September 12, 2006
The Mic Is On! We’re Having Parallel Lives!
ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 7:00 pm
It’s Like Open Mic Only Different
Here’s how it works.
It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME
The rules are simple — be nice.
There are always first timers and new things to talk about.
Tonight we’re talking having more than one life!
We might also talk about
- Donald Trump or Annie Lennox
- Mother Teresa or Nelson Mandela
- Steven Spielberg or Meg Ryan
- anyone real or fictional
AND THE EVER POPULAR,
Basil the code-writing donkey.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
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Advice Librarian said
I win – I think. I’m first into the bar, right?
ME Strauss said
AdLib,
You’re a winner of the very best kind.
What would you like?
Joe said
Ad Lib… ;-(
Scorpia said
Heh. Evening Liz and AdLib. I’m the party pooper tonight.
I’ve never wanted to be anyone but myself.
ME Strauss said
Joe,
A cold one?
Joe said
How ’bout the better half deciding to move her beauty shop from her beauty shop to HOME!!!
Is that a parallel universe or what???
Advice Librarian said
Aww, don’t worry Joe – you can go first next week
I’ll take this life”, please – well, it’s a nice musical tribute to one of my favourite fictional heroes…
ME Strauss said
Scorpia,
Imagine if you had a choice to follow a path untaken as well as be yourself now . . . or to go for the money . . . be your Nelson Mandela self . . . you have 23 other yous to pick from . . . What then?
Joe said
Sorry guys,
Hey Liz, AdLib and Scorpia, (and anyone else who shows up before I’m done typing) how are you all doing?
ME Strauss said
I think tonight I want to be Liz the music video director.
Joe said
Tonight I will be…
Joe said
Chewbacca…
AAAAAAAAHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Scorpia said
Ah, that’s different, Liz. I think we all have a desire to be a better “me”. But that doesn’t come from being someone else. One might use another person as a role model in some things, but not to excess. We should all find our own way through life.
As for the road not taken, sometimes I’ve wondered if I had the chance to go back, would I take that path? Maybe I would.
ME Strauss said
Joe,
You would use one of your own lives to be Chewbaca? That’s interesting . . .
Joe said
Big, Strong, Living int the future with Princess Leah???
Why not???
Advice Librarian said
Hi, Scorpia
And what’s so bad about being roughly six-seven times stronger than a human, living to the ripe old age of 500 on average, and getting to wear a fur coat every day of your life?
Joe said
If I’m going to have a choice of parallel lives, why not pick something from my fantacy future?
Advice Librarian said
By the way – here’s an opinion piece for your Net Neutrality page, Liz
http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/8/31/195545/897
ME Strauss said
But say, Scorpia, you had 23 lives to live in 23 universes, where you could be the earth mother in one life and the city version in another. . . .
Same person different context, different surroundings, different challenges.
ME Strauss said
Joe,
Princess Leah loved Luke!
Scorpia said
I have no interest in fur coats, AdLib. Nor in being so strong (except maybe in a computer game
. No, I don’t think I’d want to be a Wookiee.
What about you?
ME Strauss said
Thanks AdLib for the NN link
Okay, okay! I get the Chewbaca thing.
Joe said
Liz,
I don’t think it has to be that complicated.
If you are going to live a parallel life, try the one that James T. Kirk had where he was a man in a womans body, and she had his body…
Scorpia said
Interesting concept, Liz. But there’s no way one could be the same person in those circumstances. We are each the sum of our lives and experiences. Those would be different in each universe.
Scorpia said
Joe, i don’t think that works out right (Turnabout Intruder was the episode). That was a forced exchange of minds.
Mirror, Mirror would be a better example, where Kirk & Co end up in a real parallel universe.
Joe said
Actually Liz, she loved the scoundrel…
ME Strauss said
But don’t you wonder?
Joe said
Scorpia is right again, can I be you in the other universe???
Scorpia said
Sure, Liz. Everyone wonders in their daydreams. But that’s make-believe and no way to really know. Except, of course, to know we wouldn’t be the people we are now.
Scorpia said
Joe, you wouldn’t want to be me in any universe. Really. Just being an old Star Trek fan doesn’t make me desirable as an alternate life path
ME Strauss said
Well, if we’re talking about parallel universes, one would think we might be able to stretch the rules just a little bit . . .
Advice Librarian said
Well, if you’re going to dream, dream big
Though something like that probably doesn’t have an identifiable personality in human terms, so maybe it’s better to go for something like Smart Hulk instead.
Yes, I’m an unabashed Marvel Fanboi, why do you ask?
Rick Cockrum said
Hi Liz, Joe, AdLib, Scorpia!
But that’s part of the point, Scorpia? Would you be in your daydreams. You play games? Are any of them role play? I used to play D&D every Sunday night with a group of friends (much more fun than computer games). I liked druid characters. They could use magic and were close to the earth at the same time.
Scorpia said
Yeah Liz, we could. But we’d still be in the land of make-believe, right?
And what about you? What life would you want?
Joe said
Ok, I’ll settle for being the sheriff in Eureka…
Advice Librarian said
IIRC, Scorpia’s hooked on Elder scrolls:Oblivion…
ME Strauss said
Joe,
No need to settle you get at least 23 choices . . . You’d make a great sheriff, I’d reckon.
Scorpia said
Hi, Rick. You betcha, I’ve been a role-player (live pnp as well as computer) for many years in many systems. All my characters have something of me in them (though not necessarily the same something). But I am aware I’m playing in a make-believe world, even when taking it seriously. And I don’t think I’d ever really want to be any of them.
However, there’s no way of knowing that unless I somehow had the choice to do it. That would be really interesting. What would I choose?
ME Strauss said
I’d want to direct music videos on a grand scale in one life I think and have a flower farm where children came to read books with me somewhere in the country in another — no computer or TV
Scorpia said
AdLib, nah, Oblivion is old history by now, though I may go back to it sometime. In fact, I’ve been through two games since then. Gotta keep busy saving the world here
Joe said
Actually, I’d be more like Wesley Crusher, but much older. Or maybe MacGyver.
I can do things that noone else thinks of with very little in the way of resources.
ME Strauss said
Hi Rick,
Sorry, I was distracted answering questions . . . what can I get you? What do magical folk drink?
Scorpia said
So why not do it for real, Liz? Both of those sound possible. If you really wanted to do either of them.
ME Strauss said
Scorpia,
I like what I’m doing now . . . that’s why I need 22 lives more . . .
Renée said
Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world
And the seven seas
Everybody’s looking for something.
Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused.
Chorus…
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the net
And the blogsphere
Everybody’s looking for something.
Some of them want to read you
Some of them want to get read by you
Some of them want to hack you
Some of them want to be hacked.
ME Strauss said
Yeah, Renee
You are a . . . . Legend in Your Living Room.
Scorpia said
So you’re doing what you love best right now. Ever tried getting something of those other 22 into your current life?
Joe said
Hey Renee,
You want to be a singer, world traveller, a seeker?
Rick Cockrum said
I think I’ll get some cran-apple juice, Liz, if it’s around.
Joe, don’t be like Wesley! Please?
I’m probably a monk somewhere, like Paiboon Busayarak just became.
Inother life I’m pulling a Dennis Weaver in a solar-powered, rain-collecting, environmentally friendly house in the southwest.
In another I’m a really Nicola Tesla.
Scorpia said
Ah Rene, the old Eurythmics song. I liked that one.
Good choice.
Christine Kane said
Hello All!
Rick Cockrum said
Hi Christine. So who are you in an alternate universe? How’s your dad?
Joe said
Uh, I just heard the commercial in the background with a new age Robin Hood shooting an arrow at the “Phone Company Varlet”
I want to be Robin Hood…
ME Strauss said
Hey Christine!
How wonderful to see you. I took you with me when I did my creativity facillitation thing last week. You were in the car both ways.
Christine Kane said
Hi Rick… No alternate universe…just springfield, Missouri this evening. i have a performance tonight, and i’m giving a workshop tomorrow night. my dad is in a rehab center, coming along slowly. thanks for asking! hi liz! i THOUGHT i was driving with you today!
Joe said
Hey Christine
Christine Kane said
hi joe!
ME Strauss said
Here’s your cranberry juice, Rick!
Some Glen Livet tonight, Scorpia?
Scorpia, that’s Christine. She’s a wonderful musician/writer/singer.
Christine, Scorpia is a PC game tester/editor/ challenger/thinker.
Advice Librarian said
Somewhere in an alternate universe, Christine is the lead singer in a kick-ass Goth metal band
Like this one,
Christine Kane said
scorpia is a pretty damn cool name…
Renée said
Joe…
I can’t sing to save my life but I love to change the lyrics just for amusement!
Sexy Song Warning: Not for the weak hearts!
A seeker is more like me!!! What about you guys?
Chris Cree said
I’ll take “Malcolm Reynolds” for 1,000 please Alex.
ME Strauss said
Speaking of parallel universes . . . I’ve been to Springfield, MO. I have family there.
Scorpia said
Hi Christine! nice to meet you.
Liz, sure, I could use a shot (good of you to remember). I have to leave in about fifteen minutes. Got something to finish up. But I did want to drop in for awhile anyway.
seanrox said
I’m heading on over now but making a quick stop at the store for BBQ supplies. Does anyone have some suggestions?
Last week the tri-tip and chicken was a huge hit, so it’s already on the list. The baked potatos went fast too.
Service Untitled - Douglas said
Hey everyone, what’s up?
Advice Librarian said
Oooh, yes – I used to play Robin Hood a lot when I was a kid. Dad loved the Errol Flynn movie(s) and read me a few of the stories – this was before he taught me to read, though…
Chris Cree said
Liz, Did you meet Homer Simpson when you were in Springfield?
Christine Kane said
well liz, they can all come out to drury university tonight at 9:30 and see me. i’ll probably fall asleep at the mic!
hi chris! hi adlib…
seanrox said
I wonder if I should pick up some donuts for Homer Simpson?
Joe said
Renee,
Do you have an age limit for those lyrics?
You are a poet, maybe you and Christine should team up for a song!?!
Scorpia said
Christine, thanks. I chose it myself. Only now I’ve seen on the ‘net that I’m some sort of international evil organization. Among other things. Hey at least i’m famous
Rick Cockrum said
Hey Chris!
Hi Seanrox! Pineapple would be good in that. I was looking in the grocery store here for dried pineapple tonight. There was none to be found.
Chris Cree said
Hey Christine! Are you going on stage in less than 45 minutes?!?!!
You are a crazy lady. Hanging here with us!
ME Strauss said
SeanRox,
Meet our music star ChristineKane.
Christine, Sean’s the next James Bond.
seanrox said
Hey Rick. The store has free wifi and pineapple, so we’re both in luck tonight! I’ll grab some for you.
Chris Cree said
Hey Rick! How’s things?
Renee, Are you a fan of the Dog Whisperer by any chance?
seanrox said
Hi Liz and Christine. The name is Rox… SeanRox
ME Strauss said
Hi Chris,
Who’s Malcolm Reynolds? I thought you’d want to be some guy named . . .
Advice Librarian said
Hey, don’t knock how the artist charges her batteries before a performance – it beats the hell out of Keith Richards’ chemical assists before a performance…
Rick Cockrum said
Hi Renee! I was confused by wondering who would want to be hacked.
How are you doing tonight, Douglas?
Christine Kane said
chris… different time zone. i’m putting on make-up now.
ME Strauss said
Doug!
How are you and who do you wanna be in a parallel life or two or three . . .
Renée said
Do I need to put a “age limit” sign before the song? Hope I didn’t do something illegal?
Christine Kane said
hey seanrox! adlib…as a matter of fact, keith richards is here with me now and we’re both hallucinating.
Joe said
Hey Chris, seanrox, Rick… Things are just starting to move too fast to keep up with everyone that is showing up.
seanrox said
In another life and world, I’m the next James Bond
Service Untitled - Douglas said
Doing okay. Not going to be on very long tonight. Just wanted to pop in and say hello.
Chris Cree said
Christine, You’re still c-r-a-z-y in my book!
Liz, are you inferring I would want to be Jack by any chance?
Renée said
Hey Rick, finally I get to be on the same time zone with you!
Agree, “Hacked” probably isn’t the best choice. Maybe “linked” will…
Some of them want to link you
Some of them want to be linked.
seanrox said
Hi Doug. Hang out for a little while. The grill is heating up now and I brought some cool refreshing drinks as well.
ME Strauss said
Chris,
I’m sorry I didn’t answer you earlier. Homer Simpson IS my family.
Chris Cree said
JOE! The sheriff is a BIG job. Are you sure you’re up to it?
Chris Cree said
Doh!
Scorpia said
Folks, it’s been fun, but I must be going now. Try not to become schizophrenic with all those multiple lives
Liz, why not drop by my (real) Thursday night chat sometime? Meet weird people
Joe said
Hey Doug, sorry I missed saying hello when you came in.
@ Renee, I was only kidding
Advice Librarian said
Well, whatever you do, listen to Weird Al and don’t download this song – he needs the money for another solid gold Hummer and a diamond-studded swimming pool
How about you Christine? You in the market for one of those?
Chris Cree said
Oh, and Liz, Malcolm Reynolds is only the coolest hero character ever created.
Of course apparently my celebrity look alike is Keanu Reeves.
Renée said
Chris…. YES YES YES … I’m a great fan of “Dog Whisperer” – Firm on his commands, tender on his approach.
ME Strauss said
Scorpia,
Good night. Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday. Send me an email about Thursdays and I will if I can.
Rick Cockrum said
That’s a lot friendlier than the Eurthymics version, Renee, or even the sorts who want to be hacked.
Ben Yoskovitz said
Well I’m a bit late to the game, but still here!
How’s everyone doing this evening?
Rick Cockrum said
Good night, Scorpia. Enjoy!
Christine Kane said
AdLib…Oh yes…I”m a big Hummer kind of gal! (though today they upgraded me to a dodge caravan. now i feel like a soccer mom.)
Joe said
Hey Ben,
Liz, 102 comments in an hour, is that a record?
Rick Cockrum said
Hi Ben!
Christine Kane said
bye scorpia! Hi Ben! And now, I have to leave to do sound check! good to see you all again!
Starbucker said
What’s shakin’ everybody! I saw the talk about the Dog Whisperer – my wife and I are absolutely hooked on that one….and we’ve never had a dog!
Advice Librarian said
Hey, Ben!
By the way, I’ve baked some bread today – anyone want a slice? Hot from the oven, served with fresh butter and some nice cheese?
Chris Cree said
Renee, You would get along famously with my wife then. She OD on the DWwhen she was sick on the couch one weekend. The next thing I know she was taking me for walks, talking to me about my “pack leader, and telling me how I needed to be “in the moment”!
Rick Cockrum said
Good night Christine!
Starbucker said
Christine, have fun at your show!
Chris Cree said
Bye Christine! Knock ‘em dead tonight!
Advice Librarian said
Break a leg, Christine!
ME Strauss said
Good Night, Christine!
Have a great show. I’ll be listening!
ME Strauss said
Hi Ben!
Hi Starbucker!
Starbucker said
Ah yes Chris – I’ve gotten that “pack leader” talk too. That guy can be so……dominant.
Joe said
Christine, Break a leg.
ME Strauss said
Chris,
Before I forget, you’ve given a whole new meanng to the name . . . Jack!
I think I want to be him!
Chris Cree said
Really though. What he does with nasty dogs is very impressive.
Rick Cockrum said
Hi Starbucker! How’s life in the big west? Are you becoming yourself in an alternate universe?
Chris Cree said
Not Jack. The Dog Whisperer. {Boy could that get misconstrued! Sheesh!}
ME Strauss said
Yeah, Joe,
Could be a record! I’m not sure . . .
Starbucker said
I agree Chris. Rick, I’m actually HOME tonight; I call it “hangin’ in Connecticut”. Not too catchy. Out west next week though.
Chris Cree said
Geeze! SB is a ramblin’ man!
ME Strauss said
Maybe Starbucker is a dancing hobo in a parallel life!
Chris Cree said
Perhaps he was born under a wandering star?
Starbucker said
How does that Allman Brothers song go – “Lord I was born a Ramblin Man” What was the next line? I think it was “Tryin’ to make a livin’ doing the best I can”. That works for me!
Joe said
I want to be a travellein man… Ohwell, maybe in a parallel universe…
cat said
Hi everyone. I’m afraid I’m not awake enough to get my head around being someone else.
I’m not even sure who I am some of the time.
Starbucker said
I think in my parallel life I’m a lounge singer who works the Rocky Moutain circuit – singing ”
“Home on the Range” in the Las Vegas style. Isn’t that something to visualize?
Rick Cockrum said
That’s it, Starbucker.
When it’s time for leaving I hope you understand
That I was born a ramblin’ man.
Ben Yoskovitz said
So we’re talking dogs?
Rick Cockrum said
Good morning, cat!
ME Strauss said
time warp
Starbucker said
Hi Ben! Hi Cat!
Renée said
One thing is very common between husbands and Dogs (no pun intended) …. Men and Dogs think with their stomachs!!! Get that right, you have them sweeping your feet!!!
Joe said
No Ben, we’re talking CATS…
Hey Cat.
Chris Cree said
SB, Could you do it in sort of an Elvis impersonater with a Reggee beat? Oh wait. That’s been done. With Led Zepplin songs.
Advice Librarian said
*sings*
“Papa was a rollin’ stone..”
Ben Yoskovitz said
Hi everyone…hope everyone’s doing well.
I’m playing catch up at the moment.
In a parallel universe though, I’d be a hockey player in the NHL (goalie) and a successful cartoonist (Marvel variety).
ME Strauss said
Good night, Rick,
Are you sure you want to leave with that “Home on the Range image” in your head?
Have great rest of the Tuesday night!
Chris Cree said
~”Mamma’s, don’t let your sons grow up to be Cowboys”~~
ME Strauss said
Hi Cat!
I don’t see how knowing who you are has anything to do with being someone else. Seems to me most people pull of that trick everyday without even trying. *big grins*
Rick Cockrum said
Am I leaving? Or am I in a time warp and back for next week already?
Joe said
Renee, are you sure it’s their STOMACH’s???
Starbucker said
Actually, I’d pick Elvis for my second parallel life – when he was younger, of course. Perhaps singing disco in South Texas (say San Antonio). Yep, that might work.
ME Strauss said
Starbucker,
You have to do one life as John Travolta dancing.
Renée said
Very Positive, Joe. Give them good delicious food, they will do wonders!
Starbucker said
Chris, I think it’s “don’t let your babies grow up to be Cowboys”. Great tune.
Starbucker said
Oh yes Liz, Travolta HAS to be one. Strutting down Times Square to “Stayin’ Alive”. Isn’t that one of your “parallels” too?
Advice Librarian said
The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach – true, but only with a long enough blade. The preferred method is slippig a stiletto in between the ribs – a much more direct approach.
If you wanted to use that heart for some further purpose, I’m not quite sure if the direct approach is the one you want.
Chris Cree said
SB, If you thought my mis-lyricing was bad you should have hear my Willie Nelson impression. Yecht!
I was really more into the Dread Zepplin sort of thing.
Starbucker said
Oh I’d love to hear your Willie Chris! Although I bet you doing Dread Zepplin would be delicious.
Joe said
I wanna be Darren Rowse, except have hair and live on the North side of the Planet. Maybe Aaron Brazell, except have hair and live on the North side of the Mason-Dixon line.
Never mind, I’d rather be poor little ole me and have HAIR, HAIR growin’ it down to there. Here, Baby There Baby Growin’ It Down to There… Baby, HAIR…..
Starbucker said
Joe, is that the Cowsills version you are doing there – or is it all Broadway?
Advice Librarian said
So I assume this is not a good time to point out that I’ve got hair down to where my back ends?
cat said
Liz, you are most likely right … and … I need to wake up
… my groggy brain is now thinking that those who do not know themselves are more likely to be able to slip into a second or third life … and back again.
[groan] I need more tea …
Chris Cree said
Joe, y’all maht naht fahnd it so bahd doun he-ah!
Joe said
SB, I think it was the worst version of the Cowsills. But it sounds good in my mind.
I did like the Broadway version though.
cat said
“So I assume this is not a good time to point out that I’ve got hair down to where my back ends?”
Ok, I’ve just gotta ask. Is it growing from your head or … all the way down along your body to where you sit?
Advice Librarian said
Hmm, so are any of you in a position to vote against George Allen?
ME Strauss said
Cat,
Tea sounds nice with some chocolate!
Joe said
Sorry Chris, I forgot you were from Georgia. But at least you have HAIR.
Chris Cree said
~You need coolin’, baby, I’m not foolin’, (a-uh-huh!)~
Starbucker said
I don’t think I’d want “hair down to there” in any parallel life though. Too much work. I’ll just sing the song “vegas style” in my Cheyenne lounge.
ME Strauss said
I want to be a gymnast, music video director, who plays the piano, and has a flower farm where children come listen to me read them stories, and I run a billion dollar empire that sells Belguim chocolates 73% dark.
Advice Librarian said
Well, right now it ends about three-quarters of the way down my back as I usually pull it up into a ponytail when sitting at the computer. And it’s all from my head, I’m not a mountain gorilla in this or any of my alternate lives.
Starbucker said
I love it Chris ! Work it.
ME Strauss said
and we all do cool dance things during lunch breaks and on weekends in exotic island locations.
Chris Cree said
Ah, Joe. I’m not “from” Georgia. I’m “in” Georgia.
Actually I’m from New York! (very far from…)
ME Strauss said
Chris,
A little Rick James if you’re up for it . . .
Starbucker said
OK, I’ll ask Liz – what’s the significance of 73%?
Renée said
I give up my looooong hair about two years ago. Way too much work to maintain them, especially when you workout everyday.
ME Strauss said
Renee,
Do small dogs dance as a rule? What will they be in their parallel lives?
Chris Cree said
Liz, I’m all about the billion dollar chocolate empire! (a-uh-huh!)
Joe said
Chris, I guess that’s why you had to speak in hyphens for a southern accent.
ME Strauss said
Starbucker,
That the percentage of cacao in really strong dark, dark chocolate — killer app of chocolate. It’s my food of the gods!
Chris Cree said
I quit working out years ago. I figure I did my share before I was 30!
Renée said
Chris… why do you leave New York for Georgia?
Chris Cree said
Joe, You know the difference between a Yankee and a Damn Yankee?
Joe said
Yeah, a Damn Yankee just lost the game…
Chris Cree said
Renee, The Navy moved me down this way some time during the last century and I never made it back up there.
Starbucker said
Gotcha – you’ll have to let me taste some of that in April when we visit. It sounds divine.
Chris Cree said
No, no, no… The difference is – I didn’t go back home!
cat said
“And it’s all from my head, I’m not a mountain gorilla in this or any of my alternate lives.”
Ok, I just wanted to make sure I have the correct visual behind ‘Advice Librarian’.
… although it’s going to take me several weeks to stop adding a bear rug growing down your back.
Joe said
Chris, that’s why my brother still lives in California…
ME Strauss said
Starbucker,
The key is don’t go for the Swiss, go for the Belguim and look on the box it will tell the percentage. We’ll find some when you get here for the Spring Convention. It’s definitely an eat a bit at a time kind of thing. . . .
Starbucker said
Well folks, I need to get upstairs and spend some quality time with my wife, who is so good about me traveling all the time (and putting up with all my blogging). Keep enjoying those parallel lives, the hair, the lounge songs, and all other great things that make you smile. Smiling is good. See you all next week, and thanks Liz for being the BEST host!
Chris Cree said
Weighing out hurricanes vs. earthquakes, I’ll take the storms. At least I can get out of the way of those.
Of course that means I also get the humidity. And the heat. And the bugs. And Cynthia McKinney…
Advice Librarian said
Well, I did my regular exercise today, running to catch the bus.
As I was running through the cold rain, I couldn’t help but think “man, it would be nice to have a car” – which is why I don’t have one. If I did, I’d never get any exercise at all…
Chris Cree said
Oh, and Renee. It didn’t help that my parents moved out of the state right after the Navy move me south. Fortunately (for me anyway) I tracked them down in a small town in western Virginia!
Renée said
I’ve known and seen some dogs have a rhythm or two but I can’t say they are great dancers though since I have to carry my small dogs when we dance.
How about dancing with Danny Devito?
Rick Cockrum said
Good night, Starbucker. Enjoy a dance with your wife.
Joe said
See ya Starbucker, don’t let the bed bugs bite, or anything else for that matter.
Chris Cree said
‘Night SB. Don’t ramble too far!
Ben Yoskovitz said
See ya Starbucker…
Sorry I’m not in the conversation here…dang work stuff.
ME Strauss said
Good night, Starbucker,
Hope your wife is still in this life!
Chris Cree said
Ben, You might need to get Basil to drop by and do some catch up coding for you, eh?
Tony said
Evenin’ everyone …
Is there still a crowd in here?
Advice Librarian said
Well, seeing as McKinney lost the Democratic Primary you won’t have to put up with her whatever happens – unless she tries to pull a “Lieberman for Lieberman” crazy-person stunt and run anyway on the grounds that the voters don’t know what’s good for them.
I’m not a fan of Senator Censorship, if you wondered. His efforts to kill rock’n'roll and censor everything from movies to computer games doesn’t sit well with me…
Joe said
Chris, I don’t want to tell you about the earthquake and what I went through to find a was to contact my brother so my Mom could talk to him…
She was frantic until she heard his voice, then everything else was Ok.
‘Nuff said…
ME Strauss said
Hey Tony!
What’s going on in your parallel life?
Ben Yoskovitz said
Chris – you’re right. I need Basil’s help! *laugh*
Meanwhile he’s left Scottsdale near as I can tell and is headed to LA…but the reports are coming in sporadically and I haven’t had a time to piece it together into a post!
He’s headed to Australia next though, which should be fun!
cat said
Bye Starbucker!
Chris Cree said
Ad Lib, I hadn’t heard. But I do know that lady is weird enough that I wouldn’t put anything past her. Her district is over towards Atlanta so I wouldn’t have been able to vote in that race anyway.
ME Strauss said
Basil in Australia, fun for Basil or Australia or for those of us here watching? heh-heh . . .
Advice Librarian said
Huh – I’m overe here in freakin’ Norway, and I know more about what’s going on in your politics than you do. Is there something wrong with this picture?
Tony said
Hmmm .. parallel life … parallel life …
I’d probably be a starving comic book artist actually.
heh heh
What about everyone else?
Rick Cockrum said
Hi Tony.
I can see Basil now. Opting for a cruise. Lounging by the pool whith a drink with an umbrella in it close at hand…
cat said
“He’s headed to Australia next though, which should be fun!”
Australia? Seems like a long way to travel.
Ben Yoskovitz said
Tony…I said comic book artist too…well, and hockey player…still!
Let’s hope Basil doesn’t sink Australia into the ocean. I know Leah Maclean is looking forward to seeing him.
What I really want to do is update the look of the Where Is Basil site and start the buzz rolling! I need a more flexible design, but something that’s still travel-oriented…
Renée said
Guys and Gals, I got to get some work done before I head down to town to meet up with my banker friends!
It was an enjoyable “night” (morning here). See y’all next week. Have fun!
Btw, how come I don’t get any tips when I sang “Sweet Dreams”. I guess must be my husky out-of-tune voice! ;-(
Nite nite guys!
Joe said
Uh, I hate to tell you, but it’s just starting to turn Spring down under(still winter), I think it may be a little cold there still for a donkey that like the desert.
Ben Yoskovitz said
Bye Renee…
Cat — it is a long way to travel, but that’s how it goes. He’s bouncing back to Canada after Australia, and eventually hitting Belarus, Belgium and South Africa, along with other locations in Canada and the US…
Chris Cree said
Ad Lib, I make no excuses. America is a country that typically has a voter turn out rate ~50%. On years where there is a Presidential vote, that is. On off years you can whack nearly 30% off that figure.
Believe it or not, I’m actually relatively politically aware. For an American, that is. Most folks in my country don’t have a clue which Congressman represents the district they live in.
Rick Cockrum said
Have a good day, Renee. If you look to your right the tips are in the empty wine glass. We didn’t want to draw your attention to it too much.
Chris Cree said
‘night Renee! Scratch the little guys behind the ears for us.
ME Strauss said
Good night, Renee!
Bankers — huh! Send money!
Have a great rest of the day!
Advice Librarian said
Heh, voter turnout isn’t all that impressive around these parts anymore either – and for the record, I have no idea who your congresscritter is either, Chris
Joe said
Nite Renee, work smart, work well, and we will see you in he..he.. he..
Tony said
Ben — comic book artist too? (raises eyebrow)
Do you still collect comics?
Joe said
Oh No… I think the time zone is warping again…
Rick Cockrum said
Good night everyone! I’m off to my time warp. Thanks for the pineapple, seanrox. And thank you, Liz, for the trip to alternate universes.
Tony said
yikes, did I get here two hours too late?
ME Strauss said
Hey Rick,
Have a great night. Have a safe trip finding your way home.
Chris Cree said
Georgia’s districts have been gerrymandered for some time. I actually live in Jack Kingston’s (GA 1st) district even though the border is less than a mile away and most of Savannah proper is in the 12th district.
Compare the map for the last election with our new map for this election cycle.
The new map makes a lot more sense, but it will make it tough for the Democrats to keep their hold on GA. In fact President Bush was here late last week to help push John Barrow out of the 12th district.
Joe said
See ya Rick, I’ll keep the time warp in check as well as I can til Liz gets back from her alternate universe experience.
Chris Cree said
Folks, on that political note I’m going to turn in. Tomorrow is an early day!
Enjoy!
Joe said
Later Chris
Ben Yoskovitz said
Tony — I don’t collect comics anymore, they’re just sitting there now. Maybe when my son is older I’ll get back into it!
I’ve gotta jet too, I’m afraid. Goodnight y’all!
ME Strauss said
Which alternate universe experience would that be, Joe?
ME Strauss said
Good night, Chris
(You shouldn’t be drawing those maps if they tired you out so.) Have a great night!
Joe said
I’m not sure, it could be something to do with dancing, or singing, or…
Advice Librarian said
Gerrymandering is something of a way of life for whichever party’s in control of congress, isn’t it?
You guys do better when there’s gridlock between Senate, House and Presidency like god and the founders intended – that way no-one gets to push their extremist policies. As long as one party controls all three, you guys seem to become completely unhinged – well, it looks that way from over here, anyway.
Right now, all the gerrymandering that’s been done is a function of the Republicans having control and favours them exclusively. Which is wrong on many levels, but doesn’t excuse in the slightest the similar stunts by Democrats.
Doesn’t matter how many wrongs are done, there’s no chance if them ever turning into Right by the accidental balancing out of wrongdoing, is there?
ME Strauss said
See you, Ben!
Don’t stay up all night working. It will make you sleepy!
Chris Cree said
Liz, I got my Wiki…. Crayons out! Really, though. I should have turned in a while back. I just get to gabbing… “Help! I’m talking and I can’t shut up!”
‘Night all! Enjoy!
ME Strauss said
Chris,
Go be Jack. He doesn’t talk — he backs the bad guys do that!
Tony said
hello?
Tony said
Whoops … sorry. Wow — it does seem like I’m 2 hours too late
Joe said
Tony, there is a song for that…
Hello, Hello, Hello… Is there anybody in there…
ME Strauss said
Nah! Tony!
There’s still folks here. We’re just taking a breather.
Chris Cree said
Actually, Ad Lib, in Georgia’s case the previous map was drawn up by Democrats totally for their benefit. All those goofy districts were done to carve out the more populous sections of the state to give the Dems a chance to hold seats.
The Republicans have only just now gotten a majority in GA politics – first time really since the Civil War. (Our congressional districts are drawn out by the individual states.) And now they have put some sanity in the district boundaries. At least now the districts are contiguous.
Does the new map benefit the Republican party? I’m sure it does. But to me it seems that it is more a case of removing the ridiculous advantage that the Dems have had forever down here.
Sometimes just removing an unfair advantage in one direction feels like giving an advantage to the other side even when it is just evening the odds.
Advice Librarian said
Maybe Tony’s stuck on the first page?
Joe said
Nah, Tony has been here before, I’m sure he knows that the numbers at the top or bottom represent which page of comments he’s on.
Tony said
Nah … just taking a while to refresh.
I wonder if its a firefox problem
Joe said
Tony, I don’t know. Chris uses Firefox and he seems to be able to refresh fast enough to beat me.
Joe said
I think that you just got stuck in that time warp that surrounds Successful Blog on Tuesday Nights.
Advice Librarian said
Election rules in the Us are screwy anyway – the Coasts are extremely underrepresented, and how come Alaska has as many senators as Texas, or California?
We’re seeing something of the same over here in Europe – why, oh why does Sweden with 8 million people have as many representatives as Germany’s 55 million?
I guess we all know the answer to that one – it’s the only way to get countries or states to join up…
ME Strauss said
You know, Joe, maybe it’s not a time warp after all. Maybe it’s just my magnetic personality.
Joe said
You may be right Liz, but you know how magnets can mess with the space-time continuum
ME Strauss said
I would never mess with the space-time continuum, Joe. I consider it sacred. I need it to imagine with.
Advice Librarian said
Depends on whether Liz is a fridge magnet or one of those building-sized magnets they use in the particle accellerators at CERN…
Joe said
I’m supprised that no one brought up Stargate SG1.
They did a few different episodes where Daniel traveled to a parallel dimention and Sam from a parallel dimention traveled to our dimention.
I think that would fit right in to tonight’s theme.
ME Strauss said
I don’t believe in refrigerator magnets. Though once at 4 a.m. a friend and I invented a religion that had them as our sacred icons. . . . Only the ones that had messages of great meaning, such as
You have friends in Las Vegas.
Joe said
I only used the magnetic can opener as an icon. If you remember the days when you could only open a beer or soda can with an opener.
No such thing as a pop-top.
ME Strauss said
I remember, Joe.
I’m going to pack it in. *stretch yawn stretch* This rainy weather and work has been a killer this week.
I’m wishing you all good night, Loves.
ME Strauss said
Remember
You have friends in Las Vegas.
Joe said
Sorry, but now it’s my turn.
I enjoyed the universe
in parallel to our own
and the lives we shared
from our own homes.
Time to turn in and say good night
that even with 8 planets in flight
there is really no bad way
to say it’s time to hit the hey.
Berma Shave
Nite Liz
Nite All
Advice Librarian said
Okay, I guess that’s my signal for turning in as well
Phil Gerbyshak said
Donkey Kong or Pac-Man – who’d win if they were both Yi-Ar Kung Fu characters?
Wendy Piersall said
In a parallel life, I actually was able to make it to the conversation tonight
Looks like it was fun everyone!
Ellen Weber said
I like some of the examples here — I once did a leadership session that helped people reflect on the question: “How can I become the person I’d like others to see in me?” It generated lots of great discussion:-) This session did too — thanks!
ME Strauss said
Hey Phil,
I don’t know who would win, but I have a feeling you might have a point of view on that one!
ME Strauss said
Wendy,
This IS a parallel life and you didn’t miss the conversation at all. You just started the new part for today!
ME Strauss said
Ellen,
That leadership session sounds like one I need to take . . . I’d love to know what you saw in this transcript. It must something to read from your point of view , . . . details, woman, We need details!
Chris Cree said
Ad Lib, Your question about US representation is one that was hotly debated when our founding fathers were drawing up our Constitution. The question was “What is fair?”
The less populous states wanted a state by state representation at the federal level and the more populous states wanted representation based on population.
The solution they came up with created our current two house Congress. The Senate has 2 representatives per state no matter the population and the House has 1 rep for every so many people with no state ever having fewer than 3 total members of Congress representing it no matter how few people live there.
So to say that the coasts are somehow underrepresented is simply not true. Each state is represented both as an individual state and by population. If they didn’t set it up that way then the less populous states would be completely dominated by the more populous states, a situation our founding fathers felt was untenable.
Our founding fathers saw our nation as a collection of individual states which had significant autonomy. That is not so much the case anymore because state autonomy has been eroded away nearly completely over the years as our federal government has grown out of control.
The federal govt. has grown and taken authority from the states in spurts over the last 200 years, especially during times of war when central authority was needed to meet a specific threat. Three of the biggest usurpers of state control were Lincoln, FDR and our current president.
These men were all (in my opinion) great leaders who did what they needed to do to guide our nation in a time of significant crises. Unfortunately one casualty that is often overlooked is individual states rights.
ME Strauss said
Well explained, Chris. I so wanted to lay out that information last night, but was too tired to pull the concentration and thought needed together. Beautiful job of explaining both past and present. Bravo!
Advice Librarian said
True – and the system looks like it does on the whole work.
On the other hand, your “Electoral college” that selects your President has some serious problems…
Chris Cree said
Ad Lib, You crack me up! I wanted to go into the brilliance of the Electoral College as I was putting that last comment together but didn’t because I thought I was going on too long already. But since you brought it up…
The best explanation and defense of the Electoral College is probably Federalist Paper #68, written by Alexander Hamilton. In it he explains that the Electoral College system was devised to achieve three main goals.
1. Provide a system for a smoother transition from one President to the next by having the people elect an intermediary body rather than elect the President directly. Remember how chaotic the whole 2000 election was? That was a bit of an anomaly in our history. Yet the system worked in that there was relatively little chaos (i.e. there were no soldiers in the streets enforcing order, etc.).
Remember that at the time Democracy was not necessarily a desirable system of government. There were many who felt that it meant “mob rule” and chaos. Therefore our founders put a tremendous amount of energy and thought into creating a system that minimized that likelihood. They had just fought a war to escape what they felt was a tyranny of a monarchy. They didn’t want to replace that with a system that would allow any majority to tyrannize other minorities.
2. By using a temporary body instead of looking to some other sitting body (such as the Senate, or Supreme Court) to choose the President, the founding fathers felt they’d created a system that was less prone to corruption. Is it still corruptible? Sure. But hopefully less than some other systems because the Electoral College is only selected for that one election and then disbands.
3. They wanted the office of the President to answer only to the people, and not to some other standing body. Therefore they created a system where the people selected the electors who did their job and then when home.
Our system is not a perfect one by any means. In my opinion the best form of government would be a benevolent dictator. However, regardless of the governing system in place, the challenge comes in when it is time to transition power to a successor. How do you build a system that ensures a smooth system that chooses the best possible successor, reduces the possibility of social chaos, and at the same time keeps the potential for corruption to a minimum?
The Electoral College is a brilliant solution to these problems that cuts the finest line between the various compromises in my opinion.
Advice Librarian said
Mmm, yes, that’s one way of putting it – though I note that all the rest of Western civilization manage without that.
I think you might be interested in this analysis of what’s wrong with the Electoral College from an assistant professor of political science – basically, having the electoral college renders the votes in a lot of states irrelevant. Well, the way it’s currently implemented anyway with the winner-takes-all stuff. Changing that one detail would mean that you’d see meaningful campaigning all over the country again, instead of having half the nation getting ignored – and you’d also get a truer measure of how united your country is. This “Red State” vs. “Blue State” nonsense hurts you as a nation since the reality is that they’re all purple states and the distinction is an artificial media-created divide.
I think you guys deserve better as a nation. There’s a lot more that unites you than divides you – but that’s getting buried under the TV simplifications…
ME Strauss said
The simplification I see is not that of the TV, but that of those who don’t understand the masssive size of this nation. The country itself is too large to manage — too many people to negotiate ideas efficiently, which forces skin of the pudding knowledge upon us.
You cannot learn all of our nations news in 2 hours. You cannot follow a single political issue deeply and hold down a job, there are too many players.
Rick Cockrum said
AdLib is happy just as he is
Fresh bread close at hand, hair down to his chair
His blog back in biz, and music filling his air.
Joe is a lawman,
A wookie for real
Protecting us all with McGyver’s great skill.
Scorpia, too, is content
As she already is
Everyday fantasy is already her biz.
Liz directs song and the dance,
Electronics begone.
Children, flowers and writing Is where she belongs.
Renee comes in singing,
Dancing dog in her arms.
Man and canine alike, she soothes with her charm.
Christine’s in Missouri
Her ballads filling college breeze.
She stopped and said hi before the clock made her flee.
Chris Cree is traveling,
A hero in the stars,
Humming Led Zeppelin, escaping storms in his car.
Seanrox cooked at the barbie,
A feast he laid out
While being James Bond with a bottle of stout.
Douglas dropped in among us,
Just to say hi
Then time warped him away, away to fly.
Ben plays great hockey,
And cartoons on the side,
With Basil his donkey, round the world he does fly.
Starbucker wings in
Home from the West,
Song and dance in his soul, with his wife he does rest.
Cat steps in for a moment,
Still fuzzy with sleep,
Tea in the morning, as to bed we softly creep.
Tony’s in a time warp, two hours behind,
Somewhere he is starving
Drawing comics so fine.
Phil zips by so fast
Pac-man behind him
In a kung-fu world Donkey Kong races past.
Wendy said it was fun
From time zones away.
In the alternate world she stops by to play.
And Ellen pops in
With a comment from home
She read the discussion as a way to be grown.
So another mic closes
It was quite a feat.
We think of you often until the next week.
ME Strauss said
Rick,
You are Wonderful!!!!!!
Rick Cockrum said
Just tryin’ to oblige, ma’am. Notice how I so cunningly left the links to be done.
ME Strauss said
I would never have expected you to do the links. They’re way too complicated from your end. Thank you, thank you, thank you. again.
Modeling Mashup: Your Template of Success said
[...] ME “Liz” Strauss has a regular event called “The Mic Is On!” featuring a topical conversation in the comments. It’s a cool idea, and though I wasn’t able to make it this week, the topic, “We’re Having Parallel Lives” got me thinking about how we can view our ideal selves. [...]
Successful Blog - Link Leak Virus Overtakes Parallel Universe! said
[...] Related article The Mic Is On! We’re Having Parallel Lives! [...]
Successful Blog - The Mic Is Open! Start Your Engines! It’s Cars! said
[...] Related articles The Mic Is On! We’re Having Parallel Lives! [...]
Meikah Delid said
Hi, Liz and everyone! Wow, the topic is cars…my kids and husband are loco over F1 racing and we’re kinda sad that Schumacher is retiring and racing only this season. BTW, heard of Tracy Chapman’s song, Fast Cars? The song goes…
You got a fast car
I want a ticket to anywhere
Maybe we make a deal
Maybe together we can get somewhere
Anyplace is better
Starting from zero got nothing to lose
Maybe we’ll make something
But me myself I got nothing to prove
You got a fast car
And I got a plan to get us out of here
I been working at the convenience store
Managed to save just a little bit of money
We won’t have to drive too far
Just ‘cross the border and into the city
You and I can both get jobs
And finally see what it means to be living
You see my old man’s got a problem
He live with the bottle that’s the way it is
He says his body’s too old for working
I say his body’s too young to look like his
My mama went off and left him
She wanted more from life than he could give
I said somebody’s got to take care of him
So I quit school and that’s what I did
You got a fast car
But is it fast enough so we can fly away
We gotta make a decision
We leave tonight or live and die this way
I remember we were driving driving in your car
The speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arm felt nice wrapped ’round my shoulder
And I had a feeling that I belonged
And I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone
You got a fast car
And we go cruising to entertain ourselves
You still ain’t got a job
And I work in a market as a checkout girl
I know things will get better
You’ll find work and I’ll get promoted
We’ll move out of the shelter
Buy a big house and live in the suburbs
You got a fast car
And I got a job that pays all our bills
You stay out drinking late at the bar
See more of your friends than you do of your kids
I’d always hoped for better
Thought maybe together you and me would find it
I got no plans I ain’t going nowhere
So take your fast car and keep on driving
You got a fast car
But is it fast enough so you can fly away
You gotta make a decision
You leave tonight or live and die this way