Joe the 'tard

So, Joe the Plumber has a website and a movement. Pity he's a wonk. Could have used him eight years ago when the Republican Party standard bearer GW decided to trash our country. But of course, this isn't what Joe is really about anyway, protecting freedoms. What he's about is hate and sour grapes. He's a sore loser and he has plenty of company. He's going to keep watch? Well, Joe, you're eight years to late to the game. Thanks for closing the door once the horses have all run out. Fucktard.

Yes, after the Bush Administration decided the best way to fight against the terrorists who "hate us because of our freedoms" wasn't killing them but denying them their objective by removing our freedoms, you decide to get into the game. I know you think GW was just "protecting us" but he really hasn't. Instead, they've plundered our economy and treasury just as they plundered our freedoms and world-wide good will. Glad to see you're also trying to get some of that money.

Yes, Joe, you are an ignorant ass. I know you value talking the truth, so there it is. Everybody, including the McCain campaign economists, tell you that your dreams of owning the plumbing business you worked for (a dream I'm assuming you've abandoned now) would work better under an Obama Administration, and you doggedly cling to your preconceived notions that you would be worse off. Good to know that insightful advice from knowledgeable people in the field doesn't sway you. You fit perfectly in the modern conservative movement.

You are also a publicity seeking twit. Yeah, just try and defend yourself. I'm waiting. Maybe you could make another trip to the NYC to do the talk show circuit to tell me how I'm wrong. Maybe you'll sign your (hastily ghost-written) book to me to that effect. Probably you have a very insightful commentary behind your subscription based website that proves me wrong. I doubt it.

The people who are propping you up will abandon you just as quickly when the national media is through with their infatuation with you. Which should be sometime next month. Instead of "keeping it real" you opted to cash-in (I hope your plans include the cash-out). Yes, once you have that really tough interview (I mean, eventually you'll have to move beyond Fox) and the investigations start, your star will dim.

You're from the Toledo area. IIRC that's the same place that a few years ago a teenager stole his mother's credit card numbers to give his girlfriend breast enhancement surgery so she could be an adult movie star. Good to know you're continuing to uphold the same high standards.

You have a fast car

Here's something we haven't seen since the eighties. You may not be paying attention to this, or you might be distracted by all the hand waving, but the American Auto Industry is about to do some union busting on the scale we haven't seen since President Reagan fired all the air traffic controllers.

There's some fucktard analyst out there that keeps talking about how the UAW agreement is "over an inch thick" and how this is dragging down the industry, and that "no business can expect to comply with all that and be profitable." And he's using this argument to (not so) subtly argue for either the Congress or a bankruptcy judge to throw out the union contract. This is union busting plain and simple and these people need to be called on the carpet for it. And the people supporting are the exact same people who complained so loudly that bankruptcy judges shouldn't be able to rewrite mortgage contracts because that would be "interfering in private contracts."

If this agreement is "too complex for a business to operate under" than every executive at the American Auto Industry should be fired. They agreed to it. They accepted it. If it's unworkable they are at fault for agreeing to it. So every single one of them must go.

Cost of employment is too much? Huhn. Toyota USA and Honda USA pay the same wages (or slightly higher) and they don't have that problem. But then those companies pay their executives less (and watch for the arguments about how we need to pay that high and give bonuses to attract the best and brightest who'll agree to contracts that they find unworkable).

To be fair, there are some contractual benefits the other companies don't have to work under, and some I find egregious, but those are things that can be negotiated. The big difference between the Big 3 and the others concerns health care and retirement. I'll point out here that again, our private payer based health care system is the major drain on the economy. It was the major sticking point in last year's UAW negotiations, the unions made concessions on other parts of the contract but stuck to their guns over health care. As it was the unions accepted the new burden of paying for health care for their retirees. Also, the UAW has a good retirement plan that has been underfunded by the car companies. The other car companies have 401k plans.

So there it is. Because the insurance industry has such a strong lobby, and some conservatives can't see that their ideology is crippling the country, our economy is being drug down.

As a side, you'll also hear about how "the consumers didn't want more efficient cars." That's a red herring. My argument, "Okay, so why didn't you take your big profits from the SUVs and do the R&D to make them more efficient?" The reason why they didn't? That would have affected their profits and bonus pay.

They're giving none away

This past week came not only the blizzard of catalogs (say, did you know it was the holiday shopping season?) but the accompanying reissue of credit cards. So this Sunday I spent almost an hour on the phone "activating" the cards. I usually only use one card, my Amazon Visa (me likee free books), but I have a few other Visa accounts (mostly tied to businesses where I get discounts or free shipping), a Discover account (my first credit card, back when they were just starting out), and a MasterCard account.

So, I'm making the calls to the computers, no I don't want that extra crap (which it was interesting that some cards only gave you a button option to press if you wanted to opt in, but nothing if you just wanted to skip the deal, hate that stupid marketing crap, I really do). And then I get to one card, that used to be tied to my alma mater, Akron University. Some small amount of what they made off of me would be donated back to the school. About three years ago they stopped that association, I stopped using the card, but I had a long credit record with them so I kept the account open. Plus I had a large amount of credit available through them.

On the carrier letter I noticed they had halved my credit available. Well, it's still pretty good. So imagine my surprise when I call to activate the card and I'm told the account was closed. Bastages. I specifically didn't close it so that wouldn't affect my credit score and they just went ahead an closed it on me anyway.

A few years ago Bette and I applied to the same company to get a credit card (I won't mention the bank, although I used to have an account there). She was accepted but I was declined. Now you have to understand, I have the permanent job, I am the principle money maker (haven't been always, and that wasn't the plan, but the way it worked out), my wife works on semester contracts where as I had a stable employment history. And they reject my application. So I request my credit report. Nothing bad on there. Still nothing bad on it.

I just find it hilarious that I'm the customer they want, steady job, good income, always pays the bills. The only detriment to a credit card company is that I don't carry a balance. And they close my account. Hello, retard MBA specialists, you really don't know WTF you're doing. Maybe that's why your industry is in such bad straights. You know, unless you all really want to be loan sharks. Oh wait.

Grackle Feast

Here you see the aftermath of the grackles passing through. That's my deck/patio/balcony and on Friday night, it was clear of leaves, acorns, etc. My attempts to photograph the flock were less successful. Maybe when they go by on the ground later in the year I'll be able to capture some good photographs of them.

Well, since all the stores think it's Xmas anyway

When I posted at the beginning of the year of going to the Jeff Dunham concert in Youngstown, I was surprised to find a lot of you like his comedy. I also mentioned how he was prepping material for an Xmas Special and a few of you asked about it. Well, tonight it debuts on Comedy Central (9pm eastern), and on Tuesday you can get the DVD for yourself. YouTube previews here.

In my former life as a high profile designer (before I became a factory worker - there's another term but I'll spare you all) I used to do DVD and CD cases and packaging. Now, you might think that these are filmed on Xmas and released the next (we did work for the gospel music industry so we had a lot of experience with Xmas Specials). You'd be wrong. Most are filmed in August or September for release that year. So when you see all those people with their heavy coats and clothing sitting in the theaters watching the show you're watching, understand that even with the air-conditioning running at full tilt, they're sweating their bums off. Also, all that snow and sugar plum fairies and xmas trees are just out for the show. Afterward they hang around the back dock smoking their cigs and talking about where the best place is to get mojitos.

So, go forth and watch, laugh, enjoy. Feel sorry for the audience members who are very uncomfortable (but mostly get free tickets). Knock back with some eggnog, and try not to have it come through your nose while you laugh. 'Tis the season after all.

Bending Genres (or is that Blending Genres)

Ken's brain child is up and going with a welcoming post by him and a first post by Matt on writing horror. Matt came up with the name, Genre Bender, and I agree with Ken that this is a good name. We all write in slightly different areas, and as this is to be a place for starting writers, I think it's good to try a little and see what works. Heck, I kept forcing SF out, okay, well, it's all that wanted to come out, but when I broke over to fantasy, dark fantasy, and horror I found my "writer's voice" suddenly got very strong.

I've had a few ideas for blog posts over there. I think as some point I'll need to start and idea file for it. Some things like self editing and some of the breakthroughs I've had there, finding out what you want to write, source material writing, and letting go and being happy when writing. Also the general process of getting words down and carving out the time to do so.

I'm awake now

I'm sure I've mentioned here that we have a flock of grackles that parades through our yard at various times of the year. Grackles love acorns (so do blue jays and turkeys), and most of our trees are white oaks that produce a bounty of acorns every year. So the grackles will march (and I mean march) from one side of the yard to the other, in formation, with scouts in trees, tossing leaves in the air looking for those acorns. The flow is at least a hundred individuals, so they make quite a racket when they go through. Well, today was something different.

I was attempting to sleep in when it sounded like there were people up on the roof. We've contracted to have some of the trees close to our house taken down, so my first thought was that they had come and Bette just didn't want to wake me up. But when I looked outside there was nobody there. But it still sounds like people walking along the roof. So I get out of bed and go to the patio door where it looks (and sounds) like it's hailing. Only it's hailing acorns.

The grackles were going through, but instead of on the ground they were in the canopy, shaking the branches to get the acorns to drop. Little buggers.

Leipzig is calling you

Frequent commentator and no slouch at the airwaves either, Ken McConnell is looking for writers who haven't quite made it yet, but are willing to share and grow together. He's looking to start up a group like SF Novelists, (which you should be reading, and if not, why aren't you) but with a focus on the "soon to break through" authors. He's got a better explanation on his blog. If you're interested, go and giver him a shout out. I'm thinking about it.

One of the things I've been blessed with on this journey toward professional writer is the wealth of information, camaraderie, hand-holding, cheerleading, and general willingness to help out others given by those around and ahead of me in their writing careers. I hope that I've been able to give as good as I've gotten myself, although that has been mostly on a one to one basis. This would definitely have the possibility of widening that help. I need to look at my time available and see where I can crop out some time to do this as I think it has serious potential.

And I can blather on about writing as you can tell. Can't you? Anybody? Beuller?

The three way's I learn the best are doing it hands on (often failing, but learning and getting better), listening to others discuss, and trying to help others. Reading books I tend to get information, but not internalize it well. It took, I don't know, like a hundred times of hearing the phrase, "Kill your darlings" before I finally got it. And that was because I had to explain it to someone else.

At this point I (think I) know a few things. Sharing is something I like doing (can you tell?). In the end I'll probably say "yes."

Crack that Whip. Give the past a slip.

Applications for Viable Paradise open in two months and close in eight months. It was my plan to submit the first part of the novel as my critique piece. Gotta get writing. If it's not finished by the time of application closing, it should be finished before the actual workshop.

Words of advice from Tobias Buckell, "Don't workshop an unfinished novel."

Forward into the past!

Watching the fall out of the elections of the republican chattering class and thinking heads reminds me why I left that party. Hello, John McCain had it right back in 2000, you need to shrug off the Social Conservative yoke that Reagan placed on your necks and re-evaluate your policies from the Fiscal Conservative view (note: when people claim, "Most people in the US are conservative" those polls checked for fiscal conservativeness, not social issues). Slavish adherence to the social conservative agenda has run you into the ground, and you'll soon see the "base" eroding to age loss (ie. old people die at a faster rate than young people, although "old people" is a category that will continue to grow for the next two decades, these are the hippies reaching old age, not those who came of age in the conservative early 50s). So listening to all the viewpoints about where the Republican Party needs to go form here has me giggling. Newt Gingrich has thrown his hat in the ring for party leader.

As someone who sits in opposition, let me say, "You go Newt!" (insert giggling here).

Back in the late 80s and early 90s the Republicans had a full machine going for them, a machine constructed in the late 70s. It consisted of think tanks like the Heritage Foundation and other organizations, the Young Republicans, and a organization structured to bring up legal scholars and prepare them for high level positions and judgeships (the name of this group escapes me at the moment). The Democrats had nothing to counter this infrastructure and were fighting political battles with handicaps. However, in the late 90s the shift of these organizations changed from generating new ideas and shepherding new talent to justification and promulgation of conservative positions and instilling social conservative values in upcoming stars while vetting out those whose ideologies didn't quite line up (you might have seen some of this in the infamous RINO hunts). That sea change in those organizations, IMHO, is what lead to the Bush Administration and the eventual downfall of the conservative brand. The President never really lost the support of the grass-root social conservatives even though their leaders have been critical. What they lost was the support of the fiscal conservatives (aka "the moderates") in the general public.

So now the battle is joined. To the right stands the old guard that clings to the mantra, "We weren't pure enough to obtain the Holy Land. We must be purer." To the left stands the young turks who shout, "What worked in the 80s doesn't work now. We must adapt or die." (announcer voice) Let's Get Ready to Rumble!

No longer an adherent to the Republican party, I'm just a bystander. But like everybody else on fight night, I've got my pick for who'll take the dive in the 3rd round. Other than that it's popcorn and soda in the cheap seats.

Free Books! (mostly)

And you know what I am for book giveaways. So far November is blossoming over with contests and giveaways.

Before we get to getting books, remember it's all in the spirit of giving. The incomparable Jim Hines is doing it again ("Let him, let him" - sorry, saw Young Frankenstein over the weekend, it's one of those movies that keeps me giggling for a week, "Froderick!"). He's collecting books from authors and other types to donate to his local domestic violence shelter. In the spirit of the freshly dead campaign commercial, I wholeheartedly endorse this message. My local shelter receives the majority of my charitable giving. It's an issue that cuts close to home for me. You go, Jim.

In other Jim news, he's running a contest to win a free copy of The Stepsister Scheme. I've already won something from Jim this year (and it rocks), so I'm not going to enter this one. But the idea of the contest, photo of you, your pet, 8" action figures, whatever, reading one of his books is inspired.

In other contest news, Joshua Palmatier is giving away the German version of The Skewed Throne. And this one is even easier to enter, all you have to do is comment. I mean, except for those European Email Sweepstakes, it just doesn't get any easier to enter. Plus, you get a cool book in German. How many of you have a book in German on your shelves? (okay, okay, yeah, I know many of you do)

And in other giveaway news, Matt Jarpe will give you a paperback copy of Radio Freefall for just putting a widget on your site (well, the first five people who do so, there's other requirements, which put me out of competition).

And, while not really a giveaway, Apex is raffling (is that a word?) off a whole slew of goodies. Grocked from the ever fab Cherie Priest, who, BTW is guest blogger over at Jeff VanderMeer's Estatic Days where she talks about some cool stem-punk themes (ZEPPELINS!).

Edit I thought I had mentioned this before, but in case I didn't, William Jones is also running a contest that's almost over. To win you have to guess what's in the book. Sorta like "how many jelly beans" but with authors and stories. Contest closes 11-15-08. Also, I haven't seen him close the blog entry contest for the same book.

Say goodnight Gracie

After several days of nagging myself, and misremembering when the writing group was meeting, I got through another edit/rewrite of A History of Lighting. I really need a new title for that. Anyway. We're at 4024 words, and I forget where I started, but it's 20 words less than the last saved file. I also went on a "was" killing spree. At least twenty of the little buggers fell to the editing scythe. The only thing I did count was that there are only four left. And I may get those next time (bwahaha!).

As you can see, I'm tired and punchy. Also had a freelance quick gig I didn't expect show up tonight (done and out). So it's time to go to bed.