I don't know how else to explain my feelings about tonight. I just got home from celebrating the victory and I still feel wide awake. I can't wait to watch us clinch the division and hear Ozzie Guillen come up with even more stupid reasons why his team fails. Seriously, tonight was amazing. I would go so far as to say this was the most exciting Twins game I have been to since Game 7 in '87. Absolutely amazing, electrifying energy in the dome, the whole place felt like a 50,000 person party. After the game everyone was singing and chanting in the streets. Random people passed us on the sidewalk and everyone would start cheering and yelling. I love being a part of a city filled with that kind of joy.
The best description of the night: on Baseball Tonight the #1 Webgem tonight wasn't given to a player, it was The Minnesota Twins. Baseball is a team sport and nowhere is that more true than here. I love this game.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Twins 3 White Sox 2
All I can say is that after going to this game I plan on trying to go to every game from here til the end of the year, regardless of the results. I love this team, I love the way the stadium feels when 40,000 people are screaming in unison. I love the way I get nervous about every single pitch and the way that the 9th inning seems like the most important thing ever. I love the way it feels to beat a hated rival, and I love to hate Ozzie Guillen.
If anyone will be there tomorrow I'll be there with you. Go Twins!!!
If anyone will be there tomorrow I'll be there with you. Go Twins!!!
Monday, September 22, 2008
What happened to the 1st Amendment?
Warning: Political Rant
In the past month I've seen example after example of how our 1st Amendment rights only apply in certain situations. Censored language, blocked protests, and punishment for speaking one's mind seem to pop up on the news on a daily basis.
First off, the protests. The 1st clearly states that we have a right to freedom of assembly. Why is it that the government is allowed to enforce a restriction on this right by requiring permits for most protests? If I have a right to assemble with others who share my point of view how is it that a city or state can interfere and it is somehow legal?
Secondly, censorship. I understand that the general public does not want there to be rampant foul language, nudity, and violence (well, I guess violence isn't really censored) in the mainstream media, but does the government really have a right to penalize someone for using a word or showing some T&A? Somewhere along the line we let religious ideals amend the amendment to include exceptions.
Finally, persecution. There have been several stories in the past couple years about students being suspended, expelled, and in some cases prosecuted for comments they have made in various online media. I'm not talking about the ones who made threats on the lives of others, obviously when someone threatens to harm others there is sufficient reason to act to prevent violence. But when a student is punished for making a website critical of school administration during her own time, not on school grounds, there is something wrong. Expressing an opinion (even if it is something as juvenile as calling your principal a dickhead) certainly should not fall within the jurisdiction of the school. If the student said these things in class it would be different. When a teacher makes a rule against chewing gum, they certainly don't expect students to refrain from chewing gum at home. A student may have to act a certain way while in the school lunchroom, but the school does not make the rules for the family's dinner table.
As far as I can tell the only way to change these problematic attitudes towards our freedoms is to continue to challenge them. Pushing the envelope when it comes to the FCC, protesting whether or not the city council says it is ok, blogging about your teacher being a douche bag, these are all ways to keep people thinking about this issue. I'm not really sure where I plan on starting, but I know that I do not plan on censoring myself when it comes to something so basic as the freedom of speech.
In the past month I've seen example after example of how our 1st Amendment rights only apply in certain situations. Censored language, blocked protests, and punishment for speaking one's mind seem to pop up on the news on a daily basis.
First off, the protests. The 1st clearly states that we have a right to freedom of assembly. Why is it that the government is allowed to enforce a restriction on this right by requiring permits for most protests? If I have a right to assemble with others who share my point of view how is it that a city or state can interfere and it is somehow legal?
Secondly, censorship. I understand that the general public does not want there to be rampant foul language, nudity, and violence (well, I guess violence isn't really censored) in the mainstream media, but does the government really have a right to penalize someone for using a word or showing some T&A? Somewhere along the line we let religious ideals amend the amendment to include exceptions.
Finally, persecution. There have been several stories in the past couple years about students being suspended, expelled, and in some cases prosecuted for comments they have made in various online media. I'm not talking about the ones who made threats on the lives of others, obviously when someone threatens to harm others there is sufficient reason to act to prevent violence. But when a student is punished for making a website critical of school administration during her own time, not on school grounds, there is something wrong. Expressing an opinion (even if it is something as juvenile as calling your principal a dickhead) certainly should not fall within the jurisdiction of the school. If the student said these things in class it would be different. When a teacher makes a rule against chewing gum, they certainly don't expect students to refrain from chewing gum at home. A student may have to act a certain way while in the school lunchroom, but the school does not make the rules for the family's dinner table.
As far as I can tell the only way to change these problematic attitudes towards our freedoms is to continue to challenge them. Pushing the envelope when it comes to the FCC, protesting whether or not the city council says it is ok, blogging about your teacher being a douche bag, these are all ways to keep people thinking about this issue. I'm not really sure where I plan on starting, but I know that I do not plan on censoring myself when it comes to something so basic as the freedom of speech.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Chronophage
I recently discovered THIS on slashdot. I'm too lazy to post all of the information as links here, but I encourage everyone who read this to look up more information regarding the clock and read up on it. I want one. Badly. If anyone has some extra thousands of dollars and wants to buy me one, I'd be delighted.
And yes, the demon grasshopper is continuing to eat time away. Once a second has passed it is gone forever.
And yes, the demon grasshopper is continuing to eat time away. Once a second has passed it is gone forever.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Go Gus Go!
Those of you who've spent any amount of time with me in the last couple weeks have probably heard me rant about firing Childress and benching Tarvaris. Well, today I got half of my wish. Hopefully having Frerotte start at QB for us will at least give our offense some semblance of multidimensionality (yes, that is a word even though Firefox didn't think so.)
Since Childress actually appears to be trying something new, I'd like to back off on some of the criticism I've thrown his way recently. Yes, he is still a horrible play caller and I'm still ready to hate on him at the drop of a hat. But for now, I figure he's at least earned himself another week before I start calling for his head again.
As for the Twins, I'm currently watching us fall behind the Indians, again, and I have nothing to say. My sadness is too overwhelming to comment on the situation.
Since Childress actually appears to be trying something new, I'd like to back off on some of the criticism I've thrown his way recently. Yes, he is still a horrible play caller and I'm still ready to hate on him at the drop of a hat. But for now, I figure he's at least earned himself another week before I start calling for his head again.
As for the Twins, I'm currently watching us fall behind the Indians, again, and I have nothing to say. My sadness is too overwhelming to comment on the situation.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Rage Against the Machine
Best. Concert. Ever.
I know that sounds like hyperbole, but honestly I have never enjoyed a show as much as I enjoyed last night's Rage concert. Anti-Flag was the opener, getting the crowd all stirred up with lines like "Across the river there is a convention of mother-fuckers who got us into this illegal war. Let's show them that on this side of the river there's a convention of mother-fuckers who won't stand for this shit anymore!"
Just before Rage went on about 100-200 people started jumping over the railings from the bleachers onto the floor, running past security guards and in a couple cases knocking them down. I only saw 2 people actually get caught by security as they were far outnumbered.
Once the band took the stage the entire place was louder than the Metrodome during a sold out Vikings game. They played several songs before Zach finally spoke up in the middle of "Bulls on Parade" saying "Did you guys know that Sarah Palin has a pregnant 17 year old daughter?" In the bass interlude during "Wake Up" he gave about a 10 minute speech denouncing the illegal war, asking for people to get involved, and telling everyone in the crowd that it was time for us to wake up and do something about it.
After ending the encore with "Killing in the Name Of" Zach had one last piece of wisdom for the evening. He told the crowd that the riot police outside were just waiting for a reason to get physical and make some arrests and that we shouldn't give them any reason to get violent. "Let's show them that we have more discipline than they do."
I know that sounds like hyperbole, but honestly I have never enjoyed a show as much as I enjoyed last night's Rage concert. Anti-Flag was the opener, getting the crowd all stirred up with lines like "Across the river there is a convention of mother-fuckers who got us into this illegal war. Let's show them that on this side of the river there's a convention of mother-fuckers who won't stand for this shit anymore!"
Just before Rage went on about 100-200 people started jumping over the railings from the bleachers onto the floor, running past security guards and in a couple cases knocking them down. I only saw 2 people actually get caught by security as they were far outnumbered.
Once the band took the stage the entire place was louder than the Metrodome during a sold out Vikings game. They played several songs before Zach finally spoke up in the middle of "Bulls on Parade" saying "Did you guys know that Sarah Palin has a pregnant 17 year old daughter?" In the bass interlude during "Wake Up" he gave about a 10 minute speech denouncing the illegal war, asking for people to get involved, and telling everyone in the crowd that it was time for us to wake up and do something about it.
After ending the encore with "Killing in the Name Of" Zach had one last piece of wisdom for the evening. He told the crowd that the riot police outside were just waiting for a reason to get physical and make some arrests and that we shouldn't give them any reason to get violent. "Let's show them that we have more discipline than they do."
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
The GOP Convention vs. 1st Amendment Rights
In the last 2 days there have been over 300 arrests in the Twins Cities related to the GOP convention. Now, I'm not defending the idiots who broke the windows at Macy's or the jerks deflating peoples tires. That is immature bullshit and it makes us all look bad. What I'm pissed about are the hundreds of people who have been arrested or otherwise detained without having committed a crime. I've even heard about a news team that was arrested and when they pointed to their convention badges the police took the credentials and told them they were operating without a permit. A documentary crew had its cameras seized before they had a chance to even start filming. A billboard was blocked from being put up because our GOP Lt. Gov. thought it "could possibly pose a serious safety risk to commuters on I-94."
Honestly, I'm a little surprised. I know people always complain about the cops being dicks and doing stupid shit like this but I've never seen it happen so close to home on such a grand scale. I guess what it boils down to is that the 1st amendment only applies when it doesn't interfere with someone's political agenda. As the quote goes: "You can have the Model-T in any color, so long as its black."
Honestly, I'm a little surprised. I know people always complain about the cops being dicks and doing stupid shit like this but I've never seen it happen so close to home on such a grand scale. I guess what it boils down to is that the 1st amendment only applies when it doesn't interfere with someone's political agenda. As the quote goes: "You can have the Model-T in any color, so long as its black."
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