Tegan and Sara are amazing.
Both So Jealous and The Con are great, great records.
The song I’m obsessed with right now is Burn Your Life Down.
Month: October 2007
Our Platform
1. As much as possible, live peacefully with other nations.
2. Keep church and state entirely separate.
3. Be good stewards to the environment, even if it hurts the economy.
4. Let people do what they will provided they are not hurting or infringing on the rights of others.
5. Let markets run free with a watchful eye towards fairness.
6. Enforce the same rules for everybody.
7. Be fiscally conservative. Spend less than we bring in.
8. Eliminate poverty.
9. Accept reality — do not govern by wishful thinking.
10. Provide security and strong defense to the people.
This seems obvious to me. It’s probably just a start on what we agree that government should do.
Just to illustrate a point, Bush does not, apparently, believe in #1, #2, #3, #4, #6, #7, #8 or #9. The facts on the ground would not give you reason to believe that those are in his platform.
We can agree on stuff. We can govern based on that agreement. We aren’t doing that.
Bush noble?
I have had many problems with Mr. Bush but one thing I have always believed about him, his motives are noble, at least to him. You may disagree but he’s not out to fuck anybodies children dood.
Bush noble? You really believe that? Even prior to being President he has proved himself to be an inept opportunist. As President his leadership has been abysmal. He has shut out voices of opposition and ignored the insights of 50% of this country not to mention scientists such as the Surgeon General.
He is out to fuck the children. In his mind he calls it fancy words like “capitalism” and “free markets” but he knows, and you know, that the private sector will not do the right thing when it comes to taking care of those in poverty. They do some things, and there are a lot of great NGOs doing good things. But in the land of equal opportunity, the government has a very important role in doing what the private sector cannot or will not do.
Are market forces going to insure children living in poverty? Or does government have to do that? Helping children living in poverty does not create poverty. It just gets medicine to kids would wouldn’t otherwise get it.
I think Bush has demonstrated repeatedly that he is a man without principle. Now is the saddest time of all — when he could be doing unifying things he instead is a far-Right lapdog to the end. I think Bush will prove to be an embarrassment in the history books.
Atheism != Hopelessness
I read a quote by James Lipton, the guy that hosts “Inside the Actor’s Studio”. He was asked his own question: “If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?”
He said “You see Jim, you were wrong, I exist, but you may come in anyway”.
It would be foolish to not want to exist forever. Everyone wants that. Just like everyone wants to win the lottery. I hate to tell you this, but you are never going to win the lottery. Does that make your life hopeless? Or course not. While we all would love to have highly improbably really great things happen to us, most often they don’t. You are not going to win the lottery.
You are also not going to exist forever. In fact, nothing lasts forever. Eventually the sun and the earth will be gone. Nothing exists forever. This is the natural state of things.
But look on the bright side, you exist! What a lovely miracle. You get some 80 years to live your life and learn and laugh and love. Think of all the things that won’t ever exist. Lucky you.
We don’t know what happens when we die. We don’t know why this is all here. But as lovely as it is to make believe that we are the chosen beings of some universe-creating supergod, there is no reason whatsoever to think so. You are alive. That is very, very special. Be happy with that.
Bush says "fuck the children"
Fox News has a roundup of some quotes regarding Bush’s recent veto of a bill expanding health insurance coverage for poor children. What is surprising is how many Republicans disagree with the President on this.
“I believe this is an irresponsible use of the veto pen. I hope the House can garner enough votes to override the President.” –Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore.
“Unfortunately, I believe that some have given the president bad advice on this matter, because I believe that supporting this bipartisan compromise to provide health coverage to low-income children is the morally right thing to do. I hope that we can muster enough votes to overturn this veto.” –Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.
“This is an important program with bipartisan support, and I’m committed to a responsible extension. … Any long-term extension must include an effective plan focused on enrolling children who currently qualify but who for whatever reason are not signed-up, anything less is irresponsible.” –Rep. Charles Boustany Jr., R-La.
When liberals and conservatives agree on something, it’s probably a good idea. And if it’s a good idea, Bush will be against it.
Because Jon Stewart is wrong, Bush is really, really, really, really stupid.
Clifden Town
We spent a week in Clifden, in County Galway, Ireland. It was the 30th annual Clifden Arts Week. Tea and Sympathy (a band I am in) had a gig at on the last night of the event. We rented a couple of houses and a bunch of us Yanks went over and had a hell of a time.
Clifden is a cool place with a good vibe. There is an old Irish feel nicely balanced with a younger more liberal overlay. Fun pubs, good food, cute little shops, surrounded by the very beautiful Connemara countryside, which is, on the one side, lakes and bogs and on the other, huge rocky hills. Clifden sits on a tidal bay that is filled and emptied by the tides. About 5 miles down the Sky Road is the sea itself, dotted with nearby islands.
One of our friends has a great little cottage on Turbot Island, a mile off the coast. The island is small, has no cars and only recently got electricity. There is a small, old graveyard there and about 8 houses. We spent a few hours on the island, walking the hills, the shore and laying on the long grass in the graveyard, disturbing the dead with our laughter.
The last night of the Arts Week culminated with a parade, some aerial acrobatics, fireworks and music. We played in a pub just off the square and the place was packed and we had a great time.
There’s lot to tell and share and I may even get to it some day. Check out my flickr pages if you want to see more photos (once I get them up there!).
Call the boat man
…I am going home. We are sitting in the Shannon, Ireland airport getting ready for an 8 hour flight to Chicago and eventually home. Back online and posting some photos and thoughts tomorrow.
Cheers!
lolife 