The Last Candle

When I visited the Isabella Country Republican Headquarters to try and secure some “W: The President” paraphernalia, I overheard the single guy behind the desk (who didn’t so much as give me a hello when I walked in) talking about how the demonstration went last night that coincided with the Micheal Moore visit. Evidently, the lead in charge of the demonstration (which sounded like it was smack in front of the building) tried to get everyone to go inside the building, tickets in hand, and disrupt the presentation. I’m not making this up. Luckily, the guy said everyone refused and the boss ended up storming off.

I can’t imagine what CM Life would have printed on the cover if that had happened: “MICHEAL MOORE DRIBBLES; RIGHT-WING NUTJOBS CAUSE DELAY OF GAME.” (See, it took place in Rose Arena, where the basketball team plays.) Although if they had rumbled in there, they most likely would have been torn to shreds verbally by the audience. They abstained, thankfully, saving their own skins and saving the reputation of the rest of us Republicans on campus.

I was considering going to that demonstration too, but back a few days ago when it was said to be just a “get-together.” Sheesh.

The autumnal equinox was several days ago, but it didn’t make itself known until today. The mercury is stable at 65°; the sky is covered in gray pastels, with the occasion blue tear and rare warmth of the sun peeking through; the breeze is tentatively cool and unabashedly removed from the swollen humid Summer winds. Today, in Mount Pleasant, comes the first day of Fall.

This morning, my history professor peered around the room after he entered and exclaimed in his regal British accent how the room looked totally devoid of energy and blamed it on everyone coming back late from yesterday’s appearance of Micheal Moore. (For me, it was getting up an hour early to go to an office hours appointment. That lost hour of sleep coupled with going to be at about 3AM really smarts.) The guy to my left chuckled, then leaned over and said: “Or maybe — just maybe — it’s the Michigan weather.” Right on.

I am very much looking forward to bundled clothing, walks back to the apartment in the sharp air (that, additionally, don’t make me sweat like a bear in a sauna), trips to the vegetable and produce market in Clare, cider (both “soft” and hard), drives over to Uncle John’s Cider Mill for donuts, pumpkins, and even more cider, stouts and porters (which don’t seem nearly as nice in the warm months), and finally — and this is where Fall really scores — staying indoors, sealed from the outside chill, frost, and dusk enjoying hearty times with friends. Bring. It. On.

Thanks to the DAP Project (and the eDonkey network too, I suppose), an episode one of my favorite shows, Mystery Science Theater 3000, is back in my legal (yes! legal!) possession. That’s right: Star Force: Fugitive Alien 2 has returned! Fugitive Alien 2, two TV show pilots jammed together in a savory mix, combines some great Japanese overacting, a completely misconstrued plotline, lots of goofy ship puppetry and Star Wars rip-offs, a hilarious dub, and above all some top-notch grade A riffing by Joel and the ‘Bots.

The director, Sandy Frank, is also responsible for a series on a giant, child-loving, fire-breathing turtle and a take-off called Time of the Apes, both of which — to put it very nicely, with a cherry on top — lost something huge in the translation to the United States. But that just means that the MST3K folks can tear ‘em up to the great benefit of Misties everywhere.

We had not one, not three, but exactly two copies of Fugitive Alien 2 on VHS before, but they were (most lamentably) lost or stolen — or worse. Today, however, the Internet comes to the rescue — once again!!

And to complete my grand exultation: a clip of one out of many excellent scenes from Fugitive Alien 2. N-joy.

Now onto griping. I discovered that the eDonkey network is heinously slow. You’re evidently rewarded for a high upload, which gives you higher priority in people’s download queue, but, gosh darn it, what happens if people don’t upload all that much from you even if you have a bunch of stuff shared? I’ll tell you: it takes seven days to download 700MB. That’s what. I can probably get someone to send me a tape copy in less time than that, for crying out loud. But I was in the convenience of my own home, and, well — I have the episode at least. Overall: win!

I decided tonight at approximately 12:25 AM that the new blog design was GOING UP, even though it’s only about 90% done. All the pieces are together and positioned, but it just doesn’t feel awww yeah yet. But just like the front page, it’s up anyway because I got tired of the design hanging around on my drive unused for the past four months (really). So instead, the look is born prematurely and will be subject to small refinements whenever I think of ‘em.

Question #1 to ponder: did I go overboard on the light blue?

For anybody that’s noticed this, I’m aware that I’ve been talking about politics again regularly, falling from my once-upon-a-time pledge that I’d turn a blind eye after my brazen foray into a scene already crowded with pundits and people far more capable.

The difference today is I’m only talking about local issues (CM Life comments) or strictly personal responses to discussions I have a personal opinion for (like the post about political blogs, which wasn’t even the usual analysis or argument). I’m still continuing to avoid the macroview of geo and national affairs of things you can read at any news source or — even better — some blogger’s place for greater effect. Things that I have to say that are unique, like the CM Life commentary, are likely to continue appearing.

On a final, lighter note, please enjoy a hip-hop video featuring breakdancers dressed up in animal costumes.