The Power of One vs. The Man

Now that my Sacagawea dollar stash has disappeared I have been trying to get my hands on some of the new dollars. However, in my two trips to Wells Fargo I've come up empty. They seem to have "sold out." I wish I could say that this means that they are taking off like I hoped, but I suspect that these dollars are sitting in various collections out of circulation.

However, there are many that have taken up the same burden as I. In this article on slate.com (previously linked to by Peter at Pete the Elder), the author seems to have picked up on all of the same arguments that I've put forth about the golden dollars. He even goes as far to suggest that the government takes the paper dollar out of circulation. Bonanos writes:

But back to dollar bills: Why keep producing them? The Bureau of Engraving and Printing pumps out 3.4 billion fresh singles every year. Pressure from bill partisans at the BEP even kneecapped the Sacagawea ad campaign. According to the GAO, "an informal Treasury restriction" prohibited the Mint from suggesting that a coin was superior to a bill—it could say only that a coin was also available. One TV spot showcasing a frustrating vending-machine moment (vvmp-vvvvmp, vvmp-vvvvmp) was scotched, after a combative meeting at the Treasury, on the grounds that it "negatively portrayed the dollar bill."

I can't believe that "special interests" are inhibiting the growth of the dollar coin. Whores!

I'm hoping that people really start to pick up on this movement, especially seeing how we are clearly going to continue wasting billions in Iraq. Bonanos

don't see this movie...

but at least watch this 4-second (pirated) clip because its kind of funny.

What message?

Starting March 28th, you will be able to find these mailboxes around town. I'm not sure where, but it gives me a greater incentive to walk to the post office and maybe even greater incentive to use that towing package that came with my truck.

5/5/05

Its coming

(except its really 07, but that doesn't work as well)

The Power of One continues

The new dollar coins have been released. I am not quite out of the Sacagawea versions, but I will head to the bank tomorrow to grab a stash of the new dollar coins. I am a little concerned that my quest will be vanquished by the people at Wells Fargo again. This came up again since my buddy Peter (who I will call Conservative Peter to distinguish him from the more liberal Pete at Life Outside the Rat Race) brought it up in his blog. For once, Conservative Peter and I are in agreement - there needs to be a switch to the dollar coin. I highly suggest that you go out and pick up a few. In return, I will double my efforts to spread the use of these coins.

Hiking pictures

The wife and I recently decided to take up hiking. I like nature, I like walking, and I need the exercise, so it seems like the perfect hobby. Here are some pictures from a recent hike to the top of Echo Mountain in Pasadena. It was a hazy day, so the view was not all that spectacular. Today, we will hit the Ben Overturff Trail in Monrovia - our longest hike yet at just about 7 miles. Pictures will come later.

I never really meant to end up here...

...but time, circumstance, and I would argue destiny brought me to my current life. After spending my college years in San Diego (not at state, but UCSD) it never really was an option that I would leave. My plan was originally to start subbing there, eventually teach full-time and make my life there. Things didn't come together fast enough and I was forced to move back home. It was not the worst thing in the world. The girl I had been dating lived there, the rent was cheap, and I would be closer to my family - although I had recently decided that my family was somewhat dysfunctional after my parents' divorce. (I've come back full circle since then). Ironically, I was offered a job with a law firm in San Diego shortly after moving away.

The only part of my plan that really worked out was teaching. What does that mean? Well, to me it means my plan was mostly shit. I love my new hometown - (South) Pasadena. I love where my life has gone since the plan disintegrated. The school where I teach has its ups-and-downs, but I feel fulfilled by what I accomplish there. There's some chick that seems to hang around my apartment a lot and she's pretty OK.

However, there is one thing that I miss about San Diego that I will never have again. I miss driving down Garnett Avenue in Pacific Beach with the window down and the radio on. Not the CD player - the radio. There's something about the sound of FM radio that seems to match that scene. Maybe its the crackle that you get when crossing under electric lines. I think it has a lot do do with feeling like you are listening to the same thing as everyone else. I loved seeing people walk around in flip-flops, covered in tattoos, drinking coffee/tea/beer/smoothies, etc. I loved the cool, clean air. I hate the beach itself, but the beach city cannot be matched by anything anywhere. There really is no equivalent in Pasadena. No place to just roll down the window and take it all in.

And I miss having that.

Picture of the day

This won't be a regular spot on the blog, but this was too funny too pass up. Bush was visiting an elementary school and, well, let's just say there was mixed reaction. (look at the little girl near the bottom)

Major announcement...

OK, not really. It has been so long since I last posted that my computer no longer enters my user name for me. Shameful. Although I believe strongly in personal accountability, there are several reasons for my blogging absence:

1. Really busy. New semester, first time teaching economics, lots of meetings, etc.
2. Tonsillitis. Really. It started about 2 weeks ago resulting in a fever of 101 and 2 days away from work.
3. learning school (as opposed to teaching school). I took a class towards my professional clear credential at UCLA. It was 8:45-4:30 Saturday and Sunday on two weekends. I missed one day due to the illness, but had a lot of make-up work to do in order to get the credits. What did I learn in this class? Our students are fat and eat too many flamin' hot cheetos. They don't excercize enough. Complaining is to teachers as Jesus is to Christians - whenever two or more are gathered he (it) is there. Teachers will cheat on an open note test that is super-easy despite being told not to by a PhD instructor.

In any case, here is a collection of things that I have been thinking about in the last couple of weeks since posting.

I hate to give any attention to psycho-lunatic bitches like Ann Coulter, but I do so only to make a point. Even in our country of partisan politics and extremism on both the left and right sides of the political spectrum, people can go too far. As of this writing, 8 of the 100 or so newspapers that run Coulter's syndicated column have cancelled their subscriptions. Also, several advertisers have asked that the online ad services they subscribe to not allow their services to be advertised on Coulter's homepage.

This blog had screenshots of stupid shit FoxNews has put on the screen. Most of them are pretty funny or at least that strange combination of infuriating and funny - especially the one talking about the Libby being not guilty (which is true for one of the five counts).

I'm one of those suckers that continues to show an absurd interest in the 2008 elections despite the primaries being 10 months away and the election around 18 months away. Here are my thoughts right now:

1. I still want Obama to win, despite the harsh criticisms of his (insert sarcasm here) major faults - smoking, not going to school in a madrasa, and his investment in companies that he actually did not ask to invest in and sold his shares in at a major loss once he found out about them.
2. Who is going to be the Republican nominee? Mitt Romney? I don't see people voting for a Mormon, which I think is, in itself, a sad comment on the lack of tolerance in our country. John McCain? Too old for many, too caught up in the war for others. Rudy Giuliani? Pete at Pete the Elder has more-or-less endorsed him saying "What a lot of liberals do not understand about conservatives is that the war on terrorism trumps a lot of other issues for us." I respect Pete, as he is one of my oldest, smartest, and favorite friends. However, Pete is a big Monkees fan, which I think discredits him greatly. Seriously, I just don't see how a conservative can forget about their other main planks in their platform - abortion, same-sex, etc. - things that Giuliani does not agree with them on. Gingrich? This guy, despite being evil and angry, can get conservatives moving like prunes to old people. He could be the dark horse. I will leave the country if he wins. Brownback is too conservative. Huckabee is too. However, Huckabee seems to be a real reasonable and honest guy to me. His record in Arkansas is pretty strong. In any case, I'm stumped.
3. Why do we care so much so far from the election? I was telling "Other Pete" and Randy yesterday that I just think we are all so ready to be done with Bush that we sort of feel like talking about who his possible replacements are makes us feel like January '09 is already here.

I changed my list of books that I am currently reading. City of Fallen Angels never made it off of my nightstand because I picked up Distant Land of My Father. The author is going to speak at my church this Friday and I wanted to read it before then. I'm not much of a literary critic, but I feel safe in saying that this book is really well-written. A good amount of it takes place in my new hometown - South Pasadena.

Next month is the L.A. Times Festival of Books. Its a pretty nerdy event, but I have enjoyed the two times that I went. There are lots of author panels, book signings, and booths to visit. The authors are not listed yet, but I suspect that I will look forward to this FREE event.

My beloved Liverpool FC beat the holders (defending champions in soccer talk) FC Barcelona to advance to the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals - where they will face the Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. Game 1 will be during my spring break - I hope to find a pub somewhere on the road during our spring break trip up the coast. This tournament is the most important tournament in the world next to World Cup. It features the best clubs from every league in Europe. Remaining teams are: Liverpool, Manchester United (scum), and Chelsea from England; Valencia from Spain, Bayern Munich from Germany, AS Roma and AC Milan from Italy, and PSV from the Netherlands.

Finally, here are some pictures from our recent hike up to Echo Mountain here in Pasadena. There used to be a train that ran up to a hotel there. It was a somewhat-strenuous hike. It was also unreasonably hot for February. Unfortunately, it was rather hazy so the view wasn't as top-notch as I hoped. (Edit: something's not working - I'll post them later)

um......so....yeah....just watch