Putting Cynicism Aside

The power of this speech literally brought me to tears over how divided we seem as a nation, and the true possibility of hope for our future.  Maybe I’m being naive, and I know people have made comments about his voting record being no different than Hillary’s, but the more I read about Barack, the more I look at how he thinks, and the more I see how he is a true statesman, the more I support this man.

I suppose that part of my feelings are in reaction to the viciousness that other campaigns have done to attempt to hurt Barack with outright lies.  Just today, I received an email from a coworker, who I generally have a deep respect for, but he was spreading complete lies with only the smallest grain of truth, that one can not even place it into that category (http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/muslim.asp)  Those who started these lies, should be held accountable, and one way of doing this is to make sure those lies do not spread more, and that they are ineffective.  

Roommates Wanted

I have decided to start searching for some roommates.

I will charge (monthly) $500 for the master bedroom, and $400 for the other bedroom.  (This includes basic utilities)

Here are the benefits of the house:

1. Nice location in Loomis, it is rural, yet close to Rocklin and Sacramento.  Peaceful area.
2. Location close to Sierra College (within biking distance)
3. Nice kitchen and living room.  Kitchen has plenty of cabinets for each roommate to have their own.
4. Library with many interesting books already, and enough shelf space for roommate’s books
5. Home recording studio, stocked with music and recording equipment.
6. Wi-fi Broadband Internet Access

I am looking for roommates who are responsible and don’t smoke (or only smoke outside), and personalities must be compatible enough with mine (I’m not that hard to get along with, but someone with diametrically opposed views on reality would probably not work well).   I am looking for low drama. (Some drama of course is inescapable, but too much is not good)

 Responsibility and good decision making is a big thing, while I am happy for others to use the studio, I don’t want anything broken or stolen.  I am not in a rush to get roommates, so I will be selecting people very carefully.   But if you know someone who matches these criteria (or you do yourself) and are looking for a different place to live, let me know.

Music Videos

I have found that one of the coolest things about YouTube, is that it has many music videos.  I didn’t grow up with MTV, so when I got someplace that had it, I would usually try watching…  But now I finally can start looking deeper…  The only thing, is that it seems that most music videos really aren’t that great.

Here are some of the music videos that seem to be good (and some great by my subjective standards):

* Talking Heads – Once in a Life Time –
* Paul Simon – You Can Call Me Al
* Peter Gabriel – Digging in the Dirt
* Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams
* Nine Inch Nails – Closer
* Bloodhound Gang – The Bad Touch
* Any video by Bjork (even if her music isn’t something that inherently clicks with me, she is an amazing artist)
* Chemical Brothers – Let Forever Be
* Enya – Caribbean Blue
* Toys – Mirror Song
* Justin Farren – We Don’t Work (not on YouTube unfortunately)
* Russian Futurists – Paul Simon
* Take On Me – A-Ha
* Go West – Pet Shop Boys
* Several by They Might be Giants
* Take a Walk on the Wild Side – You Tube Original

Privilege Meme

The list is based on an exercise developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. The exercise developers ask that if you participate in this blog game, you acknowledge their copyright.

To participate in this blog game, copy and paste the above list into your blog, and bold the items that are true for you.

Father went to college
Father finished college
Mother went to college
Mother finished college
Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor
Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers
Had more than 50 books in your childhood home
Had more than 500 books in your childhood home
Were read children’s books by a parent
Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18
Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18
The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively
Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18
Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs
Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs
Went to a private high school
Went to summer camp – paid for it myself
Had a private tutor before you turned 18
Family vacations involved staying at hotels
Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18
Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them
There was original art in your house when you were a child
Had a phone in your room before you turned 18
You and your family lived in a single family house
Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home
You had your own room as a child
Participated in an SAT/ACT prep course
Had your own TV in your room in High School
Owned a mutual fund or IRA in High School or College
Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16
Went on a cruise with your family
Went on more than one cruise with your family
Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up
You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family