Patrick A. Rafter:::The Homepage (Old Stuff)

(See the previous (January 2009) Homepage Writings/Rants HERE)

(See the next (March 2009) Homepage Writings/Rants HERE)

Homepage Link

Patrick A. Rafter likes:

-oceanography (I study it)

-vegetables (I eat them)

-rock n' roll (I listen)

FRIDAY February 27th 2009

I'm not certain, but I don't think there are a lot of vegetarians that read this site.

Despite this (perhaps BECAUSE of this), I suggest this inciteful (sp?) article on raising kids vegetarian. The story is written by the dad (who eats meat) about raising their kids veggie. Among the questions he asks:

I immediately generated a list of potential problems: Would it be healthy? What would our parents think when we asked them not to serve the grandchildren tuna fish? Would our children feel left out, abstaining from hot dogs at ballgames and birthday parties? Most important: Would they seem like freaks?

Of course, the answer to most of these questions is, "no," for him. For me? I hope that people would respect my wishes to raise young, healthy children in my own way. And yes, this applies to our happy and healthy semi-vegetarian dog (we give him bones--they are supposedly good for his teeth and such). His dog food is vegan, he loves it, and it doesn't smell bad before going in and doesn't smell as bad on the way out.

Now that I am a parent of two little girls, one of whom is old enough to be eating big-people food with gusto, I realize that the concerns I had were actually pretty trivial. Dr. Storeygard, our pediatrician, assured us that as long as the kids get enough protein and fat, they'll be fine. (Vegans, who don't eat milk or cheese, have more reason to worry.) The family fears have come to naught, too.

The big question is, what do you do when they get older? They suggest that they be allowed to eat meat when, "they can fully realize the consequences of this dietary choice" (I paraphrase). That's all. I wonder what other people think of this...

THURSDAY February 26th 2009

Getting married

NC garbage can

Reading material in NC. One is Tommy's, one is mine...

I don't need to read Artie's book because we listened to it on our way to Big Sur

Trying to look cool. Trying.

Always trying to look cool. And succeeding.

SUNDAY February 22nd 2009

Have I taken to updating this on a weekly basis?
No! Continue to check the site daily!

This week we had the Gimp visiting and I had a ton of work (off the clock work). I'll show the result of some of that work shortly.

I know I have some photos for you to peruse--let me see what I have:

A wife named Brookie. In NC.

Is it him? Obama on toast!

A wife named Brookie driving the VW in NC.

This is the "no-chin" shot we were practicing for. At Jaime and Carol's wedding.

Nate Kennedy sent me this photo he shot in January on 30th street in Avalon. It's a memorial to our friend Kris Zuccato.

Have you seen the webpage for Jaime and Carol's wedding? Davis is waiting for you there...

SUNDAY February 15th 2009

There's been a slow drain of my friends out of San Diego and now (for the third time) Sander has left the building. Later Bromo.

A classic image taken in the back of Tim Chapman's van I think (sitting next to Andy, my old roomate).

I made a webpage for Jaime and Carol's wedding (the photos I have from it). I'll get more photos from Davis and Colfey at some point and then I'll put them up too!

THURSDAY February 12th 2009

Check out this ree-diculous MySpace Music page set up by John DiGenni for the band "Shitty Karaoke":

This band includes some kids named John, Chris, and Kris Zeus singing karaoke tunes after consuming alcoholic beverages. I think my favorite is "Bon Drunkie".

MONDAY February 9th 2009

You may or may not have heard the hype surrounding the new Google Earth--some Scripps Institution of Oceanography people supplied the Googleys with better information on the seafloor. This is especially evident near the coasts. Fun for people like me, who like to check out how the bathymetry shapes the waves I like to ride. Read a little bit about this here (NY Times) or here.

SUNDAY February 8th 2009

Forgot my power cord, so I couldn't update in North Carolina. Lots of stuff went on, with the most important being that Jaime and Carol got married. There was plenty of Southern hospitality and Southern friendliness.

Some photos from the trip, starting with this view of a magazine rack before boarding the plane:

San Diego from the air. You'd be surprised at how many people in NC had the correct reply when I said I was from "San DiAgo".

These two are so schmoopy.

These two will now have centerpieces engraved with the letter "H".

Serwatkas. One of them ate my burrito and then got me sick.

Slug liked the oysters. The ocean called to tell Bob they were all out of oysters.

(to be continued tomorrow)

email me:
patrickrafter1 (at sign) hotmail.com

Kristopher Zuccato--Good Times My Friend, Good Times

Help out A Wish from a Fish: A fundraising event for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation

I hear that it went well, Click here!
I still want a poster...

PRafterDotCom Recommends (20090127):

(1) Obama (President)
(2) The Wackness (Movie)
(3) LPs (Long Playing recordings)
(4) Phonographs with USB connections (actually, I really need one of these)
(5) VBS.tv (website)

PRafterDotCom Playlist (20090127):

(1) Embrace (probably the best band fronted by Ian MacKaye)
(2) Algernon Cadwallader (from near-Philly, Cap'n Jazz reborn, good stuff)
(3) 1994! (this band is downright amazing--just two guys, but they don't need anyone else. Really amazing musicians playing crazy, catchy music. Just check it out. From Lancaster, PA)
(4) Thorns of Life (new Blake from Jawbreaker band--only heard the YouTube videos, but they sound like Unfun/24hourrevengetherapy-era Jawbreaker)
(5.1) Toe (really crazy good drummer plays mostly crazy instrumenal stuff along the lines of Mercury Program, Mogwai, etc.)
(5.2) Loma Prieta (what the kids today call, 'screamo'. Really catchy and fun).