(works with or without the www) and taken it online today. My de rigueur, nom de guerre site is fronted by a new photoblog, "Dan Danz Daguerreotypes". There is still some 'tweeking' to do, but I expect I'll soon be purveying "snake oil" sentiment along with the pictorials.
Most of the pictures associated with this site were hosted, until recently on my old (Consolidated Communications) dial-up, ISP account. I've closed that account and those links are now dead. I moved all the content from the Consolidated servers to the SpliceHost servers which host Dan-Danz.net but Pitas provides no way to edit archived pages so pictures on archived pages are effectively gone.
Revenge of the Frist
Sunday, May 22, 2005
01:35 p.m.
I just signed MoveOn PAC's emergency petition to stop the "nuclear option" the far right wing's plan to seize absolute power to stack our courts -– and I hope you will sign too.
Click the title above to sign the petition yourself.
Here is the personal note I attached along with my 'signature'...
In the not too distant past, YOU were able to use this filibuster to block appointments YOU did not favor. Unless you intend a complete usurpation of our democracy, then it is possible you may want to use it again in the future. Please show your constituents (and the world) that you are above 'the politics of the moment'. Keep the filibuster for the minority party of the present AND future.
Workers play hooky to see "Star Wars: Episode III
Friday, May 20, 2005
11:03 a.m.
I did my part, I took off at 3:00 pm yesterday to catch a scheduled 3:50 screening of Episode III. I employed no subterfuge - that is of "The Darkside" - I took vacation time!
Can't say I was too impressed but it was certainly like they say about fishing - even the worst day is better than the best day at work.
The effects were mostly well done - loved that the space above Coruscant was full of ships in the opening battle scene. I also loved the (all too brief) glimpses of the Wookie home world! Maybe we'll see more of that in the TV series?
My favorite thing about Star Wars has always been the philosophy. I liked this film's emphasis on the consequences of giving in to fear (pertinant to current times*) and I liked the zen like irony of the ability to transcend death spontaneously coming to the Jedi while it eluded the Sith who sought it!
I thought Anakin turned much too quickly to "The Darkside" - "Oh, that's all I need to do to save Padme's life, um...OK!". Although, it sure explains why Vader always thought it would be so easy to turn Luke in Eps. IV, V & VI!
George, I'm sorry, I'm sure it was supposed to be homage, but the whole Vader/Frankenstien parallel (It's alive, It's alive, kept running through my head) and (by now) cliched, realization that things have gone seriously wrong, "Noooooo..." line are laughable!
*I also enjoyed these 'pertinent to the times' lines:
Padme Amidala: "This is how liberty dies. With thunderous applause."
Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader: "If you're not with me, you're my enemy."
So much for first impressions - maybe I'll have more on further reflection and/or with subsequent viewings.
Cydney Adams
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
04:12 p.m.
It can't pass away, something you love.
It's part of you; it clings, like the
lingering odor of smoke in your shirt
after a day's brush burning.
People you love are that way, too.
They lurk in the shadows around your eyelids,
phantoms of every current opera,
their voices not even whispered, but always
more than heard; something rather listened for,
like noon whistles, or the crickets
who signal quitting time.
You are one of those, one of mine;
I'll never see sunrise but I'll have your light,
never stack my tools but in your shadow.
Where I go you will go.
And it's good to have your company.
– Cydney
27 Sept. 1984
Cydney W. “Cyd” Adams
Funeral services for Cydney W. “Cyd” Adams of Nacogdoches will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 19, 2005, at the Crawford-Crim-Bryan Funeral Chapel with Dr. J.T. Ramsey officiating. Burial will follow at Harmony Hill Cemetery in Rusk County near Tatum.
Cyd was born November 27, 1949, to W.T. and Mildred Adams, and he passed away May 15, 2005, in Nacogdoches.
Cyd was a professor of English and literature at Stephen F. Austin State University since 1974, and he was published author of several nationally and internationally acclaimed literary works. Recognized as “Poet Laureate” of Deep East Texas in 2001, his works are found in many libraries nationwide and are on permanent display at Oxford University in England.
To be or not to be...
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
01:13 p.m.
For the record:
Laying in bed, day after day.
Fed through a tube.
Breath pumped in.
Is no life for me!
I want to move about!
I LOVE to eat!
If I can't draw my own breath, I'm done!
I'll take quality over quantity.
More days for the sake of more days is not for me!
Letterman Salutes Carson
Tuesday, February 1, 2005
04:01 p.m.
Some of my favorite "Late Show(s) with David Letterman" are the ones borne out of adversity. Dave's 1st night back after bypass surgery and his first show following the 9/11 attacks. Last night's first new show following Johnny Carson's death was no exception. It started with a monologue in which all of the material was written by Carson and ended with "Here's that Rainy Day" performed by Doc Severinson, Tommy Newsome and Ed Shaughnessy of the Tonight Show Orchestra. In between Dave engaged in personal reminiscences and spoke at length with Carson/Letterman producer and World Wide Pants west coast President, Peter Lassally.
More painful than "Manos"
Sunday, January 30, 2005
12:54 a.m.
Ahh, the halcyon days of undergrad video production lab!
Someone please make it STOP!
Condi's Promotion
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
10:12 p.m.
Truth has become "Worse Than Fiction"
Thursday, January 20, 2005
10:33 p.m.
M. L. King Jr. & Reinhold Niebuhr
Monday, January 17, 2005
12:16 p.m.
Being the M. L. King Jr. Holiday, our paper this morning published an excerpt of Dr. King's "Letter from the Birmingham Jail", which includes the following...
"History is the long and tragic story of the fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily. Individuals may see the moral light and give up their unjust posture; but as Reinhold Niebuhr has reminded us, groups are more immoral than individuals."
The mention of Reinhold Niebuhr set me on a search for more information and perhaps the quote Dr. King referred to. I found a brief bio and a page full of quotes, some of which I like very much, some not so much, but most I found to be thought provoking!
Angelina County (Texas) storm!
Thursday, January 13, 2005
12:23 p.m.
Severe thunderstorm winds hit the school where I work last night. I've been out all morning taking pictures of the damage. Hundreds of limbs are down, dozens of trees have had their tops blown out and as many as a dozen trees were uprooted. Several power poles went down along with many power/communication lines.
Many car windows were broken, probably as a result of flying debris. Only two buildings sustained damage, one had a few broken windows but one residential building had a wall blown in.
The only injuries I've heard about were minor: a resident was hit in the head by a falling picture frame resulting in just a scratch and an employee received some abrasions while trying to close a door against the winds, that door was in the wall that blew in!
The 'official' story from the TV station we share this location with attributes the damage to a "microburst". I'm no expert, but we have trees blown in various directions, leading me to believe the winds were not all straight line.
Tsunami relief
Wednesday, January 5, 2005
11:43 a.m.
I've donated to tsunami relief.
I'm not posting this to brag about my generosity but in the hopes that folks around the world will see that individual Americans can be more interested in helping than hurting. The U.S. government spends about $400 billion a year on defense and have currently pledged less than $400 million to tsunami relief. That's more than 1000 times more for making war than for helping our neighbors on this planet whose lives have been devestated.
Defense spending amounts to 17.5% of the total federal budget. My donation amounts to about 20% of the total amount of MY taxes that go to defense. I wish I could do more and maybe, before this is all done, I will. Still I think giving 5 times as much to making war as to relieving suffering is far better than 1000 times. I just think folks around the world should know that Americans can be better citizens of the world than our govenment's actions may lead them to believe.
It's like deja vu all over again
Saturday, December 25, 2004
04:48 p.m.
As the end of high school approached, I set about seeking a date to the prom. My first choice wanted some time to think it over and later told me she had a prior family committment that would keep her from attending the prom at all.
When prom night finally arrived, you guessed it, she was there with someone else. At the time, I assumed she had just lied to avoid an outright NO! There was no doubt, I was passed over, either way. Later, I wondered if her plans had actually changed and she assumed since her original rebuff, I had asked someone else? The fact remains, I was snubbed never-the-less. That was 36 years ago last spring and by now I'm sure I'll never know the truth.
I'm feeling similarly passed over today, but I'm not assuming anything. I'll wait patiently and hope eventually the truth will be told.
..the better angels of our nature!
Wednesday, November 3, 2004
04:55 p.m.
In early 1861, recently elected Abraham Lincoln assumed the reins of a gravely divided country. Here are the concluding words of his 1st inaugural address...
"We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature."
I think it's worth remembering these words in these divisive times.
