Even more Rasputin's stuff

When did I become "anonymous?" My name is right there in the "about me" section on my blog! Several people have linked my Rasputin's noise, and they keep calling me anonymous. Not sure why, as they knew my name the first time

Anyway, let me clear up some things - the sign went up last night - currently its just a big banner covering the old tower letters, but that will probably change at some point.

The cash registers actually were up at one point, but were taken down so the counters could be rebuilt. They'll (hopefully) be put back up today.

The "metal cage thing" is for t-shirts, ala T-Shirt Orgy from Berkeley. This is definitely a good thing for Fresno, as we have a severe cool t-shirt store shortage - sure there's Hot Topic, but that's just The Gap for kids who like to wear black.

Blondie's probably isn't happening (I asked), but the store is supposed to get a cafe at some point.

Hope this satisfies some curiousity.



Technorati Tags: rasputin's, rasputin music, blondie's pizza, berkeley, t-shirts, fresno, movies, music

Further Rasputin's info

So it looks like we will be opening Saturday, even if things aren't fully prepared. Doors will probably open at 10 or 11 am. I'm not really sure. We got the place looking a little bit closer to presentable today, but there's still quite a ways to go. If anything changes, I'll let you know.

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Technorati Tags: rasputin music, rasputin's, fresno, tower records, cd's, dvd's

Feminism 101

I found a blog whose whole purpose is to educate people about the basics of feminism. it seems to delve into both feminist cultural theory and real-world issues. You may want to take a look if the subject is of any interest. It gives a basic introduction to some of the issues that are dealt with by feminist activists in an easy-to-understand way. It also points to other places where further detail can be found about what ever issue is under discussion.



The writer seems mentally stable, and has a good sense of style, so it gets my seal of approval.



I also recommend Pandagon, which explores the same kind of issues and is often quite funny.



One of these days, such things as "feminism" will become obsolete because all women everywhere will be treated as if they are real people as well. Until that day, these kinds of sites should be required reading, especially for the friendly neighborhood chauvinist pig.





Technorati Tags: feminism, blogs, pandagon, feminism 101

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Update on Rasputin Music in Fresno

As I mentioned before, I used to work at Rasputin's in Berkeley, and ran into my former manager here in Fresno a few days before Tower Records closed down. Anyway, I just wanted to let anyone who cares know what's going on with that. I'm currently working there (hopefully not for too much longer) and we are supposed to open this Saturday (3/24/07). Personally, however, I wouldn't bet on it. I would call next Saturday a much more likely scenario.

Anyway, as Saturday nears, I'll post the goings on here.



Technorati Tags: Rasputin's, rasputin music, fresno, tower records, cd's, dvd's, movies, berkeley

Intelligent Design

I found this picture on the Saint Gasoline webcomic/blog page.



Brilliant, if I do say so myself.



Technorati Tags: ID, intelligent design, atheism, creationism, evolution, stupidity, politics, religion, michael behe, darwin

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Hugo Chavez vs George Bush

Hugo Chavez and George Bush are currently making their rounds of Latin America, shoring up support and trying to look like good guys. Bush preaches the joys of foreign investment while Chavez talks of Socialism. The most interesting thing is that Chavez is promising more aid to the impoverished Bolivia than the leader of the richest country in the world. He talks of aid to the tune of $15 million, while Bush keeps it under $2 million.



I'm definitely not a fan of either man. However, despite misgivings, based on Chavez spending way too much on guns when he could be working on social projects, my opinion about a guy who's willing to help his neighbors, and offer a lot more then the guy in the big house down the road, is something that could alter its course.







Technorati Tags: Hugo Chavez, George Bush, USA, bolivia, venezuala, wto, world trade, nafta, gatt, socialism, capitalism, foreign aid

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Atheism

I recently listened to an audio book of Richard Dawkins The God Delusion. I've been an atheist for about two years now, ever since I took a class on Biological Anthropology, where I found out that everyone who ever told me that there is no evidence to support the theory of evolution was either lying or wrong.

Before reading this book though, I'd never heard anyone argue so adamantly for the non-existence of god or the veracity of evolution. I found the concept interesting, and the book engaging. Even before I became atheitized, I despised religion, mostly because of the misery and sheer stupidity it has wrought on the world. In Dawkins, I found someone else who felt the same way. For me, that is a bit strange, as even the few non-believers I know refuse to take a stance against belief.

However, I do find that Dawkins is a bit mean spirited at times, and I can't help but feel a bit awkward associating my own thoughts with his. But, quite possibly, I sound just as angry and cruel to those who don't share my views, and a few that do. It can be very irritating to be told that I'm being "culturally insensitive," when I talk about how I can't stand Christian beliefs and the silly rituals that go along with those beliefs.

Honestly, that may be true. But I was raised to believe that crap, and so I feel like I've earned the right to criticize and ridicule. They certainly have no problem returning the favor. In fact, they've badgered and brain washed so many people into believing this crap that they've completely tied up the American political system, and convinced 45% of the American population that the earth is less than 10,000 years old.

My point is this: sure, I may be kind of a jerk when I say that god isn't real and we evolved from vaguely ape-like beings and that you should just get over it, but I don't know how else to handle it.  When someone tells me that "evolution is just a theory," or that we are "too complex to happen by chance," I want to punch them in their (easily) reducibly complex eye. I'm being kind by not doing so. Take that as a gesture of good will and deal with it.


Technorati Tags: science, scientifc theory, epistemology, intelligent design, atheism, evolution, natural selection, irreducible complexity, ID, IC, Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion, biology, biological anthropology, young earth creation, stupidity

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Slobodan Milosevic: Vampire

To some people, the feared dictator's death wasn't enough to keep him from harming anyone else. As it turns out, Milosevic is nosferatu! So, several Serbian vampire hunters went to his grave and hammered a three-foot stake into the dead dictator to prevent him from coming back to life and sampling the local vitae.



Now they're being sued by the tyrant's family for desecrating the grave. Sucks for them.





Technorati Tags: slobodan milosevic, death, vampires, serbia, dictator, tyrant, graves, tomb, stake

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Sony PS3 Sixaxis controller might change.

Sony has gotten a lot of crap over the Sixaxis controller. Apparently, the lack of force feedback is a huge deal to some people. Personally, I couldn't care less. If Sony wants to be vindictive about the whole lawsuit thing, thats on them. I, frankly, find force feedback rather annoying 90% of the time.



Anyway, according to PSXextreme, Sony is not adverse to new ideas on the issue. I haven't played the PS3 enough to pass judgement on the controller one way or the other, though I can say I like it a lot better then the stupid Wiimote.





Technorati Tags: playstation 3, playstation, sixaxis, force feedback, wii

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It turns out there's an anarchist cowboy raving about gun control somewhere deep inside me.

The Ninja/Knight/Cowboy/Pirate test said so. Whudda thunk?

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Below you'll find your test result. After, continue on to your
homescreen to discover what we're about.

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a Man with No Name You scored 8 Honor, 3 Justice, 8 Adventure, and 4 Individuality!

It's one thing to be a gunslinger. It's another to wander into town, leave nothing but a trail of those who'd try your skill and take the town's gratitude and cash with you. Hero or villan? It's all in how you look at it and whose side you're on. Cigar in your teeth and colt on your hip, you are ready to step into the hazy desert horizon. You'll do just fine.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 99% on Ninjinuity You scored higher than 99% on Knightlyness You scored higher than 99% on Cowboiosity You scored higher than 99% on Piratical Bent

Link: The Cowboy-Ninja-Pirate-Knight Test written by fluffy71 on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

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Pinocchio in Iraq

While looking at Warren Ellis's blog, I came across a link to a site called subvertr. It is essentially like imagefap or flickr, but political. And with less porn. Anyway - this picture was labelled "The Iraqi War."







Here we have a literal puppet being driven by its master. It seems cynical, but there is some hope though - no matter how unlikely - because, in the end, Pinocchio did become a "real boy."



Anyway, I just found it interesting.

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Invisible Bigfoots...feet...whatever

According to this guy, Lawrence Livermore Labs has several "bigfoots" in captivity. In fact, in the 60's and 70's, it was fairly common knowledge in the East Bay that this was the case. The thing is, you can't see them! Why? Because they spend most of their time in the fourth dimension! Occasionally, they will come into our dimension as orbs, but they tend to be shy, I guess.



I was listening to Coast to Coast AM earlier as I was driving. There was a caller who claimed to have thrown away every single reflective thing in his house because he believes his reflection was going to kill him. It was pretty great, I must say. Anyway, I got home and I wanted to keep listening, so I went to the website. Unfortunately, you have to pay to actually listen, so I browsed the site a bit instead, which is how I found the bigfoot thing.



I really find this stuff entertaining. These people who talk to ghosts, and aliens, and invisible bigfeet amuse me. I just don't understand them though. Do they not find the real world interesting enough that they have to believe these things? Sure - the government probably does some experiments in Area-51, or some other facility, but chances are they have more to do with stealth technology then they do extra-dimensional beings. And, according to quantum foam theory, there really may be other dimensions, but that doesn't mean bigfoot goes traipsing from one to the other.



The world is a cool place. Just look outside. Walk around a bit. Talk to somebody who isn't in your head. Go to Japan or Bulgaria and see even more. You'll soon realize that you don't need invisible monsters to keep you interested.





Technorati Tags: paranormal, bigfoot, quantum foam, aliens, area 51, coast to coast, george noory, art bell, lawrence livermore, berkeley, east bay

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No, I'm not dead. And milkshakes.

As you may have noticed, I haven't posted anything for a while. I don't really know why, but its probably got something to do with having no idea what to write about. Which is kind of weird, because the world is really big and full of crap, a lot of it interesting, even to a bored, jaded, cynic like me. So, I guess I'm going to try and post stuff as often as possible, even if it's only a few random musings or a picture I ripped off of someone else or something.



Also, I'd like to tell you about a milkshake I made yesterday. It was awesome. You probably don't know this, but I love milkshakes they are about the best form of frozen, sweetened dairy product available. Anyway - this particular one was made of vanilla ice cream, strawberry yogurt, an over-ripe banana, and milk. It was pretty awesome. You should give it a try.

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Technorati Tags: nonsense, rant, bored, milkshake, milk shake, ice cream

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