My new kitten, Rory

I have adopted a wonderful stray kitten named Rorschach (after the psychologist, not the Watchmen character); she prefers Rory. As some of you know, Amanda and Brian (my roommates) foster kittens through a rescue organization, the 13th Street Cats. Basically, this involves getting kittens that are trapped or found when they are very young, nursing them, feeding them, getting them fixed, and then finding a home for them (right now we have Macy). I've been on the lookout for a cat to adopt permanently for some time.

I thought that cat would come through our fostering efforts, but Rory found me. One night while I was watching TV with the windows open, I heard a pitiful meowing sound from outside the window. When I went out, this poor emaciated cat was waiting on the porch. After feeding her some treats, she was very friendly, and started rubbing up against me immediately. We took her inside, got her to a healthy weight, and got her fixed. She was a fantastic personality -- both a lapcat and an incredible player/jumper.

I've taken some pictures and shared them on my picasaweb.

My new computer

So, my old computer died. Totally dead. All I had on hand spare was a power supply, and the problem is not that.

So, I bought a new one. And, for the first time, I'm not building myself -- instead, I went with Central Computers in Santa Clara instead. They got me the following with install and burn in for less then $300 over the price of the components at Newegg, which I think is a fantastic deal.

• Core i7 940 (2.93Ghz)
  
• Asus P6T Deluxe OC
  
• eVGA Geforce GTX285 superclocked
  
• 6GB (3x2GB) of DDR3-1600 CL8 Corsair RAM
  
• Intel X25-M 80GB MLC SSD
  
• 750GB Seagate SATA 7200.11 HDD
  
• Antec Nine Hundred Two Black case
  
• PC Power and Cooling 750W Silencer power supply
  
• Sony 22x DVD Burner
  
• Vista Home Premium 64-bit

Should have it by Tuesday. Yay!

The Gun Laws are here

From http://gunowners.org/111anatb.htm

H.R. 45 (Rush): This bill would require a license for handguns and semiautomatics, including those currently possessed. The applicant must be thumbprinted and sign a certification that, effectively, the firearm will not be kept in a place where it would be available for the defense of the gun owner’s family. The applicant must also make available ALL of his psychiatric records, pass an exam, and pay a fee of up to $25. The license may be renewed after five years and may be revoked. Private sales would be outlawed, and reports to the attorney general of all transactions would be required, even when, as the bill allows, the AG determines that a state licensing system is sufficiently draconian to substitute for the federal license. With virtually no exceptions, ALL firearms transactions (involving semiautos, handguns, long guns, etc.) would be subject to a Brady check. In addition, the bill would make it unlawful in nearly all cases to keep any loaded firearm for self-defense. A variety of “crimes by omission” (such as failure to report certain things) would be created. Criminal penalties of up to ten years and almost unlimited regulatory and inspection authority would be established.

The one reason I wavered on voting for Dems is going to be one of the first issues they push? Sadness.

Top 10 TV Shows and why

Tagged by a coworker, I thought I might try a list.

1. Battlestar Galactica. The characters are impressive and just feel real to me. I could imagine knocking a few back with Colonel Tigh or engaging in debate with Apollo. I could never imagine that enjoying a card game with Riker, or fighting a battle with Skywalker. I think the story will end up disappointing in the end, as most TV science fiction is, but I will have enjoyed the fracking ride.

2. The West Wing. This show introduces us to our government without the biases of rah-rah patriotism or sinister government conspiracies. Sure, the show is political, but how can you tell a tale of our government at its highest level and not be partisan? Anyone who is anyone in government is partisan, and you just can't get inside without being that way yourself. The production values on this show are so high that you never feel like you are looking in from the outside.

3. Firefly. Why, oh why, did you have to kill this Fox? I will never like you, no matter how many Houses and 24s you put on. This will serve as my proxy for Joss Whedon's whole business really (Buffy, Dr. Horrible...)

Mal: Do you want to run this ship?
Jayne: Yeah
Mal: Well... you can't.

4. Top Gear. A car show you ask? You aren't even that in to cars! Ah, but this isn't a car show. It's a wacky comedy where three dudes do whatever they want with millions of pounds and get paid for it. Watch any of the races, and I guarantee you'll be hooked.

5. 24. OK, so the later seasons don't live up to the first one, but wow, what a first season. I sat down on a Christmas break from college at 9PM, intending to watch the first few episodes -- and finished the season at 3PM the next day. No other show has captivated me like that.

6. Scrubs. Sure, it's slapstick sometimes, but the show has a message and a plan each episode. Episodes like the one in which Jordan's brother dies and Cox goes through the 5 stages of grief are both hilariously funny and incredibly poignant. There was a rough patch, but I feel the show is back on it's game these season.

7. House. I don't know why, but it is just so damned fantastic, every single time. I know I'm being manipulated so easily, that the show has no realism, shallow characters, and plot holes you can drive BC-303s through, but it just works every time anyway.

8. Stargate. OK, mainly for longevity, but this show entertains me on a budget


9. Babylon 5. A story planned from day one, and it shows. Too bad they couldn't afford actors, set design, or writers, or this could've been much higher on the list.

10. I'm leaving this blank for the inevitable edit where I remember a show I just can't forget.

Your turn... What do you watch? (Television, not movies.)

Talk about close

Alaska Senate Race Separated by 3 Votes With Begich in Lead

3 votes!?

Begich now leads Stevens 125,019 votes to 125,016 votes, according to the Alaska Division of Elections Web site.