Sorry y'all;
I'm a little late with this. Seems Jeb "Florida is your's bro' ;^)" Bush is considering a run for the White House. Thankfully not this next term. Don't have a pulse on how rank and file Republicans feel about the prospect, but they should feel scared............very scared about what their party has to offer them. With a rogue's gallery including Santorum and Frist, and a cheering section manned by Pat Robertson, they look to be in for a rocky ride for the next few years. Can the Dems get their feces compacted and in chronological order enough to capitalize on this opportunity? I despair. Whither go we?
Ankh
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Thursday, October 27, 2005
The slings and arrows...............observations.
"It's not the large things that send a man to the madhouse, "Charles Bukowski has written. "No, it's the continuing series of small tragedies . . . a shoelace that snaps, with no time left."
I was recently reading a synopsis of a book about Abraham Lincoln's melancholic tendencies and came across the preceding quote. Perfectly encapsulates how life wears us down.
God is in the details.
The Devil is in the details.
Don't sweat the petty stuff.
Pay attention to the details and the big things will take care of themselves.
"The notes, I can play. They are easy. But the spaces between the notes, ah, that's where the artistry resides." Artur Schnabel, pianist/composer.
It's the spaces between life's notes that frequently trip me up. On rare occasions, I handle them with great virtuosity and I cherish those times. But more often than not, I come up empty handed and fulfill the "stupid male" stereotype I hear touted at work all the time by my more harpy-ish female coworkers.
I'm in a rather black frame at the moment. Must..............ride...............bike...........MORE!
Peace, out,
Ankh
I was recently reading a synopsis of a book about Abraham Lincoln's melancholic tendencies and came across the preceding quote. Perfectly encapsulates how life wears us down.
God is in the details.
The Devil is in the details.
Don't sweat the petty stuff.
Pay attention to the details and the big things will take care of themselves.
"The notes, I can play. They are easy. But the spaces between the notes, ah, that's where the artistry resides." Artur Schnabel, pianist/composer.
It's the spaces between life's notes that frequently trip me up. On rare occasions, I handle them with great virtuosity and I cherish those times. But more often than not, I come up empty handed and fulfill the "stupid male" stereotype I hear touted at work all the time by my more harpy-ish female coworkers.
I'm in a rather black frame at the moment. Must..............ride...............bike...........MORE!
Peace, out,
Ankh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House is not amused by The Onion, a newspaper that often spoofs the Bush administration, and has asked it to stop using the presidential seal on its Web site.
The seal was still on the Web site www.theonion.com on Tuesday at the spot where
President George W. Bush's weekly radio address is parodied.
With headlines like "Bush To Appoint Someone To Be In Charge Of Country" and "Bush Subconsciously Sizes Up Spain For Invasion," The Onion is popular with readers looking for a little laughter with their politics.
White House spokesman Trent Duffy said people who work in the executive mansion do have a sense of humor, but not when it comes to breaking regulations.
"When any official sign or seal is being used inappropriately the party is notified," Duffy said.
"You cannot pick and choose where to enforce that rule. It's important that the seal or any White House insignia not be used inappropriately," he said.
Duffy said while he does not personally read The Onion, he admitted knowing others in the White House who do. "Like everyone else, we like a good laugh."
Scott Dikkers, editor-in-chief of the satirical newspaper, said its lawyer disagrees with the White House assessment.
"I've been seeing the presidential seal used in comedy programs most of my life and to my knowledge none of them have been asked not to use it by the White House," Dikkers said.
"I would advise them to look for that other guy Osama (bin Laden) ... rather than comedians. I don't think we pose much of a threat," Dikkers said.
Hey all;
The last line says it all. I'm gonna be decidedly impolitic.......................FUCK 'EM IF THEY CAN'T TAKE A JOKE! When did the White House insignia become a sacred object? Can you say, First Amendment?!
Ankh
The seal was still on the Web site www.theonion.com on Tuesday at the spot where
President George W. Bush's weekly radio address is parodied.
With headlines like "Bush To Appoint Someone To Be In Charge Of Country" and "Bush Subconsciously Sizes Up Spain For Invasion," The Onion is popular with readers looking for a little laughter with their politics.
White House spokesman Trent Duffy said people who work in the executive mansion do have a sense of humor, but not when it comes to breaking regulations.
"When any official sign or seal is being used inappropriately the party is notified," Duffy said.
"You cannot pick and choose where to enforce that rule. It's important that the seal or any White House insignia not be used inappropriately," he said.
Duffy said while he does not personally read The Onion, he admitted knowing others in the White House who do. "Like everyone else, we like a good laugh."
Scott Dikkers, editor-in-chief of the satirical newspaper, said its lawyer disagrees with the White House assessment.
"I've been seeing the presidential seal used in comedy programs most of my life and to my knowledge none of them have been asked not to use it by the White House," Dikkers said.
"I would advise them to look for that other guy Osama (bin Laden) ... rather than comedians. I don't think we pose much of a threat," Dikkers said.
Hey all;
The last line says it all. I'm gonna be decidedly impolitic.......................FUCK 'EM IF THEY CAN'T TAKE A JOKE! When did the White House insignia become a sacred object? Can you say, First Amendment?!
Ankh
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Winning Powerball Family in Seclusion
Sounds like the guy has his head screwed on straight. If my wife and I woulda won? mmmmm, it would really be hard not to go apeshit on buying a few bikes and electronic doo-dads. Other then that, I'd have fun making sure all my relatives were taken care of.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Those who forget history........................
Nothing too coherent here, just some ruminations. A coworker's daughter(freshman-HS) interviewed me last evening concerning my memories of the Iran/Contra Affair. In preparation, I read a synopsis on http://wikipedia and followed links where my curiosity led. Oh, what a tangled web we weave.............................:^(
Then, later, I happened on a documentary about the Vietnam War. More specifically, the Nixon Vietnamization policy that resulted in incursions into Laos and Cambodia, the carpet bombing of Cambodia which indiscriminately killed hundreds of thousands of Cambodian civilians, our perverse support of the Khmer Rouge which allowed them to kill over a million more of their countrymen/women/children.
Emma Lazarus' words(http://thenewcolossus) at Liberty's feet are obscured by the blood spilt in our efforts to proselytize "democracy" to the world. In general, I am not proud to be an American.
Ankh
Then, later, I happened on a documentary about the Vietnam War. More specifically, the Nixon Vietnamization policy that resulted in incursions into Laos and Cambodia, the carpet bombing of Cambodia which indiscriminately killed hundreds of thousands of Cambodian civilians, our perverse support of the Khmer Rouge which allowed them to kill over a million more of their countrymen/women/children.
Emma Lazarus' words(http://thenewcolossus) at Liberty's feet are obscured by the blood spilt in our efforts to proselytize "democracy" to the world. In general, I am not proud to be an American.
Ankh
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Sanctimonium co-opting U2's good name
Santorum's press secretary, Robert Traynham, said Thursday that the decision by the Senate's third-ranking Republican to hold a fundraiser during Sunday's Philadelphia show is based on his "deep respect and admiration for Bono and their work together over the last few years to fight the global spread of
HIV' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> HIV-AIDS
Hey Gen'lmen;
How galling it must be(as an artist) to have anyone, for any reason co-opt your artistic endeavor for political gain. But to have it be someone of Sanctimonium's ilk would make me want to vomit. The axiom, "politics make strange bedfellows" is particularly apropos here. If he hasn't actually said it, Sanctimonium surely believes HIV is god's(notice the lower case, because only a "small g" god would behave in such a manner) divine retribution against gays. The devil is in the details..........................and in the deals we make to effect change in the world around us.
Ankh
HIV' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> HIV-AIDS
Hey Gen'lmen;
How galling it must be(as an artist) to have anyone, for any reason co-opt your artistic endeavor for political gain. But to have it be someone of Sanctimonium's ilk would make me want to vomit. The axiom, "politics make strange bedfellows" is particularly apropos here. If he hasn't actually said it, Sanctimonium surely believes HIV is god's(notice the lower case, because only a "small g" god would behave in such a manner) divine retribution against gays. The devil is in the details..........................and in the deals we make to effect change in the world around us.
Ankh
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Thoughts and outrage III
"The down side of capitalism" or "strange bedfellows".
When did we lose control of our government? As a business savvy entity, WalMart is a ferocious negotiator. It uses its huge bargaining power as a tool to force its vendors to lower prices. Now, it makes sense that the U.S. government which represents 20% of the GNP of the U.S. economy should be in a killer position to negotiate best prices when making deals with subcontractors. Yet, when the last Medicare bill was passed, the government somehow caved to the drug lobby, rather than dictating the terms government drug purchasing policy. Consequently, we pay billions more dollars for prescription drugs than we might.
Or look at the companies which are subcontracting to the government to provide services in the Persian Gulf, and yes, now New Orleans(and soon Galveston). These contracts were awarded through no competition bids...........................go fuck yourself Mr. Cheney;^)
Now to the oil refiners who suddenly discovered several years ago that they could increase profits by depressing production. They have been steadily decreasing production even as demand has risen. Recently, the government stepped in to stop the closure of a refinery. Actual oil reserves and OPEC machinations have little effect on the daily price of petroleum products in the U.S.
In many critical ways, our government no longer supports us.
Ankh
When did we lose control of our government? As a business savvy entity, WalMart is a ferocious negotiator. It uses its huge bargaining power as a tool to force its vendors to lower prices. Now, it makes sense that the U.S. government which represents 20% of the GNP of the U.S. economy should be in a killer position to negotiate best prices when making deals with subcontractors. Yet, when the last Medicare bill was passed, the government somehow caved to the drug lobby, rather than dictating the terms government drug purchasing policy. Consequently, we pay billions more dollars for prescription drugs than we might.
Or look at the companies which are subcontracting to the government to provide services in the Persian Gulf, and yes, now New Orleans(and soon Galveston). These contracts were awarded through no competition bids...........................go fuck yourself Mr. Cheney;^)
Now to the oil refiners who suddenly discovered several years ago that they could increase profits by depressing production. They have been steadily decreasing production even as demand has risen. Recently, the government stepped in to stop the closure of a refinery. Actual oil reserves and OPEC machinations have little effect on the daily price of petroleum products in the U.S.
In many critical ways, our government no longer supports us.
Ankh
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Kurt Vonnegut's list
LIBERAL CRAP I NEVER WANT TO HEAR AGAIN
Give us this day our daily bread. Oh sure.
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those wh trespass against us.Nobody better trespass against me. I'll tell you that.
Blessed are the meek.
Blessed are the merciful. You mean we can't use torture?
Blessed are the peacemakers. Jane Fonda?
Love your enemies - Arabs?
Ye cannot serve God and Mammon. The hell I can't! Look at the Reverand Pat Robertson. And He is as happy as a pig in s**t.
Give us this day our daily bread. Oh sure.
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those wh trespass against us.Nobody better trespass against me. I'll tell you that.
Blessed are the meek.
Blessed are the merciful. You mean we can't use torture?
Blessed are the peacemakers. Jane Fonda?
Love your enemies - Arabs?
Ye cannot serve God and Mammon. The hell I can't! Look at the Reverand Pat Robertson. And He is as happy as a pig in s**t.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
The Daily Show
Omigod!;
I finally got to watch the show this A.M. Content was good. The great part was the special guest. Just a little preamble here. We've been cleaning out some stored stuff recently. Among the refuse, a few boxes of my old books. Notable authors include Kurt Vonnegut and Jerzy Kosinski.
Jon's guest was Kurt Vonnegut. I worshipped this man in my adolescence. As Jon said, he opened my forming mind to a whole world of thought I would not otherwise have encountered. Vonnegut loosed his lacerating wit on the current administration and gave a synopsis of the history of democracy in the U.S. that appears to be serving as an abbreviated framework for its nascence in Iraq......to include: after the first 100 years, you have to let your slaves go free. After 150 years, you have to let your women vote. There must be a period of genocide and ethnic cleansing and so on. Wickedly funny stuff rimmed with sadness.
He had a list of "liberal crap" to read which they didn't have time for, which Stewart said would be posted on the website under Vonnegut's name. I plan to check it out.
G'day all,
Ankh
I finally got to watch the show this A.M. Content was good. The great part was the special guest. Just a little preamble here. We've been cleaning out some stored stuff recently. Among the refuse, a few boxes of my old books. Notable authors include Kurt Vonnegut and Jerzy Kosinski.
Jon's guest was Kurt Vonnegut. I worshipped this man in my adolescence. As Jon said, he opened my forming mind to a whole world of thought I would not otherwise have encountered. Vonnegut loosed his lacerating wit on the current administration and gave a synopsis of the history of democracy in the U.S. that appears to be serving as an abbreviated framework for its nascence in Iraq......to include: after the first 100 years, you have to let your slaves go free. After 150 years, you have to let your women vote. There must be a period of genocide and ethnic cleansing and so on. Wickedly funny stuff rimmed with sadness.
He had a list of "liberal crap" to read which they didn't have time for, which Stewart said would be posted on the website under Vonnegut's name. I plan to check it out.
G'day all,
Ankh
Monday, September 12, 2005
Thoughts and outrage II
Why is it that the only economically painful thing we are willing to do, as a nation, is wage war? We will spend anything to try to prevent the loss of even one life on the battle field. And nothing to try to prevent deaths from predictable disasters.
Contingency plans for dealing with a "Katrina" type disaster were formulated over twenty years ago. Too economically painful. Not politically comfortable, so we suffer what, in hindsight we now know we could have prevented or mitigated.
During the gas crunch of the '70s, we started to realize that we must develop alternate energy sources. But.................................too economically painful. So we suffer the consequences of our continued dependence on a dwindling energy source: pollution, global warming, terrorism.
Locally, I'm an optimist. I'm raising two good kids. I work to make my community better. I have a good marriage and I think I'm basically a good person.
Globally, I'm more pessimistic. There is a widening gap between the "haves" and the "have nots". I'm not totally comfortable being in the "have" camp. Our bad habits and lack of courage will ultimately lead to our demise................................only in generations too far removed for me to contemplate. Complacency is still morally affordable for me, sadly.
Ankh
Contingency plans for dealing with a "Katrina" type disaster were formulated over twenty years ago. Too economically painful. Not politically comfortable, so we suffer what, in hindsight we now know we could have prevented or mitigated.
During the gas crunch of the '70s, we started to realize that we must develop alternate energy sources. But.................................too economically painful. So we suffer the consequences of our continued dependence on a dwindling energy source: pollution, global warming, terrorism.
Locally, I'm an optimist. I'm raising two good kids. I work to make my community better. I have a good marriage and I think I'm basically a good person.
Globally, I'm more pessimistic. There is a widening gap between the "haves" and the "have nots". I'm not totally comfortable being in the "have" camp. Our bad habits and lack of courage will ultimately lead to our demise................................only in generations too far removed for me to contemplate. Complacency is still morally affordable for me, sadly.
Ankh
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Thoughts and outrage
I do SOOOOOOOOOO love it when whack jobs trip up. Like Jimmy Swagart caught ho'in around. Pat Robertson obviously forgot the First Commandment;^)
Now on to outrage. The whack job preacher from Kansas who goes around the country with his little cult of homophobic followers has adopted a particularly egregious new tactic. He's been showing up at military funerals to inform the assembled mourners that their loved ones who have died in the line of duty were actually killed as divine retribution for America's tolerance of homosexuality. Now, if we could just get Pat Robertson to redirect his attention to the preacher......................
Ankh
Now on to outrage. The whack job preacher from Kansas who goes around the country with his little cult of homophobic followers has adopted a particularly egregious new tactic. He's been showing up at military funerals to inform the assembled mourners that their loved ones who have died in the line of duty were actually killed as divine retribution for America's tolerance of homosexuality. Now, if we could just get Pat Robertson to redirect his attention to the preacher......................
Ankh
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Gaza............whazzup?!
Hey gents;
This is such a complex and fraught situation. Surely we can get a lot of mileage out of it. I'm curious about the U.S. government's support of Isreal from a Christian perspective. It's naive to think our interests are purely geopolitical. I've mistakenly stumbled into discussions about this perspective before with people(read devout Christians) who have an emotio/religious attachment to the situation. Can anyone explain the Christian perspective dispassionately?
Ankh
This is such a complex and fraught situation. Surely we can get a lot of mileage out of it. I'm curious about the U.S. government's support of Isreal from a Christian perspective. It's naive to think our interests are purely geopolitical. I've mistakenly stumbled into discussions about this perspective before with people(read devout Christians) who have an emotio/religious attachment to the situation. Can anyone explain the Christian perspective dispassionately?
Ankh
Friday, August 12, 2005
Minutiae, errata
Just bits and pieces of mental detritus, flotsam and jetsam;
Kansas(atajim: since you and your folks left, the place just ain't the same;^) is the first state to legislate intelligent(small "i" demonstrates my contempt) design into it's school science curriculum. Toto's looking off into thin air and whining. Thinking individuals among us can only hope this will gain as much traction as previous efforts to slip "creation science" into the curriculum in the same state some years ago.
The potential Republican presidential candidate pool is lookin' pretty shallow and murky. Forgive me, I can only come up with two in my sleep deprived state. First and most egregiously, is Senator Rick Sanctimonium, closely followed( a little too;^) by Jeb"Ya owe me one Dubya" Bush. Is Catherine Harris' continued ascendancy in politics any surprise?
S'all fer now,
Ankh
Kansas(atajim: since you and your folks left, the place just ain't the same;^) is the first state to legislate intelligent(small "i" demonstrates my contempt) design into it's school science curriculum. Toto's looking off into thin air and whining. Thinking individuals among us can only hope this will gain as much traction as previous efforts to slip "creation science" into the curriculum in the same state some years ago.
The potential Republican presidential candidate pool is lookin' pretty shallow and murky. Forgive me, I can only come up with two in my sleep deprived state. First and most egregiously, is Senator Rick Sanctimonium, closely followed( a little too;^) by Jeb"Ya owe me one Dubya" Bush. Is Catherine Harris' continued ascendancy in politics any surprise?
S'all fer now,
Ankh
Saturday, August 06, 2005
AVAM
Hey y'all;
Wife and I spent a very enjoyable evening south of the border at the American VisionaryArt Museum near Inner Harbor. Lots of fantastic nonconformist art. The capper appeared in the museum's gift shop. Among other interesting and entertaining things was a picture of Dubya wearing a sandwich board which said, "Will kill for oil". Made me smile. I tried to recreate it using the computer, but am just not savvy enough. Anyone care to give it a try............Geo?
Also, I immensely enjoyed the snippet of the interview show I saw yesterday where James Carville got Robert Novak to self-destruct. Don't particularly love Carville, but I admire his style. Don't particularly hate Novak, but I dislike his pole-up-the-ass conservativism(hope I'm characterizing him right).
Ankh
Wife and I spent a very enjoyable evening south of the border at the American VisionaryArt Museum near Inner Harbor. Lots of fantastic nonconformist art. The capper appeared in the museum's gift shop. Among other interesting and entertaining things was a picture of Dubya wearing a sandwich board which said, "Will kill for oil". Made me smile. I tried to recreate it using the computer, but am just not savvy enough. Anyone care to give it a try............Geo?
Also, I immensely enjoyed the snippet of the interview show I saw yesterday where James Carville got Robert Novak to self-destruct. Don't particularly love Carville, but I admire his style. Don't particularly hate Novak, but I dislike his pole-up-the-ass conservativism(hope I'm characterizing him right).
Ankh
update: The Education of Shelby Knox
'lo;
I had posted on 30 June 'bout a P.O.V. show on PBS called "The Education of Shelby Knox".
I finally, by chance got to watch it the other night. What a tremendous show. The best part was the superintendant of the school district, who ultimately blocked all the kids' efforts to get Sex Ed. into the school curriculum, was discovered to have been carrying on a torrid affair with a female staff member, complete with graphic emails on the school's computer system. He has since left his post and disappeared.
But the dynamic tension created by the opening of this girl's mind(coming from a conservative Christian, Republican background) is amazing. Y'all must watch if you get a chance.
Ankh
I had posted on 30 June 'bout a P.O.V. show on PBS called "The Education of Shelby Knox".
I finally, by chance got to watch it the other night. What a tremendous show. The best part was the superintendant of the school district, who ultimately blocked all the kids' efforts to get Sex Ed. into the school curriculum, was discovered to have been carrying on a torrid affair with a female staff member, complete with graphic emails on the school's computer system. He has since left his post and disappeared.
But the dynamic tension created by the opening of this girl's mind(coming from a conservative Christian, Republican background) is amazing. Y'all must watch if you get a chance.
Ankh
Friday, August 05, 2005
Ne'erdowell carries the blog
Gentlemen;
Are we mice or men?! Ne'erdowell has been carrying the weight here. Speaking for myself, I've been suffering from a lassitude regarding posting on things which stick in my craw. My craw's full to overflowing and emptying it doesn't seem to help. I've taken refuge in concentrating on things which I can do something about, like building stone walls, diddling with my bike and living with my family. Hoping this passes though, 'cause I do likes to bloviate on things worldly;^)
Ankh
Are we mice or men?! Ne'erdowell has been carrying the weight here. Speaking for myself, I've been suffering from a lassitude regarding posting on things which stick in my craw. My craw's full to overflowing and emptying it doesn't seem to help. I've taken refuge in concentrating on things which I can do something about, like building stone walls, diddling with my bike and living with my family. Hoping this passes though, 'cause I do likes to bloviate on things worldly;^)
Ankh
Thursday, June 30, 2005
A mind opens
Just created my first link(crudely but effectively, I hope). I was just browsing last night and came across this piece. Very arresting, particularly the part where this young woman talks about the type of believers (her) God wants. If a mind can open in that kind of environment, after having been nutured in the way this woman's was, there is some small hope for humankind.
ankh
ankh
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Free speech
Since 1789, there have been more than 11,000 attempts in Congress to amend the Constitution; only 27 amendments have won ratification. (from the YAHOO newsboard)
The most recent of a spate of attempts to amend the Constitution to prohibit flag burning seems destined to pass. Post 9/11 pressure, and some strategic Republican electoral wins have given this initiative the necessary oomph to prevail over sensible legislative scrutiny that has prevented 10,973 other misguided attempts to change the fabric of our national identity.
Emotion prevails, pundits wail and an impressionable public that never seems to learn from past abuses opens wide and swallows. Let's all stop being whores to manipulative, self-serving pols(to follow the dirty joke vein I'm mining). Let's be nice girls and spit the jizz of spurious, nonvalid legislative efforts right back on their collective laps!
We defend far worse things(IMHO) in the name if First Amendment protection than the act of flag burning. This smacks of cold war, red scare, commie hunting behavior, that we should have outgrown. The flag is a symbol(albeit a powerful one) pure and simple. If someone defaces or destroys it as an act of protest or defiance, I may not appreciate the gesture, but I don't take it as a personal affront. We're wasting far too much valuable time exercising ourselves over things of no consequence.
ankh
The most recent of a spate of attempts to amend the Constitution to prohibit flag burning seems destined to pass. Post 9/11 pressure, and some strategic Republican electoral wins have given this initiative the necessary oomph to prevail over sensible legislative scrutiny that has prevented 10,973 other misguided attempts to change the fabric of our national identity.
Emotion prevails, pundits wail and an impressionable public that never seems to learn from past abuses opens wide and swallows. Let's all stop being whores to manipulative, self-serving pols(to follow the dirty joke vein I'm mining). Let's be nice girls and spit the jizz of spurious, nonvalid legislative efforts right back on their collective laps!
We defend far worse things(IMHO) in the name if First Amendment protection than the act of flag burning. This smacks of cold war, red scare, commie hunting behavior, that we should have outgrown. The flag is a symbol(albeit a powerful one) pure and simple. If someone defaces or destroys it as an act of protest or defiance, I may not appreciate the gesture, but I don't take it as a personal affront. We're wasting far too much valuable time exercising ourselves over things of no consequence.
ankh
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Dynasty?! I'm movin' to Canada
This is gonna be short, 'cause I only heard it in passing. I heard the other day that Bush, Sr. wanted to see Jeb elected to the presidency to cement his family's dynasty. Talk about royalist tendencies in the Republican Party, sheesch! That would be the final insult, electing the man who presided over one of the most egregious voter frauds in U.S. history to the presidency:^(
'Scuse me while I hurl.....................................
Hank
'Scuse me while I hurl.....................................
Hank
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