February 2003 Archives

Goodbye Mr. Rogers

Fred Rogers is dead at the age of 74 after a long battle with cancer. His career lasted 32 years with 1000 episodes. The sweaters are said to be knitted by his mother. But what about all those shoes? I grew up watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood and always thought of it as one of my favorite childhood shows.

Did you watch Mr. Rogers? Did your kids watch Mr. Rogers?

No New Taxes Hawaii

The Hawaii State Senate is proposing an increase to the General Excise Tax. SB 1626 SD1 passed out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee today and is more than likely headed to a floor vote next week.

"Smallville" a must-see tonight!

It's on Channel 5 now! Christopher Reeve tells a young Clark Kent a secret that will change his life forever.

Sorry, Helen

It looks like model rocketry is yet another innocent victim in the War on Terrorism™ — albeit a somewhat obvious one. If TSA agents at airports are panicking over nail clippers, seeing "solid rocket motors" on a shipping form could send some folks into a seizure.

Nonetheless, it's sad... like the way plane spotters are finding themselves chased off as potential terrorists. (And I was just getting into it.)

Blogger BBQ, Part I

The trouble with film is (long pause)...using all the pictures on the roll! Photos from the original picnic at Magic Island are now in my album in the gallery.

Nanoedmo

Well it seems March will be known as the National Novel Editing Month (or Nanoedmo).

American Idol

I don't watch much TV, much less get into these Reality Shows which have recently become vogue; but when a Hawaii boy goes national, I do take some time to listen.

Adaptation

Saw the movie Adaptation early this afternoon with a friend at Ward Theatre.

I'm stuffed

Had a lot to eat at the picnic this afternoon. I was so stuffed that I didn't eat dinner today (well I did drink some water for dinner).

NION March Saturday 2/15

Cribbed from the pages of Honolulu Weekly: Not In Our Name is organizing a march this Saturday, called the "International Day of Protest to Stop the War". Protesters are urged to join a half-mile march from Aloha Stadium to CINCPAC Fleet Headquarters at Pearl Harbor. Upon arrival, the group will demand an inspection of the US's weapons of mass destruction. More details available at Hawai`i Independent Media Center, or call 534-2255.

I'm considering attending, if I have company. Is anyone else interested?

Local boy does good(?)

A former Hawai'i legislator (and, briefly, co-worker of mine) made the pages of the New York Times today.

An assistant secretary of housing and urban development, Michael Liu, said today that the minimum rent proposal was "a reasonable way to promote work and responsibility."

Mid-Season Replacements

So any comments (good or bad) on the current mid-season replacements on television?

Sprucing up UH-Manoa

Interesting article in today's Advertiser about efforts underway to improve the general environment at UH-Manoa.

But they've got one thing wrong. The fountain does work! It's a miracle, that thing has been dry for years and years, but finally started dribbling water recently. Helen vaguely recalled what might be an "urban legend" about someone drowning in it. They would have to have been totally smashed to do so because it's very shallow. It's not a very impressive fountain, either, even when working, but nice to see nonetheless.

I'm less impressed with the rather silly and ostentatious "gateway" "monuments" at the crosswalk by the Law Library, doubt it will improve much when it's finally finished. Nice that they restored the similar old "gateway" on University Avenue, though.

Hawaii's Independent Book Stores

The Hawaii Public Library system suits most of my reading needs. Occasionally there is a title I can't find. I could ask them get it from another library in the US, but why not turn this into an opportunity to support our local independent book sellers?

So other than the obvious - Jelly's, Rainbow, Cheapos & Geckos - what's your favorite local independent bookstore? Or have they been closed by the likes of B&N and Borders?

eMachines PC?

I am not in a rush but sooner or later I will want (or need) to buy a new PC. Somehow the eMachines PC seem to be inexpensive brand. Anyone got any good or bad things to say about their stuff?

Internment OK?

We know that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. What happens to people who remember it, but now actually think one of the biggest missteps in U.S. government history was a pretty neat idea? The head of a homeland security subcommittee, North Carolina Rep. Howard Coble (a Republican), said this week that he supported President Roosevelt's decision to put Japanese Americans in internment camps.

"Some probably were intent on doing harm to us,'' he said, "just as some of these Arab-Americans are probably intent on doing harm to us.''

A Star is Born

While everyone in Hawai`i's TV Land is watching out for Jordan Segundo on American Idol, we've got our own star right here on the net! Our very own Cheyne is a contestant in Blogwhore 2! Go visit Cheyne and lend your support!

Noticed More Girl/Girl Action on Network TV Lately?

Maybe it's just me and that I pay attention to these things, albeit to the disapproval of my wife, but it seems to me that there are a lot more girl/girl action happening on primetime network TV as of late--especially when a show needs a few more Nielsen ratings points.

Most recently, The New Twilight Zone, Meet the Parents (the reality series), Fastlane, Firefly, Friends, Once and Again, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Six Feet Under, Ally McBeal, etc. to name a few.

What surprises me is that no one is complaining.

Mmm... Gummi Beers

While labels are confining and usually insulting, I'm proud to call myself a member of "Generation S." And I can't be alone. TIME magazine named it the best TV show of the 20th century. And Homer's universal expression, "D'oh," made it into the Oxford English Dictionary. "The Simpsons is the one thing that binds together everyone I know from age 16 to 32," writes David Grenier. And everyone I know was therefore very eager to read an article purporting to list the Top 25 Simpsons Epsiodes Ever in the latest Entertainment Weekly.

Are you a Simpsons fan? What are your favorite (and least favorite) episodes? What Simpsons quotes do you use in everyday life? Even my daughter says, "D'oh!" As for me, I regularly blurt, "In your face, space coyote!"