Istanbul Expansion: Mocha and Baksheesh

Great expansion to the board game Istanbul that adds coffee and other nice additions to round out game play.

ISTANBUL

I love this game. You play the role of a merchant going around the market in Istanbul trying to buy and sell goods to acquire gems. You have some assistants who you drop off at various locations to do the work for you. To win, be the first to fill your cart with gems.

Fair taxation based on usage?

Since most new cars have some form of GPS tracking system. Maybe a more fair / accurate method of taxation to pay for road improvements would be to track number of miles driven per car in any particular township and tax per mile. businesses would count the mileage between the office and their employees residence and pay 2x that as well (for to and from work travel). The result would cause the people / businesses that use the government supplied roads the most to pay the most. Discounts for using public transit. Imagine how businesses would back public transit if they get discounts for usage.

The problem with this system, if used for other government provided services, is that many services are for the betterment of everyone. For example education. Everyone is better off is everyone is educated. The smarter everyone is the more advancements will happen. Maybe even fewer people in jail. The bar for society as a whole is raised. So, Everyone should pay equally to educate everyones children.

But it might work for the roads. Maybe.

Morality

There is not a one to one correlation between morality and religion.

Progress

Human evolution has not progressed very far in the last 10000 years. We still are greedy weak violent beasts who barely understand the world around us. We have advanced technologically but it is of little worth since 95% of the advancement is either to improve methods of killing or methods of steling what others have for oneself.
When we can all solve our differences without resorting to pugalism then we will have made some progress. When we no longer need fictional crutches to help us get through the day and keep us from wronging others, then we will have begun an advancment.
We need to learn that cooperation is, by far, better for us than our current greedy consumptive ways.

The Bunny is Coming

I am the bunny. I am the bunny. koo koo ka choo!
Christian has begun a little pet project. He offered the gig to mo but
she had to work so I said I'd do it. I am very excited about being the
E. Bunny. I get to run around LA and be crazy. Today we shot some
footage downtown with 2 girls @ Pershing square, 2 boys @ 11th and hope
and another couple of kids in pinata row on Olympic. It was fun seeing
the kids eyes light up when they realized the bunny was there. Apart
from a couple frightened 3yr olds it all went great. Alice was a
tremendous help with getting the suit on and leading me around while I
couldn't see. The only complaint is how amazingly hot it is under the
rubber head.
We are shooting again next week and the video should be done in a few
weeks. I can hardly wait.
--daryl

LA marathon

March 19th I got up @ 10 and walked out to the next block over. Lo and
behold there are thousands of runners and walkers and bikers doing the
marathon. I didn't have the patience to watch more than 30 min. Mile 16
of 26 and some runners looked like they were about to keel over while
others looked like they were just starting.
--daryl

New Year Disney

Alice and I went to Disneyland on N.Y. day woth mo, sonya and michael.
It was a little rainy but we still had fun. Got to see the nightmare
before xmas haunted mansion. It was quite cool. Rode space mountain
twice and have a really fun picture of mo and me on the ride. Even
though it was a wet chilly day we had ice cream... But. no one was bold
enough to speak of the elephant in the room.
--daryl

Man down

We were returning home from eating at our favorte pho place when we
watched an elderly man fall over onto the sidewalk. Alice pulled over
and I got out to see if he was ok. He hadn't moved since falling and
iwhen I asked if he needed help he said "call 911". I called and was on
hold for way too long. When I finally got someone on the line they were
professional and quick to react. The ambulance got there quickly and
they helped the man out. Apparently when he fell he hit his head and
said he couldn't move his left. He was clearly a homeless man. I felt
sad for him but the ems guys said I could go. I hope the guy is ok.
--daryl

Disney and Joshua Tree

We went to disneyland. What fun! This was my second time and moms first.
When I was there before many of the major rides were closed. I was
miffed. This time I rode everything I missed. Space mountain was the
best thing hands down. I enjoyed the haunted mansion and the two
mountain rides and I scored well in the buzz lightyear ride. I know this
will be a great place to take my nephews.
We went to joshua tree ntnl monument on sunday and holy crap it was hot.
By 11 am it was over 105 degrees. We walked, took pictures of the
beautiful lnadscape and I bouldered at the dam. By the time we got back
to the "oasis" it had to be over 115 degrees. We were hungry after
hiking in the heat so we went to dennys...what a terrible idea that
turned out to be. Terrible service and less than acceptable food. We
stopped in Hemit to visit sandra and her daughters. They have a nice
place but who would want to live in that heat? Not me.
LA is hot enough.
--daryl

Mom lands in LA

Mom had never been to tinsel town before we moved here. The only regret
I have about her visit was the terrible heat. But I'll touch on that
later. We started her tour immediately. We went to the famous encounter
restaurant and had lunch. Food was just okay and overpriced. The
Atmosphere was fun, it felt like being in the movie MIB.
In the picture is the outside of the encounter restaurant @ LAX.
--daryl

She kills again

We are mourning a recent loss in our family. Red Mousey was lounging
quietly in the dining room when she was brutally murdered by Queen
Ferocious. Here are the crime scene photos. Notice the exposure of the
entrails. There will be a ceremony this wednesday after we retrieve our
beloved Mother Kelsey from the airport. Pray for the soul of Red Mousey
and rest well knowing she is now in a better place.
--brother D

Celeb sightings

Not much to talk about this time. I thought I would chat about the two sightings in the last week. first was Jeri Ryan who played Seven of Nine from Star Trek: Voyager. She was at our favorite grocer (Whole Foods). picking up a couple items. She is shorter than I thought she would be. On TV she seems like she is 6' tall but alas she is only about 5'-7". She is pretty even in her street clothes. I like to think she was getting last moment items for the restaurant she owns in Hollywood. The other sighting was at the Benitos on beverly near Farifax. A little dive mexican joint...Super cheap food. And there is Joe Rogan the host on Fear Factor. With a tiny blonde he wore a wife beater exposing his demon jester tattoo on his right deltoid. We made eye contact and i could tell he was looking for a little recognition. I averted my gaze and pretended not to notice. I can imagine stars get tired of folks walking up and accosting their private time with dull sycophantic drivel.
I went to the Encounter restaurant this week to meet with an indie documentarian about a film he wants me to do sound design on. The restaurant looks like it was the inspiration for the movie MIB with Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith. Lava lamps everywhere and the beer taps make sound effects when used. The host desk is a hollowed out white ball looking thing with a skinny arm jutting out with a microphone built in. The film is about a group of soldiers and their time in the marines and in Iraq. It has death and explosions and stories about occupying Sadams mansion. It looks like a pretty good documentary and it will be entered into Sundance. I am just waiting for the media so I can start working. I don't think he will pay much but oh well I gotta do something more than sit in our apartment and stare at the tube.
We are going to San Fran this weekend for Michael and Riks party. I can't wait. I miss everyone in the bay area.
Well, thats it for now. see ya soon.
--Daryl

It's too darn hot!

Here is alice in jeans and then in cut off jeans. Its so hot here we can
barelt stand it. The fur monster is trying to hide from the heat under
the coffee table. Alice says the temp right now is 90. Ugh! I just wanna
go and sit in a pool somewhere. I wish we lived near a large body of
water. Ha ha. I have suggested we go to the beach but Alice claims to
not like the beach. Huh? Yep, its true.
We went to the Taiko drum festival with C. I was very inspired. I love
drums! The show we saw had 4 groups each doing a 25min set. I loved the
compositions of the first group. They were soulful and beautiful while
chest pounding loud. They had a group of kids 7 to 18 as the second
group. It was what you'd expect. The last group was like a taiko PR
group. They were more for the short attention span crowd who needs
flashy costumes and hip hop rhythms to be entertained. The good thing
about them was their very tight playing. They had technical timing
abilities the other groups lacked. When they all hit their drums it was
a one drum sound rather than a muddy fifteen drum attempt to be in time.
I would love to play taiko drums if I had the opportunity.
Recently, I have been learning new 3D software, Maya. its fun but there
is so much to learn.
I wish I could go to the Pierogi fest near Chicago next weekend. I love
Pierogi and would love an opportunity to see some of my family. Maybe I
can do it. I'll have to check my calander.
Well, sorry its been so long since my last entry. It is just soooooooo
hot I don't want to do anything. Alice and I were considering throwing
the kitty in the car and driving around with the AC blasting. Hope
everyone is well. Ciao for now.
--daryl

Museum of Jurassic technology

What a weird place. Tons of fun. In the eye of the needle you'll find a
sculpture of a person and in the other goofy. I loved the vectographs
and the eroding dice.
--daryl

Jpl

Thanks Louise(far left in the pict), I loved jpl. Everytime I think
about it I feel like what I do for a living is lame. Sometimes I wish I
had gone into a different field. I think maybe I should go back and
learn engineering then I remember how lazy I am and realize I would
never find the gumption to do it.
--daryl

Summer solstice sunset

On the longest day of the year Alice, Christian, Anat and Bobby and I
met at the beach. It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm. There was a
slight breeze. We sat on the sand and talked while the sun dropped below
the mountain. Bobby played his guitar in concert with the rush of the
waves. I drew figures in the sand and listened. Christian smiled and
agreed to try boogy boarding. Alice and I took pictures and shared hug
warmth as the temperature dropped to San Francisco range.
After calming our minds in nature we calmed our bellies at Swingers
Restaurant in Santa Monica.

There is something to be said for the beauty of nature and friendly
company.
--daryl

Pinks

Mo and I went to Pinks for dinner before her show yesterday. I go two
chili & cheese dogs with a strawberry soft drink. Pinks is supposed to
be the best dogs in L.A. I was dissapointed. The chili was dry and hard
to swallow and the dog was just a dog. If I go there again I'll have to
get a special like the 3 dog night or the poli-chili-tamali. Well
something more exotic than just a chili dog. I do have to say it was fun
looking at all the autographed photos on the wall and trying to count
how many were repeats.
After eating we picked up Alice and went to the acme theater where mo
was performing. My lady and I worked the box office. I have to say it
was nice doing a job that doesn't involve having to network and scramble
for clients. The Zen of being a cashier was nice. If only someone could
actually make enough to survive doing it. The show was good. I have seen
a lot of improv in my time and I know how bad it can be. This was pretty
good, definately better than mo was telling us it would be.
I am waiting to see mr and mrs smith. I'll let you know waht I think in
a later installment.
--daryl

Leo Carrillo tide pools

We are here at the beach and unfortunately low tide today isn't really
low enough to get the full effect. But, we did spy some shore crabs as
well as pearl crabs. It is slightly windy and alice is always chilly so
here she is in her coat at the sunny beach. I'm not much better in my
black sweatshirt and jeans. Are we city people or what? We picked up
some picnic food before our drive here so now is the time when we eat.
Chow for now(pun intended).
--daryl_frame

Some beast in a Sunbeam

I thought she was too cute to pass up sharing her vicious tranquility.
Enjoy!
--daryl