The Agrinautica

To Catch A Predator, and Show Them on National Television
   That show, To Catch a Predator, on NBC (and not anyone who's watched it knows for certain its NBC that its on since they slip it in every chance they get) -- I can't help but watch it and think, the "predators" NEVER have their faces blurred out. We all know for even the most innocuous purposes all subjects to unexpected video-ing have their faces blurred out when televised. And so, I can't help but watch "To Catch a Prisoner" and be exceedingly suspicious that the "predators" are getting some kind of compensation in return for permission to be shown on television (which I would imagine would have to be VERY compelling compensation.). Discuss.
   Also, Kristy & I noticed that in one episode, the "predator" was wearing the exact same plastic yellow wristband as the arresting police officer. We suspect this may be evidence that in fact the whole thing is entirely faked using actors or something.


Meanwhile in ASUCD
   One of ASUCD's two political parties, Focus, has apparently split in two. The new party, which takes with it most of Focus's current incumbants, is calling itself "Go." Only, they've parted with any semblance of the traditional tactic of making ones name an acronym so it'll always be capitalized (A la L.E.A.D.," AKA Lead),-- "Go" does not stand for anything, yet the party organizers wish the name to always be capitalized as "GO." I for one will not stand for this unprecedented abuse of grammar and I hope the Aggie puts its foot down on the the Gofers.


   Additionally, I neglected to mention that Steve Ostrowski actually managed to when ASUCD Supreme Court Case 41. Although he blatantly endorsed certain ASUCD electoral candidates in his AS Papers (ASUCD supported) publication, in violation of Bylaw 411B, some genius defined "endorsement" in the Bylaws as specifically "An “endorsement” shall be when a Campaign Executive receives the support of a member of the ASUCD or an authorized student organization through a signed agreement on a document titled “Endorsement Form.” [...and submitted to SGAO]."
   Clearly the intent of that was to require such a procedure to take place, but by the way its worded it clearly causes anything other than that procedure to simply not be considered an "endorsement." Though the Court adds human rationality to interpretation of bylaws, it simply cannot overcome such strongly worded a specific definition.


Meanwhile, in Space
   Yesterday:

Today's installment will be in the original doodling form from class (but colourized):

The ASUCD Gulag
   After a 2+ hour debate in which two people cried, the ASUCD Senate finally came to an agreement: they would fork out $1,000 to send the controversial Steven Ostrowski to do hard labour in another country.


Indictment Act
   Judicial Proposal 7 was finally passed (12-0-0) as Senate Bill 35. To have the ASUCD Senate consider the removal of a Justice:
   Formerly required a motion by a Senator (no need for a 2nd even), Justice would be told 24 hours in advance that they were being considered for removal (they need not be told (and usually weren't) anything more specific about the charges than that it is a "personnel matter") & that they have a right to make the closed session on them open;
   Henceforth (assuming President Holloway signs the Bill) a motioning Senator will have to write up charges citing (i) the specific bylaw or subsection of the judicial code of ethics allegedly violated, (ii) the specific action or inaction the Defendant Justice allegedly committed and the specific time and place if applicable, (iii) the general evidence or witnesses who would be able to attest that it is reasonable to believe these allegations, and (iv) an argument or explanation that if believed these allegations would render the Defendant Justice unfit for their position; and the validity of these charges must be confirmed by the Internal Affairs Commission; if approved by the IAC, the motioning Senator then may proceed as before (24 hour notice etc), but the defendant Justice shall of course be given the approved charge sheet and may only be charged in accordance with such.
   Unfortunately, when I think about the spurious charges made against ASUC Berkeley Chief Justice Sonya Banerjee earlier this quarter, they might have slipped through even the new indictment process here,* but at least for example the spurious "just to talk' impeachment hearing Sen Birdsall called against Justice Harney & myself last year would have been right out.

   Anyway, needless to say the passage of SB35(2006) should actually make a huge improvement in the independance of the ASUCD Judiciary. It was a very positive note for my last ASUCD meeting, ever.


Using E
   Every time Sen Alexandra Frick's name is called I think my name is being called since "Frick" is a very very common mispronouncement of "Fricke." In fact, our names are in all probability etymologically linked and we share a 16th century Prussian ancestor. I am rather disappointed, however, that Alex's ancestors gave up the fight to explain that the "e" is not silent. (Though my own ancestors missplaced an accent mark that was over the "e" somewhere in Brazil)


Advising Advisor: Rein in Reign or Resign
   The Aggie ran an editorial yesterday supporting Elections Chairman Leathers' call for ASUCD Advisor Tucker to change his behaviour or resign. This comes a day after a front page article reporting on the situation, which was initiated the day previous by a livejournal post on the subject by Leathers.
   Article ends with "Tucker has little ASUCD experience and would do well to pay some respect to those students who have been active members of the association longer than he has."
   On any account, rumour I'm hearing is that Tucker was never planning on being the advisor for more than two years, before scampering off to law school. I think its kind of silly to hire an advisor for so short a period of time that they'll never have more experience than the senior student leaders (previous advisor Eric Sanchez was around less than a year). I have a brilliant idea for our next advisor though: former Sen Lamar Heystek.
   I'd be available to take the job presumably, but I'm in no need for such a demotion ;) (For Heystek though it would be an appropriate "day job" to support him while on city council (which does not pay I believe)). But really I plan on not being around here for the rest of eternity ... though on the plus side it would be the ultimate last laugh on Vicki Swett if I ended up with her job.

Quote of the Day: "I bet you never thought I'd be contemplating filing two back-to-back cases!" - Kai "No Need for a Judiciary" Savaree-Ruess.


Year Ago Today: Unqualified Candidates Scandal Breaks - News of the Unqualified Candidates Scandal first breaks. Also, I'm quoted in a student government court opinion in Texas.

   Davis, CA - Could there be a Slovak conspiracy in ASUCD? Consider the striking resemblence between the flag on the right (the flag of Slovakia), and the flag on the left, (the ASUCD Christian Democrat Party)!

   When approached for comment, Christian Democrat leader Subcommandant Ostrowski noted that he was sure "presiel som veverichkoo" could be a good slogan.
   "First the destruction of Czechoslovakia, now ASUCD!!" bemoaned ASUCD Director of External Affairs, James Schwab, when approached on the subject.
   Emosnail correspondants (seen here standing on top of a tank in Slovakia*) report that "presiel som veverichkoo" is Slovak for "I just ran over a squirrel."

   Emosnail's main Slovak correspondant, Branislav Ciberej, could not be reached for comment, but he is probably making an extensive report on the subject in this video.


Balancing the Force in ASUCD
   Originally, there was Darth Lloyd, whose dark intentions for ASUCD were clearly evident. Somehow he even managed to finagle his way onto the liberal Lead party despite being an obvious republican. Darth Lloyd brought us his apprentices, Justice Raff, who wasn't quite evil enough, and then Darth Laabs. In fact, the exact moment Laabs crossed over to the Dark Side has been documented.
   "I learned a lot from him. I learned about the power of the bylaws, and his knowledge of the bylaws was strong. However, he was dispatched ... to Berkeley, where they have cookies that make people have feelings of dread," related Laabs on the subject of Lloyd.
   More recently, after being deposed from the self-proclaimed position of ASUCD Pope, and left for politically dead, Darth Harms has reemerged as a new member of hte ASUCD sith by several accounts. Laabs reports "his current plans involve more duct tape, and I believe, the popeship of SGAO." Harms rolemodel in ASUCD however, Comptroller Kai "Cromwell" Savaree-Ruess has not generally had the Sith title applied to him.
   And finally, most recently, Ostrowski of the Slovak Christian party has declared his sithship. This brings currently identified ASUCD sith to 3. Ostrowski speculated that are are probably actually about five, noting that there are both liberal and conservative ones. Though many assume there can only be two Sith present at a time, Sith expert Sean Wallitch informs us that there in fact can be many, vying with eachother for power.
   Ostrowski reports that since he thinks a sith name should describe the person, he is going to take on the sith name of "Darth Steve."
   When asked to speculate as to who else might be Sith, both "Darth Steve" & Darth Laabs noted that Senator Molnar, whose ascension to the Senate was regarded with tremendous dread a year ago, has turned out to be "too good natured." Savaree-Ruess's name was mentioned but "he just hangs out with Chris Harold all the time" according to Ostrowski.


Completely Unrelated Picture of the Day

I added a whole bunch of pictures of Bailey, including pictures of him hanging out with his best friend Orca the Bunny, and also pictures of our cat Pele hanging out atop a cactus.