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2008

Olympic protests

San Francisco Olympic torch preparations spokesman David Perry on the likelihood of protests agains the event:

“I’m concerned when anyone would fear that here in San Francisco that someone who might disagree with them might cause them harm,” Perry said. “That makes me sad.”

“I like to think in San Francisco we know how to do a protest,” Perry said. “Here in San Francisco, we’re not the type to jump on people in a wheelchair to try to snuff out the flame.”

No, they’re just the type to block streets so emergency vehicles can’t pass and people can’t get to work, in the name of anything from stopping war to defending the rights of cyclists to take over the streets. If there’s jumping to be done, it will be on cars rather than on wheelchairs.

I don’t really have a strong opinion on the Beijing Olympics and the related protests; I find human reights violations as revolting as the next guy, and an Olympic boycott may or may not make an effective statement. I find it notewothy, though, that the only US appearance of the Olympic torch was scheduled for a place where a major protest was almost guaranteed. In San Francisco, protest is a way of life, almost a profession, which is why I contemplated starting that consulting business several years ago.

Videolog: Rumors and Roaches


Rumors
Timex Social Club, 1986.

What I really want to find is the parody version by Bobby Jimmy and the Critters: “Look at all these roaches, surrounding me every day. I need something strong to make them go away…”

MSG and bad moods

Surprising but true: having your Sunday dinner at a mediocre, overpriced Chinese buffet across from the Wal-Mart in Mocksville NC is not the surefire cure for a shitty mood you might expect it would be.

Oh well. At least the weather’s getting chilly again. That’s a bonus.

Deten el chancro

Random thoughts for a Monday evening:

  • In case you thought Winston-Salem was some southern backwater, I offer the photo above as proof that it’s not. We’ve gotsyphillis prevention ads in Spansih on the backs our buses just like they have in the big city.
  • Now that I’m a member of the American Library Association, I get email advertising things like discounts on microfilm scanners. And I find that vaguely exciting.

I’m sorry. I usually try for a minimum of three, but two’s all I’ve got tonight.

Weekend

Did you get threatened with a frivolous lawsuit this weekend?

I did.

I also took a much-needed day off on Saturday and drove to Lynchburg, Virginia. Mainly because it was there. I don’t envision a repeat performance anytime in the near future, though, exciting as it may be to visit the place where Jerry Falwell died.