Wow!

I'm not sure if I'm the first to make this observation, but Nick Offerman (Ron Swanson on Parks & Rec) has certainly got his shit together over the past 8 years. The man cleans up nicely.

Hotcha! Hank

My 2011 Oscar Picks

BEST FILM: The Social Network
BEST DIRECTOR: David Fincher, The Social Network
BEST ACTOR: Colin Firth, The King's Speech
BEST ACTRESS: Natalie Portman, Black Swan
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Christian Bale, The Fighter
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:Melissa Leo, The Fighter
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Christopher Nolan, Inception
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network
BEST FOREIGN FILM: Biutiful [Mexico]
BEST DOCUMENTARY: Inside Job
BEST ANIMATED FILM: Toy Story 3
BEST SCORE: The Social Network [Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross]
BEST SONG: "I'll Rise", 127 Hours [Rahman, Dido, Armstrong]
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER: Matthew Libatique, Black Swan
BEST COSTUME DESIGN: Colleen Atwood, Alice In Wonderland

Well, I was 10 of 15. Not great, not horrible.

Hotcha! Hank

Something 4 The Weekend # 195

Utah Phillips: We Have Fed You All A Thousand Years: "Solidarity Forever" [mp3]

Let's be clear - the shit going down here in Madison and Wisconsin has less to do with balancing the state's budget, and more to do with busting some of the biggest unions in this state (and several other states) for political reasons - namely, to cripple, if not outright destroy, some of the biggest campaign contributors to the Democratic Party and it's candidates, nevermind that if these unions are weakened or "destroyed", the individuals who belong to these unions will undoubtedly continue to contribute and vote Democrat.

I think it's important to remember that historically unions have sided mostly with Democrats, because it illustrates a fundamental truth (as I see it) about the two American political parties - the Democrats are more representative to the working class, while Republicans are more representative to the ruling class. And I think the heavy-handed and disdainful way Governor Scott Walker has handled this whole situation further illustrates just how little he and his party care about the lower and middle class.

Setting aside the parts of Walker's bill pertaining to unions' collective bargaining rights, did you know there is also a provision that would allow publicly-held utilities such as Madison Gas & Electric to be sold to private entities using no-bid contracts? Did you know that the billionaire Koch brothers would then be able to purchase MG&E, as they would like to do?

The rich get richer, protect their own, and fuck the rest of us. That's the Republican way, and it's dismaying that so many Republicans and Tea Partiers, who are not rich, continue to support those who would fuck them too.

Hotcha! Hank

Tuesday's Fortune: 22 February 2011

MEAL: 8 Roast Pork Egg Rolls + 1 Sticky Bun = $13.35 + $1.65 tip

Hotcha! Hank

Something 4 The Weekend # 194

Billy Bragg: Between The Wars EP: "Which Side Are You On?" [mp3]

Over the past couple of days more and more protesters (40k of them today by some accounts) have converged on the capitol building here in Madison to fight back against Governor Scott Walker's proposed budget legislation that, among other things, would eliminate state workers' rights to collectively bargain, which is one of the most fundamental reasons unions exist at all.

The governor is trying to rein in a reported $3 billion dollar state budget deficit, and he was elected, after all, to do something about it. I mean, that's essentially why every politician is elected, right? To take care of the budget. Taxing and spending. Or not spending. One cannot fault governor Walker for trying to do what he was elected to do.

The main problem, of course, is that Walker's proposed legislation is extreme, especially in a state with a proud history of unions. The other problem is the way he's attempted to railroad this thing through the state legislature. If the 14 Democrats hadn't bailed to Illinois, this whole shebang would have gone from the initial proposal to law in 5 days. In regards to that, State Senator Fred Risser is right when he says one of the main reasons for the Democrat's stall tactics is to allow more time for a better discussion of the issue, so that the people of Wisconsin are fully aware of exactly what's going on. In other words, the Democrats want the message to sink in that the governor is being a dick. Whatever.

The most interesting aspect of all this, to me, is that the police, fire, and EMT unions are exempt from Walker's legislation. Which side of the fight will the cops take? If these protests here in Madison continue to grow and intensify, will the cops use heavy hands to keep the peace? Or will they show solidarity with their union brothers and sisters?

Speaking of sisters, some are suggesting that there is perhaps an underlying misogyny at work in "all this". The teacher's union, WEAC, is the biggest union affected by "all this", and approximately 70% of all public school teachers are women. I would never suggest such a thing, but it's an interesting aspect of "all this" to consider. I believe there's a cognitive dissonance in the minds of some, who bitch in general, unfounded terms, about the sorry state of our public schools, but who also bitch about their taxes being too high and the idea that teachers are overpaid.

"They only work, like, 8 months a year!"

I'm on the union's side, Mr. Bragg, always and forever. I'm a working man. Even in an office, I fly the flannel.

Hotcha! Hank

Tuesday's Fortune: 15 February 2011

MEAL: 2 Roast Pork Egg Rolls + 1 small order Beef & Garlic = $6.45 + $1.55 tip

Hotcha! Hank

Something 4 The Weekend # 193

AC/DC: Highway To Hell: "If You Want Blood (You've Got It)" [mp3]

I played high school football at a "football factory", and one of our traditions every season, no matter if it was freshman, JV, or varsity football, was for all the players to pitch in $10 towards the best stereo we could get, because a high school football lockerroom simply didn't function without insanely loud music, especially pre-game. At the end of the season (as often as not we were state champs back then) we'd raffle off the system, and get beyond blitzed for a job well done.

And yes, we had our pre-game mix tape. This song was my contribution. Blood is an integral part of football. As we often chanted on the bus heading to away games, "blood makes the grass grow", which we'd be chanting even louder on the ride home after every inevitable win.

Anyways, last Sunday our beloved Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XLV, and surely this sounds cocky, but their victory seemed certain the moment they grabbed that 6th and last seed in the NFC playoffs.

Congrats to the Packers and their faithful, and thank-you Jacobson Bros Deli for the bitchin' Kielbasa. I'd like to offer the Packers our old Grafton Blackhawks motto and most popular bumpersticker - GREEN BAY FOOTBALL - WE DON'T REBUILD, WE RELOAD.

Hotcha! Hank

Tuesday's Fortune: 08 February 2011

MEAL: 2 Vegetable Spring Rolls + 1 small order Kung Pao Chicken = $6.65 + $1.35 tip

Hotcha! Hank

Tuesday's Fortune: 1 February 2011

MEAL: 4 Roast Pork Egg Rolls + 1 order (8) Steamed Dumplings = $8.05 + $1.95 tip

Hotcha! Hank