The Digital LandPhil

Crappy Birthday
Happy birthday to me. It's my birthday. But, it doesn't feel like it. I got a birthday card yesterday. But, nothing so far today. No calls, no emails, and no cards. I think most of my friends forgot that it was my birthday. That kind of sucks. Last year, they knew it was my birthday only because I arranged a bowling night out. This year, I didn't tell anyone. So, nobody gives a shit. Oh well. I like to think I'm the kind of friend that people would remember and would want to spend time with on his birthday. But, that's not the case, in reality.

Channukah.
In addition to being my birthday, I think it's also the first day of Hannukah. Or however you spell it. And it's the 1st anniversary of owning my house. woohoo.

Tannenbaum.
All the Christmas tree lots are open in my neighborhood. I went by to check out their prices today. I was pretty surprised. I haven't bought a tree in years. Actually, I've only had one. And that was a few years ago. SO, the shortest one they had was a little $25 Charlie Brown tree. Is it even worth it? The next one up is 5 feet - and that's $45. Forty-five-freekin-dollars! I'm not sure if it's worth it. And, I'm not crazy about supporting an industry that chops down acres of trees for less than 30 days of 'use.' But, I love the smell of a real tree at Christmas time. And, the lights and everything are great. But, I'm broke-ass. So, I don't know if I'll get one now.


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Adbusters: Buy Nothing Day
Today is Buy Nothing Day! Stay at home! Avoid the sales! Skip the malls. Save those dollars.
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The Onion | Make A Hand-Turkey!
Happy Thanksgiving eve. I'll be having Tofurky and veggies this year. How 'bout you? Mmmm, veggies
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I need a sugar momma. This unemployment / self-employed thing is great sometimes. But, it can also suck sometimes. Today, for instance. The State of Washington is about to stop paying my unemployment benefits because they consider self-employment a different type of "looking for work" than other McJobs. Well, to me- a job is a job. A check is a check. I don't care who it comes from or who writes it or how you get it; an employer is an employer. If I send out 1000 postcards promoting my work and sent 1000 emails to ad agencies across the country, that's treated as having done NO "job search." But, if I answered 3 ads in the paper for places looking for baristas and fry cooks, then... OK- you've done your "job search" like a good boy. Here's your 400 bucks.

I think I have enough to get me through December after the mortgage gets paid. But, I'm worried about January. So, if there are any lonely rich women out there who want me to cook for them and take care of their 'needs', uh, drop me a line!
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CNN.com - Nicolas Cage, Lisa Marie divorcing - Nov. 26, 2002
I'm shocked! Can you believe this?? Who ever thought they'd last this long.
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Oster & Associates · get Flash
I wish I could see this site. But, they have a lock on the front door that keeps me out. They seem to think I don't have the flash plugin. (I do.) So, they won't let me in until I go download it.

I've run into about a dozen of these sites this weekend. I wonder if they realize how many customers they're steering away.
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SheepGame
Pretend you're a border collie!
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More Gift Ideas! - art by Honor
Hey, check out this site: honormarks.com - My friend Honor is an amazing painter. Her art is inspiring! Even if you're not in the market to buy some art, you should still check out her work. You'll be glad you did. And maybe you know somebody who might like her art. Pass along the URL!
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Parents' smoke injures children's blood vessels
Today is the Great American Smokeout. Kick the habit, for your kids' sake.
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New 'Jesus' campaign targets SUVs. - Nov. 20, 2002
Bush is considering a proposal to increase fuel efficiency standards for SUVs and light trucks. Email him and urge him to push this foward! president@whitehouse.gov
Check out this site too: I don't care about the air."
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CNN.com - Wild elephants kill five in Bangladesh - Nov. 20, 2002
Hey, loggers! I think the elephants are trying to tell you something.
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I want my FESTIVUS!
This is just wrong. Ben & Jerry's just informed me that they are not going to make the seasonal flavor "Festivus" this year. Is there no god? If you are a fan of the Festivus flavor (a delicious blend of cinnamon ice cream, graham crackers and caramel swirl), please contact B&J thru their website and urge them to rethink this very unwise decision. My taste buds thank you.
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Leonids
Did anybody see the meteor shower last night? I missed it. It was too cloudy. And there was a full moon, I think. So, that pretty much ruined the show for those of us in Seattle. Oh well. There's always next year.

Bday Shoutouts
Happy Birthday, Dad, Luke, and Jennifer!
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Yahoo! News - Michael Jackson Thriller: Dangles Baby Out Window
..and this guy wonders why people call him a 'freak'??
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Seattle City Light | Green Power
More than 3,000 customers have joined Seattle Green Power, helping to "secure our community's energy future and better the environment." Check it out. I'm in for 3 bucks a month.

All proceeds go directly to developing new renewable resources, which reduce our dependence on fossil fuels that pollute and worsen global warming.
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Art Show coming soon
Friday, December 6th, I'm going to be in a group art show. "PET" is the theme for this mimic-octopus production. There will be all sorts of things.. from collage to paintings,.. and maybe some photography too. It will be at 7pm, at Otis Cafe, on Boren Avenue in First Hill neighborhood of Seattle. Drop by!
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Get yer gifts here - "Surroundings" in West Seattle
There's a cool little shop in West Seattle where I happen to have some of my art. It's called "Surroundings", and it's at 4480 Fauntleroy Way SW; next to Diva Espresso. You can find all kinds of cool Christmas gifts at this place: cards, paintings, photography, jewelry, stained glass, and much more! Check it out! The place is run by my friend Amy, and it's open from Wed-Sat 10am-7pm; and Sunday noon to 6pm.

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Parking Rant
I live near a small row of businesses in North Seattle. There's a restaurant, a gas station, and a hair salon. The women who work at the salon seem to think it's okay to use our residential side street as their employee and customer parking lot. Every day, our street fills up with these cars (mostly SUVs that sit there all afternoon). Often, they even block our mailboxes.. or park within a few feet of our driveways. When they park in front of the mailboxes, the mailman skips our house. And that means that 3 housesholds don't get their mail that day. I've had to run out and ask dozens of people to please park somewhere that doesn't block the mailboxes. When they park right beside my driveway, it creates a blind spot for me when I try to back out into the road. It's also illegal to park within 5 feet of a driveway in Seattle. Aside from the pain in the ass of having to dodge these cars, trying to see around them when I'm coming and going from the house, and dealing with missed mail delivery, it's also just a total eyesore for us to look outside and see rows and rows of cars along every house. They have their own parking lot. But, they park on our street because I suppose they want to save their spaces for their customers.

Anyway... I had a run in with one of these chicks a few weeks ago. She blocked the mailboxes. And, I politely asked her to park somewhere that wouldn't block the mail truck. Instead of apologizing, she argued with me that what she was doing wasn't illegal.. and that she could park where she wants to. [btw, I should have shut up, left her there, and called Parking Enforcement] After I asked her again, and kindly showed her that there was space on the other side of the street, she reluctantly moved her car.

Yesterday, she was back. Same spot. Between my mailboxes and the driveway. I meant to call Parking Enforcement, but forgot to do it before I left to run errands. Oh well. I let it go.

She was back again today. Last straw. I called parking enforcement. The ticket lady came over within 15 minutes. And she left a ticket on the car. Fine. I thought that was enough.

About 10 minutes later, a tow truck pulled up. He hooked up her car and pulled it away. I thought it was a little excessive. But, I wasn't going to argue with the Police department's decision. In fact, I thought it was pretty damn funny.

About 2 hours later, the psycho came back to drive away, but couldn't find her car. She knocked on my door. I didn't answer. At best, I'm assuming she was going to ask me what happened to her car. But, why should I help her with that information. I tried to help her the first time we had an encounter about her inconsiderate parking. I told her she shouldn't park there before. But, she didn't learn. At worst, this chick was coming to my door to chew me out (for her own stupid behavior.) So, either way.. it made no sense to answer.

Let's see if she parks there again.


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ACS :: The Great American Smokeout—November 21
The great smokeout is coming. If you're a smoker, here's your chance to kick.
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CNN.com - 'Northern Exposure's' Ruth-Anne dead at 84 - Nov. 12, 2002
"Phillips, an unrepentant smoker, died Thursday morning of lung disease at a suburban Seattle care center." - I was a big fan of Northern Exposure. I've been to the town where they filmed it, "Roslyn". When I read the headline about 'Ruth-Anne' dying, I assumed it was the cigarettes that got her. You could tell by her voice that she was a heavy smoker.

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Dumbass - Teen Burns Himself Copying 'Jackass' Stunt
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I have a birthday coming up in a few weeks. So, I'm wondering if any of my friends will remember. The last couple of years, I've planned a bowling get-together. But, I'm a little tired of that. One shouldn't have to plan their own party, right? So, I'm curious to see if anybody will do anything for me on their own. If they don't, ... oh well!

I've never had a surprise party. That would be pretty fun, I think. Maybe one day somebody will throw me one. This year, I'd be happy if one or two people just said... "Hey- let me take you out to dinner.. or a movie". I ain't asking for much.
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I had 3 works of art in a group show that ran Thursday and Friday. I hung out there for a little while on Thursday. Only 1 of my friends that I invited came to the opening.
The next night, I returned to the show and when I got there.. I was told that I had sold one of my pieces! It was the newest one of a polaroid transfer on canvas. I'm hoping the purchaser is also going to commission me to do another one for her soon. She wants to give one to her friend for a birthday gift.

Yesterday, I was supposed to do a project for Seattle Works. But, they told us we could sleep in if it was raining. It wasn't raining when I got up. So, I got in the car and started driving down. It started raining as I got closer. So, I turned around and came home. I was starting to feel sick anyway.. and didn't think I'd make it any better by weeding a garden in the rain. On the way back, I scored 5 hubcaps at this one exit off of I-5! I'm going to use them for a show of hubcap paintings.
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Christmas
My neighbors across the street put up their Christmas lights and lawn decorations today. Is it just me? or isn't it a little early for that?

Speaking of Christmas, I have some art that would make excellent gifts for all your friends and family.

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Yahoo! News - O.J.'s Manatee Mayhem
The juice is loose again. This time, he tries to kill a sea cow.
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About Last Night
Last night, war won; peace lost.
Big business won; the little guy lost.
Oil won; alternative energy lost.
Racism won; tolerance lost.
(Georgia was turned upside down because of the confederate flag issue)
North and South Carolina stayed the same. We might as well have left the old bigots where they were. (Thurmond and Helms)
The only thing that made sense out of yesterday's election was the anti-smoking initiative in Florida. Let's go ahead and spread that one around some more! Starting with Washington state.

I'm disgusted with my fellow Americans - especially those that sat on their hands yesterday and let the conservatives run the show. I have a friend in New Jersey who refuses to vote because he doesn't like the two-party system. Well, that's what we have. So, if you're not going to stand up and be counted, then it's the same as giving the Republicans your vote.

Congratulations, America. Hope you're happy.

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Election Day! Please get out and vote today!
I know it doesn't seem very important to vote today. It's just a mid-term election. But, the balance of power is at stake. Get out there and fill in those little circles, or punch those chads, or flip those switches!
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Please VOTE on Tuesday!
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Well, folks, Tuesday is the day! The day that George W. gets taught a long
overdue lesson. The day that we, the MAJORITY -- the 52% who never elected
him -- get our chance to reclaim a bit of our former democracy (back when
ALL the votes used to be counted).

What if, on Tuesday, all of us, regardless of our political stripe, and
just for the fun of it, decided to serve one big-ass eviction notice that
said, you have two years to remove yourself from the premises-and you had
better not damage anything on your way out?

I think we can give Bush the Mother of all Shellackings on Tuesday. It can
happen if you, and the millions of others, who are now reading this letter,
will do one simple thing:

TAKE THE DAY OFF THIS TUESDAY.

That's right. Call in sick, skip work, skip school, skip Springer, and then
devote the next 12 hours to dragging as many people as you can out of their
homes and getting them to the polls.

I know a lot of you cannot afford to do this. But, honestly, can we afford
NOT to? Bush has been effectively stymied in his first two years from doing
much of the serious damage he was hired to do (we owe a big thanks to Jim
Jeffords for that). Yet, if he has both the House and Senate under his
thumb for his final two years, we will all pay a huge price for many years
to come.

On Tuesday, go down to the local candidate's office and volunteer to do
whatever is needed: give a ride to the polls for senior citizens who can't
get there, make last minute phone calls to probable voters who may have
forgotten to vote, pass out handbills on street corners, do cartwheels in
the middle of the mall -- you name it, I am sure it will work.

Or you could just start going door to door in your own neighborhood. Knock
on every door and tell people in plain, non-political language why you
would like them to go down to the polls right now and vote for so-and-so.
Tell them you have never done this before, that you were just compelled to
do it as an act conscience, to do something for our country. Or tell them
you just needed to get some exercise. Tell them what they already know:
that the corporate guys have made off like bandits while the rest of the
country lives in utter fear over whether they will have jobs, health care
benefits, or our pensions when they retire. EVERYONE can relate to this --
and trust me, it is on everyone's mind right now. Even many conservatives
who have seen their job or their 401(K) go up in smoke are now livid and
want their pound of flesh.

I know that for many of you this will be a new thing. Give it shot. I
promise you, at the end of the day on Tuesday, if we succeed, you will
never again doubt the power of just one individual who decides that she or
he can make a difference.

Send this email to your friends and family so that they, too, can be
informed of the good women and men who are running for the House and Senate
(and for many local and state races as well). Visit my web site at:
http://www.Michaelmoore.com for my recommendations.

We will deny Bush control of the Congress next week, and then we all work
to get him out of the White House in 2004. 2004 will NOT and MUST NOT be a
repeat of 2000.

As for local and state races, whenever possible support Greens and other
progressive candidates like those highlighted on my web site.
(http://www.bowlingforcolumbine.com/involved/greens.php)
There you will find the list of progressive candidates who have a chance to
win.

Will you join with me in doing this?

It's our only chance, right now, to receive a small measure of justice for
what happened in Florida in 2000. And that is worth something.

Expect a wake-up call from me at your bedside 6am Tuesday!

Yours,

Michael Moore
http://www.michaelmoore.com
http://www.bowlingforcolumbine.com



P.S. to Kofi Anan, Secretary General, United Nations: This time, for God's
sake, man, please -- send international observers and ballot inspectors to
Florida! Peacekeepers may be needed in Tallahassee.


Defeat the GOP:
http://www.bowlingforcolumbine.com/involved/gop.php

Progressive Candidates to Support:
http://www.bowlingforcolumbine.com/involved/greens.php

Congressional Candidates who Voted for War on Iraq:
http://www.michaelmoore.com/iraq-yes-no/index.php


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"Dirty Son of a Bitch"
Some drunk homeless guy called me by this title when I refused to give him any money. Not a very good way to tug at my heart strings, is it?

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Go See This Movie!
Do yourself a favor and go see "Bowling for Columbine." This film should be required viewing for all Americans, IMHO. Michael Moore is brilliant. And, I hope he keeps making films like this.

Something else to do,.. check out the book 'Culture of Fear' by Barry Glassner. The author is interviewed in the film and he has some shocking things to reveal about why our country is so violent. Did you know that there are over 11,000 gun murders in America every year? Compared to other countries' rates of gun deaths, we should have only a few hundred. Countries like Great Britain and Canada have the same amount of guns and access to the same violent movies and tv shows that we watch here.. but seem to kill each other far less often.
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My Halloween night was pretty lame. I bought tons of candy. I had the fog machine and strobe light going, the gravestones in the front yard, the whole 9. And after all that work- two trick or treaters came. TWO! Both were babies under a year old.

Next year, I think I'll go to Augusta and trick or treat with my nieces and nephews.
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