Return of the Journaling

[jazzfish]

"Free-Speech Zone": "The problem was, the restricted area kept moving. It was wherever I happened to be standing." As reported in that horribly corrupt instrument of the Liberal Media (tee-em), The American Conservative.

Airport follies: "Probably the kind of cops that think only they should have guns." His girlfriend's experience is even more outrageous.

Keeping Secrets: "Bartlett says that some administration critics 'such as environmentalists . . . want to use [secrecy] as a bogeyman.' He adds: 'For every series of examples you could find where you could make the claim of a "penchant for secrecy," I could probably come up with several that demonstrate the transparency of our process.' Asked for examples, the communications director offered none."

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So, ever since our last episode I've been battling a low-powered sinus infection (I didn't really admit it was a sinus infection 'til Friday; I kept hoping it was just a scratchy throat from sinus drainage), not writing my Shakespeare paper again, watching RotK (good stuff; Denethor is probably the best-portrayed character since Boromir), and generally not doing much.

Good movie, overall. Better than Towers. I twitched at the bits where Frodo sends Sam off, it wanted more detail in a lot of places (Denethor, Isengard, the palantiri, Faramir/Eowyn), and he cut the Scouring of the Shire, damn him, but for the most part I was quite happy.

. . . yeah. Other than that life has been. I'm going up to see my parents on the 23rd; unsure when I'll be back. Classes start January 19th, though, so I'll definitely be in town by then. Er, anyone know of anything going down for New Year's in B-burg or NoVA?

Comments

[rubinpdf.livejournal.com]

Often the Secret Service over steps it's bounds because it is their job to protect the President, no matter who that President may be. When supposedly peaceful demonstrations turn into violent riots (such as those seen in Seattle and Miami), the Secret Service is, of course, paranoid that those same demonstration organizers want to protest close to the President. It is their job to make sure the President avoids any violent confrontation where his life could be put in danger... and I as I said earlier, they often take that to extremes. I would not be surprised to find that the Secret Service wanted to completely ban protest, and that the "free speech zones" are a compromise position.

I know you brought this up because of your dislike of the current President, but I wonder how you felt when it was the Clinton Secret Service doing similar abusing (such as those described here) (http://members.aol.com/basfawlty/shake_bc.htm).

[ndkid.livejournal.com]

I expect most people you know in Blacksburg will be migrating to WVa to Shawn's parent's place. I know you generally eschew parties where two of the major activities are nakedness and drinking, however:

a) I will probably be dragging subbes this year;
b) Shawn's mother and father really do cook up a wonderful set of food;
c) since I'll be there, there are guarenteed to be some sober people who won't neccessarily be naked. (If narquelion goes, that practically guarentees another, too.)

[narquelion.livejournal.com]

Hey, just because I have a long-standing tradition of hanging out with Shawn's mom and ending up neither naked nor drunk doesn't mean I'll do it again this year. It isn't exactly planned, y'know.

Although yeah, I probably will.

[ndkid.livejournal.com]

(chuckle)
Somehow, I can't see you going to a NYE party and planning to get drunk and naked, either. ;-)

SLV New Years

[lizthefair.livejournal.com]

There is going to be a New Years thing at SLV. Dancing in the main room and J is planning some gaming in the Molla. Should be good times.

[mrstickman.livejournal.com]

"Amendment Zoning" (http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/02/08/31_zone.html), by Doug Pibel: "I'm pretty sure I can't hold my breath long enough to wait with bated breath for the appearance of Second Amendment Zones."