Sunday, January 3, 2010

Meta update

Here's a much-anticipated barely noticed status update from this crappy semi-dormant blog:
  1. I have a few blog posts in my head but haven't had time to write them yet. Probably will resume on Tuesday, January 5.
  2. No Blast Off! Radio on Monday, January 4; it'll come back on January 11, barring intervening catastrophe (or further ennui).
  3. Haloscan, the commenting platform Blast Off! has used since Day One, is being phased out of existence. It was supposed to cease operations on Blast Off! as of yesterday, January 2, but it may still be working as you read this. I just haven't had a chance through the holidays and traveling and all to investigate an alternative commenting system. So if you find that comments suddenly are gone, disabled, or otherwise wonky, please be patient and I'll figure it out this week.
  4. Finally, and most importantly, Happy New Year. Here's hoping that 2010 is a far, far better year than its predecessor (which, sadly, isn't a very high bar in my case).
Stay tuned for more shortly....

Labels: , , ,

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Blast Off!'s back, all right!

I heard there was another bad video contest brewing over at First Draft. Okay, so their battle is holiday-related ... fine: consider this one based on Halloween. Kind of like a bad Thriller knockoff (as opposed to a good one?)

Sure, it's no Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), but it's appropriate for the return of this crappy blog. Just check this post's title.

Anyway, enjoy this stomach-churning flashback to the '90s:


Hey, BSB, thanks also for the shout-out to my 1-dash-10 Buccaneers. Diggin' the Hardy Nickerson replica jersey....

P.S. Don't lick that casket! You don't know where that casket's been!

Labels: , ,

Monday, November 23, 2009

Upon further review...

I'm not going to do a radio show today. Just wanted to let you know.

This blog isn't dead, nor is the radio show; they're just dormant. With moving, unpacking, and now holiday plans, blogging just hasn't been high on my list of priorities. And, frankly, it's highly unlikely that I'll be doing any significant blogging during the remainder of November. What do you say we call it a month and try again in December?

If you'll forgive the Manilow reference, I'm just tryin' to get the feeling again. It's not there yet, but maybe soon. Thanks as always for your patience.

Labels: , ,

Monday, November 9, 2009

No Blast Off! Radio until Nov. 23

Well, it appears my semi-hiatus from blogging is continuing. I'm in a few-weeks-long process of moving back to central Florida, then of course there's Thanksgiving.... Bottom line is that because of travel and personal priorities, blogging is likely to be pretty sparse here through the remainder of November.

As for the radio show, quite by accident, I'm traveling on three of the next four Mondays. As such, the show schedule for the rest of the month looks like this:

Nov. 9 (today): NO SHOW
Nov. 16: NO SHOW
Nov. 23: Webcast planned at regular time, 4:00 pm Eastern
Nov. 30: NO SHOW

Although I'm away from blogging for the most part for a couple more weeks, I am tweeting pretty regularly (some might say TOO regularly), including some livetweeting as events warrant of the landfall of Hurricane Tropical Storm Ida tonight and tomorrow, as I'm presently en route to Pensacola Taintville™ to spend a few days vacating my erstwhile home there.

So please keep up with me on Twitter if you like, if for no other reason than to make sure I'm still alive, and thanks as always for your patience during this tumultuous time. But don't be surprised to see the occasional blog post pop up in this space. After all, there's rarely a hiatus in Republicans doing dumb things....

Labels: , , ,

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

GOP still has glaring historical error on website

Okay, maybe I'm too pedantic for my own good. But if I were running a website for a major political party, especially a site for which the party paid $1.4 million, I'd want to make damn well sure everything on the site was correct and accurate, wouldn't you?

Apparently the Republican National Committee, which produced a brand-new GOP.com absolutely riddled with errors, doesn't agree. Remember the historical mistake I told you about a couple of weeks ago, where they mistakenly identified Republican U.S. Sen. Hiram Revels of Mississippi, the first African-American member of that august body, by his middle name: "Hiram Rhodes?"

Well, guess what? It's still wrong.

click on image for larger version

I included the oh-so-cute bit about the president's visit to Florida today just to show you that I got the screen capture today; it's not manipulated in any way. Go see for yourself (you may have to hit F5 until you see "Rhodes").

Are you kidding me? They've had two weeks to fix it. After all the grief they took for putting up a piss-poor website, and after all the time someone must have expended trying to get everything right, they still haven't fixed an image that will show up on every page as a header at one time or another?! Not to mention ... I publicized this two weeks ago. It's not like it would be a surprise if they were, you know, paying attention.

Man, the RNC is dumber than I thought.

Labels: , , , ,

Coming full circle

I have an announcement to make: Blast Off! is undergoing another change of location. Or, to be more precise, I am.

Finding it difficult to secure gainful employment in my desired locales (greater Orlando, the Tampa Bay area, or south Florida in particular) while residing all the way up in Taintville™ (the honorary capital, naturally, of America's Taint™) and, more importantly, finding it increasingly difficult to handle being 520 miles from my children (not to mention the rigor and expense of the 1,000-mile-plus round trips to see them a couple of times a month), I have decided to move, at least temporarily, back to central Florida -- or, in Blast Off! parlance, about mid-Wang™.

In fact, in the grandest spirit of "never say never" -- a phrase with which I have become all too familiar -- I actually am moving back for the time being to the place where it all started: Brevard County. Yes, it was there that Blast Off! got its start and, indeed, from which it got its name, as I sorely needed to "blast off" at the crazy wingnuttery in which I was immersed there from 2004 to 2006. I once swore I'd never live in Brevard again -- nothing against the sane people there, but merely a recognition that sanity unfortunately is scarce there. But, as noted above: never say never.

(Truth be told, in hindsight, I would be hard-pressed to ascertain whether Brevard County is more or less wingnutty than northwest Florida. I guess ultimately they're about equally wingnutty -- which is to say a lot -- but the character of the wingnuttiness differs, with northwest Florida being somewhat more fundie Christianist wingnutty than Brevard. It's true that both, though, have a heaping helping of militarist wingnut ... but I digress.)

Anyway, as a result, blogging and radio-ing will be somewhat sporadic for the next week or two as I get settled. I also should add for anyone concerned that my beloved Miss July supports my decision completely, which is a big load off of my mind, and of course I'll continue to be a regular visitor to greater Taintville™ to see her and the many other friends that I've had the good fortune to get to know during my all-too-brief sojourn here in The Land That Time Forgot.

But, as of next Sunday, it will be farewell to America's Taint™ for me and hello again to the birthplace of Blast Off! (well, at least until someone hires me). As always, though, if anyone is looking for an experienced and accomplished attorney/fundraiser/commentator/curmudgeon ... well, you know where to find me.

Labels: , , , , ,

Monday, October 19, 2009

No Blast Off! Radio today

Due to travel and, frankly, sheer exhaustion, I'm going to have to cancel Blast Off! Radio for today.

Normal crappy blogging should resume tomorrow at the latest, and barring catastrophe of some kind, the crappy radio show will be back in its regular time slot next week.

Thanks for your patience.

Labels: , , ,

Friday, October 16, 2009

Can't blog ... tweeting

Seriously, it seems like Twitter almost is taking over blogging. It's easy to do, it's often funny and informative (whether you're looking for links or one-liners), and it's a hell of a lot easier to do from a Blackberry than a blog post! The biggest challenge is fitting thoughts into 140 characters. It's definitely made me more concise, which is good since I usually give Glenn Greenwald a run for his money* on wordy blog posts!

If you're not on Twitter, it's easy to sign up. Once you do, I hope you'll follow me. You can also follow Blast Off! for prompt updates on every post and every comment. Especially on weekends like this one, when I'm hangin' with my kids, I tend to be tweeting more than blogging these days.

But there's plenty more to come here ... so stay tuned!

* I consider myself Glenn's peer on blog post length ... I'm nowhere near his vicinity in quality. :)

Labels: , ,

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Blame Canada

Turns out those crazy Canuckistanis, with their poutine and their curling and their evil socialist health care which they don't seem to want to give up despite its evil socialist nature, are fond of a certain DFH blog and blogger from America's Wang™.

Well, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that there's one Canadian who just doesn't know any better:

Lo, last week, when news of the Conservative Bible Project broke on Twitter, the Tweeple rang out with sarcasm.

Progressives fired off fake verses one might find rewritten by the "family values" fundamentalists behind Conservapedia, the so-called "trustworthy" online information source for all things right-wing.

Verily I say unto thee, these U.S. conservatives, led by Andy Schlafly, begat by Phyllis Schlafly, best known for stopping the equal rights for women amendment, consider modern translations of the Bible to contain too much "liberal bias."

[...]

"Let my people GOP!''

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence I can see Russia."*

"Physician, heal thyself. And your patients without insurance should heal themselves, too."

"Suffer the little `preborn' children to come unto me, and forbid them not dominion of women's bodies."

[...]

Nothing more to add really except that the response [to this column in the newspaper] has been awesome, and that the tweet about seeing Russia marked with an *asterisk* is not, like the others reprinted here, one I wrote but came from @sinfonian who blogs here.
Yes, that's from the venerable Toronto Star, bringing news to Torontonians since 1892, the newspaper with Canada's highest circulation. Specifically, the party responsible is Star columnist Antonia Zerbisias, who included my tweet in her column yesterday and credited it in the web version excerpted above.

That's cool. Thanks, Antonia. But substantively, can you even comprehend the hubris and arrogance of a group that would deign to "re-translate" (read: propagandize) the Bible, the very book they always tout as the inerrant word of God? The one that no one is supposed to add to or take away from? I mean, the Right is full of stupid, asinine, offensive, ideologically-driven rhetoric, but this one tops them all.

What did Jesus do when he learned about the "Conservative Bible?" Jesus wept.

Labels: , , , ,

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

In which Ken Quinnell says nice things about me

Over at the FPC Blog, Kenneth Quinnell posted a little retrospective of the Florida Democratic Party convention, and was kind enough to mention me a few times.

Hoping to get around to doing my own summary of the weekend today, time and energy permitting.

But for now I'll say this: Kenny's right -- that Friday night outdoor reception was a massive weather FAIL.

Labels: , , ,

Saturday, October 10, 2009

2009 Florida Netroots Awards: And the winners are...

The 2009 Florida Netroots Awards winners were announced this afternoon in Orlando at the Florida Democratic Party convention. Finalists previously had been revealed on the Florida Progressive Coalition blog. There were a record 645 voters this year, shattering last year's record and dwarfing the 100 or so who voted in the inaugural Awards competition in 2007.

Without further ado, the envelopes, please ...

Best National Blog: Blast Off!

Best State Blog: Progress Florida

Best Local Blog: Opinion Matters

Best Media Blog: The Buzz

Best Professional Blog: Kendrick Meek

Best Party Website: Florida Young Democrats

Best Candidate Website: Kendrick Meek

Best Local Party Website: Hillsborough County GLBTA Caucus

Best Interest Group Website: Fair Districts Florida

Best Writer: Dan Gelber

Netroots Candidate of the Year: Kendrick Meek

Netroots Activist of the Year: Susan Smith

Netroots Organization of the Year: Progress Florida

Best New Blogger: Vicki Impoco of Opinion Matters

Best Online Campaign: Fair Districts Florida

Best Use of Twitter: Kendrick Meek

Best Overall Use of Social Media: Kendrick Meek

Best Post: "Travis Is Getting Married," by Dan Gelber

Best Ongoing Series: Susan Smith vs. Ray Sansom, Florida Progressive Coalition

Best Online Radio Show: Blast Off! Radio

Florida Progressive Coalition Progressive Hall of Fame -- 2009 inductees (in alphabetical order): Dave Aronberg, Dan Gelber, Mitch Kates, Kenneth Quinnell

Special Award for Progressive Courage: Alan Grayson

Congratulations to all the awardees, and congratulations as well to all finalists and nominees. And finally, thank you to everyone -- all 645 of you -- who cast a vote in the 2009 Florida Netroots Awards.

Labels: , , ,

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Blast Off!: three-time finalist in Florida Netroots Awards

Yeah, I know, I never miss a chance to be a little self-aggrandizing, but I just wanted to share with you that Blast Off! was named a finalist in three categories in the 2009 Florida Netroots Awards. This sucky blog and its spinoff radio show are finalists in Best National Blog (a category Blast Off! won in 2007's inaugural Awards), Best State Blog, and Best Online Radio Show.

The awards will be presented during the Florida Democratic Party convention next weekend in Orlando. I'll be a delegate there, but I'll also be a panelist at a Saturday afternoon session ... more to come on that.

I just want to thank everyone who voted in the Florida Netroots Awards and of course any of you who may have cast a vote for Blast Off! or for me. I sincerely appreciate your support, and I'm proud to be recognized with some truly great blogs and bloggers as a finalist this year. See you in Orlando ...

Labels: , , ,

Monday, September 28, 2009

Reminder: Florida Netroots Awards voting ends TOMORROW

Don't miss your chance to cast your vote for the top blogs and bloggers in Florida. Ballots will be accepted online through tomorrow -- Tuesday, September 29 -- but please don't delay! Take a few moments right now to recognize the very best in Florida's liberal/progressive blogosphere.

Remember that while it's true that Blast Off! and its sucky blogger proprietor are nominated for seven awards, there are a lot of deserving folks out there who would appreciate your support. So, whether or not you vote for me, well, just do it -- go vote now!

Thanks in advance.

Labels: , ,

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Reminder: Florida Netroots Awards voting continues

Just a quick reminder: as the banner above (for another week, that is) explains, voting for the Florida Netroots Awards is continuing through next Tuesday, September 29.

Yes, Blast Off! and its proprietor have been nominated for seven awards -- a great honor in itself -- but there are many deserving blogs and bloggers on the list. Please take a few minutes to click over to the voting page and cast your ballot.

Last I heard, more than 500 people had participated, shattering the old records ... so I hope you'll add to the list and help us recognize the best of the Florida Netroots. Thanks in advance.

Labels: ,

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Blast Off! garners seven nominations for Florida Netroots Awards

I honestly don't do this blog for recognition -- except perhaps for the kind of recognition that comes with pissing off wingnuts for revealing their fallacies and shortcomings, like being Asshat of the Month or providing someone with their Quote of the Day ...

But I'm truly humbled to report that Blast Off! and its author, yours truly, have picked up seven nominations in the 2009 Florida Netroots Awards. These awards recognize the very best in blogging in America's Wang™, and it's truly an honor to be nominated alongside such great blogs and bloggers, who themselves are even better people and citizens of the state.

The seven nominations for the blog and for this blogger include:
I'm very grateful to anyone and everyone who submitted nominations on behalf of Blast Off! and me, but please understand that I'm not the least bit qualified for at least two of those awards: Netroots Activist of the Year and the FPC Progressive Hall of Fame. Pretty much all I do is snark on the right-wing nutjobs and say "fuck" now and then, which hardly constitutes evidence of having done anything truly significant to effect change in a progressive way in Florida, an achievement I believe is the biggest criterion for those two awards. Please consider voting for someone actually worthy in those two categories, okay? Thanks ...

In any event, I encourage you to go over to the voting site and cast your ballot now. It'll only take a few minutes. Voting is open until September 29, but why wait?

Thank you again for your support, and if you deem this blog worthy of a vote or two, well, thank you for that as well.

Labels: , , ,

Monday, September 14, 2009

No Blast Off! Radio today

As I mentioned yesterday, there will be no Blast Off! Radio today. I hope to return to more-or-less regular blogging tomorrow and that the sucky radio show will be back next week.

But, given how the month has gone thus far, it may continue to be tumultuous. Stay tuned, and thanks for your patience.

In the meantime, have a video. For one reason or another, it seems to apply (at least superficially) for me every year ...

Labels: , , , ,

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Catching up with Sinfonian

Okay, so blogging has been kind of hit-and-miss this last week or so. Sorry about that.

The update simply is that I've been on the road -- almost literally -- since Thursday, September 4. By the time I get back to Taintville™ tomorrow, I will have driven more than 2,300 miles ... all in Florida.

Couple of job interviews, hanging out a good bit with my kids, a trip to the beach, and not one but two mega-sucky NFL games ... it's been a fairly epic journey, but things should return to normal (whatever that is), more or less, by Tuesday. I'm afraid the radio show will be a casualty of travel tomorrow, though.

Thanks for your patience, kind readers. Hell, even the not-so-kind ones.

Labels: , ,

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Can't blog ... interviewing

With that modest homage to "The Simpsons," I'm just letting you know that Blast Off! updates might be a little sparse today and Thursday. I have interviews at two Major Florida Universities, and with travel and all, my online time may be limited. Pity blogging doesn't pay the bills for us Z-listers ...

I'll post if/when I can. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

(P.S. Happy Nine Day.)

Labels: , ,

Monday, September 7, 2009

Last day for Florida Netroots Awards nominations

I know, I know, you keep saying you're going to nominate Blast Off! and Blast Off! Radio submit your nominations to recognize all the great Florida blogs and bloggers, but you just haven't gotten around to doing it.

Well, today's the deadline. I did mine the other day, or at least some of them -- I'll do more tonight, I hope. In the meantime, what are you waiting for? Soon it's going to be too late ... and I'll have only you you'll have only yourself to blame.

Here are all the details. Go to it.

Labels: , , , ,

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Netroots Awards reminder

Say, did I mention that nominations remain open for the 2009 Florida Netroots Awards through this week?

I did?

Oh. Okay, then. Thanks.

Labels: ,