this ain't livin'

Prurient Currency | 25Jan07

We’ll see how this daily roundup thing works out. Let me know if you guys are digging it or not. Here are a few things of note that tickled my fancy today:

Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon! No. Seriously.

The photos of Iraq that you aren’t seeing in the newspaper. This photoset is both intriguing and stunning…a really great snapshot of this moment in history.

So I hear you want to date your doctor. Well, in Washington State, you can’t. Since when has the State been allowed to dictate the love lives of consenting adults?

Build your own laptop if you dare…or wait for computer companies to give up the laptop cash cow and make kits affordable.

According to the BBC, the practice of selling antiques of questionable provenance is still alive and well. And not just aniques from crappy third world countries that no one cares about, either. Even your fellow EU members aren’t safe from Christie’s.

The bacteria will always triumph.

Dick lives!

A golden spike, eh? Is that what they’re calling it these days? Who wants to bet on a major redesign of the Utah state quarter within the next few months? Nice tits, by the way.

Harry Potter and the Balanced Books | 25Jan07

I was working on an article today on the anticipated release date of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and while I was speculating on various dates, I recalled an article I read last year about the publishing industry’s relationship with Harry Potter. Specifically, it was talking about bookstores and distributors, both of whom stand to gain a great deal of money from the sales of the next book.

According to an article I read in The Daily Telegraph, some independent bookstores are questioning whether or not they want to carry the book at all, claiming that they cannot sell the book as cheaply as major retailers like Amazon can. The contents of the article were somewhat misconstrued: the slashed prices that major retailers can afford are not due to a steep wholesale discount, but due to the volume of sales. These stores can afford to take a minor cut on the Harry Potters because they will make up for it with profit from other books, and because, yes, the more books you order, the more of a discount you get. It’s not that the discount is just being extended to big box stores, it’s that only the big box stores need to order the books in the thousands.

Now, I used to work for an independent bookstore, so I am well aware of the misconception that books are priced high at independents because they hate the world. In fact, the prices are higher because independents have to pay the overhead costs for the store, and content with much more expensive books from publishers and distributors. For consumers, the question is whether you want cheap books overnighted to your door with indifferent service, or whether you want great service, book recommendations, and the atmosphere of a real bookstore. Not all independents have nice staff, alas, but most should. And I prefer going into a bookstore, talking to real people, having my problems dealt with by people who care about me. I also prefer independents because I think they stock better books and treat their staff better, and because I would rather shop local. I’ll shop at Cody’s before I’ll shop and Barnes and Noble before I’ll shop at Amazon.

All this aside, the article I was actually thinking of was talking about how many small bookstores are actually relying on the Harry Potter series to pull their books into the black. Sales are so depressed for independents that many are facing closure as it is: it is a little bit alarming to think that they are waiting for and relying on one book alone to improve their economic situation. The book is guaranteed to be a runaway success and will probably sell in the millions of copies on the first day it’s out, to be sure. But to bargain on it to fix your economic troubles…is really sad.

Of course, this is one place where independents have a big jump on the box stores, because most of them have midnight parties for the Harry Potter books. Well attended parties, at that, because people are longing to get their hands on them. Amazon might be able to guarantee delivery on the day of, but that will still be hours after the books are available at the independent bookstore down the street. Sure, they might be more expensive, but I think most readers, even those who don’t care about the survival of independent stores, will pay cover price to read it at midnight instead of noon when the postman comes.

Will Harry Potter balance the books? Only time will tell, but I find it hard to believe that stores could be relying on one single book for the answer to their prayers. After all, this is it. The end. No more…when means that if that article was true, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the last ace in the hole for independents.

[independent bookstores]
[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]

Fancy a Farmer? | 24Jan07

While doing my daily rounds today, I came across a few things of note:

Bruce Osborn takes photographs of Japanese parents and their adult children. Most of the shots are of just one parent and the child, contrasting the different things generations do. One of the shots, for example, is of a tea ceremony instructor and her daughter, who also became a tea ceremony instructor. Another is of a pet shop owner and his daughter…a porn star. The photographs are neat and so are the stories that go with them.

Luke Hayes-Alexander is 16 and runs his own restaurant. He specializes in charcuterie. I don’t know whether to die of envy because he’s so singleminded and pursuing his dreams, or go eat at the restaurant because it sounds amazing.

If you like dairy and you live in Wales, you can see these nifty milk carton personals. Certainly an update on the missing child idea, and way more fun.

Blood From a Stone | 24Jan07

Did anyone else watch the State of the Union last night? Well, actually, I didn’t watch it, I read it instead.

I have this passion for the State of the Union. I feel like Hermione in Order of the Phoenix, listening to Umbridge’s speech because it is important to know what the enemy is thinking. Reading between the lines yields interesting information, if you have the patience for it.

Sandwiched inbetween an apparently newly discovered concern for the uninsured working poor and education were a few choice and very intriguing statements about Iraq and about troop levels. There was the usual drivel about “demanding more from Iraq” and “cooperating with the Iraqi government,” but there was also this: “So we’re deploying reinforcements of more than 20,000 additional soldiers and Marines to Iraq.”

Essentially, what I read from that speech was that the President thinks we have lost control in Iraq, that the Iraqi government is not equipped to take over because of sectarian conflict, and that we are therefore throwing more troops at the problem, in the hopes that the crushing might of American military power will somehow fix the situation. Bush believes that retreating from Iraq would lead to complete destabilization, which is apparently the goal of the terrorists. Once chaos in Iraq is achieved, the Middle East will embroiled in violence while the naughty terrorists cement their position for another full frontal attack on the United States. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he says, “nothing is more important at this moment in our history than for America to succeed in the Middle East, to succeed in Iraq and to spare the American people from this danger.”

Will more troops solve the problem? Well, it’s hard to say. But I for one am mighty interested to know where all these new men and women of the American armed forces are coming from, when enlistment is at an all time low.

You cannot get blood from a stone, after all.

While he won’t flat out admit it, I suspect that he may be laying the groundwork for a draft. He’s aiming for a nation paralyzed in fear, so that the draft of additional military members will not come as such an unsettling surprise. He’s flirting at the edges of demanding it, and my apathetic generation has not woken up to the fact yet. Now is the time for caution, homechickens. If you intend to resist the draft, I’d start laying your own groundwork now, if I were you. The Selective Service is “testing their system,” and we all know what that means.

[draft]

Vagina Dentata | 23Jan07

So I was wandering through Safeway the other day looking for toothpaste that wouldn’t smell terrible or cost an obscene amount, and I stumbled across the feminine hygiene aisle. No, not the aisle with the Tampax, the pregnancy tests, and the condoms…the…other feminine products aisle. I’d already been violated by the bright and shiny flowers on Tampax boxes, but this aisle actually caused my eyes to burn.

Now, my female dear readers probably know that their vaginas are dirty and disgusting, filled with nefarious bacteria and teeth ready to attack. This is why we need flowery fresh washing products and vagina toothbrushes, because a vagina cavity is a terrible thing. But my male readers may not be aware that the vagina is actually a den of filth, harboring disease and malificence.

I was truly astounded when I stumbled across the “Summers Eve” line of, uh, female care products. I think I’ve written elsewhere about my feelings on douching. But I wasn’t aware that the company had built up an entire empire of products surrounding the idea that genitals are gross. They even come in different incarnations for sensitive skin and normal skin. And scents, you know.

I, uh, don’t really know what to think about this. I mean, I do know what to think about this: it grosses and weirds me out. I’m all for cleanliness of the external genitalia, which should be accomplished with regular bathing and a mild odor neutral soap. Scents can cause irritation and obscure that “natural musk” that the Joy of Sex is all about.

I am really disturbed that putting questionable chemicals on my naughty bits will apparently make me more “feminine.” Feminine values apparently include being filled with C.B. Fleet products. And they don’t just make douches and washes…they also make “feminine deodorant” and “feminine powder” and “feminine cleansing cloths.” Hey…cleansing cloths can be useful in dire situations…but once again, I think I’ll stick with the mild odor neutral ones at the doctor’s office, not one that will leave a “Summer’s Eve Fresh Scent.”

What is this thing with “freshness” and feeling “not so fresh”? I can say with great confidence that I have never been concerned about my state of freshness, and I’ve done my fair share of kinky camping. I am not an item in the produce aisle, for Pete’s sake.

The primary thing that disturbs me about this company is that they are marketing products to women on a false assumption: that a healthy sexually active female smells bad. But there’s a more insidious health risk: if you have a runny discharge, a funky scent, or itching, these are symptoms of a health problem. The correct treatment is not “Summer’s Eve Anti-Itch Powder,” it is a visit to a medical doctor who can diagnose and treat the condition before it turns serious. Women need to know that reproductive health is extremely important, and that caring for their bodies involves seeking medical attention for obvious health problems.

Healthy genitalia smell good. A little musky, maybe, especially if the person is aroused. After a long day, things might be a bit sweaty and salty…indicators that a shower is needed. Perhaps together, to be sure one is being thorough. If bad smells are happening, bad health is happening. Regular bathing should result in cleanliness…and using products like that just makes you smell like a chemical factory. Ugh.

And why the hell don’t they sell “masculine hygiene products”?

Because, let me tell you, I know some very stinky boys who don’t know how to clean their pee pees. Let alone the rest of themselves. I think they could benefit from a “Fall Crisp” cleansing wipe now and then.

[summers eve]
[feminine hygiene]

The Invisible Enemy | 22Jan07

Wired has an excellent article out today about Acinetobacter baumannii. Why on Earth, you might ask, would I want to read an article about bacteria?

Well, primarily because it points out that soldiers who survive combat are not always assured of physical safety. Silent enemies lurk everywhere. The evacuation system for soldiers fighting in Iraq is plagued with multi-drug resistant bacteria that can not only kill, but be passed on to others. This has been a problem in other conflicts: one of the major vectors of transition for the 1914-1918 flu, for example, was military hospitals.

During an evacuation of a wounded soldier, the primary concern is to get ou physically stable and to a hospital where more extensive treatments can be provided. Major wounds are dealt with, broken bones are set, the soldier is pumped full of antibiotics, and then packaged to be sent to Germany, and then on to the United States. In an environment where there are a high volume of casualties, it is very difficult to take basic infection precautions. The most important thing is the life of that soldier, right?

Well…yes…and no. By slacking on infection prevention protocol because of limitations posed by staff and facilities, combat hospitals are setting up a great environment for bacteria to breed in. Rapidly packaging men and women for treatment at other facilities sets up a situation where all sorts of bacteria are bundled with the patient. These bacteria, in turn, are brought to each hospital along the chain.

Acinetobacter is an interesting little organism. Like a lot of bacteria that can potentially cause highly dangerous infections, it lives harmlessly on the skin of healthy individuals. When it encounters someone with a compromised immune system, however, it goes to town, colonizing the body. Many strains being found today are resistant to treatment, leading to a bacterial infection that is essentially incurable. The organism also thrives in hostile environments, so it can wait for a long time to find a suitable victim.

The Department of Defense has been trying to keep the Acinetobacter problem on the down low. It might lower morale, after all, to think of soldiers being infected by essentially incurable bacterial illnesses. It also might reveal serious weak points in the way we organize and provide treatment for wounded soldiers. The infection was not spread by evil bioweapons masterminds, or the natural Iraqi sand: it was spread by our own well meaning medical personnel, and now it’s become a global problem. A bit embarassing for the DoD, eh?

[Acinetobacter]

Choking on Your Own Self Righteousness | 21Jan07

Friday was an epic adventure, a whirlwind trip to Willits, a prolonged comedy of errors with the rental car company, a sitting in the doctor’s office for hours, and a long soak in a Silky Pagoda Bath at Bamboo Garden Spa, something which was sorely needed by the end of the day. Although I hopped into a car and drove back to San Francisco immediately afterwards, which did somewhat reduce the effects. Cap’n Raspberry seemed to enjoy it immensely, though.

At any rate, one episode in the comedy on Friday sticks with me. The Cap’n and I were in the Transbay waiting for the 108 to take us to the Island so that I could pick up paperwork and we could dash back into the City with it. As was his wont, the Cap’n was nursing a toxic flaming cylinder of paper and weeds, along with another older gentlemen. We were neutrally conversing well out of the way of other people waiting for the bus and general human life, when a very aggressive and very rude man stormed over to us.

“Can’t you fucking read! You see that big sign over there?! Yeah, it says ‘NO SMOKING.’ You assholes should fucking MOVE.”

Now, the thing is, I don’t like smoking. I think it is foul and disgusting, and I fervently wish that most of my friends did not engage in it. Alas, my opinion is not a factor in their personal choices, so I do my best to just tolerate it. I move upwind, I leave, whatever. I figure my scene out. Sometimes I will politely ask someone to move, especially in a public place where I feel like their smoking is infringing my ability to live. However, most of the time, smokers are aware that they are completely disgusting, and they tend to cluster in one location, allowing the rest of us to do our own thing.

I really try not to be self-righteous about smoking. I have better things to do, and I’m sure I have habits which disgust other people. For example, I like peanut butter and pickle sandwiches.

At any rate, the Cap’n and the older gentleman said “oh, pardon us,” and moved almost out of the Transbay altogether. I shook my head at the thought of fussing over cigarette smoke in a huge structure filled with buses farting out exhaust, and pulled out my book while I waited for them to return. The guy with the attitude problem continued to storm around, kicking various items in the Terminal and generally looking like he was spoiling for a fight.

Then, another younger man came up the entry, mindlessly smoking a cigarette. He moved to the side and out of the way, and pondered the bus lane waiting for the 108 to show up. Only moments later, the guy with the attitude stormed over again:

“What’s your FUCKING PROBLEM, ASSHOLE? Can’t you READ? I don’t like smoking! I think it’s gross! You should go SOMEWHERE ELSE.”

The Cap’n and the older man were just returning, and they paused in amazement to survey the situation.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” said the younger man. “Am I bothering you? I apologize.”

But the thing is, the guy with the attitude was blocking him in, so he couldn’t move. He tried to go to the right, and the guy moved to block him.

“Why don’t you put that out, YOU JERK,” he said.

The guy dodged to the right, and the attitude problem moved with him. Behind me, an African American woman was waiting for the bus, calming checking her voicemail.

“What’s your fucking problem, BITCH,” attitude guy suddenly said.

I started, because I don’t take kindly to being called a bitch. Then I realized that he was talking to the African American woman, who was sassing him right back, to her credit, while the confused younger gentleman made a run for it.

“Hey, why are you talking to me like that,” she said.

“I’ll talk to you any way I want.” attitude problem says.

“Hey now,” confused gentleman says. “That’s no way to talk to a lady.”

“I’ll talk anyway I want, ASSHOLE,” attitude problem says. The Cap’n and I study each other and then look at older man. All of us are sort of stunned, flabbergasted, looking for MUNI police. When we turn back, attitude problem is threatening to castrate confused gentleman. I’m not quite sure how that turn of events was reached, and meanwhile African American girl was calling her posse to whup some ass.

Luckily for attitude problem, the 108 rolled up. We all boarded the bus, staring at him resentfully, and filed to the back.

Only moments later, we heard him choking on his Powerbar.

“Heh,” I said softly to the Cap’n. “I hope he chokes on his own self righteousness.”

“Heh, yeah,” African American girl said. “That would be hilarious.”

“Yeah, the great thing is,” confused gentleman chimed in, “that no one would make a move to save him.”

We all sat frozen in happy expectation, but unfortunately attitude problem lived to be a dick another day, and stomped off the bus at Yerba Buena.

The Cap’n and I were somewhat amazed by the whole experience, given that the guy seemed to be spoiling for a fight. I longed to sock him one in the face, and only the basic rules of social propreity restrained me. There certainly wasn’t any cause for the guy to be such a dick, or to needlessly pick on that poor woman. He could have made a polite request of all of the repulsive smokers and they would have moved, because they are used to the social stigma that smoking carries, and courteous enough to respect other people’s wishes.

As the Cap’n pointed out, karma is a bitch.

I just kind of hope I get to be there to see the guy’s comeuppance, is all.

[smoking]
[self righeous]

Saturday Transit Special | 20Jan07

While we were taking BART to the Mission the other day, Cap’n Raspberry happened to notice this sign:

If you are having trouble because of the image quality, the sign says “Freedom of the Press in the Middle East? Only in Israel.” Just for reference, Israel was ranked 135 on the Freedom of Press Index 2006 by Reporters Sans Frontieres. That would be behind Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority, along with a staggering number of African and South American nations. Numerous violations of press freedom have been recorded in the West Bank, and it is clear that the press in Israel is not, in fact, free. Ah, irony.

We were a bit surprised, to say the least. San Francisco is not exactly a hotbed of pro-Israel sentiment. As it turns out, of course, this is the point. Blue Star Public Relations (”The Jewish Ink Tank”) apparently launched a campaign on BART in late December to make us feel all warm and fuzzy about Israel. I can only hope that the signs spark lively debate, and that someone, er, edits them to make them more accurate. I mean, editing beyond the insertion of Hitler mustaches, which you may not be able to discern in the image.

Slightly sickened, we staggered out into the night.

Later that night, waiting for the 108, we saw this:

Yes. This is a MUNI bus being towed. The tow truck was unbelievably large. The bus was listing to the right, so we surmised that the kneeling bus feature had been damaged.

Will wonders never cease?

[BlueStarPR]
[MUNI]

One Cup at a Time | 19Jan07

After devouring some food at King of Thai Noodle the other night, Cap’n Raspberry declared his intent to go get a cup of coffee. I demurred at first, but he said that the coffee was “really good” and I might want to at least check it out, so I found myself trailing along on a quest for one of my least favourite beverages.

We went to Philz coffee, and I was immediately intrigued.

You see, Philz believes that coffee tastes the best when it is fresh brewed, so they brew it fresh when you order. One cup at a time. From beans that have been ground mere seconds before. The Cap’n put in his order and I heard the bean grinder whirring and I noticed Turkish Coffee on the menu and I was seduced.

It turned out to be one of the better decisions I made this week.

My coffee cup was brimming with thick, sweet, creamy coffee that had complex notes and swirls of fresh coffee oils dancing across the top. I took a hesistant sip at first, and then a larger one.

“Oh my God,” I said.

“Yeah,” he said, bemused. “You like it?”

“Oh, God, yes.”

I swirled the rich flavours around in my mouth and wandered absentmindedly into a crosswalk in front of oncoming traffic. I didn’t notice when I stepped in a muddle of something moist and slightly sticky. I thought a flight of stairs was an escalator and stood there for several minutes, thinking I was being whisked underground to my train.

Yes, indeed. If coffee actually tasted like that all the time, I would be extremely into drinking it.

If you don’t believe me, hop over to 3901 18th Street at Folsom and dig it.

Dig. It.

[Philz Coffee]

Friday Cat Blogging | 19Jan07

This weeks Friday Cat Blogging centers around the couch summit which was held over the weekend.

It was agreed that couch privileges would be extended to Loki as long as he agreed to stop listening to right wing radio stations. Mr Bell, as can be seen, clearly took the low road in the negotiations.

[cat blogging]