The ATX Clocktower

In Austin, Texas, on New Year's Eve 2008, we burned time.

A clock tower, fully functional and constructed primarily of wood, counted down the hours on the last day of 2008. Standing more than 34ft, and with more than 90,000 in attendance (burners and non-burners alike), it was lit ablaze by burner crews of specialists. It was the largest metropolitan area burn event ever... taking place, of course, in the largest active burn community in the world--Austin, Texas. Here is the video of the day and the burn:

The event was free to all.

Those who don't know about burners--the last great tribe of mankind--should check out the main site... this is one of the legendary icons of our time. Don't miss it.

Burning Man (Main Site): http://www.burningman.com/

Painting: Let It Rain

Let It Rain
by PTM Design

...available from Z Gallerie

Give Peace a Deadline

Book: Give Peace a Deadline
Authors: Nathan Otto and Amber Lupton

I'm holding a knife. Edged blade, Teflon coated and with serrations on the lower part near the haft. The significance of the blade will soon become apparent.

I have very few physical desires. Getting a gift for me proves difficult. This knife is one of two things in this world that I had desired. The person who gave me this knife had no idea of how important it was to me, and I have little to offer in way of thanks.

There is a greater significance. The person who gave me this blade fights for peace. More than that, he has placed a deadline on peace, set milestones and goals for achieving it and has spent all of 2008 circling the globe to gather everyone from church groups, to the Dalai Lama, to friends and family enrolled in this mission.

When I heard about it, I recoiled. My immediate thoughts about world peace are flower wearing commies and love parades that firmly declare that war has no place. Nathan and Amber, the authors of "Give Peace a Deadline", corrected my assumptions. Peace is simply not allowing politically organized violence... not killing. I still shied away from it, and still do.

What really swayed me was when the two authors linked me to Penn & Teller's episode of "Bullshit" centering on world peace. It really is worth watching. As such, I'm re-posting the three parts here:







I still haven't been won over. Not to dedicate many of my own resources to it. I am no fan of communism. Despite the progressive nature of their mission, and that of P5Y.org, I still fear that it will fall into socialist trends. They've won me over enough to promote their book, however.

"Give Peace a Deadline" is well written, with many studies to support their statements and cause. The peace they suggest is a lazy-man's piece, and I believe they will succeed because of it. For those who are not lazy--who want peace with all their being--they have much more active methods included in the book as well.

The book can be purchased off of Amazon here: Give Peace a Deadline

Lincoln Street Wine Market

Lincoln Street Wine Market
111 S Lincoln St
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
www.lincolnst.com

Quickies: wine selection (4/5); cigar selection (2/5); cigar prices (3/5); setting (5/5); service (3/5); food (5/5); food prices (4/5).

Lincoln Street is THE place to get a cigar in Fredericksberg. There are other places to get wine, but the selection, prices and setting to enjoy it cannot beat this beautiful piece of luxury. The cheeses and other appetizers are incredible. We ordered the pesto and a cheese, costing three of us $4 a person. We felt we'd gotten a bargain.

There are imported (and domestic) beers for those who don't have a taste for wine. Their cigars were a bit lacking, but they had enough strong selections at an acceptable price. In other words, we didn't feel we'd been robbed at cork-point for the stogies we took out to the veranda with us.

Above all this, I need to say again that the setting is simply striking. The inside is luxurious and feels immediately inviting. The veranda is an even more beautiful setting, where vines climb up walls, across the hatched wood ceiling and down the fireplace. Anyone stopping into Fredericksberg for even only a few hours should be sure to check out Lincoln Street Wine Market.


...rate my review here on Yelp

Pearls Before Swine

Pearls Before Swine
by Stephan Pastis

URL: http://comics.com/pearls_before_swine/

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Pearls has a larger cast of characters than many comics, but each one is so well defined that it is easy to remember and recognize them. Pig and Rat are the main players, Pig being the optimist who loves everybody... but is a little dim... then Rat, who is the pessimist and wakes up every day to remind everyone that it's all about to end. Other than the two main players, the crowd favorites have actually turned out to be the crocodiles. No, seriously, check it:

...from "Da Crockydile Book o' Frendsheep"

In the end, Pearls is an off-and-on read. It is "on" twice as often as it's not. When it is "on", it has moments of painful laughter that are not easily topped in the modern world of comic strips.

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Pearls Before Swine Books:
* Da Crockydile Book o' Frendsheep
* Macho Macho Animals
* Da Brudderhood of Zeeba Zeeba Eata
* The Ratvolution Will Not Be Televised
* Nighthogs (the original best seller!)
* This Little Piggy Stayed Home
* The Saturday Evening Pearls

YouTube FAIL, Google Next?

Today (on Thursday, December 18th of 2008), at 2pm PST, YouTube pulled the plug on their #1 Channel--FAIL Blog. FAIL Blog put out a call for assistance in the matter, which had not been communicated in full to them, and they were brought back online. The original story is here:

http://failblog.org/2008/12/18/youtube-fail/

What does this mean for the rest of us? I am far from alone in how often I use YouTube for posting media content and sharing video. If YouTube's #1 Channel can be brought down, and without warning or explanation for why it is being done, then this can happen to anyone and everyone. Also, for the majority of us who are not major channels, the likeliness that our account would be re-instated is not very probable.

Sadly, a trust has been broken. I'll still use YouTube, but always now with another eye on what other service may be a better option. Worse, this is one of many Google-owned companies. Blogger is another. This reflects on each of those in no good way. It is such a big "error"--if indeed it was--that I'm concerned that a policy change, a change towards "backing off from any risk at all", may be implemented. Most major companies do it. Google, up until now, has been an exception to this approach. I'm not even sure now what could change that trust.

I love Google. I hope this event was simple an Epic FAIL on the part of YouTube, and one that will never be repeated. I don't believe that... but I want to believe it. It is a sad day nonetheless. Yet, nonetheless, I think I'll post a YouTube video after this post to help remind myself how much I really like the service.

Piracy, 4 Fun 'n Profit

US Vice Admiral William Gortney, commander of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, said: "There is no reason not to be a pirate."

That's right. Now's the time to turn pirate! Seriously. Most targeted ships don't carry weapons. Also, even if caught, there is almost no way to bring a pirate to court due to international treatises. Corporations cannot even fire on a vessel or its people until the pirates have physically boarded their ship, or have connected the two ships in an attempt to board. If they do, they can be taken to court... and will lose. Ah, the lovely world of legalized (tamed) justice. That's right pirates.. . the law's on your side.

It's also fairly cheap, at least when compared to the investments it may take to get into other criminal careers. The ratio of potential gains to start-up costs is possibly the highest return-rate in all the black market. Don't forget the fact that you get to wear a sword. Gotta love international waters.

If you think I'm joking, think again. Here's a good place to start:
The business case for high-seas piracy

If you're thinking about turning pirate, here's where to find other like-minded parties:
Live Piracy Map

I'm free for some high-seas piracy in March of 2013. Anyone pirates who read this and have had any success, please contact me around that time. I have no morals and I'm a quick learner. I have many references, a few of which are still alive. Have your peeps write my peeps. Nos vemos.