Gearing up to beat Bush

I donated to John Kerry’s campaign. And I’m not even a registered Democrat. Hmm. Anyway, someone needs to beat the pants off Bush, I’m happy to help. John Kerry for President - Contribute Thanks Greg, your contribution of $500.00 has been approved. Thank you very much for your generous contribution to the campaign. Your support helps the campaign build our team against the powerful special interests of George Bush. Together, we can replace their politics of hate and hostility with the politics of possibility and purpose. ...

March 3, 2004 · 1 min · gconnor

Airlines rant

We have usually had OK experiences with Alaska Airlines, but I was quite unimpressed with them this trip, though I guess I am not allowed to complain too loudly when M and I are flying on a Rewards ticket… but “Reward” does not mean “free” The first flight going North was great. I had coupons to upgrade my Rewards ticket to First Class, and both M and I sat in seats *actually* wider than our butts. Only complaint there was that we were too late upgrading to get a meal. The flight going home on Monday was bad. It was packed to the gills because there had been a cancellation a couple hours earlier. No upgrades available. What really made me mad was that some family of four, whose flight had been cancelled, were sitting in OUR seats. They had been given assigned seats but they were all over the place, and you can’t expect a mother and father to be in different rows from their 2-year-old and 8-year-old children.

March 3, 2004 · 3 min · gconnor

American Anthropological Association

Media Release Statement on Marriage and the Family from the American Anthropological Association “The results of more than a century of anthropological research on households, kinship relationships, and families, across cultures and through time, provide no support whatsoever for the view that either civilization or viable social orders depend upon marriage as an exclusively heterosexual institution. Rather, anthropological research supports the conclusion that a vast array of family types, including families built upon same-sex partnerships, can contribute to stable and humane societies. ...

March 2, 2004 · 1 min · gconnor

Damn, strike two

My #2 most wanted internal position is seeming less likely… they responded to me to say “We are keeping you in mind but we’re screening other candidates too.” Not really a no, but not a happy note either. There is one more internal lead I am following up on. If that falls through also, then I am pretty much done with Yahoo I think. I would be really happy if Postini or Brightmail or someone could call me. For now, I will focus on the weekend plans and deal with job hunt on Tuesday.

February 26, 2004 · 1 min · gconnor

Reply received from my Rep

Received reply. It’s good to see the Democratic party take a pretty much united stand against the amendment. Also, I know this is a form letter because I entered the same letter twice (after getting an error message) and then got two copies of the reply :) But it’s excellent to see them responding. Dear Mr. Connor: Thank you for contacting me regarding the Federal Marriage Amendment. I appreciate hearing your views on this matter. ...

February 24, 2004 · 2 min · gconnor

Things to do today

Call my senator (Barbara Boxer) using phone number on www.senate.gov. check. Call my representative (Mike Honda) using phone number on www.house.gov. check. Hello, I am a constituent from Santa Clara, California. I’m calling to say that I strongly oppose the President’s proposed marriage amendment. Can you tell me _______’s position on Defense of Marriage amendment? Thank you.

February 24, 2004 · 1 min · gconnor

The postmaster faq for altavista.com

Suggested text for “THIS DOMAIN IS NOT USED FOR EMAIL” page. All mail for “altavista.com” and some other domains is being bounced with this message: 554 5.1.2 THIS DOMAIN IS NOT USED FOR EMAIL - ANY MAIL FROM THIS DOMAIN WAS FORGED - questions contact postmaster@av.com We still get a number of questions. I am thinking of directing users to this info on a page instead of to “postmaster@av.com”. Q: Why is email to all users at altavista.com (and other domains) bouncing back with a “THIS DOMAIN IS NOT USED FOR EMAIL message?” ...

February 21, 2004 · 9 min · gconnor

Friday: The good, the bad, and the ugly

Not necessarily in that order. Ugly: On call at 5:22 am due to someone abusing the site. After emailing to say that I blocked them, the abuser emailed “Ooops, we’re sorry, didn’t mean anything by it, just for research and all that.” Then while I am letting them sweat and taking my time in replying, bozos call the NOC (in Pasadena, no less, so NOC once removed) and say “Gee, we think we are being blocked, can you check and unblock us? This is really important.” They can suck my left nut and I’ll be halfway to unblocking them at this point. Too bad they are in australia or some other RIPE-allocated backwater, they would need a passport to offer me oral pleasure. ...

February 21, 2004 · 2 min · gconnor

Today sucked, but tomorrow will be better.

Happy Angieday to Angie! I missed you, but it wasn’t anything too terrible. log-munch4 should be almost better by the time you return. Tomorrow is interview #2 for my #1 choice. Friday is my #1 interview for my #2 choice. Strange, I totally forgot to follow up with that lady from tellme.com, I think I said I could go there this week but I don’t remember what day she said. Back still hurts a little, mostly in the morning, but I am back to 100% functional. That is all.

February 18, 2004 · 1 min · gconnor

Angry about something on NPR: ATC

Did anyone hear this Commentary segment on NPR today? I am trying to decide what bugs me about it… Web summary reads: The debate about gay marriage takes center stage in the statehouse – where civil law is formed. But commentator Joe Loconte says religious views of marriage are an essential part of the debate and cannot be divided from the legalities. Loconte says the term “marriage” isn’t obscuring the argument – it’s the heart of the argument. ...

February 17, 2004 · 7 min · gconnor