Is This Thing On?

Ten posts in a 9-month stretch does not a good blog make. It barely constitutes the life-signs of a blog, let alone a functioning one. But, then, who blogs anymore. In an attempt to stay relevant, my friend Matt Ward, has resorted to Twittering with the help of his iPhone. We should all be so lucky to live in 2008. I feel frozen in 2004 with my Blogger blog, here. And, just what are people writing about these days? The sheer volume of posts has certainly dropped?

I suppose I just continue writing about the news of the day, what's happening, what I'm reading, etc.

Planning on looking for a series of posts over the next few days. Of course, don't hold your breath.

The biggest news is…we bought a house!

Voters’ Paralysis (or should I say Caucusers’ Paralysis)

In an effort to understand just what the hell is going on here, with the Democratic Presidential nominee process, I Googled: caucus explained.

I resolved to click on the very first link that resulted. It just so happen to be a tidy little article from the New Republic magazine by Michael Crowley, dated January 3^rd, 2008. I use it as our reference to explain, below.

In a nutshell, states with a Democratic caucus procedure can be summarized thusly:

Caucuses are…a competition to win delegates to county conventions, which choose delegates to a state convention, which, in turn, is where national delegates are chosen.

The number of delegates awarded to each precinct is based on turnout there in the previous two general elections--and on caucus night, delegates are divvied up based on what proportion of the turnout each candidate can muster.

Note: "In 2004 [in Iowa], only about six percent of eligible Democrats bothered to show."

…when the media reports the official caucus results, those percentages reflect the number of delegates awarded--not, as in a primary, the preferences of thousands of individual voters.

Ergo, the reason that Hillary might win the "popular vote," if you will (Primary) and preference of the people but fail to get the overall majority of the delegates. My dad is wondering if Hillary proves to be more popular with the public but doesn't get enough delegates, will the vaunted "Super-delegates" see the light and realize that voting for Hillary might be the better move versus McCain. I have no particular comment on this. I haven't read any of the punditry on this scenario, either. Someone, out there, care to enlighten us?

I'll post my take on the landscape once I've collected all my thoughts.

I'll leave you with this: I have a sneaking suspicion that nefarious Republicans, shrouded in donkey-clothing, were scribbling in a vote for Hillary, yesterday—Texas has open Primaries that don't require party affiliation. I think we're all hearing that Hillary would make a weaker match versus McCain in the general election. It makes me wonder if, enough people really did that yesterday, we had a false-positive reading on the health of the Clinton campaign.

More to come.

The Atlantic is Now Free, Apparently

I just saw this on The Atlantic's site:

"Editors' Note

Beginning today, TheAtlantic.com is dropping its subscriber registration requirement and making the site free to all visitors.

Now, in addition to such offerings as blogs, author dispatches, slideshows, interviews, and videos, readers can also browse issues going back to 1995, along with hundreds of articles dating as far back as 1857, the year The Atlantic was founded.

We're pleased to bring The Atlantic before a broader online audience. We hope that the quality of its writing, the trenchancy of its insights, and the depth and thoughtfulness of its reporting will inspire many of our online readers to join the Atlantic family by becoming print subscribers."

I'm not sure what I think about this. I guess it's like leaving the box of donuts out with an honor-system tip jar. You're going to be losing money in the end.

This is great news for you moochers. Get ta' readin'!

Obligatory State of the Blog Address 2008

Steve recently asked me when I was going to start posting more often. I guess it's fairly obvious that the contributions have been on the anemic side. I attribute that to Train A that left Chicago at 2PM and travels at 55 MPH—getting a new job this past summer—and Train B that left St. Louis at 12PM and travels at 60 MPH—people don't really care about Phil's personal take on the world. Those trains collided on or near September of '07. After that, this place has seen only bits and pieces. A notable death, here. A Barry Bonds note, there. But, nothing of any real interest.

It would be expected and trite for me to write that, on this day, January 2^nd, I resolve to commit myself to posting more regularly. Or, just the opposite, one might expect that, with the declination in posts, it was high time to shut this sucker down. Phil's lost interest and it's time to pack it in. Well, I'm not ready to lean in either direction just yet.

Part of my diminishing production is due to the reality that my day-to-day life has changed so dramatically. My bread-and-butter working hours have shifted from the typical 8-to-5 schedule to one of 6-to-3. This has meant that my wheelhouse of creativity hours—8am to 10am—have shifted to the contribution of the bottom line of my current employer. Try coming home at the end of that day, after getting up at 5am, and writing a quasi-meaningful essay for a "rabid fan base." It's difficult at best and impossible at worst.

Another issue has been a modification of my writing tool. My previous job afforded me the luxury of having a laptop from which to work. This allowed me the freedom to write from different places, including my favorite bars and coffee shops. Now, I have to hack this thing out on the trusty, ole desktop. Something about having to write this at my desk squeezes the creative juices right out of the process.

In the last few years, there has been increasingly more written on the subject of the question of continuing to blog, particularly by those whose blogs don't generate any income. I feel the pull of that sentiment's industrial-strength tractor beam. Who really reads these things anymore, anyway? But, then, I suppose there are possibly one or two readers still lurking in the shadows out there, still curious to see what's on Phil's mind. I suppose that's reason enough to keep on doing it, even if the effort has been lacking lately.

I guess I need to continue to hone my craft or peddle my crap, whichever you prefer. Besides, I have so much to say.

Quiet Riot Singer Dead at 52

Here's the news article regarding the sudden death of Quiet Riot's Kevin Dubrow.

The only reason this is of note, other than the shock waves rippling through the music universe, is that I had a brush with him at the D/FW airport, this summer. I was on my way to Lawrence, KS. He and the band were chilling out at the International Terminal, on their way to San Diego, and I tried to overhear a conversation he was having on a cell phone. I didn't really know who it was but I knew it had to be a famous hair/metal band from the 80s.

Just a weird note.

Funniest Thing Seen on Southpark This Season

I cannot get over how much I loved Matt Stone & Trey Parker's vision of Bono in Africa. Ab-so-lute Genius.

Full Success...my link put us over!

Yes...the ball will be branded.

Oh, happy day. This proves that perception is reality. It doesn't matter what can be proven or disproved in a court of law. In this country, you're guilty until proven innocent, regardless of what ideals we may boast of. This is why character matters most, people.

Bonds never humbled himself. He never stood up for himself and said "I will be tested anytime you want to prove you all wrong." He broke the all-time home run record as a loaded, 'roided up player. The asterisk on the ball will be a reminder of that--for all time.