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Snow

Monday, November 27, 2006
Well, it's that time of the year again. Like last year, we're getting a light dusting of snow here. Well, it's a dusting in downtown Salem. Apparently in other areas (like more rural areas) they're getting a couple of inches of snow.

Since any form of inclement weather is HEADLINE NEWS, it's all over KGW.com right now. It's not as if everyone who lives in the area doesn't know it's snowing. I mean, it's WHITE outside. It's the kind of news that is pretty obvious to anyone in the news-effected area.

However, as it's been for years and years now, it's not going to stick. Wouldn't it be great to get enough snow to make a snowman?

posted by Burton at 8:46 AM 1 comments

You can get anything you want...

Thursday, November 23, 2006
It's Thanksgiving Day. On a day like this, surrounded by family and guests, good food and wine, I'm reminded of all those Thanksgiving traditions from years past. My family has several - such as the guest list. But there's one tradition not unique to my family that I truly love: The Alice's Restaurant Massacree.

Every Thanksgiving day the local classic rock station (KGON) - as well as other stations around the country - play Arlo Guthrie's famous anti-war song. And every year I manage to hear it some way... that gentle guitar and the tale of Officer Obie and the litter. And every year I - along with everyone else, I'm sure - sing along at the end (when it comes around on the guitar):

"You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant
You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant
Walk right in it's around the back
Just a half a mile from the railroad track
You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant"

posted by Burton at 7:03 PM 0 comments

Hardware Failure

Wednesday, November 22, 2006
As some of you might have noticed, I suffered a big old hardware failure last weekend. One thing I like to do is run my own server; to that end, I had a VCR-sized computer co-located elsewhere with all my stuff on it. However, being a poor college student at this point, I can't afford things like "a real server" with a "warranty" or a "backup device". So when the motherboard on the aforementioned computer went up in smoke (literally) the computer was done, taking with it all my data.

Right now I'm running on temporary hardware (like a 6-year old Dell!) that is insufficient for my needs - except for the fact that it's free and it runs. Now I have to try to find another small-form-factor PC to do the job of the old one. Of course, I'd like it to be faster and have more memory so maybe I can do virtual machine stuff, too...

posted by Burton at 3:01 PM 0 comments

Movie Review: The Lion King 1½

Saturday, November 18, 2006
Last night I saw the movie The Lion King 1½ at a post-Hell-Week party. A classmate of ours brought her daughter to this party and we put the movie on. They had to leave ten minutes after it started but the rest of us ended up watching (and finishing it!)

The movie was quite enjoyable. I felt really clever for realizing that it was essentially a Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead to the original Lion King's Hamlet. (Yes, they put this in the movie trivia for the film on imdb, but I still realized it independently first!) It's the story of Timone and Pumbaa's story as they weave in and out of the original Lion King's storyline. Pure genius!

Of course, as movies go this lacks any of the depth of the original film. As one of Disney's trademark direct-to-video sequels, this is very inoffensive as it is definitely designed for the young ones. While the first film had dark themes (and even death!), this one is a lighter comedy that adults might enjoy - though probably not as much as they'd enjoy a Pixar film.

The final word on this film? Clever in many ways, but ultimately only bother seeing it if you've seen (and loved) the original or if you have kids in the 3 to 7 age range.

posted by Burton at 11:43 AM 0 comments

Blogger Beta

Wednesday, November 15, 2006
So I just switched over to Blogger Beta and so far I hate it. I have to save my sftp username and password in the Blogger system 'cause it doesn't seem to want to PROMPT me for it. So I'll be switching away from their crap system to WordPress as soon as I have free time (yeah, right), basically trading speed for "having it work" like on my blog. I switched that one a few weeks ago and so far it's working pretty well!

posted by Burton at 12:19 PM 0 comments

Dance, Monkey, Dance!

Yet another cool video to cross my desk. I thought I'd share it with y'all...

posted by Burton at 12:05 PM 0 comments

The Pendulum is Swinging

Monday, November 13, 2006
Less than a week after the Democrats have won control of the Senate and the House, and already we're seeing lame-duck politics and a big shift in political power - perhaps even an over-correction to the left.

A few examples:
It certainly seems like politics are moving to the center. But is this a pendulum? Is it going to keep moving, shifting as far to the left as it's been to the right? I think so. You read it here, kids... I think in 8 years (midterm elections of the second presidential term), we're going to see a shift back to the right. Prepare accordingly.

posted by Burton at 8:38 AM 0 comments

Polarity

Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Election day has come and gone and I sit here now pondering the results (and waiting for Virginia to finish counting.) As of this writing, the nation is holding its collective breath waiting to see the make-up of the Senate. The score in the stands is Republicans 49, Democrats 50. One vote to go... will there be a majority or a tied game?

Me? I'm hoping for a tie. It's looking pretty certain that we're going to be under a Democratic administration in 2008, and walking into that with a tied house means that candidates will be forced into moderation. Moderation is where I'd like us to be; no "agenda" can be foisted upon the American people and the politicians will have to fight each other to find "common ground", which usually involves less screwing of the average citizen.

In local news, it seems that Ted gets to keep his job. I was happy this year because it's the first time since I've been a voter where I felt there were two good candidates. In terms of initiatives, some measures passed, but most failed. I'm not displeased.

I'd just like to say "Thanks" to everyone who turned out and voted. The democratic process depends upon an educated and engaged voter crowd. At least we're halfway there....

posted by Burton at 8:51 AM 1 comments

Most Favoritest Time of the Year

Sunday, November 05, 2006
Well, we've officially entered my "most favoritest time of the year". I'm not talking about the Christmas season, Thanksgiving, or even the six months of rain that have just started here in Oregon. Neither am I talking about the falling of the leaves (beautiful though it may be), the school year (started months ago) or the election season.

I'm talking about the time of year when I can go to the supermarket at buy eggnog.

You see, since I was a wee lad, I've loved eggnog and, growing up, I've been constantly stymied by the fact that this delicious dairy treat is only seemingly available in November and December. Furthermore, it's the only way that *I* know about (when combined with brandy) to get mildly drunk while consuming about 4,000 calories per drink. Others may come close, but there's no substitute for the real eggnog.

So hear this: When I rule the world, eggnog will be commercially available year round!

posted by Burton at 3:27 PM 5 comments

WordPress or Blogger?

Wednesday, November 01, 2006
I'm sick and tired of Blogger.com not working all the time (and I know I'm not alone.) Admittedly, I don't actually pay for the service but it actually seems to work for me (since I host my own website) about 3 in 4 times, which isn't a stellar track record (though roughly my grade average in college - the first time.)

So I'm thinking of moving to WordPress. This blog that you're reading (WalkingSaint.com) is pretty big and I use it a lot; I don't want to mess it up. So I'm testing it out over at my other blog, BurtonSimmons.com. If you wander over there you can see what it looks like with WordPress. Please, let me know if it works or if it doesn't. (Be gentle, though.)

If all goes well I'll probably try to migrate this site in the next month or so... whenever I have the free time (yeah, right.) Anyway, that might be where I'm headed in the future to escape that usage nightmare that is Blogger's service.

posted by Burton at 11:00 PM 3 comments


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