June 2009 Archives

"I predict a return to blogging as people discover the power of being able to finish a thought" Link (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2409433650)

iPhone restore takes a verrrrrrry loooooong tiiiiime... loooosing consciousnesssssss... (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2399922622)

Whoever designed the digital version of the New Yorker should be sentenced to reading it on an iPhone while being whipped with nettles. (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2383948796)

Toddler has spontaneously composed her magnum opus - a little ditty entitled "Don't Bonk Your Head." It's quite something. (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2372249849)

Michael Jackson Is Over Capacity by @raeioul Link (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2360750988)

Noisy smelly old sportscar in front of us has plate reading "HLA LOUD". I'd add: HLA SLOW and HLA LAME. (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2354641164)

Consolidated Grieving by @zdarsky Link (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2354191374)

Study says women are happiest at 28: Link (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2354101219)

Have you ever heard your not-quite-3-year-old exclaim "Yay, Stereolab!" if not, you really must try it sometime. (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2353944141)

Though it's been a mere six hours at this writing since the news was confirmed that self-proclaimed "King of Pop" Michael Jackson was dead at age 50, everybody and their mother (well, if their mother is of a certain age) has already weighed in with their thoughts on the meaning of his career, life and death. So why shouldn't I join in?

It's hard to reconstruct now, 26 years after the fact, but at the time "Billie Jean" first hit the airwaves, it sounded like nothing else before it. It sounded, well, ominous, but incredibly catchy at the same time. A brilliant song, and everyone responded to it. And then there was the rest of Thriller. Hit after hit after hit. Unlike now, when music stations and charts have fractured into a million subgenres which never find a common audience, everyone heard these songs. And everyone saw "Thriller" the music video. As the line goes, "No mere mortal can resist / the evil of the thriller."

His music also fit the mood of my high school. I always thought of my group of friends as the "not reallys" - not really fitting neatly into any particular clique, category, or race. So Michael Jackson, together with Madonna (who "sounded black") and Prince (who simply enjoyed tweaking everybody's expectations and minds) made the perfect soundtrack.

And the last 26 years? Not so good. It was another four years before Michael Jackson would release another album, and I didn't like it. The one after that was even worse. And then there was the clusterf*ck that was his life... the bizarre marriages, the animals, the money wasted, the dangling baby, the plastic surgery, the lawsuits, the allegations of sexual abuse against children... it went on and on.

I think part of the reason I'm finding it hard to stop thinking about his life and death is that it's sobering to think that he had basically completed his best work by age 25. And that was pretty much it. 50 was young to die, but it was still a quarter century past his peak. He spent more half his life disintegrating in public.

I don't think it had to be that way, and it's a shame that it did (and I feel even worse about his children. Imagine living with that ghost floating over your shoulder for the rest of your life.)

In the meantime, I'll dig into my music collection and pull out my favorite Michael Jackson songs: "Working Day and Night", "Shake Your Body Down to the Ground", "Off the Wall", and "Don't Stop Until You Get Enough". And I hope that even the "haters" can recognize that once upon a time, he really was a genius. 

Edited to add: It's also strange to realize that our president is two years younger than Michael Jackson was, and that he must have also grown up with his music as a soundtrack....

Sad, but admit it, could YOU picture a 75-year-old Michael Jackson? RIP... (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2336802528)

As I was racing downtown to try to drop off a stack of petition signatures at Senator Feinstein's office on the way to BART, I got a phone call. While on the phone, I passed a couple of youngish people waving clipboards with pictures of children on them and trying to get my attention. "Sorry, I'm on the phone," I mouthed. They kept trying to talk to me. I shook my head.

"But it's really important," a young man insisted, stepping out in front of me.

I neatly skirted him and kept going. In my irritation — I thought it was pretty obvious I didn't want to stop and talk, but they kept pushing me — I also said, "That's really rude!"

"No, THAT'S really rude!" he called out as I raced away.

Although the encounter lasted all of five seconds, it made me think about fundraising. I have to admit that I'm not a fan of direct solicitations, either by phone or on the street. Although talking directly to possible donors can be powerful and effective, the person you're talking to has to be somewhat receptive — not in the middle of something else and cranky. Unfortunately, all too often, that's the case when you're intruding on somebody else's time.

My personal preference is to give online on my own schedule. That way, I can do my research, read more about the organization at my own pace, figure out myself how much I'm comfortable giving, and do it all without feeling I'm being guilt-tripped into doing something I don't want to do.

Sometimes I'll see nonprofit solicitors on the street and think, "Hmmm, I don't want to deal with this right now, but maybe I'll look their organization up later and see if this is a group I want to support." The young man I encountered yesterday could have gotten me to check out his group's website later.

However, by being pushy and insisting on arguing with me — and getting the bitchy last word in — he made sure his group will go to the bottom of my list. He was an exceedingly poor representative of the organization he works for, and I have to assume he is representative of their approach. (Lest you think I'm being too harsh, please keep in mind my whole career has been spent at nonprofits... and, knowing my limits, I've wisely stayed away from the public fundraising side of things.)

Sure, I care about children, but there are other groups that help them — groups that don't waste money paying people to stand on street corners in San Francisco harassing people.

By the way, I finished my phone call a few minutes later and made it to Senator Feinstein's office building just in the nick of time, although I dropped the stack of signatures at one point and had to gather up nearly 100 sheets of paper from the sidewalk (bad karma payback! you happy, pushy street solicitors?).

Am enjoying Iron And Wine/Calexico's He Lays In The Reins album. Maybe I shouldn't dump eMusic yet. Still finding good stuff. (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2316870367)

RT @michaelarick: Co-worker says "It's easy to be judgmental, but have you ever been in love with an Argentinian woman?" (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2314624764)

Healthcare for all! Add your name to public option TV ad! Sign and RT! Link (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2313616887)

RT @human3rror: Overheard: Youtube, Twitter, and Facebook are merging together: "YouTwitFace.com" (via @JeremyRDeYoung) (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2311971757)

Tin Blimp #coolbandsmadeuncool (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2304009624)

You honked when you passed me because your point was....? Try not to be a jerk. Kthxbye. (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2296969483)

Hey Subaru driver: I honked because you were signaling a turn and just sitting there (and then pulled over without signaling). (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2296954265)

RT @dwanab: I do not like so brief a twit. It disallows one bit of wit. Some say brevity is art. I don't think that is one bit smart. (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2290048667)

-----Original Message----- From: Support [mailto:support@securitycenter.com] Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2009 10:23 AM To: undisclosed-recipients Subject: B a n k of America Notification. Importance: High

Dear B a n k of America member ,

- You were qualified to participate in $50.00 credit reward surwey.
- Just take part in our quick 5 question survey.
- Please click on the link below to take your survey:

http://survey.bankofamerica.com.sitekey.fmykgb.com/srv/survey.htm?id=594378

B a n k of America - Survey Department.
2009 B a n k of America. All rights reserved.

I did not bother to click on the link (fmykgb.com is a GREAT domain name though). I imagine the "surway" questions were along the lines of:

1. Did you know the word "gullible" is no longer in the dictionary?
2. How much money do you have in your account?
3. What is your bank account number?
4. What is your maiden name?
5. What is your social security number?
6. May we defraud you again sometime?

And in the Central Valley, a huge billboard with a big red cross saying "JESUS DIED FOR YOUR SINS" and a Web address. California is weird. (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2274960206)

Sign spotted near Murphys: "YES WE DO conduct stem cell research on Gitmo detainees." (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2274937657)

Disappointing. More pressure needed. Newsweek: Obama not living up to transparency promise Link (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2265907220)

I turned on the radio this a.m. to hear "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen"), the novelty song from 1999. (My 10-year reunion is tonight!) (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2242137682)

Seven words: Stephen Colbert interviewing a jar of flies. Hysterical! Why did I stop watching this show again? Clearly I need to prioritize! (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2233418092)

Correction!Picked up a cool magazine today called Monocle - www.monocle.com. Attractive design, interesting topics. Link (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2230474775)

Neato! Free book exchange! Link (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2228941613)

Tired because the toddler woke up early yelling at the cat. "NO BOPPERS, NO DO THAT, YOU WOKE UP ME!" (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2218298221)

Great news for Cerrito Theater fans: Berkeley movie theater to the rescue. Link (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2214813097)

Sad but true! LOL. Link (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2214790767)

After a 4-hour CS4 class... I have "Dreeeaaam...weaver... I believe you can help me through the niiii-hiiight!" stuck in my head. Darn 70s! (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2211712310)

Now toddler sings "When the wind breaks, the dreidel will fall." (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2166289327)

Aw, HELL NO. Link (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2158095788)

Apparently cropped jackets over tiny ruffled skirts are the fashion. Hellllooooo, 1986. (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2158032301)

One of the fashion articles is called "Dress You Up in My Love". The girls reading 17 weren't even eggs when Madonna recorded that song! (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2157990540)

Reading an interview with Katy Perry in 17 (someone left it on MUNI). School nickname was "over the shoulder boulder holder". Love it. (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2157966020)

Still trying to understand why Pandora thinks Stevie Nicks belongs on my Stereolab station. On what musical planet does this make sense? (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2154704860)

Leading through an illustrated hardcover copy of Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything, toddler said "Big book, bad attitude!" (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2132950515)

I would NEVER hire this guy as a consultant. Hey @visibledentist - many dentists respect our president and some are gay - why lose clients? (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2118870652)

Listening to Talk of the Nation. Could they not find so-called "pro-lifers" with half a brain or contact with reality? Apparently not. (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2093398765)

This Republican Senator's twitter feed iz 2 funny 4 words. Link (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2078152980)

Not excited about paying more/getting less in exchange for access to Kelly Clarkson and other mediocrities.Tiered access pls? #emusicfail (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2072906279)

Wow, BART's new parking reservation system is SO MUCH BETTER than the one they've been using for years. Glad they switched! (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2072586575)

I heard something quake-like - but my daughter was watching Finding Nemo (the scary part) so I thought that's what I heard. Nope! (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2059003374)

Just had a conversation with a friend in which the phrase "gluten-free penis cake" was uttered. (http://twitter.com/kjfalk/statuses/2009678338)