Author: cheerfulchaotic

Tonight was gaming night. I didn’t have a great time, though I spent a great deal of time on it, therefore I lost.

from 6:30pm to midnight. We played one, 8 player (then 7 player), game of Arkham Horror. In the end, we faced off against the elder god and beat him in 7 rounds (on round 10 we were all to have been devoured). Arkham Horror would be a fun game if it didn’t take so damn long. As is, it reminds me a bit of Munchkin and Bang, both of which the people I have over for gaming seem to love, but I’m very bored by, and Kill Dr. Lucky. Particularly Munchkin, as it takes for-freaking-ever, and as its main “redeeming” virtue has amusing artwork.

When I went outside, I found someone had let all the air out of my bike’s tires. At least, I didn’t see any slashes in them in the dark. And I didn’t notice them having any issues when I locked it up. And the caps were missing off the tire valves when I went to unlock it. (Recently purchased, hadn’t paid attention to the caps, but I think they were there.) So, I got to walk the full 20 minutes home, and tomorrow I get to buy a tire pump and see if some dickwad did just let the air out or if it’s something else.

At first, it made me wonder what the hell was going on in their head when they did it. Letting the air out of someone’s tires? What’s the point in that? Taking 30 seconds out of your day to anonymously make some stranger’s life miserable? Then it made me angry. I’ve had the misfortune to talk with far too many self-righteous motorists convinced that all bike riders are scum of the earth (fueled by guilt they refuse to acknowledge?). I resolved to do my best to make the next one I talked to supremely uncomfortable and guilty (I wasn’t planning on discussing my tires, no clue if that asshat is a motorist (though I suspect so). I was planning on basically saying that if all cyclists are in a moral equivalence class then all motorists must be too, and how does it make them feel to be held responsible for killing my aunt? For knocking me off my bike onto the concrete? For running into at least one friend of mine while he was walking with right of way? With all the earnest anger I feel for things that are no more their fault than other cyclists going the wrong way down a one way street is mine). And motorists, if you want to condemn cyclists as a class for reckless endangerment, shut the fuck up you howling hypocrites. I curse at individual cyclists all the time, but as a class, motorists are in a for worse boat. I really should be more focused on getting to the gym tomorrow morning. That would be far more productive. But clearly I’m not biking there.

Fun times. Stephen -3

Also, it felt today like WoW may have jumped the shark for me. Not really sure. Time will tell.

I think a lot of people don’t get the situation with our friend CO2 and taxation thereof. (Probably fewer in LJ-land than elsewhere, but regardless)

A tax on CO2 is not going to affect your breathing. Let’s talk about carbon for a sec. There are three relevant stores of carbon on earth. 1) the atmosphere (CO2) 2) all life on the planet (fats, carbs, and a bunch of other chenicals) and 3) subterranean stores (coal, oil, etc).

Atmospheric and living carbon trade back and forth. Plants turn CO2 into sugars, and we reverse that process (to simplify). That is not a problem.

But, when we turn subterranean carbon into atmospheric carbon there is no easy way to put it back underground. Most of our electricity and the overwhelming majority of our transportation turns previously subterranean carbon into atmospheric carbon.

So the obvious and easy way to tax it is to tax the carbon as we extract it from the ground, or as it comes into our ports. So you can breathe a little easier; your lungs are not part of global warming.

My manager made the observation during my internship that I seem to “use” roommates to fill the emotional niche of a romantic partner. I can see where he’s coming from, but I felt like he got something wrong at the time. I didn’t really figure out what it was until recently. I think I treat my roommates more like siblings. And some of my favorite roommates were like the brothers I never had. Minus the fraternal violence and embarrassment. No offense to or implied. To others, it may be more like a business transaction. And that disparity makes me sad at times. But a mad shout out to my peeps. If you don’t know who you are, you should. 😉

One of the benefits of living outside social approval is the freedom that comes from disregarding social norms. If you’re a notorious gangster, it’s not like you’re going to be invited over for tea and crumpets regardless of what shoes you’re wearing after labor day. So wear what you want.

Homos used to be real social rebels. At least the open ones. And with that came a major ambiguity as to acceptable behavior, with the typical answer being “anything goes.”

But if you want your boyfriend to be welcome in your parents’ home, does that mean accepting other parts of the social contract governing hetero relationships? And which parts?

If the rules don’t apply to you, you have to make your own rules. But as the broader society starts to embrace homos, what implications does that have for gay male social norms? Will the monogamists gain market share in gay relationships? Will camp seem curiouser and quainter, like obsessions with elvis? Will pride parades calm down? Will moms start arranging for their sons to meet? Will it happen as a generational change, so that the younger queers will wonder at how messed up the older generation is?

My bet on all of the above is yes. But I think it’s also important to recognize that the broader society has changed in other ways as well. Among those changes, it’s become more open about sex in general, and more tolerant of different lifestyles. The gays really can’t take primary credit or blame for that, though I think we’ve had a role in it.

I haven’t sought social acceptance through conformity much at all since I came out and I don’t intend to start now. But I also won’t protest norms just to cause trouble. I’ll probably meander around a bit on that scale, but stick to roughly where I am now.

Hey all,

Especially those of you who know Dallas. I’m heading out there mid november for a boardgaming convention at a hotel near the airport. Any suggestions for a good place to stay? I’m looking for cheap, but close to the airport, with t3h intarnets. The hosting hotel itself costs $125/night for a room w/ 2 beds. I’m more than open to sharing lodging costs with friendly geeks.

Cheers!

-Stephen

Let’s see that’s two guys who expressed strong interest and failed to make plans for this weekend, and one guy who stood me up because work need him.

Great night I’m having.

2nd date this past weekend. Board games at my place and with the hets yesterday.

Last night after grocery shopping and WoW and associated chatting with friends, I was up until shortly after midnight. Then this morning I got up at 6am to make stuffed mushrooms and berry cobbler for my church’s young adult potluck and boardgame night this evening. (Which I prepared in the wrong order, but that’s okay).

Oh yeah, 3rd date this weekend, speaker panel thing on thursday, dinner with friend on saturday, lunch next week with head honcho at the environmental management program.

Well, I certainly don’t feel like I need to get a life. I may in fact have too much of one. Now I want sleep.

Pumpkin spice red tea is tasty, also, sadly, seasonal.

I wonder if there’s anywhere around here I can get pumpkin (note: not pumpkin pie) ice cream…

I have decided to get all DIY on my bike. I’m going to replace the handlebars and seat. I’ve had good luck with split seats in the past.

My current (drop down) handlebars are covered with disintegrating rubber foam crap. I could just replace the coverings (how do you get that crap off? My current inclination is to use something sharp to cut them off, then maybe burn them ritually, but if they’re adhered to the bars, that plan won’t work nearly so easily.)

I’m wondering if the bullhorns are a good idea. My intuition tells me that they won’t let me push as much power as the drop downs, but they do seem like they’d be more comfortable. Any thoughts?

I want to add a rear rack to spare my back and possibly enable grocery and camping trips.

Of course there are a few other changes I’d like to make. It has decent speed now, but I would like higher gears. Since I’m in chicago, lower gears really aren’t necessary. For the first time I’m seeing the appeal of a fixed gear.

I have a great game called “Puerto Rico” which some friends of mine refuse to play. Not because it’s a bad game, but because the game involves little brown “colonist” markers that the player uses to activate plantations, factories, and other things.

It occurred to me that it would be very simple to “reskin” the game as a moon colonizing game where various settlements are competing. Starting by painting the colonists silver.

So a couple questions:

As per usual responses that don’t fit in the boxes can go in the comments.