Post-Schna-ulations

Total Lunar Eclipse, Part III

One more cool picture of the eclipse last night, taken in Seattle (for the full Yahoo News article on the eclipse and more pictures, go here).

posted by Schna @ 9:40 AM 0 comments

Lunar eclipse, Part II

So I tried to take some pictures last night, though I don't have a huge zoom lens, so I don't know how they'll turn out. However, check this out:


I would love to say I took this picture, but sadly, I cannot. To see more pictures (at various stages) from last night's lunar eclipse, go here


And this is a view from the moon:


In other news, Red Sox won the World Series. WOO HOO, Go Sox! Now it's the Cubs turn to break THEIR curse!!!

posted by Schna @ 7:38 AM 0 comments

Lunar eclipse tonight

Last Full Lunar Eclipse until 2007

The eclipse begins at shortly after 8 p.m. ET (5 PT), but the first hour or so won't be noticeable as the Moon becomes lightly shaded by Earth's outer shadow, called the penumbra. Things get real interesting at 9:14 p.m. ET (6:14 PT, when the Moon begins sliding into Earth's full shadow, or umbra.
A dark and growing scallop will then gradually envelop Earth's only natural satellite. Once in total shadow at 10:23 p.m. ET (7:23 PT), the Moon might turn a shade of deep red that frightened the ancients. No two eclipses are alike, however, and astronomers can't say for sure what color to expect, if any.

posted by Schna @ 12:40 PM 0 comments

In the News

Pants on Fire?
This is an interesting editorial on the JaggerBush. I think the point made by the author is valid (to an extent), but I was disappointed that he didn't expand on the implications of his point (or just how frightening it is, in reality). Actually, I think that, if I am reading it right, I don't necessarily agree with the author - it's more like he made a good point (one with which I would agree), but arrived at it and left from it via a route that I would not take.

posted by Schna @ 9:03 AM 0 comments

A brief intro to the platforms of the presidential candidates

(Courtesy of the New York Times)

posted by Schna @ 8:20 AM 0 comments

Falling behind in the battle against AIDS

How Needle Exchange Programs Fight the AIDS Epidemic

CitiWide Harm Reduction is one of nine city syringe exchange programs sanctioned by the state under a law passed in 1992. The New York City program is the largest and most successful in the country. When New York passed its law, about half the city's addicts were infected with H.I.V., and were regularly passing on those infections to others. Since the syringe exchanges were legalized and expanded, however, the infection rate among addicts has dropped from about 50 percent to a little more than 15 percent.
(...)
By contrast, the debate in America has been driven not by science or public health concerns but by an ideology that sees syringe exchange programs as inherently "evil.'' This view has persisted in Congress, which has barred syringe programs from receiving federal funds, despite clear evidence showing that they slow the spread of disease without creating new addicts. Narrow-mindedness at the federal level has cost lives, leaving the country 20 years behind where it could be in the battle against AIDS.

posted by Schna @ 7:48 AM 0 comments

Creating a new reality

Bush's Blinkers

According to Mr. Suskind, "The aide said that guys like me were 'in what we call the reality-based community,' which he defined as people who 'believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality.' " The aide told Mr. Suskind, "That's not the way the world really works anymore. We're an empire now, and when we act we create our own reality."

I don't think I need to even state how disturbing this is. I don't know that I could if I needed to. I recommend reading the whole article (click on the title).

posted by Schna @ 12:04 PM 0 comments

Oh, the consequences...

I got this from a friend and had to share (Thanks R & R!):

posted by Schna @ 7:31 AM 0 comments

Kick ass night

Well, today I went to the Kerry rally with Michelle (many fun stories to tell, but I'll save those for tomorrow when I'm working my nice long 11 hour day...woo hoo), went and saw "Team America: World Police" again, and came home in time to watch Boston beat the Yankees. Awesome night, I would say. So, the Red Sox have made history again by being the first team in baseball history to win a post-season series after being down 3-0 (and they did it at Yankee Stadium - that's sweet). Kick ass!
Anyway, more tomorrow about the rally, but I will leave you with this: I got a great bumper sticker for free that says:
"Bush gives Pussy a Bad Name"
:)

posted by Schna @ 12:09 AM 0 comments

Baseball in October

Last night, the Boston Red Sox made history by becoming the first team ever to force a game 7 when down 3 games to none. I'm hoping they make history again tonight by winning.
There are two levels of my hate for the Yankees: the players and the fans. There are some players I like, of course (Kenny Lofton and Hideki Matsui for example), just as there are some Yankees fans I like (those who are not rabid, stupid assholes, basically). Here is a story (for those who missed last night's game) that illustrates exactly why I have the sentiments that I do:
Alex Rodriguez (my oh so favorite Yankee (**please note sarcasm!!**)) hits a blooper up the first base line. Pitcher grabs the ball and reaches to make the tag as A-Rod runs by. What does he do? He takes a big, open palmed swing at the pitcher and swats the ball out of his glove. Jeter scores, A-Rod advances to second. First base ump doesn't have a good view and calls him safe (even BEFORE A-Rod even touched the bag). Boston's manager comes out and calls the umps together, they discuss, and they make the GOOD call of A-Rod out for interference, Jeter back to second (this is, of course, after overturning a previous bad call about a home run that went in Boston's favor, again resulting in the CORRECT CALL). Joe Torre argues, A-Rod argues, fans start throwing shit onto the field. The Red Sox have to come back to their dugout as the playing field has become dangerous. Finally, things settle a bit, inning ends, Red Sox are up to bat. The pitch - a close call, called a ball. More shit begins to fly from the stands onto the field (remember, the YANKEES are on the field now). So, the Yankees have to come in while the umps gather with security, and finally about 50 police officers in FULL RIOT GEAR have to line the sides of the field for the final innings of the game.
Of course, this whole situation made it even that much more satisfying when the Red Sox eventually won to tie the series at 3-3. Woo Hoo!! Let's just hope that this game 7 won't be a repeat of last year.

posted by Schna @ 8:33 AM 0 comments

My first line

I got hit on today at Kiva Han, and for the first time in my life, someone actually used a line on me!! I believe the line was something to the effect of "it's hard to find a young lady who reads good books in Pittsburgh". The guy was actually very nice and made my day (I'm just not the kind of person who typically gets hit on, so it was very flattering despite my total lack of interest). And, considering the nature of the line, it was very easy to insert in there that I live with a grad student in the English department at Pitt. Alas, it was my first line. :)

posted by Schna @ 12:37 PM 0 comments

I love Jon Stewart

For those of you who haven't seen Jon Stewart on "Crossfire", check it out. It's a 13 minute clip that's certainly worth the watch:
Jon Stewart on "Crossfire" clip

posted by Schna @ 9:50 AM 0 comments

The Importance of four more years, Part IV

Here is another editorial that emphasizes how another four years of The Jaggerbush could extend FAR beyond just his term in office, through the appointments of federal judges.
An excerpt:

Abortion might be a crime in most states. Gay people could be thrown in prison for having sex in their homes. States might be free to become mini-theocracies, endorsing Christianity and using tax money to help spread the gospel. The Constitution might no longer protect inmates from being brutalized by prison guards. Family and medical leave and environmental protections could disappear.
It hardly sounds like a winning platform, and of course President Bush isn't openly espousing these positions. But he did say in his last campaign that his favorite Supreme Court justices were Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, and the nominations he has made to the lower courts bear that out. Justices Scalia and Thomas are often called "conservative," but that does not begin to capture their philosophies. Both vehemently reject many of the core tenets of modern constitutional law.
(...)
Neither President Bush nor John Kerry has said much about Supreme Court nominations, wary of any issue whose impact on undecided voters cannot be readily predicted. But voters have to think about the Supreme Court. If President Bush gets the chance to name three young justices who share the views of Justices Scalia and Thomas, it could fundamentally change America for decades.

posted by Schna @ 2:03 PM 0 comments

Fitter happier

This morning I had to call a bunch of places to set up the transfer of utilities to our new apartment. To my surprise, this went smoothly (so far) and quickly. I did have to talk to a few different recordings and work my way through menues of various sorts to get to what I wanted (this is when I couldn't just take care of it online), but I didn't have to wait on hold forever or talk to people with half a brain. Something I did notice - the computer voices have gotten much more life-like. Instead of the androgenous, broken canned computer speak (think Radiohead's "Fitter Happier" and you'll know what I'm talking about), it was a pleasant, slightly electronic sounding female voice, with very few pauses between syllables. It was very polite too.
I still hate talking to these menues though. I don't mind punching in my account number, or pushing '4' for some option, but I hate when they want you to actually SPEAK (though the voice recognition is pretty cool). I just feel silly sitting in my office talking to my phone. Especially when they ask to "briefly explain the reason for your call". Blargh.
Anyway, I'm hoping to avoid the Verizon-curse this time and actually get our DSL up and running within the first week of living in our new place. And it would be nice to have heat going into November. :) So, fingers crossed that everything goes well.
(p.s. New address and phone number will be sent out via email very soon, Thanks!)

posted by Schna @ 9:35 AM 0 comments

Remember this?

Remember that mailing that was sent out to Arkansas and West Virginia which indicated that Democrats want to ban the Bible? Well, here it is. Check it out. :)

posted by Schna @ 9:33 AM 0 comments

The final countdown

For anyone who didn't see the debates last night (this includes me, as I was flipping between the two baseball games instead), here is a good NY Times article that summarizes them rather well.

posted by Schna @ 9:01 AM 0 comments

Bye bye Ralphie

Ralph Nadar has been pulled of the Pennsylvania ballot for President. Hopefully that means good things for Kerry in PA. See the news story here.


In other news, we sign our new lease tonight. WOO HOO!!
Oh, and GO RED SOX AND GO HOUSTON!!! :) :)

Okay, I should get back to work. I have a lot finish up before I can leave here.
***RASPBERRY***

posted by Schna @ 3:47 PM 0 comments

The Importance of four years, Part III

An Inexplicable Vote for Death

Paul Gregory House was convicted of murdering a neighbor in 1985, before the era of DNA typing. The Tennessee jury that found him guilty was told that the semen found on the body of the neighbor, Carolyn Muncey, matched his blood type. The jury, citing the fact that Mrs. Muncey had been raped, said Mr. House should be sentenced to death.
It's hard to believe that the jurors would have come to that conclusion if they had known that the semen's DNA matched that of Mrs. Muncey's husband, Hubert, not the defendant. A 15-judge United States Court of Appeals panel in Cincinnati that heard a request to reopen the case knew that. Yet the judges recently voted, 8 to 7, that Mr. House should neither be freed nor given a new trial. They were not swayed by six witnesses implicating Mr. Muncey. Two said Mr. Muncey had told them he had killed his wife while he was drunk.
That eight judges would condemn a man to be executed under these circumstances is shocking. What's worse is that the judges divided along partisan lines. The eight judges appointed by a Republican president voted to keep Mr. House on the road to the death penalty. Six judges appointed by a Democrat wanted to free him, and the seventh called for a new trial. It's hard to dismiss the thought that the Republicans voted as a show of support for capital punishment, not on the merits of the case.
For Mr. House, the next stop is the Supreme Court. For the rest of us, his case should serve as a reminder that when we elect a president, we are also deciding the makeup of our courts.

posted by Schna @ 9:45 AM 0 comments

New Apartment

Today I took a day for myself. Not having any days off, between work and the show (Ruddigore), apartment hunting and all of the other day to day stressors that come up, I needed a mental health day (and a physical health day) to regroup. Of course, it didn't help that last night I only slept for 2 hours (though I got a 2 hour nap yesterday evening). There is something VERY LARGE in the walls in our bedroom, and last night it decided it wanted to be right by my head.

Alas, I relaxed a lot today, recouped and recoverd, AND got a lot done towards packing (no actual packing, but I have three full bags of trash and a lot of little things are reorganized). AND, I was home to take the call from our new landlord. We got the apartment we wanted!!! We sign the lease Wednesday night and officially move on Saturday the 23rd.

The place is perfect. It is everything we insisted on, everything we wanted, everything we hoped for, and a whole lot that we never even thought to ask for (like the built-in china cabinet in the dining room, a dining room, and a LAUNDRY chute!). Woo hoo! Needless to say, there will be a party soon!!

posted by Schna @ 7:24 PM 0 comments

The Importance of 4 years, Part II

As a follow-up to a previous post in which I was talking about how the next president will be able to nominate a large number of federal judges over the next four years, I give you one of McSweeney's Daily Reasons to Dispatch Bush in it's entirety (caution: may cause nightmares):

DAY 130:
The Supreme Court's current membership came together 10 years ago; the court has not gone so long without a new jurist since 1823. Eight of the nine Supreme Court justices are now 65 or older; John Paul Stevens, part of the court's liberal minority, is 84, and Sandra Day O'Connor, who has voted with the liberals to form majorities on several occasions, is 74. Boyden Gray, the White House counsel to George H.W. Bush and founder of the Committee for Justice, has said that the next president "will appoint at least two and as many as four justices to the Supreme Court." Ralph G. Neas, the president of People for the American Way, a progressive organization, has made the same prediction.
If President Bush is re-elected and a liberal justice retires, it is likely that his appointee—or appointees—will move the court toward a willingness to restrict abortion and affirmative action and overturn civil rights protections. Bush has said that Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, the court's most conservative members, are the models for his appointments. Samuel Alito, a 3rd Circuit Appeals Court judge believed to be a potential Bush nominee, has voted to uphold abortion regulations, including one requiring women to tell their husbands before having an abortion. That law was struck down by the Supreme Court in 1992. Miguel Estrada, whose nomination to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2001 was blocked by Democrats after the Bush administration refused to release memos Estrada had written as a government lawyer and Estrada refused to articulate the positions he had taken in the memos, is also thought to be a possible nominee.
Other judges considered contenders for a Bush nomination have similarly divisive records. Emilio Garza, a 5th Circuit Appeals Court judge, has criticized Roe v. Wade and said that abortion regulation should be left to the states. Alberto Gonzales, the White House counsel, wrote a memo in 2002 arguing that foreign fighters captured in Afghanistan were not covered by the Geneva Conventions. And Michael Luttig, a 4th Circuit Appeals Court judge, allowed a Virginia ban on "partial-birth" abortion to take effect while it was being challenged as unconstitutional, and later voted to uphold the law. It was invalidated after the Supreme Court struck down a similar ban in 2000.
The next president will also appoint many federal-appeals-court and trial judges, who also serve until they choose to retire. In his first term, Bush appointed 201.
(Sources: Joan Biskupic, "The Next President Could Tip High Court," USA Today, September 30, 2004. See article at: usatoday.com. Joan Biskupic, "Some Potential Nominees for the Supreme Court," USA Today, September 29, 2004. See article at: usatoday.com. James Vicini, "Next President Could Get to Reshape High Court," Reuters, October 1, 2004. See article at: olympics.reuters.com. Mary Deibel, "Future of Supreme Court Likely at Stake in Election," Scripps Howard News Service, September 30, 2004. See article at: knoxstudio.com. Ralph Neas, "The Future of the Supreme Court as an Issue in the Presidential Election," People For the American Way, September 30, 2004. See article at: pfaw.org. "Next President May Pick Supreme Court Justice," The Associated Press, September 27, 2004. See article at: cnn.com.)

posted by Schna @ 10:50 AM 0 comments

Martha Off to Jail

Martha Steward begins serving her prison sentence today, and what does she have to say about it?

Stewart has said she will miss her pets during her stay in prison, but hoped to be free in time for spring gardening.

I suppose the missing her pets part makes sense - I'd miss my pet too. However, if I were facing 5 months in prison, I think that last thing on my mind would be spring gardening. But then again, I'm certainly no Martha.
On a related note, Martha Stewart inspired T-shirts are all the rage.

One shirt's slogan reads, "Camp Cupcake: Where there is no cherry on top." The shirt also lists "activities" at the prison — "decorative license plate making" and "good cellkeeping." The other shirt's slogan is "Camp Cupcake."

posted by Schna @ 8:22 AM 0 comments

The Ghosts of Schnastmas Past

This morning at the coffee shop, a guy with whom I went to college entered and got in line. I had seen him on campus before and had even exchanged a few emails (you know, the "are you the so-and-so who went to this-or-that-college and did i really just see you on campus today? kinds of emails). This morning however, I was running a bit late and feeling rather crappy (I think I'm slowly losing my battle against this cold), I sort of ducked my head and tried to look inconspicuous. I'm sure it helped that this guy is over 6 feet tall, so my head probably doesn't extend into the primary part of his visual field as he's walking. Anyway, seeing him made me want to go bowling. My freshman year in college, I met him playing intramural flag football in the Fall, and later that spring we were on the same intramural bowling team (yes, you read that right - bowling).

**Side Question** Which is better, bowling or mini-golf? I think I have to go with bowling, though mini-golf comes in a close second. Somehow, mini-golf seems more novel, but bowling is bowling.... ***End Side Question***

Late morning today I saw a subject (basically, I was doing NP tests for about 3 hours with this person) who smelled like someone I hadn't thought about in years. My parents used to play Pinochle (back when they were still together, which is more than half my life ago now (so it's been a while)) with another couple. This couple had two sons, so the location of the card-playing would alternate between houses, and all the kids would entertain each other while the parents played cards. The male of this couple, Randy, spelled EXACTLY like this subject I saw today. So, while I'm testing, my mind is wondering with thoughts of watching Wrestlemania, Neverending Story, and the Ewok Movie. I used to think it was so cool that they had a whole slew of movies on tape, with a stapled, 10-page catalogue with all the titles in alphabetical order. They also had a Nintendo (this was prior to my sister getting a Ninendo) -- back in the days of the ORIGINAL Super Mario Bros. Doot, doot, doot.....doo, doo, doo doot...doodoootdoodoot doodootdooo doodoodoo... (yeah, you all know how the song goes!). That was also around the time that Pound Puppies (and Kitties) were all the rage (yes, I just said 'all the rage') and kids made diaramas.

Ha, now that you've made it all the way to the end, waiting for the point, I can tell you there isn't one! *EVIL LAUGHTER*
Okay, okay, I'll leave you with this - Happy Hump Day. :)

posted by Schna @ 1:23 PM 0 comments

Little Porker

It's official, Pancho is rotund. He went to the vet yesterday and weighed in at a whopping 20 pounds (well, maybe a HAIR under 20). Two years ago, he was 15 pounds - last year, 16 and 3/4 pounds. It's not his fault though - he's addicted to cheese and peanut butter, and he hates the wet and cold. So, no outside exercise in the winter or when it's raining (which is NEVER does in Pittsburgh), and too much hanging out in the kitchen to snatch up anything that comes within a foot of the floor (actually, with Pancho, it has to hit the floor - he never goes for anything in mid-air. In fact, even if you toss something TO him, he runs away until it lands and then pounces on it). Overall though, he has a clean bill of health (despite his portliness).

posted by Schna @ 8:17 AM 0 comments

Moving

Well, exactly one week ago today, we found out that we have to move. We have until the first of the year, though we'd ideally like to be out this month. However, for once, apartment hunting is not a frantic, hurried endeavor. While I'm quite sad to be leaving our present landlords (who are not only great landlords, but great people as well), the prospect of living in a new neighborhood is exciting. It's like moving to a new place, only this time we'll be CLOSER to most of our friends rather than far away.
Anyway, between the moving business, playing for "Ruddigore" and work, I haven't had a whole lot of time to do anything much (that's my way of saying sorry for not posting much lately!). More soon, I promise.

posted by Schna @ 8:04 AM 0 comments

Protests

Outside my office building (across the street) is an Exon station, and as I type, there are about 20 people or so protesting. They have signs that say things like "Halliburton loves these prices" and "Honk if you (insert slogan here)", all anti-JaggerBush. The funny thing is, there are about 8 cops for 20 protestors (and they're hardly violent!).
Anyway, it's heartening to see people out and active against The JaggerBush. If I had a car, I'd honk for them.

posted by Schna @ 2:35 PM 0 comments