Theater of dreams
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
The worth of stuff
I commented to my wife that we have just too much stuff. Of course she thought i meant like junk and clothes from eras gone by, but i was referring to all of the TVs stereos, speakers, dvds, laser disks, blu rays, hd dvds posters cards and yes Junk. Ok so maybe it was more my stuff but i started thinking why i continue to collect these things.
Yes they have their utility and are fun but in the end are they keeping me from real experiences? I know am no different then the millions of others who live vicariously through the images be it from a movie, video game or those iconic reality TV shows of the day. Why have we become this way? Is it the true nature of Humans to be voyeurs and why do most look down upon those who actually live life to the fullest? You know the ones who jump from the planes or live in a shack and travel the world just because?
I am a firm believe that fear guides almost all of what we do in one way or another. Sometimes we rush into marriage because we are fearful of being alone, other times we are to petrified to make that first move and miss out on what could be a honest and loving relationship. In the work place we allow ourselves to work under the thumb of the corporate masters at the same time lambasting those who are tied to unions as they are somehow to blame for all the worlds ills.
We always are concerned about what others think and say about us when in reality what we do or say rarely comes up in conversation with those people. they have their own fears and worries that are guiding their thoughts. I recall of very good movie some years ago that dealt with this idea of fear and how it manifests itself in our lives. The movie starred Albert Brooks and Merryl streep and was called defending your life and as you watch (if you chose to do so) see if there is something worth taking from the film and its assessment of how fear dominates our lives. I believe its an interesting take on the subject.
1/13
Yes they have their utility and are fun but in the end are they keeping me from real experiences? I know am no different then the millions of others who live vicariously through the images be it from a movie, video game or those iconic reality TV shows of the day. Why have we become this way? Is it the true nature of Humans to be voyeurs and why do most look down upon those who actually live life to the fullest? You know the ones who jump from the planes or live in a shack and travel the world just because?
I am a firm believe that fear guides almost all of what we do in one way or another. Sometimes we rush into marriage because we are fearful of being alone, other times we are to petrified to make that first move and miss out on what could be a honest and loving relationship. In the work place we allow ourselves to work under the thumb of the corporate masters at the same time lambasting those who are tied to unions as they are somehow to blame for all the worlds ills.
We always are concerned about what others think and say about us when in reality what we do or say rarely comes up in conversation with those people. they have their own fears and worries that are guiding their thoughts. I recall of very good movie some years ago that dealt with this idea of fear and how it manifests itself in our lives. The movie starred Albert Brooks and Merryl streep and was called defending your life and as you watch (if you chose to do so) see if there is something worth taking from the film and its assessment of how fear dominates our lives. I believe its an interesting take on the subject.
1/13
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Celebrate Good Times CMON!
I was watching my DVR recording of Showtimes new Drama "The Big C" with the lovely and talented and generously endowed Laura Linney (currently in 8th position on my official list) and as it ended I noticed it was about time for Olbermann's worst person in the world awards so I switched over to MSNBC and low and behold i see Richard Engle reporting the last combat brigade is leaving IRAQ. My first emotion was of great relief and then of pride watching my fellow countrymen and women leaving Iraq hopefully headed back to their Washington State Homes soon.
Of course as i watched Vehicle after Vehicle pass through i pondered surely Fox News is covering this so i switched over and alas the Fair and Balanced network which trumpeted the war every night was discussing the non issue of the mosque in NYC. Frank Ludz the rotund republican pollster was polling the audience in his clearly fair and balanced way.
Realizing that i was missing history in action i switched backed and continued to watch and as the video shows when the last Vehicle passed through and the gate was closed I must admit i became a bit verklempt. No this wasn't the staged Mission Accomplished aka Top Gun ending that we got from the former president it was a subdued ending to this phase and the beginning of another.
One wonders what will happen next
Of course as i watched Vehicle after Vehicle pass through i pondered surely Fox News is covering this so i switched over and alas the Fair and Balanced network which trumpeted the war every night was discussing the non issue of the mosque in NYC. Frank Ludz the rotund republican pollster was polling the audience in his clearly fair and balanced way.
Realizing that i was missing history in action i switched backed and continued to watch and as the video shows when the last Vehicle passed through and the gate was closed I must admit i became a bit verklempt. No this wasn't the staged Mission Accomplished aka Top Gun ending that we got from the former president it was a subdued ending to this phase and the beginning of another.
One wonders what will happen next
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Celebrating the ratification of the 19th amendment
I know some of my more Neanderthal friends may still be ruing the day that the fairer sex were finally allowed to vote in this country but i for one am celebrating it today. 90 years ago 36 (really?) of the 48 states voted to ratify the 19th amendment to our constitution which states "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex". Ok 12 didn't ratify at the first go which for back then maybe was just an indication of how our culture was. However looking deeper into the data we find that some states including the state i grew up in took several years and even decades to actually ratify this amendment.
the list of states are with their dates of ratification listed
Maryland (March 29, 1941 after being rejected on February 24, 1920; not certified until February 25, 1958)
Virginia (February 21, 1952, after being rejected on February 12, 1920)
Alabama (September 8, 1953, after being rejected on September 22, 1919)
Florida (May 13, 1969)[6]
South Carolina (July 1, 1969, after being rejected on January 28, 1920; not certified until August 22, 1973)
Georgia (February 20, 1970, after being rejected on July 24, 1919)
Louisiana (June 11, 1970, after being rejected on July 1, 1920)
North Carolina (May 6, 1971)
Mississippi (March 22, 1984, after being rejected on March 29, 1920)
I wont try to draw a parallel with the geographical location of these states and the logic behind waiting for up 64 years in Mississippi's case to ratify this amendment, but i do have a more salient question. Has the sentiment in these states really changed over the past 90 years? It wasn't astonishing that these states would reject the preposterous idea that a woman could actually be trusted to vote nor is it a coincidence that these states almost unanimously (representatives from both parties) voted against the civil rights act of 1964.
As a progressive I must state that without the Northern Republicans support this legislation never would have passed. It is a fallacy that it was the Democrats that delivered this legislation when in fact it was a bi-partisan bill that LBJ signed into law.
Lets recall what was going on in 1964, we were just 18 months out of nearly going to war with the Russians just less then a year after our president was slain in Dallas, racial unrest was building and a little strip of land in Vietnam would come to a defining moment for our country. With all of this we came together in a bi-partisan way and got Civil rights legislation past.
Now some 46 years later Its 2010 and although there are many challenges (the wars, economy)we seem to have lost this idea of bi-partisanship. I wrote a few days ago about the Republicans continual mantra of no no no and there real desire to see this president fail and in my opinion the country to fall deeper into recession and fear. What positive talking points have any of you heard from a republican recently? Is it OMG there putting a mosque in NYC or We must stop the Terror Babies from being born in this country or is the president really an American citizen?
Far be it from me to just type this without video evidence so here it is
An actual Rep from Texas
one from California on the Birther issue
And just because i cant get enough of this idiot about Death panels
Having said all of that I will most likely vote for my Governor for senator this go around and i hope this medicare fraudster and Mosquer doesnt win his job come the fall.
I will leave you with this from Pastor Martin Niemoller
“They came first for the communists and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. And then they came for me and by that time, no one was left to speak up.”
As 36 states did some 90 years ago I urge each of you individually to speak up with your vote this year.
Peace!
the list of states are with their dates of ratification listed
Maryland (March 29, 1941 after being rejected on February 24, 1920; not certified until February 25, 1958)
Virginia (February 21, 1952, after being rejected on February 12, 1920)
Alabama (September 8, 1953, after being rejected on September 22, 1919)
Florida (May 13, 1969)[6]
South Carolina (July 1, 1969, after being rejected on January 28, 1920; not certified until August 22, 1973)
Georgia (February 20, 1970, after being rejected on July 24, 1919)
Louisiana (June 11, 1970, after being rejected on July 1, 1920)
North Carolina (May 6, 1971)
Mississippi (March 22, 1984, after being rejected on March 29, 1920)
I wont try to draw a parallel with the geographical location of these states and the logic behind waiting for up 64 years in Mississippi's case to ratify this amendment, but i do have a more salient question. Has the sentiment in these states really changed over the past 90 years? It wasn't astonishing that these states would reject the preposterous idea that a woman could actually be trusted to vote nor is it a coincidence that these states almost unanimously (representatives from both parties) voted against the civil rights act of 1964.
As a progressive I must state that without the Northern Republicans support this legislation never would have passed. It is a fallacy that it was the Democrats that delivered this legislation when in fact it was a bi-partisan bill that LBJ signed into law.
Lets recall what was going on in 1964, we were just 18 months out of nearly going to war with the Russians just less then a year after our president was slain in Dallas, racial unrest was building and a little strip of land in Vietnam would come to a defining moment for our country. With all of this we came together in a bi-partisan way and got Civil rights legislation past.
Now some 46 years later Its 2010 and although there are many challenges (the wars, economy)we seem to have lost this idea of bi-partisanship. I wrote a few days ago about the Republicans continual mantra of no no no and there real desire to see this president fail and in my opinion the country to fall deeper into recession and fear. What positive talking points have any of you heard from a republican recently? Is it OMG there putting a mosque in NYC or We must stop the Terror Babies from being born in this country or is the president really an American citizen?
Far be it from me to just type this without video evidence so here it is
An actual Rep from Texas
one from California on the Birther issue
And just because i cant get enough of this idiot about Death panels
Having said all of that I will most likely vote for my Governor for senator this go around and i hope this medicare fraudster and Mosquer doesnt win his job come the fall.
I will leave you with this from Pastor Martin Niemoller
“They came first for the communists and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. And then they came for me and by that time, no one was left to speak up.”
As 36 states did some 90 years ago I urge each of you individually to speak up with your vote this year.
Peace!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The Muslim Community Center
As many of you know I am a fan of Keith Olberman, however there are times when even I think he goes to far. His special comment tonight about the Muslim Community Center in Manhattan is not one of those times. I can wax poetic about why this is just another wedge issue that the republicans have crafted to instill even more fear into the electorate but Keith gets paid millions to do it so i will let him. Suffice it to say I agree with all of it.
Monday, August 16, 2010
What have they done?
As the midterm elections move closer I am astonished looking at the polling data showing a real possibility that the republicans could actually win back the house. I ask to anyone caring to read this What have they done? You can argue against the policies of the house leadership but they have actually passed historic legislation while the minority party has obstructed at every opportunity. This has not been a secret as from the start of the Obama administration we have heard from their leadership and the conservative talk show hosts that they hoped Obama would fail.
Has this President done everything i wanted him to? Not by a long way. I believe he was wrong to take the public option off so early in the game, wrong on FISA, wrong on rendition and wrong on the war. However, he has done something historic in passing health care reform with all its faults and his action in regards to the stimulus and bailing out GM were spot on and saved millions of jobs.
Now some 20 months later GM is solvent, Banks have paid back most if not all of the TARP money and we have a path to universal healthcare. He has stood in the face of the lunatic right calling him a communist when he is more politically like Reagan then any Democrat in recent memory. He has stood above all the Racist rantings from the fake grassroots campaigns that are known as the tea partiers and as he did on Friday instructed us again on what this country stands for
I believe there are several things that true conservatives could bring to the debate but they have done nothing but say no over and over again. I urge you to say no when it comes time to vote for them.
Wise words from our President
Has this President done everything i wanted him to? Not by a long way. I believe he was wrong to take the public option off so early in the game, wrong on FISA, wrong on rendition and wrong on the war. However, he has done something historic in passing health care reform with all its faults and his action in regards to the stimulus and bailing out GM were spot on and saved millions of jobs.
Now some 20 months later GM is solvent, Banks have paid back most if not all of the TARP money and we have a path to universal healthcare. He has stood in the face of the lunatic right calling him a communist when he is more politically like Reagan then any Democrat in recent memory. He has stood above all the Racist rantings from the fake grassroots campaigns that are known as the tea partiers and as he did on Friday instructed us again on what this country stands for
I believe there are several things that true conservatives could bring to the debate but they have done nothing but say no over and over again. I urge you to say no when it comes time to vote for them.
Wise words from our President
Eat Pray Love
Part of marriage is learning how to compromise with each other. A few weeks back my wife agreed to watch the testosterone driven A-team with me (of course with several scenes of Bradly cooper well defined abs I don't think it was really a chore for her) so in return i agreed to watch the Julie Roberts opus Eat Pray Love. Now as with the aforementioned Bradley Cooper, Julie is certainly easy on the eyes and the film also presents a luscious palette of scenery and vistas.
Having not read the book its possible i missed what real meaning this movie was trying to impress upon the viewers (maybe i wasn't the intended audience). All i saw was this rich, stunningly gorgeous woman who dumped seemingly decent and good looking dudes (yes I'm comfortable enough in my manhood to say that Billy Crudup, James Franco and Javier Bardem are good looking men) so she could "find her self" The most cring worthy line however was not uttered by Julie or any of the male leads in this new age woe is me drama it was delivered thusly, "Having a baby is like having a tattoo on your face".
In the moment it seemed like some sort of comical explanation as to why she dumped her husband. My wife told me after that the book goes into how the husband wanted children and she didn't so I guess I understand to a point. After pondering the film a bit more i was taken back to a vastly superior film Kramer vs Kramer which dealt with this type of topic much better. To this day i still loath what Merryl Streep's character did in the film but for that time I believe the story was relevant.
This movie has no relevance.
4/10
Having not read the book its possible i missed what real meaning this movie was trying to impress upon the viewers (maybe i wasn't the intended audience). All i saw was this rich, stunningly gorgeous woman who dumped seemingly decent and good looking dudes (yes I'm comfortable enough in my manhood to say that Billy Crudup, James Franco and Javier Bardem are good looking men) so she could "find her self" The most cring worthy line however was not uttered by Julie or any of the male leads in this new age woe is me drama it was delivered thusly, "Having a baby is like having a tattoo on your face".
In the moment it seemed like some sort of comical explanation as to why she dumped her husband. My wife told me after that the book goes into how the husband wanted children and she didn't so I guess I understand to a point. After pondering the film a bit more i was taken back to a vastly superior film Kramer vs Kramer which dealt with this type of topic much better. To this day i still loath what Merryl Streep's character did in the film but for that time I believe the story was relevant.
This movie has no relevance.
4/10
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