Saturday, November 09, 2002 :::
 
Way to go, Poindexter.

Vice Administrator John M. Poindexter, that is. He's the director of a Pentagon-constructed computer system that could sweep through tons of data to check up on Americans. Does this scare anyone else? I would consider this the most direct threat to American's right to privacy in the year 2002: an electronic government watchdog, sorting through 1s and 0s in search of those ever-elusive domestic terrorists. Never mind the disturbing potential- there's terrorism afoot.

Don't let anyone ever tell you that 1984 has come and gone- it's here, right now.

In related news, my "Kafka and Modernism" class has begun reading one of Franz Kafka's novels, "The Trial". The Trial is about a man, named K, who is arrested and charged by the police, yet they don't tell him the nature of the crime. He knows he's innocent, but the very fact that he's being pursued so adamently by the authorities create a nagging sense of doubt and guilt- am I really all that innocent? Is anyone?

If reading isn't your thing, you can also check out Orson Welles' film adaptation of The Trial (same name, same story, different medium). Highly reccomended, eerily reminiscent of current events.

::: posted by Andrewski at 6:11 PM

Wednesday, November 06, 2002 :::
 
Congratulations to Tom Bates for trouncing Mayor Dean in the elections. Who knew that when I spoke to him on Monday, I was speaking to the next mayor of Berkeley? Not I, that's for sure.

The Daily Cal has significant election coverage, so go check that out for the full story. All I have is an odd, out of context quote from one of our Berkeley City Councilmember regarding the defeat of measure P, the height regulation initiative.

"I'm happy Measure P is going down in flames," said Councilmember Miriam Hawley.

Added Hawley, "That's where I saw the leprechaun who tells me to burn things! Burn, baby, burn!"

::: posted by Andrewski at 3:05 PM

Tuesday, November 05, 2002 :::
 
It's election day, and Perch Central is abuzz with activity. I voted today, and received a nifty little sticker that says "I Touched The Future", referring to Alameda County's nifty new touch screen voting process. As to whether the touching of the future was "good touch" or "bad touch" is still yet to be seen. I still have a fondness for the old stickers, though, the ones that simply declared "I voted".

::: posted by Andrewski at 4:19 PM

Monday, November 04, 2002 :::
 
I ran into mayoral candidate Tom Bates today on the street outside my house. I took the opportunity to ask him that question that I thought of a few weeks ago, how would he respond to a vehemently anti-Gay group that wanted to hold a protest in Berkeley. He gave me a satisfactory answer, telling me that he would allow any form of protest, but would try to organize a counter-protest as well. He then proceeded to tell me about his favorable ties with the lesbian and gay community.

I think he assumed I was gay. (For the record, I'm not).

::: posted by Andrewski at 9:53 PM