I’m logged into the wireless in the Gleacher Center for the conference, so of course, I have to test by blog.
I should have brought the prescription Ibuprofen. Other than that, the hotel rocks, and we had fun knocking around Chicago last night. We went to Navy Pier and ate dinner, then went to The Alley to shop.
I’m heading up to Chicago for the 37 Signals Getting Real Workshop with my co-worker Mike. We’re heading out this afternoon, because the workshop is all day tomorrow. Should be really interesting. I love the 37 Signals guys; their blog is one of my daily reads.
I’ve been re-working my new prototypes for this site quite a bit lately, and rethinking the design, as well. I realized the other day that my dissatisfacting with some of my new direction is due to the quirkiness of the content and how long it’s been around, and how I use the site differently now than I did 12 years ago when I created it. But then it dawned on me that I need to embrace the quirkiness of it the content instead of working against it, once I finally had that epiphany, new ideas for design instantly sprang into my head. So I’m restarting, but with fundamentally sounder idea than I had before.
I must say that it’s disheartening to stumble across original things I’ve written and my artwork on other people’s sites – presented as though they created it. People steal everything. That just sucks. Makes me not want to write or design anything cool anymore without charging money for it. That is one of the drawbacks of the ubiquity of blogging tools and sites like myspace — once it become easy for assholes and stupid people to put pages up on the web, they do just that. Meanwhile, my desktop wallpapers are no longer on my site. From now on, everything I design will have a tiny picture of me in it somewhere. That’ll show ’em.
On top of that I’m kicking around entirely new art ideas, because I’ve had some other creative sparks going on lately.
I, my friend, have class. I am so not white trash. . I am more than likely Democrat, and my place is neat, and there is a good chance I may never drink wine from a box.
Salon’s interesting article “The Hillary Juggernaut” gives some strong reasons why Clinton will be the democratic candidate to beat in 2008:
But otherwise, you will face in Hillary the most formidable presidential front-runner in modern political history. (And, yes, I am counting George W. Bush in 2000.) Here are 10 reasons why the junior senator from New York will be a daunting foe:
1) Universal name recognition. (In contrast, JPW, only 3 percent of likely Democratic primary voters know that you were originally the president in the Gershwin classic “Of Thee I Sing.”)
2) Her capacity to raise $100 million without once working late into the night cold-calling strangers to beg and grovel for money.
3) The ability to dominate the free media. Hillary will never make a public appearance in this campaign without being tracked by 100 reporters. (In contrast, JPW, imagine how much coverage you will get for your first press conference bragging about your gubernatorial record and the “Tennetucky Miracle.”)
4) Her emotional support from a significant percentage of women voters out to make history.
5) Nostalgia for the Clinton era of peace and prosperity in the 1990s.
6) Continuing Democratic resentment over impeachment.
7) Hillary’s over-cautious political style that avoids risk and, quite likely, deliberate mistakes.
8) The most potent candidate surrogate in political history in the form of Bill Clinton.
9) The ability of the Clinton name and legacy to attract 75 percent of the African-American vote and a large slice of the Hispanic vote.
10) At least a half-dozen candidates (including JPW) who will divide the anti-Hillary Democrats, so that she could win major primaries with just her hardcore base of, say, 35 percent of the vote.
And they round up who they think the other democratic candidates will be:
The Non-Hillary Field: Start with Mark Warner and 2004 V.P. candidate John Edwards, who are unabashedly running. Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh has privately put his own odds at 90 percent, and the latest word from Iowa is that Gov. Tom Vilsack is similarly poised to run. Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold — who wins headlines every other week with an anti-Bush gambit like a censure resolution — has to be counted among the likeliest contenders. And finally, Sen. Joe Biden, the Delaware motor-mouth who performed so garrulously during the Alito confirmation hearings, keeps insisting that he’s definitely running.
Depending on whom you talk to, John Kerry is either running or merely keeping his options open for a mid-2007 decision by maintaining his visibility and e-mail list. (An e-mail appeal from Kerry raised over $100,000 for Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran running for the House in Illinois.) Al Gore represents another puzzle; his wife, Tipper, is said to be definitely opposed, while his politically active daughter Karenna seems severely tempted. Bill Richardson is seriously mulling his chances, while former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle is also playing the maybe game. And don’t forget former Gen. Wesley Clark, who has never lacked ambition or self-confidence.
The have some other great analysis of how to examine the candidates and compare them — and who stands for what, which is very interesting preliminary research for democrats who are studying up on the whole thing. They analyze them from the “electability” versus “left-wing purist” standpoints and throw in a few other ideas as well. This article is a great read.
Personally, I don’t think Clinton has been enough of a friend to GLBT issues to win my heart and soul, and her tendency to play to the middle on bullshit issues is disturbing as well. I honestly don’t know where I am on the “electability” versus “left-wing purist” issue; I go back and forth, which is why I haven’t decided yet. And when it comes to the hometown boy, I’m more of a fan of Vilsack than Bayh, who is only a Democrat because in Indiana the political spectrum is skewed so far to the right — in any other state he’s a middle of the road Republican.
I have to do a lot more research before I can pick my horse for this race. But in the end, it will probably just come down to “Whoever’s running against the retard in the White House.” Same as the last election.
If you’re planning to comment, please read the article beforehand, ’cause it’s tiresome to hash out all the issues that have already been examined in the piece.
Homestarrunner has a wiki. Now instead of linking to the main site and urging people to go there, over and over and over again, I can just explain the various viral memes from HR by pointing at the wiki instead.
From keith, five several things that inspire me creatively:
No wonder the Vice President is so out of touch with reality — check out his “tour rider” from the Smoking Gun — the list of demands he has of hotels when he travels.
Item #6 – “All Televisions Tuned to Fox News”
Wouldn’t want to accidentally hear what real people have to say about the state of the world or anything. Pencilled in, though — requests for USA Today and the New York Times. Interesting.
Stolen from About.com:
Pre-prep:
In a large food storage bag, place lemon juice, oil, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper. Add chicken. Close bag and marinate in refrigerator 3 to 4 hours, turning bag occasionally.
Place chicken in the slow cooker and pour marinade over. Cover and cook for 6 to 8 hours, or until tender, basting occasionally with the marinade, if possible. You may add frozen broccoli and carrots about 1 to 1 1/2 hours before done.
Serves 4 to 6.
Stolen from cooks.com:
Mix bread crumbs with rosemary, lemon peel and black pepper. Roll chicken in crumbs to coat. Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Add wine, reduce heat to low, cover and cook until chicken meat turns white and loses pink color, about 8 minutes. Makes 4 main dish servings.