It's All Going On In Mequon

Police shootings and now random acts of attempted vehicular homicide.

And she was aiming for her husband and daughter?

The Chickens Come Home To Roost (Part 51)

Today's Sydney Morning Herald has an article discussing the uproar amongst several Australians who have donated to the fascist, xenophobic, and just plain disturbing British National Party (think the KKK as a political party).

The reactions are rather absurd and completely devoid of self-awareness in my opinion, preferring to mask their bigotry under wanting to reduce immigration. (Well, perhaps not that 24 year old swim coach--who has never even been to the UK).

I have a message for that swim coach: I was in Brixton and Soho when David Copeland bombed them, he may have claimed to act alone, but the BNP helped groom him into the monster he was.

The Chickens Are Coming Home To Roost (Part 50)

For starters, the idea of a Maserati dealership in any part of the state of Wisconsin (except for Kenosha) is funny (as in bizarre) enough, especially strictly middle class Glendale.*

* As I have said before, Milwaukee television doesn't paint a picture of an economically prosperous area. Even with United's magazine claiming otherwise this month. (Note: PDF file)

That the aforementioned dealership is closing after a few months in operation is a true triumph of common sense over needless excess.

Wednesday Jukebox Saves Earth

Or rather, Skoop on Somebody (yes, that's their name, and I have no idea as to what "Skooping" is) says they'll save the Earth.




A rather happy optimistic tune to brighten up any Wednesday doldrums.

That New Set

The Daily News has a [puff piece] article about WNBC's new set.

Now, Richard Huff--in general--tells it straight, so he does offer a bit of skepticism, especially in relation to the fact that they are spinning it as a "content center."

Personally, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that set is a major step down. There's no character to it, and there's nothing terribly distinctive or local about it. It just looks like the reception desk of a small (but pretentious) company.




What I find particularly ironic is that this is a key part of WNBC's addition of a 24 hour local news channel.* Well, if that's the case, then where is the actual city? It may seem like a minor issue, but showing at least some of the New York skyline (especially when your studios are in Rockefeller Center!) would underline this new local "commitment."

* Also worth noting is that New York 1 has no local backdrop, but I cut them some slack since they don't have the same amount of resources (even as a part of Time Warner) at their disposal as WNBC.

Photography Break

In the midst of writing, I took this one photo during a break.

*Sigh*

I'll miss this next year.

Harsh Medicine

The new head of the Screen Producers Association of Australia says that Australian film makers don't deserve their A$100 million/yr subsidy, because their films aren't good...in the eyes of the public.

Ouch.

That being said, I don't think the "ram it down our collective throats" approach of US filmmakers is that much better.

The October/November Video Log

Video Log...interrupted

Oh well, the content hopefully is good.

Honestly, these past few weeks have been full of so much emotion, that it's probably a good thing that the Helio gave out (Apologies for my shaky hand.) before I got a little bit too long-winded.

Enjoy!

Aeroflot Out-Aerofloted

The Russian government is going on a buying spree of airlines, particularly those in Siberia and the Russian Far East.

The behemoth is to be given the terribly original name of "Russian Airlines."

Aeroflot execs are understandably pissed.

Personally, I'm skeptical, but not entirely opposed.

Indeed, I agree with consolidation of the airline industry, but more along the lines of creating several smaller carriers with a regional focus rather than one big carrier.

But Russia is not the US and vice versa, and the population is not as high, so perhaps this might work.

Then again, a Putin crony is a proponent of this, and who knows if the broken clock is right on this one?

Um....This Is Rather Squicky

I know that the apple often doesn't fall far from the tree, but this Journal Sentinel article about a a woman trying out to be a Playboy Bunny (which makes her mother proud) is kind of....odd.

Perhaps it's made a bit odd that the wannabe Bunny was in the year below me in school.

Innocence is dead.

A Moment of Sanity

I have little to say about all the Proposition 8 debacle beyond what I said before.

(It makes one wonder how a sampling of 200+ voters can suddenly speak for all.)

Fortunately,  fivethirtyeight has a sane analysis of the vote.

Emirates Goes Down

I cannot say that I weep for Dubai's home airline.

In fact, a good dose of schadenfreunde is tasting quite well.

Seriously though, when they say there's a global airline economic crisis...believe it.

I Guess Mequon Is Changing

Shootout in Mequon of all places?

Perhaps this is just the writer side of me showing, but I find this comment interesting:

"This isn't the type of thing that happens in Mequon frequently..."

Frequently? Well, it's true...you can't go home again.

And I Ask What's Wrong With This

If he said he was going to do it, why are you surprised that he's following through?

Believe you me, most of the people complaining will actually see a tax cut. 

That's right, you aren't as rich as you think you are.

Friday Jukebox Is Another Attempt To Musicalise The Zeitgeist

...Or to be honest, I finally found a performance clip of Ingrid Peters singing Afrika, and tried to shoehorn it into current events.

Although, to be honest, the song does come across as a prime example of what Edward Said was taking about and applying it to Africa...a continent with a plethora of countries and cultures.

Just today, while doing some errands, a white man came up to me and said--with no malice whatsoever on his face--that I must be happy with the election, and noted that he voted for Obama.

I pointed out to him that as Americans, all of us should be happy.

How I love Ozaukee County Naivete.

Anyway, sing Ingrid.

Wednesday Jukebox Tries To Explain the Zeitgeist again

There's a lot of mixed emotions I'm going through today: shock, happiness, and after the Prop 8 results--anger. 

I know that it's likely to be overturned (the California Supreme Court in their ruling stated clearly that equal treatment and rights of all Californians is fundamental, if memory serves me), but nonetheless, one always hopes that you can finally live in a world where people choose wisely when given the option to vote on equal rights and protections.

At home: sadly evil Ms. Darling pipped out a win over Sheldon Wasserman (courtesy of the Mequon returns which went in her favour), although just barely; and Jimmy Boy won by 80%.  I can only hope that this term he has a metaphorical "Come to Jesus" moment and realises the error of his ways.

So it's a lot to think about.

I can't believe that I am alive--and not even close to collecting my pension--at a time when the US has elected a black president...and by such a resounding margin. 

Therefore, my jukebox take on it is the partly incomprehensible, jarring, but still jubliant Jumper by Capsule.

A Tale from the Ozaukee County Obama Headquarters

After probably the longest lines I've ever seen at my polling place (a near half hour wait--at 10am), I finally voted.

Personally, I will take these long lines as a positive sign.

On the way there, my mother shared an interesting story about the local (as in county) Obama Headquarters. Apparently, people going there to visit/get information/volunteer start out by entering in very slowly almost like they don't want to be seen entering in there. (Much like going to one's first gay bar.) Clearly they must have started relaxing their nerves since--and I know I have said this before, but I still can't believe it--the amount of Obama signs here is unbelievably high. 

Hilariously, the centre of McCain/Palin signage is in front of a barren lot and next to an abandoned restaurant.

A Reminder of our absurd political system

The Journal Sentinel is just a fountain of information today, with an article on electors. (My god, some ex-Real Worlder could be a Republican elector?)

While it is important that we all vote, it is also important to remember just how the US electoral system works. 

In other words, for all our bluster about bringing democracy to the world, our own form of it is rather...um...archaic given the demographic changes since 1787.

My favourite part of the article is this passage (emphasis my own):

"Reformers say it's time to do away with an outdated system set up by the Founding Fathers to protect elections from a mass of uneducated voters. John Koza, one of the inventors of the scratch-off lottery ticket, is one of them."

It took more than one person to come up with the scratch-off lottery ticket?

Meanwhile in Wauwatosa...

Today's Journal Sentinel features an article on a couple who apparently still AT THIS POINT undecided.

Several things:

1. If you're "informed" then you really ought to have made up your mind now. (Perky wife pretty much admits that her obsession over abortion is the only reason she stays undecided.)
2. Anyone that has that many conservative beliefs but calls themselves "independent" has clearly been asleep during their US History classes.

 

This Is Not The North Shore I Remember...

...Or is it?

I am back in Wisconsin for election week. 

While I would be surprised enough to see one Obama/Biden sign, I am positively shocked that they outnumber McCain/Palin signs by at least 4 to 1. 

And this is over 4 suburbs. The only one bucking the trend is Bayside, where the McCain/Palin signs scream more desperation than support.

I am really and truly shocked...in a pleasant way.

We even have one very nasty State Senate race in my district.

Dare I even dream that Sensenbrenner might get unseated as well? Well, I've only seen one sign supporting Jimmy Boy.