Bastique

August 31, 2004

Remaking History

There’s something going on with me, since I found AncientWorlds again. It’s reinvigorated old feelings, of something I love to do: Role-writing.

I will offer a lengthy and protracted explanation. I’m involved with a posting group there entitled BelleHistoire, which examines the “what-if’s” of history. An early one was, “What if Julius Caesar survived” and more interesting tidbits like that. We take this in several steps, beginning with the research and development. Several of us will post back and forth as to what we want our PoD (Point of Departure--the “change” in history, or ripple that makes everything else different) to be. With “Caesar Lives” it may have been that Brutus was sleeping in that day, or Marc Antony had found out about the plot before it happened, etc. It has to be plausible, however.

The current scenario in which I’ve jumped full throttle is based on the theory that the Chinese Navy was quite large in the early 1400s and by all rights, should have made it to far distant shores long before the Portuguese. Things happen later on that make the Chinese pull in their vessels, and, well, the Portuguese began to be the rulers of the sea. However, we have decided that we would like to present an alternate history, in which the emperor didn’t make that decision. A post of mine from yesterday went like this:

Zhu Zhanji was born in 1398. He was the son of Zhu Gaozhi, and grandson of Zhu Di, the Emperor Chengzu (Yongle Emperor), the first year of his reign.

Yongle was the force behind the strengthening of the Chinese navy and instituted major reforms in the empire. It was in 1421 that Yongle sent the famous fleet led by Zheng He, that was said to have discovered the new world.

Yongle died in 1424, and his son, who became the Emperor Ren (Hongze Emperor), only reigned a year before he died, but long enough to allow the fleet to fall into lethargy.

Zhu Zhanji was then proclaimed the Emperor Xuan (or XuanZong), the Xuande Emperor in 1426. Xuande reformed management of the empire, and reinforced the great wall. He seemed to be more focused on strengthening the interior rather than the fleet, and although the final voyage took place prior to Xuande's death, the deconstruction of the fleet had already begun.

Xuande died in 1435, to be succeeded by his son, Zhu Qizhen, or the Zhengtong Emperor.

Step one is determining where in that incredibly boring sequence of events was the point of departure. Now remember, there are many other mitigating factors as well. The Chinese pulled back because they felt as if the Mongols inland posed a great enough threat to recall their ships and concentrate their efforts in that direction.

Are you falling asleep yet?

Once we build up the setting, we have to decide who we want the characters to be and begin linking to websites and building an information store. It is not until then that we begin the activity of Role Writing.

Someone will post something to start us off, like:

“The Empress Dowager Zheng woke with a start. It took her a moment to realize she was actually lying in bed, and that she had been the victim of a nightmare.

‘Wi!’ she cried out for her handmaiden.

The child must have been sleeping, for Zheng had to call out a second time before she emerged from the screen behind Zheng’s bed. ‘Fetch me my augur! I must put this memory to paper before it escapes me!’”

Each participant has chosen a character or several characters to whose point of view they must remain attached. A post could follow this up from Zhu Zhanji, the emperor, one of his sons or his consorts, or someone else in Beijing such as a court artist, the captain of the guard, even the handmaiden herself. The next post doesn’t have to even relate to Zheng’s post, it can be someone somewhere else, entirely different.

We keep it on a high level. Only decent writers are allowed to post. The story can take many twists and turns, and through it all, we may change the course of history.

AncientWorlds can be found at www.ancientworlds.net.

Posted by Bastique at 11:45 PM

Jane Fonda's Breast

Due to hurricane Frances, this event was postponed to October. See Breast Lift - Cary 9/9/2004

This just in from Mary Damiano:

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to let you all know that I wrote a one-act play which was selected to be a part of the Lavender Footlights Festival, September 9-12 in Miami. Lavender Footlights presents staged readings of gay and lesbian themed plays, and the festival is now in its second year. My play is called Jane Fonda's Breast and will be presented Friday, September 10, along with another one-act play. All the details are in the press release below.

Thanks so much,

Mary Damiano
Entertainment Editor, The Independent
Associate Editor, She Magazine
Entertainment Diva, Party 93.1 "Issues Over the Rainbow"

For Immediate Release

Creative Arts Enterprises
Lavender Footlights Festival
Contact: Ellen Wedner
305.573.6477
305.586.6215

Posted by Bastique at 3:19 PM | Comments (0)

August 30, 2004

Help! Au Secours!

Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. Isn’t that the way it goes?

Unfortunately, I don’t remember a lot of things I should. For instance, being involved with online communities while my work suffers. I can’t seem to focus on the things I need to be doing!

I was going to commit to doing eight scripts tonight to add to the two I already did, but now I’m tired and want to go to bed. Why did it come to this? Because I was putzing around online and didn’t do anything, and now I’m beating myself up for not doing what I need to do.

But how do I get that commitment, that determination? Where do I find the strength to discipline myself, now, when I’m reaching critical mass? I need the money…I don’t have the resources to pay my bills this month. It’s terrible, and yet I can’t seem to focus long enough to actually do what I need to do. I need some kind of an intervention!

Those of you that follow my blog, if you believe in prayer, think of me in your prayers right now. I need help, in order to keep on track, to meet my obligations. I’m having a hard time with this tonight.

Posted by Bastique at 11:33 AM | Comments (0)

August 29, 2004

Compassion

Something has got to give.

When we really get down to it, the fundamental difference between conservatives and liberals that conservatives represent the people that have and don't want to give it away and liberals represent the people that don't have and should. That's an oversimplification, but it suits the purpose of this article.

Take the issue of “gay marriage.” It has become entirely polarized as soon as it began. The people against the issue of “gay marriage” are representing those people (heterosexuals) legally entitled to enter into marriage agreements. Because I don't tend to listen to the narrow-minded and verbose proponents of the Federal Marriage Amendment, I don't understand what they have against it.

But clearly their opposition stems from some misplaced sense of fear of the unknown, because “preserving the holy state of matrimony” is an impossible goal from the get-go. Gay marriage will theoretically “chip away” at this “institution.” It “weakens the family.” The core of this thinking is idiotic, because generally when two people of the same sex go through some sort of ceremony to seal their bonds, it generally brings about a strengthening of their household. There's no depth to the arguments against same-sex marriage. It's just about one group of people denying the rights of another group of people, for two adults that are in love with each other to legitimize that love for one another with a ceremony.

I don't understand the term “compassionate conservatism.” The president proclaims himself a compassionate conservative. Why, then, does he only act in the interest of individuals who don't need anyone's compassion? I'm speaking, of course, of the richest 5% of the population.

But I hardly blame Bush for his idiocy—his IQ is fairly below average; he honestly cannot help himself. We knew what kind of man he was when the Supreme Court elected him in 2000. I do, however, blame the tens of millions of Americans who did, in fact, vote for him, knowing what kind of man he was; and who still intend to vote for him this year.

It's because these people have things. These are people who “earned” their luxury vehicles, their six figure incomes, their inheritance; earned it by walking over other people. It's a dog-eat-dog world for them, and they aim to make sure that they are top dog. Anything that might make the world; no, even the country, a more egalitarian place; theoretically takes away from them, and brings them down to the point they deserve to be at to begin with. There's no compassion in these people.

We lock people up and pretend they're no longer there. MSNBC reports that “about 3.2 percent of the adult U.S. population, or 1 in 32 adults, were incarcerated or on probation or parole at the end of last year.” (See full article here: MSNBC). That means, that, on average, everyone knows at least one person who was either incarcerated, on probation or parole at the end of last year. I know several, and that's not counting the gentlemen I met while taking a 12-step meeting into the Broward County jail.

Of course, our governments make contracts with catering companies who cost the least money because they food they serve is limited to a menu of “beans and rice,” for extended periods of time. Because of our mandatory minimum sentences, there are no mitigating circumstances for sentence reduction in many cases, so we're putting people in for longer periods. Where is the compassion in that?

I don't even know what to do about it myself. Michael says he's going to be a big prisoner advocate when he gets out, but then again, he'll be free, too. Sometimes people forget those commitments. Will he stay the course?

What could I, myself, be doing, besides writing this? I've forwarded prisoner rights items to the local Green Party email list, but none of them have ever responded. The Greens' priorities seem to be elsewhere.

I have to search for my own compassion.

Posted by Bastique at 11:30 PM | Comments (0)

August 28, 2004

History Revisited

Ye Gods!

Many years ago... 1999 through 2001, I was involved with an online community of roleplayers, historians and others who had nothing better to do than stay up all hours and play around on thier computers. The site was called AncientSites. It was fun, fascinating, and quite enjoyable. And then it went out of business.

I had heard about the return of AncientWorlds last year, but had not yet had any opportunity to visit for prolonged periods of time. When I did a google search on something or other, I came upon it again, and then forgot that I had briefly visited.

I'm quite possibly hooked again. The community is called AncientWorlds. Be a Roman or learn about Ancient Rome. Visit Babylon, Machu Picchu, or ancient Germany. It's a world of fun. And an excuse to never again leave my desk.

You can find it all here: Ancient Worlds

Posted by Bastique at 11:55 PM | Comments (0)

August 27, 2004

Apartners

I had a moment tonight, after a meeting. I caught some of the subliminal conversation between a pair of friends who were also partners and felt a tug at my heart. For fifteen months I've been generally eating the feelings of loss I have for Michael, knowing that it is merely a temporary situation and it will, indeed pass before too much longer.

As he expects to be out September 2005, we have crossed the midpoint of his incarceration, and I can actually start planning for his eventual return. What I can expect from here on out is that the barrier I've put up begin to relax and the feelings I've been eating for all that time are start to be made known, whether I'm ready to deal with them or not.

I still feel like there's a part of me missing, even though there is a man that very much cares for me, under my roof and emotionally available to me most of the time. I love Will, and really appreciate his presence, and everything he does. I want him to succeed, and am willing to give my own energies toward that. He is a unique individual, and I have a part of my heart reserved for him.

But my life-mate is still Michael, and it hurts to be apart from him.

Posted by Bastique at 11:58 PM | Comments (0)

August 26, 2004

Divided We Stand Apart

I wish the election would just happen and we can move on with our lives. I'm tired of talking about it.

I registered to vote as a Green back in 2000, as soon as I realized that John McCain wasn't going to get the Republican nod. I couldn't stand Gore, and couldn't stomach Bush. I had no other option than to vote Green. Incidentally, I don't regret my decision to vote for Nader. Al Gore was not a choice, and he was certainly not my choice. George W. Bush was bad, but had not yet become as awful as he has become. I got in touch with some other people who felt the way I did and the Broward Greens was born. I am still one of the founders of the organization, however less involved I became with it as time went on.

I'm still a registered Green today. I don't support the primary process that keeps the two parties in power, and have no interest in having to choose who I want to run in a party that's half bad against the choice of a party that's mostly bad.

The Green Party voted to support David Cobb at their annual convention, but there's been people in various local organizations that said that they were not adequately represented at the convention or that David Cobb kind of railroaded the decision at the expense of the Nader campaign. In fact, there has been this big thing that the Broward County Greens put forward to put “nobody” on Florida's ballot for the Green Party because of the theoretic indecision with the candidates, but that was soundly defeated by other parts of Florida. It looks like Nader and Cobb will both be running in Florida.

Frankly, I don't think Nader was really pushing for the Green nomination anyway, and I don't believe that he really represents the Green party's ten values. He's more specifically against corporatism and that's what he represents. I've seen Nader do a couple interviews lately, however, and he's really getting past it. I don't have the faith that I had before.

I haven't seen Peter Cobb, or his running mate, Pat La Marche, interviewed. Maybe if I were able to see that, I might change my mind and vote for him. I don't like to see the liberal vote all torn apart, however. Whoever I vote for, however, I'll be voting for that candidate and not to “get George W. Bush out of office.” I wasn't ashamed of voting for Nader in 2000, and I won't be ashamed of voting for someone besides Kerry in 2004.

I do, however, like enough of what I've seen of John Kerry to say that I might actually vote for him in November. It might be that I've seen him compared to Bush so often that he looks so much better. Benito Mussolini would look good compared to George W. Bush.

It's the Green Party's responsibility to get more candidates on smaller ballots, not to concentrate one big effort on the presidential race. Once people start seeing we can win seats in State Legislatures, then we can move on toward bigger and better things.

Posted by Bastique at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)

August 25, 2004

If I could find my Raisinet

I've been told that I'm a whore. Right now I feel like one.

I spend too much time checking to see how many hits Bastique gets on a regular basis, looking to see who's searching, what key phrases they're using. I want to be a top-of-the-heap, hot number one, leading authoritative reference on Google's search engines, simply because I have so much to say and think that everyone with any sense will get something out of everything I have to say.

An early post, way back in June, stated,
“Whether many readers find my daily musings interesting is actually somewhat incidental. My ego would have me send this link to all of my friends and expect them to keep up with me regularly. Ultimately, I need to do this—to express myself continuously, stringing together word after word until I am able to gather complete thoughts together to form an article.”

I've sent copies of my writing here to Michael and he said he's seen a vast improvement in my skills. This is the reason I am writing this!

I am an accomplished author, whether or not this fact is realized. Daily practice of writing here, on my personal blog improves those skills. Although I am delighted when people read this—most notably when I receive constructive feedback, my ultimate goal is that self-improvement. It is only through the distraction of how many links are out there pointing toward me that I am led away from my ultimate reason for blogging.

But I won't be removing the below referenced Meme posts. I still want the wandering web-surfer to find me. I don't think they're going to be a common reason to take up space here. After all, I didn't write them. I cannot own them. I appreciate their import, but ultimately, they bear no meaning to the fulfillment that I seek here.

Posted by Bastique at 11:33 PM | Comments (0)

98818912959q

I copied this. This goes with the Meme post:

---

This Meme Thingy doesn't spread real well by itself.
It needs to have a hook for fish to bite on.
http://mcblog.free.fr/
http://climbtothestars.org/
http://www.mindingtheplanet.net
http://teknos.typepad.com
http://dumb.blogs.com,
http://www.randomthinks.net
http://www.randomthinks.net
http://www.apennyfor.com

Posted by Bastique at 6:36 PM | Comments (1)

Go Meme

There are by some estimates more than a million weblogs. But most of them get no visibility in search engines. Only a few "A-List" blogs get into the top search engine results for a given topic, while the majority of blogs just don't get noticed. The reason is that the smaller blogs don't have enough links pointing to them. But this posting could solve that. Let's help the smaller blogs get more visibility!

This posting is GoMeme 4.0. It is part of an experiment to see if we can create a blog posting that helps 1000's of blogs get higher rankings in Google. So far we have tried 3 earlier variations. Our first test, GoMeme 1.0, spread to nearly 740 blogs in 2.5 days. This new version 4.0 is shorter, simpler, and fits more easily into your blog.

Why are we doing this? We want to help thousands of blogs get more visibility in Google and other search engines. How does it work? Just follow the instructions below to re-post this meme in your blog and add your URL to the end of the Path List below. As the meme spreads onwards from your blog, so will your URL. Later, when your blog is indexed by search engines, they will see the links pointing to your blog from all the downstream blogs that got this via you, which will cause them to rank your blog higher in search results. Everyone in the Path List below benefits in a similar way as this meme spreads. Try it!

Instructions: Just copy this entire post and paste it into your blog. Then add your URL to the end of the path list below, and pass it on! (Make sure you add your URLs as live links or HTML code to the Path List below.)

Path List
1. Minding the Planet
2. Luke Hutteman's public virtual MemoryStream
3. My Little Problem
4. Bastique!
5. (your URL goes here! But first, please copy this line and move it down to the next line for the next person).

(NOTE: Be sure you paste live links for the Path List or use HTML code.)#

Posted by Bastique at 11:26 AM | Comments (0)

August 24, 2004

7-11's Evil Plan

I have a problem, and it keeps getting bigger. I can’t stay away from those delicious 3-for-$1.19 cookies at 7-11. This evening I bought a three-pack of oatmeal raisin for Will, and a pack of white chocolate for myself, and a second pack of chocolate chuck that I hid in the truck.

I find myself mapping out my travels to make sure that there’s a 7-11 on the way. I feel a need to hide the fact that I’ve stopped by one. I eat the cookies in the car and try to hide the evidence.

I call them crack cookies. If I remember correctly, the Southland Corporation, parent company of 7-11, is based in Texas, birthplace of all conspiracies. Many people that shop at 7-11 are the underclass. Too many of the underclass, who traditionally vote Democrat spend all their money on cookies, get too fat to make it to the polls. Republicans win. In fact, this has been going on for the past few years; just look at the trends:

And I can't get off of them. I try to stop thinking about the cookies, but they keep calling me back.

I can't write any more, I'm having a sugar crash...

Posted by Bastique at 11:05 PM | Comments (2)

August 23, 2004

Trying Times of Tina

It’s not easy staying clean. When I think about the guys out there right now with whom I’ve had quite a bit of fun, I get angst-ridden; because this one or that one uses crystal. Here I am trying to stay clean and not having the kind of fun that I want…

This is where the fantasy gets separated from reality. The kind of fun that I think I want is something that eliminates days at a time from my life. Just two months ago I was acting out on sexual behavior like I was a kid in a candy store, all over again. It culminated in a bedroom with a man that had known for years who had a glass pipe sitting on his dresser with residue (of crystal meth) in it. It’s a miracle I survived that encounter with only a relapse on poppers to my name. The sad part is that even after I understood what danger I was in, I remained.

I have a friend who relapsed on Tina this past Saturday. He was returning a video that he borrowed back in May, and the guy invited him over to see his place. When my friend got there, the guy was partying with other guys at the house. My friend couldn’t resist the temptation. He’s back on day two, and pretty much beating up on himself. Of course, it’s always hard explaining these things to your lover. You bet I understand what he’s going through.

Being that I have a lover, albeit in prison, I’m not interested in any serious relationships. Unfortunately, most of the guys available for the quick and nasty around this town are tweaking, or are, at the very least, not the most mentally healthy of individuals. Every encounter with someone knew opens me up to potential exposure to drugs, no matter what the person says; or some psychopath who is going to take our encounter as invitation to stalk me.

Guys lie to get laid. Dudes tweaked out on Tina lie without even trying. You can message someone that you’re not interested in someone that’s using and he’ll sit there, typing that he hates it too while at the same time injecting a needleful of crankwater into his arm. You can’t take someone’s word that they’re not partying, even if you happen to know the dude. Take my word for it.

So, to save myself, I’m in a period of ninety days of abstinence from sexual encounters with other guys. Or girls, I have to remember, because I’m just sick enough to justify it by saying, “Well, she’s a chick, I said no sex with men, didn’t I?” Today is day 56. I’m managing well enough, with the occasional pipe cleaning when my dreams start getting too weirdly sexual. It allows me to focus on other, more important things.

Like setting up play dates for after September 27…

Or maybe planning a trip to visit my significant other the very same time.

Posted by Bastique at 11:41 PM | Comments (1)

August 22, 2004

Modern Prison Living

I came across this wegsite while visiting my control panel on Blogger's main page. I usually check out the sites that are listed, but rarely do I actually review them herein (see my post on FunFurDe). My philosophy on reviewing things? If you can't say anything nice, don't review it at all!

Prison Pete caught my eye, if you know me, for obvious reasons (Those who don't know me that well, see my post about Michael). What strikes me as unique about this blog is that Pete's friend, known only as "Editor", has devoted much of his time and energy to maintaining this blog, receiving letters from Pete and sending him people's responses.

The writing is gritty and real, and comes straight from behind the walls. To view the blog, visit Prison Pete.

Posted by Bastique at 12:42 PM | Comments (0)

August 21, 2004

Cirque d'So Lame

Will and I somehow came into the possession of two free tickets to see the RoughRiders of South Florida perform their show, Fantastic Voyage, at the Amaturo Theater in the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, for the matinee show, this afternoon at 2 p.m.

The kindest thing I can do at this point is not review this show at all. What did I like about it? Alfred Lewis as Bette Davis was original and hysterical. I've seen Bette Davis drag queens, honey, and heard all the lame jokes before. He was actually pretty good, and had us rolling.

We left soon after, and before the intermission. What's this misconception that gay people are universally talented? Come visit Fort Lauderdale, baby!

Posted by Bastique at 3:40 PM | Comments (1)

August 20, 2004

Time to Pay Attention

This is going back a few weeks, but I really get a lot out of Bill Maher's show every week. His new rules are usually right on the money, notably the last one he does, and the 8/6/04 episode was no exception.

Considering what I've learned about the prison system lately, this "New Rule" particularly struck close to home:

You can make fun of Lynndie England all you want, but when it comes to prisons, we are all holding the leash. Now this week, America's anti-Sweetheart, Private Lynndie England, faced justice for her part in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. Or as Rush Limbaugh calls it, "The Sleepover." Now, a lot of people think Abu Ghraib happened because, as Americans, we're comfortable asking our horny hillbillies to fight our wars. And we are. But we're also comfortable with pretending that anyone in America who winds up in prison for whatever reason somehow deserves not just loss of freedom but a brutalizing, terrifying trip to hell.

It's no coincidence that the guard described as the ringleader in Iraq, Charles Graner, worked before the war - where? - in a prison in America. He didn't learn to torture from the CIA or Special Ops. He picked it up right here and took his skills of abuse to Iraq. Outsourcing at its worst!

Now, we are all Lynndie England because we know what's happening in our prisons and we don't care. We tell ourselves - we tell ourselves the convenient lie that anyone who bears the label "criminal" or "terrorist" is irredeemable, sub-human, psycho scum, and so whatever happens to them behind bars is justified. When the truth is, millions of non-violent Americans have been traumatized for life in prisons simply because they either did drugs or made a bad judgment, usually when they were young, stupid and drunk. You'd think President Bush could relate.

There are over two million Americans behind bars, and that is not including the people who work at Wal-Mart. America, the nation that always has to be number one, is number one in percentage of its citizens in jail. Two million people. The equivalent of locking up all of Miami, which is not a bad idea until at least the election is over.

It costs $40 billion to house this many prisoners. Do you know how many countries that had nothing to do with 9/11 we could attack for that kind of money?

So, in conclusion, if your response to this is "not my problem," remember this: there are monsters and animals in our prisons, yes. But most didn't go in that way. But that's how they'll come out. Or to put it another way, if you think Martha Stewart has an attitude now...

It's time we stopped being a prison state and start actually reforming some of these people; and it's time the rest of us stopped turning a blind eye. Because, otherwise, until you've been directly affected by the prison system, you will have no idea what injustice the Justice System contains.

See the entire text at HBO: Bill Maher's New Rules

Posted by Bastique at 11:33 AM | Comments (0)

August 19, 2004

Ford's Folly

A little tidbit I found out about the nastiness in which Ford Motor Company is involved.

In 2001, Ford began leasing the all-electric, super efficient "TH!NK City" cars in order to meet its obligation under the California Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. The first year they only had 350, but the following year there were thousands on the road, leased to satisfied drivers, mainly in California, because the state offered incentive allowed people to recharge them using their own solar power.

Then in 2003, California postponed its vehicle requirements of the ZEV Mandate until the end of the decade. Ford began taking them back, refusing to allow any of the owners to purchase the cars, and have already begun to confiscate them in order to destroy them.

The Ford Motor Company has been the leader in gas-guzzlers for years. In fact, the Model T automobile got better gas mileage than Ford cars do today. It's obvious that this company, who is ideally poised to usher in a new era of energy conservation, has no interest in the future of the children of today. I'm always shocked that machines on the road are still being sold that have mileage of less than 10 mpg.

Why are they doing it? Because the automotive industry and the petrolium industry are closely tied, and to put vehicles on the road with a self-sustaining (solar) feul source would end our dependance on petroleum. The auto industry is ensuring we maintain that dependence by removing any possibility of non-petroleum energy source coming to the forefront.

What they want to do is make sure that the next energy source is something that can be controlled by a conglomerate. I believe these people are fossils, and ultimately, cannot pull the wool over everyone's eyes for much longer. The president does everything he can to twist things around and shield these industries so that what they're doing is not as apparent as it is.

With respect to bowing to corporate interests, I believe that John Kerry will do virtually no better as president, as he is as much a corporate crony as the worst of the Senate. Fortunately for him, George W. Bush has done such a terrible job in his four years; John Kerry will likely be a shoo-in.

People are getting angrier with the establishment. The raping of our resources and lower and middle classes is becoming more obvious to a greater amount of people with each passing day. This is the information age, and no matter how many ties the petroleum and auto and pharmaceutical industries have to the Fox Network or MSNBC or AOL/Time Warner; we, the people are getting more and more of the truth through other sources.

Bear in mind, all of the automotive industry, domestic and imported, has some guilt. Ford is only the worst of the offenders. But the Ford Motor Company has an opportunity to earn the goodwill of generations to come, to become a harbinger of the future. But these men already bow their wills to their own greed, and destroy their children's future. Ford will be a name relegated to history as a failure of disastrous proportions, having lost and unable to reclaim the public trust.

Maybe you can help make the future different. Send a letter to Ford here:
Take Action! Send a Message

Posted by Bastique at 11:32 AM | Comments (0)

August 18, 2004

Just too busy

First, Mom, I know you're the one leaving anonymous messages. I'll get back to you, I promise!

Second, I haven't had time to right (s/b "write", my bad - Cary) because I'm putting things up on Ebay. In case you're interested in some great art, go here: Our stuff on ebay. The sole purpose of putting the books in there (besides getting money back for books that I've already read) is to get the points up quick enough so I can list the art as "Featured Plus"...or else it's all buried so deep within the listings nobody will ever see it.

I received an email about terrible things the Ford Motor Company is doing in order to keep America addicted to gasoline. It's quite interesting. That's what I'm planning for my next article.

Good evening to all!

Posted by Bastique at 11:31 AM | Comments (0)

August 17, 2004

Achievement, a tribute

I wrote the following in honor of my grandmother's eightieth birthday in November of last year, and I believe it suitable for sharing on my blog. I have still not fulfilled my promise of sending a copy to her, but when I find out the decor style of her brand new townhouse, I'll make sure what I send her goes with everything.

---

Achievement

A measure of success is the nature of one's achievements over the course of a lifetime. But what is to say what constitutes an achievement? It cannot be said that material wealth alone is the element, for one can begin and end a life in wealth and privilege yet still have made no more impact than a whisper cast against the winds of a hurricane.

If one is searching for achievement, she may only need look at her own reflection in the faces and lives other progeny. If she has done well, the fortitude other convictions and guidance of her loving hand will be shared between generations for decades to come. As they gather to celebrate her, they demonstrate the impact she has had on each of their lives.

Although in 1966, Myrtle was young to be a grandmother, she had the experience of five of my siblings and cousins, some of whom were already in school and all of whom were out of diapers. She was the eldest in her own close family, so taking on a leadership role in the rearing and care of her own children came naturally, and she raised three daughters and had participated in the upbringing of numerous nieces, nephews, and five grandchildren by the time she was forty-three. By the end of 1966, it's safe to say she knew what she was doing with children and she did it well.

Then I came along. I first met Myrtle Spigner as a babe, long before my earliest memories. I do not know how we met, but if the meeting went like those who have come after me, I likely gazed at this remarkable woman through my sleepy eyes in the arms of my own mother. Certainly I must have been confused at how much she resembled Donna. I was most likely frightened by the funny sounds and faces she made in an attempt to jolt me from my somnolence.

I was somewhat of a prodigy as a small child, and received frequent attention for such little gems as reading the newspaper at four, reciting state capitals at six, and the ability to speak fluent French at eight. I've no doubt that this participated in the development of an adorably swelled little head. Arrogance alone would have been tolerable in such a small wonder, but in me they were coupled with rampant hyperactivity, a complete and utter lack of self-control, and an emotional volatility that approached the volcanic proportions of Mount Vesuvius.

It's fair to say that I was most often treated differently than other children around me. Sometimes my extreme reactions would earn me more severe consequences and sometimes the rod would be stayed just to prevent such a reaction. The manner in which most adults responded to me depended on how well they knew me and their level of patience.

Momma Myrtle often had custody of any number of her grandchildren, and she experienced some of my worst outbursts. Her response was always measured and swift. Before I could turn my head, I was not playing, I was not eating candy, I was in the midst of my punishment and no amount of pleading would earn my release. But with her, I could never dig myself in deeper, for she always treated the insults and cruelties I flung at her with simple laughter, like they were only the powerless words of a angry and frustrated little boy. And when my penalty had expired, I was no different than any other child under her roof and was always welcome back.

As I got older and matured somewhat, my tantrums became less and less. My ego, however, remained inflated. When 1 began to see my place and where I fit into society, I began to develop political ideology that emphasized civil liberties, equal protection and public works. I soon discovered that Myrtle's ideology did not fall in line with my own, nor was she shy about it. I felt betrayed that my own grandmother could have beliefs so radically different than my own. She remained unmoved by my arguments, citing my world view as naive and unrealistic. I always ended up storming away, red-faced and frustrated, convinced of my absolute lightness and moral superiority.

Momma Myrtle, on the other hand, remained true to herself. Where others had condemned me, written me off, or insulted me, she continued to treat me with the same dignity and respect with which she treated my siblings and my cousins.

On paper. Myrtle Spigner was a devoted wife for nearly sixty years and is the mother of three beautiful daughters. She has been a faithful and supportive member of the same church for most of her life, and has made many friends over the course of it. People find her pleasant and intelligent, sympathetic and strong.

But her greatest achievement/to me, cannot be explained in a one-paragraph biography. While I have at times been upset by her-I have always loved and as a grown man, I have come to admire her. It is from her that I developed my sense of fairness and my sense of equality. Because of her I am a more honest man, a more tolerant man, and a more patient man. From the moment I met her. Myrtle Spigner has been larger than life. I see her reflection and influence in my cousins, my aunts, my siblings, niece, nephews and my mother, and so many others whom she has touched.

She has made the world a better place, and I love her for it.

Thanks Momma Myrtle.

Posted by Bastique at 11:30 AM | Comments (0)

August 16, 2004

Anything Goes--For Gay Writers

PSA for Lavender Writes:

---

Lavender Writes, the organization that brings you Not Your Average Bedtime Story, Love Gone Bad and the annual gay writer's contest, Pride, Prose, & Poetry, features a reading without a theme.

In Anything Goes, local gay and lesbian writers will share stories exploring a wealth of topics, issues and emotions. This Open Mic event is free and takes place Saturday, August 28, 8 p.m., at Borders Books and Music, 2240 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale. 954-566-6335.

Writers who want to participate must sign up in advance by contacting us and we'll forward the information. Readers are invited to listen and enjoy.

For more information about this or other Lavender Writes events, visit our website, Lavender Writes.

Lavender Writes provides service and support to lesbian and gay writers by sponsoring writing workshops, developing public forums for writers to present their work and offering assistance with publication. Non-gay writers and readers are also welcome to participate.

Related Articles:

Lavender Writes Lavender Writes Update! Writing Contest

Posted by Bastique at 11:29 AM | Comments (0)

August 15, 2004

You may belong

Every once in a while I need to State my purpose, whatever that may be; and who, if anyone, I'd prefer to reach. Well, anyone that gets here is welcome to read my writings, share their opinion of my musings. Constructive critique, please! Anyone that prefers to suggest I'm going to hell for my behavior will be promptly informed that I've already been there and don't care to return. Besides, I'm celibate at the moment.

People search for all sorts of things on Google and I should make mention of those who may have a special interest in the text herein; considering my involvement in Lavender Writes and all that other artsy fartsy stuff here in South Florida.

So, without further ado…

If you consider yourself gay, lesbian, queer, bisexual or transgendered; if you are a writer, editor, artist, sculptor, photographer or avid reader; if you enjoy mysteries, science fiction, fantasy, geography, politics or history; if you live in Palm Beach County Florida, Miami-Dade County Florida, Monroe County Florida, or especially Broward County Florida. Notably, the Broward County cities of Hillsborough Beach, Deerfield Beach, Parkland Florida, Coconut Creek, Lighthouse Point, Pompano Beach, Margate Florida, Coral Springs, North Lauderdale, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Fort Lauderdale, Lauderdale Lakes, Lauderhill, Oakland Park Florida, Tamarac, Sunrise Florida, Plantation Florida, Wilton Manors, Fort Lauderdale Beach, Davie, Cooper City, Dania Beach, Hollywood Florida, Pembroke Park, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Weston, Southwest Ranches, or Hallandale.

Then you are probably in the right place! Read on!

Posted by Bastique at 11:27 AM

August 14, 2004

Horny Man Speaks

Another Saturday website review...how come the one day I don't work I have no time to come up with a decent size blog?

This one's is the first blog I've reviewed, and a website for the big boys--Geekslut.org. Grown-ups only--and if you have to ask me whether I think you should visit this site, then you better not. But it's a personal favorite of mine, mainly because I know the blogger, personally. The other reason was that once he showed me his, I decided to write mine.

If you like to see pictures of middle-aged muscleboys, the Geekyho's the one for you. If you like to hear about the sexual exploits of an oversexed horn-dog, by all means, visit his site. I'm ripping his disclaimer directly from the site:

WARNING: This blog contains explicit language, controversial topics, and blunt sexual descriptions.

Know that information before you go. One thing I will commend Geekslut on is he doesn't pull any punches. Guys are using crystal meth out there in droves, and for the promiscuous, it's real hard to avoid guys who are tweaking, or looking to tweak. He's got his opinion about it and not afraid to share it.

I case you skipped down to the end without reading the rest of the article, Mom, don't click this link: GeekSlut.org The remainder of you, leave it to your own discretion.

Posted by Bastique at 11:26 AM | Comments (1)

August 13, 2004

Forty Signs of Rain by Kim Stanley Robinson

The inside jacket of this bestseller bears a portion of the lead-in to chapter one:

”When the Arctic ice pack was first measured in the 1950s, it averaged thirty feet thick in midwinter. By the end of the century it was down to fifteen. One August the ice broke. The next year the breakup started in July. The third year it started in May.

“That was last year.”

Forty Signs of Rain follows a brief period of time in the lives of three scientists and one senatorial aide in that first, telling year of global warming.

Anna Quibler works for the National Science Foundation in Fairfax, and becomes drawn in to the plight of the new delegation from an embassy of exiled Tibetans whose small island nation is drowning in the rapidly rising Indian Ocean.

Her husband, stay-at-home father Charlie Quibler, juggles their infant son, Joe, and the ecological agenda of his boss, Senator Phil Chase.

What's remarkable about this novel is how close to the real issue Stan carries us. The "Hyperniño" effect that sends a cyclone¹ carving out 15-foot pieces of Southern California feels like it's right off the Weather Channel. The devistating flood that nearly returns Southwest DC to its original, swamplike, state could happen tomorrow. In typical Robinson fashion, the author takes us on an entirely plausible journey into the beginning of the worst case scenario of global warming.

(Minor spoiler at end of paragraph.) Be warned, though. If you are expecting an intense climactic confrontation or great resolution at the end, you are bound to be dissapointed. Those not familiar with Kim Stanley Robinson's work are not aware that his overall plotlines are far more subtle. One might expect a sort of "Mr. Quibley goes to Washington" wherein, after a huge speech by Charley with the little baby Joe on his back, the Senate passes a resolution bringing about the end of fossil fuels, waste and corruption. As in real life, the Senator Phil offers his aide nothing more than a weak promise to "see what I can" do about the looming catastraphe.

Prepare yourself to be happy in the changes that the characters experience in their own lives, which is what the novel is truly about. As with the Mars Trilogy and The Years of Salt and Rice, Robinson sets real people in fantastic roles, and just like real life, are able to do little more than change their own lives.

Forty Signs of Rain is a learning experience and a novel well worth reading.

Buy the book here: Forty Signs of Rain by Kim Stanley Robinson

¹ As I write this, Hurricane Charley is bearing down on the Dry Tortugas

Posted by Bastique at 11:25 AM | Comments (0)

August 12, 2004

From a Fountain 4

Haven't read what's gone before? Just click: Here.

8:16 AM, Tuesday, May 26, 2096
Davis could tell at first glance that the broken body in the vehicle had once belonged to a substantially beautiful woman. He spoke out loud while Fuzzy repeated into his transceiver. “Middle aged, African American, fairly well-to-do, judging by her taste in clothing. The look on her face is strange, don't you think?”

From behind him, Davis heard Fuzzy respond, “She's blank as a doll.”

“Not someone who knows she's driving into an accident.” Davis knew that touching the body would contaminate the accident, so he activated his EEE. “I'm going to do a quick scan, to see if I can tell anything else about her.”

Davis no longer needed to think a specific word to command his left eye to do a wide variety of functions, like telescope, focus in, view night mode, or a number of different scans. He had long since become able to adapt his brainwaves to engage the device as simply as he would move a muscle. He didn't even think of it as separate from his body any longer. The EEE didn't zoom in on a specific object. Davis zoomed in on the object. The EEE didn't go into night mode, Davis did.

And so he scanned the woman's body using several hybrid zeno/zoophotonic frequency, so that he could peer under the surface of her clothes, her skin. “There's several bruises where she probably hit the dash, nothing apparently unusual.” Something wasn't right, but Davis couldn't pinpoint what it was.

“Morbid Services are here,” Fuzzy interrupted, derailing Davis' train of thought.

“This is strange.” Davis began as they walked away from the accident. “Leave word for Autopsy to double check her time of death, although I don't think that's it. There's plenty of blood here to account for it being on impact. But tell them to look at her carefully.”

Fuzzy repeated everything into the transceiver and then, “What are you thinking?”

Davis watched the men in anti-contamination suits approach the vehicle. “Something about the bruises. It all looks like it should, but I really didn't do a lot of accident detail in Atlanta. I'm pretty sure I'm missing something.”

“I'll make a note to get the autopsy report as soon as we can,” Fuzzy repeated the appropriate commands into the transceiver and then looked at Davis and smiled. “Heck, we're lucky to have a body in that good shape at all.”

“That car should have exploded, that's right,” Davis gestured toward the access ladder. “I want to look at the Revere again, but let's take a look at the Ergo. If they've gotten the fire out, of course.”

Posted by Bastique at 6:30 PM | Comments (0)

August 11, 2004

Tolerating Today

I'm feeling put upon. Perhaps it's my own arrogance creeping back or maybe it's my tolerance levels for bad behavior dropping dramatically. This is something that I obviously need to be on my guard about. I'm suffering from a too risky financial situation, and I need to maintain my threads of success lest I clip them too soon and find myself falling into utter despair.

When my tolerance levels drop, I tend to become more agitated with people more often, because the window of behavior I will accept from them closes. I had an incident recently where a very close friend of mine, a key person in my emotional support system, came to the conclusion that I was acting on strange behaviors, and that I should check myself, talk to my psychiatrist about changing my medications. I was aware that some of my ADHD behaviors were on the rise, but well within acceptable levels, because my doctor and I decided that the side effects from Adderall greatly outweighed the benefits.

But I became defensive toward this person, and my voice rose on the telephone, decreasing his level of absorption of what I was trying to say. The discomfort lasted nearly six days, and erupted into a telephone call in which I was angry and resentful of things that were said. We made up, but the damage had been done.

Ultimately, the relationship had to change, his reasons that are his, and mine, which involve a breaking of a trust. I could never turn to him in a crisis, because I could no longer trust that he would not question my belief or my sanity.

It's hard for me to get people who understand me. When I met my very good friend, Will, I gave him a book to read on ADHD so he would understand me better. Most of his current understanding of me, however, came as a result of caring enough for me to learn to tolerate my more objectionable behaviors. Even now, sometimes, he has to just walk away from me, because I am too overwhelming.

This is why that I had felt this to be a particular betrayal. Because of my disorder, I have to know that someone will understand me and tolerate me before I allow them to get close to me. I learn to rely on those people for emotional support. Anyone that chooses to take himself out of that support forces me to lean on the few others that are there.

But sometimes I forget that I have to tolerate other people's fault as well. These are the times I begin to feel victimized, and refuse to see my own part in any rift. It's times like these I have to simply pray.

When I stop being intolerant of others, and myself, I can stop feeling victimized and become ready to better myself.

Posted by Bastique at 11:21 AM | Comments (2)

August 10, 2004

The Matter of My Dreams

Maybe it’s my medication, but I’ve been having frequent dreams lately. Most of the ones I remember involve buildings of some kind. Buildings with passages, buildings with doors. Buildings with stairs and buildings with elevators. Apartment buildings. Shopping Malls. Cruise Ships. Office Buildings. Mansions. Theatres. Hotels. My High School. Any kind of place that I can move from room to room, hallway to doorway, stairwell to hallway.

Often I’ll leave one room and try to go back, and can’t find my way back to it. I have gotten on elevators that had broken floors and were rickety and dangerous. I’ve found myself trying to move up stairwells that end in precipices, the only way to go further are slim footholds along the wall. Or they simply end in walls. It always happens when I decide I need to go somewhere specific.

Recently, I found out my mother and her sisters were moving my grandmother out of her house and into a townhouse. I dreamed soon thereafter that a strange woman was organizing things in the house. I went into the front bedroom and found a bunch of women there, who were going through my grandmother’s things and pricing them for auction on Ebay. I was very upset. I told Mom about the dream and she said that a strange woman was cleaning the house and was bringing my grandmother’s things to flea market, but not Ebay. I think it was a coincidence, but wasn’t that remarkable?

I love the dreams where I’m able to fly. I soar up high, watching the distant ground pass beneath me. Funny thing about flying dreams, though, I inevitably know I’m dreaming, and that usually ends the dream, sometimes in a free fall that never finishes.

I hear in dreams and see in dreams. I imagine I use my sense of touch, too, but I don’t remember that specifically. I don’t recall smelling or tasting, but next time I’m in a dream and think about it, I’ll certainly try to experiment!

Some dream analysis would certainly turn up something important about it all this, I'm certain. But I'll enjoy the increased vividness of my dreams for now.

Posted by Bastique at 10:14 AM | Comments (0)

August 9, 2004

Death Row News

I am a member of the FADP (Floridians for Alternative to the Death Penalty) email list and I recieved the following email this morning:

Greetings all,

This is sent to several lists. If you have not been following the situation with the heat on Florida's death row, the nutshell is that there has never been air conditioning on Florida's death row, and as you can imagine, summers in North-Central Florida can be brutal.

For several years prisoners and their advocates have been awaiting relief via a lawsuit that was initially lost at the trial court level and on Friday last also lost at the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals (Read that asinine decision at Chandler v. Crosby). Despite the loss, the hard work of the Florida Justice Institute in representing the prisoners in this case should not be forgotten - THANK YOU Randy Berg and all at FJI.

Responding to requests from prisoners that we do something, Floridians or Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP) and the Florida Death Row Advocacy Group (FDRAG) found a "security fan" in use by prisoners in other states, put it on the desk of the Lt. Governor and then the Secretary of the Department of Corrections (DOC), and upon approval borrowed $6,000 to buy 400 fans and donate one to each current Florida death row prisoner, with a supply left over to be distributed to future arrivals.

The fans were delivered to the DOC distribution center last Tuesday (8/3/04), and by late afternoon Wednesday, every prisoner had his or her own personal fan. I received a personal phone call from DOC regional director Bradley Carter informing me of the completed distribution. By all accounts, the DOC and prison employees moved with extraordinary speed to carry out Secretary Crosby's orders that the fans be delivered ASAP.

Saturday's mail was the first mail received since the fans were delivered. FADP had nine letters, and FDRAG had 33. Saturday and Sunday were the first visiting days since the fans were delivered.

BELOW ARE SOME REPORTS from visitors and samplings from some of the letters received.

I noted above that we borrowed $6,000 to pay for these fans. Thus far, about $3,500 has been received or is known to be on the way. FDRAG is preparing a special edition of the newsletter in which all donors will be listed alphabetically, except, of course, for those who request anonymity. If you have already sent a donation and wish to remain anonymous, please send an e-mail to Hannah at .

We still need $2,500. $15 buys one fan. One person sent $400. Pax Christi USA took up a collection ($465) at their national convention last week. Most of the other 40 or so donors have sent $15 or $30, with some less and a few more. Three people have given $100 each. Even $1 helps. Please give what you are able.

Here is how to help:

On-line contributions can be made using PAYPAL, Amex, Discover, Visa or Mastercard at Support FDRAG

Or better (avoid the fees charged by the credit card companies!), send a check to:

FDRAG
137 N Walnut St.
Starke, FL 32091

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TAX DEDUCTIBLE, please make your check payable to FCPJ (Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice) and mail it to:

FDRAG
137 N Walnut St.
Starke, FL 32091

Thank You. Yours in the Struggle,

--abe & Hannah

Anybody that saw Bill Maher this past week heard his monologue about the callous way we treat prisoners in this country, and then just forget about them. To paraphrase one part of it: Our prisons are filled with men and women who are in there because of drugs or because they made a big mistake while they were young and stupid, but what we get back are hardened criminals and Americans just prefer to turn the other way.

Now that I can't turn the other way, I'm much more appreciative of his point.

View website atFADP: Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

Posted by Bastique at 10:13 AM | Comments (0)

August 8, 2004

Hyperfocus Hours

Why has this blog gotten so much duller in the last few days? I mean, to have missed a post on Friday and came up with Saturday's post about poverty at the very last minute—I didn't even do my usual website review. It's because I've been flashing Will.

No, I don't mean opening a trench coat in front of him without a stitch of clothing on. What would be the point?

What I really mean has more to do with ADHD than overexposure. I've been working on a Macromedia Flash solution to Will's website (Click right now, and you'll see the existing site. I'll have the new, Flashed one up sometime soon.)

I love coming up with programming solutions and new design ideas, but this kind of work really taxes me. I hyperfocus, or enter a mode of concentration so intense that I have no idea how long I've been working, or, for that matter, what is happening in the world around me. Someone can be telling me something and I'll nod my head, hearing them but not absorbing them. If they continue, I'll shoo them away, without even realizing what I am doing.

Afterward, I feel tremendously let down, like I've been wasting an enormous amount of time. Although I may have accomplished a great deal, I've taken way too much time to do it.

At one point today, I had to pull myself away and work out. I hadn't mowed the lawn, washed the dog or my laundry. Will was most appreciative and supportive, of course. It was his site I was working on, and he considered the job I did entirely satisfactory.

Myself, I am not happy, because I spent about ten to twelve hours on Flash and I should have at least devoted some of my creative energy to writing—there area in which I have been most blessed.

And I do apologize if this topic seems tedious or self-effacing; but it is the act of my hand, and this is what I must set my letters to, this evening. It is my penance for sending my creativity elsewhere, twelve Hail Mary's and an Act of Contrition.

So if this post is dull, then it must be so. I have done my very least duty and my hand is still in the word at the end of the day.

Posted by Bastique at 10:00 PM | Comments (0)

August 7, 2004

Expenstive Poverty

I was hungry and ready to go to my noon meeting on Tuesday, and couldn't figure out what I wanted for lunch. I didn't have any cash on hand and found out Checker's didn't take debit cards, so I drove up the road to Arby's. The perfect lunch was on their menu, and for only $5.35 (with tax), I could enjoy a low carb turkey-bacon caesar wrap delight. This of course, is a few bucks higher than their other sandwiches, but I've been working so hard on maintaining a 32-inch waistline, I wasn't going to lose a whole week's worth of exercise by taking on a big roast beef cheddar sandwich.

The curve ball, however, was the unexpected. My debit card was declined. Desperately hungry, I spent the next fifteen minutes combing my truck to come up with the correct amount of money. Poverty is not going to make me compromise.

Inevitably, I knew what had occurred; and it all stems from not having enough money. My electric bill is unreasonably high, because I can't afford to get my air conditioner replaced or check the ductwork, and the price of fuel has skyrocketed recently. The $300 was automatically deducted from my bank account, along with some other deductions, reducing my account to a sub-zero balance, and earning me a $35 NSF fee.

Poverty is expensive. When I look at friends who have had to reinstate their insurance so they could reinstate their tags so they could reinstate their driver's license, you discover that people with less money pay more than people with more.

It's truly ironic how I heard this Republican in Congress declaring that we should have an across-the-board national sales tax, which would be fair for everyone. Not so. Sales taxes, notably those on grocery products, are known as “regressive taxes”, meaning that they impact the poor far more than they do the wealthy. Because these taxes are included on the basic necessities, food, gasoline, clothing, as well as other items. For instance:

A working class man who earns $15,000 a year pays 5% sales tax on a $10,000 used car, is paying about 3.33% of his income.
An upper class man who earns $150,000 a year pays 5% sales tax on a $60,000 luxury car is only paying about 1.12% of his income.

These figures translate pretty much across the board. In essence, the congressman is advocating taxing the working class more than the rich. And the American people persist in putting idiots like these back in congress.

It just gets harder and harder to be poor these days, and yet once you're there, it's a slippery slope staying there. Late fees, reinstatement fees, penalties, fines…these are not things that you suffer often if you have a lot a lot of money.

Posted by Bastique at 10:46 PM | Comments (0)

August 5, 2004

Hummer in Pink

Came across this little article while reading Blogsnow:

California's SUV Ban - The Golden State has outlawed big SUVs on many of its roads but doesn't seem to know it.

"Unless you drive one of the largest SUVs, such as the Chevy Suburban, the Cadillac Escalade, or the Ford Excursion, I'll bet you've watched them thundering down quiet residential lanes and wondered to yourself: Why is that monster allowed on this little street?

Well, here's a surprising piece of news. It may not be."

Full article here: California's SUV Ban

I've always contended that those big guzzlers were much more trouble than they were worth. As soon as gas prices skyrocketed, I started to plan. Forget that silly "don't pump your gas on such-and-such date" email. That's a proven failure. Ignore the "Don't buy gasoline from companies that do business in the middle east" email. Frankly, there's a limited supply of gasoline anyway, so it won't make any difference.

My solution is this. Find out what the five biggest gas guzzlers are: The Hummer series qualify as number 1 and 2. Send the kind of email that self-perpetuates out to as many people as possible saying something to the effect that the solution to the crisis would be to go out and spraypaint the windows of any of those five guzzlers that you see out in public, with, oh...pink spray paint. Don't get caught, of course!

If the vandalism spread out, it would result in the the owners becoming less and less willing to drive those vehicles, eventually selling them some more economic and less susceptible model. Why should they be so arrogant to drive those enormous tanks; because they can afford the gasoline?

I've never implemented this, because sure as shit I'd have federal agents find out it was me and arrest me on sedition or something like that. I wouldn't even be able to join Michael because they don't allow people with compromised immunity at Eglin.

Anyway, these gas guzzlers have the rest of us to contend with. We, who cannot afford the gasoline vastly outnumber them. And we know it's their fault we're paying so much. They're the ones who make America the gas hog it is. Okay...maybe the oil industry takes more of the blame but these people are hardly without guilt.

So this six thousand ton thing is a rather likeable thing. Keep these artifacts-as-soon-as-they're-bought off the road and buried deep in garages and frankly, I've had enough of them. I hope someone can enforce it.

How could someone be dumb enough to buy one of these, anyway?

Posted by Bastique at 11:57 PM | Comments (0)

August 4, 2004

The Class of '84 Reunion

It sounds like a bad sequel to an already terrible movie, starring Timothy Van Patten. But it's here and it's real!

I went to three high schools. Four if you count my month in the ninth grade at Mark Twain school for the emotionally handicapped in Rockville, Maryland, before my mother moved us to South Carolina. Ninth grade found me at Airport High School in West Columbia. I got their notice for twenty-year reunion early this year. I can't even remember anyone with whom I went to school there. Much of twelfth grade found me (after another of mother's moves) at Batesburg-Leesville High School, graduating class of 1984 numbered in the double digits and were primarily hick-towners. I got their notice last year, but I blocked that year of my life out, so I didn't go to that one either.

Most of my high school time, however, was spent at Brookland-Cayce High School in Cayce, South Carolina. This was the high school I remember. These were the people about whom I wanted to find. These were the people in front of whom I wanted to show off how wonderful I am today. But there was no reunion notice last year. No reunion notice this winter. No reunion this spring.

Thank heavens that I registered at classmates.com many moons ago. Yesterday, I receive an email, subject line, “Brookland-Cayce High School Class of 1984 Reunion” from a woman whose name I did not know. I found out her maiden name and realized that she was the girl that wound up sitting behind me in several classes because her name started “B-A-U.” I was delighted! I changed my Thanksgiving plans to spend with my family because the reunion is taking place October 23.

I know it's strange, but I've waited my entire life to attend a high school reunion. I remember how excited my mother used to get about them while we were growing up; that is, now that I am no longer resentful about her moving me from high school to high school and possibly having denied me the same opportunity. But here it is, Brookland-Cayce 1984's twentieth reunion, and I'll be in attendance. Never mind that I didn't ultimately graduate from there, these people will remember me as much as I remember them.

I've been projecting like crazy. I want to get my teeth done. I want to work out like crazy. I want to bust Michael out of prison and take him with me. I want to be out and proud and kick anyone's ass that has a problem with it.

And the timing couldn't be better. I'm traveling to the middle of South Carolina only ten days before the presidential election. I have to remember one thing: South Carolina is not a swing state. I'm not going to make a dent in the vote there.

This entire topic is bound to influence my life for the next couple months, so be sure to check in from time to time for updates.

Posted by Bastique at 5:55 PM | Comments (0)

August 3, 2004

Jovah's Angel, by Sharon Shinn

The second book in the Samaria Trilogy read for me much like the first one. Sharon Shinn has created quite an impressive world here with Samaria, a world far away and far in the future of our own place and time, built by its original settlers to escape from technology and with service to a loving God in mind.

What I liked about this novel (and the original one as well) is that Shinn has created characters I truly care for in Allelluia and Caleb. Although it's entirely obvious that this angela and man were meant for each other, there is something romantic about how they find this out.

What I dislike about Shinn's novels that I have written thus far, is that there is so little tension, the only conflict is that their god, Jovah, seems to be unable to hear most of the angels, except for Allelluia, and as a result, the weather patterns are pretty messed up.

There is no surprise when we find out that Jovah is a computer on a spaceship floating above the planet, Shinn has pretty much led us to this, the only conclusion, by this time. Although I feel a bit of sadness at Allelluia's sudden loss of faith at that realization, before we can have any kind of soulful self-searching, Shinn imbues the angela with a sudden belief that there must be a higher god than this.

I can best describe my feelings about reading Archangel and Jovah's Angel as spending my time riding the Teacup Ride while the Rollercoaster is being repaired.

I enjoyed the novels, but I believe Shinn could have worked a bit harder on them. I am under the impression that later novels, such as Angelica and Angel-Seeker, are substantially better.

And I can only pray that Shinn is not going to be one of the first to review my novel when I finally get it published.

You can buy Jovah's Angel by clicking here: Jovah's Angel (Samaria Trilogy, Book 2)

Posted by Bastique at 9:30 AM | Comments (0)

August 2, 2004

Michael Moore Annoys Me!

This is just a quick one. I apologize to all of my readers but most of all myself, to whom I promised that I would be writing something significant on a regular basis.

I just watched Bill Maher's Summer/Fall season premiere tonight. Michael Moore was a guest. He makes me soooo mad! Isn't it enough that most Americans, including myself, agree with him? Why does he have to rudely shout down anyone who doesn't?

I love liberals, I love being a liberal. I'm thankful that the word doesn't carry the evil connotation that it first did in the 80s any longer.

By the way. If you are reading this, and you're eligible to vote, and you're not registered to vote...vote!

That's all I have today.

Posted by Bastique at 11:49 PM | Comments (0)

August 1, 2004

Will and Art

Let's talk about art for a minute. I have, living under my very roof, one of the greatest artistic minds of modern times. That's why I've devoted much of my energies into helping see that he succeeds at his endeavors. From setting up his website (link down below) to getting his E-bay store up and running, I am working diligently to help Will reach his goals.

Let me state clearly right now, that although I am quite fond of Will, I don't believe I am terribly biased when I am saying his are the highest of quality works from talented and capable hands. Others have said the same thing over and over again, and I've seen some of his pieces go for some pretty heavy prices. I know the evidence of my own eyes, as well. Will has an eye and a hand for works of art.

About William Wagenaar:

He was the Visual Merchandise Manager at Marshall Fields from 1971 to 1978. He graduated the Harrington Institute of Interior Design in 1980, with a degree in Commercial Interior Design. Thereafter, he co-founded the Miller-Wagenaar Studio and Miller-Wagenaar School of Decorative Arts. The work of Miller-Wagenaar Studio was published in numerous magazines, and clients included World Book Encyclopedia, Firestone, First Boston, and Apple Computers. He was involved with both the Studio and School both ran until 1990.

He owned Wagenaar Studio on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach in the early 1990's and Salvare in the Miami Design district in the late 1990's. He was involved with the revival of Art Deco on South Beach and was a present in the Design District during its infancy.

He has created numerous murals and architectural finishes in Chicago, New York and Miami.

His website (created by none other than me) is here: Welcome to Wagenaar Studio Environmental Arts

His ebay auctions (buy something!) can be found here: Will's Ebay Items

Image of piece entitled "Off Center" courtesy of William Wagenaar ©2003.

Posted by Bastique at 11:22 PM | Comments (0)