'Tis Purty Here

Taken about 90 seconds ago.

Seamus and Cousins

Check out the pics. Link

The Seattle Area Parylyzed by a Few Inches of Snow

link

The state Transportation Department has more than 100 trucks working around the clock, clearing snow and applying sand and de-icer and helping clear accidents. The department is asking people to stay off icy roads unless they absolutely need to travel.

I swear to you, we're talking about a few inches of snow here. I took KT to and from work yesterday, where about half her workmates showed up. The interstate wasn't cleared by evening, and had standing slush and ice. It was so very scary that I had to actually...slow down! The library didn't open, leaving Seamus and I kinda screwed on story time. Schools were closed.

I just can't believe how goofy this is.

And, as Renee texted me yesterday, this month set a record for precipitation in Seattle.

Because I know you're interested

It's the holiday season, doncha know?

here's a link to my amazon wishlist, if you need it.

I Love Dave Thompson, or: My New Ipod

On October 22nd, my ipod kinda screwed up. A little piece of plastic by the docking plug broke, and it wouldn't dock right most of the time. Best Buy has that sweet service plan, so I took it in. I'd be omitting information if I didn't mention that once the Ipod goes in for service four times it's considered a lemon and is replaced with a new one. This was my third time, and I had about seven months left on the plan. So my fingers were crossed...

It came back 11/7, but it wasn't fixed. They replaced the battery, which is nice, but didn't fix the docking issue. I was peeved, because in the notes, the guy hadn't really described the issue, just wrote "docking problems." So, I'm not happy, but he recommends that they send it back in to get done. I play ball, and ask that he be more specific about what's wrong, so that it gets done. He sorta says "yeah, sure," and I'm on my way.

Today I went back to get it (again). And it wasn't fixed I did a Feldman gasket-blow. This was a different guy, and of course he was very sorry, and all he could do was send it back in and get it done. I refused, told him that this is exactly the conversation I had with the guy two weeks ago, and so forth. He wasn't helpful beyond that point.

I was ready to leave with the Ipod and deal with it elsewhere. He said sure, just sign here. I look at the paper, and he wants me to sign under a thing that says "The repairs were done in a satisfactory manner." I refuse. He's indicating that I can't take the damn thing unless I do. I tell him he can send for his manager, because there's no way I'm signing anything that says I'm satisfied.

Key moment in the story: He leaves, and I'm ready to just walk out. I don't want to argue with a manager, and what's he gonna do anyhow?

So the manager, Dave Thompson, shows up. The Geek Squad dude, explains quickly. Dave asks how long I've been without the Ipod. Geek Squad says a month. Dave immediately asks if I'd be satisfied with a replacement from in-store.

Duh!

He tells me to go ahead and grab something. Geek Squad pulls up my reciept for the broken one. I run over and pick up a 80G Ipod (the other one was a 40g, and cost MORE in the summer of '04). After tax and the service plan it cost me $10. Again, I love you, Dave Thompson.

Lesson for the day: talk to the manager...he can actually do something.

I'm a total housewife

For the last week, I've been test-running recipes for Thanksgiving. Brother Steve is coming over, but besides that it's just Seamus, KT and I. Nevertheless, there's some pressure. I like to cook, but don't entertain much.

So here's what I've got planned: Bean birds, which are basically little bean roasts, Kale with carmelized onions and almonds (my favorite recipe of the bunch), salad, brussel sprout and roasted red pepper soup, and a chocolate-pumpkin cheesecake. We'll see whether Steve can make it through a meal without meat.

Today I made the cheesecake and stock for the soup during Seamus' nap. I'm not I'll be able to leave the cake alone for 48 hours.

Rumsfeld Flips Off Student

Love you Rummy!

OJ "confesses"?

Alright, can this possibly be true? link

Here's the short version (but by all means, read that story): OJ's doing a show on Monday November 27th in which he describes how he would of committed the murders, were he the murderer. OMG.

John McCain is Sorta Nuts

Less than a week after dems take over, largely on the strength of the war issue, McCain is advocating raising troop levels in Iraq. And he's running for president.

SEN. McCAIN:I believe that there are a lot of things that we can do to salvage this, but they all require the presence of additional troops...
MR. RUSSERT: But John McCain is suggesting we get deeper into Iraq, send more troops; the American public is on the side of getting out. Look at this from our exit polls. Send more troops, 18 percent of the American people, 23 percent say maintain current level, 28 say withdraw some, 31 percent say withdraw all. Eighty-two percent have a different position than McCain. How can you go to the country after these elections and say, “Send more troops to Iraq”?

SEN. McCAIN: I can only do what I think is best for these young men and women who are in the military. To do otherwise would be immoral and dishonorable.

linky

Seriously? I appreciate a man with principles, but isn't this just suicidal?

Couch Fight

seacouchpics 011
Originally uploaded by mwfeldman.

I haven't been posting enough of Seamus being cute, which I recognize will be the real draw of this thing. So today I documented the KT and Seamus' couch fight.

Enjoy.

Democrats Sweep Congress

Woot.

Democrats win control of both houses of Congress for first time since 1994

By LIZ SIDOTI
and
BOB LEWIS
Associated Press Writers

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats completed an improbable double-barreled election sweep of Congress on Wednesday, taking control of the Senate with a victory in Virginia as they padded their day-old majority in the House.

"The days of the do-nothing Congress are over," declared Democratic Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, in line to become majority leader. "In Iraq and here at home, Americans have made clear they are tired of the failures of the last six years."

Jim Webb's victory over Sen. George Allen in Virginia assured Democrats of 51 seats when the Senate convenes in January. That marked a gain of six in midterm elections in which the war in Iraq and President Bush were major issues.

link

Oh dear. Apparently, in addition to picking up 28 (at minimum) seats in the house and 6 in the senate, not one incumbent Democrat lost a seat. It's actually quite amazing how decisive this is. It kinda reminds me of this little diddy:
"Let me put it to you this way: I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it." President George W. Bush linky

Well spent, sir. Well spent.

Looks like I was wrong...in a good way

Spent the night at Muckleshoot Casino. I like. The funny thing about the casino is, unless it's sports, it aint gonna be on the television. We watched reruns of a World Series of Poker Circuit event on all seven of the tv's after the Sonics game was over. Election coverage? Boooooooring. I desperately tried to get online with my cell phone to see what was going on, but no luck.

So on my way home, I was pleased to hear that if Dems win the last two seats in play, in Montana and in Virginia, they'd hold both houses of Congress. Once I got home, I logged on, of course.

ABC news' website is putting Conrad Burns' Montana seat in the Democratic column, with a headline "It all comes down to Virginia." CBS puts Montana still too close to call. Strangely, NBC doesn't have an election coverage page, leaving it up to MSNBC, who's page sucks. Nytimes.com has Montana as too close to call, so I'm not going to get my hopes up just yet. However, in both races Dems have a slim lead right now.

Now, a pick of Jim Webb. Is he butch or what?

My election predictions

Dems take the house
Republicans hold the senate.

A couple of things convinced me that the Dems wouldn't sweep both houses. First, Karl Rove's chilling exchange with Robert Seigel on all things considered:

SIEGEL: We are in the home stretch though and many would consider you on the optimistic end of realism about...

ROVE: Not that you would exhibit a bias, you just making a comment.

SIEGEL: I'm looking at all the same polls that you are looking at.

ROVE: No, you are not. I'm looking at 68 polls a week for candidates for the US House and US Senate, and Governor and you may be looking at 4-5 public polls a week that talk attitudes nationally.

SIEGEL: I don't want to have you to call races...

ROVE: I'm looking at all of these Robert and adding them up. I add up to a Republican Senate and Republican House. You may end up with a different math but you are entitled to your math and I'm entitled to THE math.

link

The guy indicates (and I believe him) that he has information that we don't have access to, that makes the polls we do have access to look like a joke. He's evil, but he's powerful.

Second thing that changed my mind...the Iowa Electronic Markets. They sell futures on political elections, and predict better than anyone else in the world. Here're their quotes as of now:

Market Quotes: Senate06
2006 Senate Control Market.
Quotes current as of 14:30:00 CST, Tuesday, November 07, 2006.

Symbol Bid Ask Last Low High Average
RS.gain06 0.004 0.014 0.004 0.002 0.013 0.004
RS.hold06 0.690 0.705 0.690 0.670 0.745 0.695
RS.lose06 0.304 0.329 0.307 0.290 0.330 0.312

What that means: the market says there's a 69% chance republicans hold the senate. This is determined by the price traders are willing to pay for each of the stated outcomes.

Well, taking the House isn't so bad.

Rain City Madness

Linky dinky

So it's been raining for a solid five days. i didn't think much of it, didn't think it was that unusual here. I'm the new guy, so I'm just going with the flow. Well, it turns out it's serious after all. We're up on the ridge, but in lower Snoqualmie they've shut down the elementary school and moved tomorrow's polling place up higher, to the fire station.

The governor has declared disaster area status, and an elk hunter was found dead when he was swept into the river by floodwaters. Eeks. Trees are falling, there was a mudslide, there's standing water all over the place.

So...we picked a good time to move.

Borat: $26,375,000

Opening weekend numbers made crush, despite the fact that it opened on only 800 screens. The next eight films this weekend all played on 2300+ screens.

One of the boys (Bernie, Sid, or Andy) made a bet with me that its box office would be under 50 million for the first 10 weeks. When I remember who that was...I will make like the Tishnik Massacre.

More on the Tishnik massacre at 5:50 of the following clip
Also some information about defending against the Jew-claw at 1:30

Saddam Hussein sentenced

Linky dinky

I just need to mention this. Saddam was captured December 13, 2003. It took awhile to get him tried, and of course Saddam's antics didn't make that any easier. He was sentenced On 11/6/2006, which, although nearly a full 3 years later, just happens to be a mere two days before the midterm elections.

Coincidence? I somehow think not.

Borat on Hannity & Colmes

I watched every one of his tv appearances the last few days, and i think this one is by far the best. mabye b/c it's fox, he was a little zanier. in my opinion he really played it safe on the networks.

Have i mentioned that i love will farrell?

yeah, i do. saw kicking and screaming tonight. yes yes, it sucks, when say, compared to a good movie. but when compared to comedies that didn't make me laugh, it's quite good indeed. here's my favorite farrell snl bit.

and here's a kicking and screaming scene that slayed me.

New (used) (free) Car

so sister christina IM'ed me this morning (transcript below for posterity). free car, from steve resource (now i get the nickname). steve had given someone a van last year...that person had this thing sitting around for a year or so not being driven. steve said he'd see if he could find it a home. 'stina gets in touch, yadda yadda yadda, mark and steve show up this afternoon with our new wheels.

and, baby, are they hot or what?



Yeah, that's right, 174,354 miles.



but seriously folks, this is going to be purty meaningful. sea and i don't need to take kt to work everyday, or pick her up. also, a major obstacle to me finding a job is worked out. after all...we're in the boonies; there is no public trans or walking options to anywhere.

i'm excited...that is all.

my IMs with the middleman:

	Chris Buchanan		More options	9:34 am (6 hours ago)

9:28 AM Chris: hello?

me: hey chris

9:29 AM Chris: are you still looking for a second car?

me: ya

got something?

Chris: Steve Reesource has come up with a free Vanagon. no idea on age, but apparently it runs fine.

he'll be delivering it to the shop today

me: vanagon?

9:30 AM oooh

i see

Chris: yep. old VW van

Stay The Course

See this on stephanopolous a couple weeks back? i really couldn't believe he said it.

btw, his argument is that we don't stay the course, b/c we're always adjusting our tactics. the thing is...that denies that there're major strategic errors. we can still stay the course while changing tactics; of course he doesn't point that out.

stay the course means we continue to push towards a beautiful jeffersonian democracy that will prop up the whole region.

change the tactics means...well, like maybe we reposition the troops around the embassy. or they do sweeps in different parts of the city.

sigh...2 more years.

Sea=juicelover

I may have a real future in producing these cute seamus videos. don't you think?


Sea=juicelover on Vimeo

Borat -The first 4 minutes of his Movie

if you haven't seen this yet...what were you thinking?

Jasper states her case

Jasper's Opinion of Current Events on Vimeo

Flickr maps rocks.

Okay, check it out...it uses google maps as an overlay. you look around, and it'll show you pics of places that people have posted...

here're some links. be patient, as it has to run a search for the location.
home
Skevanston
Snoqualmie

Halloween 2006

cousins hike halloween other 077
Originally uploaded by mwfeldman.

Seamus the swashbuckling pirate.
Halloween pics

Elliot's Halloween


Elliot eats candy on Vimeo

our hike to twin falls state park

cousins hike halloween other 065
Originally uploaded by mwfeldman.

Check out last monday's adventure.

see the rest of the photos
google map

The first post

Hrm....

i've been sending out emails with notices of new pics and stuff. figured this might work better. we'll see about that.