July 31, 2004
Help is on the way
Having filed a tax extension back in April I decided it was high time to finish my taxes yesterday. Looking over my returns for the last four years I realized that John Kerry was absolutely correct in his acceptance speech.
What does it mean when people are huddled in blankets in the cold, sleeping in Lafayette Park on the doorstep of the White House itself - and the number of families living in poverty has risen by three million in the last four years? America can do better. And help is on the way.
I’m one of those firmly middle class Americans that has sunk into poverty in the last four years. Going from 80K to 23K in four years. Hopelessness and panic are constant companions as of late. Mary and I raised four children on that last year. Because that's what we do. We see it through.
John Kerry’s speech made me realize that I don’t have to be ashamed of being an American or a patriot again. Bush Jr. and his neoSS cabinet are simply a deranged faction of Americans (kind of like some other extremists I’ve heard about lately-except for, you know, they wear turbans) that as an American I can agree with or not agree with. That's democracy.
I’ve always been a Democrat. I’ve always tried to help people because it’s the right thing to do, but what I’m not sure of is how to get some of the other 3 million families that are on the fence to vote for positive change. It breaks my heart that people only know what Fox News tells them and that they would buy into the fearful propaganda from Bush Jr.’s campaign stumping.
I will say that if I had any doubts about John Kerry’s ability -they have been removed. Educate yourselves people. Pray that the powers-that-be listen to the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations and moreover implement them. It’s not your fathers Republican Party any more kiddies. If Bush Jr. is reelected we are running towards fascism and lunacy like a bull at the gate. Or is it an Elephant?
July 30, 2004
July 29, 2004
Spock's Brain at Irvine Improv
The Irvine Improv is doing a staged version of Star Trek featuring the episode Spock's Brain.
I suppose that if I had my way they would do this with every single episode of the original series. I noticed they are not doing it with the any of The Next Generation episodes. Which of course proves once and for all that the original series was far better TNG and that Jim Kirk was a better captain.
I bet that in a few years they'll start doing stage productions of the musical episode of Buffy.
July 28, 2004
Barack Obama
I really like this guy.
Transcript: Illinois Senate Candidate Barack Obama
July 27, 2004
iNTj's or the Mastermind Personality Type
Mary and I took the Jung typology test provided by Myers/Briggs.
We both came up as iNTj's AKA as the mastermind personality type. Apparently only 1% of society comes up that way. People like Ayn Rand and Thomas Jefferson. Also fictional characters like Hannibal Lector and Prof. Moriarty
It's even rarer that women come up with that typology. It does explain a lot of Mary and I's odd lives. Especially the occasional evil laughter emanating from our house.
What it doesn't explain is why we've never used our Mastermind powers for evil? That may change any day now...
July 26, 2004
GOP Platform
Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's daddy made war on him, then a good guy when Cheney did business with him and a bad guy when someone else entirely unrelated to him attacked the US multiple times.
Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.
The United States should get out of the United Nations, oh, and our highest national priority is enforcing U.N. resolutions against Iraq.
A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multi-national corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind without regulation.
The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay.
If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex.
A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our long-time allies, then demand their cooperation and money.
Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy.
Providing health care to all Americans is socialism.
HMOs and insurance companies have the best interests of the public at heart in balance with making a profit off of every health care transaction in this country.
Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer aren't scientifically proven, but creationism should be taught in schools.
Government should limit itself to the power named in the Constitution, which includes censoring the Internet.
The public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades, but George Bush's driving record is none of our business.
Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a conservative radio host. Then it's an illness, and you need our prayers for your recovery.
General John Ashcroft can tell states what local voter initiatives they have the right to adopt.
What Bill Clinton did in the 1960s is of vital national interest, but what Bush did in the '80s is irrelevant.
A president lying about an extramarital affair is a impeachable offense. A president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy.
Via Foolmoon
July 20, 2004
What a wonderful world.
Well, that's good enough for me son. Dismissed. Oh...and Semper fi!.
I wonder if they'll replace Lex Luthor with Keyser Soze?
Poor, poor, pitiful Linda. See, I told ya Vegas sucked.
Very recent poll on the electoral vote. So far Kerry is spankin' Bush. Jr.
July 18, 2004
Behind the Orange Curtain
Mary Belle related this story to me last night. The Belle works at a Hollywood Video. During the course of the evening an older woman came in and wanted to rent Bowling for Columbine. The Belle asked her if she had seen Fahrenheit 9/11 yet? Indeed she had; in fact, she had seen it at 11:00 am that morning. Furthermore, that by 1:00 pm that afternoon she had become a Democrat -after being a lifelong Orange County Republican. She claimed that she was unable to support the Republican Party any longer after seeing the film. She actually went and changed her voter registration card.
July 17, 2004
Liverpool Lullaby (or, The Mucky Kid)
This song {says Mary} is indicative of our current life condition... albeit with certain exclusions.
Oh you are a mucky kid,
Dirty as a dustbin lid.
When he hears the things you did,
You'll gerra belt from your Dad.
Oh you have your father's nose,
So crimson in the dark it glows,
If you're not asleep when the boozers close,
You'll gerra belt from your Dad.
You look so scruffy lying dur
Strawberry-jam tats in yer 'air,
Though in the world you haven't a care
And I have got so many.
It's quite a struggle every day
Living on your father's pay,
The bugger drinks it all away
And leaves me without any.
Although we have no silver spoon,
Better days are coming soon
Now Nelly's working at the Lune
And she gets paid on Friday.
Perhaps one day we'll have a splash,
When Littlewoods provide the cash,
We'll get a house in Knotty Ash
And buy your Dad a brewery.
Oh you are a mucky kid,
Dirty as a dustbin lid.
When he hears the things you did
You'll gerra belt from your Dad.
Oh you have your father's face,
You're growing up a real hard case,
But there's no one can take your place,
.... Go fast asleep for yer Mammy.
Notes
Cilla Black's recording of my industrial-strength lullaby reached the UK
hit parade, coupled with Conversations. She still gets many requests to
sing the Mucky Kid song!
Many other artists have recorded this number including
Jacquie and Bridie, and Judy Collins
(In My Life, Elektra 74027-2).
I have made a pathetic attempt to indicate the "proper" Scouse
pronunciation. Thus, "there" is written "dur." However, no
orthographic tricks, short of the extended IPA, can do justice
to the Merseyside vowels and phlegmatic fricatives.
It's interesting to note that Liverpool-bred Cilla Black
sings "beggar," while US-born Judy Collins offers the original,
uncensored "bugger." Cilla also uses the popular diminutive
for "Dad": "Da'".
Awarded the SING prize for 1959.
Back to contents...
Three dog Night
Easy To Be Hard
How can people be so heartless
How can people be so cruel
Easy to be hard, easy to be cold
How can people have no feelings
How can they ignore their friends
Easy to be proud, easy to say no
Especially people who care about strangers
Who care about evil and social injustice
Do you only care about bleeding crowd
How about a needing friend, I need a friend
How can people be so heartless
You know I'm hung up on you
Easy to be proud, easy to say no
Especially people who care about strangers
Who care about evil and social injustice
Do you only care about bleeding crowd
How about a needing friend, we all need a friend
How can people be so heartless
How can people be so cruel
Easy to be proud, easy to say no
Easy to be cold, easy to say no
Come, on, easy to give in, easy to say no
Easy to be cold, easy to say no
Much too easy to say no
He is brave Sir Superhighway...
Finally a knight that doesn't sing. Sheesh, all this guy did was invent the World Wide Web. I wonder if Elton, Mick and Paul are pissed off about it?
July 15, 2004
Thursday sucks?
I don't mind straight Republicans as long as they act gay in public.
July 12, 2004
More On Bush
I've gotten this as an email from a few people lately. It raises some interesting questions about the bible. Questions I've always had at any rate.
A Letter to the president about LEVITICUS
July 11, 2004
Bush/Kerry
I was up in LA on Friday and Saturday. Logan was flying out of LAX to visit his grandparents so we went up and stayed with Mike in Venice. I noticed that in Venice and also on the 3rd Street Promenade there was a whole lot of anti-Bush people everywhere. In stark contrast to the Orange County experiences I've been having. Which is essentially that since Bush is "good Christian" you should vote for him. While I think it's swell that Bush is a good anything -I'm afraid I don't really trust him and I'm still pretty pissed off that he wasn't actually elected. Not to mention that his entire cabinet is made up of self-serving or rather corporation serving evildoers.
I spoke to some of the Kerry/Edwards campaign people about what Mary and I could do as individuals. They suggested going to meetups as a way to best utilize your talents.
Honestly, I don't know if a Kerry/Edwards administration would be all that different than a Bush/Cheney administration. After all politicians are always politicians at the end of the day. I'm hoping that it would be. I'm hoping that our country can come back from the brink of whatever lunacy has brought us to this point. I would also hope that ultimately I could be proud to be an American again. 'Cuz right now I'm not. I'm ashamed. It's a hard place to be.
July 07, 2004
Rising again?
Christian's moving to South Carolina to establish new government?