BA Update: Will Smith and 40 ouncers

No, this is not some socially un-PC missive, just 2 silly observations about Argentina... 8-)

(background) Not sure if you know, but to say "I'' as in "me" in spanish, the word is "yo". (/background)
So we were renting a movie at the video store across the street, and I noticed the poster for Will Smith's movie based on Asimov's I, Robot story. In Spanish, the title is "Yo, Robot"... much more appropriate for a Will Smith movie I think, eh? 8-) Okay, I think it's funny... heh.

Second, is that I find it tough to get used to that most beer here is sold in 1 liter bottles, which basically look like 40 ouncers. Not having the social stigma that 40's have in the states, it's just a normal beer here... usually shared between several friends. People have them at their houses on dinner tables, at bar and restraunt tables etc... and no, they don't "spill a little for their homies"... Okay, so I think it's an amusing change to see them everywhere... 8-)

Got some great little video clips of some Capoeira folks practicing in the park on Sunday... I'll try to post them soon. Pretty amazing... dem boys and girls are in shape!

Charlie

I got this email today... and I sorta liked the sound of it...

Dear Fellow Texan,

Thank you for signing up with my campaign! Today, Texans have no choice for their leadership except paper or plastic. Political parties are for sale to the highest bidder, and lobbyists control the Texas Legislative agenda. A fool and his money are soon elected.

Please forward this email on to your friends and family and tell them that you're supporting my Independent Campaign for Governor. Ask them to sign up to restore real representation to the Texas Governor's office here: http://www.kinkyfriedman.com/volunteer.html

Current Texas election laws make it nearly impossible for a non-party candidate to get on the ballot. Perhaps this explains why only 25 percent of eligible Texas voters participated in the last gubernatorial election. The career politicians are keeping the elevator at the penthouse floor and not sending it down for the rest of us.

Texas was founded by independent, courageous, honorable citizens. The last great Independent elected governor of Texas was Sam Houston, over a hundred and fifty years ago. Texas needs a strong independent voice, if it is ever to regain its greatness. If you elect me, I’ll be the first Governor in Texas history with a listed phone number.

Please spread the word, we're just getting started.
Thank you,
Kinky Friedman

BA Update: a few shots from Buenos Aires

Hey all,

Been enjoying our time here in BA, some good chill time, and lots of working on setting up the office and communications... finally got cable/broadband installed... nice!

Been enjoying the great food here. There is a great "all you can eat" place... now, it's not at all like a US all you can eat, it's a gormet place with stations for seafood, steaks, pasta, pizza, appitizers and dessert. They'll make a custom plate for you, and it's all absolutely brilliant! One of the best parts is that it's only about $9 bucks per person... absolutely excellent!

A few pictures...

Having a great time...

Charlie

Bush is still trying to cut Veteran's Funding while sending more off to war

I can NOT believe this... regardless of whether you think Iraq, or other US policies are correct, this is one thing that should never be up for debate. These kids are coming back with a leg missing, or a head wound and Bush is proposing to CUT their aid????
This is just morally wrong. How can a supposed "born-again Christian" suggest this?

Charlie
------
"During this time of war, it is absolutely the wrong time for our federal government to step back from any of its commitments to our veterans. To do so would be penny wise but pound foolish," said Gov. Ed Rendell in the weekly Democratic radio address.

"In today's parlance, the cost of health care for these vets may be half a billion dollars but their sacrifice for our nation, priceless," he said.

"While we the governors do all we can for our vets and our returning soldiers, our federal government still has the primary responsibility for meeting the needs of our veterans. And that's why I find the president's budget cuts for critical veteran services to be unconscionable."

He maintained that budget cuts include "a $350 million reduction in veterans home funding, which wipes out at least 5,000 veterans' nursing home beds."

"If the president's proposed budget cuts are enacted, nearly 60 percent of the 1,600 veterans will lose their daily stipend that allows them to stay in our state's nursing homes, literally forcing them out into the cold."

Vet co-payments for prescription drugs were tripled two years ago, Rendell said, and "now the president is proposing to again double those increased co-pays."

"In the midst of a war, when many new men and women will join the legion of veterans, does it really make sense for the president to increase the cost of vets' prescriptions by 100 percent?"

Rendell criticized a proposal calling for a $250 fee "to be paid by every vet wishing to participate in the Veterans Administration health care program. "

"There may well be some veterans who can afford to do so, but can all vets come up with an extra $250 a year to pay for health care? I doubt it."

He urged "every patriotic American" to contact their legislators and protest budget cuts for veteran services.

Also, Rendell praised the thousands of returning troops who "put their lives on the line" in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Unlike any war in recent history, citizen-soldiers are fighting this war. Forty percent of all the troops are from National Guard units or reservists,"

BA Update - Getting here

Hola Amigos, from Buenos Aires!

So we got after an interesting stop in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It's fun to hear the brazillians speak, Marcela could understand much of it, but she was laughing that she ordered a sandwich she used a mix of Portuguese, Spanish and English with the clerk... and she got it. 8-) Here's a toast to multi-lingual people!

Marcela's mom Noemi, and her sister Agustina picked us up from the airport, frantically waving outside of customs for us... it was so fun to see them there!

We had a fun time at the airport pick up spot, when Agustina's car alarm went off and wouldn't stop. It was sorta funny/annoying... but the amusing part was that at least 5 Argentine guys gathered around and started discussing ways to stop/fix it... of course I couldn't participate in their chatting about the best course of action to take, so I just popped the hood, found the alarm horn and ripped out the ground wire. Presto! Sweet silence... at least no car alarm.

When we were discussing it later at a cafe, Marcela was laughing that so many Argentine men are that way...Chat, discuss, argue, but take forever to act. I did think it was a little funny. But I really don't want to start disparaging/insulting half of the country that I just came to... 8-)

Anyway, the next big adventure is a delay in cable/broadband for about a week and a half after it was scheduled. Luckily, some neighbors have an open linksys wifi, so I can leech access when I go into the laundry room... 8-) Argentine schedules are like a 12 year old chinese national gymnast... quite flexible. A refrigerator service tech was supposed to come today at 10:30, then 3:30, then 5:30, then monday, then tomorrow (after some cajoling I hear). I just find it amusing.

Living in a big city is pretty interesting too, everyone walks so much. It must be one of the big reasons that few people are overweight here. Lots of walking. I enjoy seeing the school age kids walk around... they all wear little white lab coats over their clothes. I guess it's 1. a class equalizer, and 2. a lot cheaper when kids get their clothes dirty. Marcela said that schools here don't have lockers either, so they carry their books all day in little wheeled "luggage". Many have the bright colors of super-hero themes too. Generally, they look like little traveling scientists walking the streets in groups. Heh. I'll share some pix later.

Agustina is making us dinner tonite, we'll get to see Martin for the first time since we got here. When Marcela and I came down last year in March, it was for their wedding, so it'll be good to see them again. I guess Martin's father owns a small company that makes those internally-lit, translucent plastic beer/soda/etc signs for shops, and he works there. Sounds interesting... I wonder how much knowledge they have on demographics of the city and the visual elements of the signs and how they effect sales. (crikey, i'm a geek)

Anyway, more soon my friends, I'll take some photos of the apartment, off the balcony and around the neighborhood.

Have a great day, and be safe!
Charlie y Marcela

BA Update - Moving help...

After a mess of packing and moving, with LOTS of help from friends, we finally got all packed up, on the plane, and finally into Buenos Aires Wed about noon. I discovered after a emergency room visit on sunday that I have a nasty brochitis... making it tough to breath, no energy, sore throat, fever etc. but that couldn't slow down the packing and moving! 8-)

We had a lot of help in this wacky move from some great friends...

There are a few heros of our move, first among them are Nick and Kelvin who helped move all of our stuff to the Dover House where we are renting a room. Nick is redoing the place, and Kelvin, his brother is over from the UK for a few weeks for some fun and work time in Austin. We truly could NOT have gotten things done without them, nor fit everything in the space without Kelvin's masterfull, UK Navy-trained storage/organizational skills.

Rachel was another hero for us, helping clear out the apartment and turn in keys. Of course, she's the main architect of the idea that gives us a place for our stuff, and her a few bucks rent for her renovation project. Thanks so much Rachel!!!

Ross and Sharon are due in a few weeks with twins... Ross is frantically working on putting baby supplies/apparatus together and comforting his wife. He also found time to make 2 loads of my paintings and a few other things to the Dover house... as well as take us to the airport. Ross, you rock! and of course, thanks to Sharon for loaning him out... 8-)

My friend Yvette, who's grandson Brad you may remember from Marcela and my wedding as our groovin' ring bearer, also helped us out with some final cleaning of the apartment... but then, Yvette is always sooooo helpful! Gracias!

Charlie & Marcela

Crazed kick dance

Crazed kick dance?

Chimp Chomp & Postal Pussy

Synopsis: St. James and LaDonnna bring Moe cake, Buddy and Ollie get jeleous and take several bites out of St. James. Then Fluffy shoots Joseph days later.

http://ap.washingtontimes.com/dynamic/stories/C/CAT_SHOOTS_OWNER?SITE=DCTMS&SECTION=HOME

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/03/04/chimp.attack.ap/index.html

1 MILLION OF 20 MILLION IN TEN YEARS?

Are we ready to sacrifice the last undisturbed wilderness in the US for the sake of supplementing 5% of our daily oil consumption? The US Senate seems to think we're ready. Even though we met worse energy shortages during the Carter administration and we conserved enough oil to nearly stop our dependence on oil from the Persian Gulf by raising, not lowering, the mileage standards for automobiles. We did it once then, and can do it better now with advancements in computer and engine technology.

The trickle of oil coming though the pipeline won't belong to the US or Alaska, it will belong to the oil companies that provide the WORLD'S oil supply, not just ours. The drilling of this Wildlife Refuge will turn into usable energy about the same time that China will become a leading consumer-based society in about ten years.

Alaska's need for jobs and money cannot come at the cost of another permanent ecological stain on it's beautiful coastline. The long-term damage is too great a cost.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/17/politics/17arctic.html?th=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1111070542-XloZ/q8ebqe9JS5hOLVy8g&oref=login

WE MADE IT! WE MADE IT!!!

After a mess of packing and moving, with LOTS of help from friends, we finally got all packed up, on the plane, and finally into Buenos Aires today about noon. I discovered after a emergency room visit on sunday that I have a nasty brochitis... making it tough to breath, no energy, sore throat, fever etc. but that couldn't slow down the packing and moving! 8-)

We have lots of thanks to give for help with this move... Nick, Kelvin, Rachel, Ross and Yvette.

More laters!
Charlie & Marcela
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Under Bush, a New Age of Prepackaged Television News

Political messages disguised to look like news... with no mention of the government's role in their production. Any real news organization should be fuming at this!!! It completely discredits their profession.
Charlie

Under Bush, a New Age of Prepackaged Television News

It is the kind of TV news coverage every president covets. "Thank you, Bush. Thank you, U.S.A.," a jubilant Iraqi-American told a camera crew in Kansas City for a segment about reaction to the fall of Baghdad. A second report told of "another success" in the Bush administration's "drive to strengthen aviation security"; the reporter called it "one of the most remarkable campaigns in aviation history." A third segment, broadcast in January, described the administration's determination to open markets for American farmers.

To a viewer, each report looked like any other 90-second segment on the local news. In fact, the federal government produced all three. The report from Kansas City was made by the State Department. The "reporter" covering airport safety was actually a public relations professional working under a false name for the Transportation Security Administration. The farming segment was done by the Agriculture Department's office of communications.

Under the Bush administration, the federal government has aggressively used a well-established tool of public relations: the prepackaged, ready-to-serve news report that major corporations have long distributed to TV stations to pitch everything from headache remedies to auto insurance. In all, at least 20 federal agencies, including the Defense Department and the Census Bureau, have made and distributed hundreds of television news segments in the past four years, records and interviews show. Many were subsequently broadcast on local stations across the country without any acknowledgement of the government's role in their production.

Think of a phone number...Come on, think!

This is funny, I actually have a tough time remembering my wife's phone number occasionally... 8-)

Hey, cell phone user, when was the last time you memorized a phone number?

If you're like some of the 176 million mobile-phone subscribers nationwide, it may have been before you got your cell phone, because--perhaps unintentionally--you've become reliant on the gadget as both a communication device and a phone book.

Your Senators Value Credit Card Companies Over YOU.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Efforts to soften the effect of tougher bankruptcy rules on families with children and close a loophole for the wealthy were rejected by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday as the legislation moved toward expected passage.

With Senate approval virtually assured after the bill cleared two key hurdles on Tuesday, backers on Wednesday rejected proposals to ease the impact of the legislation on families with children, young people below age 21 and people with below-median incomes.

They also turned down a proposal by Massachusetts Democrat Sen. Edward Kennedy to close a loophole that benefits wealthier individuals in states with unlimited homestead exemptions, such as Texas and Florida.

"Millionaire deadbeats buy a huge mansion in Florida and Texas to shield their wealth from creditors. The harsh rules of bankruptcy being established by this bill will trap hard-working middle-class families, but the unlimited homestead exemption will allow rich debtors to escape," Kennedy argued.

His amendment would have capped the amount allowed for homestead exemptions at $300,000. It was rejected 47-53.

C: And of course your senators voted a higher priority be given to credit card companies than to child support payments!

(another)... amendment would have made the means test more flexible to help families with children, by allowing larger education payments and insuring that child support payments are not diverted to creditors. It was rejected, 42-58.

If you know anyone in Iowa, the bill's main sponsor was Republican Sen. Charles Grassley, remember who NOT to vote for.

Peeking into Google

An interesting look at Google's operations from a technical standpoint. I think this is one of the first times they've shared much of this info.

And I had to post a few ideas here, Best Band Names... heh! I added: Liquid Crystal Deciever, Cathode Ray Boob, The Macarenas!, Alfred Kayda, Trash Bin Laden, Special Orifices, among others... 8-)

Good times on Sat

Click for a big pix of Team Hornet Paintballers... Charlie, Curt, Josh and John. w00t!
Gotta do this again when we get back from Buenos Aires!!! A total blast! even with the bruises! 8-)

Charlie

Bush calls for an immediate end to the occupation of a Middle East country.

Oh, The Irony!!

Shabbat Shalom!

A great idea... with Bush at the helm though, we couldn't pay for it...

Stark pushes health mandate
Fremont representative proposes amendment to guarantee coverage
By Rebecca Vesely, STAFF WRITER

U.S. Rep. Pete Stark, D-Fremont, on Thursday introduced a resolution to amend the U.S. Constitution to guarantee health care as a right for every American.

The resolution would amend the Constitution to read "all persons shall enjoy the right to health care of equal high quality."

Okay, not sure about the music, but the flash is hilarious.

Check dis. LOL... 8-)

Montage a Google. Sweet. Of course I typed in "bush"... hours of fun and entertainment!!!

Charlie

Project Communication & Mgmt Tool

So I'm doing more freelance, complex projects at work, and going to be travelling for the next few months. I wanted to start managing these projects online, so I found that BaseCampHQ was one of the leading products out there. It's looking pretty kool for design and internet development communications. To-do lists, messages, milestones, etc. as well as team members and clients... pretty smooth to keep all related info right at your fingertips.
I'll let you know how it goes, I'm going the "trial by fire" route, starting up 4-6 projects in it right away... 8-) we'll see if I survive.

Charlie

Dear Friends,

This week the senate is debating the judicial nomination of William Myers III. He's a career cattle and mining industry lobbyist who is now up for a lifetime appointment to the 4th District Appeals Court. He's just one of Bush's 20 judicial nominees that Democrats rejected last term, (compared to over 200 they approved). But Bush is still fighting hard to make sure every single one gets confirmed. (How can a career lobbyist be considered for a judicial post??? Charlie)

These 20 judges were singled out because they consistently picked corporate interests over basic rights, and want to roll back decades of progress on anti-discrimination, women's rights, worker's rights, and the environment. If we don't act now to support a real opposition, these corporate judges will be given lifetime appointments to lock in Bush's ultra conservative ideology for decades.

Plus, the Bush administration has threatened to use this fight to take away the Senate Democrat's ability to resistst any future judges, including Supreme Court nominees. (How can they take away the right to discuss and choose? This is fundamentally NOT democracy! Charlie)

MoveOn has started a petition calling on our Senators to stand firm against Myers and all 20 of these rejected corporate nominees, and to fight any manipulation of the rules to force them through.

Please join me in signing today:
http://www.moveonpac.org/judges/

Cows, the Constitution and the Ten Commandments

From the "It's So True" Department in our Washington, D.C. branch office:

COWS
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that our government can track a cow born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she sleeps in the state of Washington. And they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give them all a cow.

CONSTITUTION
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it's worked for over 200 years and we're not using it anymore.

TEN COMMANDMENTS
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments in a Courthouse: You cannot post "Thou Shall Not Steal", "Thou Shall Not Commit Adultery" and "Thou Shall Not Lie" in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians! It creates a hostile work environment.

Thanks to http://www.jumbojoke.com

Get your war on!

A new page at one of my favorite places. Get your war on!

From the same guy that gave us "My new filing technique is unstoppable!"

Rock on!
Charlie

NOW - Debating High Speed Internet Access

I don’t know how many people had the time to watch NOW with David Brancaccio on PBS but the “debate” over local municipalities providing high-speed wireless broadband. But, once again, Republicans were quick to line up behind companies that spend millions on lobbying efforts to assure that nobody can compete for service. Several states have drafted bills to make sure that connectivity is a “privilege and not a right” despite the fact that it is the backbone of the free press, education and business. This is coming from an industry that is heavily subsidized by Federal and local tax dollars. Under this new legislation small town America, once forced to provide their own access, is now being forced to dismantle the networks they’ve created. Are we going to let one of the most affordable and important tools of our generation be controlled like TV and radio monopolies? Think about it.