tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348067772024-03-07T04:47:27.154-05:00This Blog IsA TypoRandal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-37568296396933674132008-09-11T11:34:00.003-04:002008-09-12T17:29:01.043-04:00THIS BLOG HAS MOVEDIt is now hosted at: <a href="http://randaltheresa.wordpress.com/">http://randaltheresa.wordpress.com</a>. For some reason, Blogspot has started crashing my browser. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but could you please change your links. Head over now for the next installment of my epic journey to Mexico!Randal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-20867030755923475142008-09-08T16:55:00.000-04:002008-09-08T16:59:54.764-04:00Decision 'O8Canada officially declared its own federal election today. Amazingly, with election day on October 14th, it will be over weeks before its American Counterpart. Now that's and election I can get excited about.Randal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-14129679539852652442008-09-07T15:25:00.000-04:002008-09-10T09:49:05.950-04:00Politics (Don't Worry, It'll Be Just This Once)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/obama_mccain_080510_mn.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/obama_mccain_080510_mn.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Despite the general disutility of labels in general, I am prepared to finally find a name for my political inclinations: I am a liberal-leaning independent. As a liberal sympathizer, I generally prefer the democratic platform to the republican. But as an independent, I am part of that vigorously courted class of Americans who is not completely adverse to voting for the candidate it believes will better serve the country, regardless of his political allegiances. If McCain had convinced me that he would be a better president than Obama enough to override my general preference for the democrats, he would have won me over. However, watching both the Democratic and Republican Conventions, McCain and his party has only deepened my conviction that Obama should be the next American President. In fact, I have become so disillusioned of the Republicans over the past couple of weeks that I am writing this post to ask any of you who were planning on putting your check next to the little R in November to reconsider. Here’s why:<br /><br />First of all, it is always a good idea to look seriously at your political alliances. After conversing with friends, I have realized it is not a simple matter to transfer Canadian political ideas into an American election, and that I need to consider my choice carefully. So, I encourage everyone to join me in my political introspection – are you political convictions merely a product of your surroundings, or have you come to them yourself?<br /><br />Second, there are numerous reasons why Obama and the Democrats have appealed to me. For one thing, as I liberal, I like their policies. But I know that any attempt to convince most conservatives to alter their fundamental belief system will be futile. So instead, I will list a few reasons why Obama would be a better president than McCain, independent of their platforms.<br /><br />1. Obama is a true agent of change. As a relative newcomer and Washington outsider, who has routinely disagreed with the Bush administration, he is in a much better position to alter the course of this country in a good way. He has spent his life serving the poor and needy and is more in touch with the rising generation, who has to deal with eight years worth of Bush’s influence. John McCain has attempted to paint himself as a maverick, but can an old white, rich man, entrenched in Washington politics and greatly supportive of Bush’s policies really bring about the change we need? He wants to be independent, but he is running with Bush’s old playbook and has shown that he is unable to truly stand up to his party in choosing a running mate – opting for a hard-core conservative instead of reaching across the isle to Lieberman, his first choice. And don’t try to tell me that Palin will bring about any real change: although most people have forgotten this, she is only running to be vice-president.<br /><br />2. Obama has shown much more integrity than McCain. Throughout this campaign, Obama has shown great personal integrity. Although all politicians stretch the truth and attack their opponents, Obama has played petty politics to a much lesser degree than McCain and the Republicans. For one things, the Republicans are much more consistent and personal in their attacks on Obama; the tone of the entire Republican Convention was more about mocking Obama then on promoting their own party. And their attacks are often unfounded, personal, and demeaning. Mocking his service as a community organizer and then turning around and calling him an elitist, comparing him to Paris Hilton and even sarcastically calling him a self-proclaimed Messiah. Obama’s attacks on McCain, however, have been fewer and more appropriate. They mostly focus on issues, and never stoop to the lows that I’ve seen from the McCain camp. When asked about Palin’s daughter being pregnant, for example, Obama responded that family privacy should be respected; the Republicans don’t seem to agree, since they have took aim at Michelle on many occasions. <br /><br />Also, Obama is more honest than McCain. Both have stretched the truth, but according to Politifact.com, a non-partisan fact-checking website, McCain’s statements are either barely true or outright false twice as often as Obama’s. UPDATE: this issue is becoming more and more troubling for me; it seems that the McCain camp has no problem with continuing its bold-faced lies, even after they have been discredited, since most voters don't take enough time to discover their falsity. <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/09/AR2008090903727.html">See this article.</a><br /><br />3. Obama has shown himself to be very reasonable and intelligent. He has run his campaign amazingly: time and time again, he calmly and rationally deals with each problem and promptly brings the discussion back to the issues. And he has shown himself to be very intelligent and an extremely fast learner, which helps quell some concerns about his lack of experience. Isn’t it about time to get someone into the Whitehouse that will carefully and intelligently deliberate over our problems instead of adopting the “shoot first ask questions later” approach of George W? McCain, like Bush, seems much more prone to hasty and risky choices. The best example of this is how he handled the most important choice of his campaign: choosing a VP. Now, Sarah Palin may turn out to be a good choice, but even so, the way he selected her worries me. I mean, McCain has had months to carefully research and decide upon a running mate (especially while Obama and Hillary were still battling it out), and yet at the very last second he chooses someone he only met once and had barely vetted. To me, this just seems reckless, and is not the way I would like my president to make decisions.<br /><br />4. Even as McCain announces his plans to “reach across the isle,” the Republicans are methodically tearing the country apart. Through Sarah Palin and many of the convention’s other speakers, the GOP have reignited the culture wars. More and more, they are shifting the focus of this election from important issues like the economy and the War to little things that are comparatively less important and yet extremely divisive: abortion, teen pregnancy, and the role of God in the public sphere. They are also actively attempting to pit the rural population against the urban elitists who don’t think Wasilla is “cosmopolitan enough.” (Which is quite ironic, considering that the GOP is filled with rich white men, while Obama grew up on food stamps, and got through school on student loans). A good indication of this division is the fact that after Palin's speech was the largest fundraising day ever - for the Democrats (she really made some people upset). In the end, this country needs to work together, and fostering these kinds of divisions is not the way to do it.<br /><br />5. Obama will be good for America. He is extremely popular internationally, and as president, he will do a lot to restore America’s status in the world and help us make the alliances we need to stay safe and compete in the global economy. Electing Obama will also show the world that we are an intelligent, progressive country that really believes in the equality we so often profess. Imagine the children who grow up under the first black president: what better lesson in civil rights could we give?<br /><br />6. Do we really need more war? OK, this one is more of an ideological complaint, but I really don’t think we should elect someone who is as committed to the war and tied to the military as much as McCain is. And I don’t see the problem with meeting hostile world leaders? Is diplomacy dead? This is not giving in, but trying to resolve problems without killing.<br /><br />In conclusion, I think McCain is national hero and fairly decent guy. I was impressed with his acceptance speech. It is more his party in general who I am opposed to, and I don’t think that he is maverick enough to separate himself to a degree that would win my vote. <br /><br />And that is why I support Barack Obama.<br /><br /><embed FlashVars='videoId=184086' src='http://www.thedailyshow.com/sitewide/video_player/view/default/swf.jhtml' quality='high' bgcolor='#cccccc' width='332' height='316' name='comedy_central_player' align='middle' allowScriptAccess='always' allownetworking='external' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' pluginspage='http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer'></embed>Randal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-61368881220624044532008-09-01T11:54:00.000-04:002008-09-01T12:16:14.423-04:00RADIOHEAD_IN_CON_CERT<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2014/2488559210_871c099f10_o.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2014/2488559210_871c099f10_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><a href="http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/145096-video-radiohead-the-santa-barbara-webcast-updated-to-include-complete-show">Here</a> is a link where you can watch Radiohead's webcast of their tour-closing show in Santa Barbara. I am posting this today because this blog was on hiatus back in May, where Theresa and I, as well as the <a href="http://meldau-cummings.blogspot.com/2008/05/15-step-radiohead-charlotte-nc.html">Cummings</a>, traveled down to North Carolina to catch the show ourselves. To prevent myself from running on like a gushing fanboy, I will just say that the show was easily the best I have seen, and the culmination of my concert-going existence.Randal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-36666535361540695692008-08-28T11:09:00.001-04:002008-08-28T11:15:34.694-04:00DNC 08<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3b/Democratic_National_Convention_2008.svg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3b/Democratic_National_Convention_2008.svg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Watching the Democratic National Convention these last few days, I must say that it is good to see Barack and Hillary finally getting along. It seemed like their prolonged primary battle would never end, and I for one (and Theresa for another, I can safely say) will not miss it. Well, I will miss videos like these...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oW7s8TuvZ8U&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oW7s8TuvZ8U&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jhEPNOusKv4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jhEPNOusKv4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Randal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-66047302222373240062008-08-24T13:57:00.000-04:002008-08-24T14:46:30.459-04:00A Redecorated LifeThis week has been one of designing, or perhaps more properly, redesigning, and I'm not just talking about this blog. For months, Theresa has been sketching and re-sketching a new design for our apartment. But since we have be transient for the last while, her careful plans have had to wait - until now. For those of you who have seen our Charlottesville apartment, you may remember our tattered furniture, most of which was obtained for free. Well, with a lot of Theresa's creativity, we have transformed our hand-me-down furniture into a set of new-looking pieces. And perhaps Theresa's biggest accomplishment was getting me involved in the whole project by allowing me to populate our walls with my musical paraphernalia. All and all, I think we were able to put together a chic living room, and we did it on an extremely small budget. But take a look yourselves (click on the pictures to make them larger).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUcTz4RP81uA1skhbZ0JGmLqSPVzX-ejPdFJgWhNbXlEv2cTQ0h4tt6PMwrEERhiXVrEmYuxozd2rThOVorQlikrHM8iaMW225hXWywm2vW7JcgUV4wM99_1zhTgm53OJeEuD0A/s1600-h/100_1140-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUcTz4RP81uA1skhbZ0JGmLqSPVzX-ejPdFJgWhNbXlEv2cTQ0h4tt6PMwrEERhiXVrEmYuxozd2rThOVorQlikrHM8iaMW225hXWywm2vW7JcgUV4wM99_1zhTgm53OJeEuD0A/s320/100_1140-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238151538782181330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj625ldcsfRHAT0YM9jNbwr7Xo_CY4wvtP3T0ABOfewonryEHQcNaWA0FDIFWsEkSu6LLlkMbIhGQRbqv1PZWWTu_tfehfQh9gUplcbZvsaocHC9nr7RaBerkOr-tGjAcw1cYCr0g/s1600-h/100_1137-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj625ldcsfRHAT0YM9jNbwr7Xo_CY4wvtP3T0ABOfewonryEHQcNaWA0FDIFWsEkSu6LLlkMbIhGQRbqv1PZWWTu_tfehfQh9gUplcbZvsaocHC9nr7RaBerkOr-tGjAcw1cYCr0g/s320/100_1137-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238150583543302114" /></a><br /><br />1. Radiohead Poster, purchased at the North Carolina Radiohead concert we attended in May, displayed in a ramshackle homemade frame.<br />2. Our Ansel Adams print of the Redwoods, to remind us our future Californian home.<br />3. Rubiks Cube: one of the many useless trinkets offered by law firms during on campus interviews, transformed into a picture holder<br />4. DTV - its in the air.<br />5. Fabric curtain hiding our electronic equipment (stereo, DVD player, turntable) inside this dresser-turned-entertainment center (Fabric from IKEA)<br />6. Our Alberta Temple Blanket covering the loveseat that served as Theresa's nemesis during this redecorating (it doesn't match).<br />7. Restored Furniture: I obtained these pieces for free from a neighbor that I helped move. They were tattered, broken and ugly, but with a little paint and some new knobs, Theresa turned them into beautiful, modern pieces.<br />8. Album Covers: these three Wolf Parade album covers by Matt Moroz are my favorite part of the living room.<br />9. Miru - our Superfly Monkey<br />10. Sea Shell from Virginia BeachRandal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-36700532134697443132008-08-24T13:37:00.000-04:002008-08-24T13:56:10.118-04:00Rising 3LEveryone in law school circles knows that a the third year has a reputation as being the easiest. With offers in hand, most students need only to graduate, and therefore do not have the same pressures as either first or second year students do. Which means that this, the beginning of my third year here at UVa, is the perfect time to rededicate myself to blogging. And so, to my faithful readers, welcome back. You'll notice that I've redesigned my webpage, including the title, which represents the one persistent criticism my writing has faced throughout my life. Like Batman, I've embraced my deepest writing fear and displayed it prominently.<br /><br />I will be continuing as I did the first go-around, with some posts about Theresa and I, some about the music I am listening to, and some random musings. I will occasionally post the continuing story of Petey, Daniel Harker and I in Mexico, and in short order, will catch you all up on our summer in California. And if you haven't already, check out the Canada Day quiz below.<br /><br />So stay tuned...Randal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-16014844280629789222008-07-01T12:11:00.001-04:002008-12-10T01:16:09.135-05:00The Second Annual Canada Day Quiz!Here it is – what you have all been waiting for: the second annual “Randal and Theresa Canada Day Quiz!” The game is simple – answer the questions. And we all know you could just look up the answers on the Internet, but because this is a Canada-themed quiz, I trust you will all be polite and honest, and play the game without cheating. The answers will be posted in the comments, so take the quiz, check your answers, and post your score in the comments section (remember – we’re using the honor system). When everyone has participated, we’ll name the winners in two categories: Canadian and Non-Canadian. Prizes will follow…<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Geography</span><br />1. Which of these cities is furthest north? <br />A. Halifax<br />B. Ottawa<br />C. Vancouver<br />D. Winnipeg<br /> <br />2. Which Canadian Province is the setting of “Anne of Green Gables?”<br /><br />3. Which Canadian Cities have or will in the near future host the Olympic games?<br /><br />4. Which Canadian City was named the most livable city in the world by The Economist in 2008?<br /><br />5. The Parliament in which of these Canadian Capitals is pictured here?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwE5i7caW5IysOH3Hh9lu6d4VIV8RIMTLkgB5TIeLPAypjwhWSnjK3glks5xpbcn6jGxwpH_4rYBXMLAdzd1el_KWTyr6syQwAOaY7pTw-I5DuUxe28avn7vbWzpBjWgBpzJK0/s1600-h/Q5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwE5i7caW5IysOH3Hh9lu6d4VIV8RIMTLkgB5TIeLPAypjwhWSnjK3glks5xpbcn6jGxwpH_4rYBXMLAdzd1el_KWTyr6syQwAOaY7pTw-I5DuUxe28avn7vbWzpBjWgBpzJK0/s200/Q5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217904165504187010" /></a><br />A. Edmonton, AB<br />B. Regina, SK<br />C. Victoria, BC<br />D. Whitehorse, YT<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">History and Politics</span><br />6. What is the term for people descended from Canadian aboriginals and European settlers?<br /><br />7. Which of these reasons was most influential in the building of Canada’s first transcontinental Railway?<br />A. To assist in the war effort during the war of 1812 <br />B. To beat the United States in a race to build the first transcontinental railway<br />C. To persuade the people of Brittish Columbia to join the Canadian Confederacy<br />D. To transport Chinese workers to the east<br /><br />8. Which of the following is NOT a registered political party in Canada?<br />A. The Animal Alliance Party<br />B. The Democracy In Action Party<br />C. The Christian Heritage Party<br />D. The Marijuana Party<br />E. The Work Less Party<br /><br />9. During the Conscription Crisis of 1917, what group of Canadians refused to go to war?<br /><br />10. Which Canadian aboriginal tribe famously dwelt in structures like the one pictured?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlawGVG5PqrHwsUQKcnuRhnIVo7pb_PvRqs6ACd6wsMTn-FY5FZHN4QZ0GhzwMTsQWFya0RsGBJzXMM5XDoveOCiJdoSOkjAeHnsRmbPIPOpXBksesQr7taqshfhy2-7VROBM/s1600-h/Q10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlawGVG5PqrHwsUQKcnuRhnIVo7pb_PvRqs6ACd6wsMTn-FY5FZHN4QZ0GhzwMTsQWFya0RsGBJzXMM5XDoveOCiJdoSOkjAeHnsRmbPIPOpXBksesQr7taqshfhy2-7VROBM/s200/Q10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217904170935541154" /></a><br />A. Cree<br />B. Inuit<br />C. Iroquois<br />D. Kwakwaka'wakw<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Sports and Entertainment</span><br />11. What Canadian chanteuse won the most Juno awards (i.e. the Canadian Grammy) in 2008 (1 bonus point for naming all of the categories)?<br /><br />12. What are Canada’s two national sports?<br /><br />13. What is the main focus of CBC radio 3?<br /><br />14. What Canadian Author penned the popular Book, “The Life of Pi?”<br /><br />15. Which Canadian Hockey team made it the furthest in the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs?<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Miscellaneous</span><br />16. Which Canadian company produces the BlackBerry communications device (1 bonus point for naming where it is based)?<br /><br />17. According to the Times Higher Education - QS World University Rankings, which is the best Canadian University?<br /><br />18. For what is the Bay of Fundy famous?<br /><br />19. This is the mascot for what (1 bonus point for giving his name)?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqkX0dS43rgDwi_TQOKqzqdbX5y-BTXU83HZG5VE9O3RoIpneDDmNP-ZLstR_6mvlyPpsKirzn_GSJCrnfSVAEsKR1a8I719umSgYOJkOjzXQsYJ3SwM3El7dD3Gb8UVRY5OU/s1600-h/Q19.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqkX0dS43rgDwi_TQOKqzqdbX5y-BTXU83HZG5VE9O3RoIpneDDmNP-ZLstR_6mvlyPpsKirzn_GSJCrnfSVAEsKR1a8I719umSgYOJkOjzXQsYJ3SwM3El7dD3Gb8UVRY5OU/s200/Q19.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217904175982047858" /></a><br />20. As you might expect, the top two countries of origin for Canadian Immigrants are China and India. Name one of the other birth countries of Canadian immigrants that round out the top 5 (1 bonus point for naming all three).<br /><br />21. Which of these figures is closest to Canada’s population (the other three are the populations of Tokyo, New York State, and the UK)?<br />A. 18.9 million<br />B. 33.3 million<br />C. 34.4 million<br />D. 60.6 million<br /><br />22. Who is on the Canadian $50 bill? <br /><br />23. Which Canadian author was born and raised on St. Urbain Street in the Mile End area of Montreal, Quebec, and wrote The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz? <br />A. Margaret Atwood<br />B. Stephen Leacock<br />C. Saul Bellow<br />D. Mordecai Richler<br /><br />24. In what year was Quebec City founded?<br /><br />25. Which Canadian-born architect built this?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKX87B8SL6DWueTE8GVBq_M4JcZswlRxOS5nKv8X_I4qGTiPut1uwitmfEN6bSm9EtQ8zd5UYhCB-eo8X9g6tcJYIGpg4yET8PIt4Yed-w6TrHkHrnfHq49eoD2bedIOVo1DIV/s1600-h/Q25.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKX87B8SL6DWueTE8GVBq_M4JcZswlRxOS5nKv8X_I4qGTiPut1uwitmfEN6bSm9EtQ8zd5UYhCB-eo8X9g6tcJYIGpg4yET8PIt4Yed-w6TrHkHrnfHq49eoD2bedIOVo1DIV/s200/Q25.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217904182728250546" /></a>Randal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-19658577364490888602008-02-16T10:47:00.000-05:002008-12-10T01:16:09.513-05:00My New Creative Outlet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GMbzNU_LZBKLIsDRlyo5fZLgeK6kzJPRYRmG3uaWcfyizpCnaPHqBEuwxIfAIYWn9K7tOGPceYSu1-zy_OGrJbKK0CaSVq7rMxv0XpIu5e1aaDonWomE1BRdq_7pTn-zZv-5ow/s1600-h/01070005.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GMbzNU_LZBKLIsDRlyo5fZLgeK6kzJPRYRmG3uaWcfyizpCnaPHqBEuwxIfAIYWn9K7tOGPceYSu1-zy_OGrJbKK0CaSVq7rMxv0XpIu5e1aaDonWomE1BRdq_7pTn-zZv-5ow/s200/01070005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167607119074093202" /></a><span style="font-style:italic;">In my farewell post, I mentioned that I am attempting to write a travel story of my trip to Mexico with my roommates a few years ago. Well, here is the first bit that I have wrote. It is a detailed narrative, so it is much longer that a blog post, but I hope you enjoy it. And feel free to leave constructive feedback. So, without further ado...</span><br /><br />If my roommates and I acted on every inclination we ever had to travel to foreign countries, we would have likely visited an honest ¾ of the world by now. I’m sure that at one point or another, Daniel Harker, Pete or I must have said something like, “I hear that Uzbekistan is nice this time of year” at which point we would all enthusiastically plan a trip and then never mention the suggestion again. But one snowy January night the stars aligned and the patron saint of travel smiled on us such that one of our dreams of international adventure lodged itself firmly enough in our frontal lobes to survive until we found ourselves, quite unexpectedly I assure you, loading backpacks into Daniel Harker’s car with tickets to Cancun in hand. That is how our trip to Mexico began.<br /><br />One of the most remarkable aspects of this adventure is the complete lack of planning that went into the whole affair. Actually, that is not completely true: we did a lot of planning, but no genuine plan came from any of it. Hours were spent arguing over every detail of the journey and pouring over a hopelessly outdated map of Mexico like a general positioning his troops for battle. We mapped and re-mapped an epic journey spanning numerous southern Mexican states that would have taken months to complete, even at a furious pace. We have one week.<br /><br />This particular limitation is not, as you may guess, of our own choosing, and explaining its origin gives me a good chance to introduce my cast. Peter Leavitt, the youngest of us three, is the guy who all mothers wish their daughters would marry, which might explain why he is not actually married. He is a psychology student who likes to read books like “The End of Poverty” during Christmas break, but is also a fun party guest who is particularly popular among the fairer sex. Daniel Harker can best be described by listing his five favorite things: secrets, roller coasters, horror movies, dancing, and the beach. A mere three days after we return from Mexico, he is off to Calgary to enter the working world as a computer programmer. As for myself, I have just finished a genetics degree and will shortly attend law school in Virginia (of all places). Thanks to me, our apartment is the only one I know with its own “Philosophy Box,” and I think its fair to say that all three of us thoroughly enjoy pulling out its ideas and throwing them around: an activity that usually results in a sharp disagreement between Daniel Harker and I, who without a single recorded exception, have held exactly opposite views on absolutely everything we have ever discussed. I would probably sooner call the sky red than agree with Daniel Harker that it is blue – not by choice, mind you; it just seems that, even though he is one of my best friends, it is physically impossible for us to reach any sort of consensus. But anyway, almost immediately upon return, I will marry Theresa, my girlfriend of over a year. So, both Daniel Harker and I are about to shift our lives out of neutral, and we are lucky to be able to squeeze in even the short week that we do have in Mexico. And with that impetus, Daniel Harker puts his car and gear and we drive off, the sun setting behind the Garneu Towers.<br /><br />My roommates and I are poor students. And more importantly, we are poor students who know we are poor students. So we travel cheap. Which means we’re not flying out of Edmonton; we’re not even flying out of Calgary. We are flying out of Great Falls, Montana, a good seven-hours away. And with a 9:00 AM fight, we have a full night of driving ahead of us, which wouldn’t be so bad if our car had been the kind of reliable vehicle that the Saturn commercials professed it to be. Instead, we had a car that burned more oil than it did gas: our pit stops weren’t to fill up the gas tank, but to take out one of the twenty-or-so bottles of motor-oil we had in the trunk and empty it into the engine. And to make matters worse, every few miles, Daniel Harker’s car would interrupt our otherwise excited conversation to sputter and cough violently, like an old smoker forced to run a marathon. Each time it did, we would all go silent for a moment, nobody wanting to vocalize our fear that the most backpacking we will do this week would be along the side of Highway 2 in search of a rest stop. Then the car would return to normal and the chatter resumes.<br /><br />But the old girl does admirably, and we soon pull up to the Sweetgrass, Montana boarder crossing. Now, this particular port of entry has somewhat of a reputation among Albertans as the strictest crossings in the province. I can only imagine what the grizzled boarder guards must be thinking as they see us approach at two in the morning, three twenty-three year old boys sputtering up to the line in a car that reeks of oil, pretending their vehicle is not on the verge of collapse. We pull up to the window and are greeted by a clean-shaven port official whose stern demeanor suggests he believes the very notion of American freedom depends on protecting the country from Canadians who have visited a farm within the last fourteen days.<br /><br />“You know your car is burning oil?” No chit-chat, this is an officer of the United States government.<br /><br />“Yes officer.” This man stands directly in the path of our international adventures, and we wish to do nothing to offend him. <br /><br />He drops the issue – however much he may wish to extend his jurisdiction, he’s probably unable to think of anything criminal about driving a piece of junk. “Where are you boys headed for this evening?” <br /><br />“Cancun, Sir.”<br /><br />The officer pauses, as if trying to remember if he had ever heard of a town called Cancun, Montana.<br /><br />“Step outside of the vehicle, please.”<br /><br />We are escorted into the boarder post, where a number of guards are standing around talking about the guns they received when they opened their latest chequing account (or something like that). One of them, whose name must have been Wayne or Dusty or something, came over and asked us a number of questions. After explaining our story we fill out customs declarations and give our cards to Wayne. He tells us that it will take a while to process our case and immediately goes back to rejoin his friends. We sit in that boarder post for over an hour, too nervous to speak above a whisper, while Wayne impresses his co-workers with stories of all the things he has killed with his banking-gun, our customs cards sitting on his desk the whole time. The office is otherwise empty. Finally Wayne remembers us, picks up our customs and comes back to the counter acting as if he had been locked in his office this whole time, carefully weighing the merits and risks of letting us step over that hollowed line that separates America from the stench of Canadian socialism.<br /><br />“Looks like everything checks out,” says Wayne, although we all know that absolutely no checking had been done. We politely thank Wayne and go back out to our car, which we find has been searched without us even realizing it. Those boarder guards sure are sneaky little fellows.<br /><br />We had anticipated a delay at the boarder – Daniel Harker’s brother has many tales of late-night boarder-crossing that have resulted in the prolonged interrogations that can only survive constitutional challenges because they are performed on non-citizens. But thanks to Wayne’s apparent disinterest, we arrive at the Great Falls airport with time enough to check out the famous Great Falls nightlife, if we had so desired. But instead we opt to stay on the straight and narrow – there will be plenty of time for nighttime festivities later.<br /><br />Not wanting to pay for a week of parking, we begin looking for a suitable area nearby where we could give Daniel Harker’s car a well-deserved rest. However, the Great falls airport is in the middle of nowhere, which would probably come as no surprise to anyone who has ever been to an airport, or anyone who has ever been to Montana. I guess we should have looked into this, but I had simply assumed that the Great Falls Airport would be somewhere in the vicinity of Great Falls. Fortunately for us, another vestige of civilization often found in the middle of nowhere is the trusty service station. In this case, our salvation was called the Flying J. The J is a truck stop across the interstate and mile or so from the airport whose large parking lot particularly caught our eyes. We sputter into one of its extra large parking spots and jerk to a stop, grateful for the small miracle that Daniel Harker’s car had just pulled off by completing her journey. That we need to return all the way home in a week isn’t a worry at this point.<br /><br />We go into the J’s convenience store to ask if we could leave the car here for the week. (I would rather leave it here forever, but Daniel Harker might object to my indifference to his transportation needs). The store’s cashier was a burnout with stringy hair and droopy eyelids, either from drugs or from the fact that it was two-thirty in the morning.<br /><br />“Excuse me,” asks Daniel Harker. The burnout looks up. “Would it be ok if we leave our car in the parking lot for a week while we fly from the airport?”<br /><br />The burnout looks a little surprised. Either this was the first time anyone had ever contemplated parking at the J and hiking over to the airport, or else he is only now realizing there is an airport nearby. He shrugs – a gesture I presume signals the affirmative. I imagine the late-night cashier probably doesn’t even have the authority to refill the hot dog warmer, let alone hand out impromptu parking passes, but I just want to get going.<br /><br />We return to the car and prepare for the next leg of our journey. We have each packed a standard size bookbag with only the essentials: a couple of clothing changes, a few toiletries, and swimming suits. We shed our jackets and place them in the trunk, even though we realize very quickly that April in Montana is not t-shirt weather. But we leave them anyways, since there will be no need for coats where we are going; and besides, it’s just a short walk to the terminal. Well, that short walk turned out to be a tad longer than expected.<br /><br />I never would have imagined that our trip to Mexico would include trudging for over a mile of frozen Montana foothills at 3:00 in the morning without any kind of protective clothing. But at least we can see the glowing lights of the Great Falls airport ahead, guiding us like the Moses’ pillar of fire. As my eye remains fixed on the terminal’s florescent lights, my mind’s eye is fixed on its internal heating. Shivering, I will myself to take each step, keeping in mind that at the end of this path is Cancun, with its tropical climate and shimmering beaches.<br /><br />Finally we reach the airport’s glass doors, which not only offer us the warm that we desperately crave, but a view of padded benches that would be perfect for a well-needed sleep (our nocturnal journey finally starting to catch up with us). Pete, reaches for the door and pulls the handle. <br /><br />It doesn’t budge. <br /><br />He pulls again. Nothing. <br /><br />He shakes it. I try the other door without success. The airport is locked! We are shut out in the cold. I can’t believe it. Aren’t all airports open 24 hours a day? I guess Great Falls isn’t the Metropolis I thought it was.<br /><br />The three of us fan out to peer into the large windows for any sign of life. I can’t see a soul. The airport is completely deserted. I look back the way we came, back at the Flying J in the distance. Do we actually have to hike all the way back there? We certainly can’t sit at the airport’s front door for who knows how long before it opens. After a brief discussion, we decide we have no other choice. We might as well go back to our coats and try to get a few hours of sleep in the car. We start back across the parking lot, dejected.<br /><br />But wait – is there someone over there? Yes, there is! Inside the booth at the parking lot’s entrance is a middle-aged and somewhat overweight woman. I haven’t the slightest clue why the airport had decided to man the parking booth all night when the airport itself is clearly disserted. I might be mistaken, but I don’t think many people come out to the middle of nowhere to park in front of a building that is locked up as tight as it would be had asbestos been found in its air ducts… although, I must admit, this is essentially what we did; except, of course, we refused to pay the $8/day to do it.<br /><br />The attendant was very sympathetic to our plight, if a little surprised that anyone would want into the airport at this ungodly hour. She radioed a security guard, and a few minutes, a mustached officer drove up in his pickup and took us to the front door. He pulled out has impressive key ring and let us in the terminal. We might make it to Mexico after all. We thank the guard profusely, and run into the building, marveling at all of its modern amenities as if we had been lost in the woods for years and have just found our way back into the city. Well, I should qualify that last metaphor by specifying that its like we found ourselves back into a Montana homestead, since the walls were filled with antlers and the building’s central decoration is a stuffed cougar growling at us from some boulders set in a man-made waterfall; the escalator passing within inches of his outstretched claws.<br /><br />We navigate safely past the mountain lion and find ourselves a couple of benches long enough for us to grab a quick nap. After the night we had, I think we deserve it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib86Mk8R_t2ODw1OdtiyFaVZRAmOCd_CYaYN-qIGQUGesTrQcqdf8kxUhdiSzZpstddLTdYdStmbYRo1twHAOcDc8Z_YD8hXZgCutaN2NgXR1LAHNx59GJqv7WcKLEt9DWYpfGBA/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib86Mk8R_t2ODw1OdtiyFaVZRAmOCd_CYaYN-qIGQUGesTrQcqdf8kxUhdiSzZpstddLTdYdStmbYRo1twHAOcDc8Z_YD8hXZgCutaN2NgXR1LAHNx59GJqv7WcKLEt9DWYpfGBA/s320/1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5167606122641680498" /></a>Randal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-37344631610204921832008-02-09T12:30:00.000-05:002008-12-10T01:16:09.817-05:00That's That<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOgW0JiPQehDY0ufeqK28J68WjkzlvaH4AXZij_e44YWu0e_8JIHSOqbyhTwz8N99ptwaohRQD74KCD_8BqNyk953evmIiZwZzjm4aa9Y_BOUpYB9nw9WdWjPjXxL9-PHDZJvrQ/s1600-h/100_0323.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOgW0JiPQehDY0ufeqK28J68WjkzlvaH4AXZij_e44YWu0e_8JIHSOqbyhTwz8N99ptwaohRQD74KCD_8BqNyk953evmIiZwZzjm4aa9Y_BOUpYB9nw9WdWjPjXxL9-PHDZJvrQ/s200/100_0323.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165037676364097474" /></a>If there is anyone who has not completely giving up on this blog, you may have noticed that I haven't posted anything for a month. Well, there's a good reason for that: I have decided to put it on an indefinite hiatus. I've found that there are many other things that I should/want to do more than write in this blog. For my family, who like reading what I have been up to, I will write on the Cottle Blog every once and a while to let everyone know about life in Virginia. So that's it.<br /><br />Well.... that might not entirely be it. Although I am sure I want to take an extended break from this blog, I do enjoy having a creative outlet. So I have began writing (very intermittently) a travel story about my trip to Mexico a few years ago, so I will probably post that as it grows. These post will be very infrequent, but if you're board at work or something, you could pop over and see if I've updated.<br /><br />Thanks for readingRandal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-6242913906923746562008-01-12T23:04:00.000-05:002008-12-10T01:16:10.066-05:00The Year is Dying, Let It Die!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEBccScKRsN0CObNVvH7nX0C7StKfPuVkx7osXD_eMK9XHq7oCSQ7y1khUJUZVT8x2K2ocGGagxixWMwQ3tArwJUpwo329sQopdO1Ho4m4Fwly-CSyrAQSiFtNqNzAut7YY1Iiw/s1600-h/100_0660.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEBccScKRsN0CObNVvH7nX0C7StKfPuVkx7osXD_eMK9XHq7oCSQ7y1khUJUZVT8x2K2ocGGagxixWMwQ3tArwJUpwo329sQopdO1Ho4m4Fwly-CSyrAQSiFtNqNzAut7YY1Iiw/s400/100_0660.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154808303441397218" /></a>Dear Friends and Family,<br /><br />Having lived in Virginia for an entire year, we feel ourselves expert enough on our adopted home to use the balance of this letter to provide a guide to the Old Dominion and its surrounding area:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Charlottesville:</span> A magnificent college town so inviting that we decided to spend the entire year previous within its boundaries. During the school year, Randal spent the majority of his days in the halls of the University of Virginia School of Law, and Theresa resumed her educational career by beginning a pharmacy technician program at National College. And during the summer, this town offers many employment opportunities, such as Randal’s job as a research assistant, and Theresa’s at the student health center.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Buena Vista:</span> The headquarters of our Cottle grandparents’ mission is a quaint town that every traveler should visit. We have spent many fun-filled days there, attending plays, having picnics, swimming in creeks, watching 4th of July fireworks and enjoying a magnificent thanksgiving feast with family.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Richmond/Williamsburg:</span> these towns are filled with fascinating historic sites from both colonial and civil war periods, sure to delight nerdy kids and adults alike, as they delighted Randal’s parents, who came for a jam-packed two-week visit in August.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">King’s Dominion:</span> a magical amusement park where you can loop-d-loop, traverse volcanoes, ride water-slides and meet Dora the Explorer. Having enjoyed its wonders with our cousins Addy, Ben, and Matt, we can confidently recommend it to anyone who likes a little excitement in their lives.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Outer Banks, NC</span>: even during October, this beach getaway is perfect for a group of Law student couples who wish to spend fall break relaxing and playing in the ocean. We know this from personal experience.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Palo Alto, CA</span>: although you might not think of California as part of Virginia’s surrounding area, it has become close to our hearts, as Randal has accepted an offer to work there next summer.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Washington DC</span>: with its many monuments and museums, as well its spectacular temple, DC is a must-see for any Virginia visitor. We traveled to this metropolis many times, the last of which in November, where Holly spent one day of her thanksgiving visit.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Alberta</span>: will always be home. We can’t wait to see y’all at Christmas.<br />- Randal and Theresa MillerRandal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-18466303346384936302007-12-22T18:46:00.000-05:002007-12-22T18:53:04.330-05:00More Economy Day (Christmas) Arguments<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.nova.edu/cwis/bsv/mail/images/package.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.nova.edu/cwis/bsv/mail/images/package.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>So, the whole "Ho Ho Ho" firing thing may or may not have been a <a href="http://www.snopes.com/politics/christmas/hohoho.asp">myth</a>, but I am still going to stick with Economy Day. But changing the name of December's holiday has not resolved any of Theresa and my disagreements. We have compromised on the advent calender thing (Theresa is counting down, and I'm counting up) but we are now having a new fight: when presents come in the mail, can you open them right away?<br /><br />I wont tell you who holds which opinion, as to not influence your opinion.Randal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-49974728897202750342007-12-19T15:22:00.000-05:002007-12-19T15:41:21.910-05:00Happy Economy Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.holidaylightingdisplays.com/user/ho-ho-ho-banner-for-medium-.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.holidaylightingdisplays.com/user/ho-ho-ho-banner-for-medium-.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a>I just read the other day that a <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071205.wsantasacked1205/BNStory/International/">Santa Clause was fired for saying 'Ho Ho Ho,' instead of what his employer wanted him to say: 'Ha Ha Ha.'</a> First off, I think this whole Ho Ho Ho controversy is about the most ridiculous holiday scandal I have ever heard - doesn't the anti-Ho people realize that sometimes two words sound the same but have completely different meanings? If this keeps up, then well have to start talking about the Hoover Darn.<br /><br />Secondly, our modern society has already tried to bleed out every Christian element from Christmas, which I always thought would leave us with a completely secularized and materialistic holiday season with the big man in red taking the place of the little baby in a manger. But with stories like these coming out, it seems like society has taken another step towards removing absolutely all meaning from the holiday seasoning by attacking Mr. Materialism himself: Jolly 'ol Saint Nick. Next thing we know, they'll be people complaining about Santa propagating anti-obesity stereotypes and Christmas trees contributing to global warming by furthering deforestation.<br /><br />So lets just cut to the chase shall we: I propose that we remove all traces of Santa Clause, the Reindeer, Christmas trees and figgy pudding from this holiday season (as well as any religious undertones, naturally). And if you think this cleansing would completely derive us of everything fun about this festive season, don't worry - I've come up with a new theme that will still get all those shoppers hitting the stores: ECONOMY DAY!<br /><br />That's right, I think December 25 should be a day where we can celebrate all the good that holiday shopping does for our economy, without having to worry about religious confrontations or insulting characters. So happy economy day everyone!Randal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-52695499384046946692007-12-09T13:03:00.000-05:002008-12-10T01:16:10.438-05:00Our Favorite Albums of 2007<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyV8GouDqUP-rXf1aex6Uig9KuOZry2vE0ov0A_xvxaBYOv81hrMiMudmqcEDCdzPz18G2JU5TptUS5aUYflxFHWg49Iz7xaiBw2WjweNzmBgBEAj5-Kg4I3P1Iv5rf2GPZmM_sQ/s1600-h/100_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyV8GouDqUP-rXf1aex6Uig9KuOZry2vE0ov0A_xvxaBYOv81hrMiMudmqcEDCdzPz18G2JU5TptUS5aUYflxFHWg49Iz7xaiBw2WjweNzmBgBEAj5-Kg4I3P1Iv5rf2GPZmM_sQ/s400/100_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142047157210445170" /></a>One of the things that I love most about the end of the year are critics "Best Albums of the Year" list. Although I know that critics' opinions don't really matter in the end, I always like to read what they have to say, either to see if my favorite albums get on other peoples list, or to discover good music that I had overlooked this year. So, since the internet allows everyone to publicly voice their own opinions, I am proud to present Theresa and my "favorite albums of the year." Since our household is a democracy (at least for now - when we have kids, it will shift to an oligarchy) Theresa and I each made our own Top Ten list and then, giving each of us equal weight, compiled a master list (In parenthesis are Theresa and my individual rankings) :<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://assets4.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/32865.61IPAfsjlIL._SS500_.jpg?"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://assets4.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/32865.61IPAfsjlIL._SS500_.jpg?" border="0" alt="" /></a>1.) <a href="http://www.spoontheband.com/">Spoon:</a> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/spoon">Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga</a><br />T: I love Spoon. I like the name because spoons are useful and the songs are fun to sing. "Give me my... Japanese cigarette case!" (R:7, T:1)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://assets4.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/29905.reminder.jpg?"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://assets4.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/29905.reminder.jpg?" border="0" alt="" /></a>2.) <a href="http://www.listentofeist.com/">Feist:</a> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/feist">The Reminder</a><br />T: Feist's music is so dancey. She inspires even the worst dancers to get on their feet. And because even the non-dancey songs are good, this album is wondtabulous (wonderful + fabulous). (R:6, T:2) <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://assets3.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/39246.inrainbows.jpg?"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://assets3.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/39246.inrainbows.jpg?" border="0" alt="" /></a>3.) <a href="http://www.radiohead.com/deadairspace/">Radiohead:</a> <a href="http://www.inrainbows.com/Store/Quickindex.html">In Rainbows</a><br />R: Radiohead definatly got a lot of press this year with their no- record- label- internet- only- pay- what- you- will album, but did anyone take the time to mention the music? I really, really liked Radiohead's previous albums, but lets face it, they can be kind-of downers. I enjoy In Rainbows because it seems a little cheerier. Thom's mother would be proud. (R: 3, T: 5) <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://assets3.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/37806.randomspiritlover.jpg?"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://assets3.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/37806.randomspiritlover.jpg?" border="0" alt="" /></a>4.) <a href="http://www.sunsetrubdown.net/">Sunset Rubdown:</a> <a href="http://www.daytrotter.com/article/1088/he-cant-believe-he-belongs-to-nowhere-the-human-aurora-borealis">Random Spirit Lover</a><br />R: This was my favorite album of the year, and it is only number 4! I guess this goes to show that it might not be for everyone, but I love it! If you give it a chance, you might just be caught up in its frantic neon-lit Laberynth-esque stage-play of a production. (R:1, T:-)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://assets3.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/32819.growupandblowaway.jpg?"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://assets3.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/32819.growupandblowaway.jpg?" border="0" alt="" /></a>5.) <a href="http://www.ilovemetric.com/news.html">Metric:</a> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/metricband">Grow Up And Blow Away</a><br />T: I like this new-old record, despite the fact that none of Metric's other albums float my boat. It's bluesy and cool and just plain better. (R:8, T:4)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://assets4.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/34883.inourbedroomafterthewar.jpg?"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://assets4.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/34883.inourbedroomafterthewar.jpg?" border="0" alt="" /></a>5.) <a href="http://www.arts-crafts.ca/stars/">Stars:</a> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/stars">In Our Bedroom After The War</a><br />T: I like this record, but we are not yet at the point in our relationship to drop the L-bomb. It is a lot of fun, but it's just not that beautiful. [funny - that's what Theresa said to me when we first started going out.] (R:9, T: 3) <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://assets4.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/23767.are-we-not-horses.jpg?"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://assets4.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/23767.are-we-not-horses.jpg?" border="0" alt="" /></a>7.) <a href="http://www.rockplazacentral.com/">Rock Plaza Central:</a> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/rockplazacentral">Are We Not Horses</a><br />R: Mechanical Horses that think they are real, having an exestential crisis after a war between the humans and the angels, with the narrative focusing on one of these creatures' love affair with its enemy - what can I say more. (really though, the music is very good). (R:2, T:-)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://assets3.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/29851.tearsofthevaledictorian.jpg?"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://assets3.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/29851.tearsofthevaledictorian.jpg?" border="0" alt="" /></a>8.) <a href="http://www.absolutelykosher.com/frogeyes.htm">Frog Eyes:</a> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/frogeyes">Tears Of The Valedictorian</a><br />R: Another acquired taste. Think of Chris Farley frantically playing a guitar and yelping like a wolf, and you'll have Frog Eyes. I think Tears is their best album, and the 9-minute epic "Bushels" is mostly why I rated it so high. (R:4, T:-)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://assets3.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/37047.spiritif.jpg?"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://assets3.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/37047.spiritif.jpg?" border="0" alt="" /></a>9.) <a href="http://www.arts-crafts.ca/kevindrew/">Kevin Drew:</a> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/kevindrewspiritif">Spirit If...</a><br />R: Think of this as the low-key follow-up to Broken Social Scene's last album, which alone should be enough to get on this list. I liked it when I first heard it, but it wasn't until repeated listens that I really started to love it. (R:5, T:-) <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://assets3.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/35531.challengers.jpg?"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://assets3.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/35531.challengers.jpg?" border="0" alt="" /></a>9.) <a href="http://www.thenewpornographers.com/">The New Pornographers:</a> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thenewpornographers">Challengers</a><br />T: I don't really like this record, but it has some really great songs on it. My new favorite song is Challanger (Neko Case is awesome). It alone put this album on my list. (R:-, T:5) <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A couple things I've noticed while making this list: First, Theresa's favorite bands are sure higher on this list than mine - I guess I like her favorite bands more than she likes mine. Second, We sure like Canadian music - 8/10 albums are from Canadian artists.<br /><br />So, do you agree with us? What were your favorite albums this year?Randal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-59032048969897764282007-12-04T09:11:00.001-05:002007-12-04T09:24:02.692-05:00A Bitter Arguement Almost Ruins The Miller's Christmas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.chizzyandbryan.com/archives/Advent%20Calendar.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.chizzyandbryan.com/archives/Advent%20Calendar.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>We need your help resolving a little Christmas debate Theresa and I are having. As everyone knows, that December is the month for, not only gross materialism, but also Advent Calenders - a tradition that is fun for the entire family. However, the fun of these monthly treasure collections has been tainted this year by a bitter argument that has rocked the Miller home: Do you start the calender at 24, and count down to 1, or do you start at 1, and count up to 24?<br /><br />My argument is that the numbers represent the days of the month, so on the 1st, you open door #1. Also, in those chocolate calenders you can buy for like $1, the only constant chocolate shape is Santa Claus, which is always under the 24, since this is the night that Santa makes his rounds. Logically, if you were to count down from 24, Santa should appear under the 1.<br /><br />Theresa's argument is simple: an advent colander is supposed to count down the days until Christmas, so naturally you should open the door that corresponds to the number of days left until Christmas (24 on Dec 1, 23 on Dec 2 etc.). In her defense, she cites the same chocolate calenders, which read in large letters on the front "24 Chocolate Days Until Christmas," which demonstrate that the calender's purpose is to tell us how many days there are until Christmas, not which day of the month it is (we use regular calenders for that).<br /><br />So, what do you think?Randal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-38463488771711376052007-11-27T14:06:00.001-05:002008-12-10T01:16:10.973-05:00A Holiday-Themed Excuse to Show Off Some Pictures From Holly's VisitThis is my thankful post. So much of the internet is dedicated to complaints and complaints about complaints, that it is about time to give thanks. After all, life is pretty good, isn't it. And no, the timing of this post has nothing to do with a certain holiday that occurred this past week.<br /><br />I am thankful for my family. Especially the ones that come and visit us, as my sister Holly did this weekend (as demonstrated by this - may I say artsy - picture I took on our trip to DC). And of course, I am also thankful for the ones that comment on my blog.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XEZz3P0BsT8uAuzk1RP-mfO1Rtyt9B1X1rGKClwgg81OIyiivd_KaApef5Ec0G5OkZoJhipI5G6JchUGmB6fM7BAqO36F9qJvr43l3Jtrb1XKYkOX2qB6oZSefw1B2oLJxJI5A/s1600-h/100_0575.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XEZz3P0BsT8uAuzk1RP-mfO1Rtyt9B1X1rGKClwgg81OIyiivd_KaApef5Ec0G5OkZoJhipI5G6JchUGmB6fM7BAqO36F9qJvr43l3Jtrb1XKYkOX2qB6oZSefw1B2oLJxJI5A/s400/100_0575.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137604126483769122" /></a><br /><br />I am thankful for Virginia, to copy the answer that Theresa gave during an amazing dinner we had at out Grandparent's place in Buena Vista last Thursday. It is nice to live in a beautiful part of the world (case and point below), and I have been given so many opportunities here, such as being able to attend UVa and getting a good job for next summer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhLdl1PKA5vtNXlmybdpMh5DMl6BVJ8tC3y_GDBQtMus-H6ZsegF8k_RDg5l_BKyzlByOvkLyEP4e-Rdz1W3nWPWp6rXoBn7PLniwJmC5mOyueO6FdOb_AtsAWIG_K4D4lQPuvQ/s1600-h/100_0559.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhLdl1PKA5vtNXlmybdpMh5DMl6BVJ8tC3y_GDBQtMus-H6ZsegF8k_RDg5l_BKyzlByOvkLyEP4e-Rdz1W3nWPWp6rXoBn7PLniwJmC5mOyueO6FdOb_AtsAWIG_K4D4lQPuvQ/s400/100_0559.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137603692692072210" /></a><br /><br />And certainly not least, I relate the same answer I gave directly after Theresa extolled the virtues of the old Dominion: I am thankful to Theresa - she may have a playful streak (which is not at all annoying in any sense of the word), but she certainly brings copious amounts of joy to my life. I also love her hat in this picture - she looks like a burglar)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82O9MXPtRSkzHOaweRP0Af3NrvajaM5SF26TUVlhDaUz3jYda6Gi_Sj-Ne4nUy1a6Xu4-O5bE0alFIMHfDI3ehqs7qJsfbmI7QZ-BjXOcXwDsKMNQVPGhhPI7bFfisFV9JRnADQ/s1600-h/100_0596.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82O9MXPtRSkzHOaweRP0Af3NrvajaM5SF26TUVlhDaUz3jYda6Gi_Sj-Ne4nUy1a6Xu4-O5bE0alFIMHfDI3ehqs7qJsfbmI7QZ-BjXOcXwDsKMNQVPGhhPI7bFfisFV9JRnADQ/s400/100_0596.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5137603357684623106" /></a><br /><br />Now for what I am definitely NOT thankful for, since we don't want too much gratitute in one place. I HATE CHRISTMAS ADS: they represent all that is wrong with capitalism by pretty directly saying that you will not be happy unless you buy lots of stuff (and that your loved ones will hate you if you don't get them what they want). OK, I'm going to stop here. I could get carried away...Randal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-52780050264611646372007-11-18T19:07:00.000-05:002007-11-18T19:50:59.759-05:00The Fridge That Represents America<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.bumpershine.com/wp-images/posts/kevin_drew.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.bumpershine.com/wp-images/posts/kevin_drew.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a>Last week I said that I would not talk about our fridge. This week, though, I will. Not because I have nothing else to talk about, but because I have discovered deeper meaning in the story. Deeper meaning into the true spirit of America, which, if anyone even remembers, was the whole point of this blog to begin with.<br /><br />Sometime last week I read some tips on how to make your home more energy efficent, one of which was to make sure the seal on your fridge door is tight so that the cold air wont escape. So, naturally, I go home and check our fridge and discover that the seal on our freezer door was loose enough to allow cold air to seep out. I the hope that the management would care enough about my energy efficiency to perhaps fix my fridge, I called them to my place to check it out. And they did come. The maintenance guys agreed that the seal was loose, so decided to fix it BY GIVING US A NEW FRIDGE! And, looking back, when our dishwasher's door-latch broke, they got us a whole new dishwasher! Is this how you all do things here in America? If any little (and I assume easily fixable/replaceable) part of a machine breaks, scrap the whole thing and buy an new one?! Should I stop washing dishes, and instead buy a new set after every meal? My car is due for an oil change, should I just get a new one instead?<br /><br />I guess my complex might be trying to replace all the old appliances with new ones (in which case, we should make up some problem with our stove), but I like to think it is America's consumer culture that is fueling this amazing juggernaut of waste.<br /><br />Oh America...<br /><br />And in completely unrelated news, as I am writing this post, I'm listening to a live Broken Social Scene concert on <a href="http://www.npr.org/music/">npr.com</a>. I mentioned a little while ago about how the Stars Concert we attended was available on the website, and now I will go the next step and recommend you (nay - command you) to subscribe the the <a href="http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_detail.php?siteId=15842121">"All Songs Considered Concert Series" Podcast</a>, where you can download full concerts from artists like The Arcade Fire, Spoon, The New Pornographers, Animal Collective, as well as the two previously mentioned shows. Pretty Cool, Eh? (I had to throw in that 'Eh' to remind myself that I am still a Canadian)Randal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-60866250757135675302007-11-13T10:16:00.000-05:002007-11-13T10:17:48.091-05:00This Doesn't Surprize Me In The Least...<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/11/12/vanity.plates.ap/index.html">http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/11/12/vanity.plates.ap/index.html</a>Randal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-57047756592772050912007-11-12T11:40:00.000-05:002007-11-12T12:00:48.783-05:00My Cop-Out PostI was thinking all yesterday on what profound (or at least humorous) words I could write this week, but alas, no one can be brilliant every day (or, even ever, if you are less than impressed with my blog so far). As for our activities of this week, unless you want to hear about our new fridge or repairing our car, I wont bore you with the details.<br /><br />Instead, I present to you this clip from a cartoon that Holly and I loved when we were kids back in the 80s. Youtube certainly hasn't helped all of those 20 and 30 somethings who are already becoming almost sickeningly nostalgic. Of course, my present display of nostalgia should be forgiven, considering the pure awesomeness of this video: Animalypics.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ox0eIylJ_OE&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ox0eIylJ_OE&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Randal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-24305428060991461342007-11-06T12:21:00.000-05:002007-11-06T12:44:04.490-05:00Wilson Sonsini<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.wsgr.com/images/img_top.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://www.wsgr.com/images/img_top.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>It's official. As of yesterday, I have accepted an offer to work at the Palo Alto office of the Law Firm <a href="http://www.wsgr.com/WSGR/Index.aspx">Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati</a> as a summer associate next year. <br /><br />That's right, not being one to restrict my moves to short distances, Theresa and I will be packing up next may and traveling the 2824 miles (4544 Km) from one coast to the other. Anyone familiar with my recent history should not be surprised with my decision to once again cross an entire continent in order to forge a new home. In the past five years, I have moved from Mexico City to Edmonton, Alberta (2974 miles/4786 Km), and then from Edmonton to Charlottesville (2423 miles/3899 Km). It seems my motto should be "If the move isn't at least 2000 miles, its not worth doing." I also find it significant that this new move means that I will have lived in the four corners of North America, living in the North (Edmonton), South (Mexico DF), East (Charlottesville) and West (Palo Alto).<br /><br />But anyways, I am very excited at the opportunity of working with Wilson Sonsini. From what I have learned so far, they are a great firm with a specialty in technology and life sciences. I can't waitRandal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-46070130613133858002007-11-05T11:42:00.000-05:002008-12-10T01:16:11.499-05:00It's Business Time...And I don't mean in the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGOohBytKTU">"Flight of the Concords" sense</a>. What I am referring to is my business-oriented short course that just wrapped up last week and has a name so long, you would think it was a title to one of my blog posts: "Launching the Enterprise: Selected Topics in the Start-Up of a Biotechnology Company." Essentially, in this class we split into a few groups and produced investor presentations about an actual biotech company of which our instructor is currently involved in. Secretly, it seems like an chance for him to gather a bunch of ideas from us before he has to give his own presentation this week, but since the class was so fun and informative, I wont hold it against him. <br /><br />Now, I don't want to brag, but I must say our presentation was pretty much amazing. We tried a new method of powerpoint presentations that our instructor very quickly introduced. The method is outlined in a book called <a href="http://www.sociablemedia.com/">"Beyond Bullet Points" by Cliff Atkinson of Sociable Media</a> and essentially does away with bullet points and focuses on short descriptions and compelling graphics, leaving the speaker to discuss the details of the presentation. I must say, after watching both traditional and new powerpoint presentations on the same topic (another group also elected to try the new method), I have been converted to to new style. Not converted enough to actually buy the book, but definitely enough to convince Theresa to use it in her upcoming presentation on Genetically Modified food. Her presentation is also pretty slick, and will definitely blow everyone else in her class out of the water. Look out Nash!<br /><br />Here are a couple of slides from both Theresa and my presentations. The first is from Theresa's presentation and is pretty self explanatory. The second is my slide, which accompanies the section in our presentation that discusses how focusing our drug on a certain type of cancer makes it eligible for Fast Track FDA approval and orphan drug status (I debated whether I should include an orphan in the pic: maybe have Oliver driving the sports car)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1P2pWDoZjUpqV3BBFa_lIoUYBgBnpJoSWwclEAR7RDeN3ZHB7A3TXP1n5UFZzOg4bAlHyGTInP_wMQXdjzzkLN2eiVR6jfJPBXNkdcHciA_-CcOFPCgW9ERaLdXb2KHsNRqivA/s1600-h/Slide16.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1P2pWDoZjUpqV3BBFa_lIoUYBgBnpJoSWwclEAR7RDeN3ZHB7A3TXP1n5UFZzOg4bAlHyGTInP_wMQXdjzzkLN2eiVR6jfJPBXNkdcHciA_-CcOFPCgW9ERaLdXb2KHsNRqivA/s400/Slide16.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129406406281400658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkToqgRrwrQo1pnQYRPf6nT6v-lGxt4DAmuPM7fL99dgeFuuzMYyN_rFJnMfb-h4hNjjxf2k2kD00vK7sUD9ODVshYslMuRsHWzWG7RtEUZ_EnSF6gT46hRju8AdY3oDfD_Td3DA/s1600-h/Slide11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkToqgRrwrQo1pnQYRPf6nT6v-lGxt4DAmuPM7fL99dgeFuuzMYyN_rFJnMfb-h4hNjjxf2k2kD00vK7sUD9ODVshYslMuRsHWzWG7RtEUZ_EnSF6gT46hRju8AdY3oDfD_Td3DA/s400/Slide11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129406410576367970" /></a>Randal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-2545132487543789712007-10-31T19:38:00.000-04:002008-12-10T01:16:11.678-05:00A Halloween Mistory Solved by the Incredible Sluething of a Pair of UVa Students<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoeNoQuw4vb5J5yFEe3XcX9ho1d5Mu11kYa-RisPp_S7-HTWsF-AAK_PQR4NyFZ9MO9uGH1kfCQGGwNgt-y_E7FNZRFUCmWHNrhEbrYgy4vtbZ3-CSRA0fF4kUIm1FTd1n81UyA/s1600-h/GetAttachment.aspx.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoeNoQuw4vb5J5yFEe3XcX9ho1d5Mu11kYa-RisPp_S7-HTWsF-AAK_PQR4NyFZ9MO9uGH1kfCQGGwNgt-y_E7FNZRFUCmWHNrhEbrYgy4vtbZ3-CSRA0fF4kUIm1FTd1n81UyA/s320/GetAttachment.aspx.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127652672350196018" /></a>So, there appears to be some strange goings-on at an abandoned house near my Grandfather's place in Buena Vista, Va. Pumpkins have been appearing, moving around, and disappearing, black cats prowling, and Ravens flying overhead - all in the weeks immediately preceding Halloween. Well, my Grandfather, being the inquisitive one, has challenged the family to solve the mystery and report our findings. Theresa and I, having consulted UVa's foremost paranormal expert Dr. Spookenstien and researching the history of Buena Vista, wrote this solution:<br /><br />THE VIRGINIA PUMPKIN WITCH <br />Randal and Theresa Miller <br /> <br />Daniel Hartson is usually a very obedient student. But after attending Elder Cottle’s Eternal Marriage class at Southern Virginia University, he has become desperate to get married. So desperate, in fact, that all the girls at his school have become weary of his multiple advances and he cannot find anyone to accompany him to the harvest ball. Undeterred, Daniel checks out a book on the dark arts from SVU’s library, and goes about learning a spell that will allow him to summon the spirit of one of SVU’s former students, so that he may take her to the ball. <br /> <br />Sally Crumpkin was the heir to the Virginia’s largest pumpkin empire, Crumpkin Pumpkins. She was a buxom young lady with curly orange hair and a friendly smile who attended Southern Seminary (SVU's predecessor) for almost a year before her mysterious disappearance in 1907. Of the school’s many activities, Sally enjoyed most the croquet matches she played with her friends, which was the very activity was doing the last time anyone ever saw her. During that fateful match, her friend struck her ball and sent it rolling down a hill and in a dark thicket of trees. Sally entered the forest after it. <br /> <br />The Buena Vista Witch was the town’s most feared resident since she first arrived in 1897. After a full 10 years of terrorizing the neighborhood, she concocted a plan to gain immortality. When she was ready to cast her immortality spell, she set up her cauldron in a dark thicket of trees, added various ingredient (including one large pumpkin) to the brew, and begun chatting. The spell was nearly complete when a small red ball entered her sanctuary, followed by a beautiful young redhead. The commotion proved disastrous: the witch mispronounced a critical part of the incantation, which altered the spell. Both the Witch’s and Sally’s spirit became trapped in the pumpkin forever. <br /> <br />Daniel Hartson carefully reads aloud the words from his book, keeping in his mind the image of Sally Crumpkin, whose painting he saw in the school lobby. As he finished the spell, smoke filled his room and the sky above SVU darkens considerably. Brilliant flashes of lightening are the only illumination seen for some time. Daniel faints from the smoke and his classmates run out of their dorms in a panic. When he finally awakes, the school had calmed down. Daniel was disappointed to see in his room, not a beautiful girl, but a large and ominous pumpkin. <br /> <br />Little did Daniel know, he had succeeded in summoning summoned Sally Crumpkin. Her spirit, along with the Buena Vista Witch’s, is inside the pumpkin that had appeared in his dorm. The BV Witch, who had already subdued Sally’s spirit, immediately used her magic to overcome Daniel’s will. Under her influence, he took the pumpkin and moved into the abandoned house that was once occupied by his foe. Once there, BV Witch began to gather her strength for All Hallows Eve, when she will escape from her prison. Meanwhile, because of Daniel and Sally’s mutual captivity, they are able to communicate and soon fall in love. If only there was some brave soul who could defeat the Witch and free the lovers from her spell before it is too late. <br /> <br />The EndRandal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-6970132892718749062007-10-29T16:05:00.001-04:002007-10-29T16:06:46.881-04:00I have created a list of friends blogs, many of whom have linked to this blog. If you would like me to link to your blog or remove a link I have posted, please let me know.Randal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-60750426437128959222007-10-28T14:10:00.001-04:002008-12-10T01:16:11.829-05:00Do They Know It's Halloween?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6i-eJANIu-SKsAxkiRQy3z0FSuh04CZg6BwdmzhTFuNSLOZ2ULWIGwLUw5IQF4yNJnZ973m-Ck2SiPjOyKtTeMKDBaCWtlZW-frFq7B_F8A3tTVKRFUc1CX1zDM4UP1pR0tBF9g/s1600-h/100_0541.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6i-eJANIu-SKsAxkiRQy3z0FSuh04CZg6BwdmzhTFuNSLOZ2ULWIGwLUw5IQF4yNJnZ973m-Ck2SiPjOyKtTeMKDBaCWtlZW-frFq7B_F8A3tTVKRFUc1CX1zDM4UP1pR0tBF9g/s320/100_0541.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127943978507047234" /></a>I sure hope they do, or else they might think that Theresa and my costumes reflected the way we really dress. This year, we decided to dress up as the most frightening thing that we could think of: <a href="http://porotto.deviantart.com/art/dress-up-EMO-girl-game-36974233">Emo</a> <a href="http://porotto.deviantart.com/art/dress-up-EMO-boy-game-26503424">kids</a>! (For those who have not been to high school in the last little while, Emo is a horrible genre of music consisting of 20 or 30 something guys who still think they are 16 and whine-sing about their latest girl trouble. see <a href="http://www.myspace.com/dashboardconfessional">Dashboard Confessional</a>, <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=3412093">Something Corporate</a>). The idea just came to me on Saturday, and we just went with it. Overall, I thought our costumes were good, although I was a little uncomfortable in those pants!<br /><br />So, newly emo-ed, Theresa and I set out last night and had a great time with a bunch of kids who definitely did know it was Halloween. At least I hope they knew it was Halloween, since they set up an elaborate haunted house, which would be strange if they thought it was easter. The house itself was great, but one thing that was missing was Daniel Harker, who was Theresa's 'ol haunted house buddy: when they went to one in Edmonton a few years ago, Danny H would alway cower behind Theresa, and then scream and scream when something jumped out at them. I actually think they had a TV in the works, where those two would travel the world investigating haunted houses, screaming and running around for an hour a week. Its a shame NBC dropped it at the last minute--too frightening for children, they said.<br /><br />After the haunted house, we then headed for the Law School's Halloween party, but it appears the police forgot it was Halloween and had showed up to take the 'trick' out of 'trick or treat.' So we decided to just keep walking by. All and all, good fun. No picnic in the graveyard, but you can only expect so much, right?<br /><br />The title of this post, by the way, comes from my favorite Halloween Songs:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xgux6aGzb3k&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xgux6aGzb3k&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Randal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34806777.post-21984780061094305722007-10-21T12:24:00.000-04:002007-10-21T13:41:35.173-04:00The Stars Were Out In Full Glory At DC's 9:30 Club<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cms.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/39618.IMG_3533.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://cms.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/39618.IMG_3533.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>In the first year of Law School, they scare you half to death, in the second they work you half to death, and in the third they bore you half to death. I heard this statement recently and have decided that it presents a very accurate portrayal of my life; so, while last year I must have been too frightened to post every few days, currently, with my job search, moot court, Health Law Association, and classes, there seems to be precious little time to share my life with all of you.<br /><br />That being said, Theresa and I did manage to find enough time to drive up to DC and attend last night's <a href="http://randyatuva.blogspot.com/2007/07/no-not-that-kind-of-pornographer.html">Stars</a> concert with the Cummings. For months, Theresa and I have been talking up this concert, so when the night finely arrived, Katy and Aaron must have had the impression that it would be the defining moment of their entire lives. Needless to say, we were quite nervous that the show would not be as good as we promised. But it was. There was just as much over-the-top theatrics and amazing music as we had described. One reason we love Stars is that the male singer, Torque, is much more of a diva than the female (Amy Milan, who showed off her amazing voice last night), and he certainly lived up to his reputation last night, over-acting like a drama-kid who never really grew up. At least he used a hand-made t-shirt that said "I 'heart' Menomena," apologized to the band he accidently insulted during his <a href="http://www.avclub.com/content/interview/torquil_campbell_of_stars">diva-spat</a> with Pitchfork Media.<br /><br />The Concert was actually broadcast on npr, so you can listen to it <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15298176">here</a>. You might even be able to hear us cheer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cooltownstudios.com/images/benschilibowl.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.cooltownstudios.com/images/benschilibowl.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>And to continue living up to our goal of only eating at restaurants that we cannot find in Edmonton (ie. no nation-wide chains), we all went to Ben's Chili Bowl, a famous little hole-in-the-wall establishment that serves amazing chili and plays old-school rap. The place, which is apparently quite famous, is frequented by movie stars, and, as of last night, us as well.Randal Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05689487371787476212noreply@blogger.com1