Life and Death - this weekend it was the latter

As I sit in the house that Tom built, reflecting on his 54 years on this planet, I can't help but shed tears for a man I felt close to and yet knew for such a short period of time. There will be more to come, but I wanted to say "I already miss you"

E

Hello Kettle, this is Pot. You are black.

"Ahh the tangled web we weave..." and so many other clichés come to mind.

So President Bush says "No regime should ignore the will of its own people and calls from the international community without consequences." in this statement. I agree with him. I just don't understand how anyone in their right mind, hell we don't even need that much intelligence, how about someone with basic reasoning abilities cannot look at this and realize the hypocrisies involved.

I guess, when god tells you what to do and how to run your administration you don't have to be bound by doing unto others as you would have them do unto you.

How sad.

E

Score 1 for Net Neutrality

I can say w00t!

The FCC finally got one right. Thank God for small miracles.  Here's to freedom on the net! Cheers!

Hammer drops at last: FCC opposes Comcast P2P throttling:

The Comcast P2P saga has come to its final chapter as a majority of FCC commissioners today voted to sanction the company. The FCC's Internet Policy Statement now sports some unexpectedly sharp teeth.

View Original Article

'Last Lecture' professor dies at 47

My sweetheart sent me a link to his speech and it was moving. Challenging people to live - to really live is one of the greatest callings I can think of. And what is really great is how pure this man was about it. Ani Difranco was right when she said "I don't care if they eat me alive, I've got better things to do than survive"

I hope you live, really live.

View Original Article

Blogged with the Flock Browser

This Hammer

For the first time this week, I came to work with an inspired attitude. It had nothing to do with work or my first full week of workouts or my run at the poker tables (like I could be inspired by that pain). I wouldn't say that I had a paradigm shift really, more of a "right on" or "I should be doing that" sort of moment.

I was listening to my mp3 player and a Steve Earle song came on. This isn't really anything new, since I listen to a lot of Steve Earle music. That being said, the song "Steve's Hammer (for Pete)" came on. I really started to feel good. You see, I've been having a really tough time dealing with politics. I'm losing faith in the broken system. But then as I listened to this song I realized something important; I'm a hopeless romantic - at heart and in practice. The lyrics screamed out to me:

"One of these days I’m gonna lay this hammer down And I won’t have to drag this weight around When there ain’t no hunger And there ain’t no pain Then I won’t have to swing this thing One of these days I’m gonna lay this hammer down"

Music is so powerful, if you allow it to be powerful.

Sometimes you find direction in places you never think you will find it.

I know that it is unrealistic to believe that in my lifetime the evil that afflicts this world will be washed away. I know that it is unrealistic to believe that it will ever be washed away. HOWEVER, just because it is impossible, does that mean it is not a worthy endeavor? Do we hope against all hope, or accept mediocrity as the way of the world? Are we strong enough to stand up and say "I believe" when all those around us say "that's just the way it is, the way it has always been, and the way it will always be"?

You see I'm also a cynic (no, you don't say). Once a former boss of mine said "Save some of that cynicism for when you are an old man, at this rate you will have all your cynicism used up by 40". I like to make light of obvious and not so obvious situations, thoughts, thought processes, beliefs, theories, and the list goes on and on. Most people don't understand that cynicism is only one side of a multi sided coin. At least one other side is optimism/faith/belief/hope. In fact, I believe that the optimism fuels the cynicism, possibly defines it. How is that? Simple really. When you can see everything that is wrong, broken, or lost and still look forward and say "I believe" then you have found true strength for change or to carry on or to move to the next level (choose your semantic here).

When I was in college and even before, I had (and still have) a fascination with Don Quixote. In the classic film "The Man of La Mancha", Peter O'Toole's portrayal of Don Quixote brought this character to life in a most magical way. He believes is righting the wrongs of humanity, in adoring women and defending them and their honor, in defending the less fortunate and those who cannot defend themselves, and the list of goodness goes on and on. And he does it despite the reality of the situations around him. In the film he sings "The Impossible Dream" which is a foundation for all hopeless romantics to follow. And I quote:

"To dream the impossible dream To fight the unbeatable foe To bear with unbearable sorrow To run where the brave dare not go

To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star

This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far

To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause

And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest

And the world will be better for this That one man, scorned and covered with scars Still strove with his last ounce of courage To reach the unreachable star"

So I ask you again, just because it is impossible, does that mean it is not a worthy endeavor?

The Wright brothers didn't think so, and they accomplished the impossible - to make man fly. Don Quixote helped the whore Aldonza to believe that she was worth something and she became his lady in waiting Dulcinea. You see, sometimes, just sometimes, the impossible becomes possible and the world becomes a better place.

This is why I'm a hopeless romantic. This is why I hope against all hope. This is why I can't lay my hammer down - yet.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Thank God for Dennis Kucinich

Let me say that in this time of spineless politicians it is refreshing to see someone stand up for what they believe in. It reacquaints me with the word "hope" at a time I really need it. Thank you Dennis...





You can find this story at:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/15/kucinich-impeachment-batt_n_112866.html

Be good, and if you can't at least be good at it,

E

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Feeling Betrayed: Obama's Collapse on FISA is Unforgivable

I never intended this to be a political blog, and I hope that no one really sees it this way. With that said, it is so hard to escape the issues of the day during this campaign cycle. The article linked below does a good job of expressing a very sad situation, I believe, in which most of us now find ourselves. There is no presidential candidate who I can, in good conscience, vote for this September. I have no candidate. At least not, one who has a legitimate chance to win the election. I used to vote Republican. Last cycle I thought I had found a home in the Democratic Party. In the primary, this year I voted for Ron Paul. I have always voted my conscience based on the reality of the political situation with which we are faced - one reason why I've never been able to vote for Ralph Nader and the Green Party (I said one reason, there are others). This is the first election in my lifetime where my understanding of political issues coupled with the political landscape leaves me paralyzed as to how to vote.

With the passing of the FISA (H.R. 6304) bill I can no longer cast my vote for Obama - he voted for it (McCain didn't even have the guts to show up for the vote - which means I can't trust him on the tough decisions - he just won't show up). In my personal opinion, anyone who would vote for this bill is guilty of an injustice on par with treason. Yes, treason. It is treasonous to attempt to weaken, erode, or dismiss our Bill of Rights. This is clearly what this bill does. There is no acceptable excuse to vote for this bill. NONE. I've heard the arguments on both sides, and I stand by my statement.

I never thought I would say this, never in my life, but I wish, I was lucky enough to be able vote for Hillary. She had the balls that both Obama and McCain lack - to vote no, to stand up for our country, to stand up for our constitution. I have never respected her more than I do today. I wish this vote had come before the nominee had been chosen for the Democratic Party.

Joan Walsh echoes many of my feelings...

"I've admired Obama, but I never confused him with a genuine progressive leader. Today I don't admire him at all. His collapse on FISA is unforgivable. The only thing Obama has going for him this week is that McCain is matching him misstep for misstep. The only thing more offensive than Obama's yes vote on FISA was McCain's decision to skip the vote"

View Original Article

Once again I'll leave you with words from a founding father:

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety" - Benjamin Franklin

Blogged with the Flock Browser