Rick Fleishman's Blog

I've heard that song before...

Like I was saying, you can't tell where the gov stands partywise.  He says he's a Republican, so he is one.  He certainly behaves like one.  And yet, and yet...Anyway, I'm not the only one who thinks this.  Here's today's LA Times on the same subject.

You don't know me...

So, Schwarzenegger is all of a sudden for prison reform, against global warming, against cell phone use in cars, for a higher minimum wage, etc. etc.  Could it be that he's really a Democrat?  Nah.  Could it be that he's neutralizing these issues so Angelides can't get traction?  Boy howdy! 

And, of course, the Assembly is only too glad to be seen "getting along" with the gov, so everyone wins.  Everyone except Angelides, who has to go out and prove that there's a difference between him and the other guy.  There is, of course, but it's gonna be a hard sell to the know-nothing voters, who tend to only see what's right in front of them.  Once again, you've got to hand it to the Republican strategists.  And, by the way, I'm glad to have the higher minimum wage, and the pro-environment laws, no matter who is governor, I just kinda wish it was a Democratic governor, not a rich guy out to save the other rich guys' bacon and who finds it expedient to sometimes look like a nice guy.

I like the java jive and it likes me...

I dunno...maybe I do drink too much coffee...

She's gone, but I don't worry...

"She" is Sarah, now safely ensconced at UC Berkeley, or "Cal" as they call it up there.  I've been lying low for most of August, trying to have as much time at home as possible. I was originally scheduled to work on the day she was to move (it was a good gig), but the gig canceled, so I was able to be part of the plan.  In fact, I loaded the car.  Every last inch of the Lexus was full.  The pink cloud on top is a seven-foot-long package of pillows made by Albina for the dorm room floor and under-the-loft area.  We left at five in the morning and she was almost fullly settled by six in the evening.  She lucked out with a great roomate, a sweet girl from El Monte.  They've had a full week with no classes to get acclimated to life at Cal.  Best of all, Sarah's cousin Chris lives in Dannville, a short trip by BART.  He's 16 but doesn't yet drive, so he's an expert at negotiating the great Bay Area transit system.

We spent Sunday through Tuesday in Berkeley, and then returned on Friday and stayed until Sunday morning.  Albina and I had a gig in SF, so that worked out well. The break gave Sarah some time to get used  to her life without us, (and ours too) but we also had a chance to say a proper goodbye.

So now we're empty-nesters.  Of course I miss the closeness with my daughter, but we talk several times a day and IM and email.  It's not like twenty years ago when everyone waited for low Sunday rates to call home.  And-she'll be back for Thanksgiving and the December break soon enough, probably too soon for her.  I like the fact that I can reinvent some things about my life now (I'm taking the bus to the office tomorrow), and that Albina and I can be two people together again.

Now - it's time to get back to work, and to my life.

Think I'll see if Sarah's online first.

Don't know what to do...

I'm not really sure about this whole blog thing, and at the same time, I really like the new VOX site that TypePad has launched, and I have a great idea (later, later) for a new-additional-blog to put up in that space.  One thing that bugs me, though - you have to be a VOX member to comment on a VOX site and membership right now is confined to a tightly-controlled beta group of geeks' geeks like Leo and Amber.  Yet, these guys have a big following, and we might want to give, and they may want to read, our feedback.  Isn't that part of the deal with blogging?

But the simultaneous wanting to blog less and more leads to thoughts of indecision and ambivalence.   Ambivalence is to some the most galling of human traits.  I know people - people really close to me - who just can't hang with it.  Ambivavlence is not indecision.  Sometimes things don't just cleave nicely to one side or the other, and that's not always the easiest thing, though it may just be the thing of the moment.  Indecision, to me, is being poised on the cusp of two equally attractive, equally developed, alts, that invite (or demand) a choice.  Sometimes when you're ambivalent, you just haven't made up your mind yet.  It's not that you can't or won't, you just aren't there yet.

Maybe there'll be more here soon, maybe not.  Meanwhile there's this to look at.

Bush on la migra...

Well, at least he comes from Texas, so he did get some of it right, but putting the National Guard on the border?  First off - what National Guard?  Aren't they all in Iraq?  Do they have even the minimal specialized training given to Border Patrol agents, who are the most hapless and most maligned law enforcement group in the country?

And how does W fight off the Minutemen and others on his right flank?  And the guest workers - will they be allowed to join unions?  Will they be covered by minimum wage laws?  Who will represent them in disputes with employers and the various government bureaus that will have to formed to enforce the new structure?

Has anyone thought this through at all?

Geeks and politics

Really like what iPAC is up to, and I agree with most of what they're promoting-limiting DRM; sane copyright laws; rethinking patents, etc.

But...

RE: FireHatch 

As much as Hatch is wrong and Ashdown right on geek issues, I think we need to be wary in the area of single-issue politics. A careful reading of Ashdown's site leads to his wacky position on abortion rights: states should decide for themselves in "female only" elections. This is not only absurd, it's patently unconstitutional-you can't have elections restricted by gender. Ashdown has a similar position on guns, and a very vague position on health care. He's basically a "states rights" kinda guy with a good heart, and a soft spot for business, what used to be called a "country club Republican." I'd like to see a real Democrat running, butthat's just me, and I don't live in Utah. Ashdown calls himself a Democrat, but only because he thinks Dems are "kinder to the poor." Yes, Hatch has to go, but remember that a member of Congress will vote on many issues, not just tech.

It's...just...weird...

...that the New York Times today has a column ("The Gamer") on World of Warcraft.  It's not bad, in fact it's kinda cool; just...odd.

Two sleazeballs from which to choose for the Demo nom for governor.  Amazing and sad that these bazillionaires can't keep the debate on a higher plane.

Where I have been

Out.  Here; there; around.  Gigging.  Rehearsing.  Chained to my desk.  Mostly, for the past week, getting rickfleishman.com/visualmusicservice.com up and live.  Also working on lorisflowers.com for Lori.  Playing with the Monktet, Steve Carr, and others; dealing with the Encino stuff.

Got into an interesting gig for a group called Music For All Seasons.  They send live music to various kinds of institutions-shelters for women and families, hospitals and hospices, etc.- at no cost to the recipient.  The gigs pay, uh, enough, but the real satisfaction, cliche though it may be, is that you're bringing music to people whose entertainment choices are pretty limited.  It's something of a humbling experience, but it's also fun.  These kinds of audiences are so grateful for both the attention and the change in their routine, unlike the somewhat jaded crowd I usually see.

Interesting time to be a dad.  Sarah will be attending UC Berkeley next fall, as it turns out.  She was lucky enough to have to choose from several great schools, but how do you turn down Cal?  Of course, we're as proud as can be; this is no small potatoes as we all know.  The reality of senior year sets in - proms, limosines, hotels, graduation, college in a few months.  It's not for chickens, but I'm glad I've done it.

Since I've posted (I've been busy; OK?) "Rumor Has It" has come and gone-DVD is out today-and "Poseidon" hits the streets on Friday.  "Click" next month.  "Flags Of Our Fathers" due in the fall.

Looking for me

None of the pictures that come up in an "images" Google search on my name are me.