I find the occupiers/99%ers to be rather nationalistic and too economic/GDP focused – or maybe that’s how the mainstream (right wing) media is reporting stuff. I’m annoyed.
If the media is to be believed then I’m far to the left of those people. They are focused on small issues…
I’m going to end up retiring to a commune in Vermont I think 😉

Far as the news…Here’s the vague highlights: Berlusconi (and it seems the € lives on for another day – Don’t change your mind Tony), Sarkozy/Netenyahu (Frenchie speaks the truth), Australia carbon tax, right-wing yank healthcare gets by another appeals court…

I see that the gate is wide open…10 euros says I get a doorbell ring from the wanker telling me to shut the gate tomorrow. I didn’t come in through that gate, so I know this isn’t my fault. I may get the chance to say “vaffanculo” and wag a finger at him tomorrow…I’m going to practice my finger wagging!

So I’m making friends with the pizza man across the street. He speaks a bit of english, and I go in tonight, he makes the pizza and as we’re waiting for it to cook, he decides to ask me an english question..
He rips out his phone and plays an mp3 for me…then asks me what the first line means. I didn’t get what he was asking at first so he plays the song again…The first line was something like “I can’t stand to fly”…He wanted to know what “can’t stand to…” means.
So I hem n’ haw as I do when I don’t quite know how to answer. I gave the example of – “If I said I can’t stand pizza it means I don’t like pizza”. He’s happy with the explanation…

After taking my pizza and eating I realize that – as is common in english songs – there is probably more than 1 meaning…How does one explain double entendres?
BTW – What exactly is the opposite of standing?

I can’t stand to sit.
I can’t stand to walk.
I can’t stand to dance.
I can’t stand to rickshaw.

So now I guess I have to re-explain everything next time I go in….This happens all the time. I’m always unprepared and screw up when answering a question for the first time.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/equations-for-geeks/

It turns out there are two valves that need to be opened before the gas works…
So, I have warm water and warm heat now 🙂

Blankets are now less important…

I need a beanbag.

I signed the contract for my new flat tonight. My plan was to come home and have a pizza from the pizzeria across the street. It was closed. The alimentari (small grocery that sells meat and cheese) was also closed…There will be no dinner save wine tonight.

So in 4 trips Friday/Saturday I got everything moved (thanks Daniele and Jenny!). I was expecting a few things to be here that aren’t. No blankets, no iron/ironing board, no gas (which means no heat and no hot water – ouch!), no towels, no wine glasses, a shortage of plugins…I guess that’s it. Am meeting the agent tomorrow and will find out when the gas gets turned on. In the meantime it’s kind of chilly and there’s mosquitoes in here. I took a cold sponge bath today…awesome!!!
It is quite nice here tho. I’m enjoying my new place. There’s lots of birds and even some roses along the walkway. I forgot what they looked like.

Spent about 3 hours today cleaning the old place. pain!  Cleaning is my specialty.

Now I’m just tired and sore, but there is a nice pizzeria across the street.

So a more complete image set is located here: http://www.joesquires.com/western-north-america-october-2011/

I have yet to tag everything, but there you go..

It was really nice when I arrived yesterday, but turned cold last night and today. I actually turned the heater on.
I have today off to deal with jet lag…but I feel pretty good.

..and we end up in Seattle watching some great bands at the Funhouse. Which is right under the space needle, yet still a dive!

Theres a whole lotta wind. Planes are still flying tho..