The economy drags on. I’m very happy to have a job still given the market. As the Federal government keeps pumping money into the economy to keep it afloat (and for some stupid reason giving money to the banks that got us into the sh!t in the first place), I have to admire this simple plan to solve all of the issues at a single go.

Dear Mr. President:

Please find below my suggestion for fixing America ’s economy.

Instead of giving billions of dollars to companies that will squander the money on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, use the following plan.

You can call it the Patriotic Retirement Plan:

There are about 40 million people over 50 in the work force.

Pay them $1 million apiece severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:

1) They MUST retire. Forty million job openings – Unemployment fixed.

2) They MUST buy a new American CAR. Forty million cars ordered – Auto Industry fixed.

3) They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage – Housing Crisis fixed.

4) They MUST buy their own health insurance. – Health Plan for seniors just fixed!!!

It can’t get any easier than that! If more money is needed, have all members of Congress and their constituents pay their taxes… If you think this would work, please tell everyone you know.

If not, please disregard. Then shoot yourself!!!! – 1 job opening

God Bless America.

I don’t think the cutoff age should be 50 years old… Perhaps more like 60. Still, there is something very compelling about the simplicity, and afterwards, if those folks who retired want to start brand new businesses, I’d be all for that, too. More jobs!

Meanwhile, I found this article about a man, Tom Graham, who has walked every single street in San Francisco. I like to walk (and kind of wish I did more of it) but this is a dedication I will simply admire from afar. Where the heck is DeForest (street? avenue? alley?)?

The heat’s hit San Francisco. I don’t like heat, but there it is. Most people hope the weekend ends up hot, or at least warm. I’m hoping this weekend cools off!

Spotted last weekend in Noe Valley along 24th Street. Black with gold detail. The engine was Honda, but I didn’t see the size anywhere (though painted on the block was 1100). The seat said, “BEEF,” which I hope was a favorite food…

One of the cool, cool details was the speedometer. It looks like they use lights to indicate the speed; more lights more speed. Very cool!

The plates were from Connecticut (I believe; CON is what they use there?). Hopefully they’re having a blast riding around the Bay Area!

But I had to say I just met Steven Erikson last night and it was pretty cool to talk to an author I respect. Even if I felt a bit like a fanboy. It happened thus…

The mind and crew of Borderlands Books is opening up a cafe soon and I’ve been excited about it since first hearing about it; even more so now that I live in the neighborhood. I’ve been needing a good cafe to spend time in since my days in Prague and this just seems perfect. They won’t be opening yet (alas!) but yesterday night, in conjunction with this year’s World Fantasy Convention, they opened in order to host a bevy of authors, including Steven Erikson.

For those that do not know, and I admit I didn’t know until about six weeks ago myself, Steven Erikson is the author of a series of fantasy books set around an empire called Malazan. The world was built over a very long period of time with his friend Cameron Esslemont, who also writes books that take place there. (As an aside, I will read his books eventually and will then become a fanboy of his, but not until then). The books are pretty vast in scope, covering a myriad of characters, plot lines, situations and emotions. Honestly, in the five minutes I’m writing this I’m not going to be able to come up with a quick and easy review and that’s not my point. Let’s just say it’s the best fantasy I’ve read in many, many years. For that matter it’s one of the best books I’ve read in a while.

Blah blah blah. I went to the table with Mr. Erikson and Mr. Esslemont and talked with them a bit, asked some questions, got an autograph and moved on in order not to feel like too much of a fanboy. But I was. The only question I forgot to ask but wanted to was if there was, somewhere, a complete map of the world they created. I like maps…

RMCA took a few pictures, bless her, and here’s my two favorites.

Someday, it is my sincere hope to have written something on the scale and scope of the Malazan books and have someone appreciate them the way I appreciate Mr. Erikson and Mr. Esslemont’s work.

The video was shot from where I get my morning coffee almost every day. As a result of that geyser in the middle of the road we got this, which was shot by Courtney from the front of our building. This was after the water receded a bit! The water was coming in all of our doors and even a few places, like a wall window, we never expected it. Courtney also took this picture, which looks out on the intersection of Bay and Powell.

As a result of the water damage and the unsanitary water itself (not to mention the stench) the offices are closed tomorrow. Yay…?

What a day to spend my Mom’s birthday!

Details:

What: Fourth Annual Bury These People in a Cemetery Party
Where: The French Embassy (768 16th Avenue x Fulton in San Francisco)
When: Saturday, October 31st from 8PM until it ends

Now with a Facebook event page.

What: Fourth Annual Bury These People in a Cemetery Party
Where: The French Embassy (768 16th Avenue x Fulton in San Francisco)
When: Saturday, October 31st from 8PM until it ends

More details to follow, along with a proper invitation. I realize the announcement is coming late but here it is; spread the word! All invited! Meanwhile I’ll be working on A) the invitation picture and B) trying to figure out what to wear. Maybe I could make a costume out of corks?

In other news, though, RMCA and I signed the lease for our new place yesterday. I’ve been working on cleaning up and packing my place in preparation for moving. I’ve lived in my current space for 10 years. That’s three times longer than any other single domicile and I’m a little shocked at all the crap I’ve accumulated. I’m going through it and throwing things away. Some stuff will be given away or sold. I’ve been going through my almost 900 books (I’ve read a lot since my last count) and managed to cull a bit over 100 books so far and I’m just about a third of the way through. It’s so hard to let them all go, though…

In cleaning out my desk I’ve found all kinds of scraps of paper. Some of them are friend’s phone numbers, quick ideas or lists, but some are quotes. This is one I particularly liked. “Democracy is four wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch…”

I will try to post more in the near future. They just probably won’t very long or deep. I will at least try to make them interesting.