sketchy alum

23

2005-05-12T22:35:00.000-04:00

Full of Red Tide

2005-04-03T19:53:00.000-04:00

Would you want to know...
about Red Tide?

Apr 4 M@M, Daniel Baden, Ph.D., "Florida Red Tide Toxins: The Good, the
Bad & the Ugly", 4:00 & 7:00 p.m.

M@M is Mote lingo for Monday at Mote. Supposedly, you're supposed to buy a ticket at Mote.org, but if you just tell me/just walk in, no one will be foolhardy enough to stop a concerned citizen on his or her way to further his or her involvment and commitment to common community causes!

2005-02-06T10:13:00.000-04:00

Did someone ask for more pictures?

2005-01-08T08:40:00.000-04:00

Here, let me show you how that's done.

Escape from Bird Island

2004-12-08T18:00:00.000-04:00

This Saturday mornin', the alamedans will be canoeing to a little place called "Bird Island" out around Siesta Key. There's nothing on the island, so we'll have the whole place to ourselves. Anyone is welcome from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon. Unless it rains: then no one is welcome. Stay home. Call or email alameda for more info.

I know a guy

2004-12-06T15:49:00.000-04:00

SO:
You know how some people are like, "Yeah I know this guy who has this thing" and it's sketchy as all get out and probably stolen? Yeah, Guapo does that to me a lot. Anyway, so I know this guy who wants to print interesting slogans on t-shirts and sell them at cost on the internet. It's like printing out one of those laser printer iron-on dealies except it's better quality and you don't need your own iron. I know that this group is just FULL of insightful and concise phrases.
SO:
Throw some shit out here!

The ole' swine and dash

2004-11-20T22:32:00.000-04:00

Pictures from Pig Jam

Swine list

2004-11-19T08:52:00.000-04:00

So, it looks like this is going to take more than one car. I believe john's driving, but I'm not sure how many people are going with him. So far, we have myself, renee, brandon, aj (riding mother-in-law...again), liz and matthew. Three will fit in my back seat, but it's a squeeze. I'll find out who's going with john, then call some people.

Incredible

2004-11-17T23:09:00.000-04:00

That good 'cue

2004-11-15T18:44:00.000-04:00

I posted about this on my blog the other day, and as there seems to be some interest, I figured I'd mention it here. In Plant City next weekend there will be Pig Jam, a statewide BBQ competition. Who wants to go?

Thanksgiving

2004-11-07T17:46:00.000-04:00

Yeah, I know it's a little early, but I'm just sayin' is all. I'm going to be here for thanksgiving, as is Renee. I'm wondering if anyone else is. I'll be making a meal of some sort, the caliber of which will vary, depending on how many other people are interested. I've roasted turkeys before, but I don't really feel that it's a necessity for the occasion, especially since decent, organic/free-range turkeys are expensive (roughly $35 to start).

At any rate, my point is, there'll be dinner. Any and all are welcome. A pot-luck of sorts might not be bad either, but I'm kind of looking forward to cooking for a day.

Publix also has frozen turduckens... Now there's a word that's more appealing spoken than written.

A Rant Against Choosing Hillary Clinton - and hope for the USPC

2004-11-04T12:05:00.000-04:00

So I need to vent, because too many people seem to be all giddy about Hillary 2008.

I don't think alot of "liberals" or "progressives" truly recognize the dilemma we are in. A huge portion of conservative, rural America sees the "Eastern Liberal Establishment" as a godless arrogant force that doesn't give a flying purple shit about them. And, to some extent, they are right.
Another problem has to do with another major factor in all political struggles: demographics. The conservative half of America is the half of America where most of the population growth will occurr in the next 20 years. Hispanics, who in many places still vote Democrat are about to see a birthrate decline in California, Arizona, and New Mexico. Essentially people like us are having 1.8 children, whereas Joe Christian and his wife Janey are having 3.5 children, and they're having them at a younger age. These people ARE NOT GOING AWAY. I hate to be a pessimist, but I don't see a bright future for progressives in America. We could still beat the radical Christian right by organizing better, and organizing more people, but as we saw with the youth vote on Tuesday, this is an uphill battle not just against our "opponents" but also against the apathetic and the self-absorbed. We also face the unfortunate truth that the Christian right is remarkably cohesive, whereas the Democratic party is a conglomerate of different groups who often disagree with eachother on platform issues (many African Americans being against gay marriage etc.) Maybe I'll be more optimistic when Bush goes down in the flames of the fire he started. But even if that happens, McCain will win in 2008. Think about it. The press licks at his feet, a good percentage of democrats like him. For fuck's sake, I even kind of like the guy.

But I still want the Dems to have a chance in 2008, so I beg of you now, and will do so again in 3 1/2 years. DO NOT VOTE FOR HILLARY IN THE PRIMARIES. 1) this country will not vote for a female president in the next (at least) 25 years unless that candidate is a Republican 2) The people who I mentioned above HATE Hillary Clinton with a hatred that burns with the heat of a thousand suns. They see her as a pure representation of liberal elitism, no matter how moderate we think she is. Even my mother, who is an extremeley moderate Repub, has a very vocal distaste for Hillary. I can not think of a Democratic candidate who would be more certain to rally Republicans out to vote. And this would trickle down, meaning more votes for Republican Senate, House, gubernatorial, etc., candidates. I like Hillary, she has a lot of followers, but she will not rally Democrats for her in the way that she'll rally Repubs against her. She makes a fine Senator, she should stay in the Senate. If you have an argument for electing her in the primaries I'd like to hear it. I just think you're signing away 2008.

So I do want to end this rambling angry rant on a more positive note. Our real hope is to wake up from the college bubble and start participating in local issues and politics. OK, so Sarasota might be a lost cause, but most of us won't be here for too much longer, and wherever you go, PLEASE get involved in local politics, even if it just means voting in local elections or participating in a local chapter of MoveON, ACT Now, Amnesty International, ACLU, etc.
As Kos said yesterday, the Republicans and the Christian right have spent the last 40 years building up a cohesive, well-funded political network. Progressives started only a year ago. This is not something that will happen in four years, or maybe even eight. We have to think long term.

If all else fails, California-Oregon-Washington, the Great Lakes states, New England, NY, Pennsylvania and Maryland (Florida is a lost cause) secede and join Canada to make one big Lucky Horseshoe-shaped nation. The United States and Provinces of Canadamerica! Who's with me?

It's like looking into your future

2004-10-26T09:37:00.000-04:00

http://www.pixyland.org/peterpan/index.html

If you haven't seen this already, please do. He lives in Tampa, and Ya'el wants to get him to come to campus to speak, or maybe just flit about. Be sure to check out his fashion page. I would take up a huge collection to see this guy have a dance-off with Brandon in his Lepretard costume.

Introducing Kitchen Monkey

2004-10-25T14:50:00.000-04:00

New food blog. Check it out. Tasty recipes, restaurant reviews, pictures and text! See what we had for dinner last night without using a colonoscope!

http://kitchenmonkey.blogspot.com/

The Miracle

2004-10-24T22:42:00.000-04:00

It had been eight years since Page's accident, since he had last walked. But,
last night, with some encouragement from Liz and the other partygoers, he rose from his chair and hobbled joyfully across the room.

Bocce

2004-10-23T21:33:00.000-04:00

In no way intending to compete with today's baseball, there will be bocce and snacks at our place sunday afternoon around 4 or 5. Bocce fever continues to rip your flesh.

Goddamn the Liberal Media

2004-10-21T16:30:00.000-04:00

And come to a fucking potluck!
Patterson and Alameda are having a potluck at Alameda this Friday at maybe like 8.
There will be instruments and whimsy.
At least a few kinds of hippie mush.
This is also a key party, so make sure that you drive yourself lest you carpool and end up in an orgy.

Also: I just broke up with David, so if you see him, give him a hug.
And if you see me, give me a hug, too. Dammit.

more potluck goodness + twist + G.WIZ-o-ween

2004-10-18T10:29:00.000-04:00

Ahoy, comrades!
Saturday, October 30th (two weeks from now), we shall be hailing the arrival of fall with a new themed potluck: Bring Your Own Gourd! The BYOG party will be held at the mystical Alameda 2040, and it's purpose shall be to explore the possibilities of all those funny shaped gourds they're selling on the market stands this time o' year. We'd like to see each person bring at least one gourd-related item, but if you're uncreative and just grab some brie and a bagguette at the last minute, we'll understand. There is rumor that this event will also host a pumpkin carving contest.

Already wetting your pants with excitement? Wait, THERE'S MORE!

That same evening, from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m., G.WIZ will be hosting its annual Halloween event. There will be haunted houses, ghost stories, a mad scientist, and all sorts of other festive delights. It costs $2.00 to get in, but it's free if you volunteer to help out at the event! Mary "insert ghoulish laugh here" Whelan is already excited about dressing up as a mad scientist, but people in costumes are not the only talent the Wiz is looking for: I'd like to paint something awesome on the big glass doors the week prior to the event. A werewolf with a TI-86 calculator, perhaps? Ghosts with test tubes? Scientists and artists: let's unite!

So, to recap:
Saturday, October 30th
5:30 'til 8 p.m.: G.WIZ-o-ween
8:30 'til question mark: BYOG at Alameda 2040

Please post or e-mail me (kelsey.harris@gmail.com) if you're interested in volunteering; Our volunteer coordinator would like to know how many bodies we can plan on showing up to help.

Gâteau Fabulous

2004-10-14T21:46:00.000-04:00

So, as promised, there was a lot of cake tonight: carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, chocolate cake with peppermint frosting, strawberry spongecake with whipped cream, apple-brandy cake, cheesecake, guava pastries.

strawberry cake

apple cake

I like this themed potluck idea. Roasted meats next time?

One last SBC Debate?

2004-10-12T14:22:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow night at 9 o'clock. Might as well be SBC. Who's down?

Sketchy picnic

2004-10-10T20:48:00.000-04:00

The picnic was de-goddamned-liteful, as planned. There was lots to eat, and big blankets, and a distant threat of rain, and oh, did I mention we got locked in after the place closed? We did. I don't know if that qualifies as an emergency, but we used the appropriate exit.

There was sushi, and deviled eggs, and fruit salad, and guacamole...

...and garlic stuffed dates wrapped in bacon.

The caliber of the food was such that it quickly rendered the majority of the group supine.

Oh, and there were flowers.

Squinty Alum

2004-10-10T19:18:00.000-04:00

Joe, quit it.

Bush's mystery bulge (no not that bulge you perv)

2004-10-09T17:47:00.000-04:00

If you don't already know abou Bush possibly being wired during the first debate, check out the following (you need to register with the NYTimes to view that one, but it doesn't take long, and it has a picture. Gooood stuff.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/09/politics/campaign/09bulge.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/salon/0,14779,1323334,00.html

Selby

2004-10-07T08:27:00.000-04:00

I think I'm going to go to selby this weekend. I havn't been in quite a while. Would anyone else like to go? Maybe they'll still honor my nc id.

2004-10-05T18:15:00.000-04:00

So, we bloggin' or...?