the artist formerly known as

Palin-tology

2008-09-04T02:16:33Z

The more I think about Palin, the more it comes across as a pure Rovian move.

Strategy the first: use physical attraction to your advantage. One of the very first stories to come out on her was about her being America's Hottest Governor. This made me nervous because I recall from my social psychology classes how much impact attraction can have in hiring decisions.

Strategy the second: attack the media. That one never gets old. Oh, how I wish for a liberal media! Hell, I'd be happy with a non corporate controlled media. There is no political balance as these corporate stooges back so far away from anything resembling fairness or investigation for fear of being labeled 'librul'. Bullshit!

Strategy the third: muddy the waters. Poor Sarah is being attacked by the evil democrats because she's a woman. Soon it will be an attack on working mothers everywhere. Or it could be because she is a christian, though personally I would classify her as a mouthbreathing end of days complete and utter nutjob fundie.

These issues are all potential red meat for the low information voters out there who have only been exposed to the candidates during the political ads played during the breaks on American Idol or some such crap. Remember, it doesn't have to be substantive to have a huge impact and these fuckers know how to use marketing to their advantage.

This whole situation is dominating the media cycle, though it really belongs more on Jerry Springer than in our political discourse. All arguments not pertaining directly to the issues at hand muddy the waters and make it easier for the republicans to **gods forbid** win. They can't win on issues. Divide and conquer is the Rove play here, and it will indeed be played. Please think about the big picture here. Think of what has happened to the constitution during the bush regime. Think about preemptive war without rationale. Think about reproductive freedom, as it won't just be about Roe as these brilliantly evil thinkers in the administration have already moved towards reclassifying birth control as abortion.

Also think about what will happen if Obama comes into office. All that illegal shit the bushies have been getting away with for years will be examined with a fine tooth come as it well should be. Lawbreakers WILL BE PROSECUTED!!! They know this and have no moral issues with lying, cheating, or stealing to save their collective asses from jail.

If you have been living under a rock or perhaps just want more information on her, this site has the best comprehensive listing of issues.

Keith's special commentary on Hillary

2008-03-13T01:19:55Z

Excellent job, and very fairly presented. Text is here, I'll put up a link to video later.
http://thenewshole.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/03/12/762678.aspx
Anybody else see it?

EDIT: Here's video and transcript: http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/03/12/countdown-special-comment-sen-clinton-this-is-not-a-campaign-strategy-this-is-a-suicide-pact/

DFW area friends

2007-12-03T20:34:02Z

Horizon UU is having a screening of What Would Jesus Buy? this Friday at 7. Admission is free though donations are accepted to benefit Metrocrest Social Services. It's at 1641 Hebron in Carrollton.

nikki42 @ 2007-11-26T16:21:00

2007-11-26T22:21:50Z

duck duck goose
screenprint, 8.25X11"

nikki42 @ 2007-11-14T12:27:00

2007-11-14T18:32:57Z

I'm officially making this day 'get the art out there' day. Ft Worth Community Art Center is having their 9X12 show/sale. I have decided that I'm entering screenprints. I don't think there's any prizes per se, but everything is on sale for $100, with artist getting 80% of each sale. I would dearly love to sell something.

This is a screenprint from a picture I took of my mom with her american eskimo puppy. It will serve as her bday present, but in screenprinting I usually print at least 8 so I can have at least 1 which turns out ok. One of the extras is going to the sale, mostly because puppies are universally loved or something.

cassie
screenprint, 8X10.5"

nikki42 @ 2007-11-02T14:06:00

2007-11-02T19:20:19Z

There were very odd dreams last night. I was in some sort of suv with ben affleck and we were on our way to a wedding. We stopped at the hotel and he needed something to eat, but it had to be succotash. I've no idea either in real life or in dreams what it is supposed to be. Ben explained it to me: it required 1 can tomato soup, 1 can corn, and one package of refrigerator biscuits all run through a food processor, simmered for 45 minutes on medium heat, then it was to sit for thirty minutes and had to be served with really long skinny toast from a baguette. I was rummaging through the hotel pantry and couldn't find tomato soup and tried to improvise, all the while his mother was there bitching at me. I spilled tomato glop all over the place but ben had to eat so I just scraped it back off the burner and back into the bowl.

I also woke with the idea that I would find my photoshop discs. I remembered that Bruce borrowed and did not return them. I spent the morning in his home office and did indeed find them in a very difficult to find place. Bruce had previously attempted an upgrade to a newer version of photoshop which is apparently incompatable to my copy which complicates matters. I finally just installed my version which seems to work fine. The problem is that his upgrade included acrobat professional. Well, as I do not have an official copy of anything 'professional' grade by adobe, I can't open pdf's at all. Oh, and now itunes wants to format my ipod to run on windoze. I think it's confused, but 'format' and 'ipod' sends some sort of panicy reaction through me so that is not going to happen. So the plan for that is to turn off the damn thing again and extract my ipod while it's powered down and see if that works. The ipod could be fried, the computer could be fried (again), I just don't want to go through the reloading of all my music again unless absolutely necessary.

nikki42 @ 2007-10-27T08:20:00

2007-10-27T13:21:28Z

What do you call it when a federal agency decides to hold a phony press conference where the 'reporters' are played by agency employees? My reaction is this: Heckuva job, FEMA! If you wanted to know if FEMA is a great federal agency or THE greatest federal agency, this is the format for you.

Redact this! The White House edits part of CDC head testimony before congress. Things removed include the health impacts from global warming and a little blurb about how forest fires are expected to increase in frequency, severity, distribution and duration ( But hey, if we're the faux channel we can just blame forest fires on the terrorists). In response to the heavily edited global warming testimony, WH spokesmodel Dana Perino highlighted how we never hear about the advantages of global warming, like how fewer people will die from the cold.

As seen on Countdown: poll finds that more people believe in ghosts (33%) than approve of bush (31%). That might be a bit skewed, as bush has possibly created millions of ghosts during his reign.

must see to believe tv

2007-10-16T00:28:23Z

Tonight on the Colbert Report, Dennis Kucinich (described as the house elf of the democratic party by Colbert) will be appearing to empty his pockets. Should be interesting. Comedy central, 10:30 CST.

I'm off for fan!

Why I love Colbert

2007-09-12T05:46:11Z

From last night: http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/09/11/colbert-klingons-and-republicans-debate-honor/

illogical expressions

2007-09-07T16:29:41Z

Most of you have probably heard the expression you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Or not, but being raised in the pseudosouth I heard it frequently. Today I can't help but think that is very wrong. I've never seen any flies on honey or vinegar. For fly catching, shit is the way to go. Flies can't get enough it. It could also explain how reporters suck up to the bushies, and don't question that bullshit which they are fed but just lap it up.

Just sayin!

I hate tests!

2007-09-06T20:03:51Z

Ok, the MRI has been schedueled for tomorrow at 1. The timing will be annoying as I have to be 'fasting' prior to going in, though the office stated that it's a four hour fast rather than overnight. No food isn't a problem, but no liquids will be tough. I have my script for ativan for the claustrophobia. It's not too bad until they ask you to hold your breath for 30 seconds or so in a loud skinny tube. Also the IV contrast solution makes me a bit queasy so adding all that in together just makes it awful.

At least I don't have days to stew about it. This time tomorrow I'll likely be sleeping off my drugs and then it's just waiting to hear the results (or waiting 2 weeks and start pestering the doc's office).

There's class tonight, though I probably won't stay too long as I am very distracted. I will be taking up the power washer from the garage and cleaning off my screens. Hopefully it still works. Bruce bought it a few years ago for hosing off the porch and it hasn't been used since. I do need to be careful to label it in case I elect to leave it at school. I think my used ebay screens have shipped and that will be something I'll need whenever that happens. It's a big box on the cheapest shipping option so I doubt it will arrive before monday.

am I still dreaming or

2007-08-27T12:30:15Z

did Alberto Gonzalez just resign?

What are the odds of a wingnut recess appointment?

nikki42 @ 2007-08-06T21:43:00

2007-08-07T02:44:48Z

This was an excessively long day. Tomorrow is the last day of the workshop so things should calm down after that.

Zander
screenprint, 8X10.5"

nikki42 @ 2007-08-03T16:02:00

2007-08-03T21:06:02Z

I printed this all by myself today. If there are any of you TX residents who want one, I'll print one up for you Monday at cost - $5 plus shipping. I can print on any color in the tshirt spectrum so just let me know size, color, and where to send it. If you aren't in TX and want one just let me know.

I'll also try to load it up at cafepress, mostly because I want it as a bumper sticker.

now that damn song is stuck in my head...

2007-08-03T05:20:35Z

Just in case it comes up, should you be in the Philippines and commit a crime, make sure you are wearing your dancing shoes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnk7lh9M3o

As seen on Countdown tonight.

Query for today

2007-08-01T22:10:06Z

cozumel
screenprint, 8.25X11"

I'm having a huge internal debate with myself. I am thinking about enrolling in a printmaking class at Brookhaven for the fall. Out of county charge is @ $215. The plus side to that is **acid for plate etching**, **printing presses**, **school supplied ink**.
The downsides include *30-45 minute commute*, *insanely crowded lab*, *questions like 'aren't you supposed to be in graduate school?'*, *act as reference for everyone who doesn't know what they are doing (very time consuming)*.

I will note that now I am more familiar with the screen process, it will be fairly easy to set it up at home. The most complicated part would be clearing out space in the art hole. I still can't etch here. Or print etchings. Or lithos. I suspect Don's evening class won't be too crowded and he would give me more latitude on attendance.

View Poll: school query

nikki42 @ 2007-07-27T16:13:00

2007-07-27T21:15:26Z

I am very depressed, so any small bits of encouragement would be welcomed.

EDIT: it is a four color screenprint of this: http://pics.livejournal.com/nikki42/pic/0007b1wf/g9

about that book

2007-07-21T23:06:21Z

I am done. It feels very odd. I won't say anything about it now as most are either still reading or are sick of hearing about it.

If anyone has read and wants to discuss, I'll chat about it in comments.

Now, back to what resembles life.

Pottermania

2007-07-19T19:50:15Z

I'm debating how and where to get my copy of the book. I've done these nights of madness before and could take or leave them. This is the last book and I am dying to know how it all turns out, so I want to get it at midnight but not start it until morning. If I start reading at night I won't go to sleep and will read really really fast - both of which have high probabilities of headaches and general grumpiness.

Here is a little opinion survey for the book itself. I have a few theories which I will put in comments if you want to see my predictions.

View Poll: Harry Potter 7

spoilerificus totalus

2007-07-12T01:52:02Z

It's really hard to define how I feel about this one. So much was left out of it my brain was in rebellion. There wasn't much explanation to the whole order of the phoenix. From the look of things in the movie it seems like it goes straight from dementor attack - trial - school though in the book it took several weeks for all that to come about. In the movie Professor McGonagal became prof not appearing in this film. There was nothing about Ron and Hermione becoming prefects, and Harry feeling left out. No quiddich whatsoever, and in this book it was an important part of the storyline. Very little on the weasley twins which I also though was interesting. Rita Skeeter and the Quibbler was a huge and glaring omission as that was a major point of public opinion shifting. Nothing on James Potter and Sirius. Nothing on occlumency - it just kinda started without anyone besides Snape giving any reason for it. The whole Cho thing was completely flipped on its side.

It just bothers me as the other movies stayed fairly close to the books and this was a huge departure.

OK, now I'm ready for HP7.

Anybody else see Countdown tonight?

2007-07-04T02:10:32Z

If you missed it, check out the rebroadcast at 11 pm CST. I was particularly fond of the special commentary, video and transcripts of the Countdown episode available through the link.

yet another complete disregard for the rule of law

2007-07-02T22:14:36Z

Bush commutes Scooter Libby sentence.

Not surprised, but disgusted nonetheless. Everybody's on vacation this week, so they can just slide out all sorts of crap.

nikki42 @ 2007-06-29T08:32:00

2007-06-29T13:41:52Z

Good - down a size.
Bad - not much sleep last night.
Annoying - notice was supposed to be sent on the TWU show by email on 6/25. I have nothing.
Part 2 - there's a show in Lewisville I want to enter, but I need to know what is available as it overlaps with the abovementioned TWU show.
Weekend - nothing planned so far.
Other - still have nothing for that hotel show, though the deadline is actually wednesday rather than today.
Gross - winnie (weiner dog) has developed a taste for rodents. Mice eat the dog food, and she eats the mice.

About Dick

2007-06-26T19:08:03Z

In case you missed all the cheney controversy (or want to be amused, shocked, etc) and missed them, there were two interesting takes on it. Countdown had an interesting segment on it and The Daily Show covered it in their usual manner. TDS is funnier if you are pressed for time.

I still don't understand how these crooks aren't in jail.

joke/promotion hybrid

2007-05-31T14:35:12Z

Apparently this link is making the rounds at Bruce's job. There's a show being promoted, so if you want to freak someone out you go to the website and enter the info, then you send them a link to a 'freaky' utube video. In said video, the performer (Criss Angel) will spell out their name and phone number, then will call said number to further freak your mark.

To mess with someone's head today - go here: http://www.freakyourmind.com/

And yes, it is just a big commercial. Just so you know.