$12 Million an Hour

If you listen to McCain give a speech there are a few threads that you will hear again and again, his talking points. One of them being his strong stance on pork barrel spending. He wishes to end it and he often sites the Gravina Island Bridge, but he calls it by its nickname, the "bridge to nowhere." The Wikipedia article estimates the bridge construction at $398 million. A Jonathan Alter piece in this week's Newsweek estimates the bridge construction at $233 million. The difference in number isn't relevant for what I wish to share, but some background information helps.

Alter's article covered the scope of what an Obama/McCain match-up might see in terms of arguments. One line that struck me: "The $233 million Alaska "bridge to nowhere" that McCain complains about incessantly is equal to less than 18 hours in Iraq."

Mull that one over.

Clinton Memo

Via Andrew Sullivan, a new memo from the Clinton campaign can be read here.

My favorite part:

With an eleven state winning streak coming out of February, Senator Obama is riding a surge of momentum that has enabled him to pour unprecedented resources into Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont.

They even try spinning an eleven state winning streak as something bad. They're wrong. Riding "a surge of momentum"...isn't that what winners do?

Comedy Central does the Bucks

First, The Daily Show...

Next, The Colbert Report...

Both bits had great moments. I loved The Daily Show's comments on Feist and douchebags on laptops. I don't hear much Feist anymore, but a lot of opera for some reason.

I loved Colbert's joke about Paul McCartney's Memory Almost Full. Priceless. The day the Bucks introduced this album it played all day long in stores across the country, reminding us again and again that the Beatles were good and old Paul isn't. It is a horrible album.

There is one joke that I hear a lot. It has never really held much weight for me, even before I worked for the Bucks. The Daily Show used it. Whenever people act like they are ordering something at the Bucks they say something like, "Non-fat, grande, dry, latte, cappuccino, extra-hot, with two pumps of espresso." I don't find this all that amusing. Some people may not drink a lot of coffee, but one thing that isn't confusing is ordering at the Bucks unless people have a problem reading all printed menus in all restaurants. The menu is clear. There is no rush to order when in a Bucks. I wish people would take their time and read the board and actually figure out what they want. Just because the Bucks doesn't have value meals doesn't give patrons the right to be confused.

Loving it

Starbucks closes to learn how to make coffee.

Breaking News

Actually, this isn’t really breaking at all, "breaking news" is just so much more dramatic. It happened a few weeks ago, but I don’t think I have mentioned it to too many people.

Kate and I will be flying to Colorado on May 1^st for a visit with friends and family. Kate will have to fly back on the 4^th. I will stay until the 7^th. I am already giddy at the thought of returning and it is still two months away. Ugh.

Closing Time

You may have heard. The Bucks is closing nationwide tonight for retraining for drink making and what not.

I'm actually looking forward to it. Not for the training because my lattes, caps, and fraps have always been above par, but for the chance to watch countless customers come to the door and be turned away.

Ever since I've been at the Bucks I have never quite understood the addiction. I admit, I have a devilish enjoyment in watching the masses get denied their drug. I enjoy it when we close early on holidays. I enjoyed it last year when the blizzards in Colorado forced my old store to close. I'll enjoy it tonight.

Doors close at 5:30pm local time. You better get yours if you don't want to find a locked door with me smiling and waving at you from the other side.

Still Complaining

17 weeks ago I wrote about going to get a haircut.

I quoted the hairdresser in this blog. She said this about the Starbucks I work at:

“I hate that store. They are dumb over there. I get Italian sodas at Starbucks all over, and when I try to order one there they say they don’t have them. They want you to buy one of the Pellegrino waters and then they say they can mix it up for you. It always tastes like crap. I just want an Italian soda.”

It had been a while since I was last at the barber shop. My hair was getting long.

The same lady cut my hair today, reminding me that I was last in there 17 weeks ago. She didn’t remember that, the computer did, and it recorded the time of my last visit and she saw it on the screen when I checked in. Unfortunately, she did remember that I work at Starbucks and I had to sit through complaints about customers, the way some people order their drinks, and how she doesn’t like anything on the menu at the real Starbucks stores. Luckily, it was a short haircut.

The 80th Oscars

The Oscars were naturally painful in most segments, but I watched last night because I love a lot of the movies nominated this year. Oh yeah, and Jon Stewart was hosting.

Stewart did a wonderful job, but I am biased. Of course I am going to enjoy his humor. His opening monologue was poignant and sharp. He mentioned that if Vanity Fair really wanted to respect the writers this year they would have simply invited the writers to the Vanity Fair Oscar party, not just cancel the thing.

It didn't take long for the jokes to turn political. There were quite a few in the first five minutes, but this one was beautiful. Talking about Away With Her, starring Julie Christie (nominated this year), Stewart said, “Brilliant movie. It was a moving story of a woman who forgets her own husband. Hillary Clinton called it the feel good movie of the year.”

If the actors voted for who they wanted to host the Oscars, I am not convinced Jon Stewart would be victorious. However, I think he is one of the best hosts in recent years because he appropriately walks the fine line between respecting the actors and grounding them a bit, reminding them of how often they all get together to celebrate each other’s accomplishments.

Why Texas doesn't count

WOW!!!!!!!!! Don't miss this.

New rules for airplane exit-row seating

1. People seated in the exit-row must be 6’5” or taller.
1. Exception #1: When someone within the height range is traveling with a spouse or family members that aren’t 6’5” or taller, that spouse or one family member will be allowed to sit in the exit-row.
2. Exception #2: Exit-row seats will only be available to average-height people once it is determined by the crew that no one within the accepted height range is on the flight. If it is found that someone on the plane 6’5” or taller wants an exit-row seat, the smaller human being must relinquish his or her exit seat. Patrons will follow this pattern if there is more than one tall person wanting an exit-row seat.
2. Being obese doesn’t qualify you for exit-row seating. The seats are no wider in the exit-row. This is a problem only money can fix. $200 more for a first-class seat.
3. If there happens to be an average-height person who refuses to give their exit-row seat to a taller, vastly superior being, they will be immediately removed by flight attendants and stuffed in the overhead bins.
1. If the overhead bins are too full, try under the seat in front of you. If this does not work, the person must check themselves as baggage.
4. In order to force a segment of average height people from being able to sit in the exit-row window seats, the exit door will now way 85 lbs instead of 35 lbs. The argument being: the tall people that want those exit-row seats are usually much stronger than the short people that all too often get those exit-row seats.
5. When seated in the exit-row, and an average-height person in the row in front of you tries to recline their seat and can’t because they are in the row in front of the exit-row, all of those that are seated in the exit-row must perform the wave, cheer, and high five each other.
6. If the flight attendants do not offer their services in finding a seat with more leg room for you, your flight is free.
7. If a short or average-height person refuses to give their exit-row seat up at all costs, that person is officially a jackass. He or she will now have to be subjected to a contest. The contest: a dwarf-tossing contest. The contestants: all people 6’5” or taller that were denied an exit-row seat. The ammo: the average-height jackass.

Lion King

We went to The Lion King last night. While it was impressive in all the ways Broadway musicals can be, I left just a little disappointed. I enjoyed it, but I wasn’t wowed for a number of reasons.

1. I didn’t enjoy it as much as Phantom of the Opera or Les Miserables. I guess I don’t like the musicals that you can bring your little kids to as much as the ones that feature darkness, death, action, and a whore house.

2. I enjoyed about three songs.

3. I got sick of the fart jokes. If you’ve seen this production you know what I mean.

4. I feel bad about this, but at the start of Act III, I just wanted Simba to kick Scar’s ass already. The end barely came soon enough.

Was it worth seeing? Yes. I might not opt for eleventh row seats next time. Something in the balcony would have been fine.

Afterthoughts: Obama's Wisconsin Victory

I’m pleased with Obama’s win last night. Most bloggers are saying there is no way she can spin this victory for Obama. Wisconsin was a state she had a legitimate chance at winning, but in recent weeks Obama has turned quite a few Clinton supporters in groups that he didn’t carry in previous states.

I was irritated again by Clinton’s speech last night. There was no acknowledgement of Obama’s victory or of the thousands of votes she did receive last night from Wisconsonites. She has every right to continue with her classic stump speech, but acknowledge the man. After all, you were friends before this and you will be friends after this. Can you not be friends during the race? Her recent attack ads in Wisconsin weren’t very friendly. I posted one of them here. Obama politely responded with one of his own, reminding her that they have already had 18 debates together. The 19^th is coming to you on Thursday night.

As it looks now, Obama doesn’t stand a chance in Ohio and Pennsylvania, but the tide may be turning in Texas. For what it is worth Obama is getting endorsements in Texas, most recently from The Houston Chronicle.

Clinton’s clout still scares the hell out of me. Victory is still within her grasp. By winning Texas, Ohio, and Pennsylvania she could gain back a ton of momentum lost in Obama’s current ten-state winning streak.

The Guardian is reporting that the Obama campaign is urging Clinton to concede. I don’t think we have reached that point at all. The Obama campaign needs to keep a reign on that kind of wishful thinking or else it will spur up even more tension between the two candidates. I think it is obviously clear that the Clinton campaign isn’t going to back out anytime soon. She wants this too much and I can see it getting much nastier between the two of them before it gets any better, especially if she presses harder on seating the delegates from Michigan and Florida at the August convention in Denver. Also, this urging by the Obama campaign to concede because an Obama nomination is “inevitable” sounds a little arrogant at this point. If I was a superdelegate supporting Clinton and I heard this, it would probably solidify my vote for Clinton even more.

Though Clinton still stands a chance at victory, there is this sense that a Clinton sweep in two weeks isn’t inevitable anymore. Obama may not win the next batch of states, but he is definitely closing the gap.

Obama wins Wisconsin

CNN just called Wisconsin for Obama.

Yeah.

Wisconsin votes tomorrow

This poll was taken yesterday.

Obama 47.8%

Clinton 42.8%

At least for now I am proud to be in Wisconsin.

Obama Rally in Racine

On Monday I got a notice in my inbox that Obama was going to be in Racine on Wednesday night. The subject header said something like, “Join Barack at a rally in Racine.”

I opened the email and read the contents of it over and over to make sure Barack really was going to be at this rally. Once my keen powers of observation confirmed he was in fact going to be the special guest at this rally I signed up.

When I arrived in Racine I was frantically trying to find a parking spot because I had driven past the line a couple of times and it was growing with every second that I was looking for a parking spot. Instead of trying to find a good spot I drove a couple blocks away and found a parking garage with tons of spots. I parked and ran/speed-walked my way to the end of the line.

Everyone had to have these printed tickets that we received in our email inboxes once we signed up for the event. There were tons of Obama volunteers telling us that we were going to get in. One guy said, “If you have a ticket, you’ll get in. I can’t say the same for people arriving fifteen minutes from now.” He was right. Fifteen minutes after that the line had wrapped around the corner and started extending down the third side of the large building the rally was being held in. However, in the end, I think most people got in. 3,500 to be precise.

It was below freezing out there in line. Most people that got actual seats (including me) stood in line for over an hour. My toes were near frozen by the time I got in the building. The guy in front of me was trying to warm his feet by sticking them near the exhaust pipes of all the TV vans we were lined up next to. An elderly couple that had driven up from Illinois left the line after 45 minutes. They couldn’t take the cold. The doors were supposed to open much earlier than they did. Thus, many people were getting very frustrated with the long wait. We were told later on that the delay was caused by metal detector issues.

Security was tight. There were metal detectors at every entrance. I had to relinquish a coveted Swiss Army key chain dilly-bob. Coats had to be opened while in the building. There were cops everywhere. Obama even has some Secret Service agents assigned to him already. I really didn’t mind the security because I think the man should have it. However, I wish I knew what stinking TSA agent now has my Swiss Army key chain dilly-bob. I hope whoever it is that they lose it quickly. Punk.

I got a balcony seat, which wasn’t that bad. I was a little far away, but no more than 50 yards separated me and the podium that Barack would soon be standing at.

From the moment I got in line to the end of the evening people were very friendly. Everyone was so happy. People were smiling, laughing, engaged in thoughtful discussion and debate. I never felt that the excitement was just because Barack was near. Certainly, that played a role, but there was this excitement in the air that was so energetic. Excitement for the end of Bush’s presidency, for America’s future, for what we have a chance to do for this country, for involvement in the political process, and for alleviation and possibly an end to some of the problems that have been plaguing this country for a while. We were there for all those things and, of course, to see Barack, the only candidate out there that has a chance of carrying that kind of hope for such a diverse crowd.

Besides being friendly, the crowd seemed pretty informed about Barack’s policies and why they were voting for him. There were a few exceptions. A gentleman sitting across the aisle from me was having a discussion with a couple of people sitting near him. He was telling them that Hillary recently stated that she would love to be Barack’s running mate if it became clear she wasn’t going to win the nomination. I still haven’t found proof of this anywhere and I was a little skeptical of anything else that came out of this man’s mouth. He was a little too excited, at one point yelling, “We are watching history. They are going to remember our names because we were here today. This is something we are going to tell our kids and grandchildren about.” I know I witnessed something historical, even if Obama doesn’t go on to win the nomination, but I will not be remembered for being there, Obama will be. History remembers the leader. Sometimes the nameless crowd beside that leader is remembered, but often only in number.

People yelled when Obama volunteers started handing out signs. Everyone knew Obama was near. The Secret Service agents that came out to stand by the crowd really got everyone excited. The Governor of Wisconsin introduced Obama and the U2 music was queued for his grand entrance.

Obama shook hands and waved and eventually made it to the podium. He gave his classic stump speech, making several good points, but there wasn’t much there that I hadn’t already heard him say in speeches I’ve watched on his website, YouTube, or other outlets. It is a good speech though, filled with dramatic pauses, humor, and details. Yes, he did include details.

I enjoyed the 25 minutes after the speech, during which Obama took questions from the crowd. Even though there was no teleprompter for Obama’s speech, it was pretty much set in stone what he was going to say. The question and answer session made it less unscripted. I’m not going to elaborate about the questions or his answers, but I will say I was impressed with Obama’s answers because he answered the questions. All too often, politicians will disguise their response as an answer. Obama wasn’t doing this and that was good to see.

After the formalities ended I watched from the balcony as Obama greeted fans pressed up against the safety rope. Standing up there, trying to analyze the whole evening, I decided it felt like going to church in a way. The only other time I have been around that many people excited about something was at church, and even then, this isn’t the case every Sunday. The Obama movement is a religious movement. I had read that numerous times before Wednesday, but that night I believed it, saw it first hand. There is something he stirs up in Americans, something that McCain and Clinton certainly do not. It is more than a popularity contest with Obama. People actually want to change the country with him. Obviously, not every Obama supporter is going to become this vessel of change, hope, and volunteerism, but the desire to be that vessel is being nurtured by this campaign, and as I left that hall on Wednesday I thought of how an Obama presidency could unleash that desire. That made me feel patriotic, a feeling I hadn’t felt in a long time.

On Clinton's Whereabouts in Wisconsin

I haven't seen any news about her being in the state of Wisconsin and I was wondering if she would be coming to Milwaukee before the primary on February 19th which she is clearly concerned about.

I just finished up reading this article at the Journal-Sentinel website and got my answer in the last sentence.

"Former President Clinton will visit Milwaukee, Waukesha, Madison and La Crosse today to campaign for his wife."

Boring.

I think I'll hit up the next Obama rally in Milwaukee tomorrow.

Hillary's Wisconsin Ad

I don't think this ad works when tomorrow Obama will be holding his third rally in the state since Tuesday night and taking questions from the audience.

Seeing Obama

Bragging about going to a political rally? Yes, I am. It was a spur of the moment thing. I had to switch my shift at the Bucks today. I had to speed to get there. I stood in a really long line, but I didn't get denied a seat and a good view to hear and see Barack Obama today.

Awesome. The love, energy, and friendliness of everyone around me was unforgettable. More later.

Kristol on The Daily Show

It's always good when Kristol is on the show because you know there are going to be fireworks.

Realizing California

I’ve written before on this blog about my childhood desire to move back to Southern California and how that desire drastically diminished with, I would say, a dash of maturity and a whole lot of Colorado.

I return to that theme today.

Eleven days ago, as Kate and I were landing in San Diego, we were admiring the beauty of the city from above.

We were walking toward the baggage claim when I heard this out of Kate’s mouth.

“Let’s move here. I wanna live here.”

“No you don’t.” I said.

“Yes, I do.”

I didn’t feel like saying, “No, you don’t” again. I knew after she got a good taste of Southern California she would change her mind. Of course, I didn’t point this out to her. I just kept my mouth shut regarding that and indulged in a dream with her. “I’ll only move here if we can buy a beach house. One right on the beach. Not a block away. Not with a view of the beach from a distance. A front row beach house.”

“Okay.” She said with a perky twist to it that just slightly undermined the difficulty of being able to purchase/afford such a house.

Less than 48 hours later, after Kate saw the expanse that Southern California suburbia is, after driving great distances on six-lane roads over sweeping hills to just go to the super market, after hearing about traffic on the five (I-5), after learning more about the cost of living in Southern California, after observing the lifestyle of Californians that pushes the limits of sustainability, after realizing all those things make living by the Pacific and not having to experience a winter not look so good anymore, she said, “I don’t want to live here.”

I told her. “I know.”