Yesterday the big news on the Internet was that Howard Zinn died and J D Salinger. I have not read Zinns work but he seems to have been quite the polarizing figure. I personally know people who are progressives that love him and I know a few conservatives who feel that he was worthless. It makes me want to track down his writings to see what all the hubbub is about.
Now as far as Salinger goes I have read 'The Catcher in the Rye' it was several years ago. Actually over a decade and I am unable to remember if I thought it was good on not. That isn't a good sign for me. If I really like something I am going to remember it and I can point to 'The Hobbit' or 'Fight Club' as books that have carried a real weight for me. Yesterday as I was looking around and seeing different things about Salinger I came across a clip from the film 'Dead Poets Society'. The clip I linked is from the end of the movie after they have SPOILER ALERT.......fired the teacher and he is returning to the class room to collect his personals.
Now when this movie was released I was working at a movie theater in Salem and going to Chemeketa Community College and had a pipe dream of working someday as a film director. I took film classes at school and really lived and breathed the movies. I was a projectionist at the theater and would often watch the movies from the booth as they ran. It wasn't a great viewing experience. The machines would clank and squeal and I would have to make sure the change over happened just right or I would have a real mess on my hands. But every now and then a film would come along that as I watched it from my perch in the booth. Viewing it through a grimy little window, a film would transcend its surroundings and take me away. 'Dead Poets Society' was such a film for me. I would stand in the booth and weep. I want you to watch that clip above and if you have seen the film before just enjoy the power of it. Watch it and think back to when you were younger and things seemed so important. When it felt like no one was listening to you and all that you had was your books or art or movies or music or whatever it was that made you a special person.
When you knew deep down in your heart that 'The Man' existed solely to stop you from achieving your greatness. Then take a look around you and realize that somehow with out you realizing it you have become 'The Man'. I would watch movies like 'Dead Poets Society' and get so mad. I would weep with frustration at the actions of the parents in the films and shake my fists at the screen. "How can they not understand?" I remember yelling out in the middle of 'Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure' as one of them was going to be sent to military school. "Just punch him!!'. Well people around me laughed and that was all well and good but I was not trying to be funny. I was legitimately angry.I miss the passion that movies used to generate in me. I still love film and I think I have a pretty nice and intelligent DVD collection of some classics as well as some more of the modern films. But the passion I used to feel is not there.
I think that is partially the fault of modern cinema but that is a story for another day. All that being said I want to know your top 5 most emotionally impactful films.
1. Dead Poets Society
2. Fight Club
3. Gatteca
4. Requiem For a Dream
5. Charlie or Flowers For Algernon
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
1-28-2010 (Thursday)
Good morning folks. It is Thursday and I am back on the train. I just decided that I did not want to drive today so I pulled into Wilsonville and here I am. I enjoy the driving but I was not feeling it today.
Pretty big things going on in my corner of the world. The Presidents state of the union address was last night. I didn't think that he said anything extreme or really thought provoking. If anything I think he has chickened out on his ideas of change and has begun to act just like any other politician and that is sad to me. But, I guess I should have realized that when he asked Joe Biden to be his VP. If anything said "Hey, I am going to say change but really it will be the same old, same old." The presence of Biden should have clued me in. Now granted I did not want the kind of change that McCain was pushing with Palin but I wanted something more then we have gotten from Mr Obama. I hope the next two years may allow for some of that.
In Oregon, the fallout from Measures 66 & 67 is building. It really felt like someone had died yesterday. Because everywhere I turned on Facebook there was someone expressing sadness at the bills passing. Now I realize that there were some pretty heated things being sad and statistics being thrown back and forth about job loss and such. But, the sad reality is that it really did not matter if these bills passed or not. Because in Oregon right now there would be, will be job loss. I think the biggest thing that the bills did was to decided from where that job loss was going to happen either the public or the private sector. The other big thing these bills did was to highlight the differences in what the people of Oregon think is good politics and isn't. When I looked at the county listings of the vote outcome it was pretty obvious that along the I-5 corridor and through the Willamette Valley these counties voted yes. But east of them and south it was a no vote. What this means is that the population centers of the state are controlling the future of the state. While I realize that this is frustrating for people I think that is Democracy and when the populace has a vote well sometimes you have to eat a crap sandwich.
I have also heard a few people mention, one on the radio, that they wonder about voter fraud. I hope that isn't the case. I like the vote by mail system in Oregon and I do not want it to change. I do not think there was voter fraud and until I hear actual evidence of such a thing I am going to continue thinking it was a fair vote that played out along party and population lines.
All of that being said. I think Oregon will get through this. The wheel keeps turning and life moves forward. Big business will stay and return to Oregon. We will get out of this recession and the jobs will come. I am confident of that. I do not think our state is going to go the route of California or Arizona. So hang in there Oregonians there is always sunshine after the rain but we all know that sometimes the rain lasts for several years.
Pretty big things going on in my corner of the world. The Presidents state of the union address was last night. I didn't think that he said anything extreme or really thought provoking. If anything I think he has chickened out on his ideas of change and has begun to act just like any other politician and that is sad to me. But, I guess I should have realized that when he asked Joe Biden to be his VP. If anything said "Hey, I am going to say change but really it will be the same old, same old." The presence of Biden should have clued me in. Now granted I did not want the kind of change that McCain was pushing with Palin but I wanted something more then we have gotten from Mr Obama. I hope the next two years may allow for some of that.
In Oregon, the fallout from Measures 66 & 67 is building. It really felt like someone had died yesterday. Because everywhere I turned on Facebook there was someone expressing sadness at the bills passing. Now I realize that there were some pretty heated things being sad and statistics being thrown back and forth about job loss and such. But, the sad reality is that it really did not matter if these bills passed or not. Because in Oregon right now there would be, will be job loss. I think the biggest thing that the bills did was to decided from where that job loss was going to happen either the public or the private sector. The other big thing these bills did was to highlight the differences in what the people of Oregon think is good politics and isn't. When I looked at the county listings of the vote outcome it was pretty obvious that along the I-5 corridor and through the Willamette Valley these counties voted yes. But east of them and south it was a no vote. What this means is that the population centers of the state are controlling the future of the state. While I realize that this is frustrating for people I think that is Democracy and when the populace has a vote well sometimes you have to eat a crap sandwich.
I have also heard a few people mention, one on the radio, that they wonder about voter fraud. I hope that isn't the case. I like the vote by mail system in Oregon and I do not want it to change. I do not think there was voter fraud and until I hear actual evidence of such a thing I am going to continue thinking it was a fair vote that played out along party and population lines.
All of that being said. I think Oregon will get through this. The wheel keeps turning and life moves forward. Big business will stay and return to Oregon. We will get out of this recession and the jobs will come. I am confident of that. I do not think our state is going to go the route of California or Arizona. So hang in there Oregonians there is always sunshine after the rain but we all know that sometimes the rain lasts for several years.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
1-27-10 (Wednesday)
Well...in what I think is a surprising result Oregon voters decided to pass measures 66 and 67. This is the first time in 70 years that Oregon has voted in a tax increase. In fact 9 times in the past Oregon has said no to a sales tax. So I think there are more then a few of the so called experts that are shaking their heads over this one. Now as I mentioned yesterday, only time will tell if this is going to be a net gain or loss for Oregon. While the supporters of the measures feel that this is going to be a gain because of the tax revenue it is going to generate that anti people feel that the amount of private industry jobs that Oregon is going to lose because of this will make this a net loss. I have no idea and I am not even going to attempt to make a prediction on it.
Tonight President Obama gives his State of the Union address. I am not overly excited by this. I think the primary reason for me is that because Mr Obama has been out speaking so much I am not feeling a need to listen. With other Presidents it was rare to hear them speak so I would sometimes view it just because I wanted to see how they spoke publicly. But with Mr Obama that is not anything I haven't seen before. As a matter of fact, along those same lines of public speaking I saw a clip of President Obama last night speaking to a class of 6Th graders, somewhere in America I am not sure where, the clip was on the daily show. What was interesting to me and what Jon Stewart mentioned was that the President was in a 6Th grade classroom with the presidential podium set up and two 'TELEPROMPTERS' set up!! One to his right and one two his left!! I mean come on! You are in a grade school class room!! Do you really need to have teleprompters? I am beginning to feel more and more just like the old Who song says "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" I know people will disagree with me and it isn't that Obama is the same as Bush. It is that he is becoming the same business as usual politician that infects this country. The conservatives are excited right now about Scott Browns victory in Massachusetts. I would argue that given a year or maybe as little as six months he will be sucked into the machine will be spat out the same politician as the rest of them.
It doesn't matter what party they are from. The lobbyists for the corporations and the corporations run things in Washington D.C.. I am beginning to feel more and more that the only real safe haven for people is what can happen for them at the state level. Maybe what we need is a return to federalism and a step back from the large umbrella of national government. I do feel that I am in favor of the new spending freeze idea. I just hope it works.
Tonight President Obama gives his State of the Union address. I am not overly excited by this. I think the primary reason for me is that because Mr Obama has been out speaking so much I am not feeling a need to listen. With other Presidents it was rare to hear them speak so I would sometimes view it just because I wanted to see how they spoke publicly. But with Mr Obama that is not anything I haven't seen before. As a matter of fact, along those same lines of public speaking I saw a clip of President Obama last night speaking to a class of 6Th graders, somewhere in America I am not sure where, the clip was on the daily show. What was interesting to me and what Jon Stewart mentioned was that the President was in a 6Th grade classroom with the presidential podium set up and two 'TELEPROMPTERS' set up!! One to his right and one two his left!! I mean come on! You are in a grade school class room!! Do you really need to have teleprompters? I am beginning to feel more and more just like the old Who song says "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" I know people will disagree with me and it isn't that Obama is the same as Bush. It is that he is becoming the same business as usual politician that infects this country. The conservatives are excited right now about Scott Browns victory in Massachusetts. I would argue that given a year or maybe as little as six months he will be sucked into the machine will be spat out the same politician as the rest of them.
It doesn't matter what party they are from. The lobbyists for the corporations and the corporations run things in Washington D.C.. I am beginning to feel more and more that the only real safe haven for people is what can happen for them at the state level. Maybe what we need is a return to federalism and a step back from the large umbrella of national government. I do feel that I am in favor of the new spending freeze idea. I just hope it works.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
1-26-10 (Tuesday)
Well I took a side trip last night on my way home from Beaverton and stopped into the Comcast office to pick up my new HD/DVR box for the new television. That was an eye opener. I had decided to pick up my box under the mistaken assumption that it would be faster...it was not. It was much like going to the DMV. I walked in the office at about 4:45 or so and there was a line of people along every open wall space as well as every chair except one being full. After that initial shock I noticed that I needed to take a number from the number machine. But it wasn't that simple. I had to choose what I was there for since it seems each of the six windows were for a different function. I choose equipment pickup/drop off and it was time to take a seat.
It was at that point that I noticed my number was T405 and the numbers on the board were T495. I begin to get nervous. Had I taken the wrong number? All of these people couldn't be here for equipment could they? How embarrassing was this going to be for me? But at the T499 mark the numbers flipped over to T400 and I breathed a sigh of relief. It had been all I could do to not go get another number. That kind of momentary panic is pretty common for me as is the follow up worry about am I going to look foolish or be embarrassed in front of people who do not know who I am.
It is funny to me that I worry about that. Because anyone who knows me can tell you that if I am around a group of people who do know me I am not afraid to look foolish if I can make people laugh. It isn't like I am some sort of smooth James Bondian fellow anyway. I can be clumsy. I have fallen over in public several time and usually because I stepped on uneven sidewalk. But I survived the experience and now have HD at home and let me tell you. I realize I am a little late coming to the HD party but wow! I am even more looking forward to the Olympics and the Super Bowl then I was before.
That is all for today. I hope you voted if you live in Oregon. You still have time to get out there and drop it off. Tomorrow should be interesting as the results begin to come in.
It was at that point that I noticed my number was T405 and the numbers on the board were T495. I begin to get nervous. Had I taken the wrong number? All of these people couldn't be here for equipment could they? How embarrassing was this going to be for me? But at the T499 mark the numbers flipped over to T400 and I breathed a sigh of relief. It had been all I could do to not go get another number. That kind of momentary panic is pretty common for me as is the follow up worry about am I going to look foolish or be embarrassed in front of people who do not know who I am.
It is funny to me that I worry about that. Because anyone who knows me can tell you that if I am around a group of people who do know me I am not afraid to look foolish if I can make people laugh. It isn't like I am some sort of smooth James Bondian fellow anyway. I can be clumsy. I have fallen over in public several time and usually because I stepped on uneven sidewalk. But I survived the experience and now have HD at home and let me tell you. I realize I am a little late coming to the HD party but wow! I am even more looking forward to the Olympics and the Super Bowl then I was before.
That is all for today. I hope you voted if you live in Oregon. You still have time to get out there and drop it off. Tomorrow should be interesting as the results begin to come in.
Monday, January 25, 2010
1-25-10 (Monday)
Hello everyone, I hope you all had a good weekend. Mine wasn't anything special although I did purchase a new television and my good friend Joel came over and helped me get it set up. It wasn't all that complicated but it was easier to do with two people that is for sure. Now if things go well today I should be up and running on HD for both the Super Bowl and the Winter Olympics. I am looking forward to watching both of those particular sporting events. But, to be honest with out the Pittsburgh Steelers this years Super Bowl does not hold a lot of interest for me. I will be loosely rooting for the Colts to win but only because I think Peyton Manning is the best quarterback in the NFL today. He plays with such consistency and poise that it seems almost effortless for him. As far as the people who will say that Brett Favre is the best QB, I have to disagree on the grounds that he throws too many interceptions. He forces passes and it hurts his team as proven by the game yesterday. He threw one too many passes and I think it cost his team the game.
The close of voting is Tuesday night at 8pm for Oregons big tax bills. It is going to be interesting to see the end result of this. If they pass then taxes will go up on corporations from $10 a year to $150 and individuals making over $250,000 a year. If they do not pass then the state legislature will have to meet and decide where and how to cut some things and make the budget balance. That is going to be an interesting process. I think it is all going to come down to which pro or con groups had the best propaganda because right now you can't turn on the radio or the TV without hearing a commercial. I am personally torn on this one because I realize that we need taxes to pay for the services that we get from the state government it is also true that Oregon government is seriously bloated. This really seems like a lose, lose situation for both sides because I think either result is going to result in job loss for the state in one form or another. I hope I am wrong about that.
With that I leave you good folks, I hope you all have a good day and I will see you tomorrow.
The close of voting is Tuesday night at 8pm for Oregons big tax bills. It is going to be interesting to see the end result of this. If they pass then taxes will go up on corporations from $10 a year to $150 and individuals making over $250,000 a year. If they do not pass then the state legislature will have to meet and decide where and how to cut some things and make the budget balance. That is going to be an interesting process. I think it is all going to come down to which pro or con groups had the best propaganda because right now you can't turn on the radio or the TV without hearing a commercial. I am personally torn on this one because I realize that we need taxes to pay for the services that we get from the state government it is also true that Oregon government is seriously bloated. This really seems like a lose, lose situation for both sides because I think either result is going to result in job loss for the state in one form or another. I hope I am wrong about that.
With that I leave you good folks, I hope you all have a good day and I will see you tomorrow.
Friday, January 22, 2010
1-22-23 (Friday)
Good morning America. Say hello to our new corporate masters!! Yesterday in a 5 to 4 vote the United Stats Supreme Court ruled that there are now no spending limits on how much money a corporation can spend on or for a political campaign or candidate. To put this in different terms. If a company like Nike wanted George H. W. Obama III to be in office they could, in the past, give him a limited amount of money or open a PAC (Political Action Committee) that they could use to raise money and to funnel money through. Now with the new Supreme Court ruling Nike could spend say a billion dollars to run commercials or buy blocks of advertising. Really with no limits to the shape it could take. While it is true that they can't give the money directly to the candidate this still concerns me.
The reason it concerns me is that humans are lame. We are not pleasant people, sure some of us are but allow me the generalization, at our core humans tend to look out for number one. I am already in low opinion of most politicians to begin with. What this ruling means that the pressure a politician may already feel to rule in favor of a financial supporter may be magnified ten or even one hundred fold. In my personal life if someone gives me money for something even if it is a gift for a holiday I tend to feel like I need to give them the benefit of a listen if they have a suggestion as to how I might spend it.
So how is politician supposed to not listen and even do what a corporation asks or tells him to do when they say 'hey pal, we spend x millions of dollars to get you elected. If you do not we will spend it on your opponent in the next cycle.' I just do not see a good outcome for this. I think it will make the public more cynical of the whole process and make politicians more corrupt if that is even possible.
Maybe I am wrong and if a reader can explain to me why. Then by all means please do so. I would love to hear it.
The reason it concerns me is that humans are lame. We are not pleasant people, sure some of us are but allow me the generalization, at our core humans tend to look out for number one. I am already in low opinion of most politicians to begin with. What this ruling means that the pressure a politician may already feel to rule in favor of a financial supporter may be magnified ten or even one hundred fold. In my personal life if someone gives me money for something even if it is a gift for a holiday I tend to feel like I need to give them the benefit of a listen if they have a suggestion as to how I might spend it.
So how is politician supposed to not listen and even do what a corporation asks or tells him to do when they say 'hey pal, we spend x millions of dollars to get you elected. If you do not we will spend it on your opponent in the next cycle.' I just do not see a good outcome for this. I think it will make the public more cynical of the whole process and make politicians more corrupt if that is even possible.
Maybe I am wrong and if a reader can explain to me why. Then by all means please do so. I would love to hear it.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
1-21-10 (Thursday)
Good morning folks. I trust you are all well today. The week seems to be moving along nicely over here on the west coast of America. I noticed when I was looking at who visits my blog that last week I had received a visit from someone in Hong Kong and from someone in Brazil. I think that is pretty cool. I do not have even a medium sized reading audience and that is fine with me. So to me it is even more amazing when people from other countries find their way here. I have a pretty regular visitor near as I can tell from England and I have had a visit in the past from Venezuela.
To me, and I may have mentioned this before, the greatest strength of the internet is that people from all over the world are able to communicate with each other. But I do not come to praise the internet. I do not think that it needs me to. I just think it is great that I can talk to people in basically real time from all over. I think it is great even if we disagree because at least there is some communication and then it helps me to realize that despite our disagreements that person is a human being. Well all except for Van, I am pretty sure he is a soulless robot. :) I kid, I kid!
I think the reason that these thoughts popped into my head today is that as I was listening to the radio on the way to work today they were talking about yesterdays midterm elections in Massachusetts and how that election was a sign of the will of the voters in America. Well my first thought was. What? I am not a part of Massachusetts and I do want there to be some kind of health care reform. So how can that vote be about anything other then what the voters in Massachusetts want. My second thought was besides "Why, should I care in Oregon what anybody does over there? They do not seem to care about me." So it is interesting to me because on a person to person level I love to hear what people think and I love to read blogs and stuff. But on the statewide voting level. I really could not care less how Massachusetts as a state votes. I do not like the Boston Redsox, Bruins, Celtics or any other team of Boston origin. As far as I am concerned it will be a good day when global warming causes the bay to rise and floods Boston.
You folks have a good day! ... I said Goood Day!!
To me, and I may have mentioned this before, the greatest strength of the internet is that people from all over the world are able to communicate with each other. But I do not come to praise the internet. I do not think that it needs me to. I just think it is great that I can talk to people in basically real time from all over. I think it is great even if we disagree because at least there is some communication and then it helps me to realize that despite our disagreements that person is a human being. Well all except for Van, I am pretty sure he is a soulless robot. :) I kid, I kid!
I think the reason that these thoughts popped into my head today is that as I was listening to the radio on the way to work today they were talking about yesterdays midterm elections in Massachusetts and how that election was a sign of the will of the voters in America. Well my first thought was. What? I am not a part of Massachusetts and I do want there to be some kind of health care reform. So how can that vote be about anything other then what the voters in Massachusetts want. My second thought was besides "Why, should I care in Oregon what anybody does over there? They do not seem to care about me." So it is interesting to me because on a person to person level I love to hear what people think and I love to read blogs and stuff. But on the statewide voting level. I really could not care less how Massachusetts as a state votes. I do not like the Boston Redsox, Bruins, Celtics or any other team of Boston origin. As far as I am concerned it will be a good day when global warming causes the bay to rise and floods Boston.
You folks have a good day! ... I said Goood Day!!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
1-20-10 (Wednesday)
Well, well, well and interesting turn of events in Massachusetts last night. The Internet is a buzz this morning as was Facebook last night with all of the usual suspects taking their usual sides and being all excited about something that they think is going to change everything.
I say phooey! I say nothing is going to change and that in the end this whole thing is just going to be business as usual for the people that really run this country. Oh sure the right is all fired up. The Tea pot is boiling over!! We have turned back Obama they yell. It is the death knell for universal health care others proclaim. I would argue that if you actually thought that universal health care had a chance of passing in this country you were deluding yourself.
The only way it will pass here is if it would in some way benefit the pharmaceutical companies and the insurance companies. This will never happen. The big drug companies depend on the amount of money they take in from there medicines and insurance depends on the premiums that they take in. These two groups alone will never give up their stranglehold on health care. I would argue that this is also another reason that marijuana will never be legalized nationwide in America. It may get legalized on a state by state level which it appears to be on the path toward just that. But I do not see the drug industry getting out of the way of and allowing the legalization of a pain killing substance that people are able to grow in their back yard or basement.
But that is a side issue and I didn't intend to talk about that today though it relates to lots of things. I think most if not all of what goes on in Washington D.C. is done at the behest of the large corporations and special interest groups. I remember when President Obama was elected a large amount of Americans started buying up guns and ammunition and reloading materials to the extent that it became hard to find them in the stores. Several of my friends were convinced that Obama was going to move to ban guns. My response was this. "What do you think the NRA is doing in Washington? The NRA (National Rifle Association) gets millions of dollars a year from people in America who love guns. They know that if guns were to be banned this money tree would dry up. It is only reasonable that they do all they can to ensure that the new president does not ban guns." So has there been any movement to ban guns from the White House? Not that I have seen so far. I think the only way there ever will be such a thing in this country is if a large lobbying firm came in with billions of dollars and went head to head against the NRA in a battle of who had the deepest pockets. Then we would truly see how much greed runs things in this country.
Because in the end this is what truly runs America. The almighty dollar and the desire to get more and keep more for yourself even if that means climbing over the backs of others to do so. I think this is true of the ruling class in this country regardless of their claiming to be right or to be left. It just doesn't matter! With that being said I leave you with this lovely picture of Massachusetts newest Senator Scott Brown. He does appear to be ready to lead.
I say phooey! I say nothing is going to change and that in the end this whole thing is just going to be business as usual for the people that really run this country. Oh sure the right is all fired up. The Tea pot is boiling over!! We have turned back Obama they yell. It is the death knell for universal health care others proclaim. I would argue that if you actually thought that universal health care had a chance of passing in this country you were deluding yourself.
The only way it will pass here is if it would in some way benefit the pharmaceutical companies and the insurance companies. This will never happen. The big drug companies depend on the amount of money they take in from there medicines and insurance depends on the premiums that they take in. These two groups alone will never give up their stranglehold on health care. I would argue that this is also another reason that marijuana will never be legalized nationwide in America. It may get legalized on a state by state level which it appears to be on the path toward just that. But I do not see the drug industry getting out of the way of and allowing the legalization of a pain killing substance that people are able to grow in their back yard or basement.
But that is a side issue and I didn't intend to talk about that today though it relates to lots of things. I think most if not all of what goes on in Washington D.C. is done at the behest of the large corporations and special interest groups. I remember when President Obama was elected a large amount of Americans started buying up guns and ammunition and reloading materials to the extent that it became hard to find them in the stores. Several of my friends were convinced that Obama was going to move to ban guns. My response was this. "What do you think the NRA is doing in Washington? The NRA (National Rifle Association) gets millions of dollars a year from people in America who love guns. They know that if guns were to be banned this money tree would dry up. It is only reasonable that they do all they can to ensure that the new president does not ban guns." So has there been any movement to ban guns from the White House? Not that I have seen so far. I think the only way there ever will be such a thing in this country is if a large lobbying firm came in with billions of dollars and went head to head against the NRA in a battle of who had the deepest pockets. Then we would truly see how much greed runs things in this country.
Because in the end this is what truly runs America. The almighty dollar and the desire to get more and keep more for yourself even if that means climbing over the backs of others to do so. I think this is true of the ruling class in this country regardless of their claiming to be right or to be left. It just doesn't matter! With that being said I leave you with this lovely picture of Massachusetts newest Senator Scott Brown. He does appear to be ready to lead.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
1-19-10 (Tuesday)
Good morning again folks, I hope today finds you well. I guess I should take it as a good thing because I am not feeling really fired up about anything today. I realize there are probably plenty of things in the world that I could get worked up about but I just do not feel the need to poke at them this morning.
I think one reason might be that I am just drained from hearing about Haiti every morning on the radio. It just seems like the reports are getting worse and worse and I wonder when things are going to get better. I also wonder in what form the rebuilding is going to take in Port-au-Prince. It is going to be interesting to see because while this is truly a tragedy it also is an opportunity to rebuild a city and that is a rare thing. A lot of issues will be with cost and safety but with the Haitian government being pretty much nonexistent at this time I wonder what is going to happen.
My dead, cynical, acorn sized, coal made, heart says 'Not Much!!'. But I am hoping that for once he is wrong and that something good will come out of this for the people of Haiti.
That is about it for today. I realize that the posts have been short the last couple of days but I have been trying to get the schedule adjusted since moving into the new place. I think things are going to settle down here pretty soon and hopefully I will be back to my usual tricks. That may not be something that all of you like but oh well.
I think one reason might be that I am just drained from hearing about Haiti every morning on the radio. It just seems like the reports are getting worse and worse and I wonder when things are going to get better. I also wonder in what form the rebuilding is going to take in Port-au-Prince. It is going to be interesting to see because while this is truly a tragedy it also is an opportunity to rebuild a city and that is a rare thing. A lot of issues will be with cost and safety but with the Haitian government being pretty much nonexistent at this time I wonder what is going to happen.
My dead, cynical, acorn sized, coal made, heart says 'Not Much!!'. But I am hoping that for once he is wrong and that something good will come out of this for the people of Haiti.
That is about it for today. I realize that the posts have been short the last couple of days but I have been trying to get the schedule adjusted since moving into the new place. I think things are going to settle down here pretty soon and hopefully I will be back to my usual tricks. That may not be something that all of you like but oh well.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Jan 18, 2010 (MLK Jr Day)
Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Good Morning folks, I hope you are all well today and had a nice weekend. I posted the quote above since today is MLK day and I am hoping to do something on the blog each day there is some sort of honoring of some one in America or maybe the world I am not sure. So most of the time I imagine it taking the shape of me posting a quote and then maybe a few thoughts about that quote but sometimes it may just be the quote. I am not fully committed either way yet.
That being said I do find today's quote pretty interesting to me on a purely personal level. I have been struggling with what faith means for a long time. I really feel that any thinking person has to struggle with this issue now and then. Even more so if you are at all religious in nature. The amount of mystery that goes with believing in a higher power makes faith a huge issue. At least I think it does. I would love to have the sheer confidence of the true believer or the sheer confidence of the hard core atheist.
I instead fall somewhere in the middle of the two camps and shift back and forth depending on the books I have read or where my emotions are, are any given time. I do not think this is a good thing or makes me better in some way or another then any body else it just is. Sometimes even when I can see the whole staircase I have a hard time believing it is real. So I am not sure what that actually means.
I am also not actually sure where I was going with this today. So I think I will stop there. Perhaps I will expand on this theme at a later date I am not sure. Anyway I hope you all have a good day and I hope to hear from you soon.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Tuesday, 1/12/10
Hey everybody, here we are on day number two of the work week. I hope things are progressing nicely for everyone. I am doing okay on my end. I had to drive today because I am doing some courier work this afternoon and let me tell you I did not enjoy it. I realize that I have outlined on here before my love for the train. Some people probably wish that I would stop talking about it. But, on the days when I have to drive in I realize how much better it is for me to be able to relax a little bit and not be worried about what the obviously insane person in the car next to me is doing. "Hey! Hey! Stay in your lane! Knucklehead!"
I came to the conclusion today that a lot of my frustration in the car comes from the fact that I do not know where the other drivers are going. When I am on the freeway I tend to drive looking ahead to where my exit is going to be and I do what I can to get over into that exit lane with out forcing my way in or making others slam on their brakes. So I am always amazed when someone comes flying up beside and and forces their way in. Did they not realize this was where the exit is? Or, do they just not care? It is at times likes this that I wish for a megaphone so that I can ask them these questions in what I hope is the most polite manner possible.
We are gearing up for the 'Castle Doctrine' referendum at work. The simplest way to explain it is that going back to medieval times and some would argue that back to the Torah that a mans home is his castle and he has the right to defend it from trespassers. Some states have a clause that before a person can defend themselves or others in their home there must be no chance of retreat. Other states, Texas for one, allow you to pretty much shoot someone if they enter your home. You do not even have to be sure that your life is at risk. They broke in and you shot them simple end of story. The Oregon law will not go that far and it also cleans up some ambiguity in the way the present law is written. The one thing it does that I am the most interested in is that it will stop a land owner from being sued if someone gets hurt trespassing on their property.
I feel like I am okay with that. Having been a landowner I was always a little fearful that if someone climbed into our hot tub and drowned I would be negligent even if I hadn't given them permission and they were in effect breaking into the tub. So I will be watching the debate on this one with some interest. I believe that it will get on the ballot without to much trouble.
I also have been watching with some interest the debate on the two tax measures in Oregon. One raises the minimum tax on business and the other raises the income tax on people making over $100,000 and then $250,000 a year. The debate on this issue has been very heated with pro tax people saying that Oregon will be bankrupt if these do not pass and the anti-tax people saying that these taxes will drive business out of Oregon. I think the end result of this either way it shakes out is going to make things interesting.
I came to the conclusion today that a lot of my frustration in the car comes from the fact that I do not know where the other drivers are going. When I am on the freeway I tend to drive looking ahead to where my exit is going to be and I do what I can to get over into that exit lane with out forcing my way in or making others slam on their brakes. So I am always amazed when someone comes flying up beside and and forces their way in. Did they not realize this was where the exit is? Or, do they just not care? It is at times likes this that I wish for a megaphone so that I can ask them these questions in what I hope is the most polite manner possible.
We are gearing up for the 'Castle Doctrine' referendum at work. The simplest way to explain it is that going back to medieval times and some would argue that back to the Torah that a mans home is his castle and he has the right to defend it from trespassers. Some states have a clause that before a person can defend themselves or others in their home there must be no chance of retreat. Other states, Texas for one, allow you to pretty much shoot someone if they enter your home. You do not even have to be sure that your life is at risk. They broke in and you shot them simple end of story. The Oregon law will not go that far and it also cleans up some ambiguity in the way the present law is written. The one thing it does that I am the most interested in is that it will stop a land owner from being sued if someone gets hurt trespassing on their property.
I feel like I am okay with that. Having been a landowner I was always a little fearful that if someone climbed into our hot tub and drowned I would be negligent even if I hadn't given them permission and they were in effect breaking into the tub. So I will be watching the debate on this one with some interest. I believe that it will get on the ballot without to much trouble.
I also have been watching with some interest the debate on the two tax measures in Oregon. One raises the minimum tax on business and the other raises the income tax on people making over $100,000 and then $250,000 a year. The debate on this issue has been very heated with pro tax people saying that Oregon will be bankrupt if these do not pass and the anti-tax people saying that these taxes will drive business out of Oregon. I think the end result of this either way it shakes out is going to make things interesting.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Jan 11, 2010, Monday
Happy Monday everyone!! Whenever I say that it reminds me of the film 'Office Space'. That is a film I enjoy quite a bit. But I didn't come here today to talk about films or politics or even theology. I came here to address something that occurred to me yesterday.
I moved yesterday into yet another new place. This is a better place, newer and actual insulation in the walls and air conditioning. But, the process of moving was a hard one for me. I can already tell that I am going to be more comfortable in the new place. I am living with a good friend of mine and he and I seem to get along, we have lived together before and that worked out pretty good if you discount the chicken grease on the remote control incident, as well as the steak left in the oven incident. I shall speak no more of these.
But I wanted to touch on friends and there existence in all of our worlds. My life has been really in an upheaval lately as several of you know. Well I realized yesterday as my friend Chad made several trips with me back and forth to the new place. This is the easily the third or forth time that he has helped me move as well as helped me just in my daily life of living. I have known him since grade school and he has been with me through thick and thin. I owe him so much that it is hard for me to add them up.
The other guy I wanted to say by name is my friend Travis. I have known Travis since high school and have worked with him and for him in several different capacities. I have always found him to be both fair and understanding in the work environment yet still be able to just be friends outside of the office. He is whom I am working for now and I really enjoy what I do. What I realized this weekend as I looked at the boxes of books and DVD s and other assorted detritus that my ex-wife dropped off for me. I realized that if it were not for Travis and this job that he reached out to me with I would not have survived this whole mess. I do not say this to be melodramatic or to ask for people to explain to me the value of my life. I understand all of that.
But, the simple reality is that what this job and my friendships with others has done is allow me to land on my feet. It has allowed me to continue moving forward and to do something that I find interesting and sometimes exciting. If I had not been working I am not sure what would have become of me. That is the truth. There would not have been a reason to get up each day. A reason to keep moving forward and to keep looking into the future. My life changed and it changed in a dramatic way that I did not want it to. It is still changing and each day brings new challenges and new things to adjust to. But I realize that I can do those things with the help of my friends.
There are a myriad of other friends who will feel left out if I do not mention them. Nick, and Joel and Dean and Christopher come to mind as well as my friend Anthony who reached out to me and helped me move forward. I do not have time to address all that these have done for me. But, Joel I am sorry I left my water bed in your basement. I am not sure what I was thinking.
I just remembered that there are several woman in my life who have helped me along the way and I meant to include them in this overall tribute. I am by no means a woman hater despite the divorce. That is a side issue that is as much my fault or all of my fault then hers. Woman are not the root of all that is evil. I find that they smell nice and are easier to look then men. But, lately the most consistent woman in my life has been Chads wife Cassy. I know she has put up with a lot from me over the years and I really am thankful for her and her presence in my life.
But all of this is to say to people please remember your friends. Because even if they do not always tell you or show you that your presence in their lives changes things it really does. So call them, send them a note, text them, or email but make contact and say thank you.
I moved yesterday into yet another new place. This is a better place, newer and actual insulation in the walls and air conditioning. But, the process of moving was a hard one for me. I can already tell that I am going to be more comfortable in the new place. I am living with a good friend of mine and he and I seem to get along, we have lived together before and that worked out pretty good if you discount the chicken grease on the remote control incident, as well as the steak left in the oven incident. I shall speak no more of these.
But I wanted to touch on friends and there existence in all of our worlds. My life has been really in an upheaval lately as several of you know. Well I realized yesterday as my friend Chad made several trips with me back and forth to the new place. This is the easily the third or forth time that he has helped me move as well as helped me just in my daily life of living. I have known him since grade school and he has been with me through thick and thin. I owe him so much that it is hard for me to add them up.
The other guy I wanted to say by name is my friend Travis. I have known Travis since high school and have worked with him and for him in several different capacities. I have always found him to be both fair and understanding in the work environment yet still be able to just be friends outside of the office. He is whom I am working for now and I really enjoy what I do. What I realized this weekend as I looked at the boxes of books and DVD s and other assorted detritus that my ex-wife dropped off for me. I realized that if it were not for Travis and this job that he reached out to me with I would not have survived this whole mess. I do not say this to be melodramatic or to ask for people to explain to me the value of my life. I understand all of that.
But, the simple reality is that what this job and my friendships with others has done is allow me to land on my feet. It has allowed me to continue moving forward and to do something that I find interesting and sometimes exciting. If I had not been working I am not sure what would have become of me. That is the truth. There would not have been a reason to get up each day. A reason to keep moving forward and to keep looking into the future. My life changed and it changed in a dramatic way that I did not want it to. It is still changing and each day brings new challenges and new things to adjust to. But I realize that I can do those things with the help of my friends.
There are a myriad of other friends who will feel left out if I do not mention them. Nick, and Joel and Dean and Christopher come to mind as well as my friend Anthony who reached out to me and helped me move forward. I do not have time to address all that these have done for me. But, Joel I am sorry I left my water bed in your basement. I am not sure what I was thinking.
I just remembered that there are several woman in my life who have helped me along the way and I meant to include them in this overall tribute. I am by no means a woman hater despite the divorce. That is a side issue that is as much my fault or all of my fault then hers. Woman are not the root of all that is evil. I find that they smell nice and are easier to look then men. But, lately the most consistent woman in my life has been Chads wife Cassy. I know she has put up with a lot from me over the years and I really am thankful for her and her presence in my life.
But all of this is to say to people please remember your friends. Because even if they do not always tell you or show you that your presence in their lives changes things it really does. So call them, send them a note, text them, or email but make contact and say thank you.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Tuesday, 1-5-2010
Good morning folks. I hope the day is treating you well so far. I heard something interesting on the radio this morning about the Democratic party here in Oregon. It was a piece they did about a meeting that the Democrats had concerning delegates and the so called super delegates.
The basic idea is that the National Democratic party wants to strip the Super Delegates power. They would prefer that the delegates vote how the people in the party voted. I myself have no problem with that. I think if we as a country are going to give, at least, lip service to the idea that everyone has a vote then the elections need to be decided by popular vote and not by the choice a political insider makes. Sure, there may be times when the majority of the populace make a bad decision. But, since we have a system in place that ensures multiple elections as well as limits to the time spent in office things tend to even themselves out.
The head of the Oregon Democratic party mentioned that rather then take the powers of the Super Delegate away why not have the primaries for each state take place during the same month. I like that idea and in fact I would further argue that it should all take place in the same day. The way things stand now with the different primaries taking place months and months apart and this frenzy of television shows detailing the race for President does not benefit any of us.
Well, it benefits the networks as far as ratings and selling ad time but the normal person it does not help. I would go so far as to say that it also affects how people vote because as they see if their particular candidate of choice is slipping in the race they may switch their vote to the best opponent or who they think may be the ultimate winner so they do not feel like their vote is for naught.
I also think that having the elections on the same day would also clean up the advertising that is all over the airwaves as well. I get so tired of seeing and hearing the same commercials over and over again.
I know we are a long way away from the next round of elections but since I write whatever comes to mind this is what you guys get. So deal with it.
The basic idea is that the National Democratic party wants to strip the Super Delegates power. They would prefer that the delegates vote how the people in the party voted. I myself have no problem with that. I think if we as a country are going to give, at least, lip service to the idea that everyone has a vote then the elections need to be decided by popular vote and not by the choice a political insider makes. Sure, there may be times when the majority of the populace make a bad decision. But, since we have a system in place that ensures multiple elections as well as limits to the time spent in office things tend to even themselves out.
The head of the Oregon Democratic party mentioned that rather then take the powers of the Super Delegate away why not have the primaries for each state take place during the same month. I like that idea and in fact I would further argue that it should all take place in the same day. The way things stand now with the different primaries taking place months and months apart and this frenzy of television shows detailing the race for President does not benefit any of us.
Well, it benefits the networks as far as ratings and selling ad time but the normal person it does not help. I would go so far as to say that it also affects how people vote because as they see if their particular candidate of choice is slipping in the race they may switch their vote to the best opponent or who they think may be the ultimate winner so they do not feel like their vote is for naught.
I also think that having the elections on the same day would also clean up the advertising that is all over the airwaves as well. I get so tired of seeing and hearing the same commercials over and over again.
I know we are a long way away from the next round of elections but since I write whatever comes to mind this is what you guys get. So deal with it.
Monday, January 04, 2010
Happy New Year!!
Well, well, well. Here we are folks Jan 4th 2010. I think I am going to pronounce it "twenty-ten". I just like the way that sounds.
Lets see what is new for me this year or for this upcoming year. On the social and emotional level I will still be recovering from the divorce and hopefully that will involve copious amounts of controlled substances as well as strippers. I turned 40 so I figure why not go out in a blaze of drugs and alcohol and physical abuse.
I also purchased a blue tooth ear thing yesterday. I drive at minimum an hour or more a day and longer if I drive all the way to the office. I have held off from purchasing such a device for a while because I do not get that many phone calls in the car. But with the new law in Oregon making it illegal to talk or text while driving I figured I better get one just in case I do get a call. The fine is $174.00 which does not seem to excessive to me. The danger that talking and driving causes is, I believe, akin to that of the drunk driver. Now they put some exceptions in the law for those who use the their phone for work like tow truck drivers and delivery drivers but I am not sure why they did. Those folks can use a hands free device just like everyone else does and it is not hard to do.
All that aside I think this is going to be an interesting year. I think the paranoia will rise concerning 2012 and if that will mean the end of time. I think that the Conservatives will continue to follow Beck and Palin and their actions will make the political world an interesting one as we build toward the next Presidential election. I in fact am going to go ahead and put this out there. I do not think that President Obama is going to be elected to a second term. I think that the damage that the economy is in as well was what some people feel is his failure to follow through on his plans for 'change' because lets face it. It is still business as usual in Washington. So we will see but I would be surprised if he gets a second term.
So what about you fellers? Any thoughts for the new year?
Lets see what is new for me this year or for this upcoming year. On the social and emotional level I will still be recovering from the divorce and hopefully that will involve copious amounts of controlled substances as well as strippers. I turned 40 so I figure why not go out in a blaze of drugs and alcohol and physical abuse.
I also purchased a blue tooth ear thing yesterday. I drive at minimum an hour or more a day and longer if I drive all the way to the office. I have held off from purchasing such a device for a while because I do not get that many phone calls in the car. But with the new law in Oregon making it illegal to talk or text while driving I figured I better get one just in case I do get a call. The fine is $174.00 which does not seem to excessive to me. The danger that talking and driving causes is, I believe, akin to that of the drunk driver. Now they put some exceptions in the law for those who use the their phone for work like tow truck drivers and delivery drivers but I am not sure why they did. Those folks can use a hands free device just like everyone else does and it is not hard to do.
All that aside I think this is going to be an interesting year. I think the paranoia will rise concerning 2012 and if that will mean the end of time. I think that the Conservatives will continue to follow Beck and Palin and their actions will make the political world an interesting one as we build toward the next Presidential election. I in fact am going to go ahead and put this out there. I do not think that President Obama is going to be elected to a second term. I think that the damage that the economy is in as well was what some people feel is his failure to follow through on his plans for 'change' because lets face it. It is still business as usual in Washington. So we will see but I would be surprised if he gets a second term.
So what about you fellers? Any thoughts for the new year?
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