Albany, NY -- RIP Steve Brunner
I just got back from another really long day in Manhattan. It was a pain-in-the-butt day of mixing my normal job with some tech consulting work, and I managed to get a lot done. I replaced yet ANOTHER laptop hard drive, and just when I wrapped it up, the hard drive in the almost-brand-new backup server went down and now it looks like I'm going to have to go to NYC for the fifth time in about a month in a week or two. I've been working so many hours lately between the two jobs. How do I pull it off? Easy -- I've been working several hours on the weekend (that trend is likely to continue this weekend) and on the holidays, and I've been sleeping a lot less. Well, at least I'm maintaining some semblance of a social life.
So, I'm exhausted! Before I go to bed, I'm going to post a bunch of my unique (not!) brand of news/thought that's been accumulating. Some of it's old news by now, but tough noogies!
First, a moment of silence for Steve Brunner. He took his own life this week at the age of 23. I went to high school with his brother, Chris, whom I last saw at Matt's wedding in August. My thoughts are with Steve's family... Why do these things happen, anyway? I knew he had some problems, but he was a really nice, even-keeled kid, at least when I knew him in high school. Of course, if I weren't a jerk, I'd call Chris, but what do you say in a situation like this, especially given that I wasn't close with Chris at all in high school? Probably nothing.
As I was fishing around the Albany Times Union's website for Steve's obit, I stumbled upon a series the TU has been doing on the history and decline of Albany's Central Avenue. Formerly the area's most important thoroughfare, the street is no longer as popular or thriving as it once was, even during my lifetime. Anybody else remember the Albany Public Market, Duane's Toyland, or Toys for Joy? These were the places we used to go before Crossgates Mall was built, and before Price Chopper and Hannaford took over Albany ( Even though wasn't directly on Central, I SO miss the Trading Port!).
In another case of stagecraft, the Bush cronies were caught coaching a purportedly candid videoconference between the President, some U.S. soldiers fighting in Iraq, and an Iraqi soldier (CHECK THIS). If you don't believe the writings of the "liberal media," it was also caught on video. So why does the Pentagon deny the story? Bill Maher: "That's the Bush military for you -- no gays, but lots of choreography!"
My friend Ari is a PhD student in economics, and he was just picking out a topic for a term paper. I suggested that do something about poverty, but he insisted that since economics is such a "Republican" field, that wouldn't go over very well. He settled on an apropos, but politically uninteresting topic -- the effects of natural disasters on the economy. Poverty is so critical, especially among minorities such as African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and Native Americans, and no one wants to deal with it. In September, thanks to the unchecked fuel prices, inflation hit a rate not seen in 25 years, while real hourly wages the most they have in 14 years. I've been figuring the Bush economic policies would hit us hard, but not this hard this soon. It's really no wonder the Democrats are smelling blood. John Edwards was on Real Time tonight -- there's no better time for him to run again than now... of course, he has to wait until 2008. I'm throwing myself behind him now, whatever it's worth.
The Worcester Telegram had an article yesterday about the depths the wingnuts have been going to to prevent gays from getting married. About 100 of them from Christian Exodus will be meeting in South Carolina this weekend... oh, to be a fly on that altar!
Blackberry has lost a bandwidth infringement lawsuit (thanks to Lisa for pointing this out to me), but the judge will not enforce a previously ruled injunction which would've required Blackberry to stop using its frequencies... How many people, including me, would this have practically paralyzed? According to the Washington Post, litigation may not be the worst issue facing RIM, which produces Blackberries.
Just another reason I'm madly in love with ESPN.com: John Hollinger brings us rankings and profiles of every single player in the NBA. How awful would it be to be ranked the worst played at your position in the whole NBA? Maybe not that bad... I hearken back to a Paul Shirley posting from a few months ago. By the way, Paul is now looking to latch on with an NBA team. It's a shame he doesn't actually like to practice the game!
Also from ESPN.com, Tufts University will be putting on an opera about Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding. I have only one thing to ask: "WHY??? WHY??? WHY???"
I'll let this story speak for itself:"A Washington sex offender was arrested Thursday near North Medford High School after appearing at in a nearby yard wearing only a rope around his waist."
Keep reading, it gets even better than that.
posted by jbrzoska @ 12:25 PM Trackback Link
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