Gaye's Anthem

What a great rendition of America's Anthem. Probably my favorite and what a great commercial too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbZTmcIfdBQ

Palin?

The rumor around the net today is that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will get the VP nod for Senator McCain. I don't understand this pick to be honest. To be fair, McCain really didn't have an easy choice in the matter. He would have been fighting constantly with Romney, and Pawlenty really didn't bring much to the table. But then again, what does Palin bring? She's a 44 year old governor who was elected in an unusual election for the state. She has no significant credentials to be President should Senator McCain be elected and pass away in office. Biden should shred her apart. The choice effectively eliminates one of McCain's key arguments with inexperience against Obama. She has LESS experience than Obama. Besides a nice looking environmental record, what does she bring? Is McCain's strategy to go after the Hillary vote? I think the Hillary followers are too smart to just vote for a woman for the sake of it. Sure, McCain may get some Clinton defectors, but I just don't see this choice paying huge dividends. I think this is a dangerous pick for McCain.

UPDATE: Upon further reflection, I'm still unsure what to make of Governor Palin. After reading some more information on her, she definitely seems like a nice person. But I'm not sure that is all we want. What does this pick mean, if anything? Will Clinton voters be offended at this not so subtle sign to them? I'm still mulling over what I think about it. But an interesting note is what I've been hearing from some men on the street. A lot of people I've eavesdropped on or spoken with seem to be willing to vote for her because of her sex appeal. Really? Are you that idiotic? Maybe McCain knows what he is doing after all. This initial feeling is that this smells like Harriet Miers all over again.

A Quote/Song For the Day

An apt song from Sam Cooke following an emotional and inspiring DNC. Enjoy.
"I was born by the river in a little tent

And just like that river I've been running ever since

It's been a long time coming But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will

It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die

Cos I don't know what's out there beyond the sky

It's been a long, a long time coming

But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will

And then I go to see my brother

And I ask him to help me please

And he just winds up knockin' me

Back down on my knees

There were times when I thought I couldn't last for long

But now I think I'm able to carry on

It's been a long, been a long time coming

But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will" -Sam Cooke

Follow That?

With the DNC in the books and, by almost all accounts, a rousing success, the question now is how does the RNC follow that? In one of the best conventions--if not the best--I've seen, the McCain camp will need to have some serious mind-blowing material to counter the new Democratic wave of momentum. Putting Bush and Cheney on the podium will do nothing except for rouse the fringe, having Giulliani speak will leave the more traditional-valued conservatives cold, having Lieberman speak will alienate certain groups in the base, and so forth. This is not going to be an easy task for the Republicans to overcome. Perhaps a smarter strategy would simply not try and compete with overshadowing the DNC, but saving up momentum for the debates, which promise to be great.

The Speech

Last night was a historic night for all Americans. As the first black nominee to lead a major party in a Presidential election, it was truly inspiring to see how far we have come as a nation. We are no where near where we need to be, but it's a big step to where we ought to be. My initial reaction to the crowd was pure shock. I've never seen that many attend a political speech. Hell, I don't know if the Broncos got that many people for their games. The speech itself was very good. It was a little long, but it was inspired. I felt as though Obama did rally the Democratic base and got a number of people to swing in favor of the Dems. However, I also think a lot in the GOP side were rallied in a defensive mode. Will that make a difference and actually help McCain? I don't know. But I could certainly see a larger movement of GOP followers to start rallying around their candidate as a result of the speech. Depending on who McCain selects as his VP, then that will also impact those conservative base voters who might have been on the fence about going out into the streets for McCain. Overall, the speech was a success and now all that is needed is to see the bump in the polls. How much is anybody's guess.

Quote For The Day

One of my favorite quotes from the third day from Ohio's own Governor Strickland.
“You know, it was once said of the first George Bush that he was born on third base and thought he’d hit a triple. Well, with the 22 million new jobs and the budget surplus Bill Clinton left behind, George W. Bush came into office on third base, and then he stole second.” – TED STRICKLAND

Lieberman and Graham: The op-ed (scary stuff)

This is the kind of mentality that would prevail under a McCain foreign policy regime. Do we really want to deepen our problems by not trying to communicate with the rest of the world?

http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB121970826711471167.html

For The Right Reasons

I'm feeling introspective today, so I thought I'd examine my own thoughts on doing things for the right reasons. We all are put in situations where we have to decide to act in one way or another. Whether it be a formal occasion, to deciding to date somebody, we all make choices based on what we tell ourselves feels good and makes sense to us. However, we often confuse the feelings of here and now rather than the feelings of the longer term. For an example, one can be infatuated with a potential dating partner in the here and now based on looks or personality. But, many forget to examine the longer term feelings that could recede. What happens if you grow tired of the qualities you found attractive? Will you move on? Was it likely that you would lose those intense initial feelings as time went on? If so, then why did you not consider that from the beginning? As rational beings, we all want to be happy. Sometimes we find what we think makes us happy in the here and now, and run with it, only to find that that is not what we wanted at all. Maybe that kind of knowledge just comes with life experience. But some people still act in that manner regardless, which confuses me. Does it not make sense to examine the possible failures or shortcomings that could come from whatever feelings arose in the heat of the moment? I would advise any of my friends to be honest, pragamatic, and truly look into themselves and examine if they are really getting involved with something or somebody for the right reasons. Consider whether your sentiments in the here and now are overriding your rational thought for tomorrow.

An Underlying Issue--The Supreme Court

One of the most important, but least talked about, issues in this coming election will be the nomination of Supreme Court Justices. According to some sources, as many as three of the more liberal leaning Justices will be retiring during the term of the next President. This, in my mind, is monumental. Just as an example of what is at stake, let's say the issue of abortion were to come to the Court. Do we really want a Court filled with a mostly conervative bench deciding the issue without any moderate or counter voice? On the issue of wire tapping and even torture, what if those matters come back in front of the Court? I'd be willing to bet they are OK'd under their rationale. If elected, I believe McCain would undoubtedly create a Court that would stahl progress way beyond his tenure in the White House. If Obama is elected, I would hope that he would want to restore a balance to the Court once the retiring Justices step down. Anything less would be terrible for the American legal system in my mind.

Tea Time

I don't know why I decided to post about this subject, but it's something that was just on my mind, so why not, right? I've always been a fan of tea. While my current locale doesn't provide much in the way of a tea selection, Seattle certainly will. Among the many kinds of tea, I tend to like the bolder flavors which dominate the English teas (i.e. Russian Caravan). However, I do enjoy tea that has a nice citrus flavor as well. A lot of them tend to be German flavors, but there are also plenty from Asia too. The health benefits are an added bonus to drinking tea, like slower aging, improved immune systems, and increased motabolism. What's not to like?

Biden's Benefits

This article is one of the reasons why I like Joe Biden. Among other things, he's more able than almost anybody else in the US government (especially this administration) to examine the nuance and detail of a relationship with a country. He doesn't manipulate information for his own policy gains. Judging from this article, how could you not want him to be in the ear of the President on foreign policy decisions?

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/54_22/guest/27604-1.html?type=printer_friendly

"Smears"

Andrew Sullivan echoes my sentiments on a McCain foreign policy, and why we should be afraid of it.

"My main worry with John McCain is foreign policy. What do I worry about? That everything that has been awry with this administration would be made worse by his. Seeing the world as a series of enemies to be attacked rather than as a series of relationships to be managed and a series of foes to be undermined has proven of limited use. Even the successful removal of the Taliban has led, six years later, to a long and grueling counter-insurgency with no end in sight and a reconstituted al Qaeda in a nuclear-armed, unstable state. The invasion of Iraq - in the abstract, a noble cause against an evil enemy - has caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands, the displacement of millions, the price of $3 trillion ... all for a less despotic Shiite government in league with Iran, making contracts with China. And that's if it turns out as a success. Along the way, the US has lost a vast amount of its moral standing and its legitimacy as a global power-broker. Insofar as neoconservatives do not understand this, and cannot understand this, they are a clear and present danger to the security of the West. Their unwillingness to understand how the US might be perceived in the world, how a hegemon needs to exhibit more humility and dexterity to maintain its power, makes them - and McCain - extremely dangerous stewards of American foreign policy in an era of global terror. They are diplomatically and strategically autistic.
McCain's response to the calamities of the past eight years has been to compound them all.
It has been to propose a 'surge' in Afghanistan, to aggressively embrace open-ended commitment to Iraq (if the Iraqis can be pressured hard enough), and to launch one new hot war against Iran and another cold one - and hot, by proxies - against Russia. And the way in which the question is debated - around asinine concepts of 'toughness' or 'sissiness' - leads to facile decisions. It also leads to ads like this one: fear-mongering as an argument. It should be noted that Obama's statement that Iran is 'not a serious threat' is so out of context as to be a lie. He said it was 'not a serious threat compared to the Soviet Union.' That is a critical, historical point - a way of actually looking at foreign policy outside a box crafted by morons. "

Quote For The Day

A funny quote for the day. Enjoy!
"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society."-Mark Twain

Smell The Roses

Check out some of the art from one of my favorite artists, Justin Bua.
http://www.justinbua.com/newSite/index.php

DNC: Night 2

The DNC is starting to wear on me already. There are few instances of actual coherent thought among the speakers and even fewer that inspire. There is yet to be any significant attack on McCain or anybody else. Governer Warner's speech was luke-warm and was not a wise selection for the keynote speech in my opinion. He didn't stir any spirits nor did he really help Obama's cause. Hillary gave the best speech the second day and really gave Obama, and the rest of the speakers, a platform to launch their identities and plan of attack. She had some effective slogans in her speech and I found myself wanting to hear more from her. Tonight is vital with Joe Biden and Bill Clinton speaking. They both need to solidify the Democratic position, but also take bigger shots at the GOP. I have no doubt Biden will, but will former President Clinton? We shall see.

Russert, Jr.

Count me in as one of the fans of the late Tim Russert. I enjoyed his commentary on political matters and felt that he kept things pretty objective. Watching the MSNBC coverage of the DNC, however, has made me a little nauseated when they put Tim's son Luke on the air. What could he possibly have to say about the political situation beyond the experience of a college-adged kid? What depth or wealth of knowledge does he bring to the table? I'm sure he's a good kid and he may very well end up being much like his father, but this kind of blatant nepotism (and for no apparent reason) is a joke. Is it out of pitty? If I were Luke, I'd feel embarassed and a little humiliated because, in the back of my mind, I would realize the only reason why I was there was not because of my own accomplishments, but rather as a token.

Thoughts on The DNC: Night 1

Having had some time to reflect on what was said last night by prominent Democrats in Denver, I've reached a few conclusions about what could happen. First, Nancy Pelosi was not on her game last night. I don't find her to be the best orator in the Party, but she was particularly poor last night until near the end of her speech. Up until Caroline Kennedy came to the podium, the convention was fairly boring and uninspiring. Was that by design so that it would temper Michelle Obama's speech? I don't know. Caroline Kennedy's speech was very warm and effective at rallying some emotion in the base for her ill uncle. I fully expected Senator Kennedy to speak, but I was expecting a little more from it than what was given. Granted, he's going through intensive cancer treatment, so maybe there wasn't a lot to be expected anyway. I would rate his speech as good, but not great. After a series of other speakers, Mrs. Obama finally took the stage. I didn't really know what to expect from her since there had been so many portrayls of her in the media. What I found was a magnificent speech that really put her in the mold of a classic American story. I really think her speech touched a number of people and her children only added effect when Senator Obama appeared on a large screen to greet the people. Was this a rousing success for the Democrats? I think it was a good evening, but Mrs. Obama clearly stole the show. It was not a blow you out of the water evening, but perhaps that was by design. Tonight, with the Clintons speaking, should be very interesting to see. Tonight is the night to let it all out, as they say, for the Dems and get things REALLY under way.

Seven Questions with Bernard Lewis

For those of you unfamiliar with Mr. Lewis, he's one of the dominant figures in Western thought on the issue of Islam. He tends to take a grim view on the matter, but it's worth noting his opinions, given the level of his expertise. I don't always agree with his ideas, but some of them do make sense. Below is a link to the interview.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4455

Pawlenty

Recently I had the opportunity to listen to Governor Pawlenty (Minn.) speak to a group of small business leaders and workers. Since he is one of Senator McCain's top choices for the VP spot, I felt it would be worthwhile to get a feel for him and his ideas. He has a pretty decent record of accomplishments while governer as well, which made me a little more interested to see what he was going to say. My initial impression of the governor, before he began speaking, was that he didn't seem austere or unapproachable. He actually had a kind of sheepish grin stuck on his face. Once he began speaking, he definitely seemed like a down-to-earth kind of person. While some of his message was not impressive to me, I can see how he would appeal to a blue collar kind of citizen. With that said, I think he would be overwhelmed by Biden in a debate, and he probably wouldn't be able to swing Minnesota in favor of McCain anyway. But again, this is just my initial impression of the guy.

A Good Point

Coates makes a good point in one of his Atlantic blog posts:


"...but I'm really still trying to wrap my head around this idea that people actually decide who they're going to vote for based on ads. I don't think I've ever seen an ad and went out and bought something because of it. An ad has made me decide to go investigate an item, but never to just purchase it sight unseen. Polls show I am wrong, but man are we in a civics hole when a significant number of people allow their votes to be decided by a television commercial."

Election Maps

Scholars from the University of Richmond have put out a very interesting collection of data in an animated map that shows American Presidential voting patterns since 1840, and as detailed as what the pattern was for each county. I found it to be very interesting. Enjoy.

http://www.americanpast.org/voting

Quote For The Day

With the start of the Democratic National Convention tonight, I thought a quote from our first President might be appropriate. Not to worry, I'll have one for the GOP too.
"Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence." -George Washington

Magic Legs

I thought this story out of Israel was pretty damn cool. It looks pretty futuristic, but you can't argue that it probably helps relieve some of the mental anguish of those who have lost their ability to walk, and to finally be able to seem as though they can again.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080825/sc_nm/technology_paralysis_dc;_ylt=AlLaRrffwh20GkfOMm809ryaK8MA

The POW issue

I've been reflecting more on Senator McCain's POW/veteran status for a while. You'll never hear me argue that he isn't brave for going to war and ultimately being in a prison camp. And while I do have some questions about his experiences that I would like to know, why does he repeatedly refer to his stint as a POW ad nauseum on a daily basis. It made me consider other veterans and how they handle their experiences. From those that I have met and read about, especially coming home from World War II and Korea, they rarely if ever spoke of their time at war. In fact, many often refused to talk about it. These are, as they say, the real heroes because they don't want to take credit for what they did, or make gains from it. Rather, they mostly want to live their lives out without being reminded about their time in combat. I admire and respect that. What seems troublesome, and less than noble in my opinion, is the Senator's blatant use of his experiences for gain. Don't you think he's drawing from the well too many times on this topic? If I were him, I would greatly reduce his use of it.

The Biden Nod

For those of you that try and read my thoughts on the weekends, I failed to mention that I don't post anything during that time; my apologies. However, what I do in that short time span is mull over and meditate on certain issues, ideas, or topics that come up.

Over this weekend, I spent time examining Senator Obama's selection for his VP, Joe Biden. Having had the opportunity to meet and talk with Senator Biden as a DC intern gives me a little insight into the man, although I'm certainly no expert. So, I will start with what I think is favorable, and what I think is not with this selection.

The benefits I see with this choice are multifaceted. First, Biden brings much needed experience and clout. Over his 30+ years in the Senate, Biden has developed a foreign relations acumen second to none. In fact, I would argue his abilities and accomplishments in that field outweigh Senator McCain's. Those in the McCain camp might view Obama's selection as a sign of weakness and it goes against the idea of "change" that has been a central mantra for the Obama campagin. They say that by selecting Biden, the supposed ultimate Washington insider, that there will be no change. I can see their point, but at the same time, one could argue that in order to make any kind of real change, you need to know how to, which Biden certainly does.

Secondly, the selection of Biden shows seriousness to address the issues at-large. Critics might argue that Obama doesn't like people to go against his line of thinking and only wants to surround himself with people that agree with him, or "yes men". Biden is certainly far from a yes man, and has been one of the more vocal critics of Obama in the past (as the McCain camp has noted with recent ads). It's fairly well known that Biden will voice his opinion regardless of whether it's liked or not. Plus, you have to believe that at the age of 66, Biden is on his way out of politics. So, in essence, this is his swan song for the next four to eight years. With that said, I think he will be more comfortable defering final decisions to somebody like Senator Obama and advising, as opposed to being the number one guy on everything.

Third, if Senator Obama is elected and something were to incapacitate him, Biden would be ready to fill-in instantly. There would be no worry about experience or anything of the sort. He would continue whatever policies were in place, I believe, with flying colors. I'm sure there are plenty more positives to add, but I'm going to explore a few negatives as well.

First, Biden's talkative spirit. It is well known that the Senator loves to talk. Often times, this has come back to bite him when he talks too much. Having stuttered in his youth, I can relate to the Senator's desire to be verbose, but there are benefits to the economy of speech as well. Sometimes it is better to leave them guessing at what was mean't. If Obama can keep his VP's mouth on topic and not on tangents, then I think things will be fine. However, it should be noted that some of Biden's inarticulate talk is endearing to the middle-class and blue collar workers because it can relate to them. Having come from that kind of blue collar background, I'm sure Biden knows that lingo all too well.

Second, Biden is from the North. It has been difficult for Democrats to make significant inroads in the South in recent years without a southerner on the ticket. Will Biden change that with his straight talk? It might help some, but I don't know to what degree if any.

Third, how well known is Senator Biden? In a recent poll I saw on T.V., roughly 50% either didn't know him at all or had no opinion on him. That's quite a lot of people. Granted, polls are notoriously bad predictors of anything unless it is absolute, but that's still a tough number to look at.

With all of that said, is Biden a good choice? The more I think about it, I think he is. Certainly there are some draw backs to the selection, but I think he can do more good than harm unless he says something completely off base, which he has been known to do from time to time. He is a great orator, a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw from, a good person, and one that relates to the common people from which he came. I will examine the GOP selection in a similar fashion once it is made.

Earning v.s. Inheriting

With the recent political ads about who is more of a rich elitist snob, it got me thinking; who actually earned their money in this (or any campaign)? I can respect somebody who earns their fortune because they put in the blood, sweat, and tears into making their living. In fact, I encourage people to keep trying to do that because it's one of the reasons America is great. What irks me, though, are those among the rich "elites" that never had to do a damn thing to get their money. George W. Bush, John Kerry, Paris Hilton, and more relevant to this moment in time, John McCain. Who is more like Ms. Hilton now, eh Mr. McCain?
There are examples from both political aisles and all throughout the fabric of high society. It's these people who are irritating because they live lavishly, having done nothing to improve society. Senator Obama has a great deal of wealth as well, but he earned it with plenty of hard work and few connections until reaching the higher circles of academia. Does he have a tinge of elitism and snobery? Probably so. But I can live with that since he is self-made. What I can't live with is the audaciousness of some to sling mud at others for being elitist when they have never had to truly work for their money in their lives. For all of you jokers, give it a rest.

Funny

For those of you that have been following the legitimacy of McCain's "Cross in the dirt" story, this is a particularly funny cartoon. (via A. Sullivan's blog).

We Need More Grinches

Today's society seems to be enamored with the idea of constantly being happy. Why? I have no problem with being happy, but in doing so, you take away an important emotion and internal reflective device in sadness. I'm not saying we should all suddenly encourage mass-sadness and being mean to people to enduce it, but rather not try and eliminate it from our lives. Some of the most significant realizations of my life came from reflecting on something while I was melancholy. Those moments inevitably brought me back to where I wanted to be, which was being happy. But if we are constantly happy, then it becomes too normal and it loses whatever it would have mean't had you not been for so long. You almost might forget what it means to be happy because it would be so routine.
Here is my solution: Take time each day to read, watch, or listen to something that makes you reflect on something that isn't pleasing to you. In doing so, you take on the issue front and center and you can find yourself grateful for what you do have again.

Still one of the best clips ever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYtTtnfmsgc

This is badass

Quote For The Day

I felt this quote an appropriate reminder with the upcoming elections and the wisdom of a well-respected Representative that is gone too soon. RIP Rep. Tubbs-Jones.

"If they're willing to stand at polls for countless hours in the rain, as many did, then I should surely stand up for them here in the halls of Congress."-Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones commenting about the voting problems from the 2004 Presidential election.

Olympic Fatigue

I've been keep up to date on the events in Beijing much like many others across the globe. I've been thrilled with the accomplishments of so many great athletes and I marvel at their ability to do what they specialize in. With that said, I've really begun to grow tired of the commentary surrounding the accomplishments of these athletes. Sure, it's normal to have some interviews and discussions with the athletes and what they were thinking. I don't have a problem with that. I do have a problem with the over-staturated nature of it all though. There's not just one or two interviews, but closer to twenty. Frankly, I don't need nor do I want to hear about the same thing twenty different times.
My first example would be with the swimmer Michael Phelps. What he has done has been amazing, and there's no denying that. But everytime he won a gold, he was bombarded with pundits asking his thoughts and whether he felt pressure. Personally, I would get exhausted just from that. So much so that I would probably take a chair and beat Bob Costas' head in with it. As a spectator from afar, it has really turned me off from the games. Constant loop of interviews and replays get old after about the first five-hundred that are done. Don't get me started on Phelps' mom. I'm sure she's a great lady in person, but I just don't want to see her anymore. We know she loves her son regardless of his gold medals. We know she sits in the stands and makes the same shocked face every time, as if it is some big surprise that her son won. WE KNOW!
Second is the story of Dara Torres, an American swimmer in her Forties that looks like she should be in her late twenties. I mean, she is ripped, but looks great for her age. Like Phelps, we were saturated with her story about her training regimen and how she fought hard to get to where she is without using performance enhancers. I admire her story quite a bit and I know that I wouldn't be able to do that at her age. But please, please, please sports commentators: SHUT UP!
Last, we are getting inundated with the Jamaican runner Usain Bolt. The guy is a an athletic freak, of that there is no question. Do we really have to hear it every time we see him on screen? We know the guy is fast. Why is there not more press about the allegations that he uses performance enhancers? I'm not saying he does, but there are rumors circulating. I won't even bring the Chinese gymnasts into this about their age because I could write for hours about that. Overall, though, I've enjoyed watching the athletes. What they do is incredible. But my sentiments have been dampered by the hyper-attention given by the media. It just makes me want to start watching a bad sci-fi flick.

Quote For The Day

A wise and humorous quote indeed.

"I am not young enough to know everything." -Oscar Wilde

Baby Mama Drama

I recently read a piece asking the question of why women today seem to "get with" the wrong guy. Is it their desire to fix the "bad boy"? Is it a mass deterioration in the ability for women to recognize a jackass when they see one? Probably not. In fact, it's probably got a much more simple reasoning behind it. One of the major reasons was the introduction and use of birth-control into society. Before the pill was introduced, most, if not all, women had to be careful who they took to bed because they would more than likely end up pregnant. Thus, speaking in terms of economics, it forced women to pick men who could provide for a potential family. Today, with the mass use of the pill, women don't need to select men on this basis and can find other reasons to "get with" somebody. Further, with the mobilization of women in the workforce and the easier it is for them to provide, it has become less of an issue for men to provide for women. This, in my opinion, is why you see a lot of single mothers. The attempt to rangle in the "bad boy" winds up creating problems and the ultimate seperation of the would-be father. Do I advocate getting rid of birth-control? Hell no. I just think men and women need to start being more responsible as to whom they "get with" rather than doing such activity so cavalierly.

Troublesome

With the recent "discussion" (can you call it that?) at Saddleback with Pastor Rick Warren, the two Presidential nominees were given an opportunity to speak about their faith and related issues to a (most likely) pro-Republican crowd. Let me point out the absurdity of the entire scenario and how any pundit can come to a conclusion that Obama is "in trouble" because of this or how McCain is somehow a quality leader now. First, in recent years, the "religious" vote has become a significant one. Approximately 1/5 of those that vote are, in fact, religious and base their vote in some part on faith. The idea of a "faith vote" makes me cringe to begin with. Are we electing a theologian to office?
The recent interviews with Pastor Warren had me particularly frustrated. Senator Obama was already behind from the start. He was going against a crowd that largely either questioned his sincerity as a "Christian" and were looking for clarifying answers or simply didn't like the guy. Senator McCain on the other hand--whether in the silent tube or not--had a distinct advantage coming in. The crowd was, to begin, most likely at least leaning his way simply by party affiliation. Much of the night was related to touchy issues such as abortion and stem cell research. McCain was in campaign mode and shot off talking points like any political robot can and would do. The crowd seemed to eat-up most of it, except for a few points he made that went against their religious doctrines (i.e. stem cells). Obama, on the other hand, gave a more personal and nuanced interview to the crowd. I don't know that it went over well with them, especially on particular issues, but I don't think it hurt Obama overall as many pundits are making it out to be. If anything, it either came out a wash or McCain lost some "cred".
I wasn't expecting Obama to gain much from the experience, but I was expecting McCain to do better than he did. With that said, the fact that politics has started to become inter-meshed with the fringe of religious groups concerns me. Sooner or later, these groups will want the officials they elected to start implementing religious-based legislation into policy (Rick Santorum anybody?). I believe Americans will come to their senses at some point and this odd movement will deteriorate in strength. With that said, all of this leads me to believe that in spite of McCain's best efforts, he is too off-putting to win the general election and will not do so. Even after Obama's poor month, he still leads McCain and they haven't even gone into the meat of the election. Anything can happen before this November, but I'm pretty comfortable with the idea that Obama should STILL win.

A New Narrative?

The article from The American Scholar makes an interesting point about the narrative for black-Americans should Senator Obama be elected. Personally, I think some good points are made and is an overall even-handed piece. If you have a some time, please read this interesting work. http://www.theamericanscholar.org/su08/narrative-johnson.html

Quote For The Day

I can't substantiate her claim, but the idea is one we should all embrace.

"The government I led gave ordinary people peace, security, dignity, and opportunity to progress." -Benazir Bhutto

Old War Buddy

This is an interesting take on Senator McCain from somebody who went to school and served in Vietnam with him. Nobody questions McCain's acts of service as being heroic, but how much credit should he be given and how is this applicable to his potential as President? Philip Butler provides some insight, here: http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,164859_1,00.html

A Sojourn: Reflections

I've given a brief and superficial overview of my experience on the road across a large portion of the United States. Most of my commentary was designed to give you, the reader, a quick glimpse into the events that transpired. In this last piece, I'd like to dig a little deeper into what I learned from the experience. First, and probably the most cliche', is if you put your mind to something, you can do it. Going across the country in a cramped car is not easy. Further, doing so with limited funds and entertainment is even more daunting. But that's what made the experience all the more memorable. The more difficult it felt, the more of a bond it created with those who joined you on the trip and along the way. Second, in this case, it is both the journey and the destination. On the journey, I discovered a lot about what this country is about. I always had an image of the different regions of the country being very defined, like once you cross a certain border, then all of the citizens will, generally, be very similar as far as living life. However, in spite of whatever regional differences there may be, we are essentially the same and look for many of the same things in life, namely happiness. I made it a point to talk to a local in every state to get their take on life in their state, their lives in general, and their perspective on the nation. Our opinions varied from state to state, but our underlying desires were fairly similar. Whether in the "Bible Belt" of Oklahoma/Texas, or the liberal bastions of Berkeley and Northern California, we all (for the most part) want to be happy. This may be simplistic, but for a long time I was convinved that a lot of people never wanted to be happy. They were sick of "happy". They looked for other things that replaced "happy". Inevitably finding those things made them happy, so, wouldn't that make my conclusion hold some water? In a lot of ways I found happiness in fulfilling a life goal to travel and see the nation. But I also gained happiness from seeing the people I care about the most at some point along the way. And that is what matters to me.

On Ta-Nehisi Coates

I recently began reading Coates' blog on the Atlantic website. I must say that I find his take on things quite refreshing. Too often I read commentary on issues that can sound stuffy and convoluted. Coates, along with other bloggers at the site like Andrew Sullivan and Marc Ambinder, bring out the topics with a kind of ease and sophisitcation that I enjoy. Frankly, anybody that can talk about McCain and then quote Ghostface is cool in my book. Keep up the good work gents.

Poem (courtesy of A. Sullivan)

Honor to those who in their lives
demarcate and guard a Thermopylae.
Never swerving from duty,
just and upright in all their acts,
but compassionate and sad nevertheless;
generous when they are rich,
when poorgenerous again in small ways,
again rushing to help as much as they can;
always speaking truthbut with no hatred for liars.
And more honor is fitting for them
when they foresee (and many do foresee)
that Efialtis will appear in the end,
and in the end the Medes will break through.
-Thermopylae, C.P Cavafy

A Sojourn: Part 3--Going Home. Continued..

Having survived the night without developing lung cancer from the smoke drenched walls in the room, we gradually made our way to breakfast. I was pleasantly surprised by what they offered because I was expecting more of a continental style. Instead, they had just about anything you could ask for. Was this great breakfast justified by everything else? Probably not, but I was going to eat as much as I damn well pleased to make up for it. We go back on the road and before we entered Wyoming, there was a statute of President Lincoln right at the border. There was no reason for this other than a monument to the martyred leader. It just seemed so out of place and in such a random spot being on the Utah/Wyoming border. I'll leave this one a mystery.
The plan for the day was to stop in Rock Springs, Wyoming to see one of my good friends for a little bit, and then try and make as far as we could from there after leaving. When we finally got to Rock Springs, it was just like any other Wyoming town: shitty. There was a monument to a tumbleweed once blowing through town. Not really, but that's how little went on in this town. According to Steph (my friend we met up with), one of the most popular things to do in town was smoke crystal meth. Apparently Rock Springs is one of the crystal meth meccas in the country. She had never taken part in the activity and neither were we, although the urge was there once we realized how crappy things were. The fact that she spent an entire summer in that bastion of nothingness is still pretty amazing. Since everything fun was closed on Sunday, we wound up spending some time at the local Applebee's. Apparently it was one of the town's finest eating establishments. Judging by the cussing and throwing of objects in the kitchen, I can see why people would want to come here; for entertainment! It certainly wasn't the food because almost everything we ordered they were out of.
We finally parted ways with somber goodbyes and made our way across the awful state. We came across signs for the town of Larramie and asked each other, "isn't that the town where that one Sheppard kid got murdered and lynched for being gay?" Alas it was. How awful is that, that your town is most commonly known for murdering a gay man. Time for a makeover. Having finally entered Nebraska, it was probably even worse than Wyoming. At least in Wyoming there were some mountains to look at. In Nebraska, there was nothing. To paraphrase Dave Attell, the best thing to do upon enterting this place is get the hell out. Referred by the locals as "America's roadblock", Nebraska basically had one road right down the heart of the state. Cruise control was a blessing in this place. We eventually stopped at a local gas station to fill the tank and stretch out our legs. This may have been the greatest (or worst) gas stop in the universe. The cashier at the Taco Bell stand had on a KFC shirt and crustache that made him think he was a "hardass like Dog the Bounty Hunter," (his words). Thankfully there was no confusion on the food like in Reno, but there were an unusual amount of angry fat people in the other side of the store. Much to my dismay, the bathrooms were in that part of the place and so I had to walk by this angry lot of people. Nothing happened on my way to the urinal, but on the way back I got a glare and a quick "what the fuck are you lookin' at fucker" from a woman that could have been the spawn of Mimi from the Drew Carey show and Swamp Thing.
When we finally got back to the car, we noticed the windshield was covered in dead bugs. We had discussed this at one point and wondered how many bugs we had killed on our journey. We were, in essence, mass bug murderers. We probably killed somewhere in the upper hundreds to thousands. If the bugs had a Geneva Convention, our asses would be toast. In any case, while doing that, a car pulled up with the bass blasting full tilt. Out walked three of the skiniest and weirdest looking white guys I have ever seen. They, like the Taco Bell clerk, had those gross crustaches (must be a Nebraska thing). Further, they were clad in Fubu and Roca Wear that was so baggy, they could barely walk without tripping. They bobbed their heads to the beat and gave me a head nod. Did they realize where they were? Did they care? Was there a ghetto around Nebraska that I missed? It reminded me of that one movie "White Boyz" where these white guys from Iowa try and act like they are ghetto and "gangsta", but soon get a harsh (but funny) lesson in Chicago. I cleaned up the last bug and drove away with the bass from their car still wringing in my ear.
We finally made it to Lincoln, Nebraska where it was very humid. We had decided to try and sleep in the car to save some money and pulled in a lot at an "Econolodge". Things didn't start off so well since the car was already miserably hot on the inside and bugs were swarming like locusts on the outside, which made it impossible to roll down the windows. Further, the Taco Bell was kicking and screaming in my stomach and I had to go to the bathroom. I went into the front to ask the manager if I could use the restroom. To give you an image of him, picture the bearded dwarf king from the Lord of the Rings. This was what the guy looked like but with a tight Van Halen shirt on that was about 4 sizes too small. Further, when I walked in he was watching re-runs of old X-Files episodes. Maybe if I had said I was working for agent Mulder, I would have had more success, but he denied me access even though nobody was using it AND it was a public restroom. I promptly raced back to the car in order to find a stop. The Taco Bell was still wreaking havoc on my insides and I needed to find relief quickly. We finally found a place where they let me use their bathroom. The lady that pointed me in the direction of those toilets said "you have the look of somebody that needs to find a bathroom." I don't remember looking like I was in a panic or making weird faces from the pain, so it made me wonder, what does a person's face look like that needs to use the bathroom? Can the same face be classified for hunger? murder? winning the lotto? I was pondering all of this while literally releasing my inner demons. I get some of my best thinking done there. Finally making it back to the car, we finally caved and got a room. It was just too humid to try and sleep in the car. The smell would have lingered for the entire car ride back to Ohio the next day, which would have clearly sucked. Until next time...

Quote For The Day

I borrowed this from Andrew Sullivan's blog, but found it particularly amusing.

"In the 21st century, nations don’t invade other nations," - Senator John McCain, without apparent irony.

Breakthrough?

Researchers at MIT recently figured out how to store solar energy when it is dark outside. Similar to the way plants function, these scientists found a way to extract energy from water in a gas form. Although this is not a detailed explanation of the process, the fact that we could be able to use a very clean (and cheap!) source of energy during the night or day is exciting news. If put on a massive scale, perhaps it could reduce energy waste from larger industrialized businesses and various other sources of pollution (cars?). The link is below.

http://http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/oxygen-0731.html

Buckeye Syndrome

For many across the country, college football season is one of eager anticipation. I, for one, am among this hoard of fanatics, specifically in support of THE Ohio State University. It never ceases to amaze me to see droves of fans from all backgrounds gather in rousing support for one team. I've been an avid follower--in what can only be seen as a mass cult-- since the mid-90's. But I often wonder how and why these Buckeyes have become such a dominant force in Ohio culture and lore, and this is what I want to try and explore with this post.
Every state or region has its team that it blindly follows to the end. Often, these success or failures of the team can determine the future of a household, a community, or in some extreme cases, an economy. This is no different with Ohio State sports. In particular, football is the biggest draw. The sport, in general, is king among most American sports fans. What is different with Ohio State versus most other collegiate and even some professional teams is the passion. Never has a day gone by where I haven't heard a conversation about Buckeye football in one way or another. Whether it be about a star recruit or a new defensive scheme, the intense love for the team is one to admire.
There are several reasons for this kind of dynamic interaction, in my opinion. Relative to the rest of the country, there is not much else to do in Ohio. Much of the state is rural farmland or rust-belt factories that are no longer the source of wealth that they once were. The state suffers from mounting debt, failing educational systems, and a decreasing population. As far as entertainment, sports, for many Ohioans, is THE escape from these problems. In particular, Ohio State football is the sport of choice. Sure, you have Indians, Reds, Browns, Bengals and Blue Jackets fans, but those are mere appetizers to the real team in the state. There are small towns peppered throughout the state that raise their sons to one day play football for Ohio State. One town in particular--Massilon--gives their new baby boys a football when they are born. In my observations, Buckeye football goes beyond cheering a team on to victory, but it borders on a religious experience. It is not simply a game, but a way of life. I say religious because there is never a day off for the strongest portions of the base. The Horseshoe is their temple and Tressel is their preacher. They pray to the Saints of the past in St. Griffen, St. Harley, and St. George. Most importantly, they pay daily homage to their deity, Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes and look for guidance in his words. And of course, nothing is more gratifying among these fans than the yearly baptism by fire against their sworn enemy, Michigan.
In many ways, the tradition transcends generations because we all share a common bond, which is success. Many of the things we encounter in our lives are filled with failures or other short-comings. Whether at work, home, or elsewhere, often times we cannot control the events that occur. This can be entirely frustrating for many. But in Ohio State football, we see the opportunity to have an impact on something we love. I've seen grown men wear the same pair of dirty, smelly socks to every game because in their mind it mean't a Buckeye victory. In some way, they felt their contribution may have helped put the team over the top. Further, actually being at the game gives the "believers" a chance to forget their problems. By screaming, cheering, and booing, they can, in their minds, believe that they have helped secure victory against another foe. In some instances this is true. The fans that do come create such a hostile environment for the opposition, that it is almost impossible to win for them. But in the off-chance that they do, the depression reflects across the state. Work actually slows down (yes there are trends to show this) after a heartbreaking loss, especially to a certain rival from the North.
I've never seen anything that comes close to this fervor and I've seen just about any and all big rivalries in sports. Nor have I seen the zeal in an everyday setting in which there isn't even a game to watch. From the message boards to the jokes about Michigan, I think the passion is what makes us different. What makes us who we are. What makes us Buckeye Nation. In spite of it all, we still keep going.

Quote For The Day

In light of recent events between Georgia, Russia, and other recent international incidents, I felt this Abba Eban quote to be apt for the moment.

"History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives." -A.E.

A Sojourn: Part 3--Going Home

The initial depression kicked-in that we were about to embark on the last leg of our trip. Having left Half Moon Bay and going towards our next goal, Salt Lake City, I really wished we had had more time in California. Maybe it is just one of those places that, once there, you just become consumed by the weather, culture, and overall grandness of everything. It's a tough thing to overcome having never experienced it so acutely before. Further, it was the last "hurrah" of the summer for all intents and purposes. Everybody back in Ohio was moving somewhere else or beginning classes at their respective schools. I guess it all hit me at one time that I have to face it all when I get back.
In any case, on our way through Northern California and into Nevada, we saw some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. The Sierra Nevada mountains and Lake Tahoe all made for spectacular views along the way. Arguably some of the most beautiful of the trip. Our first stop came in the form of Reno. Our good friend Stan describes it as a "smaller, dirtier Vegas", and he was pretty dead on. However, we didn't come across the elussive bunny ranch. What I found interesting was that there were exact copies of the casinos from Vegas. However, Reno did have much better weather and more of a view. We opted to risk our lives and eat at a local Taco Bell. I ordered a cheesy bean burrito (a classic), while the clerk proceeded to look at me blankly as if I had 3 heads and one was cussing her out. The manager eventually came by and said she had a history of mental problems and was new on the job. This threw up a red flag in my mind. If they had a mentally handicapped person running the cash register (probably one of the more technically difficult jobs in Taco Bell), then who the hell did they have making my food? More importantly, what would they put in my food? As it turned out, one of the employees who made the food was an MBA student at a local university. If anything, this made my fears worse because how dumb do you have to be as an MBA student to work in Taco Bell as the taco slave? Luckily I got my food as I had ordered, but my friend was more unfortunate. Having ordered a Chicken Chalupa and some chips, she promptly received refried beans and some fruit. I don't know how the initial order translated in the mind of the manager, but clearly this was an ominous sign to simply leave this town. On our way out, we got yelled at by an elderly woman who had two cats with her and sounded just like the "cat lady" from the Simpsons. I'm dead serious.
Having floored the gas pedal to escape the clutches of Reno, both my travel buddy and I noticed something about the local police: They are sneaky bastards. Just to give you an idea (and a warning), sometimes they will have an empty cruiser positioned openly by the side of the road in an attempt--probably--to get you to slow down. However, a lot of us like to go a little faster after the car is out of sight. That is where these jokers trapped so many people because they would be waiting at the bottom of a hill or around a sharp turn just waiting for those speeders. Thankfully we caught on quick and escaped any sort of tickets.
The ride was pretty uneventful up until we finally decided to stop in Salt Lake City. The city itself seemed pretty clean and actually a nice place to stop. In our attempts to find a place to stay, we apparently came upon a caravan of old people that had checked-in the every cheap motel in the area. So, we decided to just bite the bullet and stay in a "nicer" $59.99 a night room because we got a free breakfast in the morning. When I approached the desk to get a room, a rather creepy attendant greeted me. He clearly had some kind of skin disease that had caused him to be excommunicated from his faith. I don't know why he told me this or how it related to getting a room in any way, but I rolled with it. He also wore a pair of dark glasses, like the ones John Lennon made famous in the 70's. What was most creepy about him was his mannerisms. Besides the clearly visible dandruff falling from his head, he had the finger movements that mirrored C. Montgomery Burns and the personality of Norman Bates (ironically, also a motel clerk). My travel buddy came in and wondered what the hold-up was, to which the clerk asked "are you two staying together? I don't see any rings on those fingers." Not only was this creepy, but it was a reminder that we were in Mormon country. Luckily we simply took the key and went to bed in our smoke-laced room. For any of you travelers going through Salt Lake, be aware of this place and take heed. To be continued.

Quote For The Day

I thought that I would add a new element to my blog in the form of a quote for the day. Ther is no specific theme for whatever quote and can vary in nature or meaning. In the spirit of the Olympics, I've selected a few words from the late-President Theodore Roosevelt:

"It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows great enthusiasms, great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." --T.R.

The Return?

With the recent military actions between Russian and Georgian forces harkening to the old Soviet days, I've been more than a little concerned about the similarities to the not so distant past. First, this should be a warning shot over the bow of the West: Russia is back. Lead by a former KGB leader (prime minister Putin) and an aggressive pro-military leader (president Medvedev), their tactics, in my opinion, are attempts to gauge the West and how we will react to the military advances. Is their ultimate goal to re-assert dominion over the old Soviet satellite states? Some claim that this reminds them of the invasion of the Sudetenland (formever Czech territory) by Hitler in the 1930's. While I do see the similarities, I think that this kind of bellicose rhetoric needs to be shelved for the time being. With that said, nobody can be sure what might be going through the minds of the Russian leaders and it seems as though this might be the first major test to see how the West might react. However, I do believe (hope) cooler heads will prevail.
What irks me to know end, however, is the idiocy and hypocritical rhetoric given by the the Bush administration in response. Bush claimed that "Russia has invaded a sovereign neighbouring state," and that Russia has lost significant standing in the international community as a result (paraphrasing). Yes, Russia did do this, but I would laugh at Bush's statements if I were the Russians. We have no moral high ground in the matter since OUR leaders ALSO invaded a sovereign country. If anything, Russia had more of a right than we did under the US government's false pretenses. Does it make Russia's actions right? Not at all in my mind. But for our arrogant leadership to promise protection to the Georgians, knowing full well that we are already overextended in two wars, and to claim some kind of morality in the matter is perplexing. But I guess one should not be surprised with this junta. Ultimately, what can be done? The US cannot do anything given it's poor standing and leverage in the world, along with a weakened military. Asia will stay out, which leaves Europe and NATO. Georgia is still waiting on membership into NATO, so perhaps the speedy inclusion into the group could restore balance to the region. It seems to be a wait and see moment.

A Sojourn: Part 2--California continued (again)

Our last full-day spent in California was particularly busy. We spent most of the day in one of the nation's finest locations: Napa Valley. It goes without saying that the area is littered with wineries, including the neighboring area of Sonoma (which is where the free tasting is if you ever go that way). We must have been the youngest people in Napa by a good 20 years, and that might be being kind. I almost felt like we were out of place among the seemingly much older geriatrics. But that is beside the point. We all decided to go to one winery for the each of us (three in total). Our first stop was at the Alpha/Omega winery which was fairly new to the area. I must say that this was a great note to start on because their wines were amazing. Being a new winery, I wasn't sure if their wines would compare favorably to the more seasoned veterens of the region, but we were not let down. The Rose' wine was particularly delicious and highly recommended to any visitor. The wine was so delicious, in fact, that Stan bought a bottle for his "down time". The host will also gladly partake in philosophical debate if urged (much to Stan's delight). I don't know if you want two philosophers drunk on wine to start the day, but it could be worse.
The second stop was not as eventful (my choice naturally) but the wines were still quite good and it was the only place that served any food with the wine, to which we gorged our faces. The site of a crumb-faced Stan being escorted out of a winery would be priceless to anybody. In case you ever visit, it is directly across the street from Alpha/Omega. The last visit, Sterling Vineyards, was the most aesthetically pleasing. You begin with a ski-lift ride to the top of a small mountain that overlooks the valley. That in itself was very nice. However, you also get to taste five very good wines. The first wine (Pinot Gris) was by far the best and we all got a bottle to remember the venture. I must say, that this excursion was actually one of the most pleasant experiences of the trip and there was really not a lot to complain about.
Once back in Berkeley, we made plans to meet up with my old law school friend and fellow liberated soul, Alberto. We had no idea where to decide to go since it is such a vast city. Ultimately Alberto suggested we meet in the Italian part of town at a bookstore where Bob Dylan and Jack Keruiac would frequently hang out. Being a fan of that kind of thing, I was easily engrossed the story of the place. Apparently those two men, along with other well known literary figures out stumble in and out of this store along with the bar next door (Vesuvio) where we went later in the night. On our venture through the Italian part of town, parking was--for lack of a better term--a bitch. Either it cost an arm and a leg to get into a garage or you had to fight off the locals with a crowbar just to get a spot in the street. Luckily we made it with only losing an eye and three toes; not bad if you ask me. Much to Stan's pleasure there were a number of porn shops and strip clubs in this area, so we were forced to lead him away from them in order to find where we were supposed to go for dinner. Although the 5 dollar "boobie and beer" special did sound appealing to us all. But that is neither here nor there.
After dinner, some chicken mcnuggets, and lies later (thanks dave attell), we made it to the previously mentioned Vesuvio bar to end the night. This was a particularly interesting time because Alberto and Stan really got into wooing ladies while slightly intoxicated. I think a budding friendship (romance?) emerged that evening. In either case, we insisted that Stan take it easy on his tactics toward the fairer gender, otherwise he would risk alienating himself forever except for the occasional slap in the face. In either case, Alberto gave him some tips and I think they plan to make it a regular event.
The next day, my travel buddy wanted to spend some time at a beach since she wouldn't feel complete without doing so in California. This is where we parted ways with our dear friend Stan because, as we know, he is no fan of sun, beaches, or life in general. We made our way to Half Moon Bay which was a beautiful site. There was a golf course right above the beach which made me depressed because it looked like a perfect place to knock some irons. As time wore on, I had had enough of the beach and let my friend know it. I was really in no mood after a few hours of a dog licking my thigh and a granola bar melted to my chest. Such is life though. Thus concluded our stop in the lovely state of California, and I hope to one day go back. Many more stories (much funnier one's) to be continued upon leaving the state and venturing back into the Midwest. Stay tuned.

Accountability

Having browsed through a number of blogs and articles, I've become more interested on the issue of the government's torture policy toward detainees. Recently, Bush traveled to China for the Olympics and cried foul about the nation's human rights failures. I do agree with his statement, but what right does he have to say anything when he participates in the same dubious activity? While I--and many in the international community I'm sure--tried to stop laughing at Bush's remarks, I began to think about accountability. When is the last time an American leader has been held accountable on an international stage? Will it ever happen? Why? What makes our leaders immune from criminal inquiry?

Since WWII, our country has been, for the most part, the place that the rest of the world looks to for what is presumably good. Although the US has had its share of misdeeds and foul-ups in that period, one of the most blatant might be happening right now. Never before has our government widely accepted the use of torture as an instrument for information during a conflict. Further, the practice has been proven to be useless since most of the information is either unprovable or a fabrication all together. The only information gained over the past seven years has been tenable at best, and it came from a cab driver. Further, most of the captives--the administration admitted--were not even threats or terrorists to begin with. Testimoney of the conditions and practices at Guantanamo Bay shows the ghastly nature of what is being done. And some wonder why we get laughed at by the international community.
So why can't these members of the Bush junta be put on trial? Some would argue that it would not be good for the country to go through another impeachment process following that of President Clinton's because it would only politicize the country further. I call bullshit on this. This administration has done nothing BUT politicize the country and its institutions. Secondly, what do you call the entire Clinton impeachment charade? That was a political witch hunt. Why can't we have two impeachments in a row? If one president is impeached, does that automatically make his/her successor immune? NO! If a president can be impeached for lying in his testimony, how can a president NOT be impeached for allowing torture?
We have become an arrogant lot if we believe our leaders should not be held accountable internationally as well. If we can't do it at home, then a foreign body should be able to. We could not prevent an international tribunal, consisting of many of the world's most powerful nations, from investigating and trying our leaders. In fact, I think it's time it does happen: starting with our idiot king and his court. These cowards that call themselves leaders will be brought to justice in this life or the next.

A Sojourn: Part 2--California continued...

The first full day in California without driving finally began. My initial impressions were weather based, and I must say it was fantastic. It was not too cool or too warm, but seemingly just right: almost too right. Since our friend Stan had a class to attend in the morning, my friend and I opted to walk around and get familiar with Berkeley and the campus. Not far from where we were staying was a place called "People's Park". Apparently it was only for a select group of people because it seemed to be inhabited by a band of transient people. Not just three or four, but about twenty-five. What was unique in my opinion--and perhaps indicative of Berkeley as a whole--was that the homeless in People's Park were all reading literature or philosophy. I had never seen this before and I wasn't sure if it was a good or bad thing. It's good in the fact that they are at least educating themselves to some degree. But do we really want an insurrection of homeless people starting a revolution? It would be an interesting site none-the-less.
The main drag of UC-Berkeley seemed to be Telegraph Avenue. It was littered with unique stores and plenty of street entertainment. What was interesting, and pretty cool, is that in this three of four block stretch, you could run into any walk of life practically. One that particularly irritated me were the emo kids (I may be calling them by the wrong name) with their unbelievably tight pants, uber-obscure rock band shirt, and the just rolled out of bed hair. They were everywhere, like a plague of locusts. I don't dislike them for their style or their music. I dislike what they represent because it's the "thing" to do; It's "cool". One day, they will scrap the look for a business suit and we ALL know it. But I digress. The campus itself was particularly nice. The spectrum of architecural style was interesting to me because it seemed so random, yet it still seemed to work. Ranging from a Victorian-style on one corner to a contemporary-era structure that resembled a booger more than an actual building.
We finally made it back to Stan's place where we found him frantically roaming the halls. Apparently he had forgotten that he had loaned us his keys and left his phone in the locked apartment. Just another day in the life of our dear Stan. Once settled, we all decided to venture into San Francisco to see the famous city by the bay. On the metro ride toward San Fran, we sat next to a guy who can only be described as being a love-child between Johnny Cash and the guy from "Powder". The contrast of his extreme white hair and skin tone with his pitch black suit was striking and I couldn't help but stare. Immediately upon getting out of the metro station, you could feel the breeze coming from the water. For us Midwesterners, this is Heaven compared to the humidity encased environment we inhabit. We did the whole touristy thing and walked on the pier while casually making fun of other tourists, of which there were a million Germans. We encountered a number of odd characters including one man dressed in a glittery silver outfit who can only be described as the Tin Man's gay cousin. Not that that would be any surprise in that city.
In need of some drinks, we stumbled into a bar that had around ninety beers on tap and was actually run by an Irish woman. Both elements proved to be most entertaining. It was the first time that I had ever seen an Irish bartender drunk while on the job (not that it's a big shocker given the genetic nature of her kin). She casually proclaimed that she was hungover from a big party the night before, but we all knew she was drunk. When we were ready to leave, the bill was around twenty dollars, but she only asked for five. Either she was absolutely awesome or we were right. Also, we were discussing our least favorite beers at the bar while the bartender was dealing with a Miller representative which my travel buddy apparently didn't notice. She wildy proclaimed "Miller blows!" to which she got a glare from the rep. Always keeping it classy there Mel. To be continued...

The Case For The Humanities

As of late, the humanities disciplines have come under fire by conservative groups as being irrellivant, archaic, and too "left". In particular, the study of history has become particularly entrenched in debates of whether its study is worthwhile in academia any longer and whether the research in history is even relevant to our modern condition. As a passionate lover of history and other humanities courses, this is quite troublesome to me. However, I think this mindset if irrelivancy from the outside is, in part as some would suggest, due to historians and academics in the field for simply taking its existance for granted. The president of the American Historical Assosciation, Gabrielle Spiegel, stated that historians have "not been very clever about the ways in which we argue for the importance and centrality of our fields of inquiry." Spiegel goes on to write that too often people in the field "tend to rely on old shibboleths about the importance of understanding history, art, languages, and so on, and understanding what it means to 'be human'."

I tend to agree with Dr. Spiegel in the points she makes. It seems as though many in the field are in an ivory tower that can seem very disengaging and impossibly daunting to a person who may only casually explore the field. I believe history and the humanities, in general, are particularly relevant today. With the climate of anti-intellectualism and unchecked power/ethics, I can't see a better time than now to encourage such areas of study since they seem to be so desperately needed. Similarly, Dr. Spiegel wrote "American society and government has never needed the kind of historical, linguistic, ethical, and cultural instruction offered instruction offered by the humanities more crucially than at the present time,"..."The exercise of power without the sense of ethical responsibility is dangerous; the exercise of power without historical knowledge is a prescription for disaster."

How do we overcome these barriers and make the field less "dense" and more accessible? First, it should be noted, the field itself is difficult because, by nature, it requires a lot of information to truly understand. Often this turns off a reader or a student because they simply don't want to engage in that kind of work. Secondly, history, in a broad sense, is a continuing narrative and cannot be necessarily read for its face value from one book. There must be more than one source to draw from on a subject so that you gain depth and perspective. As I learned from my professors, and wisely so, that whenever reading anything with historical significance, ask yourself three vital questions: 1) Who wrote it, 2) when did they write it, 3) and why? These questions are not as easy to answer as it sounds and what makes the practice so fascinating to some and dreadful to others.

So how do we overcome this problem? One person suggested that historians should make their work more readable for the common man. I do agree with this to a degree. Like I said before, history by nature is full of information. To deny any of that information can ruin the integrity of the endeavor and even the author too (i.e. Ambrose). With that said, historians can take a page from their colleagues in the English department and make their works flow more like a story. Because, after all, history is essentially story-telling right? You know, the whole continuing narrative? The very best books I have read that related to history read like a fiction novel, but I knew in the back of my mind that these events actually happened and these people really lived. Also, the author introduced facts and information that are unique and off-beat. That's what gets people interested, not the stereotypical recital of names and dates. However, the author should not take liberties and begin writing fiction about a person or event(s), as so often can be the case and can be so easy to do. Give me the passion in the details of why somebody acted the way they did or why an event occured like it did. That's what is fascinating about the field. The Why's and How's. In pursuit of those answers we not only find the aswers to those questions, but we learn about ourselves, where we were, where we are, and where we will be in regard to the human condition.

Favre Fever

Usually on my drive into work, I try and listen to some kind of talk radio. Whether it be NPR or something sports related, I find it refreshing to catch-up (katsup?) on whatever might be happening in the world/country. However, for the past few months the sports and news networks on TV, radio, and printed press have been saturating us with information on whether Brett Favre plays football in Green Bay, or ever again. Pardon me if I could care less. Let me preface this by saying that I've never been a big NFL fan to begin with (I've always been a college football fan). I find a great deal of them to be over-paid children that can't seem to control their actions or verbage. What they fail to remember somewhere along the way is that they play a game for a living. They don't do scientific research (does the film room count?), cure cancer, find ways to reduce the debt or high gas prices. THEY PLAY A GAME! What's worse is, they get paid far more than any of the aforementioned. But I digress.

Mr. Favre, after last season, claimed that he was going to retire from professional football. Months later, as the new football season rolls around, he begins to feel "the itch" to play again. I'm sure it is difficult for any competitive person to sit out and watch after playing the game they love for so many years. I can understand their desire to potentially come back. You see it from superstars like Roger Clemens and Michael Jordan. But the way this whole Favre fiasco has been thrown in our faces and covered non-stop for the past few months makes me ill. Is there really nothing better to report on in sports than what time Brett Favre went to the bathroom? There are cameras and reporters stationed (no joke) at some obscure Mississippi airport just in-case Mr. Favre decides to fly to Green Bay. What kind of sad life do you live where your reporting circles around the whim of an almost 40 year old quarterback and his decision to fly somewhere? To take it further, what kind of sad life do you have to live to mind-numbingly report 24/7 on this guy's every move in the first place, let alone the idiot waiting at the podunk Mississippi airport?

In the grand scheme, what does this media circus say about our culture? What does it say about what we value? If we didn't value the information in some fashion, there would be no need to report it, right? So where does this value come from? From Green Bay fans who want to see if their "Maximus" has come back to the Colliseum (Lambeu Field)? From NFL fans as a body? I highly doubt that one. This may sound like I am railing on sports in general, but I'm not. I'm a fan of teams and I cheer and jeer as much as anybody. In fact, I think sports can be a great venue for relief and even healing. What I hate is when the media (not just sports media) finds what they feel to be a significant story and they run it into the ground over and over again. They do so to the point that I begin to hate whatever it is they are covering, where as I wouldn't have had they not. Maybe real journalism can make a comeback one of these days.

Bumper Sticker Patriotism

With the upcoming Presidential election in full swing, ideologies have become rampant on TV, the internet, magazines, and various other outlets. What never ceases to exists (or amaze me) is the mostly blind rhetorical "talking points" that are so abundant. Whether from the right or the left of the spectrum, it is becoming increasingly clear to me that neither side has any interest in doing what is best for the American people, and the line that once differentiated them has become increasingly blurred. The Democrats (minus a few) with their appeasing style and willingness to excuse abuses by colleagues makes me ill. The Republicans (again, minus a very few) and their arrogance and utter contempt for the rule of law makes me bitter about the entire process. What's worse, both parties use the "rally around the flag" effect as if to make what they are doing--or lack there of-- legitimate and even patriotic! (mostly just to get votes). Yet, the people still believe them.
Is it naievety or the less benign hope that things might actually work this time around?
I realize that this has been talked about ad nauseum by bloggers like myself and by more talented writers in the news than I. But why does it continue? What is this blind patriotism, anyway? When I drive to work or wherever else I may be going, I always see American flag stickers on cars along with others that say "Support The Troops", etc. I don't have a problem with this because I think the troops, despite being misled and sent into a very difficult situation, really do need the support of the people. But what bothers me is that people seem to stop their patriotism at just words on their car, and this is what I call "bumper sticker patriotism". It requires nothing but claiming your pride in your country, with no substance or effort to prove it otherwise. Where is the sacrifice that is made? Do as you are told and things will be fine.
Other bumper stickers that bother me (maybe most) are the one's that proudly claim "I support George W. Bush" or "Don't blame me, I voted for Kerry". The former are simply a group of individuals that, I believe, will never be able to view things objectively and are so blindly led, that they are impossible to persuade or even talk to. The latter should be ashamed of themselves for not doing more. As if a bumper sticker claiming that you didn't vote for one of the worst presidents in our history makes you exempt from doing anything else to help our wounded nation. And this is my point: We have reached a point where those who go against what is perceived to be "patriotic" are considered anti-american extremists, when in reality they (mostly) are doing their patriotic duty to help restore what once was. And those who rail against them, generally, are the people that are those "bumper sticker patriots". They see only through the lens of their world and not through a much larger one. They do as they are told and proudly display their hatred for the "neo-con" or the "liberal hippy scum" to their cohorts because they are told to do so without thinking critically. Their disdain for all things supposedly "un-American" is so acute that they cannot see the forest for the trees. Often, they brush aside their own party leaders' actions in order to sling mud at the opponents' leaders. Do as you are told, and all will be fine. Where are the days where we actually worked toward a common goal in the political spehere? Hell, where are they days where we could actually communicate an idea without being labeled a fascist, socialist, or communist before any discussion has even been explored? Do they even know what those terms mean?

A Sojourn: Part 2--California

Before I begin this section, I failed to mention one thing from Arizona that I felt was worth note. Only miles from the California border, there was a flapping noise coming from our car. UNsure of what it was, we pulled to the side of the road to inspect. Within literally (I'm not exaggerating) 3 seconds of pulling over, a local fireman offered his help. This was refreshing to see given the whole Texas debacle. Anyway, it was not a big deal and we went to buy tape at the aptly named "Crazy Fred's" which sold fantasy knives along side martini olives (why a trucker would need martini olives I will never know) and smelled as if a heard of wild house cats had had their way with a barrel of expired egg nog.
Finally, we reached the California border, much to our great pleasure since it was our ultimate goal. We felt as though we had reached the end of a marathon and needed consolation in our success for merely making it alive. Therefore, we promptly (and so very cliche') put in Tupac's "California Love" on the radio in a make-shift celebration. We even got to go through customs which was almost a right of passage for us newcomers. Our sudden burst of excitement was quickly nipped in the bud when we realized we had to cross the entire Mojave Desert just to get to Bakersfield. This, as it turned out, would take another two and a half hours, of which I was not mentally prepared to deal with. I tried to find distractions via several different outlets. It all was fruitless however. I began to see (at least I thought) the cacti waving back at me with a cheezy grin. Without too much paranoia setting in, we finally did make it to civilization.
My fellow companion on this trip did not like driving in the dark (fear?). I didn't mind it because I knew in the back of my head I may have to prepare my silver bullets to fend her off if she were to drive in the dark again. So it was up to me to drive the rest of the way to San Francisco, which was roughly 3 hours. The early stages in the process were not bad because I wasn't yet tired. As time went on and the endless rows of almond fields soon turned into a blur, I began to feel the effects. While driving on route 101 and going roughly 80 mph (slow by local standards apparently), I felt like I was going to pass out. By that time it was around midnight (3 AM Ohio time) and I had no energy left. I eventually succumb to drinking a Coke in order to not wreck the car. Though, that would have seemed like bliss at the moment.
Nearing Berkeley, I gave my friend, who we were going to stay with, a call (for reasons that could potentially be deleterious to his career, he will be referred to as "Stan"). He didn't have a car and apparently had never been on the roads even though he had been in the area for over a year and a half. One of his directions led us into Oakland which was not the optimal place without a flack jacket. I kind of expected this from Stan given the fact that he doesn't get out much. Eventually, we did get to Berkeley after a meter maid gave us hell for going down a one way street. My impression of the room, when we finally got there, was that of typical Stan. No bright colors and very sterile. My companion was a little apprehensive at first by questioning our decision to stay at this place. Little did she know that this was typical Stan and everything would be fine (hopefully). I reassured her with a swift chop to the back of the neck where she promptly passed out on the couch. To be continued....