I am a dinosaur in a lot of ways and one such way is I am one of the few Americans who still watches and enjoys the sport of Boxing. Tonight on HBO there was a fight between two boxers named Chad Dawson and Jean Pascal. On the back of Dawsons Boxing trunks sprawled across his ass in huge letters was an add for a condom website. Once I quit laughing I thought about how stupid and inappropriate it really was. The stupid is there because you're wearing a condom add on your ass and the inappropriate I will get to in a minute. I have since learned that this is nothing new for Dawson who has wore has wore that on his trunks before and many MMA fighters are also sponsored by that particular website. Honestly in the case of Dawson I never noticed it before, tonight it would have been impossible not to, and in the case of the MMA I wouldn't have noticed because I think MMA really really sucks.
I can remember as a young child watching fights with my Father as a 5, 6, 7 year old and I wondered if tonight a child that age asked his father what that website meant on the back of Dawson trunks and if a Father sat and fumbled for a reasonable answer to the question. Hell maybe today's 6 year old knows what a condom is and I am just behind the times. I can tell you at the age of about 8 or 9 I discovered that I liked girls but it was still another year or two before I figured out what exactly that meant in it's entirety and I was probably 12 or so before I stopped finding the whole idea of intercourse repulsive.
I feel the same way about the subject of sex and young children that I feel about politics and young children. A person only get's so many years (if they are lucky) that they can run and jump and play and be children without things like politics and sex ruining it for them. The sight of 42 year old woman's boob for a fraction of a millisecond is one thing athletes wearing condom adds, Race car drivers being sponsored by sexual enhancement pill companies is another. Yet it's the former that caused the uproar. Jimmy Johnson selling extenze tablets at 3:30 does not bother me. Any 7 year old up at that time and watching such a thing is the result of bad parenting But the fight was on before 10 o'clock and Cealis and Viagra commercials run at seemingly all hours and during all programs. In the case of the Male enhancement ads I am sure that many women who have put up with years of tampon and minstrel cramp commercials are probably saying "it's about time you know how we've felt for the last 35 years." And honestly they have a point.
I believe sexual education should start maybe as early as the 3rd or 4th grade. I believe it should start in earnest by the 5th or 6th grade. I also believe contraceptives should be made available in High Schools I also believe we should be allowed to watch a sporting program or any program with out having to explain to a 5, 6,7 year old that maybe be watching what a condom is or what ED is.
My Nephew who was about 6 or 7 at the time asked me who I was "going" for in the Presidential election. I told him Barack Obama. He asked why and I said simply I think he's the best person for the job. I left it at that. There will be time to share my Political beliefs with him when he is older. At his age he should just worry about figuring out how to get along with his classmates and make friends, WWE, NBA, and getting better at Madden's. You only get so many years when such things are the main concerns of your otherwise (again if you are lucky) care free life let's let the kids have those few years.
And yes I guess this is my Helen Lovejoy won't somebody think of the children post :)
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Part II will start on Chapter 25, page 502
At the end of Chapter 24 of Harry Potter and the Deatly Hallows, Harry has a vision of Lord Voldemort visiting Dumbledore's grave, destroying his tomb, and stealing the Elder Wand, making him more powerful and more dangerous than ever before. According to Entertainment Weekly, that's where the audience will probably see the "To Be Concluded" card and wait in total anticipation for Deathly Hallows Part II, due out July 15, 2011.
I can't wait.
I can't wait.
The View From My Ass Vacation Part 1,
First of I would like to thank America's English teacher Ralph for catching all of the typos. I am sure there will be some more for Ralph to find in this post. For the record when I get paid for what I write and yes I have had jobs where I got paid for writing I care about typos and such shit. When I do not get paid for what I write (sorry Uber Nip) I do not care about typos and such shit. As I have often said I know the difference between their, there and they're my fingers often do not. Anyway thanks Ralph and as your hero likes to say...
Anyway on to my Vacation. Is anything more exciting listening to somebody else talking about their vacation and showing pictures?
The Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver was just a little bit nicer than say the Thermopolis Best Western which I thought was pretty nice when I stayed there. If I had it to do over I would spend more time in Vancouver. I was there for 2 days the first was spent really just walking around the adjacent neighborhood (though we should have done more) because we were tired. I figured the cab driver that took us from the airport to the Fairmont was jacking up his fair by taking the longest way possible to the hotel but not being familiar with the city and with Holland America paying him I really didn't care. It turns out I was right. We later went on a bus tour of the city and cab driver took about 20 minutes longer to get o the hotel from the airport than the bus did.
Vancouver from outside our hotel window
A visitor outside our hotel window.
In Vancouver I was introduced to the $32 Eggs Benedict. Thankfully only once did were we really a slave to the hotel restaurant when we had to eat breakfast because the restaurant in the underground mall under the Fairmont was going to be opened in time before our bus left. I did buy some Cigars in the underground mall which I am sure I paid WAY to much for.
Oh Ralph when I opened my Luggage in Vancouver you'll be glad to know there was a card from the TSA saying they had gone through my bag and that it was clean.
On day 2 after paying $60 we took the fairy to Victoria. Yes I have to apologize to ET I was in Victoria for about 5 hours though it would have been quite difficult to have arrange meeting because it was part of a tour and we really only had a couple of hours to ourselves. Plus I honestly didn't know were going to Victoria. I don't pay attention to details.
Exciting picture from the fairy.
First place we went to on the Island was The Butchart Gardens Now I am not a big flowers and plants guy but this place was very neat.
After about 2 hours in the Garden we went to Victoria where we got about 3 hours downtown. Our Bus driver warned us Victoria was a "weird town" Our Bus driver was a cool guy but I could tell he was pretty conservative. Anywho outside of Darth Vader playing the violin I didn't think Victoria was near as weird as say Boulder Co. or Madison WI.
A picture of the Empress Hotel in Victoria which I took because James Bond stayed there in the book Brokenclaw.
Day 3 we started with another tour of Vancouver. We went to Granville Island which has a fantastic Farmers Market. Had I the time or the way to bring the food home I would have stood in the massive lines and bought a ton of food. The place sold every kind of food you can think of and it all looked good. After buying a fedora at Edie's Hats and watching another Canadian store say reject my debit Card (fucking Canuck credit cards machines) we went through China town. Our driver drove through East Hastings and pointed out that like every city Vancouver had it's "Skid Row" however unlike American cities Vancouver's Skid Row was about 7 blocks long.
We got on the boat and once again my debit card worked. I knew I was no Ralph and that I had some money to cover my ass.
Ms Ryndam. Our boat.
Some of my favorite moments on the boat were out in the middle of nowhere smoking a cigar on the observation deck. The best part of a cruise is for 7 days you have no idea what is going on in the world. It must be how people who watch Fox News all the time feel. Actually the cabins got CNN but anybody who spends their time on a cruise watching CNN is a damn fool. You can also buy Internet time but that too seemed like a waste of good time on the boat.
First port Ketchikan Alaska
Second port Juneau.
Governor's Mansion.
Alaska capital building where Sarah must have spent a good 25 minutes.
Skagway Alaska and Northern British Columbia
Glacier National Park
Kenai Fjords National Park. Our Cruise was over. This part was a small boat ride on very rough waters and one of the engines on the boat quit working. People on the boat called it the S.S. Minnow. I am not ashamed to admit I got sick on the boat of death.
Sea Otters there were also momentary whale sitings which we didn't get good pictures of.
This is the end of part 1. Tomorrow (hopefully) I will post pictures from the land tour part of the vacation. BTW the weather in Vancouver and Victoria was really nice high 60's low 70's and very sunny. It was also very nice in Katchikan 72 and sunny which the locals called "hot" and yes they really do not like the sun there. They were not at all happy it wasn't raining. The next day in Juneau the weather changed. It was in the 50's and drizzly. Other than Northern BC where it was in the 40's and by the Glaciers where it was in the 30's the temperature was in the 50's and low 60's rainy and overcast until we got to Fairbanks at the end of our trip where it was in the high 70's low 80's. Compared to this 98 degree heat index of 115 shit we our having now I loved the weather. But as I will explain in part 2 I was in the minority.
Anyway on to my Vacation. Is anything more exciting listening to somebody else talking about their vacation and showing pictures?
The Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver was just a little bit nicer than say the Thermopolis Best Western which I thought was pretty nice when I stayed there. If I had it to do over I would spend more time in Vancouver. I was there for 2 days the first was spent really just walking around the adjacent neighborhood (though we should have done more) because we were tired. I figured the cab driver that took us from the airport to the Fairmont was jacking up his fair by taking the longest way possible to the hotel but not being familiar with the city and with Holland America paying him I really didn't care. It turns out I was right. We later went on a bus tour of the city and cab driver took about 20 minutes longer to get o the hotel from the airport than the bus did.
Vancouver from outside our hotel window
A visitor outside our hotel window.
In Vancouver I was introduced to the $32 Eggs Benedict. Thankfully only once did were we really a slave to the hotel restaurant when we had to eat breakfast because the restaurant in the underground mall under the Fairmont was going to be opened in time before our bus left. I did buy some Cigars in the underground mall which I am sure I paid WAY to much for.
Oh Ralph when I opened my Luggage in Vancouver you'll be glad to know there was a card from the TSA saying they had gone through my bag and that it was clean.
On day 2 after paying $60 we took the fairy to Victoria. Yes I have to apologize to ET I was in Victoria for about 5 hours though it would have been quite difficult to have arrange meeting because it was part of a tour and we really only had a couple of hours to ourselves. Plus I honestly didn't know were going to Victoria. I don't pay attention to details.
Exciting picture from the fairy.
First place we went to on the Island was The Butchart Gardens Now I am not a big flowers and plants guy but this place was very neat.
After about 2 hours in the Garden we went to Victoria where we got about 3 hours downtown. Our Bus driver warned us Victoria was a "weird town" Our Bus driver was a cool guy but I could tell he was pretty conservative. Anywho outside of Darth Vader playing the violin I didn't think Victoria was near as weird as say Boulder Co. or Madison WI.
A picture of the Empress Hotel in Victoria which I took because James Bond stayed there in the book Brokenclaw.
Day 3 we started with another tour of Vancouver. We went to Granville Island which has a fantastic Farmers Market. Had I the time or the way to bring the food home I would have stood in the massive lines and bought a ton of food. The place sold every kind of food you can think of and it all looked good. After buying a fedora at Edie's Hats and watching another Canadian store say reject my debit Card (fucking Canuck credit cards machines) we went through China town. Our driver drove through East Hastings and pointed out that like every city Vancouver had it's "Skid Row" however unlike American cities Vancouver's Skid Row was about 7 blocks long.
We got on the boat and once again my debit card worked. I knew I was no Ralph and that I had some money to cover my ass.
Ms Ryndam. Our boat.
Some of my favorite moments on the boat were out in the middle of nowhere smoking a cigar on the observation deck. The best part of a cruise is for 7 days you have no idea what is going on in the world. It must be how people who watch Fox News all the time feel. Actually the cabins got CNN but anybody who spends their time on a cruise watching CNN is a damn fool. You can also buy Internet time but that too seemed like a waste of good time on the boat.
First port Ketchikan Alaska
Second port Juneau.
Governor's Mansion.
Alaska capital building where Sarah must have spent a good 25 minutes.
Skagway Alaska and Northern British Columbia
Glacier National Park
Kenai Fjords National Park. Our Cruise was over. This part was a small boat ride on very rough waters and one of the engines on the boat quit working. People on the boat called it the S.S. Minnow. I am not ashamed to admit I got sick on the boat of death.
Sea Otters there were also momentary whale sitings which we didn't get good pictures of.
This is the end of part 1. Tomorrow (hopefully) I will post pictures from the land tour part of the vacation. BTW the weather in Vancouver and Victoria was really nice high 60's low 70's and very sunny. It was also very nice in Katchikan 72 and sunny which the locals called "hot" and yes they really do not like the sun there. They were not at all happy it wasn't raining. The next day in Juneau the weather changed. It was in the 50's and drizzly. Other than Northern BC where it was in the 40's and by the Glaciers where it was in the 30's the temperature was in the 50's and low 60's rainy and overcast until we got to Fairbanks at the end of our trip where it was in the high 70's low 80's. Compared to this 98 degree heat index of 115 shit we our having now I loved the weather. But as I will explain in part 2 I was in the minority.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Dealing With Depression.
I talk to several people who have gone through or are going through some tough times in their lives and are battling some heavy issues with depression. I can tell you as somebody who also battled depression for several years and still does to some extent I have no real answers. I do however know what has helped myself.
1. "Cut the fat" For some people it may comes as surprise that one thing I did to try and beat depression was to purge several people from my inner circle and not try to attract a larger crowd. The truth is there were a lot of people that were not only not a help they were in fact a huge part of the problem. This even includes some family members. If somebody in my life either feeds my depression or feeds off of it to make themselves feel better I do not allow those people around me anymore. There certainly are some people who will try to help you and God bless them but many more it seems will take advantage of you when you are vulnerable. By the same token find those people who love you and stick by you and return the favor 10X over and be there for them. They've seen you through some real shit and never flinched you need to let them know you'll do the same for them if you have to.
2. "Confront Yourself" You are the reason you are depressed. People stop shitting on you when you stop either letting them (see #1) or you stop shitting on yourself. You don't need to find yourself, I don't even know what that means, but you do have to confront yourself and not to pity yourself either. You need to ask hard questions and get answers you need and not answers you want.
3. "Find your comfort zone" I never met a person who had no interest. Mine are Nebraska football, Music, James Bond Etc... I find when I have tough times I find I go to Nebraska football for comfort. That answer came to me after my Father's passing. I found myself collecting more old programs and newspapers that pertained to Nebraska football than I ever had before which is saying something because it's always been a huge interest. On the increasingly rare times I find depression sneaking in I usually now smoke a cigar and listen to some music. If all else fails I take some sleeping pills and go to sleep. Everyone has interest and passions don't be afraid to lean on them in tough times.
4. "Stop being a victim." This goes back to #2. Some people who suffer from depression get off on being depressed it's actually what truly makes them happy. And what makes them even happier is bringing their friends down with them. At some point you have to stop allowing yourself to be a victim. Ask what is it that I am doing that makes me so miserable? What am I doing to make it better? Am I using this miserable feeling as away to gain sympathy and putting guilt trips on my friends?
5. "Stop searching for shit to be depressed about" Admitted it, we've all done it. Things start going a little too smooth and we start getting uncomfortable in our new-found stability so we start looking for shit that makes us feel depressed. For many people depression is as much a comfort as a liability. There are millions of people who want to free themselves of crippling depression and there are millions who wear it proudly like a glove. In fact most of us who suffer from depression or have suffered from depression are in fact both. To this day there is a level of what I believe is depression that I find comforting from time to time (below) but I don't go looking for things to make me feel like shit. In fact I work to keep those things and people as far away as possible.
6. "Some Depression is a good thing" Ok this seems like I am going against everything I have already said but I am not. There is a level of depression that to this day I find comforting. It's hard to explain. it's not a fuck I want to die depression, it's not a everybody is out to get me depression and it's not a man I totally suck depression. It's a feeling that truthfully I can't accurately describe.
7. "Stop being scared of being happy" This was the hard one for me. For years I said the higher you fly the harder the crash. I actually feared happiness for the sure equal or worse despair I would experience as my punishment for daring to be happy. I've learned that in my life the opposite is actually true. For everything that as happened to me that brought me pain something equally as great or better has come from it.
8. "This too shall pass" When I have a particularly bad day I tell myself at some point this day will be over and never heard from again. No matter how bad it gets it will end and a new start will be here and I will not let any situation beat me twice.
9. "Seek help and accept help" I personally am not a huge fan of therapist ( many to me are in fact highly educated prostitutes who pretend to care for an hour for the right fee) and yet I acknowledge that many are quite good and many people do find the help and support they need from these people. I also believe that anybody who doesn't want to be helped, and there are millions, can't be helped. And it seems to me that anybody who doesn't help themselves is also beyond much help from others.
So there are my thoughts. Take them for what they are worth. I don't pretend they are the right answers for you or anybody else but they have helped me.
1. "Cut the fat" For some people it may comes as surprise that one thing I did to try and beat depression was to purge several people from my inner circle and not try to attract a larger crowd. The truth is there were a lot of people that were not only not a help they were in fact a huge part of the problem. This even includes some family members. If somebody in my life either feeds my depression or feeds off of it to make themselves feel better I do not allow those people around me anymore. There certainly are some people who will try to help you and God bless them but many more it seems will take advantage of you when you are vulnerable. By the same token find those people who love you and stick by you and return the favor 10X over and be there for them. They've seen you through some real shit and never flinched you need to let them know you'll do the same for them if you have to.
2. "Confront Yourself" You are the reason you are depressed. People stop shitting on you when you stop either letting them (see #1) or you stop shitting on yourself. You don't need to find yourself, I don't even know what that means, but you do have to confront yourself and not to pity yourself either. You need to ask hard questions and get answers you need and not answers you want.
3. "Find your comfort zone" I never met a person who had no interest. Mine are Nebraska football, Music, James Bond Etc... I find when I have tough times I find I go to Nebraska football for comfort. That answer came to me after my Father's passing. I found myself collecting more old programs and newspapers that pertained to Nebraska football than I ever had before which is saying something because it's always been a huge interest. On the increasingly rare times I find depression sneaking in I usually now smoke a cigar and listen to some music. If all else fails I take some sleeping pills and go to sleep. Everyone has interest and passions don't be afraid to lean on them in tough times.
4. "Stop being a victim." This goes back to #2. Some people who suffer from depression get off on being depressed it's actually what truly makes them happy. And what makes them even happier is bringing their friends down with them. At some point you have to stop allowing yourself to be a victim. Ask what is it that I am doing that makes me so miserable? What am I doing to make it better? Am I using this miserable feeling as away to gain sympathy and putting guilt trips on my friends?
5. "Stop searching for shit to be depressed about" Admitted it, we've all done it. Things start going a little too smooth and we start getting uncomfortable in our new-found stability so we start looking for shit that makes us feel depressed. For many people depression is as much a comfort as a liability. There are millions of people who want to free themselves of crippling depression and there are millions who wear it proudly like a glove. In fact most of us who suffer from depression or have suffered from depression are in fact both. To this day there is a level of what I believe is depression that I find comforting from time to time (below) but I don't go looking for things to make me feel like shit. In fact I work to keep those things and people as far away as possible.
6. "Some Depression is a good thing" Ok this seems like I am going against everything I have already said but I am not. There is a level of depression that to this day I find comforting. It's hard to explain. it's not a fuck I want to die depression, it's not a everybody is out to get me depression and it's not a man I totally suck depression. It's a feeling that truthfully I can't accurately describe.
7. "Stop being scared of being happy" This was the hard one for me. For years I said the higher you fly the harder the crash. I actually feared happiness for the sure equal or worse despair I would experience as my punishment for daring to be happy. I've learned that in my life the opposite is actually true. For everything that as happened to me that brought me pain something equally as great or better has come from it.
8. "This too shall pass" When I have a particularly bad day I tell myself at some point this day will be over and never heard from again. No matter how bad it gets it will end and a new start will be here and I will not let any situation beat me twice.
9. "Seek help and accept help" I personally am not a huge fan of therapist ( many to me are in fact highly educated prostitutes who pretend to care for an hour for the right fee) and yet I acknowledge that many are quite good and many people do find the help and support they need from these people. I also believe that anybody who doesn't want to be helped, and there are millions, can't be helped. And it seems to me that anybody who doesn't help themselves is also beyond much help from others.
So there are my thoughts. Take them for what they are worth. I don't pretend they are the right answers for you or anybody else but they have helped me.
It's NFL Season
Jonathan please feel free to include some predictions.
Fearless Prediction from the Count Minnesota Quarterbacked by Brett Favre will go 10-6 and make the wild card round of the playoffs where they will be bounced.
Edit by Jonathan - Here are my predictions:
NFC:
East - Cowboys
North - Vikings (sorry, Count)
South - Falcons
West - 49ers
Wild Card - Saints and Packers
AFC:
East - Jets
North - Ravens
South - Colts
West - Chargers
Wild Card - Texans and Patriots
Fearless Prediction from the Count Minnesota Quarterbacked by Brett Favre will go 10-6 and make the wild card round of the playoffs where they will be bounced.
Edit by Jonathan - Here are my predictions:
NFC:
East - Cowboys
North - Vikings (sorry, Count)
South - Falcons
West - 49ers
Wild Card - Saints and Packers
AFC:
East - Jets
North - Ravens
South - Colts
West - Chargers
Wild Card - Texans and Patriots
Thursday, August 5, 2010
The Fundamental Problem Between Democrats and Republicans
My take on the shameless middle-finger both sides gave to 9/11 first responders can be found at Jonathan's Corner. Please read and leave a comment, and the Count can cut and paste my post if he so wishes.
_____________________________________
Of all the things Dems and the GOP could endlessly argue and debate, I would at least think that the rescue workers - many of whom have suffered damage of their organs, have developed breathing problems, or other medical-type issues - that sacrificed their lives to save others trapped in the rubble of the World Trade Center....something like giving them free healthcare and compensation for their tireless efforts would be a no-brainer, everyone in the freaking House of Representatives would unanimously support.
The bill came to the floor, was debated for weeks, and the final tally was in: yeas - 255, nays - 159. Did I mention that the bill, despite it's clear majority, didn't pass? Yes, you read that right: it had a clear majority in the House, and it didn't pass. And, oh yeah - and i'm sure this will shock every last one of you - most of the 159 representatives who voted no were.....drum-roll, please.....Republicans. So what was the argument behind voting no, you ask?
Pardon my French, but ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?!?!?! These are the men and women who put their own lives on the line for their fellow man, and this is how you choose to repay them!? By giving them the proverbial finger while you, once again, defend the interests of Corporate America!? What the hell is wrong you?? At what point did outright greed trump helping those who have given back and are suffering from respiratory problems and whatnot?
And the Democrats....I can't even begin to explain what I think of these guys....
When will you guys stop acting like a bunch of petrified pussies, and start standing up to these corporate thugs? You have the Majority and yet, you're letting the Minority run the show???
Great. Republicans keep sucking that big business cock, while Democrats refuse to fight back against Republican opposition. The result is that the 9/11 first responders don't receive the treatment and the benefits they so rightly deserve, which, inherently, outlines the fundamental problem with our two parties in this day and age: Democrats are like the Lion in The Wizard of Oz, desperately searching for some courage, while the Republicans have morphed into Daniel Day-Lewis's character in There Will Be Blood: a greed-filled misanthrope who has longed forgotten to call the human race his own.
_____________________________________
The Fundamental Problem Between Democrats and Republicans
The bill came to the floor, was debated for weeks, and the final tally was in: yeas - 255, nays - 159. Did I mention that the bill, despite it's clear majority, didn't pass? Yes, you read that right: it had a clear majority in the House, and it didn't pass. And, oh yeah - and i'm sure this will shock every last one of you - most of the 159 representatives who voted no were.....drum-roll, please.....Republicans. So what was the argument behind voting no, you ask?
GOP critics branded the bill as yet another big-government "massive new entitlement program" that would have increased taxes and possibly kill jobs.
To pay the bill's estimated $7.4 billion cost over 10 years, the legislation would have prevented foreign multinational corporations incorporated in tax haven countries from avoiding tax on income earned in the U.S.
Bill supporters said that would close a tax loophole. Republicans branded it a corporate tax increase.
Pardon my French, but ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?!?!?! These are the men and women who put their own lives on the line for their fellow man, and this is how you choose to repay them!? By giving them the proverbial finger while you, once again, defend the interests of Corporate America!? What the hell is wrong you?? At what point did outright greed trump helping those who have given back and are suffering from respiratory problems and whatnot?
And the Democrats....I can't even begin to explain what I think of these guys....
King said Democrats were "petrified" about casting votes as the fall elections near on controversial amendments, possibly including one that could ban the bill from covering illegal immigrants who were sickened by trade center dust.
When will you guys stop acting like a bunch of petrified pussies, and start standing up to these corporate thugs? You have the Majority and yet, you're letting the Minority run the show???
Great. Republicans keep sucking that big business cock, while Democrats refuse to fight back against Republican opposition. The result is that the 9/11 first responders don't receive the treatment and the benefits they so rightly deserve, which, inherently, outlines the fundamental problem with our two parties in this day and age: Democrats are like the Lion in The Wizard of Oz, desperately searching for some courage, while the Republicans have morphed into Daniel Day-Lewis's character in There Will Be Blood: a greed-filled misanthrope who has longed forgotten to call the human race his own.
As If they Weren't Old Enough.
First of All if we have to sign ex-Lakers this is the guy I am glad we signed BUT He hasn't been that good in at least 3 years and did we really need to get older?
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Happy Birthday, Mr. President!
Not a whole lot to say, but happy birthday, President Obama! I'll let the Count figure out what to do with this post.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Dismantling the American Empire
I was struck tonight by reading this piece at AlterNet. Especially striking was this cited quotation from Christopher Lasch:
It's an impulse at cross purposes, to in one motion be the imprint and in the same motion to step back completely.
Bacevich, in conclusion, gets it absolutely right:
“The real promise of American life,” he insisted, was to be found in “the hope that a self-governing republic can serve as a source of moral and political inspiration to the rest of the world, not as the center of a new world empire."I think this encapsulates what we nearer the progressive end of the spectrum find so lacking in the right-wing worldview - this argument of theirs that the U.S. must simultaneously serve as the sole template for every nation (enforced with gun or tank or missile if necessary), while at the same time trouncing the notion that the U.S. must engage with other nations at any other cooperative level - as in the repeated calls to opt out of the United Nations organization.
It's an impulse at cross purposes, to in one motion be the imprint and in the same motion to step back completely.
Bacevich, in conclusion, gets it absolutely right:
Promising prosperity and peace, the Washington rules are propelling the United States toward insolvency and perpetual war. Over the horizon a shipwreck of epic proportions awaits. To acknowledge the danger we face is to make learning -- and perhaps even a course change -- possible. To willfully ignore the danger is to become complicit in the destruction of what most Americans profess to hold dear.
Yes We Went Through There. On A Train At Least .
I have no idea who these people in the picture are. they were sitting in front of us.
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