So, many of you know my stance on organized labor.  For those of you who don't, pull aside someone who lives/lived in the honors house in the last 4 years, and ask.  They will say something like, "Oh daddy, don't get him started on organized labor."

Unfortunately for you my humble reader, I am thusly started.  As a graduate student, I am required by state legislation to be represented by and pay ~1% of my pre-tax earnings to a corrupt bunch of self-serving yahoos at the Autoworkers union.  Don't ask why autoworkers; I don't have a freakin clue.  I just know there is some sleazy mechanic who is putting his feet up on a ottoman that I paid for.

So today the freakin janitors, also a union job of course (and they are probably affiliated with the Rodeo Clown union...) decide to strike.  Why, you ask?  The same reason anyone strikes, they want to extort cash out of their employer. They feel that not having had a raise in the last 4 years entitles them to one now.  Sounds reasonable, doesn't it?  NO, it doesn't.  Do you know why?  NO ONE in the ENTIRE UC system has had a raise in the past 4 years. *variants of angry sentences involving some if not all of the following words were here, but were edited prior to original posting date: "assmonkeys, trashlords, greedy swindlers, terrorists, banana pudding"*

To make things more interesting, I get an email this morning.  It states that MY union (the freakin auto-jocks) says that I, ME, the graduate slave-laborer, should join the pickets in sympathy strike.  I am going to write this sentence to let the preceding two words sink in. Audacity. My response to this is two-fold.  First, it is to indicate that, while the mop-managers may not have anything vital to do on a thursday, I on the other hand have plans, most of these involve me not getting into shit with my boss and/or completing my graduate career in a timely fashion.  Second, is to say, go to hell, I'm crossing your damn picket line.

That second part brought me a certain degree of joy.  Some might find this a clever posting device, but scabbing for a union really was on my list of things to do before... and so now that that event is complete, on to bobsledding in the buff. Why was scabbing important?  Because scabbing is a vestige of smuggling, one of the things a good american does best.  In the revolution, our navy was a bunch of smuggling, gun-running, merchant robbing scabs. Our western frontier was settled by smugglers and theives; pelt-snatchers and claims-jumpers. The Lucitania, Berlin airlift, iran-contra, grenada, cuba, panama. I spoke with nekrenas when he was here a few weeks ago about the various wonderful aspects of smuggling, and I see crossing a picket to fall in line with that most American of traditions.  If I can think of my crossing the picket lines in terms of smuggling slave labor (i.e. me) across a guarded border, I have done my duty as a citizen.

If this post isn't seething enough, I just saw the Village.  Now it seethes.

That is all.

drhibbert  and thucyditron were here this weekend.  It was a blast.  We went to muir woods (big trees), all over berkeley (quirky society and great pizza), the Metreon (Sony's mall), Union square (high-end shopping), and drove around the embarcadero (tourism).  We also made a, shall we say, detour, to coit tower (not the same as coitus tower.  Thats in the tenderloin).  It gave us a good view of the bay from the west to compliment our view from the camponile in the east.  However, we saw something that we were not expecting...

This is downtown SF.  Note the Transamerica.

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But look more closely...

Now closer still, alittle to the left...

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As you can clearly see, the Dark Lord Sauron is rebuilding the fortress of Baradur.  We will hold them as long as we can, but additional support is needed to ensure the safety of the free peoples.  Since thucyditron has the ring, I suggest a fellowship of HoHos to escort him here to destroy it once and for all.  Who will step forward for this bold quest?  We can offer safe lodging and perhaps allison will whip up some lembas.

This is gonna be a long one, but deal.

This is Orientation week.  we are signing up for grad classes and whatnot.  It's not too shabby, really.  I like the people I'm with, we have great equipment.  The librarian was complaining because we only had internet access and backdate copies to the beginning of time for 8 of the 9 major german chem journals.  Of course, the english language ones are no problem.  Still trying to get my bus pass, the line, last time I was in it, had upwards of 700 people in it.  Free food, nice profs, and surrounded by ubergeekdom's best and brightest.  Campus is alive with undergrads.  you guys look so little, (insert Nelson ha ha).  Coolest chem grad student name: Shervin.

Allison and I took a trip with our friends from church to Ocean Beach.  its on the west side of SF.  Note to those unfamiliar.  Ocean beach isn't much for swimming for a variety of reasons.  First, is that when you see people talk about riptide, basically that translates to "water conditions like ocean beach."  Second, a 15 foot great white was sited 30m offshore less than 3 days ago, and given the fact that 2 weeks back they ate a guy not 10 miles north of ocean beach, that makes people a bit wary.  Also, its august.  That means that after 6pm, SF temp is about, oh, say 58 on a warm day.  the pacific is a big body of water, it doesn't warm up that much this far north.  Therefore, in the pictures, which I will be happy to post later, you will note the winter garb, i.e. "Viking Booties", parkas, PomPom hats and scarves.  It is necessary, trust me.  The fog and waves weresuper cool.  We had a huge bonfire, cooked smores, sang "If the queens english was good enough for Jesus Christ, its good enough for me" with our Kiwi friend, Dean.  Two guys stripped naked and swam for ~2 mins.  All and all a blast.

On the way back one of the coolest Oakland stories you will ever here was confirmed by the locals.  George lucas got the idea for AT-ATs looking at the dock loading equipment there.  He grew up in the area, and I swear, you put a english accent and a nazi uniform in those babies, you got one.  I heard the blaster fire from the bay bridge.  I resisted the urge to say, "Dack, you ok?"

They are training me to be a Teacher this week, in addition to other student stuff.  We went through various exercises in how to properly lead labs, discussion sections, etc.  This mainly involves various levels of trust breaking and elusive hiding behind bureaucratic policy.  Makes me feel like John Kerry.

Homeless Update:

I have decided to include a new section in my post, which as mentioned above I will call the homeless update.  For the first installment, I have only included one of my original favorites - Bicycle Dude with Pet Pigeon.  First sited at Lower Sproul Plaza by the golden bear statue.  Bicycle Dude is seen up and down University Ave., usually in the late morning.  He is haggard, bearded, glasses-wearing and rides a mildly damaged ten speed.  He has a pet pigeon, name unknown, who rides on his shoulder, which is draped in a pigeon-poo-proof towel stolen from an unknown dumpster.  Claims to also have wife, but this is undocumented.  Will attempt to find out more on Bicycle Dude with Pet Pigeon.

Our church is great.  In addition to lots of fun grad students, and good sermons, they have an excellent band that is 25% PhD.  This results in some suitable quirkyness, such as the fact that many of our hymns are sung in foreign languages...ya know, like Klingon.  Thats right, they sing "Glory, Glory Lord" in Klingon.

Allison and the neighbors are conspiring against me.  There is much skullduggery about.  I will find them out and reveal their dark plot later...

That is all.

A collection of small ancedotes to help start the TU schoolyear off right:

Allison enrolled in a english and a spanish class this semester.  We are watching lots of movies in spanish now as a result.  I figure I can quote rocky and hard target pretty well, so I can translate the parts that she misses.  For her english class, she is reading Ann Coulter and Al Franken for alittle 'friendly' comparison.  I, therefore, had to shell out $14.00 american to franken, at 11.95 to coulter.  This makes my skin crawl.  I decided that since my money had gone toward this noble project, I should also partake of their wisdom.  Ann is in essence Sean hannity with boobs; that is to say ultra-conservative, witty, and devilishly cutting.  Her book is delivered in a polished format that looks at liberal media bias in all sectors, even discussing its attempted invasion of talk radio.  It is fair to say that it is not altogether satisfying, but good points are made more often than not, and when taken with the appropriate dose of salt, worth reading. Franken is Michael Moore minus 3 chins.  Franken's book is similarly styled and modeled on Coulter's and Goldberg's books, of course with opposite agenda.  It focuses on direct attack of the affore mentioned texts, president bush, republicans in general. He spends a significant amount of paper attempting to discredit coulter.  Having read all the Coulter sections that he has attacked thus far in his text (I'm about a third through franken) most of his attacks are placed on minor points in her argument.  Its sort of like getting points off a math test because you didn't use an equal sign in your answer.  It shoulda been there, but its no big deal.  Otherwise, franken is typically himself, and has some good and oft enteratining observations, if incorrect analyses.  My major complaint isn't with either of those though, it rests firmly on the fact that coulter's book is just so much more remarkably well written, and covers a much broader spectrum.  However, I fear for poor allison, because any attempt to point out the good parts in coulter or the bad in franken may meet with some, shall we say, resistance with the local population.

School starts monday.  I set up my email account.  It's neat to have berkeley at the end of your name.  I have never seen so much paperwork for an email address.  There are approximately forty pages of agreements, and use standards, and policies that you have to scroll past to sign up for the account.  when its finally all arranged, you get a copy of the material sent to your email in 3 concise packets from the webmistress.  That's right, webmistress.  Monday I have to be there "bright and early" (9am, ouch) to begin my intensive "how to abuse freshmen" training.  Should be fun.  Friday we have our first ChemKeg party.  It used to be held outside on the commons by the Cal Library, but The Man apparently broke that up.  They fight on to return to public drunkenness, and in the meantime they go to the on-campus bar. 

Yay for Gradschool.

Just watched Hidalgo.  I want to like that movie, but I can't quite get there.  It falls to a miserable script that was clearly drafted in crayon; heavier handed that Kostner.  Did like the set pieces, especially the well done if blatant rip offs of Raiders.  Perhaps some transistions, and less attack cats.

Allison saw ST:IV for the first time tonight.  We laughed ourselves silly.  It's a much better movie when you watch it with someone with no sizable prior ST experience. And, now that I live in san francisco, it is that much more humorous to watch them meander about town.  Plus, when thucyditron comes to visit, I can say neat things like, "and this is where they parked the bird of prey."

My favorite line has aways been "Hello computer."  But now, I have a newfound respect for the shatner speech on Nimoy's involvement in the Berkeley free speech movement.  "I think he took too much LDS."  ah, shatner, you so funny.

So, for those of you with insomnia and TV sets, I'm sure you are familiar with GGW, and Ronco, and the guy with the question mark jacket, and the sleazy housewives named doris who you can call for 3.95 a minute to talk about special topics like politics and socrates and what clothes they may or may not be wearing.  San francisco has added something to the pot: the Interactive Male.  while I assume you young ladies can call him, the commercial is most certainly directed at homosexual males looking for a great 4.95/min experience.  For entertainment purposes only, of course.

that is all.

I love PETA.  They remind me of why I am, as my neighbor put it, "A meateater."  Stumbled onto this today; it's directed at kids which makes it all the better...

http://www.peta.org/feat/meatrix/

It's more disturbing in many ways than that Kikkoman superhero and the large-testicled racoon that roukzeptea23 brought to our attention not too long ago.

On another slightly related note, I am currently making a tasty beef dish.  It'll end up being sort of like nachos and includes 5 of the 7 Prime Ingredients, but not so much that most people would think "Oh, hey, nachos." upon seeing it.  Thus, I have decided to name it the Moopheus Platter.

That is all.

This one's mostly for pfsheckarski and drhibbert, but as my primary audience is college students, I figure you all will gain much from this ramen-related post.  You must find, purchase, and ingest the following product </span>

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I am baking challah.  That's right, jew bread.  I made a curry chili.  That's right, indian food.  How do these relate? qfish.  This evening meal's to you, buddie!</span>

thucyditron.  The new PUSA EP came out yesterday.  3 bucks on itunes. "the postman" groovin on love letters is pretty sweet. full album in mid august.  They're back.

So a few random thoughts to brighten everyone else's day.

I haven't figured out why yet, but for some odd reason, since I moved here not 2 days have past without me being asked by a stranger for directions. drhibbert says we have crappy street signs, but I don't think thats enough to explain it.  Doesn't bother me really, but is a bit odd.  especially since I always know if not the complete answer then the vague, "oh, its that way" answer.  This has led me to believe one of two theories on the subject.

One:  everyone in CA is lost perpetually, and thus they look for people who don't look local for directions.  This is given additional support by the fact that most people here are ex-hippies who spent most of the two-decade period that gave birth to american rock-and-roll tripped out.  As a result, they rarely remember vital statistics like their name or place of employment.

or

Two:  I have a large green carat above my head, ala Tribes or The Sims.  Except mine reads "I know where the hell you are going."  Or perhaps "I will tell you where to go." I support this theory, because it explains why I am the one person on a street full of people who gets asked "where is Oxford from here."

I finally found qfish 's phone number in a jumble of papers.  Called him at work.  I'm sure he appreciated it.  Dont get fired man!

We have a cool local game store.  They are having a christmas in july sale.  This results in the need for christmas decor.  They decided that a christmas Chtulu was the way to go.  So there is a large green octopus-like creature in a santa outfit.  neat.

pfsheckarski has given me the writing bug again.  That combined with allison being in class 3 days a week means I'm tapping away at the keyboard. I'm close to 19000, if anyone wants a peek.

That is all.

Two things.

First, I just finished making sukiyaki, or as you bebopites know it bell peppers and beef.  Its special, for it contains no beef.  Spike would be proud.  Secondarily, it is also fantastic. I wish I had welding goggles to cook in.

Thing that is two.  We were bored, so we figured to rent a movie.  Bubba ho tep was the obvious choice (I'll let you know when I see it).  Blockbuster is ~7 blocks away.  Video maniacs is two blocks away.  I have a fat ass.  Therefore, video maniacs gets my business.  Here is the cute part.  My video store plays Dio exclusively (to learn more, go here http://www.ronniejamesdio.com/).  Other cute part.  My video store clerk, who I will refer to as MetalHead #1, says to me "that'll be 3.75, unless you have a [grocery store] receipt." I open my wallet, to find said receipt, hand to MetalHead #1.  "Here you go."  Thats right.  I get free dvd rentals when I buy a quart of milk.

That is all.

Here Lies Dragos Philanthropenos the Chaste, Prince of the Aegean, Count of Euboia, Count of Naxos, Count of Lesbos.

Second son of Nikolaos and last survivor of his generation, Dragos assumed the countship of Naxos in his fifth year following his father's premature death by pneumonia.

He built his county for the next 14 years without regency, and assumed control of the principality via inheritance.

In his 22nd year, Lesbos rebelled, but Patros the Usurper was quickly and justly put down by the combined loyal companies of Naxos and Euboia.

From thence he ruled until his death in his 75th year.

Dragos was a man of few words, but let his deeds speak for themselves.  He is survived by his two wives, Estrid of Ireland and Sybilla of Luxemborg, taken polygamously in his 69th year following the death of his second wife.  Estrid, having lost her wits, will be in ward of her stepson and new prince, Basileous.  Sybilla is currently with child, who will enter this world without a father, but instead with a great family of support.

Dragos is also survived by 13 of his 17 children, 37 of his grandchildren, 43 of his great grandchildren, and 11 of his great great grandchildren.

The principality remains strong.

I love Crusader Kings.