Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in tweakoncoffee's LiveJournal:

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Thursday, June 22nd, 2006
12:57 pm	Global Warming Colloquium Last night I went to a global warming colloquium at Hamline U. in St. Paul sponsored by their Center for Global Environmental Education. Will Steger (the polar explorer), Chris Coleman (the mayor of St. Paul), and two others spoke. http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/calendar_detail.cfm?eventID=2562 It was a good meeting. Despite the great challenge ahead for the human species to confront and change our behaviors that lead to global warming, I think we're up to it. But it is urgent! The speakers stressed that we have to make drastic changes in the next 10 years and reduce our production of carbon dioxide by 80% by 2050. This is based on Representative Henry Waxman's newly introduced Safe Climate Act. http://www.henrywaxman.house.gov/waxman/safeclimate/ Current Mood: optimistic Current Music: No music...World Cup Group F (Comment on this)
Tuesday, February 21st, 2006
2:22 pm	Supreme Court allows church's use of tea... I have an entry regarding this issue in December 2004. It is good to see that SCOTUS is protecting the religious rights of this group. http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/13924884.htm Court allows church's hallucinogenic tea GINA HOLLAND Associated Press WASHINGTON - A small branch of a South American religious sect may use hallucinogenic tea as part of a ritual intended to connect with God, a unanimous Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. In its first religious freedom decision under Chief Justice John Roberts, the court said the government cannot hinder religious practices without proof of a "compelling" need to do so. "This is a very important decision for minority religious freedom in this country," said lawyer John Boyd, who represents about 130 U.S. members of O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal who live in New Mexico, California and Colorado. The tea, which contains an illegal drug known as DMT, is considered sacred to members of the sect, which has a blend of Christian beliefs and South American traditions. Members believe they can understand God only by drinking the tea, which is consumed twice a month at four-hour ceremonies. A trial judge found the government's evidence that the drug is harmful was equal in weight to information provided by the sect that said its method of use in tea is not. Roberts, in writing the opinion for the court, said the government had failed to prove that federal drug laws should outweigh the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which Congress passed in 1993 to prohibit burdening a person's exercise of religion. The Bush administration had argued that the drug in the tea not only violates a federal narcotics law but a treaty in which the United States promised to block the importation of drugs including dimethyltryptamine, also known as DMT. Religious groups of various faiths, along with civil liberties organizations, filed friend-of-the-court briefs supporting the sect. "This is just one step in the right direction in the fight for religious liberty," said Jared Leland, legal counsel for The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty in Washington. New Justice Samuel Alito did not take part in the case, which was argued last fall before Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's retirement. Alito was on the bench for the first time on Tuesday. The justices sent the case back to a federal appeals court, which could consider more evidence. Roberts, writing his second opinion since joining the court, said that religious freedom cases can be difficult "but Congress has determined that courts should strike sensible balances." The case is Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao Do Vegetal, 04-1084. (Comment on this)
Tuesday, January 17th, 2006
9:54 am	Greg Behrendt!!!!!! I watched comedian Greg Behrendt on Comedy Central last night, and busted my ass laughing! He is so funny! Has anyone seen him live or watch the show? I loved his take on being an older music fan (Creepy Old Guy!) LOL!!!! Current Mood: amused (Comment on this)
Thursday, January 12th, 2006
10:17 am	24 starts in 3 days! I love the show 24. The first four hours begin on Sunday and Monday. Anybody else around a fan of this show? Current Music: NPR: Alito hearings (Comment on this)
Saturday, October 8th, 2005
8:25 pm	Les Claypool and Sleepytime Gorilla Museum I went to the Quest last night in Minneapolis to catch Les Claypool. It was a great evening. I had never heard of the opening act, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, but I found them to be very interesting. I don't even want to try to describe them. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Thursday, July 14th, 2005
12:03 am	Jon Stewart... This evening, Jon had on Bernard Goldberg, the author of 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America: (and Al Franken is #37). Jon just toasted this guy, while he gave Bernard plenty of chances to discuss the relevancy of his tome. Somehow, Jimmy Carter is #6. I can't put myself into a reality tunnel which would put good ol' Jimmy Carter on a list of people screwing up America. So, this book is bound to be a paperweight and a waste of trees, imho. Current Mood: happy (Comment on this)
Wednesday, April 27th, 2005
9:41 am	Fiamma Fumana I just saw this great band from Italy, Fiamma Fumana, Friday night at the Cedar Cultural Center. It was my second time. I had lots of family and friends go with. It is northern Italian traditional music mixed with electronica. It is very dancy and high energy! I had a blast! If you have a chance to see them (they told me they are heading towards the West Coast in July and August), go! They are excellent!!!! Current Mood: cheerful (Comment on this)
Thursday, March 3rd, 2005
11:20 am	Glad to be friends... Last night, my ex called me. She said, "Today is our anniversary." "Our anniversary, what do you mean?" "The judge signed off on our divorce papers last March 2nd." "Oh yeah, that's right." We laughed about it. I'm so glad she and I are still great friends! Current Mood: happy (Comment on this)
Monday, February 7th, 2005
11:44 am	Unemployment... The reference I made on December 9 was in reference to being put on an unpaid leave of absence from the company for which I work. It was not because I was a poor performer (I am a solid performer). On top of that, the company has recently gone through some major changes. Now, so am I. I have not been unemployed for who knows how long. I have always been in school (full-time) or been working. My sense of self in this state is pretty odd. I am trying to come to grasp with it. I have plenty of talents, energy, intelligence, and drive, and I will find the right way to apply all that. But, strategizing to what direction or directions I should apply that is not a simple procedure, as I have been through so many changes in my life in the last couple of years. I am not the same person now as I was when I started with this company six years ago. I have a resume out there and am in the process of working on others, but it is still not the same as being immersed in work with which I am already familiar. It is very demanding and an ambiguous process right now. Has anyone been in this situation? How did you see your way to a better position and circumstance? Thanks for any advice you can give. Current Mood: drained Current Music: Music? I'm listening to NPR. (Comment on this)
Saturday, January 22nd, 2005
11:02 am	Snow, snow, wonderful snow!!!! We got five inches of snow last night!!! This was the first significant snow of the season. It was not much fun to drive on it last night (it took three times as long as normal) and we had a crazy speeding driver almost hit us after spinning out going 55 miles an hour on the snowy freeway. Since then we have had a cozy time staying warm inside. Today is great! We don't plan to go anywhere during the day, and my only major task is to shovel the sidewalk and steps. It looks so great outside! These are the kind of days that make me so happy to live here. Current Mood: happy (Comment on this)
Friday, January 14th, 2005
9:46 am	24 I love the Fox show 24! In the spring of 2003, I rented the first season and fell absolutely in love with the show. I lived by myself for the summer of 2003, and because that had set the bar so high for me for television, I didn't own a TV for most of the summer. I would watch Sopranos with my friends over their home, but that was it. I spent most of that summer busy with chess, school, and listening to music. When I purchased another TV, I rented Season Two. That was even more adrenaline-filled than the first season, and the story line was just as convoluted. Anyways, I'm watching Season Four with my fiance, and the first four hours have been incredible! Jack is no longer working for CTU, but of course is needed because he is just so damn perceptive and innovative in dealing with crisis! Does any one else watch this? Current Mood: chipper (Comment on this)
Tuesday, January 4th, 2005
9:09 am	Busy three weeks... We moved from Phoenix to St. Paul in the last three weeks, barely got settled in, and then traveled to Ohio to visit family. I am so glad to be land-bound for a while!!! Our stress level has been higher, especially since my fiance is new to the Midwest. On some days she's okay, while on colder days her mood has gone sour. I think I'm doing a good job helping her to adjust. (She tells me that I am.) She has been meeting some of my friends here, which I think will help her connect to this place more quickly. I am glad to have a high-speed Internet connection for the first time. Over the weekend I downloaded the Phil Lesh and Friends show from December 17. I listened to a few songs from the first set. It's not as good as being there, but it is nice to be able to get some music and feel connected to it while waiting for some live shows here. Current Mood: hopeful (Comment on this)
Thursday, December 9th, 2004
1:11 pm	Ends as beginnings... I'm at a point where something appears to be ending for me. I'm distraught, surprised, and stressed out about it. But I know when one (or two) door closes, something else is usually waiting... Current Mood: confused (Comment on this)
Tuesday, December 7th, 2004
2:39 pm	Reflections on Christmas presents of years past... This morning I was telling my fiance a story about a Christmas in my early 20's and comparing it to now. Last Christmas, her sister bought me the Grateful Dead's Closing of Winterland CD, and her mom just got me a Jerry Garcia tie and a tie-dye T-shirt. All of these were very cool gifts in acknowledgment of my love of their music, etc. However, I think it was the Christmas around my 21st birthday, I asked my mom for the collected poems of Allen Ginsburg. She told me no, because he is gay. (She was utilizing her theory of purchase as condoning.) This memory is a disappointing one. Current Mood: tired (Comment on this)
Monday, December 6th, 2004
11:56 pm	Winding down for the night I am laying in bed relaxing after a good evening. I had a happy hour with a few of my fiance's co-workers, followed by playing two final chess games with one of my friend's daughters. She's preparing for a big scholastic tournament in Florida this coming weekend. I played an inferior opening in the Caro-Kann on purpose, in order to help her capitalize on the poor fourth move. She played it pretty well and did manage to keep me on the edge for the first 2/3 of the game. If she plays like this this weekend, she should do well. Here's the beginning for anyone who is interested: 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 In the second game, I played Black in the French Defense, to give her some practice against that opening, which is likely to be played by a few of the scholastic players. This is not my opening of choice as Black, but it is a solid one. She managed to beat me in that. At home, I opened two early Christmas gifts from my mother-in-law. I was ecstatic when one gift was a Jerry Garcia tie, and the other was a tie-dye Grateful Dead shirt. I called her up and told her that these were awesome presents! She knew I loved the Grateful Dead, but this year I really started to embrace that part of myself again! Current Mood: ecstatic (8 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, December 4th, 2004
3:32 pm	Short talk with a barista I'm glad that my fiance has been hard of hearing as of late. I asked her to get me a half-caf grande gingerbread latte, but all she heard was "half-caf." She brought me black coffee (which is my usual drink). I went back out to get the coffee I wanted. I asked the barista how his day was going, and he said great. He works at the second happiest place in the world. I asked him what's the first, and he said Disneyland. ("Oh yeah, I had heard that before," I said to myself.) I told him I'd never been to Disneyland, but I've been to quite a few Grateful Dead concerts, and those are really happy places. He smiled in recognition. We had a short, but interesting conversation on the changes in the world since Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a White person. He remembers desegration beginning, the Kent State shootings, Janis Joplin, etc. He spoke about so much change that has happened in his lifetime. We then spoke on current matters (the Iraq War, Bush). This seems like this will also be a time of much change in our planet's history, and we both hoped that we would get through this to a better place. Current Mood: optimistic (Comment on this)
Thursday, December 2nd, 2004
12:54 pm	An article on freedom of religion and war on some drugs http://www.freep.com/news/nw/tea2e_20041202.htm Court blocks church from using hallucinogenic tea December 2, 2004 WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration won a Supreme Court stay Wednesday that blocks a New Mexico church from using hallucinogenic tea the government contends is illegal and potentially dangerous. The government has been in a long-running legal fight with Brazil-based O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal over hoasca tea, brewed from plants found in the Amazon River Basin. The tea contains DMT, a controlled substance. The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver found that the church probably has a religious-freedom right to use the tea. The administration plans to appeal but wanted the church barred from using the tea in the meantime. Justice Stephen Breyer, acting on behalf of the full court, granted a temporary stay to give both sides time to file more arguments with the circuit court. The church's leader had sued after federal agents raided his office in Santa Fe in 1999 and seized 30 gallons of the tea. By the Associated Press (Comment on this)
9:19 am	Drumming on the eve of reinauguration http://www.livejournal.com/community/angry_hippy/357036.html (Comment on this)
9:03 am	On Yes-men and Yes-women in politics... I was listening to Air America's Unfiltered Show on the way into work this morning. Jeffrey Fogel, Legal Director with the Center for Constitutional Rights was being interviewed. I caught but a small part of the entire episode, but they were talking about Bush's attorney general nominee, Alberto Gonzalez. Like many of the decisions that the current administration seems to be making, they do not seem to be well-informed by enough points of view. Rather, he has surrounded himself with individuals who support his actions. I think this is a dangerous precedent, regardless of who is in office. I spoke about this principle during the Thanksgiving break with some family members. Leadership needs honest people who will call you on your mistakes and criticize you when you need it. Current Mood: discontent (Comment on this)
Wednesday, December 1st, 2004
1:02 am	My last night at my chess club in Phoenix I just got home from my last night of chess at the Chess Emporium in Phoenix. In less than two weeks, I'll be moving with my family back to Minnesota (moving back for me, moving for them.) I've been in Phoenix most of this year, and it has been an extremely busy year. One of my favorite activities is playing in a weekly event every Tuesday night. I played every month from February to November, with a month break in the middle of the summer when my chess mojo was escaping me. Anyways, I got better throughout the year, and with a few lousy exceptions, most of my games were pretty well played. I liked the camaraderie of the other players (we had a fiery political debate in October and tonight the last two players had a lively debate about who was winning the game at a certain point in time. It's quite amusing how heated people can get.) I had a good month, scoring 2.5 points out of 5, so I won a few bucks for tying for first in my ratings class (I'm currently USCF 1365). I finished tonight with a draw. I was happy with that. I used the store credit to get Jeremy Silman's "The Amateur's Mind." I brought some chocolate chip cookies to the club (store-bought, as I'm not usually prone to making desserts.) I was a bit sad as this was my last night. I went outside after my game and called my fiance. I felt that little bit of sadness, knowing that I won't have a game here again. I asked a couple of the club regulars to sign my book as a remembrance. I'm going to tape tonight's game in there, too. Chess is my artform. I'm developing in my talent for it. I would like to be a Grandmaster someday. It takes at least 10 years of study to master (that's the same for other endeavors). I've been playing and studying seriously for almost three. I feel parts of my game are definitely clicking. A couple of weeks ago I traded away a Rook for my opponent's Knight to keep up my initiative. That felt good making that intuitive move that was just asking to be played. Current Mood: sad (Comment on this)