Steal This Blog!

Some many years ago, there was a contest to design the logo for Palladium Books‘ website.  I submitted an entry that I cooked up, and didn’t win.  At least, I didn’t win the initial contest.  I apparently got runner-up, because my logo appeared on the site less than a year later, and has remained there […]

This last weekend, I managed to sell out of nearly all my products at the Farmers Market on the Square in Mount Vernon.  It was a good experience and I look forward to trying it out again, when we get back from vacation.
Today, I have kind of petered out on studying and have just been […]

Just when I think my job prospects are bottoming out, I get a letter from the human resources people regarding the fed job:
Mr. Diroll,
You have been tentatively selected for the position of Adjudications Officer, GS-1801-09 in New York City, NY.  You were found qualified for this grade level based on your Juris Doctorate […]

I’m glad that everyone liked the Morcheeba/Biz Markie lyrics.  Go out and multiply.
The federal job I applied for has been abolished.  They have simply done away with the title, and created another position, which is the exact same job, with a different name.  I have to re-apply for this job.
I’m kind of pissed.

(God, I love this song…
B-b-biz mar…
I’m the drunk dance rocka
that don’t drink vodka
Never sang a song
called “Frere Jacques”
Rap-rhyme schoola
Pole Position Rula
In seventh grade I had a teacha
named Mr. Doola
I’m very unique
and you will agree-a
One in a million
like Mohammed and Aaliyah
An over-acheiva
Have more stunts than Carl Seaver
Ain’t no other like
B-I-Z M-A-R-K-I wit’ da E
Hank at the […]

The idea of a ‘tax holiday,’ giving relief from the $0.18/gallon federal tax on gasoline is not getting great press.  CNN conducted a poll on its website–highly scientific, I know–showing that 73% of those voting think that the plan is simply political pandering.  PANDERING.  I have to applaud the vocabulary there.
Here’s something that kind of […]

This week, the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is about $3.62, according to CNN. It’s hurting a lot of people who commute vast distances to work, or whose livelihoods rely on transportation. The Columbus and Cleveland areas are just sprawls of suburbs and bedroom communities, all pumped up as the nice, […]

Just as I’m starting to get established in Mount Vernon, the federal government goes and sends me these tantalizing papers for a job in NYC with the Department of Homeland Security.  It could be a great paying job or only a decent one, but it would pay 3x what I make now, even at the […]

Congratulations to me!  I’m proud to say that I am now the Vice Chairperson of the Knox County Democratic Party.  I won the only contested seat, 16-13, on Tuesday night, and now sit on the board of a local committee in a county that is rather strongly contested between Republicans and Democrats.
Knox county has traditionally […]

Carly and I had the opportunity this week to see Saul Williams live in concert at the Grog Shop in Cleveland.  The show was just amazing, and it was worth the trip over and over again.
Williams has been a poet and writer for years, has starred in the film ‘Slam,’ published a few books of […]