country is bad because:
- We torture people.
- We execute people.
- We start wars.
- Our prison population is one of the highest in the world.
- Our murder rate is one of the highest in the world.
- We sell large numbers of powerful weapons to governments and
insurgent groups.
- We're using the world's resources at a higher rate than any other
country.
- We have prohibitions against certain drugs, consensual sex, and
gambling.
- We have a car culture that discriminates against pedestrians and
bicyclists and limits mass transport.
- We operate huge factory farms and rendering plants. We cause
animals undue suffering and pain.
- Health care is not listed as a legal right.
- We cut down forests to build shopping malls and gated communities.
- Our system of government has a troubling emergent property. It
promotes liars and corrupt politicians.
