Rob's Rants

But we don't torture....do we?

2008-07-29T19:34:00.006-05:00

Hey Everybody,

I just finished Eugene Robinson's latest piece in the Washington post and thought I'd get a few things off of my chest.

The piece deals with the latest evidence that the Bush Administration used to justify thier torture procedures while fighting the GWOT. The memo's were released because of a FOIA lawsuit brought against the Administration by the ACLU.

Robinson's opening quote

" I still find it hard to believe that George W. Bush, to his eternal shame and our nation's great discredit, made torture a matter of hair-splitting, legalistic debate at the highest levels of the U.S. government. But that's precisely what he did.

empasis mine

This is not the country I grew up in. I believe that we are still a county of laws, not men, and those laws should be followed by everyone, especially those who have been entrusted to the highest offices in the land.

I realize that in the minds of some 9/11 "changed everything" but there's no need for the Administration to either actively torture detainees or send them off to countries where we know they'll be tortured. to quote Mr. Robinson,

Somehow, though, the administration pretends not to understand that strapping a prisoner down and pouring water into his nose until he can't breathe constitutes a death threat -- regardless of whether the interrogator intended to stop before the prisoner actually drowned

I'm hoping that the upcoming election will also change everything and that the incoming administration sheds some light on what has been done in our names.

Thanks for letting me vent, I feel much better now.

As far as things at home are going, we're doing pretty well. Linda and Aidan seem to have caught a summer cold, hopefully they'll both be better soon. I have fully recovered from the appendectomy I had to have over the weekend of July 4th. Now I'm waiting to see how big my portion of the bill is, that should be fun.

Have a good evening,
Rob

Update!

2007-12-19T10:39:00.000-06:00

Hey Gang,

The REP has a new space!! We've moved to the old Studio Academy space on 7th St NE. I've been lucky enough to be cast in Terra Nova which is really exciting. The show is about Captain Robert Scott's expedition to the South Pole. It runs from January 18th to February 2nd. If you get a chance, please stop by and check out the new space!!!

Happy Holidays!!
Rob

R.I.P REP

2007-10-13T18:37:00.000-05:00

Hey Gang,

Well, it's finally happened. The REP has lost it's lease. A developer has bought the building we've called "home" for the last 24 years along with some adjoing property and is planning on redeveloping the site.

I'm still having a hard time believing it's happening. I've spent alot of time at the REP, (My wife would say entirely too much time) over the last fifteen years. When I first moved to Rochester and didn't know a soul, it always felt good to go volunteer or see a show there. I've made many friends and have countless memeories that I shall hold dear for life.

I'm on my way to see the final performance in our present space, here's hoping the hiatus is only temporary.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend,

Rob

Baseball Playofffs!!

2007-10-03T10:05:00.000-05:00

Hey Everybody,

Just thought I'd check in and post a few thoughts about the MLB Playoffs. I'm very excited that the Cubs and Phillies have both made the playoffs. The only thing better would have been to have the Twins in as well, (oh well, maybe next year). I think it's been something like fifteen years since the Phillies even made the post-season, and I'm always hoping that the Cubbies will banish the curse and finally win the WS, although as strong as the AL is, this may not be their year.

Have a good one,
Rob

Help Restore Habeas Corpus!!

2007-09-18T11:34:00.001-05:00

Hey Gang!!

Help restore Habeas Coupus by becoming a "citizen co-sponsor". Just click on the image below.

Have a good one!!
Rob

So Long KG

2007-07-31T19:36:00.000-05:00

Hey everybody.

Has it really been 4 months since I posted last? I realize very few people check this site, but for those who do, again I apologize for the lack of activity.

Anyway, the reason I decided to post this evening was today's trade of Kevin Garnett by the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Boston Celtics (BOOOOO!!!). I had the opportunity to see Kevin a few times when my brother Chad and I used to catch games back in the late 90's. We saw one very impressive game he had against the Houston Rockets that has been seen by some local sports writers as his "coming out party" as he completely dominated the fourth quarter and brought the Wolves from behind to win. It's a shame the the front office of the Timberwolves couldn't surround this truly gifted man with the right peices so that he could have the NBA title he so richly deserves.

The Boston Celtics have never been one of my favorite teams, in fact I think it's safe to say I hate 'em; but I'll be tuning in this season to see how they do and as much as it might hurt, I'll be rooting for KG and his new teammates and wondering, yet again, what might have been.

So long KG, you'll be sorely missed!!

Is it time for McHale to take a permanent vacation to his cabin up North?

I think so.

Later,
Rob

I couldn't Resist

2007-04-11T15:41:00.000-05:00

Hey Gang,

Just saw this cross posted at dailykos and had to add it here,

href="http://piketaylor.blogspot.com/2005/07/day-in-life-of-joe-republican.html">

I would also like to invite anyone who reads this and is in the area to come to the Rep's upcoming production of "Rocketman" by Stephen Dietz. I've been lucky enough to be cast and it's a really interesting script. If you've got a free Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night in May, we'd love to have you attend.

Have a good one,

Rob

Santaland Revisited

2006-12-11T14:22:00.000-06:00

Hey Gang,

Just thought I'd let you all know that the Rochester Repertory Theatre is having a fundraiser this coming weekend, December 15th & 16th. We're remounting David Sedaris' Santaland Diaries which was very popular last season. Yours truly will be up in the booth doin' the lights & sound. We're trying to raise money to get new seating sections so if you've ever been to the REP and helped us move our seats or if you just want to see a funny show, come on out an see "Santaland". You won't regret it, I promise.

Have a good one,

Rob

Update

2006-12-07T15:07:00.000-06:00

Sorry it's been so long since my last post. I checked Cousin Jason's site, and saw that he provided a link to this site, (thanks for the link Jason!) so I thought I'd better do a quick update. We've been busy at home recovering from the latest round of "the crud", hopefully we're done with it for the season, (just the type of infomation you wanted to hear I'm sure).

I recently ordered a copy of BNL'S St. Paul show which I wasn't able to attend, can't wait for it to show up in my mailbox, (MERRY CHISTMAS TO ME!!!).

Anybody who's interested in playing Fantasy Congress, bring it on!!! I'm ready baby!!!

Have a Very Happy Holiday Season.
I'll try my best not to be such a stranger on my own site!!
Rob

Way to go Govies!!!

2006-09-06T10:19:00.000-05:00

Those of you who know me probably know that I'm a pretty big Drum & Bugle Corps fan. This past weekend, my favorite Corps, the Govenaires won the Class A Drum and Bugle Corps Championship in Rochester, New York. Here's the story from the Strib.

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/657864.html

And the Govie's site, http://www.govenaires.org/

Bonus points to those of you who know who the oldest Corps in the country is.

Way to go Gang!!!

Have a good one,

Rob

Olbermann v Rumsfeld

2006-09-01T11:17:00.000-05:00

Saw Keith Olbermann's reply to Sec. Rumsfeld's speech to the American Legion this morning on MSNBC.com and thought it was great, here's the link http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12131617/.

My favorite bit was when Mr. Olbermann quoted legendary newsman Edward R. Murrow.

“We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty,” he said, in 1954. “We must remember always that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. “We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men, not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were for the moment unpopular."

Thank you Mr. Murrow.

Have a safe long weekend everyone,

Rob

2004 Revisited?

2006-08-16T15:26:00.000-05:00

From Salon.com,

A nonprofit group hired by Ohio's most populous county to study its first experience with electronic voting machines says that problems with the system may be so serious that they can't be fixed in time for the November elections. As the Associated Press reports, the Election Science Institute has concluded that Cuyahoga County's election system "in its entirety exhibits shortcomings with extremely serious consequences, especially in the event of a close election."
The county rolled out its electronic voting machines for Ohio's primary in May. The results? The AP says that around 18,000 absentee ballots had to be hand-counted because they hadn't been formatted correctly; poll workers had trouble operating the voting machines, when they showed up for work at all; "vote memory cards" went missing; and one precinct -- 2004, anyone? -- opened four hours late. "Researchers found that the four sources used to keep track of vote totals on machines did not always add up," the AP reports. Why? Maybe because of a "lack of inventory controls and gaps in the chain of custody of mission critical assets."
According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the report found that nearly 10 percent of the official ballots cast in Cuyahoga County in May were "destroyed, blank, illegible, missing, taped together or otherwise compromised." Under Ohio law, the "official ballot" is the paper record that the voting machines are supposed to produce; without them, a manual recount would be impossible and/or meaningless.
A spokesman for Diebold tells the AP that the report is flawed and blames inadequately trained poll workers for any problems with the company's machines. A spokesman for Ken Blackwell says the problem lies with local jurisdictions. "If the Board of Elections properly trains its poll workers and the poll workers follow the instruction, these problems will be taken care of," Blackwell spokesman James Lee tells the Plain Dealer.

Sorry about the lack of activity

2006-07-11T12:08:00.000-05:00

For the one or two of you who check this blog:

Thanks for checking in, if you get a moment will you leave a comment? I'd love to know who stops by.
Sorry it's been so long since my last update. We've recently moved and most of my energy has gone toward getting packed/unpacked, but we're almost done now, yea!!!

Thanks again for stopping by,

Rob

Was Your Vote Counted?

2006-06-02T09:25:00.000-05:00

Blue America??

2006-05-18T15:38:00.000-05:00

Boy did I like the look of this, sure makes me look forward to the elections this November.

http://mydd.com/story/2006/5/15/202917/008

Rove Indicted??

2006-05-16T10:46:00.000-05:00

Could it be? I certainly hope so!! GO PATRICK GO!!! You 'da man!!

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051206Y.shtml

Edit: It looks like the author of this aritcle, (and I as well) may have jumped the gun on this. I'm leaving it up, though so you can read for yourself what's going on. Have a good one.

Rob

Colbert Rules!!!

2006-05-01T16:20:00.000-05:00

For those of you who haven't already seen Colbert's Roast of the Doofus-In-Chief, check this out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcIRXur61II

Under Construction

2006-04-13T10:24:00.000-05:00

Hey Gang!!

Thanks for stopping by my blog. As I have time, I'll try to update it and let you know what's going on.

Have a great day!!
Rob