The World According To Alan http://alan.batie.org/world/ Beware, however: I speak my mind here, and I'm pretty frank and open. Some may be offended at the content and/or opinions. If you're easily offended, you might want to look elsewhere for reading material.

When/If you post a comment (and I hope you will!), be sure to put in a URL --- even if you just use mine (http://alan.batie.org/) --- if you don't, your email address will get put in as a link on your name, and you'll suddenly find yourself on Spam Central. Not my doing, I promise you! They scan websites for embedded email addresses. You've been warned --- I really don't wish spam on anyone (well, ok, maybe the spammers themselves)!

Finally, if you want to be notified when I post the this blog, signup on the lemmings mailing list.]]> en-us 2005-11-12T13:04:34-08:00 School Funding Proposal http://alan.batie.org/world/archives/000119.html The biggest problem in Oregon right now is school funding. Fully half of all our taxes go towards it, and people have had enough, while schools are struggling. I believe there is a solution, though it probably won't be popular,... Politics abatie 2005-11-12T13:04:34-08:00 Gay Sulu http://alan.batie.org/world/archives/000118.html abatie 2005-10-28T17:28:35-08:00 First Try at Geocaching http://alan.batie.org/world/archives/000117.html abatie 2005-10-23T15:38:12-08:00 Holdem http://alan.batie.org/world/archives/000116.html abatie 2005-10-22T02:10:48-08:00 You might think people would learn how to drive... http://alan.batie.org/world/archives/000115.html WOODBURN, Ore. - A multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 5 Friday morning turned rush hour traffic into a mess.KATU 2 - Portland, Oregon...though mostly this is testing Flock, a new web browser based on Firefox that has integrated blogging, flickr photo... General abatie 2005-10-22T02:04:38-08:00 Time Shards http://alan.batie.org/world/archives/000114.html I just read a little short story by Gregory Benford called "Time Shards". Apparently, the basis for it is real: [Proceedings of the IEEE (1969, pp. 1465-1466)] Take someone doing pottery on a potter's wheel. Apparently, some of the ancient... Technology and Toys abatie 2005-10-20T23:55:20-08:00 Colonoscopy http://alan.batie.org/world/archives/000113.html Because I suspect many will be squicked by any discussion and pictures of someone's insides, it's all here. If you want to avoid such things, then go here instead...... Medical abatie 2005-09-19T20:34:53-08:00 Seattle and Vancouver BC over Labor Day, 2005 http://alan.batie.org/world/archives/000112.html In the summer of 2005, a couple of good friends (Raist and LJ) moved to Vancouver, BC. I'd only been to Vancouver once, in 1990 or so, and then only pretty much just in the area of Hotel Vanvouver, where... Adventure abatie 2005-09-10T19:34:12-08:00 Dear Diary http://alan.batie.org/world/archives/000111.html Hard to believe New Orleans isn't any more. That probably overstates it, but it sounds pretty bad. Sent something to the Red Cross to help. This is why our National Guard people should be here, not in Iraq: looting for... General abatie 2005-09-01T01:09:26-08:00 Grimm Indeed http://alan.batie.org/world/archives/000110.html The Brother's Grimm cast includes Matt Damon, Heath Ledger and Jonathon Pryce, all directed by Terry Gilliam --- and I wish it were rare that this much talent was wasted this badly. From the previews, it looks quite good ---... Movies abatie 2005-08-27T17:53:48-08:00 Genesis http://alan.batie.org/world/archives/000109.html In the beginning...there wasn't a beginning. A "beginning" implies there was a "before", and when you're talking about the universe, that's just silly. It just is. It may do some weird cyclic stuff, but if it "started" then where did... My Testament abatie 2005-08-24T02:25:37-08:00 Church of Freedom http://alan.batie.org/world/archives/000108.html On my way home from a late night at work, I was thinking some random thoughts that led to the notion that if people need a religion to tell them how to live, well, I'm more than happy to tell... My Testament abatie 2005-08-24T02:17:43-08:00 Neal Stephensen's Interface http://alan.batie.org/world/archives/000107.html I just finished Neal Stephensen's Interface last night (ok, the not-so wee hours of this morning ;-) ). I've been reading it off and on on my Treo, and it got to the point where I just had to sit... Books abatie 2005-07-09T13:23:59-08:00 The Rise of the Nanny State http://alan.batie.org/world/archives/000106.html Today, the Supreme Court handed down a decision in "Gonzales v. Raich", namely, ruling that the "commerce clause" of the Constitution (which states that the Congress can regulate interstate commerce) allows the US Congress to pass laws regarding entirely intrastate... Politics abatie 2005-06-06T20:14:12-08:00 Town Hall Response http://alan.batie.org/world/archives/000105.html I did just make it to Senater Morse's Town Hall on Civil Unions tonight. It was an overflow crowd that appeared to me to be about 2/3 in favor and 1/3 opposed. Here are my responses to a few of... Politics abatie 2005-06-01T00:35:25-08:00