Australia: B

Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman - Australia (72), originally uploaded by gr8tfate.

Scott, Mom, and I saw Australia (IMDB.com) on Saturday. I loved Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge! and Romeo + Juliet so I was looking forward to his latest movie. Australia started off with a whimsical first chapter, but the rest of the movie was straight forward and not as stylized like his prior two movies. The story was predictable with a lot of cliches and melodrama.

Overall, I liked this movie. It was a little long, but the characters were still interesting, beautifully shot, and well paced. The gratuitous shots of Hugh Jackman helped keep my interest too.

Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman - Australia (15), originally uploaded by gr8tfate.

Kathy Griffin!!!

Scott, Sheena, and I saw Kathy Griffin in Seattle last night! The show was sold-out and even though I thought I bought the tickets early, our (cheap) seats were in the very last row at the very top of the balcony. Here's the view from our seats:

Here's what we would have saw had I splurged on better tickets:

2-time Schmemmy winner, originally uploaded by stacy73.

Kathy's stand-up act was terrific. Her hilarious insider gossip included a wide-range of topics: Sarah Palin, her mother's box of wine habit, Larry King, Anderson Cooper, Nancy Grace, Bette Midler, Donald Trump, Rosie O'Donnell, Cher, the Shemmys, the Emmys, Don Rickles, and ended with a blue quote of Betty White. She also mentioned that her manager, Tom, had some unexplained phobia about Portland which may explain why Kathy hasn't come to Portland recently.

---

Before the show, we wasted time at the Volunteer Park Conservatory and Lake View Cemetery.

Among the many interesting headstones, Sheena and I discovered Bruce and Brandon Lee's headstones. Apparently, their headstones are the main tourist attraction to the cemetery as noticed many people paying their respects.

under lawsuit threat, eHarmony to offer services to gays

Advocate.com reports that eHarmony.com (Wiki) has settled a lawsuit and will stop discriminating against gays and lesbians by March 2009. However, eHarmony reserves the right to include the disclaimer that "their compatibility-based matching system was developed solely on the basis of researched focused on married heterosexual couples" according to the article (because, you know, gays and lesbians are basically a different species of human). In a 2005 interview, eHarmony's founder defended his company's discrimination against gay and lesbian customers.

It's disappointing that eHarmony has only decided to cave-in to a lawsuit and still seems reluctant to provide services to gay and lesbians. For a company that originally touted its ultra-right wing Focus On The Family connections, I hoped it would have defended its anti-gay moral convictions or enthusiastically embraced its new found inclusive enlightenment. 'Because we have to' is probably worse than open, honest discrimination.

Larch Mountain

On Sunday, Scott and I "hiked" (walked-up the steps from the parking lot) to the summit of Larch Mountain. We arrived at sunset and found the small viewing platform crowded with about a dozen people. It was an amazingly clear and windless evening.

While I killed time playing Bejeweled on my cellphone, Scott took these amazing photos:

IMG_7810, originally uploaded by sweber4507.

IMG_7862, originally uploaded by sweber4507.

IMG_7744
Originally uploaded by sweber4507

The viewing platform cleared-out right after sunset leaving just Scott, me, and a friendly motorcylist/photographer to enjoy the quiet scenery.

Stewie does "Grape Lady"

Last night's Family Guy spoofed the Grape Lady viral video.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Yep. Pretty sure Sheena, Scott, I and the half million other folks who have laughed at this poor lady are going to hell.

Star Trek trailer!!!! (at Quantum of Solace)

We saw Quantum of Solace (IMDB.com) last night. However the highlight was seeing the new Star Trek trailer:

Not sure about the Tom Cruise/Top Gun motorcycle homage, but the movie looks great.

---

Oh yeah, James Bond was good too. Although at times it seemed more like an action-packed video game. The fight scene on a Rube Goldberg-like hanging mobile was hilarious.

Evil Doers Ltd.

Tammam, Dan, Scott and I saw the Evil Doers Ltd. comedy show on Friday. I only happened to see an ad for the show Friday afternoon and we decided to see the show less than hour before the show. So, we were rushed just getting into the show and it took me a little while to settle into the first comedy act.

Overall, I liked the show, but five comedy acts in a row was a bit much even with an intermission. I really liked the final headliner, Ahmed Ahmed from the Axis of Evil tour.

It was interesting to realize that only four days after the election the Bush bashing jokes already seemed dated.

still celebrating

[WARNING: Unapologetic, self-indulgent, totally partisan post to follow:]

After recalling the sickening results of 2000's and 2004's election, I'm still celebrating election night. Apparently, there was an impromptu rally downtown:

Paris celebrates (via KennethInThe212):

Obama!! Originally uploaded by LA_ZIA

Scott did have a concern about the election of an African-American President, 'Now how will we know a movie or TV show takes place in the distant future?' (paraphrase).

REVISED and re-worded.

2008 Election Results (UPDATE: Merkley pulls ahead)

President-elect Obama's victory is amazing. Now we just need to countdown to his historic inauguration while watching what pardons and executive orders Bush Jr. will slip-in during his final days.

Below I've posted some of the results. Among the many victories there are some races too close to call and some unfortunate results.

---

11/05/2008 20:39: Democrat Jeff Merkley has pulled ahead of Republican incumbent Sen. Gordon Smith as Multnomah County's totals come. It's still close, but looks good for Merkley.

---

11/06/2008 11:45: Not only is Sen. Gordon Smith learning the ramifications of campaigning against the state's most populous county, but Bill Sizemore is learning what happens when Multnomah County gets the vote out. The county's voters are defeating his anti-union Measure 64, which had previously appeared to have been approved.

---

11/06/2008 12:00: Multnomah County voters are also defeating Kevin Mannix's unaffordable and irrational Measure 61.

---

results & polls
me↓	newspapers						PACs & orgs
	WW↓	Merc↓	J.O.↓	TheO↓	Trib↓	Skan↓	LWV↓	EMO↓	BRO↓	NARAL↓	Sierra↓
WW: Willamette Week | Merc: Portland Mercury | J.O.: Just Out | TheO: The Oregonian | Trib: Portland Tribune | Skan: The Skanner | LWV: League of Women Voters of Oregon | EMO: Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon | BRO: Basic Rights Oregon Equality PAC | NARAL: NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon PAC | Sierra: Oregon Sierra Club
US President: 11/05 7:00 PST Electoral-Vote.com: Obama 364EV (51M popular) ELECTED McCain 163EV (48M popular) 11EV 11/03 Electoral-Vote.com: Obama 353EV McCain 185EV 10/27 Electoral-Vote.com: Obama 375EV McCain 157EV 6EV
Obama-Biden	Obama-Biden	Obama-Biden	?	Obama-Biden	?	Obama-Biden	N/A	N/A	?	Obama-Biden	Obama-Biden
US Senator (OR): 11/06 11:21 1.6M counted OR Elections: Merkley 48% 783K ELECTED Smith 45% 740K 10/30, 500 "likely" OR voters, +/-4.5%, (Rasmussen Reports): Merkley 49% Smith 46% 10/28-10/30, 1,424 "likely" OR voters, +/-2.6%, (PPP (PDF)): Merkley 51% Smith 43% 10/25-10/26, 672 "likely" OR voters, +/-3.9%, (SurveyUSA): Merkley 49% Smith 42% 10/10-10/20, 499 OR voters, +/-4.39%, (Riley Res. Assoc.(pdf)): Merkley 36% Smith 35% O/U 29%
Merkley	Merkley	Merkley	Merkley	Smith	Smith	Merkley	N/A	N/A	?	Merkley	Merkley
US Representative (OR 1st District): 11/05 14:33, 280K+ counted (OR Elections): Wu 71% 199K RE-ELECTED (projected) 18%
Wu	Wu	?	Haugen	Wu	?	Wu	N/A	N/A	?	?	Wu
OR Secretary of State: 11/10 20:00, 1.6M+ counted (OR Elections): Brown 50% 848K ELECTED Dancer 45% 764K 10/28-10/30, 1,424 "likely" OR voters, +/-2.6%, (PPP (PDF)): Brown 51% Dancer 40% 9% 09/11-09/14, 500 OR voters, +/-4.4%, (DHM-Tribune): Brown 33% Dancer 25% Undec. 38%
Brown	Brown	Brown	Brown	Brown	Brown	Brown	N/A	N/A	Brown	Brown	Brown
OR Treasurer: 11/10 20:00, 1.6M+ counted (OR Elections): Westlund 51% 822K ELECTED Alley 45% 729K 10/28-10/30, 1,424 "likely" OR voters, +/-2.6%, (PPP (PDF)): Westlund 47% Alley 41% 12% 09/11-09/14, 500 OR voters, +/-4.4%, (DHM-Tribune): Westlund 34% Alley 22% Undec. 40%
Westlund	Alley	Alley	Westlund	Alley	Westlund	Westlund	N/A	N/A	Westlund	Westlund	Westlund
OR Attorney General: 11/10 20:00, 1.4M+ counted (OR Elections): Kroger 72% 1.065M ELECTED 11% 10%
Kroger	Kroger	Kroger	Kroger	Kroger	?	Kroger	N/A	N/A	Kroger	Kroger	Kroger
OR BOLI Commissioner: 11/10 20:00, 996K+ counted (OR Elections): Avakian 67% 670K ELECTED 17% 13%
Avakian	?	Avakian	Avakian	Avakian	?	?	N/A	N/A	Avakian	Avakian	Avakian
OR State Senator (District 18): 11/10 20:00, 57K+ counted (OR Elections): Burdick 70% 40K RE-ELECTED Wight 29% 17K
Burdick	Burdick	Burdick	?	Burdick	?	?	N/A	N/A	?	?	Burdick
OR State Representative (36th District): 11/10 20:00, 31K+ counted (OR Elections): Nolan 81% 25K RE-ELECTED 14%
Nolan	Nolan	Nolan	?	Nolan	?	?	N/A	N/A	Nolan	Nolan	Nolan
Multnomah County Sheriff: 11/05 07:14, 132K+ counted (MultCo Elections): Skipper 81% 108K ELECTED (projected) 18% 24K
Skipper	Skipper	Skipper	?	Skipper	Skipper	Skipper	N/A	N/A	?	?	?
Portland City Commissioner, Position #1: 11/10 16:30, 99% MultCo counted (MultCo Elections): Fritz 70% 151K ELECTED Lewis 28% 60K
Fritz	Fritz	Fritz	Fritz	Fritz	Lewis	Fritz	N/A	N/A	green light: Fritz & Lewis	green light: Fritz & Lewis	Fritz
OR Supreme Court Judge (Position 7): (unopposed incumbent) 11/04 21:51, 455K+ counted (OR Elections): Walters 98% 449K ELECTED (projected)
Walters	?	?	?	?	?	?	N/A	N/A	?	?	?
OR Court of Appeals Judge (Position 4): (unopposed incumbent) 11/04 21:51, 430K+ counted (OR Elections): Sercombe 98% 425K ELECTED (projected)
Sercombe	?	?	?	?	?	?	N/A	N/A	?	?	?
OR 4th District Circuit Court Judge (Position 18): (unopposed incumbent) 11/04 21:51, 55K+ counted (OR Elections): Ryan 98% 54K ELECTED (projected)
Ryan	?	?	?	?	?	?	N/A	N/A	?	?	?
OR 4th District Circuit Court Judge (Position 21): (unopposed incumbent) 11/04 21:51, 55K+ counted (OR Elections): Bushong 98% 54K ELECTED (projected)
Bushong	?	?	?	?	?	?	N/A	N/A	?	?	?
OR 4th District Circuit Court Judge (Position 27): (unopposed incumbent) 11/04 21:51, 55K+ counted (OR Elections): Stuart 98% 54K ELECTED (projected)
Stuart	?	?	?	?	?	?	N/A	N/A	?	?	?
West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District Director, At Large 1: (No Candidate Filed)
(None)	?	?	?	?	?	?	N/A	N/A	?	?	?
me↓↑	WW↓↑	Merc↓↑	J.O.↓↑	TheO↓↑	Trib↓↑	Skan↓↑	LWV↓↑	EMO↓↑	BRO↓↑	NARAL↓↑	Sierra↓↑
OR Measure 54: Removes 21-year-old voting requirement: 11/10 20:00, 1.5M+ counted (OR Elections): Yes 72% 1.159M PASSED No 27% 437K
Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Neutral	?	?
OR Measure 55: Allows Legislators To Finish Term After Redistricting: 11/05 20:00, 1.5M+ counted (OR Elections): Yes 77% 1.215M PASSED No 22% 353K
Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Neutral	Neutral	?	?
OR Measure 56: Removes Property Tax Double Majority Requirement: 11/10 20:00, 1.6M+ counted (OR Elections): Yes 56% 930K PASSED No 43% 715K
Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes
OR Measure 57: Increases Sentences and Addiction Treatment: 11/10 20:00, 1.6M+ counted (OR Elections): Yes 61% 1.027M PASSED No 38% 646K
Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	?	?
OR Measure 58: Limits ESL Teaching To Two Years: 11/10 20:00, 1.6M+ counted (OR Elections): No 56% 948K FAILED Yes 43% 735K
No	No	No	No	No	?	No	No	No	No	No	?
OR Measure 59: Creates Unlimited Oregon Income Tax Deduction: 11/10 20:00, 1.6M+ counted (OR Elections): No 63% 1.052M FAILED Yes 36% 598K
No	No	No	?	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
OR Measure 60: Determines Teacher Pay By Undefined "Classroom Performance", Removes Seniority Pay: 11/10 20:00, 1.6M+ counted (OR Elections): No 61% 1.039M FAILED Yes 38% 653K
No	No	Yes	No	No	?	No	Neutral	No	No	No	?
OR Measure 61: Creates Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Some Crimes: 11/10 20:00, 1.6M+ counted (OR Elections): No 51% 860K FAILED Yes 48% 824K
No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	?
OR Measure 62: Allocates 15% of Lottery to Public Safety: 11/10 20:00, 1.6M+ counted (OR Elections): No 60% 1.005M FAILED Yes 39% 654K
No	No	No	?	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
OR Measure 63: Exempt Homeowners/Farmers From Building Codes: 11/10 20:00, 1.6M+ counted (OR Elections): No 54% 901K FAILED Yes 45% 761K
No	No	No	?	No	?	No	No	No	Neutral	No	No
OR Measure 64: Penalizes Public Employee Unions For Political Purpose: 11/10 20:00, 1.6M+ counted (OR Elections): No 50% 829K FAILED Yes 49% 811K
No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	?
OR Measure 65: Top Two Run-Off Election System: 11/10 20:00, 1.5M+ counted (OR Elections): No 65% 1.039M FAILED Yes 34% 537K
Yes	Yes	No	?	Yes	?	Yes	Neutral	Neutral	No	?	?
Portland Measure 26-94: Renew $70M (0.04026%) Children's Investment Fund: 11/05 07:14, 112K+ counted (MultCo Elections): Yes 70% 79K PASSED No 33% 29K
Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?	?
PCC Measure 26-95: $375M (0.03290%) Bond to Expand Facilities : 11/04 23:51, 199K+ counted (KGW.com): Yes 51% 101K PASSED No 49% 97K
Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?	?	?	?
Metro Measure 26-96: $125M (0.00900%) Zoo Improvements: 11/04 23:51, 277K+ counted (KGW.com): Yes 56% 156K PASSED No 44% 121K
No	No	Yes	?	Yes	No	Yes	?	?	?	?	?
me↑	WW↑	Merc↑	J.O.↑	TheO↑	Trib↑	Skan↑	LWV↑	EMO↑	BRO↑	NARAL↑	Sierra↑
WW: Willamette Week | Merc: Portland Mercury | J.O.: Just Out | TheO: The Oregonian | Trib: Portland Tribune | Skan: The Skanner | LWV: League of Women Voters of Oregon | EMO: Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon | BRO: Basic Rights Oregon Equality PAC | NARAL: NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon PAC | Sierra: Oregon Sierra Club
other races I'm watching:
US Representative (OR 5th District): 11/10 20:00, 320K counted (OR Elections): Schrader 54% 174K ELECTED Erickson 38% 122K 10/27-10/28, 668 OR 5th Dist voters, +/-3.9%, SurveyUSA: Schrader 55% Erickson 31% 14%
me↓	WW↓	Merc↓	J.O.↓	TheO↓	Trib↓	Skan↓	LWV↓	EMO↓	BRO↓	NARAL↓	Sierra↓
N/A	Schrader	?	Schrader	Schrader	Schrader	Schrader	N/A	N/A	?	Schrader	Schrader
US Senator (MN): I'm a fan of Franken and think it's great that a critic is actually running for office. It would also be great to win back Paul Wellstone's seat. 11/06 15:43, 100% (MN SoS): Coleman 41%1.2115M Franken 41% 1.2112M 15% 10/30-11/01, 699 "likely" MN voters, +/-3.9%, SurveyUSA: Coleman 44% Franken 39% 16% 10/28-10/30, 1,050 "likely" MN voters, +/-3.0%, PPP (pdf): Franken 45% Coleman 40% 14% 10/28, 500 "likely" MN voters, +/-4.5%, Rasmussen Reports: Coleman 43% Franken 39% 14% 10/22, 500 "likely" MN voters, +/-4.5%, Rasmussen Reports: Franken 41% Coleman 37% 17%
US Senator (NC): Admittedly as a partisan, I think it would be sweet payback that Dole would lose Jesse Helms' seat after only one term. Unfortunately, Hagan has refused to issue a statement regarding LGBT issues (see: Pam's House Blend). 11/05 07:10, 100% (NC SoS): Hagan 52% 2.2M ELECTED 44% 1.8M 10/31-11/02, 2,100 "likely" NC voters, +/-2.1%, PPP (pdf): Hagan 51% Dole 44% 10/30-11/02, 682 "likely" and actual NC voters, +/-3.8%, SurveyUSA: Hagan 50% Dole 43% 10/29, 700 "likely" NC voters, +/-4%, Rasmussen Reports: Hagan 52% Dole 46% 10/18-10/20, 627 "likely" NC voters, +/-4%, SurveyUSA: Hagan 46% Dole 45%
WA Governor: I favor the Democratic candidate for governor of the neighboring state. 11/05 12:02, 46% (KGW.com): Gregoire 52% 704K RE-ELECTED (projected) Rossi 48% 652K 10/30-11/02, 663 likely/actual WA voters, +/-3.9%, SurveyUSA: Gregoire 52% Rossi 46% 10/26-10/27, 630 likely/actual WA voters, +/-4%, SurveyUSA: Gregoire 50% Rossi 48% 10/18-10/26, 600 WA reg voters, +/-4.0%, The Washington Poll: Gregoire 51% Rossi 45%
WA Initiative 1000: Right To Die: Law is similar to OR's physician assisted suicide which I support. 11/05 09:54, 1.6M+ counted (WA Elections): Yes 58% 939K PASSED (projected) No 41% 661K 10/30-11/02, 663 likely/actual WA voters, +/-3.9%, SurveyUSA: Yes 55% No 40% 10/26-10/27, 630 likely/actual WA voters, +/-4%, SurveyUSA: Yes 54% No 37% 10/18-10/26, 600 WA reg voters, +/-4.0%, The Washington Poll: Yes 56% No 38%
CA Proposition 8: Anti-Gay Marriage Constitutional Amendment: Exit Poll of 2,240 (re-interpreted from CNN's data): 52% Yes 47% No 19% Boomer 45-64 15% Gen X 30-44 9% 65+ 8% -29 17% Boomer 45-64 13% Gen X 30-44 12% -29 5% 65+ 26% Conservative 20% Liberal 6% M. 23% Moderate 20% Liberal 5% C. 24% Republican 15% Democrat 13% Ind. 27% Democrat 15% Independ. 5% R. 28% Protestant 19% Catholic 15% Protes. 14% None 11% Cath. 11/12 07:10, 100% (CA SoS): Yes 52% 5.9M PASSED No 47% 5.4M 10/29-10/31, 637 CA "likely" voters, +/-4%, SurveyUSA: No 50% Yes 47% 10/18-10/28, 966 CA "likely" voters, +/-3.3%, Field Poll (pdf): No 49% Yes 44% 10/12-10/19, 1,186 CA "likely" voters, +/-3%, PPIC: No 52% Yes 44% 10/15-10/16, 615 "likely" CA voters, +/-4%, SurveyUSA: Yes 48% No 45%
AZ Proposition 102: Anti-Gay Marriage Constitutional Amendment: Exit Poll of 1,213 (re-interpreted from CNN's data): 56% Yes 43% No 19% Boomer 45-64 16% Gen X 30-44 11% 65+ 8% -29 16% Boomer 45-64 11% Gen X 30-44 8% -29 7% 65+ 31% Conservative 19% Moderate 5% L. 22% Moderate 15% Liberal 5% C. 31% Republican 13% Independ. 10% Dem. 19% Democrat 17% Independ. 7% R. 36% Protestant 12% Catholic 18% Protes. 11% Catholic 8% None 11/05 12:04, 99.1% (AZ SoS): Yes 56% 1.04M PASSED (projected) No 43% 0.80M 09/25-09/28, 976 reg. voters, +/-3.1%, Cronkite-Eight Poll: Yes 49% No 42%

---

Voters' Guide
US Prez Obama US Sen Merkley US Rep Wu OR SoS Brown OR Treas Westlund OR AG Kroger OR BOLI Avakian OR Sen Burdick OR Rep Nolan	MultCo Shrff Skipper Ptld Comm Fritz OR M54 Yes OR M55 Yes OR M56 Yes OR M57 Yes* OR M58 No OR M59 No OR M60 No	OR M61 No OR M62 No OR M63 No OR M64 No OR M65 Yes Ptld M26-94 Yes PCC M26-95 Yes** Metro 26-96 No** *Revised 10/03/2008 **Revised 10/19/2008