Right. That’s why you leave the lights on at Geisel Library (and the rest of the unoccupied buildings campus) 24/7. “Because its cheaper than turning them off.”

Good luck with that one UCSD.

On that note, I’m back home. Fuckin’ missed it. Now tryin’ to plan a trip to da bay and kick it with my friends

The Cult of Veganism; or, Sit Down & Shut Up, Little Brown Girl

My friend Lenah has been going through a similar situation. There are no winners in the Oppression Olympics. All struggles are interconnected. Get over yourself.

Dammit.

Force of Nature – Same Ol' Thing

Hey folks. I’m back here in SD, where things have cooled down considerably. The Harris & Witch fires are 90% and 97% contained respectively, and the air doesn’t taste or look ashy anymore. Our home was unaffected, save for some ash on the windowsill, truly a blessing considering that the cities and towns all around us have been scorched in some way.

School has also restarted—and its kicking my ass. Losing 5 days doesn’t seem like much, but when you’re on the dreaded quarter system, you’re losing 10% of your classes. Nothing CRAZY, but combined with hard-ass professors eager teachers, this spells trouble for the average student. You know, the ones who weren’t using the week off as an extended study hall (hey, I was evacuated. I have an excuse. Kinda.)

Anyway, to my fellow peoples living in San Diego (I am not a “San Diegan”) I hope you and yours are all good. Thanks to Mr. Fisher for offering your place to me, and to Tyrone, who kept lookin’ out for me (I’ll pay ya a visit tomorrow). In parting, here’s a tune that I’m sure many here resonate with.

Bob Marley – No More Trouble

Catch A Fire indeed.

SD County Fires

Witch Fire

Harris Fire

Here’s some info I’ve collected about the fires ravishing through SD. Sorry about the formating, I’m evacuating right now and can’t fix it. I’m evacuated (in “the Lakehouse” near Riverside), and links are fixed. Changed to a faster-loading layout too.

UPDATE (10/27/07 – 12:53p) The fires look a lot better in SD and are mostly contained. I’m in LA right now, cramming and studying for the onslaught of work UCSD is gonna drop on students next week. I’ll be heading back to SD tomorrow morning. I hope everyone is safe and sound, and that the fires didn’t mess you up too bad. I added a link to the SD Fire Wiki, which is a great resource created by the community.

UPDATE (10/25/07 – 4:20p) One of my roommates has made it back to the house and everything seems fine. I will be going to LA to visit Amanda, and then I will head back down to SD afterwards. I also took down the google map because of its considerable load time.

UPDATE (10/24/07 – 9:10p) Our area (PQ) has just been cleared of evacuation status. I can return home as of right now, but I will stay the night here in Riverside. Since SD is still unstable, I will probably go to Amanda’s house in Los Angeles tomorrow, and then return to SD sometime this weekend after things have settled down a bit.

Newest Info

Newest Evacuation Map (PDF file) – Check to see if you can go back home.

Quick Tabs

My Top Links for San Diego Fire Info

1. SignOn SD Wildfires 2007 Blog – Best Blog resource: Updated every few minutes, with the info you need to know. (RSS)
2. SD Fire & Evacuation Maps – quickest mapping of the burned & evac areas
3. SignOnSanDiego Fire Map – Best overall Map, complete with pictures, video, and containment info.
4. SD Fire Wiki – Probably the best overall compendium of info. Go here first. Collaboratively edited by SDiegans”>SD Fire Wiki – Probably the best compendium of info. Collaboratively edited by the people.
5. SD County Emergency Homepage – #1 Source of (official) info for SD
6. Fires & Evacuation Center Map – the map I used to display above.
7. TritonLink – most up-to-date UCSD resource. See below anchor (note: UCSD is closed for the rest of the week).
8. California Freeway Conditions – See which freeways are closed (free-way specific search)

Very Important Resources

Some of the most important links from the list below

1. Disaster Safe – Let your loved ones know you’re safe!!!
2. Reverse 911 Sign-up – Sign up to receive reverse 911 calls on your phone!!!
3. Evacuation Checklist – How to prepare & what to pack
4. InCampus Alert – (UCSD Students) Register your fone for text alert Emergency Notifications
5. Evacuation Shelter Status (PDF file)
6. SD Emergency Fire Info: Useful Linklist – Links to many of the ones here, as well as health info & radio/tv stations covering the fires.
7. News 8 – Frequently Updated, but news coverage is pretty uncaring and sensational. Nonetheless, best corporate news media site overall.

My List of San Diego (Harris & Witch) Fire links

This is my linkroll for any info on the fires throughout SoCal.

General Fire Info

• Disaster Safe – Let your loved ones know you’re safe
• Evacuation Checklist – How to prepare & what to pack
• California Freeway Conditions – See which freeways are closed (free-way specific search)

San Diego Specific

• SD County Emergency Homepage – #1 Source of info for SD
• 211sandiego.org – Official Evacuation Information
• SD Road Closures (SD Public Works) – See what streets are closed
• Detailed Road & Freeway Closure Info – Uber-comprehensive, somewhat overkill, but lets you know exactly what’s going on.
• Evacuation Shelter Status (PDF file)
• SDGE Power Outage Map – Don’t turn off gas (SDGE says), and Don’t turn on water (Fire Dept.says)
• SD Health & Environment – Info about Air Quality & Water Conservation
• SD Emergency Fire Info: Useful Linklist – Links to many of the ones here, as well as health info & radio/tv stations covering the fires.

North County Specific

UCSD

• UCSD Fire Info Page – best source of info for UCSD students
• UCSD Emergency Status – Updated daily on UCSD’s status, though TritonLink is more up-to-date (note: UCSD is closed for the rest of the week).
• InCampus Alert – Register your fone for text alert Emergency Notifications

Fire Maps

• SignOnSanDiego Fire Map – Best overall map, complete with pictures, video, and containment info.
• SD Fire & Evacuation Maps – quickest mapping of the burned & evac areas
• Fires & Evacuation Center Map – the google map I used to display above.
• Google Map of the Fires (I used to display this up top)
• GIS Visualizations of the fires
• MODIS Active Fire Mapping Program – get accurate info of fire containment

Traffic

• California Freeway Conditions – See which freeways are closed (free-way specific search)
• SD Traffic Problem Areas
• Directions to where I’m currently at (Takes into account freeway closures).

SigAlert

• San Diego Traffic Map
• Ventura Traffic Map
• Los Angeles Traffic Map
• Orange County Traffic Map

News Coverage

• News 8 – Frequently Updated, but news coverage is pretty uncaring and sensational. Nonetheless, best general info site overall.
• News 8 YouTube Channel – I haven’t really checked it out, but its there.
• SignOn SD Wildfires 2007 Blog – Best Blog resource: Updated every few minutes, with the info you need to know. (RSS)
• 10 News – Good mostly for the live video

Be safe, and evacuate early friends.

and what do we talk about today in class? Western culture and thought processes.

“What are they saying in that song!?”

For those of you who don’t know, its “T T Totally Dude!”.
If you didn’t understand that, then chances are, you probably already know the hook—as well as the rest of the song by heart.

The explosion-as-devilhorns-sign and the very end made me get spit all over my aging Powerbook G4 (ooh shiny Macbook Pros). Then yesterday, Shannon told me about the newest song from the 1 2-Hit Wonder, Shop Boyz:

Damn. Just had to rub it in huh? And you want us to pay you for this stuff music industry?! I don’t wanna sound all old-fogey-ish… music in general has never been better imo, but radio is a cesspool. With stuff like pandora, last.fm, and the hype machine, I won’t look back when the current business model collapses, despite the RIAA’s last gasps.

Anyway, sorry for the crap. I’ve been real bitter as of late at myself and my world in general, for having shit like this, “Pop Lock & Drop It” & “ella, ella, ey! ey! ey!” stuck in my head more than 1/2 the time I’m awake.

Here’s some real music:

John Mayer – Kid A (Radiohead Cover)

Though I was definitely part of the right college radio generation, I never got into the whole John Mayer (or SD’s response, Jason Mraz) thing. But Radiohead was “my band” back in the days of the FHP (FumeHood Posse)—which, btw, is way better than OBG (no comment)—and continued to be my “college band” throughout my UCSD days. Long story short: Kid A is my favoritist song ever (LIVE!!!), and Mayer does a nice acoustic of it.

I also picked up this gem from the del.icio.us mp3 page.

We Got Our Own Thing – J.V.C. F.O.R.C.E.
(via: The White Noise Revisited)

This one’s for Clockw0rk. Funky-house beats that you love, with the old-school rap rhymes that no one can deny… don’t sleep on that via: link though, as I go through it with Peel, I find a lotta gems (YA mp3 blog I gotta check up on).

PS: I’ve been listening to a lot of “The Eraser” recently… shoulda got it last Summer back in Switzerland. And Random Google Researchâ„¢ for the post: Remember this? I vaguely, vaguely do, but the game and cartoon are remembered more readily… Thanks Nintendo Power!

[need Picture]

Oh yeah, I was talking about a book!

I’m reading All About Love: new visions by bell hooks. I got it as a gift from the Cross (Yes I have found religion). Thanks Nancy, Edwina, Violeta and Cat. Thanks Fatima, Noah, Chris, Joseph, Brisa, Oraneet, Heidi & Miguel. I’ve learned to live life with these people and the space. Cya soon. =}

Ah! About the book: First of all. After doing hella research for final essays and artistic precedents, I’ve come to the realization that everything has a subtitle now. (The “All About” part reminds me of old Japanese Street Fighter 2 references like this that were the coveted books of pre-internet SF players in the states). 2nd of all, Bell Hooks!? Even the people are subtitles! Aiya, this is ridiiiiculous. But I trust. The strongest message so far has been this:

When we understand love as the will to nurture our own and another’s spiritual growth, it becomes clear that we cannot claim to love if we are hurtful and abusive. Love and abuse cannot coexist. Abuse and neglect are, by definition, the opposites of nurturance and care.

Makes sense huh.

. o O (( So, I have a lot of free time now I suppose… ))

I can read, I can think. I can communicate with friends— and I can act on my random thoughts without guilt.
…I really don’t know why, but while thinking about the sippy cup terrorist, I suddenly wanted to laugh at crying babies. Yes, yes, I know. But I’m not as bad as some people… I’m sure all of you have that one friend. You know the one. The one who wishes cancer to babies. Yes. That one. (But yes… you were intoxicated!)
Anyway, I just wanted a quick laugh of babies in dire, but silly situations.

. o O (( Someone took a picture of his wife holding a little baby. ))

This is what I want to say to them:

“Wow. Be proud!—

You, your wife and the baby have just won the Google Challengeâ„¢ for ‘Crying Babies’ !!!

Yay! =D

Is it just me or is there a lot of LOLCAT noise at boingboing recently. Yes, I did blog about it. No, I will not talk about LOLCAT club.

I cannot turn anywhere without seeing this madness.

But I will not give in.

Anyways, Ratatat – Wildcat

I listened to a lot of synth and guitar from this du-du-du-duo in March and April. Its actually a trio (Guitar, Bass, Synth/Drums (if you can really call a single snare and cymbal “drums”), but that’s beside the point. Me and Shannon instinctively growl and claw at the air everytime we hear the big cat in the distance… It’s really a silly sight to see. And you gotta love it when they break it down around 1:57. When we saw them in concert last month at Porter’s Pub, we were also joined by a few of the hipster kids who’ve been listening to the duo for “Seventeen Years”.
Get funky friends, get funky.

PS: No, my last post wasn’t a spam message. And no, I do not plan to use it. Its just interesting. Much like the iPhone and this Multi-touch computer from Jeff Han.

aka the site that’s doing me a huge favor.

I’m super busy… got big things planned (aka due) on weds… damnit.
Miguel Torres, this one’s for you:
Listen this

(Wolfmother – Joker & The Thief)

This band reminds me of White Stripes, and uh… other cool bands mixed together. I’d take the time and really analyze them, but I’ve work to do… damnit.

I’ve been rather busy. I was gonna reboot, but fate had its way with me.

Anyway, nothing’s new. I just feel more ‘emo’ than ever. Which is another reason I haven’t been posting. I don’t wanna whine about my so-called “despair” (yeah… some people call it that), my privaleged life is just fine thank you very much.

No love from anyone, even my GF (powerbook). I hate lower ram slot failure (see sidebar). And my Dragons (500gb external HD) is coughing up its organs… how am I gonna back up over a 100 gigs of music. Let alone a 100 gigs of video. And then the 100 gigs of random other stuff. *SIGH*

I’ve been listening to the Akira soundtrack a lot recently… here you go. At one point I was listening to the chants non-stop the whole day.

Now though, its this song from Champloo. Just what I need.
I haven’t played my favorite Silent Hill song yet… I wrote it on my arm to remind me… but I don’t hafta play it quite yet.

「逃げられないよ。僕らは外では生きて行けないだよ。」

I need to go bowling.

EDIT: I dunno why the 2nd Akira song (Kaneda) sounds all crazy in the mini-player… it works if you just click the link.  Makes for some interesting ambiance though.