Turkey Day awaits...

Heading up to Olympia for the duration of the thankful period. Will celebrate Buy Nothing Day on the day after.

I'm hoping to take some of the holiday faithful out geocaching - to help avoid the urge to participate in the consumer orgy that is happening everywhere. I'll do my best, but I may cop out and buy a Slurpee.

Mmmmmm...forbidden Slurpee.

In other news...

Would some one please tell me why our pResident is asking that documents on hundreds of cases of autism allegedly caused by childhood vaccines be kept from the public? Along similar lines, why was it written into the Homeland Security Act that the pharmaceutical industry would be shielded from claims regarding vaccines?

Could it be that the mercury-based vaccines were somehow responsible for cases of autism? If there was no proof that harm was done, why is the Bush administration so eager to block public access? How is this important to Homeland Security? It isn't. It's just another cynical reminder that this administration will stop at nothing to see their agenda (and that of their corporate sponsors) achieved.....even if it means attaching unrelated bill riders to legislation formed out of the ashes of 9/11.

And that's not the only rider that came attached to the Homeland Security Bill. Turns out the Republicans inserted a measure that would limit the liability of airport screening companies that let the 9/11 terrorists on board with box-cutters. As a result, any pending lawsuits from families of victims was unceremoniously snuffed out. Another measure would direct money for security research largely to Texas A&M University. A third would allow the department to contract with companies that leave the country to avoid taxes.

Why does all of this sound bad - or at least unabashedly partisan in its toadyism?

Perhaps that's because it is.

More garbage from on high. Sorry, but today is garbage day.

Get ready for the new homeless....close to one million about to lose unemployment benefits.

Hope you've got an air filter handy...air quality is about to drop.

Guess what......don't hold a beauty pagent in Nigeria!

Busybusybusy...

Senate passed the Homeland Security Bill, which effectively trumps all American privacy rights. Not that you weren't being watched anyway.

On Sunday the 17th, Alexis and I marched with thousands of Oregonians in the most recent public act to protest U.S. Imperialism. It was easily as big as the Oct 5th rally, and featured a more vocal assembly of protestors. Police behavior was generally good, although there was one arrest of a student for allegedly jumping on a police car. Press coverage was predictable. The Oregonian banished the story to the metro section, while the Portland Tribune gave the protest its due and splashed it on the front page. Even though the Trib is owned by conservative Bob Pamplyn, it consistently offers better reporting on the growing dissatisfaction with our current government. That and the Trib's Jim Redden is one of the better investigative reporters in this burg.

Aside from the usual terror and malfeasance that are rumbling through the U.S. corridors of power, I managed to launch a new site for the Clinton Street Theater, a local indie/art filmhouse.

One small step for independent thought and art.

So here's an interesting item.

In Houston, it turns out that a "defective chip" in one of the county optical scanners is responsible for electing two Republicans - as opposed to their Democratic opponents - who actually won by a large margin.

Why is it always Florida and Texas that have voting problems?

And if it can happen there.....

Something I forgot to add to the list of rants yesterday.

7. Look for the War on Terrorism and the War on Drugs to merge. I wouldn't be suprised to see American troops (or military advisors) in South America to continue waging that fruitless and expensive campaign.

Remember how much oil it takes to move an army? And who's getting paid to build and manufacture equipment for that army?

Ever wonder what the Middle East is going to look like after the U.S. "liberates" Iraq. Here's an interesting opinion.

So yeah....things look pretty grim.

As I suspected, the voters handed the keys to our pResident - effectively eliminating any checks and balances that were in the balance. Democratic party is in chaos...not sure whether to swing to the right or left. Ugly.

Well...at least we know what to expect in the next two years.

1. The Homeland Security Bill that Bush has been chomping to get passed will continue to chip away at our Civil Liberties. Already our public libraries are being watched by the FBI. If you read certain books, your name will be on a list. Also, you can guarantee that all cell phone / email traffic is being watched as well. The Patriot Act will be the basis for many intrusions.

2. Unless Saddam relinquishes power in Iraq, we will be going to war in the very near future. Since this will be about ousting Saddam and setting up a new puppet government, we will be entrenched in a very anti-West Middle East. Terrorism will continue to take its toll - and the open-ended war on terror will continue unabaited. Many will die.

3. Our nation's energy policy will be centered around oil. After making quick work of Iraq, there will be oil rights to be divided up between a host of Republican-backing oil companies...and the Bush administration will be wheeling and dealing. The Alaskan Wildlife Refuge will most likely be pillaged for its meager supply, and look for new exploration to start encroaching national park areas. As you might expect, any alternative energy models will be shelved.

4. Corporate responsibility will be swept under the carpet. All those who took part in the 2001 California energy swindle will get reduced sentences and/or a slap on the wrist. Unless the people start to rise up and protest, very little will be done to effectively pursue the theives who have helped to ruin the U.S. economy.

5. Partial privitization of Social Security. Now you'll be able to place your Social Security funds in the hands of Wall Street - via the U.S. government. Why don't I have any confidence in this?

6. Tax cut for the Rich becomes permenant. You may think that you're getting more back, but those who make over $300,000 a year will see the real benefit. And where will funding come from for the future? Get ready to see all those pesky social services get ushered to the chopping block.

The list goes on......

In other news.....

Got some extra work in Gus Van Sant's new movie "Elephant".
I play a cafeteria worker......which in the light of everything going on, seems pretty inconsequential.

Election Day.

The screams can be heard far and wide these days. Partisan chimps are gibbering and beating their chests in anticipation. The balance of power is in flux and there will be no vacuum. Uncle George is sharpening his teeth.

Will the game be owned by one team? Or will the voters revolt and move to maintain the tenuous system of checks and balances?

How much of a factor will the money play? The GOP is fat right now and dumping serious cash into the notion of national domination. If voters are easily plied by the jingoism and hollow promises of economic recovery that are being pushed, the next two years will be difficult, if not tragic.

Much hangs in the balance today.

In the midst of all our pre-election hubbub, absurdity found its way to the surface last Saturday: The Northwest premiere of 'Bubba Ho-Tep' - the latest and possibly greatest movie of the new millennium.

Starring Bruce Campbell (of Evil Dead fame) and Ossie Davis, this film has perhaps the most compelling story concept in recent memory.

Elvis versus the Undead.

The mind reels....

Not willing to merely wait for this to arrive on DVD, I made a pilgrimage to the temple of Bubba Ho-Tep (the Hollywood Theatre) to see the film and meet Campbell, who had brought it with him to screen in Portland. When I arrived, I ran into a line of about 100 people waiting patiently. Black leather and body piercings were in full force with this crowd. These were the devoted few.

Now I'll admit, I'm a bit of a fan. I got on the bus with the Evil Dead, and became a follower after Army of Darkness. Bruce is the second-coming of Han Solo. Unfortunately, mere fandom couldn't score me a seat at this show. I knew that there were only a few tickets left, but I underestimated the ferocity of the fan base. I was about two weeks too late - and no amount of money was going to pry loose an extra ticket. Thankfully, he was doing a pre-show book-signing, so I at least guaranteed a spot of time with the man.

The line quickly grew to over 200 - and were all issued numbered tickets for the signing. After being ushered into the theatre and seated for a few minutes, Bruce thundered down the aisle to the lusty cheers of the assembled faithful. Bruce read from his book "If Chins Could Kill" and held an engaging and often hilarious Q & A with the crowd.

Topics ranged from his favorite horror movie (The Tenant), to whether or not his BVDs were showing during a scene in Evil Dead. No question was to 'out-there' for him to field. You got the sense that he understood and enjoyed the interaction with fans, regardless of their stripe.

Of all the questions asked, his response to "projects he was directing" probably interested me most. While he is working on more sci-fi related material, it was his documentary on land management that piqued my interest. The fact that he would be actively involved in trying to promote discussion between loggers and environmentalists struck me as a uniquely Oregonian thing - which as it turns out - isn't far from the truth as Campbell has lived in Southern Oregon for about 4 years.

After he exhausted the audience of questions, Bruce finally settled in to personally meet his fans.

When my number came up, I stepped up to table and sat down. Strange visions of visiting Santa Claus as a kid ran through my head as he penned my book and engaged in that ever-tenuous small talk that happens in such circumstances.

Since Bruce lives near Medford, I talked with him a little about Southern Oregon - and specifically Crater Lake - to which he responded: "When I first saw it, I thought how easy it would be to fall into that thing."

As a final favor, I asked Bruce if he would be willing say hello to my wife, who was home writing a paper for school. To my amazement, he agreed - and took the phone from me as it dialed my home number.

Bruce - "Hello, Alexis? This is George Gunderson from AT&T wireless. We'd like to know if you are satisfied with your wireless service."
Alexis - "Yeah, I guess."
Bruce - "Thank you."

He hung up and handed the phone back to me.

"I love prank phone calls. They are so much easier than trying to make small talk."