Today in history, greetings, and social banter here. (More)
According to comic Robert Wuhl, English longbowmen invented the middle-finger insult in gesturing “pluck yew” to the French at Agincourt today (1415). Also, London’s St. Katharine Docks opened (1828), the Light Brigade charged at Balaclava (1854), the Toronto Stock Exchange was created (1861), Russian Bolsheviks began the October Revolution (1917), London’s Daily Mail published the probably-forged Zinoviev Letter (1924), Archbishop Francis J. L. Beckman of Dubuque denounced swing music as “the primrose path to hell” (1938), Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. became the U.S. Army’s first black general (1940), Adlai Stevenson displayed reconnaissance photographs of Soviet missiles in Cuba at the United Nations (1962), the People’s Republic of China replaced the Republic of China at the United Nations (1971), Digital Equipment Corporation released OpenVMS V1.0 (1977), the U.S. invaded Grenada (1983), and Cuban leader Fidel Castro banned transactions in U.S. currency (2004). And Java’s Mount Merapi began a month-long series of eruptions (2010).
Good morning! ::hugggggs::
October 25, 2012 at 6:01 am
Yesterday on Campus
Morning Feature – Winning Progressive with Newspapers Endorse President Obama’s Strong and Steady Leadership
Furthermore! – The Squirrel with Conservatism and the Court of World Obeisance
Midday Matinee – addisnana with “That Vision Thing”
Campus Question – Will Obama’s “537” ad boost Democratic turnout?
Our Earth – Why Are Salt Marshes Dying?
Today on Campus
Morning Feature – Hitting the Wall, Part I: Evil Geniuses and other Activist Diet Plan No-Nos
Furthermore! – The Squirrel with President Obama’s Vision: Off and On the Record
Noontime News at noon
Midday Matinee – triciawyse with Fursdai Furries
Campus Question at 6pm ET
Our Earth at 8pm ET – Forest Management: None?
October 25, 2012 at 6:17 am
I always laugh at Wuhl’s description of “pluck yew.” It works for me.
Phone banking yesterday was pretty good until life intervened. People are definitely getting more vehement, and I was asked, “Who in their right mind would vote for the other guy?” In the entire conversation, she never once mentioned “the other guy’s” name. I wonder if she choked on it.
I’m also hearing more, “The whole family is voting Democrat.”
However, FL is still a tossup, so I ask once again: if you can find ten or twenty minutes, please go to the OFA dashboard and make some calls in swing states. We wouldn’t want a recount to toss us back to SCOTUS, however unconstitutional that was, and we don’t want to lose by the famous 537 votes, still in question.
Thanks, everyone.
Hugggs and good morning!
October 25, 2012 at 6:38 am
I’m finding that there are very few “undecideds” in my area. What irritates me about the Romney supporters here is that they’re often the people who would be badly hurt by his policies. In my more vindictive moments, I think that the most evil thing I could do to them would be to make them live with his policies. My congressman is in a close race, and most of my activity is getting him re-elected. Interestingly enough, he’s getting a series of endorsements from various Republican office holders. The Tea Party favorite who’s running against him, along with what’s happening in the national Party, is not making them happy.
October 25, 2012 at 7:03 am
That is interesting, Norbrook. I’ve never thought all Republicans were crazy, just too many of them.
October 25, 2012 at 7:56 am
Yes Norb, it’s that time of the year. My favorite sight is a 3 dent beater, missing a headlight, missing a tailight and sporting a Rmoney/Ryan sticker… WTF are they thinking, if at all?
October 25, 2012 at 8:05 am
I saw a 70′s Caddy that fits that description to the missing taillight last night. They didn’t appreciate my Obama and Save Medicare stickers for some reason…
October 25, 2012 at 7:43 am
For those who haven’t heard Wuhl’s version of Agincourt, here is the bit from his HBO comedy special Assume the Position:
Good morning! ::hugggggs::
October 25, 2012 at 8:11 am
Thanks, cool video!
October 25, 2012 at 8:12 am
Love that bit. In fact, love both his shows on Assume the Position. History was never so much fun.
October 25, 2012 at 6:21 am
Good morning! It’s currently 45 degrees, and it’s supposed to be a nice day. According to the weather report, it’s supposed to be nice for the next couple of days. On the agenda today is to go do some field work, which would be nice if it were where I was.
Yesterday was a “short day,” as it involved just loading up the various items we were taking to winter storage (one pickup truck load), making sure everything was properly secured, the gas lines turned off, and handing out the evaluations for the seasonal workers – yesterday was their last day. One of them is not pleased by his, but I was actually rather nice when I wrote it, instead of brutally honest. Then it was “go home, relax, and write a blog post.”
Oh, and my water heater is now operational. So it was a fairly good day. 
October 25, 2012 at 6:30 am
Glad you had a good day, Norbrook. You’ve sure earned one. And that was a great blog post:
http://cendax.wordpress.com/2012/10/24/romneyshambles-redux/#more-4046
October 25, 2012 at 6:51 am
Thanks!
I’m not sure how much longer we’ll be in the field – apparently Hurricane Sandy may be coming north, and the weather report around here doesn’t look good next week. Most of the things we’re supposed to be doing rather revolve around having good weather. 
Oh well, maybe I will get to use that comp time after all! 
October 25, 2012 at 7:05 am
I’ve been following Sandy. On the one hand I’ve been thanking the Jet Stream for keeping the ‘canes away from us. On the other hand, I’d be very grateful if Sandy didn’t bring you Irene redux. You’ll probably get some lousy weather (we sure will) but I hope it’s not catastrophic in any sense of the word, however minor.
October 25, 2012 at 7:07 am
Given how dry it’s been, I don’t think we’ll have any major flooding – it would take a good foot or more of rain to do something like that, and we’re too far inland. But in terms of “hey, we need to paint things” or “we need to work outside,” any rain creates a problem.
October 25, 2012 at 7:43 am
Yeah for hot water! I agree with winter on the blog post!
October 25, 2012 at 7:49 am
I’m glad to hear your water heater is working again. And I’ll third the recommendation on your blog post. Excellent work!
Good morning! ::hugggggs::
October 25, 2012 at 7:32 am
Good morning. 50 here at the moment, with an expected high of 73 and cloudy = perfect weather for today’s project. Caulking is finished, and today I start with the polyurethane on the siding. I’m hoping to get one complete pass on the garage today – we’ll see. I know the siding is going to soak up the first coat like anything, so if I can get that today, I’ll do the second (possibly last) coat on tomorrow. By the looks of the forecast, I have to get it done this week. Sunday’s bringing in rain, and rain for the next few days after that.
Had another tech rehearsal last night, and it was good timing – iriti and Kidlet wanted me gone (or at least asleep or out of the house for a bit) when they got back from shopping last night. I suspect some birthday shopping had been done – even though I informed them that my birthday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. For some reason, they’re not buying that.
As far as the show goes, I should probably get partial credit for sound design for this show – but I’m not going to ask for it. I like the kid (fresh out of college) that is designing sound for the show. She picked a bunch of music and effects, I put them in order for her so they made sense and set levels and fades, etc. Her degree is in Stage Management – she’s never designed sound before. So, I was glad to help out.
October 25, 2012 at 7:44 am
Good of you to help the kid out with the sound design and let her take credit. You’re a great person, trs.
About the urethane on the siding: when I was looking into building a post-and-beam cedar home, they insisted the cedar needed no treatment at all. Has that changed and what do I not know?
I agree with iriti and Kidlet, btw. I often express a lack of interest in my b-day these days. I must admit, I’m touched when others don’t listen.
October 25, 2012 at 7:57 am
Theoretically that hasn’t changed, but cedar, like all wood, will absorb and lose a certain amount of moisture and end up with cracks (known as checking) and do some swelling. An installer allows for that on the ends, leaving a bit of a gap between the siding and the corner trim boards (thus the caulking). The poly will also help reduce fading (depending on the product you’re using) and make it easier to clean the cedar. If you were lining a closet with cedar, finishing it in any way is the absolute wrong thing to do – in fact, in that situation you want to sand the cedar just a touch every few years to help it do its job – but for outdoor use, it’s mostly a matter or taste.
October 25, 2012 at 7:46 am
I’ll bet you are a good mentor, trs. How does one get a degree in stage management and never do sound? I am mostly just curious. Are silent films making a comeback?
October 25, 2012 at 7:51 am
Other than calling cues, Stage Managers generally work more with the actors than technicians. Her training isn’t that unusual, unfortunately. She was telling me last night that at her school, the stage management students usually got paired with technical majors when working on stuff, and the tech major would just do it themselves, with the stage management student sitting there twiddling their thumbs…
October 25, 2012 at 8:03 am
Depending on the program, theatre students who focus on directing and stage management (which tend to be taught together) may not get much design experience. My theatre degree included Acting I and II, Directing I and II, Playwriting I and II, and a Visual Design course that included sets, costumes, and lighting. We didn’t have a curriculum class in stage management, but I learned it hands-on in stage managing a summer theatre show and later worked as a stage manager for a local theatre troupe. As trs noted, stage managers work mostly actors. We didn’t work with the designers and technicians until technical rehearsals began … and that’s when I learned how to write and call the set, light, and sound cues.
My sound design experience was also purely hands-on, as the director of a student theatre production asked me to design and run the sound for her show. I said “sure,” not knowing what I was getting into, and was fortunate to get a lot of help from experienced sound designers in our department.
Good morning! ::hugggggs::
October 25, 2012 at 8:13 am
It was funny – when I went back to school in 2004, the college I went to allowed students to do 4 independent productions a year. One of the students wanted to do “Tommy” – a staged reading version of The Who’s rock opera. The student was told by the theatre department faculty that they could do the show under one condition – that I designed sound for it. It took all of the school’s portable sound equipment, plus some of mine, to pull it off. I don’t think he realized that to do a rock opera like that right, you have to do sound like a rock concert – even in a black box theatre.
October 25, 2012 at 7:52 am
The BPI Staff Chorus like any opportunity to perform, so you can’t cancel your birthday! In fact, I hear them tuning up now….
Birthday, Happy Happy
Birthday, Happy Happy
Birthday, Happy Happy
giggle guffaw chortle chuckle
Birthday, Happy Happy
Birthday, Happy Happy
Birthday, Happy Birthday
To our trs!
Good morning! ::hugggggs::
October 25, 2012 at 8:00 am
Warn them not to strain their throats… it’s a week from tomorrow.
October 25, 2012 at 8:04 am
Thank you for the schedule. They need the rehearsal time.
Good morning! ::hugggggs::
October 25, 2012 at 7:35 am
Good morning!
We’ve 65 degrees, predicted high in the 80′s, then the plunge later this afternoon, down to 55 they claim. Cold front moving through, you know.
Still working on the woodpile. Have some logs and branches piled up out there, saw a few, split a few, then stack. It’s getting there…… Moved leaves yesterday afternoon. Can’t do a full day of heavy work anymore looks like. Took a 2′ X 4′ sign up to town and installed for our State’s Attorney candidate. Dropped off a small box of persimmon seeds for another guy. Pastor called, says he needs help moving leaves @ church this PM. Funeral friday for a long-time member. Is Harley Richs’ M-I-L. The leaves are plenty thick around there……..
Hope all is well today!
Best, G
October 25, 2012 at 7:43 am
Sorry to hear about HR’s MIL. Not all of them are the stereotypical ones. Last Sunday being MIL day, I called mine. She got a kick out of it. Looks like I may be spending a week with her in January. My SIL is going out of town for a few days, and it’s a long enough time that my MIL shouldn’t be left by herself. So, barring any unforeseen circumstances – like me getting a full-time job – I’ll make the trip. The house apparently has a couple window sills that are rotting out, so I’ll take my tools, replace them and do a couple other odds and ends. Iriti and my SIL plot it out – they think of things for me to do to keep me out of trouble while I’m there. Maybe they think I’m going to end up on Beale St. or something?
October 25, 2012 at 7:48 am
You seem to be the go-to guy, Gardener. Busy, busy.
And that sure as heck sounds like a full day to me. 
Sorry about HR’s MIL. Very sorry.
October 25, 2012 at 8:04 am
She was 93, and as I get it, suddenly took a turn for the worse and only lasted a few weeks after that……..
HR and a B-I-L of his used to work at the mine. The B-I-L is the guy who, when the Tea Party nuts came along in the town parade handing out literature, told them, “You can wipe your (blank) with that!”
HR’s in-laws a spirited group…….. To say the least!
October 25, 2012 at 8:06 am
Our sincere condolences to Harley Rich and his wife on the loss of her mother, and thank you for all you do in your community, Gardener. I hope they all appreciate what a treasure you are!
Good morning! ::hugggggs::
October 25, 2012 at 7:36 am
Technical Question: Is broadband the same as high-speed internet?
October 25, 2012 at 7:47 am
Yes and no. Are we talking cable, DSL, or satellite? Any of the above will be faster than your dial-up.
October 25, 2012 at 8:09 am
Hmmmmm……… Comes in over the telephone wire I think…… They’ve been advertising high-speed, but just rec’d a mailing on broadband, and they claim the BB does not tie up the telephone.
Frankly, I don’t know how it would get here. Better call mebbe? The BB is $52 a month “introductory offer,” which by itself is over $600 a year, which is how I view things…… For that, it had better cook and do dishes too!
October 25, 2012 at 8:20 am
DSL comes in over the phone line – and won’t tie up your phone. You’ll get filters to install on your phone jacks to filter out the DSL signal from the phone signal. You can use both simultaneously, and it should be good for your needs. I had DSL when I lived in Illinois, and it did great by me.
October 25, 2012 at 8:08 am
From a Salon article on that very question:
There’s lots more in the article to help you understand it better.
Good morning! ::hugggggs::
October 25, 2012 at 8:10 am
Thankee ma’am!
October 25, 2012 at 7:41 am
Good morning. It is 43 and raining hard here. The high for the day is 42. Okay NOAA doesn’t have the weather equivalent of spell check. It doesn’t look like it will be cold enough for snow but they still have that possibility in the forecast. We need the rain so this is a good thing. On a side note, both of my rain jackets are in my car. I could get pretty wet dashing out to the car to get one. Details, details, they win every time.
We had our last GOTV webinar last night. Great info on how precincts were targeted etc. For all the volunteers who want to drive people to the polls, we have more drivers than requests. There are also a couple of non-profits who specialize in this service and they have handicap accessible vans etc. We are pretty organized.
I’m getting excited. I’m ready for Nov. 7th to be here but lots of ways to make a difference between now and the 6th.
October 25, 2012 at 7:51 am
Lots of ways to make a difference indeed.
I’m glad you’re getting excited. Are you volunteering today?
We too have more offers of drivers than we need. In fact, so far haven’t heard from anyone who needs a ride to the polls. That may change as early voting begins, but with the ease of getting a mail ballot here (anyone can), the need to get to an actual polling place has decreased.
October 25, 2012 at 8:21 am
Here in Illinois, you don’t have to physically go to the polls, which saves a lot of exhumations……
October 25, 2012 at 8:29 am
October 25, 2012 at 8:12 am
Sounds like a great webinar, addisnana. I’m pleased – though not surprised – that OFA have this organized so well.
As for election day volunteer drivers, so far the ratio of drivers to people needing rides, through our local Democratic Party calling, is … well … infinite. Actually, infinite times 10.
That is, we have 10 volunteer drivers and no one who has requested a ride … so far. We’ll see if that changes as election day gets closer.
Good morning! ::hugggggs::
October 25, 2012 at 7:46 am
Good Morning,
Dang! We were given a list of 1000 PA women to phone bank last night. Worst night I’ve had yet with the responses. I certainly hope the list was from the deep Red parts of PA. All the other callers got similar responses.
Hard for me to get too much of presidential politics — can’t wait for Spielberg’s Lincoln to hit the theatres. The trailers look way cool.
Off to see the doctor and then an OFA planning session. Have a good day.
October 25, 2012 at 7:48 am
As long as it isn’t Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter
October 25, 2012 at 7:52 am
Then gender gap is closing, God knows why. OTOH, more white males are beginning to declare for Obama. I’ll never figure it out. I’m just going to avoid the polls….
October 25, 2012 at 8:28 am
This New York Times article may offer some insignts on your phone bank with PA women, Mike:
Good morning! ::hugggggs::
October 25, 2012 at 8:06 am
Archbishop Francis J. L. Beckman of Dubuque denounced swing music as “the primrose path to hell”
It seems trite for every generation to have their music trashed as the road to hell. I remember the reactions to the Beatles and Elvis.
At least hell will have as many sound choices as iTunes.
October 25, 2012 at 8:31 am
October 25, 2012 at 8:32 am
Archbishop Beckman’s lament reminded me me of the charge that Socrates had corrupted the youth of Athens. Stodgy old folks are forever convinced that “today’s youth” are being corrupted by anyone and anything that challenges the status quo.
Good morning! ::hugggggs::