overqualified

So I just got a call (at 9pm!) from this organization that has a pretty cool job opening. It's an office manager/outreach coordinator for a progressive political action organization called CPPAX. A very unfortunate acronym, in my opinion. It conjures up visions of some over hyped sci-fi flick being remade by everyone's favorite sappy Christian television network, with Kevin Spacey turning out to be an angel instead... Anyway, the CPPAX woman was essentially conducting interviews over the phone, and I think I did alright. But she said that she was afraid that the position was beneath me. I reiterated to her that I feel that the most important aspect of a job is the people and the ideals of the organization, and that the actual everyday tasks are less of an issue for me. Hopefully she bought it. I really wanted to add that they were offering a higher salary then I'm currently earning. But it didn't seem entirely appropriate. We'll just have to see what happens.

In similar news, I spent the entire workday trying to cajole some html into looking the way I wanted it to. I compromised, and let it do what it wanted in the middle bit, while I forced it to do my bidding on the top and bottom. Hey, if they wanted a webmaster, they should hire one, and not borrow the graphic designer/art goddess. But I kind of had fun.

A random heads up. Home Movies, a part of the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim evening, is a really spiffy show.

Tuesday night was MassBike's annual Bike Night, and I did the tabling thing. It was fun and I even got to accept an award for the Somerville Bicycle Committee. I was interviewed for the Boston Globe, and the interviewer was most impressed with my ability to combine bike riding with a great fashion style. I told her that stretch velvet was the key. I also think that the couch guy himself was hitting on me. Life is funny.

the smallness of the world always amazes me

I've had an ad on a local personals website for years now, and I occasionally get responses from it. Even more occasionally I'll get responses from people I know. Yesterday, I got a response from one of my best friends from college. Apparently he didn't entirely recognise me from my picture or my description. Weird.

All during college this guy was dating one of my other best friends, and after we all graduated, they got married. Then they got a divorce. I haven't talked to either of them in almost a decade. (We had a bit of a falling out, having to do with a poisoned cat, which was probably an accident, but everyone seemed to be a little suspicious...) Now this guy is e-mailing me all over the place and it's just a little creepy. I do like him, and I always did have a half a crush on him way back when. But to go out with my best friend's ex just seems wrong. I don't know what I'd do if he wanted to do anything more than hang out.

On an entirely different note... Next Tuesday, I officially get inducted into the Somerville city government. Wheee! I guess that makes me some kind of politician. Do you think I'll suddenly become afflicted with a serious case of greed and incompetence? Tune in next week to find out.

who, exactly, voted for this man?

This is one of the most astounding things I've ever read. Our very own president, the leader of the so-called free world, the man that the citizens of our country (sort of) voted into the most powerful position in the government, actually said the following, out loud, and within full view of the press:

"If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator."

(Sure, it was a while back, and he seemed to think that he was making a funny. But jeez, the man is just so clearly an imbecile. He probably makes jokes about bombs in airports, too. What's scary, is not that he's a world class idiot, but that around 25% of our country honestly seemed to think that he's the guy they wanted in charge. Who are these people, and what is in their drinking water?)

errant hydrogen

This one is in competition for best news headline ever: Gas from sun heads in wrong direction. See the whole article here. The article is less amusing than the headline indicates. Though you'd almost swear that it was written by those wacky folks at the Onion, even though it's actually from CNN.

You know, if the sun doesn't watch out, little Bushie might have it arested for being unpatriotic or something. (You knew I had to sneak some sort of political nonsense in there didn't you?)

So, anyway, happy Thanksgiving to you all. Hope it's a warm and friendly one for everyone. (Thank heavens my rich, republican aunt and uncle are going to be elsewhere for this one...)

sorry, there is no miricle pill

I just found the most succinct article about the liberal position on "Operation Enduring Freedom". It not only offers alternatives to bombing innocent, starving people but it has analogies too. And analogies are cool.

Oh, and for any of you who may have seen the ongoing discussion I started with my letter to the editor in the Boston Phoenix, here is a link to the World Court (actually called the International Court of Justice) where it discusses the court's findings incriminating the US government in acts of terrorism. Here is just one of the sixteen findings:

(3) By twelve votes to three,
Decides that the United States of America, by training, arming, equipping, financing and supplying the contra forces or otherwise encouraging, supporting and aiding military and paramilitary activities in and against Nicaragua, has acted, against the Republic of Nicaragua, in breach of its obligation under customary international law not to intervene in the affairs of another State

This is the primary reason that the US refuses to sign onto the World Court. If we did, we would have to abide by it's law, and that would mean that we would have to be held responsible for our actions. And, as we all know, that is something that politicians are loathe to do.

One final amusing, yet horrifying, tidbit of information. The CIA published a clip art filled manual on terrorism to hand out to potential rabble rousers in Nicaragua. I was going to provide a link, but the site has suspiciously disappeared. Hmmmmm.... But here is a link for a much less entertaining version without the clip art. I'll keep looking for another link for the cartoon version. It really is quite amazing.

drugstore gift suggestion

This made me crack up. I've got my period and I was in my local drugstore picking up some pads. I couldn't help but notice the "Makes a great stocking stuffer!" signs stuck all over the menstrual products' shelves. Is this sarcasm, or are they really trying to convince people that maxi pads are cool? Maybe they're slated to become the next fad, like pet rocks and American flags on SUVs. Needless to say, I bought two cases, and you can now all expect woven sacks, with a box of maxi pads inside, as presents.

(Now THAT was definitely sarcasm.)

quiet

For the first time a a very long time I had a lazy, quiet weekend. I decided to let the political world do it's own thing, while I started thinking about the holiday season. I'm a big fan of the whole Thanksgiving/Solstice/New Years season. I get to see my families, make lots of cool gifts, and eat warm, homemade food. Pumpkin pie, alone, is worth having to deal with the onslaught of annoying, jangly Christmas songs and mindless, rabid consumers clogging up the aisles.

Every year I do crafts for a solid month, in preparation for gift giving. There are usually two or three different items which I concentrate on. This year, I'm starting with weaving. I got some yarn at the Goodwill on Saturday and I've been weaving my brain out ever since. Those of you on my gift list can look forward to woven items this year. Aren't you excited? (Hey.... watch it. Or you might just end up with a woven sack of coal!)

On a similar subject, don't forget that this Friday is Buy Nothing Day. I like to promote it as a day to share something with someone, or to make your own gifts. Instead of going to a mall and subjecting yourself to the madness, save your cash. Stay home and teach a friend how to knit. Or make your own holiday cards by carving a potato and using it as a printing block like you did in kindergarden. Or go on a treasure hunt in the woods for pinecones and branches that you can use to decorate with (bonus points if you can find a chestnut tree and chestnuts to roast). Or (I really love this one) make origami with your money. Whatever you decide to do, don't spend the day giving your money to someone who already has more of it than they could ever use in a lifetime. And, remember to have fun. That's the important thing.

me

A search for my name (Turil) on Google provided a good half an hour of entertaining links. I had no idea that I was a bus company in Uruguay. Also, I am quite popular in the sci-fi/fantasy/roll-playing genre. One particular description of Turil worked nicely for me (actually, it seems so strikingly similar to me, that I'm wondering if it was written by someone I know...). The gist of this Goddess is that she's responsible for inspiration, art, and creativity. Cool. There were also a few writers in this genre who seemed to think that I was male. They're just a little confused...

you're never too old to be a hero

Let's see. The Nader rally was good. Nothing earth shattering. But good. The place was packed, mostly with college age kids. Though there were a few older people, most notibly an 80 year old WWII veteran who sat next to me for a while and told me his life story, as well as his theory that the US was screwing up once again. There was also an older woman, probably in her 60's, who had a nifty moon goddess sort of costume on and was waving an America flag that had a "Be all that you can be: work for peace" sticker on it. She danced through the isles all night and made people happy. And, of course, there's Granny D.

Granny D. is now 91 years old, and just a year ago she completed a walk across the country (3,400 miles or so) to raise awareness of corporate corruption in politics and to encourage the House of Representatives to pass the McCain Feigngold - clean elections - bill. (The bill did eventually pass in the House, but when it went back into the Senate, where it had already passed, it was essentially killed in a committee.) So Granny D. even after her huge adventure, and significant success, is still working harder than most corporate CEO's do in their entire lives.

On Sunday, Granny D. was awarded the Humanist of the Year award by the Boston Ethical Society. I went to the event, and got a chance to give her a copy of Dinkum Oil, which leads with her statement about the attacks of 9/11. She told me that she'd gotten into a lot of trouble for that statement. And then she reached up, patted me on the head, and exclaimed "Good for you!" What's so amazing about her is that she's not really amazing. She's just a regular person who cares, and isn't afraid of failure. Some people think that it's brave to point a machine gun (or missile launcher) at other people. I don't agree. I think what is really brave is to stand up against those people with the guns and say that you don't want to fight. Our country needs some more truly brave people. Actually, the whole world needs them.

While the rest of the US has it's head stuck up it's collective ass, and is wandering around muttering that it sucks but it's the way it's gotta be, I am off to join the few brave souls who want to try and pry those heads out. I'm dressed in my sexiest post-modern hippychick duds (baggy jeans, little black tank top with an even littler lacy purple camisole-thing on top) and I've got a messenger bag full of Dinkum Oil (that would be my zine, the name comes from the Australian slang term for "the truth"), and a pile of "peace is patriotic" stickers. I'm off to change the world. Wish me luck.

While I'm out there fighting the good fight (non-violently, of course), you can do some armchair activism by joining in a virtual sit-in over at the WTO (World Trade Organization), to demand that the priorities of human beings are placed before the priorities of big business.

plugged in luddite

As much as I was trying to avoid it, the inevetable happened. I've now got a cable modem. It was my roommates' idea. It took me three hours of troubleshooting on my own, and another hour-plus on the phone with a couple of people from RCN. That nasty 169.255... address kept wedging itself into my tcp/ip. But now I'm finally speeding along. Which is odd for a turtle. To be speeding, that is. I'm listening to a streaming techno station on MP3.com, and I already downloaded the new Episode II trailer. Aren't you impressed? Nah, me either.

So, the bad thing about the cable modem is that it took valuable time away from the important project. The zine is really, really, almost done now. And with the very visceral deadline of tomorrow (in time for the Nader thing on Saturday), I have to put aside my tendency to nitpick over little niggling details, like I usually do when it comes to art.

A thought occured to me today. If it is legal, in times of war, to kill people, even non-military civillains and diplomats and such, then would it be alright, legally, if someone (not me, of course) from God Bless America™ decided to off George Dubya? Does this war-exception extend to anyone, or do you have to align yourself with the opposition (opening yourself up to attack also)? It seems like there must be some provision to protect from this, but there could be some legal grounds for defense in such a case.

This all brings me to my final point of the evening. How is it that declaration of war suddenly makes murder AOK? A government can up and invade another country, kill as many people as it sees fit, demand obedience from the country's citizens, and implement its own form of government and officials. As long as its got the backing of a majority of the other coutries with the big guns, then its completely legal. What am I missing here? Sure, I can buy the defense argument. If someone rolls into my community waving around a big ole' tank and scaring the cats, I can accept that the National Guard is gonna come in and try to make the evil tank-people go away. But Nicaragua, Cuba, Vietnam? Those were completely unprovoked assaults on our part. Heck, even Afghanastan, since we still don't seem to have any proof who was behind the hijackings, except for a few Saudis and Indians with a death wish. How is it that we can ethically condemn "them" for killing people, when we are doing the same thing ourselves?

I'll leave you with that one to contemplate, while I go play with fonts...

Ani II?

My mother woke me up the other morning to tell me all about this musician she'd seen the night before. She told me that she really loved her, and that I probably would too. She mentioned that the musician was kinda like Ani DiFranco (yep, my mom is the coolest, isn't she?). So I go to check out the woman's web site and lo and behold, I realize that she's not KINDA like Ani Difranco, she's EXACTLY like Ani. It's creepy. Her name is Miranda Stone and the only thing that's noticably different about her is that she's apparently big into religion. But it doesn't seem to get in the way of her ability to write pretty cool songs. Check out her music here, and tell me someone hasn't been experimenting with cloning alternative folk guitarists...

So, while I'm sitting at work this afternoon, it strikes me that my employers have handed me an incredibly dangerous tool: website admin capabilities. It took me a week to realize that I now have the entire website in my hands, to do with as I wish. I'm generally not the sabotage type, but there is an awful lot of incentive to make a few subtle changes that reflect a more environmentally friendly agenda. Nothing that would actually cause any harm, of course, but maybe some subliminal messages about bicycling, or peace, or somesuch. A link that takes you to the Fish and the Bike page, instead of www.BMW.com, perhaps. Of course, if anyone ever discovered it, they'd know, without a doubt, that I was the one who did it. That's the one reason why I'd feel bad about leaving this job, without me, who'd be there pester everyone about progressive politics?

Seth suggests a tinfoil hat might help

So , I had an incredibly productive weekend, despite finally having to come to terms with the fact that Jason is never going to want me. Yes folks, Turil has finally gotten a clue. (Is that cheering I hear in the back there?)

Anyway, I forced myself to try and finish up the zine, and I impressed myself with the results. I'm 80% there, and it looks damned good, if I say so myself. I've had to significantly pare down the amount of stuff I had collected for the project. I barely had any room for artwork, so I guess it's ok that I didn't really have much to begin with. Though, I did find a photographer who has some excellent stuff, and he was overjoyed to have some of his work included. So, another night or two and I should have the thing done. I'm already thinking about doing another one, but that will all depend on my finances. (Anyone know of someone who might want to be my benefactor...)

By the way, if anyone is in the Boston area, this Saturday Ralph Nader is appearing at a rally/concert at the Orpheum. Comedian Barry Crimmins is the emcee, and Patty Smith will be playing, too.

It's nothing amazing, but this article is kind of entertaining. It reminded me about the news story about someone sending Bill Clinton a vial of Salmonella. Lightweights. If they were really serious about making the man ill, they should have sent him an undercooked McDonalds' Big Mac. If the salmonella didn't get him at least the cholesterol would.

I got my stickers today. Decided to go with the more positive "Peace is Patriotic" instead of the "War=Terrorism" that I'd originally planned. So if anyone wants some stickers (I think I have 200) to put up, let me know. I'm thinking of selling some of them to raise money to donate to Amnesty International. Or maybe just use the cash to help print the zine when it comes out.

The guy who stars in the new Richard Linklater film is also the guy who animated it. Odd. In an interview, he mentions that it's one thing to draw a self portrait, and an entirely different thing to do 8000 of them.

monarchy

We no longer live in a democratic society. The US is about to be officially taken over by King George W. There is no longer any need for Congress, nor for the Supreme Court. What's so fucked up is that the flag-waving Bush supporters are calling people like ME naive. Now I'm not so sure that Texas is large enough to hold all of these lunkheads. I'm thinking that we might need to give them a bunch of those other states down there, too. Florida, to start with (after we relocate NASA, of course). And how ever many more it takes to keep them happily penned. We can probably get Norway to send over a few hundred sheep herders to keep them all from chewing their own tails off.

On a more positive note, I finally received my Josh Simpson planet (which I got as a gift for donating a buttload of money to Public Television). I'm thinking that it might be a nice place to live if the Earth doesn't work out.

petty officer second class

I can't say enough good things about SCUL, and their fearless leader Skunk. Their basic motto is to have more even fun on bikes than they did as kids. It doesn't always happen, by they never give up trying. The world could use more people like these. The Halloween ride is their season finale, and everyone is invited to participate, even civillians, as long as they've got a costume. The War on Terrorism Costume was a big hit once again. The Fish Bike was there as an ambassador from Bikes Not Bombs. Jef did, indeed, come with me, and had a grand time. He was inducted with the SCUL name Cockroach, and was spoken highly of by Fleet Admiral Skunk, who had apparently been trying for quite some time to get Jef to join.

Finally, I need to mention DangerMouse. She is, quite arguably, the most adorable person ever. Certainly the most adorable person in SCUL. I have no pictures of her, so you're just going to trust me on this one. She's not only adorable, but the sweetest person, too. And she rides a chopper. If I was gay, I'd be in love.

Critical Mass in disguise

The War on Terrorism costume was a big hit on the Critical Mass bike ride last night. Some of the elements of the costume included: Giant pink foam Jiggly Puff outfit, zombie makeup, a plastic skull sword with an American flag hanging from the blade, and a gorgeous pink kid's bike with fake flowers on the front and an inflatable Earth suspended off of the rear. (The gist of the costume was that it made no sense, get it?) The ride was fun, though short. Highlights of the evening were two CARS getting involved in an accident because neither had the patience to wait 30 seconds for us to pass, and responding to a couple of BU geniuses who were yelling "You suck!" by chanting "USA! USA!" Oh, and Dan the Bagleman (from Food Not Bombs) joined the ride for the first time ever. About 12 of us ended up at a tiny Indian restaraunt in Central Square in Cambridge. Pictures should be forthcoming...

Tonight is the big SCUL haloween ride. Same costume, different group of people. Should be even more fun. (Especially without a certain grumpy individual.) I've actually managed to convince Jef to come. And possibly a roommate or two. Yay.

So, you're probably saying to yourself, how's the Zine/Newspaper thing going, turtle? We'll it's going pretty well. I've got a preliminary layout, title, and lots of writen material that needs to be edited. I still need artwork, though. And some time to actually get the thing all together. But things are moving along.

In the meantime, check out my letter to the editor that's in the Boston Phoenix this week. It's the first letter in the section (for some reason they left out the names in the web version, though I'm fully credited in the real paper).

bad timing once again

Last night I spent a couple of hours making up a card for Jason to explain my thoughts about our "friendship". The downward spiral of our relationship came, once again, to a head this past weekend. So I made him a card to let him know how much I still cared for him, even though I realized that I could no longer be a part of his life.

I dropped off the card this afternoon. And now I discover that I seemed to have randomly picked a really bizarre day to do so. See, today was the day that he went to court to try and deal with getting official visitation rights to see his daughter. (Something he's been trying to do outside of court for years now.) Fortunately, it apparently went very well, and the court folks are on his side. I, of course, had no idea that he was going to do this today, but I do kinda feel bad about him coming home after all that mess to find my card.

Something about Texas

It's time for the state of Texas to sucede from the US. And to take George W. and the Supreme Court with it. Then the rest of us can go on trying to help people, rather than killing them.

News Briefing

Not much to report these days, as you can clearly see by one of the "Top Stories" on Boston.com today: Portland Bans Snakes from Public Places. Good to know that the government in Maine is busy defending the city from evil.

On a related note, I'm seriously considering producing a one-off zine/newspaper dedicated to alerting the general public to the news that mainstream media, like the New York Times, doesn't see fit to print. If anyone would like to contribute to this project, please get in touch with me. (My e-mail address is on the left.) I'm particularly interested in realistic analysis, personal stories, and art reflecting on the "war on terrorism" and its accompanying dangers. I'd like to keep the tone positive, and avoid namecalling, pointless rants, and so on. There are plently of places for that kind of thing (this journal being one!), but not too many places focusing on where to go from here. The most popular question coming from the flag-waving crowd is "Well then, hippy, what do YOU propose we do?" I say, lets tell them what we'd like to do.