Archive for September, 2008
equestrian carting »
Thursday, September 25th, 2008
First, let me address the fact that I used “beesknees.” I’m sorry. It just slipped out. It was completely uncalled for.
Last night, Girlfriend and I went out to a development off Lake Minnetonka for an equestrian-themed fashion show. We assisted in the set-up and then hopped onto golf carts, giving people rides from their cars to the party. From minute one I was out of my element but soon my element became a fond memory.
There were men and women dressed in full fox hunt garb looking a lot like this. The guests I carted from car to door ranged from buyers expensive car, jewelry, makeup to buds adequately dressed but far too impressed and were pretty entertaining.
The plots are quite small and adjacent. It’s your standard suburb development. It’s about fifteen/twenty minutes from city center. There’s a train that goes by fairly regularly I heard it three times. The lots themselves start at $3 million. Huh? If I were to pay more than a million I’d at least aim for some privacy maybe a hedge? picket fence? and quiet. Maybe they’re looking to be close to like-minded equally rich folk to fight off the isolation. I hear it’s lonely at the top.
Most entertaining was the sport at the center of the theme: Fox hunting. The details surrounding the Long Lake Hounds Club and their sport brought an entirely new level of wha? to the party.
Long Lake Hounds members take part in “drag hunts.” Basically, hounds chase a scented rag, rich people in immaculate dress on expensive horses follow. There are rules to dress that are as traditional as they are bizzarre need to earn colors, women don’t wear red coats, white pants with red coats: no exceptions. Check out some guidelines here whenever they use one of too many “…”s, I picture a smirk and a sip of tea; maybe that’s just me.
That the plots were so expensive, the entire event was decked out, one of the furs was $8k and the show itself made one guy the son of one of the developers who looked 22 and drove a Saab mutter, “That’s elitist,” made for an out-of-tax-bracket experience. I’ve had such things before but it was different because even the catered affairs I’ve been to have felt friendly.
I gave two women a ride back to their Mini Cooper.
One: Oh, that breeze is nice. I love the smell on the air.
The Other: That fountain is gorgeous. So very nice tonight.
One: Yes. Very much.
The Other: I’m liking your new neighborhood more and more, [One].
Due to some dismal planning on my part, I’m wearing the shirt I wore last night into work this morning. I wonder if laundering will take care of the upper-crusty smell…
electoral ignorance »
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008
Do you think Obama is the second coming? the Anti-Christ? Do you think McCain’s a maverick or that he panders indiscriminently? Do you think Biden’s a mentally unstable buffoon or Palin’s ass-deep in experience? I couldn’t care less because you’re all right depending on who you ask.
The election closes in with the first debate Friday night. How well are you paying attention? Think you’re the beesknees and have it all sorted? Are you going to watch? ‘Course you are but again, I don’t give a shit. Only half of you will vote anyway generally, I like to think I have the smartest and most politically aware readers.
Media’s insistence on taking everything in and spitting it all back out with the same gravitas is incredibly annoying. As late as June (pdf), 12% of our nation thinks Obama is Muslim. The guy has written two books and has been campaigning for eight years. Congrats, all except you, because you’re smart and politically aware.
I found a site the other day that’s mildly entertaining. It rates the truthiness of claims and attacks. I can’t verify bias but it seems to take everyone down a peg or two so it may be objective. There are breakdowns by candidate, Obama, McCain, Biden and Palin, statements, flip-flops and attacks. There’s also a look at statements from the Republican and Democratic National Committees.
Enjoy, dear readers. For you are smart and politically aware. You should have a quick-reference guide.
forgetfulness »
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008
We forgot the three branches of government were meant to check one another, creating a balance of powers. We forfeited privacy rights and taxes while one branch was politicized and another handed its power to the third. Instead of balancing power, it was gladly defaulted.
We forgot outsourcing labor to compete on a global stage does nothing for national wealth. Corporations did as designed, working for their share holders, leaving their workers in the dust. Millions lost jobs and millions more struggle, underpaid and oppressed. (more…)
UTDR: the signal »
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008
As promised, here’s Up the Drain Reviews. Enjoy.
I was expecting a heaping pile of delicious lame as far as this horror movie’s concerned. Here I was, all stoked for gore, inane near-plot and preposterous dialog, and am left slightly disappointed. It was mostly entertaining and oddly thoughtful, in a way.
Most of you probably haven’t heard of it because it was in theaters for a Tuesday afternoon. Fine, but you should really start paying attention. It’s a movie about a television/radio/phone signal that makes everyone go apeshit. Or something.
It’s sort of like Shaun of the Dead crossed with that Twilight Zone episode where the guy’s buzzer gets all in his face hilariously, btw. It’s some sort of statement on the subversive infiltration of technology to the point of controlling our lives not including scheduling your evenings around television, which is awesome, because I do it.
If you’re looking for something upper crust Monty Python, for example this may not be for you. I’d recommend it if you’re up for a good show. The storyline is stronger than I expected and the violence is brutally unapologetic. The humor is twisted and fairly well done. For an offering from no-names, it’s pretty decent.
The message seems to be along the lines of technology will eventually kill you so focus on what’s real. I can only assume “what’s real” involves superficial relationships with people you don’t like, reality television and basing your entire self-worth on your appearance or how you dress. I may have missed that; got distracted when some chick caught a hedge-cutter in the throat and never really recovered.
conservative, not cheap »
Monday, September 22nd, 2008
I’ve made some weird decisions lately but a couple came in rapid succession this weekend and I had to mention them because I lack self-control, not because they’re interesting. I told you about my new fiscally conservative the old definition, not the current administration’s outlook. Well, I believed I could hold out on that just slightly more than you did you didn’t believe it for a second but now I’ve proved it.
Girlfriend and I went to River Rocks Festival on Saturday to see The Roots rock Harriet Island awesome set, btw. There were a few other acts that could have been interesting. Live would have been fun and Semisonic is always good for a kick-to-the-scrote dose of nostalgia. But… We left.
Twas primarily due to my push. The carny food looked disgusting and I’d have spent another $40-60 on lame beers $5 each for diesel… ridiculous. Instead, we went to Town Hall where we had good beers and a delicious dinner plus, crashed a tri-birthday party for just about $40. Totally worth it.
Then, last night, some of the housemates went over to Sea Salt. I turned down the invitation. I couldn’t justify the cost also, had to stick around to watch the Pack get trounced by Dallas. This, let me reiterate, is not normal.
Girlfriend and I had a nice night on the town and I had a pretty solid weekend. I may be restricting myself but I’m not a cheapskate I tipped generously. I plan to update my wardrobe slightly, purch a digicam and maybe a stereo and save up for the now-booked trip to Australia at the end of January more on that later all while keeping myself in the black. Wish me luck.