January 31, 2004

Plagued by Blue Screen of Death

My computer problems have continued ceaselessly and I fear that my 5 year old intrepid Dell Inspiron 5000 notebook that made the trek all the way across to the South Pacific Top Samoa and back is about to be relegated to the laptop graveyard. The problems started back about 3 weeks ago when I was still in Sedona and the computer wouldn't start. I ordered a new power cord, cracked open the notebook (literally, because I busted the case when I tried to open it) and digged around inside to find the problem. I don't know if you're ever opened a laptop, but if you're used to working on desktop PCs, this is whole new ballgame. Everything is so small and not exactly easy to get to. I removed eveyrthing I could, dusted off all the kitten hair, and there was a ton of it. And when I put the thing back together it magically started up. Then about a week later, the notebook started blue screening, which means that there is something so drastically wrong that the operating system cannot startup. I tried everything I could think of to solve the problem. I went into Safe Mode and started removing recently installed programs. But then after a few restarts, I couldn't even get into Safe Mode without getting a Blue Screen of Death. So I reinstalled the OS, Windows 2000. No luck, same problem. Then I installed XP. It worked, but it runs like such a hog on my poor underpowered machine that I decided to removed it and try again with WIN2000. When I reinstalled last night, I got the same problem. I'm trying one more time and then I'm going back to XP and I'm just going to deal with the consequences. I could buy more RAM or I could just buy another computer, which I'd probably need anyway if I go to grad school in the fall. If there was some way I could wipe the C drive clean and start fresh, I'd do it, but I can't figure out how. I'd take the whole drive out and find the biggest magnet in town but I have files on the D drive that I want to save. In the meantime, I'm taking all these great pictures that I want to share with y'all, and I hopefully I will be able to soon. So you're just going to have read and imagine what it looks here. (It's quite nice).

Posted by andrew at 07:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

January 30, 2004

Does the Pope Shit in the Woods?

I don't know if the Pope defecates in the woods (probably not with his bad back), but my kittens have taken to shitting in the potted palms of my new, and ever-patient, housemates.

They have a clean litter box and they have used it in the past, so they know what the deal is. I think they are so used to being outdoor cats, both in Samoa and in Sedona that being snowbound has caused them to seek out any patch of soil and befoul it. Of course, it stinks and it's disgusting, and I'm embarrassed because Lilla and Roy have already accomodated me and my charges excessively.

What can I do about this?

Posted by andrew at 07:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

January 28, 2004

Can Someone Explain the US Dollar to Me?

Can someone please explain the US Dollar to me? I don't get it. I must have mised the day we talked about currency in Macroeconomics. I've always had a hard time coming to grips with the fact that the US Dollar is weaker than the British Pound. How can than be? Don't even mention other currencies that are stronger than the dollar. The Jordanian Dinar?

But now, our weak ass economy with absurdly low interest rates has caused the dollar the dip against almost every currency, major and minor, in the world. I get that our currency might slip against another ecomony's currency, if that ecomony was one of the world powers. But how about everything else?

Look no further than the miserable Samoan Tala. Take a look in the navigation column on the right and you'll find the dollar exchange rate for the tala. As I write this post, the rate is one dollar equals 2.54 tala. Now when I arrived in Samoa in October of 2002, the rate was 3.25. The rate has fallen steadily over the last year and half.

Now while it's understandable to see the currency slip against the pound, the yen or the euro, it's is inexplicable to me that the US Dollar should slip against the Samoan Tala. Remember, Samoa is country with less than 200,000 people with an ecomony that survives on remissions and handouts, so how could their currency gain against the US Dollar. It just doesn't make any sense.

Now that I'm in the middle of Colorado, it doesn't make much of difference to me. It actually might help me because one of former Peace Corps colleagues is selling the stuff I left behind in Samoa and when the money is converted over the dollars, I'll make out like a bandit. However, I'm a traveler at heart. I will take every opportunity to leave the country and explore our world. And when I do, I'm going to want a strong dollar.

Posted by andrew at 09:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

To Ski or Not To Ski

Snow is lightly falling and it's close to zero outside, so it's tougher than you think to make the decision to ski or not to ski. The argument for is that it's my day off. I have a season pass, so I ski free instead of paying 73 bucks to ski at the most expensive resort in the country. I need to get into better shape. There's also a good chance that the sun is going to come out later and make for some really good photography. That's it. I've convinced myself. I'm probably going to go in the next few minutes after I post this.

Posted by andrew at 08:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Please Defend W. Go Ahead. Make My Day

Last night, as I was watching the returns come in from New Hampshire and seeing my candidate win a decisive victory that all but ensures him the nomination (no one seeking his party's nomiation has not gone onto the presidential race after winning both Iowa and New Hampshire since '52), I was struck by this recurring thought that I've been having ever since the current administration took office. I want someone, anyone to defend the record and the actions of George W. Bush.

I know there are not that many intelligent conservatives out there, so I'll even give you a little help and present the topics for defense of your man. Let's hear from you on these topics:

Education Policy
Environment Policy
Energy Policy
Fiscal Policy
Tax Policy
The Value of the Dollar
Immigration Policy
Foreign Affairs
Corporate Malfeasance
Separation of Church and State
Partisanship/Elevating the Debate in Washington
Work Ethic/Vacation Time

I don't even want to hear from you about the "War". It's such a blunder and so badly handled that it can't be defended. It's so obvious that the WMD scare was just a avenue into the Iraqi resources. Now that Bush is moving away from the WMD issue and into something along the lines of, well, the world is safer and the Iraqi people are better off, he looks about as Machiavellian as one could manage. If the administration were truly honest about it's intentions to a) make the world safer and b) improve the lives of the Iraqi people, Bush could have a) mentioned that as a motive before prosecuting the war b) bared any lucrative contracts to American companies, especially Halliburton (come on, who are they kidding here?) and c) looked after the interests of the people of Congo and Zimbabwe and other countries where ruthless dictators are suppressing the human rights of their people.

It's no wonder everyone hates us.

Another quick note to you republicans in advance of the preparation of your defense. Please don't fall into the trap of other conservatives I have talked to or heard on the radio. Don't say, but Clinton this, and Clinton that. This isn't about Clinton. This isn't even about conservative or liberal nor Republican or Democrat. This is about one president who should have come into the White House with a mantle of humilty and bipartisanship and has instead run roughshod over America and the rest of the world. Go on, then. Defend him. Please. Do it now.

Posted by andrew at 08:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 27, 2004

Kittens in the Snow

Kittens in the Snow

Posted by andrew at 12:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

January 26, 2004

New Hampshire

The New Hampshire primary is tomorrow and once again I'm pulling for my man, John Kerry. I have no doubt that he is going to win. To me, the most interesting question is how far back Dean will fall. The next interesting thing to watch is where Clark and Edwards place in relation one another. Both are from the south and the results in NH should be a good indicator of the results in South Carolina which one of them should certainly win. I have a day off tomorrow so I'm probably going to be glued to CNN watching the "action". Especially if it's as cold (it was 4 at the top of mountain at 9 o'clock this morning) and snowy as has been.

Posted by andrew at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Apres Ski

Last night I was waiting for the West Vail Red bus to whisk me home, when the radio crackled and the bus driver on the other end was saying how one of his passengers had passed out and he wanted to know what to do. This was a little after 6 o'clock. 6 o'clock!!@! Apres Ski starts (and sometimes finishes) early at Vail.

Posted by andrew at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 25, 2004

Near Disaster

Last night I was driving home from a dinner party at my manager's place up in the hills above Beaver Creek in a place called Wildridge when I looked in my rear view window to see those oh so familiar flashing red and blue lights. Well, not that familiar because I can't remember being pulled over in the last ten years or so, but you know what I mean.

I pull over immediately to the shoulder. The cop, one Sgt. McGovern, walks up and when I roll down the window I get the standard, license, insurance and registration. All of which, fortunately, I have. That hasn't always been the case.

I had three Negra Modelos at the party but I had waited almost 2 hours before hitting the road and wasn't drunk at all, but that didn't mean I wasn't nervous. My eyes have been really red lately becasue I started wearing contacts all day for the first time in at least 5 years, and I haven't been getting much sleep (I blame the altitude and the kittens). And getting pulled over at any time for any reason is unsettling.

Sgt. McGovern tells me that he pulled me over because I was going a little quick coming down the hill. In fact I misjudged one of the curves and almost flew off the side of the mountain. I agreed with him and said that I just moved into the area and didn't know the streets very well, but I slowed immediately when I realized I was going to fast for the road. Then he went back to his car, presumably to run my DL.

Thankfully, I don't have any points nor any outstanding warrants, so when he came back about five minutes later he let me go with a warning to watch my speed. Thanks, officer.

Posted by andrew at 05:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Online Above 10,000 feet

Sprint runs a communications center at the top of the Eagle Bahn gondola where I am now trying to thaw out my little toes. Internet connection is super fast and, best of all, it's free. So you can expect daily reports from the top of the mountain.

The weather is complete crap today. It's about 20 degrees and there is no visibility. It's not exactly the kind of day that screams, "group portrait". So instead of taking pictures (and making money) I've spent most of the moring skiing and getting to know the mountain, which is massive.

It's great skiing on a day like this because even though it's cold, windy and snowy, the trails are full of powder. The problem for me is that I'm in horrible skiing shape which basically means that one run down the mountain releases enough lactic acid in my thighs to make me want quit and head home. I'll be in shape in a few days, but meanwhile my skiis are chattering all over the place. It could be worse. I could be where you are. :)

Posted by andrew at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Spaulding Gray Missing

I saw Spaulding's last monologue at PS122 in NYC a few months back. I was in the second row right in front of his little signature desk. I was struck by how sad he seemed. He lacked the energy that attracted me to his work in the first place. But as he slowly walked off stage dragging his badly damaged feet, I never got the sense that I would never see him in again. When I heard a brief story about his dissapearance on some news radio station when I was moving from Sedona to Vail, I was shocked and saddened. I really hope he is found and found soon.

Posted by andrew at 07:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Bring on the Snow

Aspens in Vail



Since I arrived on Tuesday, the weather in Vail has been nothing short of amazing. It's been sunny and warm every day, getting up to about 40 degrees at the top on the Gondola. I've picked up more of a tan in the last few days than I did in a year of living in the tropics.

Vail hasn't seen much snow in the last two weeks yet the slopes are still great with hardly any icy patches. The resort does a great job of keeping the mountain groomed for perfect skiing conditions. That said, the valley could really use what the locals call "a dump".

Today, the snow is supposed to start falling again and should continue in flurries all week long, which should make for great skiing. Hopefully I won't freeze my tuchus off.

***UPDATE*** It's now 7:33am (mountain time). The day is starting here in Vail and as I look outside my window I can see massive flakes of snow drifting silently to the ground. It's beautiful. Yet somehow the thought of standing outside at the top of the mountain isn't nearly as appealing a prospect as it was yesterday.

Posted by andrew at 06:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Where Have You Gone, Andrew?

Sorry about the lack of posts on the site since I arrived in Vail. It's not for lacking of anything interesting to write about. I just don't have the usual access to the Internet. Not only have I had massive problems with my laptop which is knocking on death's door after the year in Samoa, but this job thing is really getting in the way. I've been working from 8:30-7 every day since I arrived and when you factor in the required social drinking (Vail is more like a big bar with skiing problem, than a ski resort with a drinking problem), I just haven't had the time to inform my viewing public of my day to day activities. I'll try to rectify that as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience.

Posted by andrew at 06:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 24, 2004

Adios, Helmut

The era of big nudes is over.

By ANTHONY BREZNICAN, AP Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES - Helmut Newton was a trailblazer in the photography world, exploring power, gender roles and an icy sexuality in his pictures.

His work appeared in magazines such as Playboy, Elle and Vogue, but he was best known for his stark, black-and-white nude photos of women. Newton, whose subjects included Paloma Picasso, Pierre Cardin and Naomi Campbell, died Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after a car crash, police said. He was 83.

Newton apparently lost control of his Cadillac while leaving the famed Chateau Marmont hotel and crashed into a wall, said Officer April Harding, a police spokeswoman.

"He was a giant," said Playboy founder Hugh Hefner. "He was a major talent that pushed the boundaries in terms of photography and influenced many, many other photographers in following generations."

"He will be very much missed," Hefner added. "He will be missed."

It was unclear if Newton became ill while driving, authorities said.

The photographer, who was Jewish, was born in Germany to wealthy parents but fled his homeland at age 18 for Singapore in December 1938, a month after Nazi-led persecution programs began. He eventually settled in Australia and became a citizen, where he opened a small photography studio and changed his last name to Newton from Neustaedter.

Eventually he took up residence in Monte Carlo overlooking the Mediterranean, but spent winters in Los Angeles at the hotel.

In October, he donated more than 1,000 pictures to a new gallery in Berlin saying he was "proud" his work will now be on display in his hometown.

At the time, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder called Newton's decision a "sign of reconciliation"

"You can chase a man out of his home but you can't rip his home out of his soul," Schroeder said in a letter read at the press conference announcing the donation.

Newton spent time in Paris as a young man, and made his breakthrough in 1961 shooting for French Vogue magazine.

While Newton also photographed clothed celebrities and nature scenes, he favored photographing strong, muscle-toned women, usually while they wore little more than high heels.

His trademark "Big Nudes" series featured larger-than-life, black and white images of women that portray them as dominating the camera rather than as subjects.

Newton is survived by his wife June, an artist who works under the name Alice Springs. They were married in 1948, and she was a favorite subject of his.

In one 1973 series of photos, she was portrayed as Hitler wearing a cropped mustache with model Jerry Hall posing as Eva Braun. Many of their images of each other turned up in the 1999 book "Us and Them."

The Newtons had no children. He raised that point in October, when he made the donation of some of his photographs to Berlin. While he made clear he was not ready to donate his entire archive, he suggested it would eventually go to the city.

"We don't have any children, so when we kick the bucket of course we'll leave them to Berlin," he said.

Posted by andrew at 06:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 23, 2004

New Home Sweet Home

New Home Sweet HomeMy new home in West Vail is a small bedroom with two twin beds, a wardrobe, a chest of drawers and night stand in the lovely three bedroom condo of Roy White from Zimbabwe by way of South Africa and his lovely wife Lilla Asmund who is half Icelandic (she likes to say "Viking") and half Native American. Roy has his own painting business and Lilla works for the new Ritz-Carlton over in Beaver Creek, about 5 miles back west down the valley.

The condo is about 4-5 miles from Lionshead Vail where I'm working. I could drive in about 5 minutes or less but parking is expensive, so I take the bus. Vail, so I am told, has the most extensive system of free buses anywhere in the country. Not surprising, really, when you consider that 73 dollar a day lift tickets buy a hell of a lot of public services.

The bus stop is about a 3 minute walk down the road. There are two buses, West Vail Red and West Vail Green that make reverse 30 minute loops around the area so it never takes too long for one to show up nor to go the three or four stops up the road to where I can cross the pedestrian bridge over I70 into Lionshead.

I'm still getting settled, but I'm very comfortable and happy to be here. Roy and Lilla seem to have taken to the kittens. They even moved their bird cage from the main room upstairs into their bedroom to avoid an iminent Slyvester-Tweety moment between Fil and their cockateil.

Posted by andrew at 04:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 20, 2004

Driving in Cars with Cats


Driving in Cars with CatsDriving 13 hours with two insane kittens was never going to be a picnic, but add in icy roads over 13 thousand foot passes and you end up with the ingredients for a nasty adventure.

At first I had the kittens in their Pet Taxi. They weren't thrilled about this, especially Mak who was whinning like I was taking him the the kitty inquistion. Fil was close to her normal, clam self, but there was a look of fear in those green eyes. All the way up the winding road to Flagstaff I was tempted to pull over and let them out, which I finally did when I got up there.

When the cats had run of the car all hell broke loose. Mak was signaling for turns and changing the radio. Apparently he doesn't like NPR. Fil was trying to surf the Pet Taxi which would lurch forward as she moved up to hang ten. It took about an hour for them to settle down and find a comfy place on my luggage in the back. At one point they were so comfortable that one of them used the litter box. I'm not sure which one, but I could smell the effort.

On the way through Tuba City, the weather started deteriorating badly. Gray clouds and bit of rain turned into a blizzard which made the decision not to stop at Monument Valley extremely easy. The kittens would take turns sitting on shoulder looking out the front window. And every so often Mak would just freak out for about 5 minutes before he was becalmed and went back to sleep.

Darkness started to fall around the Four Corners area and it snowed all the way through Cortez and into Durango. I've been in snow hundreds of times, even been in cars a few of those times, but until today, I hadn't driven in the white stuff myself. Subaru was great. I cranked up the heated seats and plowed through the blizzard.

I spent the night at the Adobe Inn in Durango. I had a nice room with 2 queen beds and pull out couch, but I couldn't sleep at all because Fil and Mak ran around the place like screaming banshees all night. I think the falling snow and the cold freaked them out.

In the morning the roads were icy. The windy pass up through the historic mining towns of Silverton and Uoray felt so dangerous that I could barely manage more than 30 mph even though the visibility was great and there were hardly any other cars on the road. The Subaru was great in the snow. There were a couple of times when I felt the car slip as I pulled around a harpin, but the ABS brakes kicked an I didn't have any problems.

After Ouray it was a clean sailing to Grand Juntion and up the I70 to Vail, which has to be one of the most scenic highways in the world. Not only is the highway itself amazing, a split level curvy thing, but it snakes up into the snowy valley along the headwaters of the Colorado river. I don't know if the kittens apprecited the view as much as I did. I think they were comatose at the time and ready to get onto a surface that didn't move around and stop suddenly for seemingly no reason.

Posted by andrew at 04:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 19, 2004

Hitting the Road

I've got everything packed except the kittens. I'm sure they're going to be thrilled once they find out what's in store for them.


New Address:

Andrew Hecht
2437 Chamonix Lane Apt A3
West Vail, CO


If everything goes well, I should be in Vail on Wednesday. See you on the slopes!

Posted by andrew at 02:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

C'mon Arizona, Get With the Program

I went to drop a few letters in the mailbox this morning and I was shocked to see that the mail had been delivered. Then I remembered that this backwards state that I've been living in for the past two months doesn't honor MLK day. It reminds me of a this comedian, maybe Stave White, I can't remember, but it doesn't matter. He said something like, you gotta be racist as hell not to take a day off from work. I agree. Get with the program, Arizona. Put down your guns for just a second and join us together in the 21st century. Now, doesn't that feel good?

Happy Birthday Dr. King.

Posted by andrew at 01:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Vail, There's No Comparison

Vail, There's No ComparisonTomorrow I'm leaving to take a job as an on-mountain photographer at Vail, America's finest ski resort (or so they claim). This is something of dream job for me. It's very exciting and I can't wait to get there and get started.

How did I get this job? I could say I went through a battery of interviews and showed portfolios all over the place, but I'd be lying. All I did was call the company and ask for a job. That's it. Amazing, isn't it?

There was some trepidation about finding a place to live on such short notice (they needed an action photographer right away). It's mid-season and I have cats, which is a huge problem. I called my aunt & uncle who are good friends with a couple who live in Vail. They put out the word to their friends and acquantainces. Lo and behold, right before I was almost forced to board my precious kittens with some buddies in San Diego, I got a call from a woman who is looking for someone to rent out her extra room. And she doesn't care that I have cats. Bring 'em on, she says. God bless networking.

It should be fun to see how the Subie performs in the snow. It will be more fun to see how the kittens perform in the snow. It will be less fun to see how I perfom in the snow.

Posted by andrew at 03:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Down to Wire in Iowa

Down to Wire in Iowa
The race in Iowa seems to have tightened up nicely over the weekend which means caucus goers are going to have a hell of a day of arguing and convincing ahead of them. I would be surprised if the 2004 caucus wasn't among highest turnouts in the history of the state. I'm pleased to see my favored candidates Kerry and Edwards surge while the Dean (supported in my family only by Mak) is slip-sliding away.

My hope is that Kerry will win the nomination, as he should, being the best candidate and all, and that Edwards will be his VP on the ticket. I think they would be very formidable come December.

Who knows what will happen. Iowa can mean so much, but it can also mean so little, especially with the race this close. And it's still so early. It will be interesting to watch.

Posted by andrew at 03:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Do You Want a Bun With That?

This Atkins Diet thing is out of control. I was in Burger King today (not by choice) and I see that they now have a "low-carb" Whopper on the menu. "Low-carb" Whopper? Who are they kidding?

Listen up if you're on a diet, especially any of these low carb diets. If you're serious about losing weight:

WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU STOPPING AT BURGER KING FOR, FAT ASS!

The hillarious thing is that when my friend Peter ordered one, the cashier asked him if he wanted fries with it.

Posted by andrew at 02:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

January 18, 2004

How Does Your ZIP Code Rank?

New Home Sweet HomeI just arrived back in Sedona after spending the weekend with one of my oldest friends Peter, his wife Lili and their 3 week old baby, Amelia. I haven't seen the Townshends in more than a year since they moved down south from San Jose. As always, it's great to see old friends, especially after such a long hiatus.

Pete now lives in Rancho Santa Fe in a beautiful Spanish style home. Rancho Santa Fe, in case you're not familiar with the town, is in the hills north of San Diego and is one of the most exlcusive zip codes in the country. According to a survey on Forbes.com, the median home price in RSF is a mere $1,700,000. Interestingly enough, one of my old zip codes, 94010, is right above Rancho Santa Fe on the list. I managed to hold down a tiny stuido apartment for 800 bucks while I was working at Electronic Arts in Silicon Valley.

The township has tons of restrictive codes and guidelines, including no neon and no chain stores. So there's no Starbucks in the quaint two street downtown, but there are exclusive restaurants, cafes and shops.

The little strip is also one of the best places in the world to go car shopping. Not because of the dealers, there are none. But because the residents like to show off their brand new shiny vehicles. We saw a Mercedes-Benz Maybach, one of very few in the world, with a sticker price north of $350,000. Sounds insane to pay that price for any car when you can buy a house almost anywhere in the country with the money. Then again that sum wouldn't buy you a garage in Rancho Santa Fe.

The list is here is you want to check it out.

Posted by andrew at 11:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 17, 2004

Hodad's

If you ever find yourself in San Deigo and you need to grab a bite to eat, head down to Hodad's on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach. They claim they have the best burgers in the world and they might just be right, if you can manage to take a bite out of it. I made the mistake of ordering a double. You need to be able to unhinge your jaw to get your mouth around the massive thing. Delicious. American food at its finest.

Posted by andrew at 07:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 16, 2004

Your Credit Card is Denied

Never before in my life have I had credit card denied. Then it happened twice in Los Angeles. First time at Sportmart. Second time at Big 5. It was both embarassing and annoying. It wan annoying because I haven't even come close to my credit limit. I'm not within 80% of it. And I've had this credit card for over 10 years and have not once failed to make a payment on time.

So what the fuck?

At Sportmart, I called US Bank and the women at customer said for me to tell the merchant to call the credit authorizing company. I said, what does that mean. She said, it means tell the merchant to call their credit authorization company. I said, I understand what you said, but what does it mean. She said, tell the merchant to call their credit authorization company. I wanted to reach through the phone and rip her heart out. I told the merchant to call their credit authorization company and the transaction went through, but it took about 20 minutes.

At Big 5, the next day, the same thing happened. Only this time when the chick at Big 5 called the credit authorization company, the transaction was denied. What the fuck again? I called US Bank and this time the customer service rep tells me that they put a random hold on my account to do a security check. Well, thanks for securing my account, but next time how about informing me so I don't waste my time nor look like a total ass in front of the sales clerk. He said he would "reinstate" my account and I should be able to make the transaction in 10 minutes, which I did, but it took another 10 minutes of waiting around. Did I really want to buy thermal underwear from Big 5 that badly? I suppose I did.

Now I want to cancel my credit card, because they've been such pricks, but I've been with them for a long time, it's the only credit card I have at the moment, and I accrue miles on KLM, my favorite airline. What to do.

Posted by andrew at 02:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 15, 2004

Computer Crash

It really sucks when you're just about to publish a post, the computer crashes and you haven't saved what you've written.

I was writing a post about my visit to my sister's second grade class last week when the computer decided to spontaneously reboot. It was a good story too. I might try to recompose it when I get to where I'm going and I have some time.

Posted by andrew at 02:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 14, 2004

Now I Remember...

...why I hate coming to Los Angeles. It's not the smog, which I'm used. It's not the people, which I can avoid. It's the traffic and the way people drive like mindless morons that drives me insane. Not once, not twice, but three times driving through the little town of Rialto west of San Bernadino, stalled cars on the shoulder caused traffic to back up for miles. There was no accident. There was no blood. No fire engines, cops or ambulances. Just stalled cars. Yet people feel compelled to slow down, crane their necks and get a better view. Personally, I think this should be a capital offense with sentences to be carried out on the spot. Anybody who willfully creates more traffic, especially in a major urban center known for congestion problems needs to be drawn and quartered.

Then there's those people who drive the speed limit in the passing lane. Where did I put my gun again?

Posted by andrew at 06:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

January 13, 2004

Paranoid? No, not me

Dear J-School Applicant,

Thank you for applying to the Graduate School of Journalism at UC Berkeley. At this time, your application file for Fall 2004 is incomplete.

ALL MISSING APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE RECEIVED BY WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2004.

IF YOUR FILE REMAINS INCOMPLETE AFTER THIS DATE, YOUR APPLICATION MAY NOT BE REVIEWED.

Please send all missing items to our office as soon as possible. (Our address is shown below.) Missing items can also be faxed to our office at .

Please DO NOT CALL OR REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL to check on the receipt of materials or the progress of your application. We will notify you when your application is complete.

We will contact you should we wish to schedule an interview. (Please note: Not all applicants are invited to interview.)

Fellowship applicants must submit all supporting materials by the deadline and should be sure to submit their FAFSA form as soon as possible.


Sincerely,

Office of Admissions

I love how they don't bother to tell me what's missing. That would constitute common courtesy in my book. That is, if I was actually missing some part of my application. I called the School of Journalism, left a message and got this email response:

Hi Andrew,

I've received your voice message, and I apologize for the confusion
that the last email from us has caused. Your application is complete. Your email address was mistakenly put on the list of incomplete applicants.

Sincerely,
Stephanie Virardi
Office of Admissions

Hopefully, Berkeley will take into account the mental anguish that they caused me and grant me immediate acceptance. That's the policy, isn't it?

Posted by andrew at 11:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Road Trip

I'm putting the new wheels to the test and taking off for a short trip to LA and San Diego to pick up a few things and visit some friends. It will be nice to get out of the freakish cold of Northern Arizona and back into California sunshine.

Posted by andrew at 10:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 12, 2004

Mak for Dean

Mak for Dean

Posted by andrew at 12:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Giancarlo Esposito

Giancarlo EspositoToday I was flipping around the channels during a break in the football action and I came across Taps playing on WGN. Taps is one of those of movies that I'm almost always compelled to watch when I see it come on TV. I saw it in the theaters when it first came out . It was then and is now a very powerful movie. The movie also launched some incredible acting careers.

It was the third feature for Sean Penn predating even Fast Times. Tom Cruise had only made one previous movie, something called Endless Love, before he landed the role of the mildly insane red beret David Shawn. Sadly, Timothy Hutton's career went south shortly after Taps which was probably his finest hour. What happened to you, Timothy Hutton? You were so great as Major Brian Moreland. Your career looked so promising. I blame Turk 182.

In all the times that I watched Taps, I never noticed a young Giancarlo Esposito playing the role of cadet J.C. Pierce. It was revelation when I saw him in the flick this afternoon. Esposito has been a favorite of mine since his breakout role of Buggin Out in Do the Right Thing. He's great in the whole movie, but he steals the film in the scene where the white guy in a Boston Celtics steps on his Air Jordans. It's a seminal moment in the history of film. I wrote a paper about it in a cinema class that I took at the University of Melbourne, but sadly it went over the heads of my teachers and fellow students, but that's not important.

What is important is that you recognize the greatness of Giancarlo Esposito from his role as the political journalist Bugs Raplin in Bob Roberts to his performance as FBI agent Jack Baer in The Usual Suspects. And if you still don't think he's cool, check out his bio on IMDB.

Posted by andrew at 12:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

January 11, 2004

Dean for HHS?

Who thinks Howard Dean would make a great HSS secretary? I think so. I wonder if he doesn't win the nomination, and he might, if he would accept a position in another administration. I doubt it, but it's too bad because he would be a great asset.

Of course, I wonder the same about the other candidates. Would Clark be SecDef in a Dean Administration? Everyone says Edwards is angling to be on the ticket as the VP, and maybe he is. He could definately use the political capital that 4 years as veep could provide. Carol Moseley Braun clearly has her head screwed on right and her heart in the right place. America just is not ready for anything but another white male in the Oval Office. She'd make a great Secretary of the Interior though. Other than Edwards, none of the current congressmen look likely the do anything but return to their consituencies after the primary.

It's clear that we need some change in this country. Hopefully this election will be faithful to history and a president elected when losing the pooluar vote will be sent out on his keister when seeking relection. Nothing would make me happier than to see W give a concession speech come November.

Posted by andrew at 11:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 10, 2004

Prediction Time

The NFL season is down to nail biting time for concerned fans. 8 teams left. 2 wins to the Super Bowl in Houston. Very exciting.

The a couple of great things about this playoffs. The first is that any of these 8 teams is capable of wining. These are good team. The elite of the NFL and all that. However the salary cap has created a situation of parity in the league that has reached its apotheosis this season. The second is that you're looking at crop of quarterbacks that has to be unparalleled in the history of the league.

Tom Brady - Patriots
Steve McNair - Titans
Marc Bulger - Rams
Jake Delhomme - Panthers
Brett Favre - Packers
Donovan McNabb - Eagles
Peyton Manning - Colts
Trent Green - Chiefs

Brett Favre is warhorse, a sure first ballot Hall of Famer, who despite the fact that no one can figure how he justifies the spelling of last name, is one of the best QBs ever to take the field.

Steve McNair and Peyton Manning shared the MVP trophy this season. I think it should have gone straight up to Manning, who is one of the classiest players ever to take the field. But you have to respect McNair, both for his incredible athletic ability but his regular decisions to play hurt.

Marc Bulger and Trent Green are the modern day mad bombers, throwing up huge numbers. I'm a huge Kart Warner fan, and both of the QBs labored as his back up at one point or another and I think it has a great deal to do with their success as starters.

Donovan McNabb got off to a slow start this season, but he was injured. As his health improved, he was on a mission and made Rush Limbaugh look like a fool when the he led the Eagles to 9 straight wins in the middle of the season. No one, not even McNair, has speed, his intensity, his power and his accuracy. When healthy, McNabb is in a league of his own.

Jake Delhomme is the only quarterback of the 8 who isn't a proved a winner, but I suspect that fact is going to be erased over the next few seasons. He did throw for well over 3,000 yard this season in a conservative offense and ripped up Dallas in the Wild Card game.

THE PREDICTION:

This is tough, because I have to fight my heart over my head. I'm a lifelong Rams fan and I would love to see them win it all again. I would love to see a rematch with the Patriots. But I don't think the Rams can beat the Pats. They can, however, beat every other team left in the NFC. If they beat Carolina, which they should, they will either play the Pack at home or go on the road to Philly. Either way, they come home with the victory and represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

The AFC is tougher to call. I don't the Chiefs can win. Their D is too porous and Priest Holmes and Trent Green can't keep up in a shootout with the Colts with Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James. The Colts will go into Arrowhead and come away with a big raod victory. In the other bracket, there's going to be a war. The Titans went into New England and handed the Pats one of their early season loses. Since then the Pats have been firing on all cylinders and haven't lost once. Can the Titans do it again? I don't think so. It's going to be too damn cold this time around. That leaves an AFC Championship game of Pats vs. Colts at Gillette Stadium. This is also a tough one to call. My head says Pats. My hearts say Colts. My heart is going to win this one. The Colts are also one of the toughest teams on the road in the history of the league.

So that leaves a matchup of the Indianapolis Colts and the St. Louis in Houston for Super Bowl number whatever. This will be the first meeting of two dome teams in the ultimate game and whoever wins will be only the second dome team to win the Super Bowl. The only other team was the Kurt Warner led Rams back in SB XXXVI.

The winner of this game will be...

...THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

I want them to win. I think they deserve to win. It would be a great thing for football for Tony Dungy to bring a Super Bowl victory to Indiana for the obvious reasons. Peyton Manning is the hardest working player in the league. In short, I would feel great with a Colts win.

Good luck to all the teams. I hope the games are as great on the field as they look on paper.

Posted by andrew at 10:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 09, 2004

Mak and the Deep Blue Sky

Mak and the Deep Blue Sky


He's mine and he's paid for (unlike the car).

Posted by andrew at 07:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Me & My Subaru

Me & My Subaru

Posted by andrew at 07:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Nothing's Sacred

Me & My Subaru
Sedona is a small, sleepy town but it does have it's far share of western conveniences including KFC, Burger King, Starbucks and, of course, McDonalds. But the McDonalds in town is different than every other McDonalds I have seen in the world, and I've seen a fair few from Samoa to Somalia.

Who ever heard of the "Turqouise Arches"? Shit, is nothing sacred in this world?

Posted by andrew at 05:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Praise Jesus

Praise Jesus
We're about to experience a harmonic convergence of sorts here at the Sedona household.

Not five minutes ago a FedEx trucked pulled up to my house to deliver the loan check, which is a minor miracle considering how difficult it was to deal with Captial One and their medieval sense of communication.

About and hour ago, Tom, my used car dealer, showed up with the car. Of course, it's too much to ask for the check to arrive before the car, but you can't have everything. Tom is grabbing a sandwich but should on his way back here any time now.

When he comes, we're going to zip up to Flagstaff, sign the papers and I'll be on my merry way.

It's almost enough to make me swear off atheism and dedicate the rest of life to the service of the lord, but not quite.

Incidentally, the car is a 2000 Subaru Outback (with heated seats). It's light green with beige interior, soon to shredded, no doubt, by my affectionate but mischievous kitties.

Posted by andrew at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

January 08, 2004

Remember Sammy Jankis?

Steven Tobolowsky
Chances are you don't know his name, but I bet you recognize the face. I was going to hold off on Steven Tobolowsky for a while, but seeing as how he made a guest appearance on West Wing last night, I could hardly resist.

Tobolowsky often plays geeky characters like the infamous insurance salesman Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day, but he really makes his mark in the sick and psycopathic roles. The insidious klansman Clayton Townley in Mississippi Burning might have been his most memorable character, he was brilliant as the sexual harrassing client Mitch Myerson in Single White Female, but I think his performance in Memento as the memory-challenged Sammy Jankis is just chilling.

Now you remember, don't you?

Posted by andrew at 09:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

January 07, 2004

Notes From a Broad

I've done my good deed for the year and migrated my friend Rachel from the dark side of Blogger and into the bright, shinning light of Movable Type. I installed the files for her and built her templates. She's either a) living in a dream world b) lucky to have a friend like me or c) lucky to have a friend like me with nothing better to do with my time.

Please stop by her site Notes From a Broad about her life as a student in Senegal and make her feel welcome. Thanks.

Posted by andrew at 09:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 06, 2004

James Rebhorn

James RebhornYou know these guys by sight, but you rarely know their names, unless you watch movies again and again, like me. They are character actors. Ther came from Broadway or the Soaps. They are not big stars. They don't get the big parts. But you see them again and again in role after small role.

Perhaps my favorite is James Rebhorn. The reason might be was that he was the first of the character actors that I saw all the time and actually remembered his name. The reason probably is that guy is just damn good at what he does and he impresses the hell out of me.

He played the lawyer Alvin Hooks in Snow Falling on Cedars he was an actor in The Game opposite Michael Douglas. In Basic Instinct he had a small role as a doctor. He normally types into a benevolent professional. Perhaps his finest performance was as the shipping magnate Herbert Greenleaf in The Talented Mr. Ripley, one of my personal favorites.

If you look at his filmography at The Internet Movie Database, you'll find tons of films that Mr. Rebhorn has appeared in, many that you've most likely seen and not noticed him. But when you see him again, maybe in the upcoming hit Cold Mountain, you'll know his name.

If I can manage it, I'm going to try to profile other character actors from time to time, let you know some of my personal favorites.

Posted by andrew at 11:18 PM | | Comments (4)

Ask Your Doctor About Zastudil

What is with these drugs commercials? Lipitor. Vioxx. Lavitra. They are everywhere and they are so silly. Some guy, usually a former professional football coach is telling you to ask your doctor about some drug and you have no idea what the drug is for because the commercial doesn't say anything about it. Can you the imagine the questions that doctors must have to field daily about this shit? Um, excuse me, doc, but I was wondering, do you think Zastudil is right for me?

The pharm commericals with the side effect lisitings at the end of the commercial was bad enough but these are just plain horrible ("women who are or may potential become pregnant should not even look at these pills"). I understand that pharm companies are in business to make a profit, but one of the major reasons the cost of drugs is so high and that so many people in this country, the weathiest in the history of the world, are without health insurance is because of the enormous cost of marketing these drugs.

Spending money on R&D is one thing. No one would complain about absorbing the costs of research and development of new remedies, but to pay for commericals like the ones Americans are subject to every day is absurd and should be against the law.

In case you were wondering, Zastudil is the last name of the punter for the Baltimore Ravens. Doesn't it sound like it should be a drug?

Posted by andrew at 10:21 PM | | Comments (5)

Visit Samoa Week

Visit Samoa Week

Ok, so it's not Visit Samoa Week. I doubt there even is such an animal. However Hurricane/Cyclone Heta is visiting the islands. My friends and former colleagues are probably taking cover and cursing the weather. I only hope that the winds and rain are strong enough to make the Country Director's house slide off Mt. Vaea, hopefully with him inside it.

In case your geography isn't so hot, Samoa is right there where that little "20" is on the map, straight up from New Zealand and right below that big red swirling mass which represents 100+ mile and hour winds and a considerable amount of percipitation.

Posted by andrew at 02:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Through the Hoops

I just rode down to Arizona Water where the nice customer service rep by the name of Pat not only added me to the account without any ID but also faxed the the new bill with my name and address on it to Capital One Financial (a toll free number).

My lungs were burning as I made my way up the hill in the chilly afternoon back to the house, but I could take it because this whole fiasco was behind me. Or so I thought.

When I got home and checked my email, there was one from Capital One:

Dear Andrew Hecht,

Thank you for submitting your fax. However, we are unable to use the
documents sent for verification for the following reason(s):

We are not able to accept a print screen as verification. We would
need to view an actual bill as received in the mail.

In order to verify your physical address, we would need for you to fax
an itemized mortgage statement, gas, water, electric, cable, or
landline phone bill. Please note that the bill must be within 30 days from
today's date and that it verifies the service or property location you
have listed on your application.


With the ways things have been going this morning, it's hard for me to say, I couldn't believe it. I called them. I told them I would not be able to provide them with an actual mailed bill until the next cycle. They came back and said that if I just had Arizona Water fax them a letter on their letterhead stating that I had indeed been added to the account, then that would suffice.

I called Pat back and told her what the deal was. She said no problem, she would handle it. Now I just have to wait for Capital One to get back to me. I'm expecting them to tell me that it won't suffice, at which point I'm heading on a plane to Wilmington, DE or wherever the fuck the are and I'm going to personally strangle the CEO. Maybe that will grant him some simulacrum of how I'm feeling at the moment, though I doubt it.

Posted by andrew at 01:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Loan Approved!

Dear Andrew Hecht,

Your vehicle loan application has been approved!

Based on the type of loan and terms you selected, your interest rate
will be 4.99%.

We can mail your Capital One Auto Finance Blank Check® Loan Package to
you as soon as we have reviewed your loan terms and confirmed your
mailing address. Please contact us at your convenience during our business
hours at .

My faith in the system is restored. Sort of. I applied for this loan on Sunday through Lendingtree. It actually works. Lenders fought over me and Capital One was victorious. Now here's the rub. I need to verify my address to get my Capital One Auto Finance Blank Check® Loan Package. They need a paystub or a utility bill or a credit card statement or a bank statement, none of which I have with this current address. Is this for real?

Posted by andrew at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

New Wheels

I'm trying to buy a car, which, when you don't have car to begin with and you live in a tiny town with no cars for sale, can be a really pain. For many reasons I've decided I want a Subaru Outback. I've wanted one for a long time. When I bought my last car, a Saab 9-3, I really wanted the Subaru, but the deal on the Saab was too good to pass up.

Yesterday I test drove 2 Outbacks. The first was a '99 in a place somewhere north of Phoenix. It had 60,000 miles and was in decent shape. There were a few nicks and scratches here and there, but nothing major. It drove like a dream. They are asking 11175 and I wouldnt have to pay sales tax because the deal would take place on eBay. I'd be all over it, except the color. It's red.

The other Outback was a 2000. It was green. And it was offered by Bob Elliot Ford in Flagstaff. Yesterday afternoon I test drove it in the snow, which was disconcerting buy fun. The car is immaculate. It has 53K miles. The price tag is 13,898 including sales tax, which is a great deal. That's almost 2 grand below what they think is wholesale, but when they ran the numbers, they didn't include the fact that it had an in-dash CD player and heated seats. I'm leaning towards this car in a big way.

My FICO score is 797, so getting financing shouldn't be a problem, even though I don't have a job at the moment. They quoted me interest rate of a little more than 5 percent but are going to work on getting it down in the high 4s which would be excellent.

I'd feel so much more comfortable buying this car from an established dealer than the other one from some guy with a business on eBay. Either way, despite the problems with Equifax, I should have wheels by the end of the week at the latest.

Posted by andrew at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Equifax Sucks

I'm on hold with Equifax right this very minute. I'm being forced to call them because my current address (Sedona, AZ) doesn't match the address on my credit report (Oakland, CA) and it's holding up my car loan application. It took me a half hour to find a number I could call to talk to a human, and then it wasn't someone in customer service, it was someone in sales. They are trying to be helpful, I suppose, but they are telling me that I have to mail in any change of address with an accompanying drivers license or utility bill reflecting the change. Of course, I have neither of these. Then I calmly explained to them that they are holding me hostage by the process at which point I was put on hold.

The woman just came back online to explain that she's terribly sorry, but I would have to send in my change of address by snail mail. I asked to speak to her supervisor. On hold again. Listening to Mozart. Lovely.

Now she comes back on the line saying all supervisors are busy and she can take my contact info and call me back. Bullshit. I tell her I'll hold. I know they'll never call me back.

What is it with these credit reporting companies? So secretive. Horrible customer service. How do they even get information about us? They are like a clandestine intelligence apparatus with the keys to our future. I haven't even seen my credit report, but I'm sure it's fraught with errors. I do know that my FICO score is 797. That should grant me some measure of respect, but somehow I doubt it.

I found a little blurb online about credit scores and how they work:

The numerical credit scoring ranges from a low of 350 to high of 845. Fair Issac is the one’s who designed the scale. The score takes into consideration the borrowers re-payment history, amount of credit allowed, the highest balance, borrowing patterns, over limits, etc.

The most impact of the credit evaluation reviews the consumers last 2 years of credit activity. For example, if a borrower acquires 8 new credit cards 4 months ago, this individual will have a low score. Primarily because there is not a 2 year history establishing the borrowers ability to handle those payments.

Also what impacts the score is every time the consumer allows someone to run a credit inquiry on their credit report. For Example, a consumer goes to look at a new car, the car dealership wants to run your credit to secure financing and makes a credit inquiry on the consumers credit. This inquiry can reduces the score by approx. 5 to 10 points per inquiry.

Unfortunately, the same effect takes place when "XYZ" credit card company inquires on your credit to up your line of credit, or to give you a new credit card, The same thing takes place on acquiring a mortgage!


It's amazing to me that your score actually goes down when someone inquires as to your credit. What sense does that make? So I become less credit worthy the minute I apply for a loan and actually need to use my credit. How absurd.

I'm still on hold waiiting for a supervisor. I have no faith that what seems to me to be a something simple will ever be resolved. This is kind of that makes me want to find a good lawyer and fuck these people up, though I suspect they are invulnerable.

All I want to do is change my address. I can't. I'm entitled to a free credit report, but it's being sent to my old address. How stupid is that? Good thing they don't have my Peace Corps address in Samoa or I'd reallly be screwed.

Posted by andrew at 09:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 05, 2004

New Pictures

It's been a long time since I posted any pictures on this site. It's not because I haven't taken any. I have taken tons. It's a combination of me being lazy and having some problems with my computer which I won't burden you with at the moment.

Just now that in the next few days, I will add tons of new pics to the site, especially pictures of my kittens in their new natural habitat. Keep your eyes peeled.

Posted by andrew at 12:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Why New Hampshire?

There's a new book out called Why New Hampshire?. I'd really like to read it so I can have a better understanding of why New Hampshire and Iowa, two rather insignificant states, both in population and land mass, have so much influence in who runs for and eventually wins the presidency. It just doesn't make much sense to me.

Perhaps it's about making sure the little states get a say before the big, important states like California, New York and Texas weigh into the fray. But Why these two? Why not Rhode Island and Delaware? And why two in the north? Shouldn't the south and west, where most presidents seem to come from these days, have more of a say?

This feeling could come out of jealousy. Why should Iowans and people from New Hampshire (what do you call people from New Hampshire anyway?) have the opporunity to shake hands, meet with and talk to the next president of the United States? When are the cornfields of the 99 counties become the corridors of the brokers of power.

Sure, every state gets a time to hold it's primary, but so much emphasis is put on the ability of anyone candidate to win in these two states. In the debate on Sunday on CNN, the moderator even asked Carol Moseley-Braun how could the Iowa voters get behind her when she hasn't spent as much time in the state as some of the other candidates? God forbid a candidate waste a precious minute pressing the flesh with pig farmers in lieu of campaigning in a state like California that is the engine of the economy in this country. Have we gone mad?

You know what I say? With all due respect to the nice people of Iowa and New Hampsire, fuck Iowa and New Hampsire. You can take your 6 electoral votes and stuff it up your ass.

Posted by andrew at 12:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 04, 2004

It's Beginning

I saw my first political ad of the season. It was from "Wes" Clark and was about his ability as military leader (when did Wesley become "Wes"? Did I miss something?). The former general's ad wasn't negative, which was nice to see, but it foreshadows the explosion of democratic spots that are going to be bombarding the airwaves in Arizona and other battleground states between now and November.

I have a love hate relationship with politics. I love to follow what's going on. It's a fascinating spectacle. And I'm also truly concerned about many of the issues, most notably the future of the Supreme Court. However, I grow weary of the pettiness of the candidates and their agile sidestepping of questions. I just want someone straightforward and honest, which is probably too much to ask for.

I also hate the game that goes on between Republicans and Democrats. I find it hard to believe that a single intelligent Republican actually thinks that George Bush is a good president, that this is the man that they want to represent them to Americans and the rest of the world. Say what you want about him, he's not exactly a mental giant. I wouldn't hold that against him if he didn't take such long vacations, surround himself with dinosaurs from his father's administration and generally have such a lack of intellectual curiosity. These are hardly his worst offenses. He not only squandered both the surplus and the incredible goodwill that the rest of the world had for the United States after 9/11 but also wasted a golden opportunity to challenge Americans to do something great. Anything great. The way Kennedy challenged Americans to go to the moon, Bush could have challenged Americans to make education of our children the number one priority on the domestic front, but he blew it. He's isolated this country through unilateralism and disengagement from the Kyoto Accords and International Criminal Court. He's played politics of the lowest common denominator by granting everyone in country a 300 dollar bribe/tax refund. He is, in short, horrible president. Yet, Republicans are going to back their horse for all he's worth. You'll never hear Limbaugh or Combs any of the other right wing pundits on FOX ever say a single dispargaging word about Bush. I find it incredible how they or anybody could coalesce around such a person and yet it happens.

Hopefully, history will hold true and a president swept into office after losing the popular vote will not be re-elected to a second term as was the case in the two previous occasions. Because of this history, the Bush first term has been about nothing but getting re-elected. I shutter to think what a second term would be like when the administration has no accountability to the people and has the opportunity to work with a rubber stamp Congress.

Now the Democrats are in something of a mess, but that's always the way the party out of power appears during the primaries.

Not a single vote has been cast in a caucus or primary and yet people are already discussing whether or not Howard Dean can will against Bush. Is Dean going to win the nomination? Perhaps. If history is any lesson, he probably will. It's not just that he has a huge lead in fund raising or that he seems to have tapped into Internet in a way that no other candidate has. It's that he's a former governer. The last two Democratic presidents are both governors (Carter and Clinton). Bush is a former governor. Reagan was a former governor. Dean's closest challengers, in fact almost all the challengers are current and former congressmen. Can you think of the last time a congressman was elected president? It's been a long time. Gore failed in 2000. Dole failed in 1996. Clinton had a slew of congressional opponents in 92, but defeated them all. The road to the presidency is littered with unsuccessful congressional candidates. So maybe Dean is the man.

The wild card is Wesley "Wes" Clark. He's an interesting candidate because he's the only one that can run both as a Washington outsider and someone whom the Bush team can't claim is soft on defense, where so many Dems seem to be vulnerable. Personally I think it should be mandatory for candidates for president to have served in the military which would leave Clark up against Kerry in the race, which would be fun to see. Either of them would make fine commander in chiefs.

What will be really interesting to watch is not Dean, because he's most likely going to win both Iowa and New Hampshire, but who finishes directly behind him. Any candidates that don't finish in the top 3 in either is likely toast. We will be able to bid farewell to Kicinich, Braun, Sharpton (is he really running?) and most likely Lieberman by the end of the month. Then the real fight will start. Hopefully we can actually have a debate instead of what looks to me like a bunch of sniping and bickering over nothing.

Whatever happens, it will be fascinating as always. Hopefully one of the good guys will win.

Posted by andrew at 09:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 01, 2004

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!

I want to wish everyone out there in Internetland a happy and healthy new year. Best of luck in all your endeavors in the coming year.


cheers,

Andrew

Posted by andrew at 11:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Stocks at the New Year

I'm just listing all my major stock prices on New Year's Day so I see how they track during the course of the year. I have high hopes for both ADSX and ATVI. I hope that Ed holds it ground. NOIZ is just a bouns stock so the fact that it's doing well is a blessing. And MCD was my dollar cost averaging stock before I left for Peace Corps

ADSX .47
ATVI 18.21
ED 43.01
MCD 24.83
NOIZ 7.21

-1500 (the amount off my high water mark of 30,000)

Posted by andrew at 07:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)