Archives for 2002

Gephardt was never a leader – that was obvious even to my libertarian ass.  It will be fascinating to see who the democrats select to replace him.

Minority. In the words of Green Day: I want to be the minority
I don’t need your authority
Down with the moral majority
‘Cause I want to be the minority
From the Sun:Gephardt to pass House leader post. Formal announcement expected tomorrow, aides say; Some Democrats have pressed for him to go; Pelosi or Frost likely successor [SunSpot.net News Headlines] Hasta la vista, Dick. I guess you couldn’t hack being the minority any more, eh? Voted to give the President a blank check on Iraq, and screwed us over at many other turns; you were truly the loyal opposition. Now, maybe Daschle’ll join you in the back row, given how narrowly his colleague from South Dakota seems to have squeaked by in this last election. [Sean Gallagher: the new dot-communist]

Two more years…. … of erosion of civil rights, strong arm international politics, and failure to respond intelligently to terrorism. Of course, we remember what happened the last time the Republicans controlled both houses, right? Biggest regrets so far:

• Walter Mondale (and I hope Iâm wrong about his chances, but having a six point spread at 25% of the vote counted doesnât sound good)
  
• Tara Sue Grubb. But hey, Iâm reading she polled almost 10% of the vote. It doesnâ’t get Coble out, but it puts her on the map.

[jarretthousenorth News]

Understand that yesterday was a major victory for the Republicans – they have regained control of the Senate, defeated several key Democrats, and taken possession of some statehouses that they’ve lusted after for more than a decade, such as Maryland.

This is a victory for:

• 
  
  Pre-emptive military action


• 
  
  Lower Taxes


• 
  
  Conservative Values


• 
  
  Crime Control, not midnight basketball


• 
  
  Personal Responsiblity, not government handouts


• 
  
  Conservative Judicial Nominations


• 
  
  And many more..

I’m sure most of the folks here in Massachusetts believe that the anti-Christ is taking over the Senate, it’ll be entertaining to listen today.

Election 2002: Mr. Bush’s Big Night. Both political parties ran campaigns that huddled around the fuzzy middle, but Republican candidates in key states were able to hang onto the coattails of a popular president. [New York Times: Opinion]

Republicans win open Minnesota U.S. Senate seat, CNN is now reporting. Republicans win open Minnesota U.S. Senate seat, CNN is now reporting: Between this result and the result in Missouri, it appears that the Republicans will have solid control of the Senate not just starting in January 2003 but now, in the fall lame-duck session. [How Appealing]

Linus is an opinonated son-of-a-bitch, but that’s why I love him..  Read on..

Linus Explains his Patch Policy [Slashdot]

Yeah, I know, I’m a libertarian. 

I voted for Mitt Romney today.

This is why I like reading Joi’s blog.

WEF Blueprint for Japan 2020 at the Orchid Room. [Joi Ito’s Web]

Looking at photos like this reminds me of all the meals I had in Japan – between 1986-1994.  I did over 60 trips to Japan during that era, and the ONE consistent thing that every trip had in common (besides giving gifts, handing business cards to each other in the proper fashion and of course – the cool, new multimedia technology) was doing lunch and dinner.

Man – do these people know how to schmooze!

BY my own estimate – it takes between 7-10 meals together – before they woruld EVER consider actually doing a deal with you.  It’s ingrained in their culture.  They need to get to know you first, see how you act when you’re drunk and if you like blonds or redheads.  They need to feel comfortable with you and they LOVE to eat out on expense accounts!

I already have told the story of Inakaya – but I wanted to recant a couple of other memories (that would typically unfold at meals like the one Joi shows – above.)  Each time we’d sit down to a meal, with 8-10 of us – my heart would jump at the possibilities of what was about to transpire!

First of all, I don’t really drink alcohol, so I’d find myself at these meals with (in order, lined up as a semi-circle in front of me) cold water, a Coke, Irish whiskey (on the rocks) cold sake, hot sake, and some hot tea.  This assortment of drinks would buffer me from the ‘pour it down the hatch’ attitude of drinking that they (the Japanese and any Gaijin trying to keep up) would partake in.  I didn’t want to insult them and just have a Coke and some water, but I wanted to make it impossible for them to keep pouring more Sake into my square box container (which is typically what happens.)  As soon as you take a sip of whatever you’re drinking, they’ll take it upon themselves to refill your drink.

So by keeping so many drinks surrounding me, I found that I kind of nullified their attempts and I could focus in on the food and what the future of multimedia was.

🙂

And what food it was!  If you’ve never had Shabu Shabu – I highly recommend it.  Or drunken shrimp or lobster?  Or how ’bout Soshimi – which is kind of related to Sashimi – but………..the fish is still alive, his/her mouth is twitching, his/her tail is wagging, but all of the meat on their body has been expertly removed, without cutting their nerves – and you eat the soshimi – while the fish is presented, alive, in front of you. Quite a trip!

More on Japanese eating later………

[Marc’s Voice]