The Cost of Living

Spent today with my old roommate DW in the city. We're looking to combine forces once again, and find some housing - preferably in Potrero, Hayes, or anywhere mid-city really. Tough going though, with the housing market the way it is.

We're looking $2300 or lower for a two bedroom apartment, and only had two viewings today. I guess that's not so bad - I can remember college in Santa Cruz where I shared a two bed, one bath with three other guys; we would each pay $600 a month. 

Supersaturated markets are the pits.

On a different note, I have a couple cousins that live in the Davis area, and this seems to be causing some concern. Occupy stance aside, I found the concerns over the role of the police an interesting point of the article.

In the times of terrorism and economic strife, we probably need more of this protect and serve, rather than distrust and fear.

Think back a bit - what did you first think or feel the last time you saw a cop on the street?

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Silversun Pickups - The Royal We

Ending Note: Short week coming up. And pumpkin pie.

Occupy Something

Red gave me a call around 5:00 PM.

Red: "They're kinda close. Can you close the shop early?"

Me: "No. Should really stay till closing."

At first I was confused as to why they were here - there is nothing around the shop, but roads and cats. Then again, I guess shutting down a port draws some attention.

It's not that I'm against the movement, but this sort of hubbub just seems saturated in bad press and more harm, than good, for the cause. You can't differentiate the anarchists, skulduggery, or clueless followers from the message. It seems most people I've heard from have had more pride in the fact that they're part of this piece of history, than pride in the sort of change they're pushing; not to say that the former is invalid, but isn't the whole point of this to achieve something?

Me: "No, yeah, they're really close. I'm getting out of here."

Red: "Bye."

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Grand Hallway - Blessed Be, Honey Bee

Ending Note: Condolences to the Runway Style House that was vandalised and robbed during the general strike.

Assault Leads To Good, Kinda

At lunch today, and found this to be quite uplifting.

Two reasons to be positive about this story...

A man acted on his principles and instinct, to do what he felt was right at the time. This same man, realized his error in the matter, and has gone to great lengths to make things right; clear the wrong, and assume responsibility. His actions after the incident are rare to witness, and should be commended.

In the time of professional athletes shooting themselves in the leg, getting in fights, and just plain being criminals and thugs, one of them kept his cool, and followed the procedure of social and legal action instead of flying off the handle.

Good job folks.

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Scrabbel - Mr. Blue

Ending Note: I love football season.

The Sum of Our Parts

Birthday post to follow. For now, some news...

There's dangerous stuff happening in London. These idiots thought they were in a movie or something. And these two have betrayed so much by their actions.

Criminality comes in many forms, with differing degrees, that can only be even remotely decided by a justice system that is never perfect. Individuals make up the criminals - individuals make up the society that has been injured by these acts. It boils down to one person, making a decision that impacts us all.

As a people, we've lost sight of the value and importance of honor. It's a largely antiquated idea that smells of hokey sentiment, but is the simplest aid in these criminal times. 

To be held responsible to yourself. Holding weight in principle above an end result. Searching for the right answer even when there appears to be none. Making choices that transcend their impact to you alone. Doing good.

There's a rule I follow when dating women:

"Leave 'em better than when you found 'em."

I think this can be taken out of the bubble of dating, and given room to apply to people in general. If this one little rule was followed even 1% of the time, the impact on our societies would be monumental.

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Daughter - Your Kisses

Ending Note: Being good is hard, but try.

Binary Differences

Read the news online during my lunch break. It's something I inherited when I took the nine to five world on.

Went over the details of the stuff that happened in Norway, and had a talk with The Boss about it.

The Boss: "Do you feel better now that you've read that?"

Me: "No."

The Boss: "That's why I stopped reading the news. Nothing good ever happens in the news."

He's got a point, albeit a pessimistic one; corruption sells, death sells, humiliation sells. Need more proof, check your local listing for some choice programing. 

But I'd rather see things from another angle. 

I read the news to stay informed, to stay connected to the humanity that's in a constant swirl of chaos and change. If anything, the world needs all the help it can get, even from lil 'ol me. In the grand scheme of the game, I'm not making much of a dent in the the scales of hope and love and joy, but +1 is better than 0, and a hell of a lot better than -1. 

Need some perspective?

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Only Son - Call Them Brothers (feat. Regina Spektor)

Ending Note: Maybe you don't need to measure progress. Maybe you just need to know which direction its headed.

It's Minnesota, Shovel Some Snow

You're peeved at your neighbors - it happens. Their baby won't stop crying, they toss their garbage in your cans, they always take the good spots in front of your place...

It's one thing to feel burdened by neighbors - it's domestic comfort; habit and territory make you feel safe, and outsiders infringe on that. I get it. But this, jesus, come on.

At some point it drops from plain 'ol stupid to sad. You really have nothing more pressing in your life, no hobbies or relationships, to fill your time with? Instead, you buy hacking software, break into your neighbor's WiFi, plant political threats, child pornography, and hijack emails. Really? At least watch some bad TV or something.

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The Crystal Method - Jaded

Ending Note: Computers & The Internet - there's always a trail.

Thanks For Ruining My Lunch

I never really followed this case, but reading the summary, I found myself wondering how the system works. How our legal system finds justice in such a public, communication soaked world of voyeurs and gossips. This is one of the most disturbing parts of the whole thing:

Among the trial spectators was 51-year-old Robin Wilkie, who said she has spent $3,000 on hotels and food since arriving June 10 from Lake Minnetonka, Minn. She tallied more than 100 hours standing in line to wait for tickets and got into the courtroom 15 times to see Anthony.

Yes, this will be hypocritical, but what is wrong with you woman?

There are families going hungry in major cities accross this country, and you're treating the murder trial of a child like a day time soap, with the perks of a vacation at an amusement park. Repugnant.

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Natalie Merchant - San Andreas Fault

Ending Note: I need to drink more water.

Booting Up...

Dear god, this design is horrible.

I'll get around to changing it. I swear. For now, an example of the horrible state of things, but also a genius move.

James. Crabwalking like a jail-house pro.

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Ending Note: There has got to be a better way to travel accross the country.