Late Night Task Force

What is important to me

Tue, 08 May 2012 22:46:47 -0400

My mom often tells me that one of her fondest memories of my childhood was when I would use the bride and groom from her and my dad’s wedding cake and tell her stories using the two characters. I wanted the stories to be dynamic, so I requested that she saw the bride and groom apart so that I could have scenes that didn’t include them both. She said this was when she knew that I would be a great writer someday. I was about 3, so as I told her the stories she would silently and quickly jot them down (I wonder where they are now?) We didn’t have a lot of money, so it was a while before she bought me more characters (like babies, and animals), but I didn’t mind. I would orate one (I imagine exhausting) love story after another. And she loved it. And I loved it, and it was teaching me and helping me express myself and making my mom become so proud of her little boy.

The point is: I am still her little boy, and I am still telling her love stories, and she’s still mentally writing them down because I am sharing my hopes and dreams and she is still being a proud mama who grins every time I use a word she doesn’t know but will look up later. My mom doesn’t want me to ever be too far away from her. There’s been a bit of a struggle since I graduated college where I should move/settle down later in life. Up until a few months ago I would spout off various cities far away and she would come back with something closer. Me: Denver, Seattle, Portland. Her: Atlanta, Savannah, Orlando. And I could see she wasn’t getting it, or at least she wasn’t thinking about the more grim aspects of a future in the South. One day I just had to tell her: “mom, what do you think my life would be like in those states? Maybe in the city I would be okay, but what about when I want to get married, what about when I want to start my family?”

She was quite upset about it, because moms want their children to live fulfilling and happy lives, and how can I do that if my core goals in life are proscribed by my state’s constitution? Up until tonight we came to an agreement. “Maybe Asheville. Maybe.” A nice, progressive, beautiful mountain city that was close but not too close. I’ve fought with her over it, but I secretly hoped that is where I would end up. I hoped that I could make us both our happiest and have Thanksgiving in my cabin-style house and my mom would cook for my children and then we’d go outside and sit on the porch because it was nippy, but not too cold because we have an outdoor fireplace from IKEA. I wanted to be able to be the groom that I used as my most famous character years ago. I’d get married at the Biltmore while the Fall leaves fell. I’d be happy. Is that so scary? So nefarious of a lifestyle? I guess so.

A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage is nothing new, nothing that hasn’t already been written into every Southern constitution, but with every new act like this, my heart sinks.

How could something like this not have an impact on my life in every way? Isn’t it hard enough? Even in the bluest of states there is still a sinking feeling for every same-sex couple when one of them starts a new job, when they attend a parent-teacher conference, when they have a family barbecue in a park. Can we have any happiness? Can we have anything at all?

The tiny death of a dream tonight, I guess I’ll have to have my mom help me rewrite a new love story.

cinemagr.am

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:56:26 -0400

cinemagr.am:

(Taken with http://cinemagr.am)

The Non-Tech Tech Startup

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:14:16 -0400

marksbirch:

It is instructive to look at the trajectory of most startups in this latest so-called bubble. As I look upon the last three years, there have been enormous changes in the tech sector. The one area in particular that has contributed to these changes has been the ubiquity of technology services that make the development of websites and mobile apps easier, faster, and better. Now even a complete tech novice has the tools and resources available to develop a functional and well designed application given some time and a little gumption.

Notice that I did not say money. Amazon EC2 obviated the need for hardware infrastructure. Github accelerated the sharing and reuse of code. The programming languages and development environments are openly available. Frameworks abound that make starting a functional website and ecommerce sites in less than a day. Numerous SaaS applications exist to perform all sorts of support, monitoring and administrative functions. The kicker is that the total cost of all this software and hardware is nearly free.

As a result, many people are jumping into tech startups regardless of backgrounds or experience. Teachers, auto mechanics, florists, anyone essentially has the same opportunity. Even the cost and complexity to outsource has dropped dramatically if hiring local or learning the tools themselves is not viable. Part of what we see as the “bubble” is the dramatic shift of people flowing into the tech sector, reversing the downhill slide over the past decade. With this influx of talent are all sorts of ideas, many of which are going to be similar to existing services. Thus we have seen a significant rise in complaints about copycats and the lack of big ideas.

What this means is that what we envisioned as a tech startup is not so “tech” anymore. In the first dot com wave, starting a tech company required tech chops, lots of programming and hardware resources, and boatloads of cash. All the stereotypes about male-centric, socially limited, nerd factories were not too off base. There were no soirees with fashion icons, party invited from Hollywood celebrities, or rich and famous hobnobbing. Family and friends of techies generally had little idea about technology expect for Microsoft, PC vendors, and TurboTax.

I look at the array of current startups around NYC and realize that there are a lot fewer pure tech-centric startups. Many of the founders are not technical (though they are becoming more tech-savvy). These are startups aiming straight at the heart of every industry, endeavor, and interest. The DNA of these modern tech startups are food crawls, fashion mags, fantasy sports, factory automation and everything else under the sun. Technology is required, but it is certainly not the differentiator. Instead technology is the factory behind the scenes and the show is the product, the model, and the service.

There will still be the classic super tech startups. Things that deal in security, network optimization, scalability, API’s, analytics and the like will continue to be needed to support the growing waves of non-tech tech startups. The mobile front is rapidly changing and complex, so that will also require serious tech chops. Obviously there will also be developers making tools and platforms that make building technology even easier. Building transactional database web applications now as compared to when I was building sites in the late 90’s is easier by at least a factor of 10. That does not even take into account cross-site/cross-application integration.

As the technology becomes even more accessible and easier to plug-and-play into real applications, look for more startups get launched using the paint-by-numbers, app-in-a-box approach. And do not expect the winners to be based on the best tech. It will come down to execution, closing deals, smart user acquisition strategies, and superior service/community. That may sound like heresy to the tech community. Many are dismissive of the non-tech founder set. If we take an honest look towards the ultimate future though, it is not software eating the world. It is really software eating itself, something I will get into more in another post.

inothernews: Catcher Russell Martin rounds the bases after...

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:05:09 -0400

inothernews:

Catcher Russell Martin rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Red Sox. The Yankees beat Boston, 6-2, on a day when the Red Sox celebrated the 100th anniversary of their home field; both teams wore throwback uniforms to mark the occasion. (Photo: Corey Sipkin / The New York Daily News)

littleorphanammo: rapunzel-pond: HOLY SHIT WHEN YOU HOLD DOWN ALT AND CLICK REBLOG HOLY...

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:05:00 -0400

littleorphanammo:

rapunzel-pond:

HOLY SHIT WHEN YOU HOLD DOWN ALT AND CLICK REBLOG

HOLY SHIT„„„„

option on mac. I mean, it’s not like, mindboggling but it’s pretty cool.

A former slave responds to his old master’s request for his return

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 22:50:16 -0400

A former slave responds to his old master’s request for his return:

kateoplis:

“Dayton, Ohio,

August 7, 1865

To My Old Master, Colonel P.H. Anderson, Big Spring, Tennessee

Sir: I got your letter, and was glad to find that you had not forgotten Jourdon, and that you wanted me to come back and live with you again, promising to do better for me than anybody else can. I have often felt uneasy about you. I thought the Yankees would have hung you long before this, for harboring Rebs they found at your house. I suppose they never heard about your going to Colonel Martin’s to kill the Union soldier that was left by his company in their stable. Although you shot at me twice before I left you, I did not want to hear of your being hurt, and am glad you are still living. It would do me good to go back to the dear old home again, and see Miss Mary and Miss Martha and Allen, Esther, Green, and Lee. Give my love to them all, and tell them I hope we will meet in the better world, if not in this. I would have gone back to see you all when I was working in the Nashville Hospital, but one of the neighbors told me that Henry intended to shoot me if he ever got a chance.

I want to know particularly what the good chance is you propose to give me. I am doing tolerably well here. I get twenty-five dollars a month, with victuals and clothing; have a comfortable home for Mandy,—the folks call her Mrs. Anderson,—and the children—Milly, Jane, and Grundy—go to school and are learning well. The teacher says Grundy has a head for a preacher. They go to Sunday school, and Mandy and me attend church regularly. We are kindly treated. Sometimes we overhear others saying, “Them colored people were slaves” down in Tennessee. The children feel hurt when they hear such remarks; but I tell them it was no disgrace in Tennessee to belong to Colonel Anderson. Many darkeys would have been proud, as I used to be, to call you master. Now if you will write and say what wages you will give me, I will be better able to decide whether it would be to my advantage to move back again.

As to my freedom, which you say I can have, there is nothing to be gained on that score, as I got my free papers in 1864 from the Provost-Marshal-General of the Department of Nashville. Mandy says she would be afraid to go back without some proof that you were disposed to treat us justly and kindly; and we have concluded to test your sincerity by asking you to send us our wages for the time we served you. This will make us forget and forgive old scores, and rely on your justice and friendship in the future. I served you faithfully for thirty-two years, and Mandy twenty years. At twenty-five dollars a month for me, and two dollars a week for Mandy, our earnings would amount to eleven thousand six hundred and eighty dollars. Add to this the interest for the time our wages have been kept back, and deduct what you paid for our clothing, and three doctor’s visits to me, and pulling a tooth for Mandy, and the balance will show what we are in justice entitled to. Please send the money by Adams’s Express, in care of V. Winters, Esq., Dayton, Ohio. If you fail to pay us for faithful labors in the past, we can have little faith in your promises in the future. We trust the good Maker has opened your eyes to the wrongs which you and your fathers have done to me and my fathers, in making us toil for you for generations without recompense. Here I draw my wages every Saturday night; but in Tennessee there was never any pay-day for the negroes any more than for the horses and cows. Surely there will be a day of reckoning for those who defraud the laborer of his hire.

In answering this letter, please state if there would be any safety for my Milly and Jane, who are now grown up, and both good-looking girls. You know how it was with poor Matilda and Catherine. I would rather stay here and starve—and die, if it come to that—than have my girls brought to shame by the violence and wickedness of their young masters. You will also please state if there has been any schools opened for the colored children in your neighborhood. The great desire of my life now is to give my children an education, and have them form virtuous habits.

Say howdy to George Carter, and thank him for taking the pistol from you when you were shooting at me.

From your old servant,
Jourdon Anderson.”

Cajun Boy: free market speech

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 20:52:35 -0500

Cajun Boy: free market speech:

karion:

In the coming week(s), in light of the latest Rush Limbaugh cry for relevancy (his “slut” stunt), I suspect we are going to hear a shit ton about how liberals don’t like free speech when they disagree with the content. Because advertiser after advertiser has pulled out, and the…

THIS JUST HAPPENED AND GOING TO BLACK OUT AND KILL EVERYTHING

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:04:37 -0500

whiskeyandgoatsmilk:

I’m walking up Columbus ave on my way to meet up with my hairstylist minding my own and looking damn good while enjoying the beautiful weather. I was just thinking how wonderful it is to be in a city like new York during the spring time when ALL OF A SUDDEN I feel a firm open palmed grip on my left ass cheek. I used to work in the area so I turn my head quickly to see if it was an old co worker of mine. But no. Instead I see some fucking bald middle aged FUCK ducking behind me and making a quick turn down the block. AS IF I WOULDNT NOTICE HIM.

For like a half a second I stood there stunned wondering what I should do. Then I lost my god damn shit and started to call after him

“excuse me! Sir!”

He acts like he can’t hear me. He keeps speed walking down the block. So I start after him

“EXCUSE ME SIR.”

Again nothing. By then I break into a full run in my heels screaming “HEY ASSHOLE”

When I reach up to him I pushed his stupid back as hard as I could and he turns around like he didn’t do anything “lady! What the fuck, lady?”

“what the fuck??? You fucking touched me asshole! You fucking touched me!”

He gets all frantic because right next to us is a mother with three kids asking her why this crazy tattooed girl is screaming at the bald man. “Hey lady! I didn’t touch you!” he yells, then he turns back around and starts walking down the street.

Thats when I dropped my bag and with a running start full blown punched him in the back of the head. While screaming some more about not touching strangers.

I just filed a whatever with a cop and they took him away.

IF ANYONE EVER TOCHES YOU EVER AND YOU DON’T WANT THEM TO THEY DO NOT GET AWAY WITH IT. YOU MAKE SURE THAT ASSHOLE GETS WHAT’S COMING TO THEM. SCREAM SPIT AND SCRATCH I DON’T GIVE A FUCK. NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO TOUCH YOU IF YOU DONT WANT THEM TO.

And THAT’S why you never go to the upper west side.

So. Japanese fart scrolls are apparently a thing.

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:31:18 -0500

So. Japanese fart scrolls are apparently a thing.

inothernews: squidkitten: sushiandpie: fuck FUCK crying o...

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 00:38:32 -0500

inothernews:

squidkitten:

sushiandpie:

fuck

FUCK

crying

o hmy gOD

I haven’t laughed this hard in about two weeks. YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG.

Oh yeah! Look at all the cool stuff my sister gave me for my...

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 22:41:00 -0400

Oh yeah! Look at all the cool stuff my sister gave me for my birfday!

I love the papa bubble mix bag!

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:29:06 -0400

I love the papa bubble mix bag!

"But why do mothers have so many abortions in the first place? Jones co-authored a qualitative study..."

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:40:06 -0400

“But why do mothers have so many abortions in the first place? Jones co-authored a qualitative study titled “I Would Want To Give My Child, Like, Everything in the World: How Issues of Motherhood Influence Women Who Have Abortions,” which found that most mothers who abort say they are doing so to protect the kids they already have. As Jones points out, that rationale is tough to demonize politically, especially when you consider that most women making this choice are contending with some combination of low income, unemployment, and a lack of health insurance, or are struggling to raise kids on their own.”

- Most surprising abortion statistic: The majority of women who terminate pregnancies are already mothers. - Slate Magazine

That’s why people tend to focus on the “dirty slut who couldn’t keep her legs shut” angle or they simply accuse the mothers of being irresponsible, making poor choices, and therefore deserving of any economic punishment they (and also their children) receive for carrying a pregnancy to term. The key to so many pro-life arguments is shame and punishment. Shame them for being dumb or loose enough to get pregnant in the first place, then argue if society punishes them with a baby, it’s no less than they deserve. Warped, but that’s how it works.

(via robot-heart-politics)

via britoholic:

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:10:21 -0400

via britoholic:

Tonight’s MDS is bought to you by pink eggs, artichokes,...

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:56:19 -0400

Tonight’s MDS is bought to you by pink eggs, artichokes, and tuna fish!

imageoscillite: Alice In Wonderland Test Footage Walt Disney...

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:02:43 -0400

imageoscillite:

Alice In Wonderland Test Footage

Walt Disney often filmed actors as models for his animated features. What’s surprising is that the audio from this crude footage for “Alice in Wonderland” is the actual audio used in the film. When Ed Wynn was brought back in to the recording studio to re-do his lines, the reading was not as good as the reference tests, so the test audio was used for the film.

I’ve synched up the test and the released film. with black placed where edits were made.

via drawnblog, who adds:

I forgot how much I enjoy Disney’s Alice in Wonderland. It seems every modern adaptation dispenses with the nonsense and silliness in favour of something dark and gritty.

risingtensions: David Bayus

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 23:41:37 -0400

risingtensions:

David Bayus

Scariest comic I've ever read in my life. And it's short. Click.

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 23:33:06 -0400

Scariest comic I've ever read in my life. And it's short. Click.:

whydoihaveablog:

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck. I screamed and shut my laptop. You’re welcome and I’m sorry.

somerset: macguffin: corwood: I could watch them dance all...

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 23:01:38 -0400

somerset:

macguffin:

corwood:

I could watch them dance all day. A scene from the 1943 movie Stormy Weather featuring the Nicholas Brothers.

From Wikipedia:

Fred Astaire once told the brothers that the “Jumpin’ Jive” dance number in Stormy Weather was the greatest movie musical sequence he had ever seen. […]

One of their signature moves was a “no-hands” splits, where they went into the splits and returned to their feet without using their hands. Gregory Hines declared that if their biography was ever filmed, their dance numbers would have to be computer generated because no one could duplicate them. Ballet legend Mikhail Baryshnikov once called them the most amazing dancers he had ever seen in his life.

Yeah but did of any of these people see Black Swan?

procrastinating!

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:48:48 -0400

procrastinating!