08.30.08

Barack Obama’s Acceptance Speech, “The American Promise”

Posted in Politics, Video at 12:01 am by Evan

If you haven’t seen it, you should:

08.29.08

The Palin Choice: Clever, but ironic

Posted in Funny, Politics, Video at 5:21 pm by Evan

Don’t you love it? The candidates try to even themselves out with their VPs. The difference is, Barack only needed foreign policy credentials via Biden, while McCain needs virtually everything that Sarah Palin has to offer. (Youth, excitement, lack of scandal, a vagina, etc)

Funny enough, she’s not exactly sure what a VP does. Check it:

This is going to be fun for the next few months, watching the McCain try to base his campaign on the back of Palin and Barack absolutely pummel him in the presidential debates. Go go politics!

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08.28.08

Obama’s Nomination Speech: Wow

Posted in Politics, Thoughts at 11:49 pm by Evan

That’s all I gotta say. It hit the right notes, it made the right jabs, it just felt fantastic. It felt like we had an actual leader up there, not just a guy with catch phrases and talking points.

And I’m tired of apologizing and defending my optimism for a president who can inspire us to do good. And for his credit, Obama threw down the gauntlet: No foreign oil in 10 years. There’s some leeway in that statement (remember, we import the most oil from Canada, not the middle east as some would have you believe), but the statement stands as a bold move that I would never in a million years hear from McCain. Why? Because ‘the market can fix it’, the Republicans cry. ‘Drill here, drill now.’ Same ole, same ole. Somehow, at the bottom of the oil well, and behind those tax breaks for the oil executives, there’s renewable energy. They’re just sure of it.

McCain and crew also cry that government should ‘get out of the way’, giving more control of government programs to private businesses (Blackwater, Haliburton, etc) which essentially gives you a smaller government by letting businesses run it instead. Sure it gives you smaller government, but at what cost? Obama responded by calling this “Ownership Society” what it was: A ‘You’re On Your Own’ society. It’s not that we can’t help ourselves, Obama explains, but that government should provide you the tools to do so.

Can you imagine being able to buy the same health insurance that those in Congress have? It’s funny that people don’t equate this to GEICO, because it’s the exact same thing (remember, GEICO = Government Employee Insurance Company). I would love to have insurance that doesn’t give me shit when I need an operation. I’d prefer, believe it or not, to have a president in office who knows what it’s like to haggle with an insurance company over something as basic as healthcare. It’s sad that you have to prove this point to others. Yet the line is, “We’d never pay for it,” when we currently do. Emergency Rooms around the country feel the strain of the uninsured, but it’s not the uninsured who hurt. The insured hurt as well. You messed up and forgot that minor surgery on your insurance signup forms? Guess what, that half million dollar operation they paid for last week suddenly isn’t. People are paid to find these loopholes, because these loopholes go toward the bottom line. Profit. If you had found that loophole, you would’ve just ’saved’ the company a half million bucks. Healthcare for profit does not work. We are the only country with personal medical debt. I could go on. And while I’m sure we’re stuck with Healthcare for Profit(tm) for awhile, at the very least the ability to buy government insurance is a start.

All I can say was, it really felt historical. I felt the rush of blood and gooseflesh as Obama accepted his nomination, as he stood there ready to lead the nation and subsequently the world. He’s loved the world over because he really is the face of change. He isn’t an old white man. He is a black man from a middle class family who has the ability to inspire. This is rare. It was a moment I could imagine describing to my grandchildren one day.

It makes me sick when I hear people dismiss leadership as arrogance and big ideas as wistful, foolish whims that can never come true. Those who don’t support Obama tend to do so on platitudes and marketing and hearsay. He’s a muslim, they cry. He’s a tax and spend liberal. He’s a celebrity. He’s untested. He’s not right for us.

And all I hear is: Instead of someone who inspires hope in all of us, they’d rather have another administration just as dead-set against global warming and as corporate-friendly as possible. Four more years of the same ole bait-and-switch. Do you really think it’s going to get better with McCain in office? Seriously. Seriously.

It blows my mind that people will actively vote against their own financial interest. But they do.

So this is my little blog post to commemorate what I believe will go down as a historical moment. Never have 75,000 people gathered to hear a candidate. Never have I seen a candidate so deftly maneuver his way through policy descriptions, jabs at his opponent and the administration, and weave it through the theme of promise, hope, and inspiration before.

Go ahead, be cynical. But I like to think we’re better than that, some of the time. I hope this November 4th is one of those times. I honestly believe it’s possible now.

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08.25.08

DO WANT: The Red

Posted in Geek, Video at 8:06 pm by Evan

Car guys geek out over old automobiles restored to perfection.

Art buffs geek out over a lost masterpiece pulled from some forgotten collection.

Magic players geek out over a 10-grade Beta Black Lotus.

Videographer nerds? We geek out over a nice camera. And holy shit, have I found one. It’s called The Red (yeah, I know!) and it shoots in 4K resolution. Now that may not mean shit to you, but 4K (by 2,390 pixels vertical) is the magical digital barrier to “truly” make digital the Hollywood standard. Star Wars Episodes 1-3, in contrast, were shot in 1920×1080. Twice the resolution for twice the price? Nope! This thing costs just $17.5K. To shoot Hollywood-quality films. Digitally. Forever (or as long as the hardware holds up, anyway). This is what happens when the billionaires are the visionaries.

To compare, the closest digital equivalent, ie, the stuff that George Lucas deals with, costs around $175,000. Each. Yeah.

Drool, drool, drool. Read it: Wired: Analog Meets Its Match in Red Digital Cinema’s Ultrahigh-Res Camera.

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Norm MacDonald’s Genius Roast Of Bob Saget

Posted in Funny, Video at 2:58 am by Evan

Just brilliant. I giggled, I cackled, I damn near bust a gut.

It takes a moment to ‘get’, but when the gettin gets good, it turns classic.

Check it out here.

It obviously didn’t make it to prime time, as something that subversive would never make the air. You face looks like a cauliflower. Hahaha!

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08.24.08

Americans Won’t Pick Lettuce for $50/hr?

Posted in Politics at 12:16 am by Evan

Listen for yourself:

Who’s the elitist again? I forget the narrative this week.

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08.23.08

Drafting with Evan: Mono Red

Posted in Geek, Magic the Gathering at 6:53 pm by Evan

Thanks to the tools that Benjamin Peebles-Mundy has written over at his site, you can now send your friends your Magic Online 3.0 drafts. This is super cool and has gotten me excited about drafting online again (gasp!).

That said, “Drafting with…” is a great series at StarCityGames and I’ve done a few drafting shows before. I have a personal mailing list that me and my buddies communicate with, and here is the draft recap I sent them today. Warning: For Magic nerds only!

This was just a classic, and beautiful, mono red draft. Look at those
first four picks. Just look at em! You can’t ask for anything better
than that.

I rolled every match 2-0. It wasn’t close.

The only changes I made while playing were -1 Mudbrawler Raiders (the
2(R/G)(R/G) 3/3 guys) for +1 Mountain. Otherwise, it ran like a
well-oiled machine. Initiate just wins games. It’s incredible.

Pack 1 pick 1:
Presence of Gond, Shield of the Oversoul, Kinscaer Harpoonist,
Cultbrand Cinder, Mudbrawler Cohort, Farhaven Elf, Loch Korrigan,
Scrapbasket, Scuzzback Scrapper, Rite of Consumption, Inquisitor’s
Snare, Tower Above, Thoughtweft Gambit, Reknit, Demigod of Revenge
–> Demigod of Revenge

Pack 1 pick 2:
Last Breath, Wanderbrine Rootcutters, Island (FOIL), Safehold Sentry,
Puncture Bolt, Safehold Duo, Put Away, Manaforge Cinder, Manamorphose,
Cerulean Wisps, Strip Bare, Gloomwidow, Jaws of Stone, Madblind
Mountain
–> Jaws of Stone

Pack 1 pick 3:
Wingrattle Scarecrow, Old Ghastbark, Ghastly Discovery, Oona’s
Gatewarden, Burn Trail, Wildslayer Elves, Hungry Spriggan, Intimidator
Initiate, Elsewhere Flask, Niveous Wisps, Zealous Guardian, Wicker
Warcrawler, Spectral Procession
–> Burn Trail

Pack 1 pick 4:
Cinderhaze Wretch, Wanderbrine Rootcutters, Scar, Boggart Arsonists,
Presence of Gond, Rite of Consumption, Bloodshed Fever, Loamdragger
Giant, Put Away, Flourishing Defenses, Ashenmoor Gouger, Moonring
Island
–> Ashenmoor Gouger

Pack 1 pick 5:
Farhaven Elf, Scuttlemutt, Old Ghastbark, Merrow Wavebreakers,
Medicine Runner (FOIL), Goldenglow Moth, Zealous Guardian, Loch
Korrigan, Ember Gale, Niveous Wisps, Mistveil Plains
–> Ember Gale

Pack 1 pick 6:
Raven’s Run Dragoon, Chainbreaker, Oona’s Gatewarden, Runes of the
Deus, Loamdragger Giant, Drowner Initiate, Pili-Pala, Bloodshed Fever,
Manamorphose, Sapseep Forest
–> Manamorphose

Pack 1 pick 7:
Ghastly Discovery, Wildslayer Elves, Gloomlance, Turn to Mist,
Scarscale Ritual, Elsewhere Flask, Cerulean Wisps, Ember Gale, Mercy
Killing
–> Gloomlance

Pack 1 pick 8:
Morselhoarder, Chainbreaker, Sootwalkers, Blistering Dieflyn, Sinking
Feeling, Goldenglow Moth, Smash to Smithereens, Revelsong Horn
–> Sootwalkers

Pack 1 pick 9:
Kinscaer Harpoonist, Cultbrand Cinder, Mudbrawler Cohort, Loch
Korrigan, Scrapbasket, Scuzzback Scrapper, Reknit
–> Mudbrawler Cohort

Pack 1 pick 10:
Island (FOIL), Put Away, Manaforge Cinder, Cerulean Wisps, Strip Bare,
Madblind Mountain
–> Manaforge Cinder

Pack 1 pick 11:
Wingrattle Scarecrow, Oona’s Gatewarden, Hungry Spriggan, Intimidator
Initiate, Zealous Guardian
–> Intimidator Initiate

Pack 1 pick 12:
Bloodshed Fever, Loamdragger Giant, Put Away, Moonring Island
–> Bloodshed Fever

Pack 1 pick 13:
Goldenglow Moth, Zealous Guardian, Mistveil Plains
–> Goldenglow Moth

Pack 1 pick 14:
Loamdragger Giant, Bloodshed Fever
–> Loamdragger Giant

Pack 1 pick 15:
Ghastly Discovery
–> Ghastly Discovery

Pack 2 pick 1:
Watchwing Scarecrow, Barrenton Cragtreads, Scuzzback Marauders, Faerie
Macabre, Traitor’s Roar, Curse of Chains, Fate Transfer, Spiteflame
Witch (FOIL), Toil to Renown, Emberstrike Duo, Barrenton Medic, Merrow
Grimeblotter, Bloodmark Mentor, Puresight Merrow, Augury Adept
–> Scuzzback Marauders

Pack 2 pick 2:
Steel of the Godhead, Nurturer Initiate, Mudbrawler Raiders, Torture,
Torpor Dust, Poison the Well, Foxfire Oak, Pili-Pala, Cinderbones,
Apothecary Initiate, Drove of Elves, Hollowsage, Torrent of Souls,
Wound Reflection
–> Mudbrawler Raiders

Pack 2 pick 3:
Blight Sickle, Somnomancer, Gravelgill Axeshark, Sootstoke Kindler,
Inescapable Brute, Safewright Quest, Splitting Headache, Barrenton
Medic, Memory Sluice, Wild Swing, Dream Salvage, Biting Tether, Oracle
of Nectars
–> Sootstoke Kindler

Pack 2 pick 4:
Torture, Fists of the Demigod, Juvenile Gloomwidow, Sickle Ripper,
Giantbaiting, Blazethorn Scarecrow, Emberstrike Duo, Gleeful Sabotage,
Kithkin Shielddare, Corrosive Mentor, Inkfathom Infiltrator, Enchanted
Evening
–> Giantbaiting

Pack 2 pick 5:
Parapet Watchers, Traitor’s Roar, Gravelgill Duo, Rustrazor Butcher,
Safewright Quest, Aphotic Wisps, Woeleecher, Memory Sluice, Lockjaw
Snapper, Wasp Lancer, Thought Reflection
–> Wasp Lancer

Pack 2 pick 6:
Kinscaer Harpoonist (FOIL), Sootstoke Kindler, Faerie Macabre,
Woeleecher, Prismwake Merrow, Crimson Wisps, Viridescent Wisps,
Cinderbones, Fossil Find, Worldpurge
–> Crimson Wisps

Pack 2 pick 7:
Gravelgill Duo, Disturbing Plot, Parapet Watchers, Mine Excavation,
Spell Syphon, Inescapable Brute, Foxfire Oak, Horde of Boggarts,
Advice from the Fae
–> Horde of Boggarts

Pack 2 pick 8:
Somnomancer, Rattleblaze Scarecrow, Fists of the Demigod, Helm of the
Ghastlord, Whimwader, Viridescent Wisps, Ashenmoor Cohort, Thornwatch
Scarecrow
–> Fists of the Demigod

Pack 2 pick 9:
Watchwing Scarecrow, Barrenton Cragtreads, Faerie Macabre, Traitor’s
Roar, Toil to Renown, Emberstrike Duo, Merrow Grimeblotter
–> Emberstrike Duo

Pack 2 pick 10:
Torture, Poison the Well, Foxfire Oak, Cinderbones, Hollowsage, Torrent of Souls
–> Torrent of Souls

Pack 2 pick 11:
Blight Sickle, Safewright Quest, Splitting Headache, Wild Swing, Dream Salvage
–> Wild Swing

Pack 2 pick 12:
Torture, Sickle Ripper, Blazethorn Scarecrow, Emberstrike Duo
–> Emberstrike Duo

Pack 2 pick 13:
Parapet Watchers, Traitor’s Roar, Aphotic Wisps
–> Traitor’s Roar

Pack 2 pick 14:
Kinscaer Harpoonist (FOIL), Fossil Find
–> Fossil Find

Pack 2 pick 15:
Disturbing Plot
–> Disturbing Plot

Pack 3 pick 1:
Soul Reap, Creakwood Ghoul, Archon of Justice, Stream Hopper, Noggle
Hedge-Mage, Cinder Pyromancer, Merrow Bonegnawer, Grazing Kelpie,
Banishing Knack, Recumbent Bliss, Razorfin Abolisher (FOIL), Hotheaded
Giant, Fang Skulkin, Nip Gwyllion, Flickerwisp
–> Cinder Pyromancer

Pack 3 pick 2:
Scourge of the Nobilis, Heartlash Cinder, Nettle Sentinel, Nightsky
Mimic, Shorecrasher Mimic, Monstrify, Batwing Brume, Jawbone Skulkin,
Flame Jab, Raven’s Crime, Riverfall Mimic, Sanity Grinding, Kithkin
Zealot, Swirling Spriggan
–> Flame Jab

Pack 3 pick 3:
Crumbling Ashes, Overbeing of Myth, Trapjaw Kelpie, Merrow Bonegnawer,
Duergar Assailant, Stream Hopper, Hoof Skulkin, Wickerbough Elder, Nip
Gwyllion, Shrewd Hatchling, Noggle Bridgebreaker, Tilling Treefolk,
Gilder Bairn
–> Shrewd Hatchling

Pack 3 pick 4:
Smoldering Butcher, Dream Thief, Clout of the Dominus, Idle Thoughts,
Stalker Hag, Aerie Ouphes, Monstrify, Fire at Will, Inside Out,
Ballynock Trapper, Noggle Bandit (FOIL), Altar Golem
–> Fire at Will

Pack 3 pick 5:
Fang Skulkin, Twinblade Slasher, Desecrator Hag, Wickerbough Elder,
Hobgoblin Dragoon, Cinder Pyromancer, Trapjaw Kelpie, Drain the Well,
Talara’s Bane, Merrow Levitator, Kithkin Zealot
–> Cinder Pyromancer

Pack 3 pick 6:
Antler Skulkin, Gift of the Deity, Dream Thief, Hotheaded Giant,
Beckon Apparition, Nucklavee, Oona’s Grace, Kithkin Spellduster,
Hatchet Bully, Smoldering Butcher
–> Hatchet Bully

Pack 3 pick 7:
Duergar Hedge-Mage, Phosphorescent Feast, Duergar Assailant,
Woodlurker Mimic, Slippery Bogle, Shell Skulkin, Cenn’s Enlistment,
Wilderness Hypnotist, Noggle Bridgebreaker
–> Noggle Bridgebreaker

Pack 3 pick 8:
Hobgoblin Dragoon, Merrow Levitator, Drain the Well, Battlegate Mimic,
Odious Trow, Desecrator Hag, Inside Out, Antler Skulkin
–> Hobgoblin Dragoon

Pack 3 pick 9:
Creakwood Ghoul, Stream Hopper, Merrow Bonegnawer, Grazing Kelpie,
Razorfin Abolisher (FOIL), Fang Skulkin, Nip Gwyllion
–> Stream Hopper

Pack 3 pick 10:
Heartlash Cinder, Shorecrasher Mimic, Monstrify, Jawbone Skulkin,
Raven’s Crime, Kithkin Zealot
–> Heartlash Cinder

Pack 3 pick 11:
Trapjaw Kelpie, Merrow Bonegnawer, Duergar Assailant, Stream Hopper,
Hoof Skulkin
–> Duergar Assailant

Pack 3 pick 12:
Idle Thoughts, Aerie Ouphes, Monstrify, Inside Out
–> Inside Out

Pack 3 pick 13:
Wickerbough Elder, Trapjaw Kelpie, Talara’s Bane
–> Wickerbough Elder

Pack 3 pick 14:
Antler Skulkin, Kithkin Spellduster
–> Kithkin Spellduster

Pack 3 pick 15:
Phosphorescent Feast
–> Phosphorescent Feast

Final Build:

2 Cinder Pyromancer
1 Giantbaiting
1 Sootstoke Kindler
1 Sootwalkers
1 Fists of the Demigod
1 Mudbrawler Cohort
1 Crimson Wisps
1 Demigod of Revenge
1 Intimidator Initiate
1 Ashenmoor Gouger
1 Hatchet Bully
1 Burn Trail
1 Stream Hopper
1 Shrewd Hatchling
1 Scuzzback Marauders
1 Flame Jab
1 Emberstrike Duo
1 Horde of Boggarts
1 Mudbrawler Raiders
1 Ember Gale
1 Noggle Bridgebreaker
1 Fire at Will
16 Mountain
1 Jaws of Stone

Sideboard
1 Gloomlance
1 Goldenglow Moth
1 Phosphorescent Feast
1 Manaforge Cinder
1 Traitor’s Roar
1 Manamorphose
1 Inside Out
1 Heartlash Cinder
1 Duergar Assailant
1 Disturbing Plot
1 Fossil Find
1 Wild Swing
1 Bloodshed Fever
1 Loamdragger Giant
1 Ghastly Discovery
1 Kithkin Spellduster
1 Emberstrike Duo
1 Wasp Lancer
1 Wickerbough Elder
1 Hobgoblin Dragoon
1 Torrent of Souls