VacantSouls

MSNBC Keith Olbermann on Prop 8, Marriage and more!

2008-11-14T17:28:00.001-08:00

Change you can haz

2008-11-05T10:40:00.001-08:00

I voted (and how)--did you vote?

2008-11-04T10:12:00.000-08:00

Voting in California is horrible (this is a proposition happy state, didn't we elect representatives to make these decisions for us?), but San Francisco also has a massive list of propositions. I don't believe most people take the time or care enough to educate themselves on the issues before they vote when they have this many issues to decide on. However, here's a list of how I voted. Feel free to tell me where I fucked the state over.

Note: I'm registered as a Democrat, but I don't agree with the party on everything. I mainly am a Dem for social issues. But I share some views with Republicans, but mostly I seem to fall under the Green party. I'll post a list of my beliefs soon, maybe later today, so feel free to chime in and let me know what party you think fits me best.

President: Barack Obama

California propositions

Proposition 1A: Safe, reliable high-speed passenger train act.	Yes
Proposition 2: Standards for confining farm animals.	Yes
Proposition 3: Children's Hospital bond act.	No
Proposition 4: Waiting period and parental notification before termination of minor's pregnancy.	No
Proposition 5: Nonviolent drug offenses, sentencing, parole, and rehabilition initiative.	Yes
Proposition 6: Plice and law enforcement funding. Criminal penalties and laws.	No
Proposition 7: Renewable energy generation.	No
Proposition 8: Eliminates right of same-sex couples to marry.	No
Proposition 9: Criminal justice system. Victims' rights. Parole. Initative consitutional amendment and statute.	No
Proposition 10: Alternative fuel vehicles and renewable energy. Bonds. Initative statute.	No
Proposition 11: Redistricting.	Yes
Proposition 12: Veterans' Bond Act of 2008.	Yes

San Francisco propositions

Proposition A: San Francisco General hospital and trauma center earthquake safety bonds.	Yes
Proposition B: Establishing affordable housing fund.	No
Proposition C: Prohibiting city employees from serving on charter boards and commissions.	Yes
Proposition D: Financing Pier 70 waterfront district development plan upon Board of Supervisors' approval.	Yes
Proposition E: Changing the number of signatures required to recall city officials	No
Proposition F: Holding all scheduled city elections only in even-numbered years.	Yes
Proposition G: Allowing retirement system credit for unpaid parental leave.	Yes
Proposition H: Setting clean energy deadlines; studying options for providing energy; changing revenue bond authority to pay for public utility facilities.	No
Proposition I: Creating the Office of an Independent Rate Payer Advocate.	No
Proposition J: Creating a Historic Preservation Commission.	Yes
Proposition K: Changing the enforcement of laws related to prostitution and sex workers.	Yes
Proposition L: Funding the Community Justice Center.	No
Proposition M: Changing the residential rent ordinance to prohibit specific acts of harassment of tenants by landlords.	Yes
Proposition N: Changing real property transfer tax rates.	Yes
Proposition O: Replacing the emergency response fee with an access line tax and revising the telephone users tax.	Yes
Proposition P: Changing the composition of the San Francisco County Transportation Authority board.	No
Proposition Q: Modifying the payroll expense tax.	Yes
Proposition R: Renaming the Oceanside Water Treatment Plant.	Yes
Proposition S: Policy regarding budget set-asides and identification of replacement funds.	Yes
Proposition T: Free and low-cost substance abuse treatment programs.	Yes
Proposition U: Policy against funding the deployment of armed forces in Iraq.	No
Proposition V: Policy against terminating Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) programs in public high schools.	No

Note: S.F. does not have a Web site for the individual propositions. But if you would like to learn more about them, this is the link to the voter information PDF.

RNC in a minute

2008-09-11T10:51:00.001-07:00

Watch the Republican National Convention in 60 seconds.

DNC in a minute

2008-09-11T10:23:00.001-07:00

Watch the Democratic National Convention in 60 seconds.

Song of the Whenever the hell I post one

2008-09-05T14:19:00.000-07:00

Olympics: NBC-isms

2008-08-21T14:06:00.000-07:00

I'm not the source of this, but if true, this is fucking amazing.
--

Here are the top nine comments made by NBC sports commentators
during the last Summer Olympics that they would like to take back:

1. Weightlifting commentator: 'This is Gregoriava from Bulgaria. I saw
her snatch this morning during her warm up and it was amazing.'

2. Dressage commentator: 'This is really a lovely horse and I speak
from personal experience since I once mounted her mother.'

3. Paul Hamm, Gymnast: 'I owe a lot to my parents, especially
my mother and father.' (NBC obviously thought this was beautiful)

4. Boxing Analyst: ' Sure there have been injuries, and even some
deaths in boxing, but none of them really that serious.'

5. Softball announcer: 'If history repeats itself, I should think we
can expect the same thing again.'

6. Basketball analyst: 'He dribbles a lot and the opposition doesn't
like it. In fact you can see it all over their faces.'

7. At the rowing medal ceremony: 'Ah, isn't that nice, the wife
of the IOC president is hugging the cox of the British crew.'

8. Soccer commentator: 'Julian Dicks is everywhere. It's like
they've got eleven Dicks on the field.'

9. Tennis commentator: 'One of the reasons Andy is playing so well is
that, before the final round, his wife takes out his balls and kisses them..
Oh my God, what have I just said?'

Song of the Day Week: New Age Girl - Deadeye Dick

2008-07-28T11:24:00.000-07:00

Well I didn't expect my song of the day to last, so it's not surprise that it's been awhile since my last selection. But as I was making Tea at work today, the "Mini Moo" shelf-stable milk stuff reminded me of this song. It's a major flashback to junior high.

Cole (top) and Balthazar

2008-07-09T10:54:00.001-07:00

Wingbats and nutjobs

2008-07-01T13:51:00.000-07:00

Click to enlarge photo

Meet my assistant

2008-06-30T10:43:00.000-07:00

I decided that I needed to hire an assistant to answer my one phone call I get every few months (it's usually a wrong number). His name is Pete Sockmonkey. He comes to us from Tulsa, Okla., where he worked as a shelf weight at a Barnes and Noble.

So far he's working out well. He's pretty laid back, but he often has ride my back to get me to work, which usually puts me in a cranky mood.

Song of the Day: The Decemberists - Billy Liar

2008-06-25T11:35:00.000-07:00

NERDS!

2008-06-24T18:27:00.000-07:00

One of my co-workers won the Top Nerd position at CNET. My cube is behind the camera when Jeff is talking (I'm not filming, just behind it). My other co-worker, Karyne, is behind Jeff on her CrackBerry.

Song of the Day: Ima Robot - Creeps Me Out

2008-06-24T13:30:00.000-07:00

This song is fun, if for no reason other than the album art that goes with it.

Cracks...me...up

2008-06-23T16:52:00.000-07:00

Desk Roomba!

2008-06-23T15:31:00.000-07:00

I think this should give me extra geek cred. I have a Roomba at my desk (at least until I go home).

Song of the Day: No-Fi Soul Rebellion - Let's Pretend

2008-06-23T14:44:00.000-07:00

This came on today when I was shuffling my iPhone. I love it when I find new music on my iPhone I haven't listened to. But that's mostly because Apple's supposedly "random" shuffle setting isn't actually random--it plays the same stuff all the time, ignoring a lot of never played songs.

Anyway, this song has a great beat.

Song of the Day: Annie - Chewing Gum

2008-06-19T16:06:00.000-07:00

This song always puts a spring in my step and a mischievous grin on my face. :)

Song of the Day: Cold War Kids - Hang Me Up To Dry

2008-06-18T16:15:00.001-07:00

So I've already missed a day, but here's a song. It's kind of old, but I like it.

The Great Office War

2008-06-17T14:55:00.001-07:00

The war to end all wars (or at least boredom).

Same-sex marriage and protest

2008-06-16T18:01:00.001-07:00

The first day of same-sex marriages in San Francisco on June 16, about 5:45 p.m. California begun allowing marriages after 5 p.m.

Song of the Day: MC Lars - iGeneration

2008-06-16T15:11:00.000-07:00

I think I'm going to start posting a song, or podcast, or some kind of audio that I'm listening to each day.

This song I find catchy, but not great. But I enjoy listening to it. What do you think? Let me know in the comments.

Got a bone to pick lick?

2008-06-16T14:04:00.000-07:00

Did anyone think this name through? It's named after some fossils, but someone needs to put their 13-year-old boy hat on and decide naming it after the fossils may not be the best idea.

Song i'm currently addicted to

2008-06-12T10:27:00.000-07:00

Kate Perry - I Kissed a Girl

Support your local union

2008-06-11T14:08:00.001-07:00

And fucking don't take 'em for granted.