Friday, January 30, 2009
Waiting on Redoubt
It's rumbling, but it's not erupting. Yet. The Alaska Volcano Observatory has some cool monitoring gadgets to check out. We're all hoping we won't have to deal with ash everywhere, especially after all the beautiful snow we've gotten over the last couple days. For now, here are a couple shots of Redoubt at peace (more on Flickr):
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Some light reading
The Respondent's brief on the merits in District Attorney's Office v. Osborne was filed yesterday at the United States Supreme Court, and you'll see at least one familiar name on the title page. The authors at the Innocence Project were kind to include me -- they did all the writing, whereas my contribution was basically grunt work. The fruits of my (time-consuming) labor: the glorious footnote 11.
It's an interesting case, and I really hope we win. I'll probably have more to say about it as oral argument -- scheduled for March 2 -- approaches.
ADDED: More briefs and analysis are available at ScotusWiki.
It's an interesting case, and I really hope we win. I'll probably have more to say about it as oral argument -- scheduled for March 2 -- approaches.
ADDED: More briefs and analysis are available at ScotusWiki.
Eruption?
We're on volcano eruption alert here in Anchorage, as Mt. Redoubt (about 100 miles to the southwest) is ready to blow. On a clear day you can see it from my building (it's the one in the middle-left):
Monday, January 26, 2009
Mesnick update
After some DVR-related user error, I did not see but the last 15 minutes of tonight's episode of the Bachelor. Not coincidentally it was the best viewing experience of the season. If only each episode was 15 minutes instead of 2 hours.
Jason looks like he's got it under control, removing three more crazies from the group. And next week the crazy bus arrives in Seattle. I fully expect a nostalgic tour of Lake Washington High School. Go Kangs.
Jason looks like he's got it under control, removing three more crazies from the group. And next week the crazy bus arrives in Seattle. I fully expect a nostalgic tour of Lake Washington High School. Go Kangs.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
The Beavs are all right.
I watched the UW-UCLA game and the Stanford-OSU game, and the best team of the lot was Oregon State. I don't know how they're so much better than last year, but they're for real. That is, as long as they shoot 62% every game. Barackpower indeed.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Okay then
One of my coworkers stopped by my office today and told me that she thought my beard had "stalled."
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Odds and ends
Some bullet points on a cold Thursday night...
- Yes, I did watch the Bachelor this week. No, I did not take notes. I just can't bear to pay so much attention to it anymore. No, I have not received complaints from readers desperate for my Bachelor summary. Go figure.
- I missed "The Reader" with my Oscar picks. I thought one of the Kate Winslet movies might have a chance, but thought "Revolutionary Road" was more likely to be there. Guess I'm not surprised "The Dark Knight" didn't make it, shouldn't have known it was be an artsy movie that nobody saw instead.
- Hooray Barack Obama! I enjoyed the muffled Oath -- showed some humanity in both the president and the chief. I thought they both handled it well.
- You'd be amazed how happy so many of my friends are these days. Just complete unbridled happiness.
- Speaking of happiness, Pac-10 play brought the Oregon schools to the Bay Area this week, and that's an easy win, right? Stanford routed Oregon, 77-55. Cal hosted the lowly Beavs, who went 0-18 in the conference last year. But oh no, the poor Bears have lost again. OSU and first-brother-in-law Craig Robinson must be running on Barackpower.
- "Lost" is back! It's the most wonderful time of the year.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Oscar picks
The Academy Awards nominations are announced tomorrow. I haven't seen too many of them, but I have predictions nonetheless.
The locks:
Frost/Nixon
Slumdog Millionaire
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The other contenders:
Wall-E
The Dark Knight
Milk
Gran Torino
Two of those last four will be in... and I think Milk will be one of them. The last is tough. I'm gonna have to say Dark Knight. So there it is; that's the list.
The locks:
Frost/Nixon
Slumdog Millionaire
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The other contenders:
Wall-E
The Dark Knight
Milk
Gran Torino
Two of those last four will be in... and I think Milk will be one of them. The last is tough. I'm gonna have to say Dark Knight. So there it is; that's the list.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
By request
Last week, prominent commenter Ferdinand -- the people's commenter -- requested that I write more about Stanford hoops and Cal hoops. I like to write about newsworthy events, but there's nothing really newsworthy about Stanford's 75-69 win over Cal tonight, the 20th win in the last 24 meetings. Shall I next write about the sun rising in the east? (Oh wait, I do write about where in the horizon the sun rises and sets...) Okay then. I'm always open to requests.
This was a much-needed win for the hard-scrabble Cardinal, who lost two heartbreakers by a point apiece to UW and WSU. Johnny Dawkins says the team learned from those losses, and it showed when Stanford took control in the second half. Cal was riding a 9-game winning streak and had cracked the top-25, and it had turncoat Mike Montgomery coming back to the Farm. I'm quite happy to take the win, even if wins against Cal have become somewhat routine. I'm sure the game in Berkeley next month will be tough.
This was a much-needed win for the hard-scrabble Cardinal, who lost two heartbreakers by a point apiece to UW and WSU. Johnny Dawkins says the team learned from those losses, and it showed when Stanford took control in the second half. Cal was riding a 9-game winning streak and had cracked the top-25, and it had turncoat Mike Montgomery coming back to the Farm. I'm quite happy to take the win, even if wins against Cal have become somewhat routine. I'm sure the game in Berkeley next month will be tough.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Warm = bad
People ask me sometimes if Alaska weather ever causes school closures or other general chaos. In typical Alaska fashion, it's not the cold that slows us down, but the warm. After two weeks of subzero temperatures, suddenly it's 40 degrees, rainy, melty, and icy. All the roads are like ice rinks, almost unnavigable, forcing Anchorage schools to shut down and even the state court system to close. Even worse, all the precious snow we've accumulated over the past three months is melting. And whatever's left is getting blasted by 100 mph wind.
The lower 48 is now getting nailed with all our cold air. I think we might trade to get it back.
The lower 48 is now getting nailed with all our cold air. I think we might trade to get it back.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Escape from crazytown
I watched The Bachelor again tonight, against my better judgment. (If I had judgment.) I don't know why I do it. Although I do know that at the bottom of this blog it promises that you are not dumber for having read this... so I'm not really breaking from a theme here.
Anyway, again I care not to put things into context. Again I jotted down thoughts as the show went along. Again it's probably not worth your time.
oh no here we go again
why is it 2 hours long
still can't believe it's mesnick
why did you let them film you in the shower?
previously on -- they're crazy. all crazy.
stalkers, hot dogs.
yes, the vision boards, we get it, they're crazy
nikki didn't stand out to me, but ok
tonight on -- wha. i feel a sense of foreboding
fast-growing beard
goodbye ty, you little realiy tv prop you
nice house.
the rules. girls don't like rules.
jason doesn't want you to mentally prepare. done and done.
"one of you will be my wife." he's henry viii.
"time stood still when he was taking his shirt off" just like the matrix
"once you're kraut you're out" sounds reasonable
the desperation is oozing out of the pool
good hotels in fairbanks for $69. still not worth going to fairbanks
worked with orphans.
"sha-nay-nay did it"
most awkward moment. authentically awkward. go ahead and drink both drinks.
"i've done pageants, I like to win things"
we knew jillian had a good shot.
i don't get this disney hall thing.
i hope you like robin thicke.
robin thicke must be as desperate as these women to be on this show
i have a better falsetto than robin thicke. and probably alan thicke too.
watch out for the seagull
the magic 8-blimp
"not many people really get to ride in a blimp at all"
"the date every man dreams of." untrue.
mesnick breakdancing
"i take kissing very seriously."
this show is so long
i just barfed
watch out crazy lady in the car
i have to start doing something else. this is impossibly boring
it's not so hard to move to seattle
is it always this long?
oh no she didn't
oh shit it's on
talons out
"you've got amazing qualities. and they're obvious."
the commercials' demographics reinforce that i'm not supposed to be watching this
ok jason, moratorium on the word "amazing"
dude, there are at least 5 crazies that should be sent packing
she quit her job for this, and she's out.
angry brazilian
thank god it's over
Anyway, again I care not to put things into context. Again I jotted down thoughts as the show went along. Again it's probably not worth your time.
oh no here we go again
why is it 2 hours long
still can't believe it's mesnick
why did you let them film you in the shower?
previously on -- they're crazy. all crazy.
stalkers, hot dogs.
yes, the vision boards, we get it, they're crazy
nikki didn't stand out to me, but ok
tonight on -- wha. i feel a sense of foreboding
fast-growing beard
goodbye ty, you little realiy tv prop you
nice house.
the rules. girls don't like rules.
jason doesn't want you to mentally prepare. done and done.
"one of you will be my wife." he's henry viii.
"time stood still when he was taking his shirt off" just like the matrix
"once you're kraut you're out" sounds reasonable
the desperation is oozing out of the pool
good hotels in fairbanks for $69. still not worth going to fairbanks
worked with orphans.
"sha-nay-nay did it"
most awkward moment. authentically awkward. go ahead and drink both drinks.
"i've done pageants, I like to win things"
we knew jillian had a good shot.
i don't get this disney hall thing.
i hope you like robin thicke.
robin thicke must be as desperate as these women to be on this show
i have a better falsetto than robin thicke. and probably alan thicke too.
watch out for the seagull
the magic 8-blimp
"not many people really get to ride in a blimp at all"
"the date every man dreams of." untrue.
mesnick breakdancing
"i take kissing very seriously."
this show is so long
i just barfed
watch out crazy lady in the car
i have to start doing something else. this is impossibly boring
it's not so hard to move to seattle
is it always this long?
oh no she didn't
oh shit it's on
talons out
"you've got amazing qualities. and they're obvious."
the commercials' demographics reinforce that i'm not supposed to be watching this
ok jason, moratorium on the word "amazing"
dude, there are at least 5 crazies that should be sent packing
she quit her job for this, and she's out.
angry brazilian
thank god it's over
Sunday, January 11, 2009
It's back
I'm not sure why the Third Annual Beard is back again, but it probably has something to do with this:
And also this:
And also this:
Disguise
Next in the series. This is one of my favorites, if only because it was installed backwards in Hutchins Hall. At some point during my third year the window where this stained glass was located was broken, and when the glass was reinstalled the maintenance worker looked at the "Beauty Parlor" in the store window, which was intentionally backwards, instead of the caption, "Disguise." The artist was too clever for Michigan Law School.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
The cold snap - a slideshow
The silver lining of all this cold is the beauty of the land. This ADN slide show captures it.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Welcome back to Alaska
How do you know when you're back in the AK?
You land and the temperature is -20. That is, 20 below zero. Fahrenheit. When it's that cold, your nostril hairs immediately freeze and it feels like you've instantly manufactured a noseful of boogers.
About a half mile from the airport you see an enormous moose standing in the snowbank. It would be the perfect place for a statue, welcoming you to Anchorage. But it's a real moose. Probably wondering why the hell it's so cold.
Your taxi driver sees the moose and tells you that she lives in the Valley. Her husband has one arm. He has a crossbow that he wants to try out on all the damn moose that are always around their house. With a crossbow you're less likely to shoot your neighbors.
She also tells you that global warming is the product of an agenda-driven media, trying to scare you. The only guy who thinks global warming is real has no credentials. Polar bears are totally fine; they're good swimmers. We don't even hunt them.
When she gets you to your house, you don't get out yet because she still has 10 minutes of material about global warming to talk about. Global warming will actually be a good thing because then Alaskans will be able to grow tomatoes.
That's when you know you're back.
You land and the temperature is -20. That is, 20 below zero. Fahrenheit. When it's that cold, your nostril hairs immediately freeze and it feels like you've instantly manufactured a noseful of boogers.
About a half mile from the airport you see an enormous moose standing in the snowbank. It would be the perfect place for a statue, welcoming you to Anchorage. But it's a real moose. Probably wondering why the hell it's so cold.
Your taxi driver sees the moose and tells you that she lives in the Valley. Her husband has one arm. He has a crossbow that he wants to try out on all the damn moose that are always around their house. With a crossbow you're less likely to shoot your neighbors.
She also tells you that global warming is the product of an agenda-driven media, trying to scare you. The only guy who thinks global warming is real has no credentials. Polar bears are totally fine; they're good swimmers. We don't even hunt them.
When she gets you to your house, you don't get out yet because she still has 10 minutes of material about global warming to talk about. Global warming will actually be a good thing because then Alaskans will be able to grow tomatoes.
That's when you know you're back.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Why Jason why
I watched the first episode of the Bachelor, and for the life of me I can't figure out why someone would volunteer to be in Mesnick's position. He says often how amazing and fun the opportunity is, but it looks like hell to me. Maybe it gets better, we'll see. But having to make smalltalk with 25 women -- some a little drunk, some a little desperate, all at least a little crazy simply for going on the show in the first place -- dude. Mesnick made it look easy, actually, but I would have run far, far away.
For whatever reason I felt compelled to scribbled down some notes as the show went on. I could put them into context, but whatever... if you want a recap of the show you can go here. I'll spare you the context, and just offer the raw notes, verbatim, as I wrote them.
Mesnick is reading his lines
People begged him to be the Bachelor?
Still runs like he did in high school
"I'm coming for you, Jason" - says the "Tooth Nazi"
32 pairs of shoes
Skipping in the park?
Pug + "vision board" = crazy
First "Prince Charming" of the night
Dead husband
"I handle bitches with a slap"
First "catch" of the night
She's fairly normal
"Do you salsa? I speak Spanish"
She's a man. It's a trick.
Why are you name-dropping Kirkland (WA)? How dare you!
She's outta here
Money's on Jillian
Emily hearts Seahawks
She loves teeth
"I'm totally not a stalker"
Scratch the tooth lady
Toe implants - bunions and hammertoes
Don't quit your day job
Megan has a shot - lacrosse coach
Oh no - poem alert. Run for your lives
The hot dog thing is not working
"The first impression rose makes me nervous"
Go on crazy lady. Make your collage
Dance fighting - fight dancing
"I wasn't done with you"
Run away Jason
I'm telling you, she's a man
Host guy sucks
"There's a box, you guys. A box."
"Girls have women's intuition."
"When you're a parent, you're apparent." [Spelling mine]
Nikki? Ms. Illinois.
Lacrosse coach cries
"Who will lose their chance at love... forever?"
Deliberation room!
"She grabbed me. I respect that."
Dodged a bullet with crazy dog-sweater-vision-board lady, dude.
Do I have another episode in me? Arrrrgh. Probably.
For whatever reason I felt compelled to scribbled down some notes as the show went on. I could put them into context, but whatever... if you want a recap of the show you can go here. I'll spare you the context, and just offer the raw notes, verbatim, as I wrote them.
Mesnick is reading his lines
People begged him to be the Bachelor?
Still runs like he did in high school
"I'm coming for you, Jason" - says the "Tooth Nazi"
32 pairs of shoes
Skipping in the park?
Pug + "vision board" = crazy
First "Prince Charming" of the night
Dead husband
"I handle bitches with a slap"
First "catch" of the night
She's fairly normal
"Do you salsa? I speak Spanish"
She's a man. It's a trick.
Why are you name-dropping Kirkland (WA)? How dare you!
She's outta here
Money's on Jillian
Emily hearts Seahawks
She loves teeth
"I'm totally not a stalker"
Scratch the tooth lady
Toe implants - bunions and hammertoes
Don't quit your day job
Megan has a shot - lacrosse coach
Oh no - poem alert. Run for your lives
The hot dog thing is not working
"The first impression rose makes me nervous"
Go on crazy lady. Make your collage
Dance fighting - fight dancing
"I wasn't done with you"
Run away Jason
I'm telling you, she's a man
Host guy sucks
"There's a box, you guys. A box."
"Girls have women's intuition."
"When you're a parent, you're apparent." [Spelling mine]
Nikki? Ms. Illinois.
Lacrosse coach cries
"Who will lose their chance at love... forever?"
Deliberation room!
"She grabbed me. I respect that."
Dodged a bullet with crazy dog-sweater-vision-board lady, dude.
Do I have another episode in me? Arrrrgh. Probably.
Monday, January 05, 2009
Unnecessary and unwanted reporting of bad reality television
Something you may not care about: the next season of The Bachelor begins tonight. Ordinarily I wouldn't care but this season the bachelor is Jason Mesnick, a guy I've known since junior high. I haven't spoken with him since high school, but as far as I remember he was a normal dude, and not the sort that I'd imagine applying for and participating in a reality dating show. Anyway, I'm toying with the idea of blogging/recapping each episode, although I reserve the right to abandon the idea after the first episode if I determine that the show will take years off my life.
We're about to begin a period of very good television, with Lost, Battlestar Galactica, Friday Night Lights, 24, Big Love, and Flight of the Conchords all starting new seasons this month. Something would be very wrong if instead I focused my attention on The Bachelor. But if this blog has ever had a theme, it's misplaced priorities. We'll see what happens.
We're about to begin a period of very good television, with Lost, Battlestar Galactica, Friday Night Lights, 24, Big Love, and Flight of the Conchords all starting new seasons this month. Something would be very wrong if instead I focused my attention on The Bachelor. But if this blog has ever had a theme, it's misplaced priorities. We'll see what happens.
Silence ends
Hello, and Happy New Year. My two-week blogcation is over. I'm in Chicago for another couple days, after having been in Seattle for a few snowy days. I'll be back up in Anchorage soon, where the temperatures have been subzero for quite awhile. Perfect time to get away. It's been so cold there that the U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships, scheduled to take place this weekend in Anchorage, has been postponed. -15 will do that. I've had good weather luck so far, missing all the flight cancellations in/out of Seattle, and enjoying clear, 30-degree days here in Chicago. Holiday photos will be online soon.
Don't think I've missed much during the blogcation. The Seahawks' season is thankfully over, and Mike Holmgren is gone. Stanford basketball is off to a strong start. And 2008, the worst sports year in history, thankfully finally ended. Hopefully we've hit rock bottom, and things can only get better.
That's the spirit! So here's to 2009!
Don't think I've missed much during the blogcation. The Seahawks' season is thankfully over, and Mike Holmgren is gone. Stanford basketball is off to a strong start. And 2008, the worst sports year in history, thankfully finally ended. Hopefully we've hit rock bottom, and things can only get better.
That's the spirit! So here's to 2009!
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