"The pride was yours! The presumption was yours!"
----J Michael Stracznski
Elfarmy has has the audacity to call me audacious for calling her audacious here http://elfarmywrites.blogspot.com/2010/12/will-grayson-will-grayson-counter.html
She wrote "You might remember that collaborating on a book is not a competition."
True but in this book where the two authors are so different in style and one is, in my opinion, much superior to the other then it can be viewed as a competition. I also think that David Levithan should be the super famous one and not, as he told me when I ambushed him in a hallway at ALA, "The half of Will Grayson who isn't on TV all the time."
She then wrote "I never said that all of his characters and all of his plots are really alike"
Um, actually you did, "The summary of a John Green book: Somewhat nerdy teen with a specific quirk and lovable friends confronts an issue that is easily related to by teen readers through humor and character-recognized metaphor.
Either you like that plot line, or you don't. I do, and therefore I don't mind that the books are the same." and "Yes, Pudge, Colin, Quentin, and Will all share traits. They all sound somewhat the same within their minds."
I did not mean to diss Tiny Cooper and I also did not mean anything by saying that he was created by John Green. I was attempting to be snarky and funny and obviously my point was lost. I apologize.
"You can't say a book or an author is bad just because the main character (or one of them) annoys you. That just means you didn't enjoy the book."
I wasn't necessarily criticizing John Green for Uppercase Will's personality. But actually I disagree with your point. If the main character is not likable and he was supposed to be then that is a sign of a bad author. I am not saying that Will was supposed to be likable, I was just making the point. And he was somewhat likable I just didn't like the way he treated Tiny.
"You keep blaming flaws within the book on John. David Levithan worked on this book as well, and you can't attribute only the good parts of it to him." I didn't/don't. I enjoyed the play stuff and John Green can be both laugh out loud funny and touchingly romantic but I believe that he is overrated.
She then wrote that saying that John Green has good taste in music was "complimenting the person, not the author."
I know, I was trying to find something nice to say, and I did enjoy the music references in the book.
Elfarmy concluded by writing "I will think about this and most likely see that you are correct once I've written those short stories for my deadline. Who has author credit now? I do. In YOUR face."
Ok, congrats on the deadline and whatnot but it is author cred, not credit.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Will Grayson the Counter Counter Post
"He is really not so ugly after all, provided, of course, that one shuts one's eyes, and does not look at him."
---Oscar Wilde
"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!"
---Charles Dickens
Elfarmy has had the audacity to disagree with me about Will Grayson Will Grayson (http://elfarmywrites.blogspot.com/2010/12/will-grayson-counter-post.html) and I must respond in kind.
To begin with she quoted me as saying
"Going into this book I had one problem with John Green, I felt that he had appointed himself the savior of YA Literature and saw it as his duty to push the envelope."
and responded with
"I'm not exactly sure what this means, nor do I know what this opinion is founded on, therefore I can't really refute it. However, I will say that there is a difference between believing you made YA better and believing you are the "savior" of it."
Here is what this is based on: John Green loves to push the envelope with sex,language, and what have you. And that would be fine if it wasn't so gratuitous. For example there is a line in Will Grayson Will Grayson in which Green's character refers to a house, a house for God's sake, as a two word combination beginning with an M. There was no reason for this language the character did not seem like the type of person who would say something like that. It was pushing the envelope for the fun of it. And it took the reader out of the story and it hurt the book.Was the use of that word really worth that much? No, but it made John Green feel good and important and edgy. So, props to him. The real way to push the envelope is to give readers a plot that makes them question things and is clever and new and edgy and progressive. If only someone had written a book like that. Oh, wait, someone has. It was called Boy Meets Boy and it was written by David Levithan.
Elfarmy then a dressed my point that his narrators are very similar in terms of voice and said
"It could be argued that he's pointing out that all people are essentially the same on the inside and it's only our situations and backgrounds that make us different (which is something he's frequently talked about in videos), but I doubt that philosophy was behind it. I think it just turned out that way, and some people will find it annoying, and others will not."
She is right, I find it annoying and many do not. I somehow highly doubt that he did it to prove that everyone is the same on the inside.
She then said
"My question is this: If they do read exactly the same, is that a bad thing?"
Not to be flippant but yes. I will explain why is a second. But let me quote Elfarmy again
."If you mean they read exactly the same in regards to style, well, don't all authors have a style? That's what makes you like an author, as opposed to a book by that author.
The summary of a John Green book: Somewhat nerdy teen with a specific quirk and lovable friends confronts an issue that is easily related to by teen readers through humor and character-recognized metaphor.
Either you like that plot line, or you don't. I do, and therefore I don't mind that the books are the same."
If the characters are very similar,the style is the same, and the plots are really alike then why bother reading the new books? Why don't you just reread the old ones? Why bother writing anything new? What's the point? If a writer is just writing the same thing over and over then how can you say that they are still a good writer? I used to love Caroline B Cooney but recently she is basically writing the same plot over and over and over again trying to get a hit and she isn't very good anymore. A good writer actually, again not to be flippant, but a good writer writes. They create new things, they don't just reinvent the wheel. The stretch and create characters who are different from each other and different from the author. So if the author were, say, a gay man, he might write a book about two straight brothers. And he might call it Are We There Yet.
Elfarmy went on to write
""Nothing happens in this book." I guess it depends on what you want to happen. It's a book about teenagers doing stuff. There aren't any vampires, or evil governments, or parents who are Greek gods. There's nothing to make them unique. They're just people. Some like to read such books, and some don't."
Interesting thing about that, I do like to read those books but normally something happens, there is a point. And looking back at WGWG here is what happened: lowercase Will struggled with his sexuality and went out with this weird character Green created and fought with this weird girl. And that was about it. Uppercase Will had problems with the weird character who Green created and wanted to go out with a girl and a school play. So all of that could have been interesting if it had been done better. And I have to say, Uppercase Will is kind of a jerk. I mean, the way he treats his supposed friend is pretty shameful. If he had been nicer and gotten more involved in the school play the book would have become way way way way way way better. But no, John Green did not do that for whatever reason. He apparently did not realise that the school play could make for a really really good main plot and the other stuff could make for an acceptable sub plot.
Elfarmy then wrote
"You can't give good author-cred to someone just because they mention musicians you like."
My response: Heck Yeah you can, and I just did. IN YOUR FACE!!!!!!
Also, on a side note, Earagon and Eldest are almost scene for scene rewrites of Star Wars. Think about it and you will see that I am right(I spent a lot of time thinking about this)
Dash and Lilly is really really sweet and funny. I love it to pieces.
---Oscar Wilde
"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!"
---Charles Dickens
Elfarmy has had the audacity to disagree with me about Will Grayson Will Grayson (http://elfarmywrites.blogspot.com/2010/12/will-grayson-counter-post.html) and I must respond in kind.
To begin with she quoted me as saying
"Going into this book I had one problem with John Green, I felt that he had appointed himself the savior of YA Literature and saw it as his duty to push the envelope."
and responded with
"I'm not exactly sure what this means, nor do I know what this opinion is founded on, therefore I can't really refute it. However, I will say that there is a difference between believing you made YA better and believing you are the "savior" of it."
Here is what this is based on: John Green loves to push the envelope with sex,language, and what have you. And that would be fine if it wasn't so gratuitous. For example there is a line in Will Grayson Will Grayson in which Green's character refers to a house, a house for God's sake, as a two word combination beginning with an M. There was no reason for this language the character did not seem like the type of person who would say something like that. It was pushing the envelope for the fun of it. And it took the reader out of the story and it hurt the book.Was the use of that word really worth that much? No, but it made John Green feel good and important and edgy. So, props to him. The real way to push the envelope is to give readers a plot that makes them question things and is clever and new and edgy and progressive. If only someone had written a book like that. Oh, wait, someone has. It was called Boy Meets Boy and it was written by David Levithan.
Elfarmy then a dressed my point that his narrators are very similar in terms of voice and said
"It could be argued that he's pointing out that all people are essentially the same on the inside and it's only our situations and backgrounds that make us different (which is something he's frequently talked about in videos), but I doubt that philosophy was behind it. I think it just turned out that way, and some people will find it annoying, and others will not."
She is right, I find it annoying and many do not. I somehow highly doubt that he did it to prove that everyone is the same on the inside.
She then said
"My question is this: If they do read exactly the same, is that a bad thing?"
Not to be flippant but yes. I will explain why is a second. But let me quote Elfarmy again
."If you mean they read exactly the same in regards to style, well, don't all authors have a style? That's what makes you like an author, as opposed to a book by that author.
The summary of a John Green book: Somewhat nerdy teen with a specific quirk and lovable friends confronts an issue that is easily related to by teen readers through humor and character-recognized metaphor.
Either you like that plot line, or you don't. I do, and therefore I don't mind that the books are the same."
If the characters are very similar,the style is the same, and the plots are really alike then why bother reading the new books? Why don't you just reread the old ones? Why bother writing anything new? What's the point? If a writer is just writing the same thing over and over then how can you say that they are still a good writer? I used to love Caroline B Cooney but recently she is basically writing the same plot over and over and over again trying to get a hit and she isn't very good anymore. A good writer actually, again not to be flippant, but a good writer writes. They create new things, they don't just reinvent the wheel. The stretch and create characters who are different from each other and different from the author. So if the author were, say, a gay man, he might write a book about two straight brothers. And he might call it Are We There Yet.
Elfarmy went on to write
""Nothing happens in this book." I guess it depends on what you want to happen. It's a book about teenagers doing stuff. There aren't any vampires, or evil governments, or parents who are Greek gods. There's nothing to make them unique. They're just people. Some like to read such books, and some don't."
Interesting thing about that, I do like to read those books but normally something happens, there is a point. And looking back at WGWG here is what happened: lowercase Will struggled with his sexuality and went out with this weird character Green created and fought with this weird girl. And that was about it. Uppercase Will had problems with the weird character who Green created and wanted to go out with a girl and a school play. So all of that could have been interesting if it had been done better. And I have to say, Uppercase Will is kind of a jerk. I mean, the way he treats his supposed friend is pretty shameful. If he had been nicer and gotten more involved in the school play the book would have become way way way way way way better. But no, John Green did not do that for whatever reason. He apparently did not realise that the school play could make for a really really good main plot and the other stuff could make for an acceptable sub plot.
Elfarmy then wrote
"You can't give good author-cred to someone just because they mention musicians you like."
My response: Heck Yeah you can, and I just did. IN YOUR FACE!!!!!!
Also, on a side note, Earagon and Eldest are almost scene for scene rewrites of Star Wars. Think about it and you will see that I am right(I spent a lot of time thinking about this)
Dash and Lilly is really really sweet and funny. I love it to pieces.
Book Review Will Grayson WIll Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
Will Grayson Will Grayson is written by two of YA literature's biggest superstars, John Green(Author of Paper Towns and Looking For Alaska) and David Levithan(Author of Boy Meets Boy and Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist). The book is written in alternating chapters each narrated by a young man named Will Grayson.
John Green's Will Grayson is straight and having boy troubles. David Levithian's Will Grayson is gay and having girl troubles. Don't ask why either of those make sense.
About halfway through the book the two Will Grayson's meet up with each other.
Now, as I said, this book is written by two hugely popular authors. John Green is renowned in the literary world for his YA novels and how good they are. David Levithian is less well known as an author but is an Editor for scholastic(he edited the Hunger Games Trilogy which proves that at least he has good taste). So, with two authors of such high stature writing it, how could this book possibly go wrong?
The answer to that question is two words long: John Green. Going into this book I had one problem with John Green, I felt that he had appointed himself the savior of YA Literature and saw it as his duty to push the envelope. Coming out of this book I have another problem with him, all his characters are the same. Seriously, Will Grayson is almost exactly the same as the main character from Paper Towns. I am not saying that Mr. Green cannot write, but he is, in my humble opinion, far inferior to David Levithan.
David Levithan is one of my favorite writers and he has actually saved YA Literature(namely by editing the Hunger Games). He writes his half very well but the book, aside from being unbalanced, is basically pointless. There is no reason for the characters to meet(though it was handled well) as it doesn't really do much for the plot. Really, nothing happens in this book. And Don't even get me started on the ending.
In the interest of fairness I will say that John Green handles romance well and he put in some funny scenes involving the school play(a subplot which I thoroughly enjoyed). He also put in some cool band references as he has done in at least one of his previous works(Billy Bragg was referenced in Paper Towns). But, as I said, his main character is the same as his Paper Towns main character.
This Year David Levithan has another collaboration coming out called Dash and Lilly's Book Of Dares which is far far far superior.
Three and a Half stars out of Five
One final note, many months back I posted some lyrics on this blog that I had co-written(called If Lightning Strikes) and Elfarmy commented saying that it reminded her of a scene in this book. I read the scene and she was right. So props to her for noticing.
John Green's Will Grayson is straight and having boy troubles. David Levithian's Will Grayson is gay and having girl troubles. Don't ask why either of those make sense.
About halfway through the book the two Will Grayson's meet up with each other.
Now, as I said, this book is written by two hugely popular authors. John Green is renowned in the literary world for his YA novels and how good they are. David Levithian is less well known as an author but is an Editor for scholastic(he edited the Hunger Games Trilogy which proves that at least he has good taste). So, with two authors of such high stature writing it, how could this book possibly go wrong?
The answer to that question is two words long: John Green. Going into this book I had one problem with John Green, I felt that he had appointed himself the savior of YA Literature and saw it as his duty to push the envelope. Coming out of this book I have another problem with him, all his characters are the same. Seriously, Will Grayson is almost exactly the same as the main character from Paper Towns. I am not saying that Mr. Green cannot write, but he is, in my humble opinion, far inferior to David Levithan.
David Levithan is one of my favorite writers and he has actually saved YA Literature(namely by editing the Hunger Games). He writes his half very well but the book, aside from being unbalanced, is basically pointless. There is no reason for the characters to meet(though it was handled well) as it doesn't really do much for the plot. Really, nothing happens in this book. And Don't even get me started on the ending.
In the interest of fairness I will say that John Green handles romance well and he put in some funny scenes involving the school play(a subplot which I thoroughly enjoyed). He also put in some cool band references as he has done in at least one of his previous works(Billy Bragg was referenced in Paper Towns). But, as I said, his main character is the same as his Paper Towns main character.
This Year David Levithan has another collaboration coming out called Dash and Lilly's Book Of Dares which is far far far superior.
Three and a Half stars out of Five
One final note, many months back I posted some lyrics on this blog that I had co-written(called If Lightning Strikes) and Elfarmy commented saying that it reminded her of a scene in this book. I read the scene and she was right. So props to her for noticing.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
quote meets quote
I'm bored and I saw that Elfarmy posted a long list of quotes on her blog so I decided to rip her off. Oh Snap, as they say.
It's called thieves get rich and saints get shot.
It's called God don't answer prayers a lot.
----Stephen Soundheim
he thinks too much, such men are dangerous
----William Shakspeare
I love writing but I hate starting. The page is awfully white and it says. " You may have fooled some of the people some of the time but those days are over, giftless. I'm not your agent and I'm not your mommy, I'm a white piece of paper, you wanna dance with me?" and I really, really don't. I don't want any trouble. I'll go peaceable-like.
----Aaron Sorkin
Believe in it? Hell, I've seen it!
---Mark Twain after being asked if he believed in baptism at birth
Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about it.
---Oscar Wilde
One should always be a little improbable.
---Oscar Wilde
A true friend stabs you in the front
---Oscar Wilde
I have nothing to declare except my Genius.
---Oscar Wilde when asked at NY customs if he had anything to decalre
One of the requisites of sanity is to disagree with the majority of the British public.
---Oscar Wilde
Whenever people agree with me I always feel I must be wrong.
---Oscar Wilde
I've known Bob Rumson for years, and I've been operating under the assumption that the reason Bob devotes so much time and energy to shouting at the rain was that he simply didn't get it. Well, I was wrong. Bob's problem isn't that he doesn't get it. Bob's problem is that he can't sell it!
---Aaron Sorkin
Ironically, I'm the one who's high as a paper kite right now. But legitimately. I had back surgery on Tuesday. L-5/S-1, if that means anything to you. Stop talking now? You bet.
---Aaron Sorkin
Well, your side hates my side because you think we think you're stupid, and my side hates your side because we think you're stupid.
---Aaron Sorkin on the culture wars
I'm not white, Darius, I'm English.
---Aaron Sorkin
Jack: You speak English?
Zhang Tao: I speak a few words.
Jack: How many words?
Zhang Tao: All of them.
Jack: Why do you pretend you can't speak English?
Zhang Tao: It's fun.
Jack: It's fun?! [pause] Yeah. Guess it would be.
---Aaron Sorkin
Danny: Matthew, don't take this the wrong way, but I love you.
Matt: Okay.
Danny: Did you take it the wrong way?
Matt: I took it to mean you're gay and you want me.
Danny: Good.
Matt: I love you too, brother.
---Aaron Sorkin
It's called thieves get rich and saints get shot.
It's called God don't answer prayers a lot.
----Stephen Soundheim
he thinks too much, such men are dangerous
----William Shakspeare
I love writing but I hate starting. The page is awfully white and it says. " You may have fooled some of the people some of the time but those days are over, giftless. I'm not your agent and I'm not your mommy, I'm a white piece of paper, you wanna dance with me?" and I really, really don't. I don't want any trouble. I'll go peaceable-like.
----Aaron Sorkin
Believe in it? Hell, I've seen it!
---Mark Twain after being asked if he believed in baptism at birth
Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about it.
---Oscar Wilde
One should always be a little improbable.
---Oscar Wilde
A true friend stabs you in the front
---Oscar Wilde
I have nothing to declare except my Genius.
---Oscar Wilde when asked at NY customs if he had anything to decalre
One of the requisites of sanity is to disagree with the majority of the British public.
---Oscar Wilde
Whenever people agree with me I always feel I must be wrong.
---Oscar Wilde
I've known Bob Rumson for years, and I've been operating under the assumption that the reason Bob devotes so much time and energy to shouting at the rain was that he simply didn't get it. Well, I was wrong. Bob's problem isn't that he doesn't get it. Bob's problem is that he can't sell it!
---Aaron Sorkin
Ironically, I'm the one who's high as a paper kite right now. But legitimately. I had back surgery on Tuesday. L-5/S-1, if that means anything to you. Stop talking now? You bet.
---Aaron Sorkin
Well, your side hates my side because you think we think you're stupid, and my side hates your side because we think you're stupid.
---Aaron Sorkin on the culture wars
I'm not white, Darius, I'm English.
---Aaron Sorkin
Jack: You speak English?
Zhang Tao: I speak a few words.
Jack: How many words?
Zhang Tao: All of them.
Jack: Why do you pretend you can't speak English?
Zhang Tao: It's fun.
Jack: It's fun?! [pause] Yeah. Guess it would be.
---Aaron Sorkin
Danny: Matthew, don't take this the wrong way, but I love you.
Matt: Okay.
Danny: Did you take it the wrong way?
Matt: I took it to mean you're gay and you want me.
Danny: Good.
Matt: I love you too, brother.
---Aaron Sorkin
Monday, December 13, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Aaron Sorkin on Sarah Palin
This is an editorial written by Aaron Sorkin for the huffington post and I hope that after reading it you will be able to see why he is my favorite writer. The asterixes were put it by me in place of some of the stronger language
"Unless you've never worn leather shoes, sat upon a leather chair or eaten meat, save your condemnation."
You're right, Sarah, we'll all just go **** ourselves now.
The snotty quote was posted by Sarah Palin on (like all the great frontier women who've come before her) her Facebook page to respond to the criticism she knew and hoped would be coming after she hunted, killed and carved up a Caribou during a segment of her truly awful reality show, Sarah Palin's Alaska, broadcast on The-Now-Hilariously-Titled Learning Channel.
I eat meat, chicken and fish, have shoes and furniture made of leather, and PETA is not ever going to put me on the cover of their brochure and for these reasons Palin thinks it's hypocritical of me to find what she did heart-stoppingly disgusting. I don't think it is, and here's why.
Like 95% of the people I know, I don't have a visceral (look it up) problem eating meat or wearing a belt. But like absolutely everybody I know, I don't relish the idea of torturing animals. I don't enjoy the fact that they're dead and I certainly don't want to volunteer to be the one to kill them and if I were picked to be the one to kill them in some kind of Lottery-from-Hell, I wouldn't do a little dance of joy while I was slicing the animal apart.
I'm able to make a distinction between you and me without feeling the least bit hypocritical. I don't watch snuff films and you make them. You weren't killing that animal for food or shelter or even fashion, you were killing it for fun. You enjoy killing animals. I can make the distinction between the two of us but I've tried and tried and for the life of me, I can't make a distinction between what you get paid to do and what Michael Vick went to prison for doing. I'm able to make the distinction with no pangs of hypocrisy even though I get happy every time one of you faux-macho ****heads accidentally shoots another one of you in the face.
So I don't think I will save my condemnation, you phony pioneer girl. (I'm in film and television, Cruella, and there was an insert close-up of your manicure while you were roughing it in God's country. I know exactly how many feet off camera your hair and make-up trailer was.)
And you didn't just do it for fun and you didn't just do it for money. That was the first moose ever murdered for political gain. You knew there'd be a protest from PETA and you knew that would be an opportunity to hate on some people, you witless bully. What a uniter you'd be -- bringing the right together with the far right.
(Let me be the first to say that I abused cocaine and was arrested for it in April 2001. I want to be the first to say it so that when Palin's Army of Arrogant *********, bereft of any reasonable rebuttal, write it all over the internet tomorrow they will at best be the second.)
I eat meat, there are leather chairs in my office, Sarah Palin is deranged and The Learning Channel should be ashamed of itself.
"Unless you've never worn leather shoes, sat upon a leather chair or eaten meat, save your condemnation."
You're right, Sarah, we'll all just go **** ourselves now.
The snotty quote was posted by Sarah Palin on (like all the great frontier women who've come before her) her Facebook page to respond to the criticism she knew and hoped would be coming after she hunted, killed and carved up a Caribou during a segment of her truly awful reality show, Sarah Palin's Alaska, broadcast on The-Now-Hilariously-Titled Learning Channel.
I eat meat, chicken and fish, have shoes and furniture made of leather, and PETA is not ever going to put me on the cover of their brochure and for these reasons Palin thinks it's hypocritical of me to find what she did heart-stoppingly disgusting. I don't think it is, and here's why.
Like 95% of the people I know, I don't have a visceral (look it up) problem eating meat or wearing a belt. But like absolutely everybody I know, I don't relish the idea of torturing animals. I don't enjoy the fact that they're dead and I certainly don't want to volunteer to be the one to kill them and if I were picked to be the one to kill them in some kind of Lottery-from-Hell, I wouldn't do a little dance of joy while I was slicing the animal apart.
I'm able to make a distinction between you and me without feeling the least bit hypocritical. I don't watch snuff films and you make them. You weren't killing that animal for food or shelter or even fashion, you were killing it for fun. You enjoy killing animals. I can make the distinction between the two of us but I've tried and tried and for the life of me, I can't make a distinction between what you get paid to do and what Michael Vick went to prison for doing. I'm able to make the distinction with no pangs of hypocrisy even though I get happy every time one of you faux-macho ****heads accidentally shoots another one of you in the face.
So I don't think I will save my condemnation, you phony pioneer girl. (I'm in film and television, Cruella, and there was an insert close-up of your manicure while you were roughing it in God's country. I know exactly how many feet off camera your hair and make-up trailer was.)
And you didn't just do it for fun and you didn't just do it for money. That was the first moose ever murdered for political gain. You knew there'd be a protest from PETA and you knew that would be an opportunity to hate on some people, you witless bully. What a uniter you'd be -- bringing the right together with the far right.
(Let me be the first to say that I abused cocaine and was arrested for it in April 2001. I want to be the first to say it so that when Palin's Army of Arrogant *********, bereft of any reasonable rebuttal, write it all over the internet tomorrow they will at best be the second.)
I eat meat, there are leather chairs in my office, Sarah Palin is deranged and The Learning Channel should be ashamed of itself.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Them Gosh Darn Kids!!
So, as I am sure you all know, Bestselling Author Sarah Palin has released the much anticipated sequel to her 2009 blockbuster Going Rouge. I can tell you that the midnight release parties were amazing, we had a costume contest(I dressed as Levi Johnston) and we pinned up a picture of Obama and threw darts at it. Anyway..after all the festivities were done I ran home and cracked open the book, because I desperately want to know what became of my favorite characters.
So I am reading along and I come to this passage that made me go "Right On Sarah!"
"In fact, we may be creating a generation of entitled little whiners. I came across an article that reported how growing numbers of employers today complain that many young job applicants exhibit all the signs of having been, there's no other word for it, spoiled. These young people feel entitled to jobs and salaries they haven't earned."
Yes! Yes exactly! Them darn kids who think that they are entitled to a job that they have not earned! Don't they know that you have to work your way up the ladder? You can't just jump to the top without having any training or qualifications!
I'll go one step forward than Sarah did, these kids have such short attention spans and now loyalty! As soon as they get bored with a job or think that they can make more money elsewhere they quit! It's crazy! I tell ya, this entitlement mentality is what is destroying our society.
So, right on Sarah! Keep that talk coming!
So I am reading along and I come to this passage that made me go "Right On Sarah!"
"In fact, we may be creating a generation of entitled little whiners. I came across an article that reported how growing numbers of employers today complain that many young job applicants exhibit all the signs of having been, there's no other word for it, spoiled. These young people feel entitled to jobs and salaries they haven't earned."
Yes! Yes exactly! Them darn kids who think that they are entitled to a job that they have not earned! Don't they know that you have to work your way up the ladder? You can't just jump to the top without having any training or qualifications!
I'll go one step forward than Sarah did, these kids have such short attention spans and now loyalty! As soon as they get bored with a job or think that they can make more money elsewhere they quit! It's crazy! I tell ya, this entitlement mentality is what is destroying our society.
So, right on Sarah! Keep that talk coming!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Some sad and exciting news
When I started this blog about a year and a half ago I was in a certain place mind wise. There were many things that I was angry about and wanted to rant about daily. Now I am in a different head place and I no longer feel like ranting daily. Which means that this blog no longer serves its original purpose.
What I am interested in writing now is more creative works. For that reason I have created a 2nd blog to publish both my work and, hopefully, work from friends of mine. Here is the link to the new blog.
http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1087047359127351332
I will still update this blog occasionally but it will not be as often as it used to be.
What I am interested in writing now is more creative works. For that reason I have created a 2nd blog to publish both my work and, hopefully, work from friends of mine. Here is the link to the new blog.
http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1087047359127351332
I will still update this blog occasionally but it will not be as often as it used to be.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Rage like you have never seen it before
Ok quick background on this quote. In recent weeks four gay teenagers have killed themselves primarily due to Homophobia. So a gay rights group tried to get everyone to wear purple to show that acceptance. So the VP of an Arkansas School district took to facebook and posted a rant about how he was only going to wear purple if every gay person died. He then went on to say in his comments section.
"I like that fags can't procreate. I also enjoy the fact that they often give each other AIDS and die."
and
"Being a fag doesn't give you the right to ruin the rest of our lives. If you get easily offended by being called a fag then don't tell anyone you are a fag. Keep that **** to yourself."
He also said that he would disown any child of his who was gay. But none of them would because he had a good Christian lifestyle or something.
Ok, Now I am strongly resisting the urge to scream and rant, because I think that his comments speak for themselves but.....My God. This man talks about living a Christian lifestyle then he says things like that? What was it that Jesus said.....oh that's right "Love your Neighbor as yourself."
For those of you who are regular readers of the blog you will remember I wrote and posted a song a few weeks back called For Fred Phelps in which I referenced the Elvis Costello song Tramp the Dirt Down. If you go back in the LR archives and read it while mentally making it about this guy you have my feelings.
This man is not only a bigot and a fool but he is also dangerous. We have an epidemic of Gay suicides especially among teenagers. When a 13 year old hangs himself after years of bullying we've got a problem. When another teen shots himself in the head we've got a problem. When a Gay college student is forced out of the closet and jumps off a bridge we've got a problem. And Mr. Vice President of the School Board I am terribly sorry if their homosexuality puts you out but I think that it puts them out more. And honestly sir I think that you are a sad excuse for a human being and you should not be allowed to join the PTA yet alone the school board. Children are dying and you sit high and mighty passing judgment saying how you will only wear purple if all gay people kill themselves. Elvis Costello was right I want to live long enough to tramp the dirt down.
"I like that fags can't procreate. I also enjoy the fact that they often give each other AIDS and die."
and
"Being a fag doesn't give you the right to ruin the rest of our lives. If you get easily offended by being called a fag then don't tell anyone you are a fag. Keep that **** to yourself."
He also said that he would disown any child of his who was gay. But none of them would because he had a good Christian lifestyle or something.
Ok, Now I am strongly resisting the urge to scream and rant, because I think that his comments speak for themselves but.....My God. This man talks about living a Christian lifestyle then he says things like that? What was it that Jesus said.....oh that's right "Love your Neighbor as yourself."
For those of you who are regular readers of the blog you will remember I wrote and posted a song a few weeks back called For Fred Phelps in which I referenced the Elvis Costello song Tramp the Dirt Down. If you go back in the LR archives and read it while mentally making it about this guy you have my feelings.
This man is not only a bigot and a fool but he is also dangerous. We have an epidemic of Gay suicides especially among teenagers. When a 13 year old hangs himself after years of bullying we've got a problem. When another teen shots himself in the head we've got a problem. When a Gay college student is forced out of the closet and jumps off a bridge we've got a problem. And Mr. Vice President of the School Board I am terribly sorry if their homosexuality puts you out but I think that it puts them out more. And honestly sir I think that you are a sad excuse for a human being and you should not be allowed to join the PTA yet alone the school board. Children are dying and you sit high and mighty passing judgment saying how you will only wear purple if all gay people kill themselves. Elvis Costello was right I want to live long enough to tramp the dirt down.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Oh no you dinit
I am outraged. And before I begin to tell you what's so outrageous I must thank Elfarmy for showing me what to be outraged about and it worked because now I'm outraged.
I am outraged because NPR, which I now dub Nazi Plutocrat Radio, has committed an unspeakable atrocity. They had persecuted a innocent man and stripped him of his god given 1st amendment rights simply because they didn't like his political beliefs.
I am speaking of Juan Williams(who like the great martyr Rachel Corrie was driven over by a bulldozer, the bulldozer of the liberal biased media) who simply stated his balanced logical and reasonable view and Narcissist Paranoid Radio was scared that he would challenge their secret agenda and so they fired him.
But no, we will not stand for it. Already a public backlash has started against Name-calling Poor-loving Radio. Sarah Palin has called for the cutting off of all government funding for NPR and musicians are beginning to record protest songs sticking up for Mr. Williams. Roger Ailes has been public about his support for Mr. Williams 1st Amendment rights.
How about we look at what he said.
"I mean, look, Bill, I'm not a bigot. You know the kind of books I've written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I get on the plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous."
How about I flip the sarcasm switch to off right now and address Juan Williams personally.
Mr. Williams you are the former host of one of my favorite NPR programs and I am sure you are an intelligent man but I feel that your comments, setting aside the prejudicial nature of it, don't make any sense.
What exactly do you mean by Muslim garb? Are you referring to the burkahs worn by the women? If not what else are you referring to? Also how does wearing religious paraphernalia mean that they identify themselves first and foremost as Muslims? If I am Jewish and I wear a a kippah does that mean that I am defining myself first and foremost as a Jew? If I am a Sikh and I wear a turban does that mean that I am defining myself first and foremost as a Sikh? If I am Christian and I wear a cross necklace does that mean that I am defining myself first and foremost as a Christian?
(I shall now address my readers again)
The reason that NPR fired him is because "News analysts may not take personal public positions on controversial issues; doing so undermines their credibility as analysts..." They have a perfect right to fire a analyst if they think that he is no longer credible. It is their right. It is his right to say what he wants and it is their right to not like it and fire him accordingly.
If he was working in an office where his political beliefs had nothing to do with his work it would be different but the fact that his political beliefs or lack there of are the cornerstone of his job it is appropriate for his employer to fire him for his statement.
And Sarah Palin saying that we need to cut funding to NPR because they fired a correspondent really really bothers me. She is proposing crippling an institution that has been providing the public with information for 40 years just to score some political points. She truly appears to have no morals at all.
I am outraged because NPR, which I now dub Nazi Plutocrat Radio, has committed an unspeakable atrocity. They had persecuted a innocent man and stripped him of his god given 1st amendment rights simply because they didn't like his political beliefs.
I am speaking of Juan Williams(who like the great martyr Rachel Corrie was driven over by a bulldozer, the bulldozer of the liberal biased media) who simply stated his balanced logical and reasonable view and Narcissist Paranoid Radio was scared that he would challenge their secret agenda and so they fired him.
But no, we will not stand for it. Already a public backlash has started against Name-calling Poor-loving Radio. Sarah Palin has called for the cutting off of all government funding for NPR and musicians are beginning to record protest songs sticking up for Mr. Williams. Roger Ailes has been public about his support for Mr. Williams 1st Amendment rights.
How about we look at what he said.
"I mean, look, Bill, I'm not a bigot. You know the kind of books I've written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I get on the plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous."
How about I flip the sarcasm switch to off right now and address Juan Williams personally.
Mr. Williams you are the former host of one of my favorite NPR programs and I am sure you are an intelligent man but I feel that your comments, setting aside the prejudicial nature of it, don't make any sense.
What exactly do you mean by Muslim garb? Are you referring to the burkahs worn by the women? If not what else are you referring to? Also how does wearing religious paraphernalia mean that they identify themselves first and foremost as Muslims? If I am Jewish and I wear a a kippah does that mean that I am defining myself first and foremost as a Jew? If I am a Sikh and I wear a turban does that mean that I am defining myself first and foremost as a Sikh? If I am Christian and I wear a cross necklace does that mean that I am defining myself first and foremost as a Christian?
(I shall now address my readers again)
The reason that NPR fired him is because "News analysts may not take personal public positions on controversial issues; doing so undermines their credibility as analysts..." They have a perfect right to fire a analyst if they think that he is no longer credible. It is their right. It is his right to say what he wants and it is their right to not like it and fire him accordingly.
If he was working in an office where his political beliefs had nothing to do with his work it would be different but the fact that his political beliefs or lack there of are the cornerstone of his job it is appropriate for his employer to fire him for his statement.
And Sarah Palin saying that we need to cut funding to NPR because they fired a correspondent really really bothers me. She is proposing crippling an institution that has been providing the public with information for 40 years just to score some political points. She truly appears to have no morals at all.
lyrics of the week
This is weirder that the last one, so weird in fact that I don't know what it's about
What Now
The war that
wages in my brain
burns like a thousand
dead stars
I did my part
I sewed my seeds of discontent
of fire and of glory
of death and of life
Burn free my daughter
Daddy's going to the moon
and back in the space
of 45 minutes
The king is dead
long live the jester
who now wears the crown
he ran on a platform
of fear and hate
Smash the wineglass
and kill the queen
watch the boar
spit out the apple
gasoline burns
so do I
oil and water don't mix
and neither do we
I'm an a narcissist an Egotist
a communist an anarchist
a facist a socilist
a capitalist what now
nobody cares
thank you
don't call us
we'll call you
no you won't
but I know
all and nothing
and most and little
So Hey
What Now
What Now
The war that
wages in my brain
burns like a thousand
dead stars
I did my part
I sewed my seeds of discontent
of fire and of glory
of death and of life
Burn free my daughter
Daddy's going to the moon
and back in the space
of 45 minutes
The king is dead
long live the jester
who now wears the crown
he ran on a platform
of fear and hate
Smash the wineglass
and kill the queen
watch the boar
spit out the apple
gasoline burns
so do I
oil and water don't mix
and neither do we
I'm an a narcissist an Egotist
a communist an anarchist
a facist a socilist
a capitalist what now
nobody cares
thank you
don't call us
we'll call you
no you won't
but I know
all and nothing
and most and little
So Hey
What Now
lyrics of the week
Ode to an Untruthful Romantic Stereotype(this song is the beginning of my strange, deep, and incomprehensible lyric period)
I law awake
night after night
listening to some
random college
radio station
and I wonder
Where you are now
Why did you leave
I never meant
anything ever
So long happily ever after
I romance Dickens now
instead of you
and I've spent far more nights
with Fagin, Heep, and Estella than I'll ever spend
with you
Why did you leave
I never meant
anything ever
So long happily ever after
In the end
Life is just a series
of gags and one liners
written by a god
with a nasty sense of humor
Why did you leave
I never meant
anything ever
So long happily ever after
I planned out lives
while I slowly self destructed
now I'm just another
dusty old has been
another wannabe
Why did you leave
I never meant
anything ever
So long happily ever after
Fire blood wind dirt
never again
dear lord
never again
I will never see you again
I law awake
night after night
listening to some
random college
radio station
and I wonder
Where you are now
Why did you leave
I never meant
anything ever
So long happily ever after
I romance Dickens now
instead of you
and I've spent far more nights
with Fagin, Heep, and Estella than I'll ever spend
with you
Why did you leave
I never meant
anything ever
So long happily ever after
In the end
Life is just a series
of gags and one liners
written by a god
with a nasty sense of humor
Why did you leave
I never meant
anything ever
So long happily ever after
I planned out lives
while I slowly self destructed
now I'm just another
dusty old has been
another wannabe
Why did you leave
I never meant
anything ever
So long happily ever after
Fire blood wind dirt
never again
dear lord
never again
I will never see you again
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
New York New York I want to be part of it(well actually no I don't)
The New York state Gubernatorial candidates' debate took place last night and I decided this morning that I have let the craziness of New York's Gubernatorial race go far too long without writing a piece about it.
Let's run down the list of canndidates shall we?
First we have the Democratic Candidate, Andrew Cuomo. Mr. Cuomo is the son of a former Governor of New York and he has served as the US Sec. Of Housing and Urban Development and currently serves as the NY Attorney General. Nothing particularly interesting to say about him, the craziest views that I found that he holds is the view that Facebook is unsafe for minors, but except for that he's just kind of a normal candidate. He also sounds shockingly like Christopher Walken. So I shall move on.
Next we have Howie Hawkins, the Green Party candidate. Again not much to say about him, he's a normal Green Candidate. Very liberal but not a total nutcase. So again I shall move on.
Up Next is the Anti-Prohibition party. The Anti-Prohibition has nominated a woman who used to, um how should I put this, work with women of, shall we say, an unsavory profession. Now, she is not only not ashamed of that, she is kind of running on it. It's her main qualification for the job it appears.
Now we have Charles Barron, who is an ex-black panther.
Now we are getting into the final two(which are my favorite two)
W
First is Jimmy McMillan(otherwise known as Papa Smurf) of the Rent is 2 D**N High. He always wears black gloves and his position is...The Rent is 2 D**N high. He repeated that constantly at the debate and finally got Andrew Cuomo to crack up.
Finally is my favorite Carl Paladino, the Republican candidate. He has emailed out both racist videos and porn videos. He also believes that welfare recipients are lazy and should be put into prison work camps. HE says that all gay pride marches are disgusting(because he stumbled on one years ago in Canada) and that Homosexuality is not a valid or successful option and children should not be exposed to gay teachers. He apologized for those remarks saying that his nephew is gay and he's a great kid and that Mr. Paladino supports gay rights "100%" except for the anti-gay pride marches and the anti-gay marriage positions the man holds. He has also told a reporter that he will "take him down" and he has accused, with no evidence, Andrew Cuomo of having an affair and causing his marriage to break up. Funny thing is, it's actually Paladino who has fathered a child with his mistress. So much for family values. He also is against abortion in the case of rape and incest and will do whatever necessary to halt the Mosque that is a few blocks away from ground zero.
Here's my question: If you're a moderate Republican from NY who do you vote for? Because Paladino sure isn't moderate. In fact I think he might be borderline fascist(he does support prison camps)
Let's run down the list of canndidates shall we?
First we have the Democratic Candidate, Andrew Cuomo. Mr. Cuomo is the son of a former Governor of New York and he has served as the US Sec. Of Housing and Urban Development and currently serves as the NY Attorney General. Nothing particularly interesting to say about him, the craziest views that I found that he holds is the view that Facebook is unsafe for minors, but except for that he's just kind of a normal candidate. He also sounds shockingly like Christopher Walken. So I shall move on.
Next we have Howie Hawkins, the Green Party candidate. Again not much to say about him, he's a normal Green Candidate. Very liberal but not a total nutcase. So again I shall move on.
Up Next is the Anti-Prohibition party. The Anti-Prohibition has nominated a woman who used to, um how should I put this, work with women of, shall we say, an unsavory profession. Now, she is not only not ashamed of that, she is kind of running on it. It's her main qualification for the job it appears.
Now we have Charles Barron, who is an ex-black panther.
Now we are getting into the final two(which are my favorite two)
W
First is Jimmy McMillan(otherwise known as Papa Smurf) of the Rent is 2 D**N High. He always wears black gloves and his position is...The Rent is 2 D**N high. He repeated that constantly at the debate and finally got Andrew Cuomo to crack up.
Finally is my favorite Carl Paladino, the Republican candidate. He has emailed out both racist videos and porn videos. He also believes that welfare recipients are lazy and should be put into prison work camps. HE says that all gay pride marches are disgusting(because he stumbled on one years ago in Canada) and that Homosexuality is not a valid or successful option and children should not be exposed to gay teachers. He apologized for those remarks saying that his nephew is gay and he's a great kid and that Mr. Paladino supports gay rights "100%" except for the anti-gay pride marches and the anti-gay marriage positions the man holds. He has also told a reporter that he will "take him down" and he has accused, with no evidence, Andrew Cuomo of having an affair and causing his marriage to break up. Funny thing is, it's actually Paladino who has fathered a child with his mistress. So much for family values. He also is against abortion in the case of rape and incest and will do whatever necessary to halt the Mosque that is a few blocks away from ground zero.
Here's my question: If you're a moderate Republican from NY who do you vote for? Because Paladino sure isn't moderate. In fact I think he might be borderline fascist(he does support prison camps)
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Rock/Alex
Ok a few quick notes about this interview. I wrote up the questions and emailed them To alex who answered them. Thus you might see that there are certain points where I should have asked a followup question. Unfortunately I could not...so I didn't. There are some very interesting points made here, almost entirely made by me, (Kidding!) so please comment and tell me what you think. It's been a while since we've had a good old fashioned comment war, so let's start one.
Rock4ever95: Hello and welcome Today I will be interviewing our resident conservative Alex.
Hello Alex
Alex: Hello.
R: Alright so I have divided the questions into various sections
Anyway Section One: The Tea Party.
Probably one of the most fascinating movement in modern political culture. What's your position on it, are you for it all the way, agree with some positions disagree with others, hate them with a burning passion?
A: I am definitely for the tea party. It is a wonderful grass roots organization that has revitalized the Republican Party, and also reminded it if its true conservative base.
R: Question 2: Very simply will the Tea Party help or hurt the Republicans?
A: It will help the party.
R: Why?
A: Like I said before, it has really rallied the party. 18 months ago the party was falling apart, democrats seemed unstoppable, the presidents approval ratings were sky high, and what ever he wanted to be passed, was passed. But then the Tea Party revitalized the party and now the situation has reversed. This is in large part because the Tea Party has been talking exactly what the American people want. The American people have wanted a solid conservative entity, something they haven’t had since Reagan, and the Tea Party provides that.
R: Question 3: Some of the more extreme members of the Tea Party have given the whole group kind of a bad name, and I'm sure that the majority of Tea Party supporters are rational human beings but if you look at the polls on things like Obama's religion, and it's kinda startling. Is this just bad polling, or do people really buy this stuff? And if so why?
A: Any poll can be fixed pretty easily. I can’t tell you how many polls I have seen telling me that a HUGE percentage of liberals believe in crazy things, like flag burning or are Truthers. All liberals aren’t Truthers right? But on the other had, some of the things the Tea Partiers might believe. For example Obama’s religion thing, I do not think he is a Muslim, but he has gone to church 4 or 5 times in his presidency. Also he went to church for many many years at “pastor” reverend Wright. I don’t want to try and say he is not a God fearing man, but you can see how people think he might is probably not Christian.
R: Question 4: Is the Tea Party really important? Or is it just a bunch of hype?
A: No. It’s not just a bunch of hype.
R: Section 2: The Republicans.
Question 1: This year we have some really far right republicans running this year, Sharon Angle, Rand Paul and the like. Is this move to the right really what the Republicans need as they try and rebuild their party base?
A: Absolutely Rock4ever95, in recent times since the GOP moved to the center, the voter haven’t had much of an option. It was either a center party or a left party. The conservative voter could not get energized, but now with a clear option, the conservatives can really get behind the Republican Party.
R: Question 2: In my opinion there are three main types of conservative Republicans. The Very Religious who are conservative on social issues, the Red Blooded pro-military guys, and the Libertarian types who want the Government out of the economy. Would you agree? and if not, why?
A: Well they are large parts of it, but you have left out our most recent addition. They would be angry, scared, and simple dissatisfied independents. They are people who voted for Obama because they were angry, scared, and dissatisfied with Bush, but now they are even more angry, scared, and dissatisfied.
R: Question 3: Which group do you think will be the most influential come November and beyond?
A: Well, I would like to think that it will be the Very Religious ones who are also Libertarians, but really I have no clue. The tea party seems to be holding a lot of influence in the primaries, but I think we will only really know once all the dust settles in 2011.
R: What do you think of Palin as a 2012 contender? She's been quite active in the primaries.
A: Last week I would have said I don’t know, but something happened that has made it undeniable. She has stated that: if the need is there she will run. Personally I have to say I hope she is not nominated. She is a fine person and a good conservative, but I’m not a fan.
R: What about Huckabee? We haven't heard much from him recently.
A: I don’t know that Huckabee will be a contender. He has a contract with Fox News. He does a show on the weekends. I don’t know of course, but I would have to say he will not be running.
R: Romney?
A: Perhaps Romney will run. I can see him running and doing well, but he will have a lot of contenders. I do not believe he will get the nod.
R: Anyone who you think will be important that I didn't mention? Christie, Pawlenty?
A: Newt Gingrich is like going to be a contender. He did not run in ’08 because of his divorce. But it is likely that he will run in 2012, and he is in a very good position to do well in the primaries.
Also Bobby Jindal is very popular amongst conservatives and seems to be preparing for a run.
I am sure that there will be several more.
R: Section 3: The Democrats.
Ok Pretend that tomorrow you're hired by the DNC to run the show for the next few months, what can they do to turn it around, or is it a lost cause?
A: Well it’s never a lost cause. At this point I don’t think anything the democrats could do will keep them from losing at least a little ground, but that doesn’t mean they can’t decrease their loses. I would say they need to stop mudslinging and appeal the moderates.
R: Why?
A: By continuing to attack the republicans they only make themselves look bad, and without the help of the moderates they do not have a chance.
R: Ok how about this, Rahm Emanuel leaves to run for Mayor of Chicago, President Obama asks you to replace him, and revamp the whole Presidency. What do you do, what do you tell him to get him to bring his poll numbers back up?
A:Well that’s a tough one… If he tries to go to the middle, he would have to go so far that he would lose his base, but he can’t go more to the left or he will lose whatever middle ground vote he has left… Well the first thing to do is stop attacking the right general and the tea party specifically. That only lowers himself and gives the right more ammo. I would also advise him to tell his direct underlings to stop it also. Besides this I would tell him to have a tough stance on Iran and its nuclear program. Not just say he will get tough on them but actually be tough on them. Even to the point of military action. Even if this is not political wise, it has to be done for the good of the country and the planet. And I for one would certainly look at him in a new light.
R: Ok, I've always wondered this, what has Obama done specifically (not to overuse the word) that you disagree with.
A: I disagree with the following and much more: The spending of Billions and Billions and Billions of green American dollars to create the country’s largest, most wasteful slush fund ever, the Obamacare overhaul law, especially the part in it Forcing you and me to buy health insurance. The way he often says he is “Tough on Iran”, but simple puts a few sanctions on them. The fact that he is leaving a half finished job in Iraq. The way he is lowering America in international relations. The fact that he has implied that he wants the Bush era tax cuts to expire. His “Two State Solution” in the Middle East. There are a lot more but it’s late and I don’t want to type them all.
R: Interesting. Alright, Section 4: The Media. Question 1: Is Glenn Beck for real, or is he just having a laugh?
A: Honestly I have no clue. He seems to be sort of for real but he also seems to exaggerate it for the purpose of his show.
R: Question 2: I think I've pinpointed the Conservatives' problem this year. They don't have any outlet for their anger at Obama. I mean, when we were mad at Bush we had all these bands putting out protest songs about him and his policies. You know, Young's Impeach The President, Green Day's American Idiot, Anti-Flag's, um, everything. We also had comedians like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert who mocked Republicans everyday. Republicans don't really have anything like that so they get very angry and shout about it on cable news. If they had some pop culture people on their side they would be able to calm down a little and come off better. Do you agree, and if not, why not?
A: Not at all. Things like these do not elevate a party. Well… maybe the comedians… if there are good that is. Anyway, in the eyes of most conservatives a lot of these simple increase our indignation and determination. At least for me that is, every time I begin to just not care, I will see some liberal flag burning protest or some liberal pop culture person talking about how America is a terrible country, or someone making a Ad-Hominem attack on conservatives and it makes me get right back into the fight. If the conservatives had this kind of thing as a major part of there party it would only hurt their party.
R: Question 3: Who's your favorite talk show host?
A: Sean Hannity
R: Why?
A: I agree with a lot of his statements, I like his style and how he has is feet firmly planted in Christian Reagan based conservative politics.
Rock4ever95: Section 5: Current events.
Ok, so I'm going to run down a bunch of current events and I'd like you to tell me your opinion of it in as much detail as possible, please don't just say good or bad because it will really bore our readers. Ok? Cool, The Quaran Burning Threat?
A: It’s disgraceful. It is so unChristlike…
R: The Mosque/cultural center in New York?
A: The amount of hype this story has got is amazing. I believe they have the right, but they probably should not. They claim to not be doing it because of its proximity to the site, if that is so then they should take the money offered to them to move.
R: The end of the Iraq war?
A: We should not leave a half finished job. It might work out fine, I don’t know, but then again years of fighting might be wasted.
R: The BP oil spill?
A: This is a horrible tragedy…both to the environment and to the families that lost loved ones in the explosion.
R: The Arizona immigration policy?
A: I am a fan of this policy. The policy says that if you are pulled over for some other issue, usually driving related, they officer pulling you over can ask to see proof that you are a citizen. I think this is only a good thing.
R: All right. thank you Alex. That's a wrap.
Rock4ever95: Hello and welcome Today I will be interviewing our resident conservative Alex.
Hello Alex
Alex: Hello.
R: Alright so I have divided the questions into various sections
Anyway Section One: The Tea Party.
Probably one of the most fascinating movement in modern political culture. What's your position on it, are you for it all the way, agree with some positions disagree with others, hate them with a burning passion?
A: I am definitely for the tea party. It is a wonderful grass roots organization that has revitalized the Republican Party, and also reminded it if its true conservative base.
R: Question 2: Very simply will the Tea Party help or hurt the Republicans?
A: It will help the party.
R: Why?
A: Like I said before, it has really rallied the party. 18 months ago the party was falling apart, democrats seemed unstoppable, the presidents approval ratings were sky high, and what ever he wanted to be passed, was passed. But then the Tea Party revitalized the party and now the situation has reversed. This is in large part because the Tea Party has been talking exactly what the American people want. The American people have wanted a solid conservative entity, something they haven’t had since Reagan, and the Tea Party provides that.
R: Question 3: Some of the more extreme members of the Tea Party have given the whole group kind of a bad name, and I'm sure that the majority of Tea Party supporters are rational human beings but if you look at the polls on things like Obama's religion, and it's kinda startling. Is this just bad polling, or do people really buy this stuff? And if so why?
A: Any poll can be fixed pretty easily. I can’t tell you how many polls I have seen telling me that a HUGE percentage of liberals believe in crazy things, like flag burning or are Truthers. All liberals aren’t Truthers right? But on the other had, some of the things the Tea Partiers might believe. For example Obama’s religion thing, I do not think he is a Muslim, but he has gone to church 4 or 5 times in his presidency. Also he went to church for many many years at “pastor” reverend Wright. I don’t want to try and say he is not a God fearing man, but you can see how people think he might is probably not Christian.
R: Question 4: Is the Tea Party really important? Or is it just a bunch of hype?
A: No. It’s not just a bunch of hype.
R: Section 2: The Republicans.
Question 1: This year we have some really far right republicans running this year, Sharon Angle, Rand Paul and the like. Is this move to the right really what the Republicans need as they try and rebuild their party base?
A: Absolutely Rock4ever95, in recent times since the GOP moved to the center, the voter haven’t had much of an option. It was either a center party or a left party. The conservative voter could not get energized, but now with a clear option, the conservatives can really get behind the Republican Party.
R: Question 2: In my opinion there are three main types of conservative Republicans. The Very Religious who are conservative on social issues, the Red Blooded pro-military guys, and the Libertarian types who want the Government out of the economy. Would you agree? and if not, why?
A: Well they are large parts of it, but you have left out our most recent addition. They would be angry, scared, and simple dissatisfied independents. They are people who voted for Obama because they were angry, scared, and dissatisfied with Bush, but now they are even more angry, scared, and dissatisfied.
R: Question 3: Which group do you think will be the most influential come November and beyond?
A: Well, I would like to think that it will be the Very Religious ones who are also Libertarians, but really I have no clue. The tea party seems to be holding a lot of influence in the primaries, but I think we will only really know once all the dust settles in 2011.
R: What do you think of Palin as a 2012 contender? She's been quite active in the primaries.
A: Last week I would have said I don’t know, but something happened that has made it undeniable. She has stated that: if the need is there she will run. Personally I have to say I hope she is not nominated. She is a fine person and a good conservative, but I’m not a fan.
R: What about Huckabee? We haven't heard much from him recently.
A: I don’t know that Huckabee will be a contender. He has a contract with Fox News. He does a show on the weekends. I don’t know of course, but I would have to say he will not be running.
R: Romney?
A: Perhaps Romney will run. I can see him running and doing well, but he will have a lot of contenders. I do not believe he will get the nod.
R: Anyone who you think will be important that I didn't mention? Christie, Pawlenty?
A: Newt Gingrich is like going to be a contender. He did not run in ’08 because of his divorce. But it is likely that he will run in 2012, and he is in a very good position to do well in the primaries.
Also Bobby Jindal is very popular amongst conservatives and seems to be preparing for a run.
I am sure that there will be several more.
R: Section 3: The Democrats.
Ok Pretend that tomorrow you're hired by the DNC to run the show for the next few months, what can they do to turn it around, or is it a lost cause?
A: Well it’s never a lost cause. At this point I don’t think anything the democrats could do will keep them from losing at least a little ground, but that doesn’t mean they can’t decrease their loses. I would say they need to stop mudslinging and appeal the moderates.
R: Why?
A: By continuing to attack the republicans they only make themselves look bad, and without the help of the moderates they do not have a chance.
R: Ok how about this, Rahm Emanuel leaves to run for Mayor of Chicago, President Obama asks you to replace him, and revamp the whole Presidency. What do you do, what do you tell him to get him to bring his poll numbers back up?
A:Well that’s a tough one… If he tries to go to the middle, he would have to go so far that he would lose his base, but he can’t go more to the left or he will lose whatever middle ground vote he has left… Well the first thing to do is stop attacking the right general and the tea party specifically. That only lowers himself and gives the right more ammo. I would also advise him to tell his direct underlings to stop it also. Besides this I would tell him to have a tough stance on Iran and its nuclear program. Not just say he will get tough on them but actually be tough on them. Even to the point of military action. Even if this is not political wise, it has to be done for the good of the country and the planet. And I for one would certainly look at him in a new light.
R: Ok, I've always wondered this, what has Obama done specifically (not to overuse the word) that you disagree with.
A: I disagree with the following and much more: The spending of Billions and Billions and Billions of green American dollars to create the country’s largest, most wasteful slush fund ever, the Obamacare overhaul law, especially the part in it Forcing you and me to buy health insurance. The way he often says he is “Tough on Iran”, but simple puts a few sanctions on them. The fact that he is leaving a half finished job in Iraq. The way he is lowering America in international relations. The fact that he has implied that he wants the Bush era tax cuts to expire. His “Two State Solution” in the Middle East. There are a lot more but it’s late and I don’t want to type them all.
R: Interesting. Alright, Section 4: The Media. Question 1: Is Glenn Beck for real, or is he just having a laugh?
A: Honestly I have no clue. He seems to be sort of for real but he also seems to exaggerate it for the purpose of his show.
R: Question 2: I think I've pinpointed the Conservatives' problem this year. They don't have any outlet for their anger at Obama. I mean, when we were mad at Bush we had all these bands putting out protest songs about him and his policies. You know, Young's Impeach The President, Green Day's American Idiot, Anti-Flag's, um, everything. We also had comedians like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert who mocked Republicans everyday. Republicans don't really have anything like that so they get very angry and shout about it on cable news. If they had some pop culture people on their side they would be able to calm down a little and come off better. Do you agree, and if not, why not?
A: Not at all. Things like these do not elevate a party. Well… maybe the comedians… if there are good that is. Anyway, in the eyes of most conservatives a lot of these simple increase our indignation and determination. At least for me that is, every time I begin to just not care, I will see some liberal flag burning protest or some liberal pop culture person talking about how America is a terrible country, or someone making a Ad-Hominem attack on conservatives and it makes me get right back into the fight. If the conservatives had this kind of thing as a major part of there party it would only hurt their party.
R: Question 3: Who's your favorite talk show host?
A: Sean Hannity
R: Why?
A: I agree with a lot of his statements, I like his style and how he has is feet firmly planted in Christian Reagan based conservative politics.
Rock4ever95: Section 5: Current events.
Ok, so I'm going to run down a bunch of current events and I'd like you to tell me your opinion of it in as much detail as possible, please don't just say good or bad because it will really bore our readers. Ok? Cool, The Quaran Burning Threat?
A: It’s disgraceful. It is so unChristlike…
R: The Mosque/cultural center in New York?
A: The amount of hype this story has got is amazing. I believe they have the right, but they probably should not. They claim to not be doing it because of its proximity to the site, if that is so then they should take the money offered to them to move.
R: The end of the Iraq war?
A: We should not leave a half finished job. It might work out fine, I don’t know, but then again years of fighting might be wasted.
R: The BP oil spill?
A: This is a horrible tragedy…both to the environment and to the families that lost loved ones in the explosion.
R: The Arizona immigration policy?
A: I am a fan of this policy. The policy says that if you are pulled over for some other issue, usually driving related, they officer pulling you over can ask to see proof that you are a citizen. I think this is only a good thing.
R: All right. thank you Alex. That's a wrap.
Monday, October 11, 2010
In which I get very angry and post some lyrics
I wrote the song after I watched a report of Westborough Baptist Church which pickets soldiers funerals because gay people live in America(don't ask me how they worked that out) and a different report on a gay teenager who killed himself and in that report someone said that he killed himself because he lived an unhealthy lifestyle and that we had encouraged people to be gay. When the interviewer pointed out that there are going to be gay teens no matter what you do thus we have to make them feel accepted the man(who was from the Family Research council I believe) said that we don't have gay kids over here and straight kids over there, and actually yeah we do. Gay people do just kinda happen the same way straight people happen, they're born. I also watched a different report in which the Republican candidate for governor of New York(an upstanding fellow who emails out racist and pornographic videos and believes that we should put welfare recipients in prison work camps) said that he didn't march in gay pride march this year but his opponent did and what example does that set for the youth? But hey he's tolerant, he believes in live and let live, but he doesn't want his kids being taught that homosexuality was valid or on par with heterosexuality. And then everyone clapped. Yeah. So here is For Fred Phelps(or as its alternate title is) In which I call fred phelps a bunch of names
For Fred Phelps
Hey freddy
you stinking freaking homophobe
how do you feel
how do you live with yourself
how does it feel to
spread you disease
your disease of hate
and monstrosity
Elvis Costello was right
I want to live long enough
to Tramp The Dirt down
how do you feel
when you see that a gay
teenager has hung himself
because of your hate
how do you feel when you see a dead soldier
his parents are weeping
and you're saying he's
going to the devil
Elvis Costello was right
I want to live long enough
to Tramp The Dirt Down
How does it feel
to know that you ignore Jesus
who you claim
to worship and obey
Jesus said love
your neighbor
not picket at their
children's funeral
Elvis Costello was right
I want to live long enough
to tramp the dirt down
How does it feel to
live on your own
surrounded by a world
that is moving past your prejudice
Elvis Costello was right
I want to live long enough
to tramp the dirt down
How do you sleep at night
when you see what
you've caused
what you feed
Elvis Costello was right
I want to live long enough
to Tramp the dirt down
For Fred Phelps
Hey freddy
you stinking freaking homophobe
how do you feel
how do you live with yourself
how does it feel to
spread you disease
your disease of hate
and monstrosity
Elvis Costello was right
I want to live long enough
to Tramp The Dirt down
how do you feel
when you see that a gay
teenager has hung himself
because of your hate
how do you feel when you see a dead soldier
his parents are weeping
and you're saying he's
going to the devil
Elvis Costello was right
I want to live long enough
to Tramp The Dirt Down
How does it feel
to know that you ignore Jesus
who you claim
to worship and obey
Jesus said love
your neighbor
not picket at their
children's funeral
Elvis Costello was right
I want to live long enough
to tramp the dirt down
How does it feel to
live on your own
surrounded by a world
that is moving past your prejudice
Elvis Costello was right
I want to live long enough
to tramp the dirt down
How do you sleep at night
when you see what
you've caused
what you feed
Elvis Costello was right
I want to live long enough
to Tramp the dirt down
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Lyrics of the week
I will give a surprise to whoever guesses what this song is about. (The surprise is that the their is no surprise)
That might be a problem
You say
that since
we've been friends for years
maybe we should just get together
maybe we should just try
maybe we were meant to be together
that might be a problem
that might be a problem
honey I don't want to hurt you
that might be a problem
it's not that I don't like you
it's not that at all
it's not that I don't think you'd be a good girlfriend
it's really not you
it's really me
there are some things you don't know
that might be a problem
that might be a problem
honey I don't want to hurt you
but that might be a problem
there isn't anyone else
if I wanted a girlfriend
you'd be my first choice I swear
problem is though
I don't
if you know what I mean
that might be a problem
that might be a problem
honey I don't want to hurt you
but that might be a problem
I really would like to remain friends
we've been close
since middle school
there's something I want to tell you
something I don't fully understand
but I can't
that might be a problem
That might be a problem
You say
that since
we've been friends for years
maybe we should just get together
maybe we should just try
maybe we were meant to be together
that might be a problem
that might be a problem
honey I don't want to hurt you
that might be a problem
it's not that I don't like you
it's not that at all
it's not that I don't think you'd be a good girlfriend
it's really not you
it's really me
there are some things you don't know
that might be a problem
that might be a problem
honey I don't want to hurt you
but that might be a problem
there isn't anyone else
if I wanted a girlfriend
you'd be my first choice I swear
problem is though
I don't
if you know what I mean
that might be a problem
that might be a problem
honey I don't want to hurt you
but that might be a problem
I really would like to remain friends
we've been close
since middle school
there's something I want to tell you
something I don't fully understand
but I can't
that might be a problem
Friday, October 8, 2010
quote of the day/300th post
This is the 300th post on this blog, and I really wish I had something more interesting to post that this, but hey, I thought it was funny.
"if you don't mind me saying so, you're badly in need of an expensive course of psychiatric treatment. Now, I'm not going to say that a trip to our dairy will cure you, but it will give hundreds of lower-paid workers a good laugh."
----Monty Python
"if you don't mind me saying so, you're badly in need of an expensive course of psychiatric treatment. Now, I'm not going to say that a trip to our dairy will cure you, but it will give hundreds of lower-paid workers a good laugh."
----Monty Python
lyrics of the week
I wrote this song a few weeks ago and hadn't gotten around to posting it and I kind of forgot about it, until I read today that a State Representative from my home state sent out an email to other politicians in which he called gay people "Queers" and "Fruitloops". So here is
Homophobia must die
punk
no capo
You can't get married
because
if I see two people
living together
who share the same gender
it will hurt my relationships
so go on you merry way
and don't you come back till your normal
Homophobia must die
Homophobia must die
We're fighting a war
overseas
and we're turning people out
if they want to be
openly who they are
because we can't have no gays in our army
so go on your merry way
and don't you come back till your normal
Homophobia must die
homophobia must die
bridge
there are those
who equate
being gay
with being a polygamist
or a pedophile
but that is based in fear
and hate
against what you don't understand
Homophobia must die
Homophobia must die
Homophobia must die
punk
no capo
You can't get married
because
if I see two people
living together
who share the same gender
it will hurt my relationships
so go on you merry way
and don't you come back till your normal
Homophobia must die
Homophobia must die
We're fighting a war
overseas
and we're turning people out
if they want to be
openly who they are
because we can't have no gays in our army
so go on your merry way
and don't you come back till your normal
Homophobia must die
homophobia must die
bridge
there are those
who equate
being gay
with being a polygamist
or a pedophile
but that is based in fear
and hate
against what you don't understand
Homophobia must die
Homophobia must die
Friday, October 1, 2010
announcement
For several weeks I have been in talks with my contributers and I am pleased to announce that in the next few weeks I will be publishing an interview that I conducted with our resident conservative Alex. The actual interview part is over and all that is left is to fix it up, correct typos, and severely edit his remarks to make him look foolish(sorry Freudian slip). And let me tell you, this interview should spark some interesting comments.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
2010 Midterm Democratic Fight Song
About 40 days away from the midterms, the Tea Party winning primaries right and left, Republicans poised to make gains, you know what it's time for?
That's right the 2010 Midterm Democratic Fight Song
2010 Midterm Democratic Fight Song
Tea Party keeps marching forward
with their insane economic agenda
and their candidates seem to get more fringe every day
and it seems like all hope for the dems has just gone away
Hey Hey
Let's Go vote now
Hey Hey
Vote for the Democrats
Liberalism is still around
We're ready to rise when we see the point
We are the progressive coalition
we love FDR and are real fans of Freedom of Religion
Hey Hey
Let's go vote now
Hey Hey
Vote for the Democrats
Republicans held the country
hostage to their filibuster
they shook their fists no, no to the military, no to health care
no to their own ideas no to making the economy a little more fair
Hey Hey
Let's go vote now
Hey Hey
Vote for the Democrats
rap bridge
I get that they didn't get much done
but the democratic party we shouldn't shun
if the moderation of Congress makes frown
imagine what things will be like when the Tea Party comes to town
I agree that the best way to prevent a conservative takeover
is to give the Democrats a makeover
to make 'em liberal again
maybe we'll get some movement then
but right now we gotta be happy with what we got
so vote for the Democrat even if you don't like him a whole lot
end rap bridge
Hey Hey
Let's go vote now
Hey Hey
Vote for the Democrats
vote against palin
and her divisive rhetoric
and her total lack of substance
and the far right idea she's trying to sell us
Hey Hey
Let's go vote now
Hey Hey
Vote for the Democrats
vote for the freedom
that we we guaranteed
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
and let's not tax the rich any less
Hey Hey
Let's go vote now
Hey Hey
Vote for the Democrats
vote against the talk show hosts
who yell and scream
when a Muslim wants to pray
or when a soldier who's fighting for us happens to be gay
Hey Hey
Let's go vote now
Hey Hey
Vote for the democrats
That's right the 2010 Midterm Democratic Fight Song
2010 Midterm Democratic Fight Song
Tea Party keeps marching forward
with their insane economic agenda
and their candidates seem to get more fringe every day
and it seems like all hope for the dems has just gone away
Hey Hey
Let's Go vote now
Hey Hey
Vote for the Democrats
Liberalism is still around
We're ready to rise when we see the point
We are the progressive coalition
we love FDR and are real fans of Freedom of Religion
Hey Hey
Let's go vote now
Hey Hey
Vote for the Democrats
Republicans held the country
hostage to their filibuster
they shook their fists no, no to the military, no to health care
no to their own ideas no to making the economy a little more fair
Hey Hey
Let's go vote now
Hey Hey
Vote for the Democrats
rap bridge
I get that they didn't get much done
but the democratic party we shouldn't shun
if the moderation of Congress makes frown
imagine what things will be like when the Tea Party comes to town
I agree that the best way to prevent a conservative takeover
is to give the Democrats a makeover
to make 'em liberal again
maybe we'll get some movement then
but right now we gotta be happy with what we got
so vote for the Democrat even if you don't like him a whole lot
end rap bridge
Hey Hey
Let's go vote now
Hey Hey
Vote for the Democrats
vote against palin
and her divisive rhetoric
and her total lack of substance
and the far right idea she's trying to sell us
Hey Hey
Let's go vote now
Hey Hey
Vote for the Democrats
vote for the freedom
that we we guaranteed
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
and let's not tax the rich any less
Hey Hey
Let's go vote now
Hey Hey
Vote for the Democrats
vote against the talk show hosts
who yell and scream
when a Muslim wants to pray
or when a soldier who's fighting for us happens to be gay
Hey Hey
Let's go vote now
Hey Hey
Vote for the democrats
Monday, September 13, 2010
lyrics of the week
One Love
Billy Bragg's cover of Bob Marley, he changed most of the lyrics
One love
One heart
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
One love
One heart
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
Lets drop the debt in reparation for the years of slavery
Lets not forget our ancestors role
The shame will follow us down through the generations
Till we give Africa back the dignity we stole.
Lets drop the debt and spend the money on education
Lets help the teacher to unlock the classroom door
Close down the sweatshops that hold our children in bondage
There must be no hiding place for the exploiters of the poor.
One love
One heart
Let's drop the debt and it will be alright (hear the children singing)
One love
One heart
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
Lets drop the debt and free 500 million people
And give them back the lives they want to live
Freedom from war, fear and hunger,
And freedom from the man who will take more than he give.
One love
One heart
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
One love
One heart
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright (OK You and the kids)
One love
One heart
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
One love
One heart
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
One love
One heart
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
I say Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
I say Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
I say Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
Billy Bragg's cover of Bob Marley, he changed most of the lyrics
One love
One heart
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
One love
One heart
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
Lets drop the debt in reparation for the years of slavery
Lets not forget our ancestors role
The shame will follow us down through the generations
Till we give Africa back the dignity we stole.
Lets drop the debt and spend the money on education
Lets help the teacher to unlock the classroom door
Close down the sweatshops that hold our children in bondage
There must be no hiding place for the exploiters of the poor.
One love
One heart
Let's drop the debt and it will be alright (hear the children singing)
One love
One heart
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
Lets drop the debt and free 500 million people
And give them back the lives they want to live
Freedom from war, fear and hunger,
And freedom from the man who will take more than he give.
One love
One heart
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
One love
One heart
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright (OK You and the kids)
One love
One heart
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
One love
One heart
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
One love
One heart
Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
I say Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
I say Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
I say Lets drop the debt and it will be alright
two quotes of the day/some religion
"One good schoolmaster is of more use than a hundred priests."
---One of my heroes, Thomas Paine
I think that many of you might misinterpret this quote as being anti-religion, but I don't think it is so much anti-religion as pro-education. Also, Thomas Paine wasn't anti-religion, he was a fairly religious man but he was against organized religion. He wrote at the beginning of the Age of Reason(one of his books) a quote that it is very very close to my own religious beliefs.
I believe in one God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life.
I believe in the equality of man; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavouring to make our fellow-creatures happy.
But, lest it should be supposed that I believe many other things in addition to these, I shall, in the progress of this work, declare the things I do not believe, and my reasons for not believing them.
I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish Church, by the Roman Church, by the Greek Church, by the Turkish Church, by the Protestant Church, nor by any church that I know of. My own mind is my own church.
All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.
I do not mean by this declaration to condemn those who believe otherwise; they have the same right to their belief as I have to mine. But it is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving; it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe
----Thomas Paine, The Age Of Reason
---One of my heroes, Thomas Paine
I think that many of you might misinterpret this quote as being anti-religion, but I don't think it is so much anti-religion as pro-education. Also, Thomas Paine wasn't anti-religion, he was a fairly religious man but he was against organized religion. He wrote at the beginning of the Age of Reason(one of his books) a quote that it is very very close to my own religious beliefs.
I believe in one God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life.
I believe in the equality of man; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavouring to make our fellow-creatures happy.
But, lest it should be supposed that I believe many other things in addition to these, I shall, in the progress of this work, declare the things I do not believe, and my reasons for not believing them.
I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish Church, by the Roman Church, by the Greek Church, by the Turkish Church, by the Protestant Church, nor by any church that I know of. My own mind is my own church.
All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.
I do not mean by this declaration to condemn those who believe otherwise; they have the same right to their belief as I have to mine. But it is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving; it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe
----Thomas Paine, The Age Of Reason
quote of the day
"If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear."
----George Orwell
----George Orwell
quote of the day
"In my opinion, nothing has contributed so much to the corruption of the original idea of socialism as the belief that Russia is a socialist country and that every act of its rulers must be excused, if not imitated."
----George Orwell
You might be able to tell, I like George Orwell
----George Orwell
You might be able to tell, I like George Orwell
quote of the day
"We have now sunk to a depth at which the restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men"
---George Orwell
---George Orwell
Friday, September 10, 2010
quote of the day
"Have you learned nothing from fox? You pick your narrative and stick with it. And if the news doesn't fit your narrative, change your bleeping news!"
--Jon Stewart on Msnbc's coverage of Obama's speech
--Jon Stewart on Msnbc's coverage of Obama's speech
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Let's get together and burn the flag
Pastor Terry Jones and his congregation has big plans for this Saturday. In memory of the 9/11 attacks and to protest radical Muslims they are going to do what all good Christians would do, they're going to burn the Qua-ran. Yep, toss the Muslim holy book on a good bonfire and crackle crackle it goes up in smoke, exactly as Jesus intended.
I also have big plans for 9/11, first I'm going to a soccer game, then I'm celebrating my dad's birthday, then I'm going to burn the Bible in memory of all those killed by the KKK. Because obviously, since a small group of nutcases decided to kill a ton of people that means that they're whole religion and anyone who believes it agrees with them.
I also have big plans for 9/11, first I'm going to a soccer game, then I'm celebrating my dad's birthday, then I'm going to burn the Bible in memory of all those killed by the KKK. Because obviously, since a small group of nutcases decided to kill a ton of people that means that they're whole religion and anyone who believes it agrees with them.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Sharon Angle
This woman is running neck and neck with Harry Reid for the Nevada Senate Seat. If anyone who is reading this blog is registered to vote in Nevada, please come out and vote in November.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Lyrics of the week
I wrote this song today and felt that I needed to post it immediately before it becomes outdated
BP
Capo 4
G-D-C-D for the chorus
Em-D-C-D
Folk-Punk style
BP
Better
Pay
BP
BP
Killed off the gulf
then got off scot free
just like the big banks
BP
Better
Pay
BP
BP
Cared more about cash than safety
'cause they knew that the government
wouldn't do a thing
BP
Better
Pay
BP
BP
Got its dollar's worth
in congress
bought and paid for the GOP
BP
Better
Pay
BP
BP
Cleaned up the oil
they say
but we know that aint the case
BP
Better
Pay
BP
BP
Counted on us
to foot the bill
aint that the way it's always been
BP
Better
Pay
BP
BP
Better
Pay
Or just go the heck away
BP
Better
Pay
BP
Capo 4
G-D-C-D for the chorus
Em-D-C-D
Folk-Punk style
BP
Better
Pay
BP
BP
Killed off the gulf
then got off scot free
just like the big banks
BP
Better
Pay
BP
BP
Cared more about cash than safety
'cause they knew that the government
wouldn't do a thing
BP
Better
Pay
BP
BP
Got its dollar's worth
in congress
bought and paid for the GOP
BP
Better
Pay
BP
BP
Cleaned up the oil
they say
but we know that aint the case
BP
Better
Pay
BP
BP
Counted on us
to foot the bill
aint that the way it's always been
BP
Better
Pay
BP
BP
Better
Pay
Or just go the heck away
BP
Better
Pay
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
quote of the day
The Presidential Debate West Wing Style
RITCHIE
[on TV] Let the states decide. Let the communities decide on health care, on education,
on lower taxes, not higher taxes. Now, he's going to throw a big word at you-- "unfunded
mandate." If Washington lets the states do it, it's an unfunded mandate. But what he
doesn't like is the federal government losing power. But I call it the ingenuity of the
American people.
MODERATOR
[on TV] President Bartlet, you have 60 seconds for a question and an answer.
BARTLET
[on TV] Well, first of all, let's clear up a couple of things. "Unfunded mandate" is two
words, not one "big word."
They cheer backstage.
BARTLET
[on TV] There are times when we're fifty states and there are times when we're one
country, and have national needs. And the way I know this is that Florida didn't fight
Germany in World War II or establish civil rights. You think states should do the
governing wall-to-wall. That's a perfectly valid opinion. But your state of Florida got
$12.6 billion in federal money last year-- from Nebraskans, and Virginians, and New
Yorkers, and Alaskans, with their Eskimo poetry. 12.6 out of a state budget of $50
billion, and I'm supposed to be using this time for a question, so here it is: Can we
have it back, please?
RITCHIE
[on TV] Let the states decide. Let the communities decide on health care, on education,
on lower taxes, not higher taxes. Now, he's going to throw a big word at you-- "unfunded
mandate." If Washington lets the states do it, it's an unfunded mandate. But what he
doesn't like is the federal government losing power. But I call it the ingenuity of the
American people.
MODERATOR
[on TV] President Bartlet, you have 60 seconds for a question and an answer.
BARTLET
[on TV] Well, first of all, let's clear up a couple of things. "Unfunded mandate" is two
words, not one "big word."
They cheer backstage.
BARTLET
[on TV] There are times when we're fifty states and there are times when we're one
country, and have national needs. And the way I know this is that Florida didn't fight
Germany in World War II or establish civil rights. You think states should do the
governing wall-to-wall. That's a perfectly valid opinion. But your state of Florida got
$12.6 billion in federal money last year-- from Nebraskans, and Virginians, and New
Yorkers, and Alaskans, with their Eskimo poetry. 12.6 out of a state budget of $50
billion, and I'm supposed to be using this time for a question, so here it is: Can we
have it back, please?
Monday, August 30, 2010
quote of the day
This is dialogue from the West Wing Episode the Midterms written by Aaron Sorkin. In this scene President Bartlet addresses conservative talk-show host Dr. Jenna Jacobs(I wonder who she is based on?)
BARTLET
I'm sorry, um... you're Dr. Jenna Jacobs, right?
JENNA JACOBS
Yes, sir.
BARTLET
It's good to have you here.
JENNA JACOBS
Thank you.
BARTLET
The awesome impact of the airwaves and how that translates into the furthering of our national
discussions but obviously also how it can... how it can...
He sighs, and addresses Jenna Jacobs again.
BARTLET
Forgive me, Dr. Jacobs. Are you an M.D.?
JENNA JACOBS
Ph.D.
BARTLET
A Ph.D.?
JENNA JACOBS
Yes, sir.
BARTLET
In Psychology?
JENNA JACOBS
No sir.
BARTLET
Theology?
JENNA JACOBS
No.
BARTLET
Social work?
JENNA JACOBS
I have a Ph.D. in English Literature.
BARTLET
I'm asking, 'cause on your show, people call in for advice and you go by the name of
Dr. Jacobs on your show. And I didn't know if maybe your listeners were confused by that,
and assumed you had advanced training in Psychology, Theology, or health care.
JENNA JACOBS
I don't believe they are confused, no sir.
BARTLET
Good. I like your show. I like how you call homosexuality an abomination.
JENNA JACOBS
I don't say homosexuality is an abomination, Mr. President. The Bible does.
BARTLET
Yes, it does. Leviticus.
JENNA JACOBS
18:22
BARTLET
Chapter and verse. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions while I had you here.
I'm interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7.
(small chuckles from the guests) She's a Georgetown sophomore, speaks fluent Italian, and
always clears the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be? While
thinking about that, can I ask another? My Chief of Staff, LeoO McGarry, insists on working
on the Sabbath, Exodus 35:2, clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated
to kill him myself or is it okay to call the police? Here's one that's really important,
'cause we've got a lot of sports fans in this town. Touching the skin of a dead pig makes
us unclean, Leviticus 11:7. If they promise to wear gloves, can the Washington Redskins
still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point? Does the whole town really have to be
together to stone my brother, John, for planting different crops side by side? Can I burn
my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads?
Think about those questions, would you? One last thing, while you may be mistaking this
for your monthly meeting of the Ignorant Club, in this building, when the President
stands, nobody sits.
BARTLET
I'm sorry, um... you're Dr. Jenna Jacobs, right?
JENNA JACOBS
Yes, sir.
BARTLET
It's good to have you here.
JENNA JACOBS
Thank you.
BARTLET
The awesome impact of the airwaves and how that translates into the furthering of our national
discussions but obviously also how it can... how it can...
He sighs, and addresses Jenna Jacobs again.
BARTLET
Forgive me, Dr. Jacobs. Are you an M.D.?
JENNA JACOBS
Ph.D.
BARTLET
A Ph.D.?
JENNA JACOBS
Yes, sir.
BARTLET
In Psychology?
JENNA JACOBS
No sir.
BARTLET
Theology?
JENNA JACOBS
No.
BARTLET
Social work?
JENNA JACOBS
I have a Ph.D. in English Literature.
BARTLET
I'm asking, 'cause on your show, people call in for advice and you go by the name of
Dr. Jacobs on your show. And I didn't know if maybe your listeners were confused by that,
and assumed you had advanced training in Psychology, Theology, or health care.
JENNA JACOBS
I don't believe they are confused, no sir.
BARTLET
Good. I like your show. I like how you call homosexuality an abomination.
JENNA JACOBS
I don't say homosexuality is an abomination, Mr. President. The Bible does.
BARTLET
Yes, it does. Leviticus.
JENNA JACOBS
18:22
BARTLET
Chapter and verse. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions while I had you here.
I'm interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7.
(small chuckles from the guests) She's a Georgetown sophomore, speaks fluent Italian, and
always clears the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be? While
thinking about that, can I ask another? My Chief of Staff, LeoO McGarry, insists on working
on the Sabbath, Exodus 35:2, clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated
to kill him myself or is it okay to call the police? Here's one that's really important,
'cause we've got a lot of sports fans in this town. Touching the skin of a dead pig makes
us unclean, Leviticus 11:7. If they promise to wear gloves, can the Washington Redskins
still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point? Does the whole town really have to be
together to stone my brother, John, for planting different crops side by side? Can I burn
my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads?
Think about those questions, would you? One last thing, while you may be mistaking this
for your monthly meeting of the Ignorant Club, in this building, when the President
stands, nobody sits.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
So I'm not an american
As I'm sure many of you know, Glenn Beck held a little shin-dig in Washington DC this weekend. At this Conservative Prat Party(get it frat--prat, yep I do puns now) Sarah Palin(who as you all know is one of favorite people in politics) made a speech(I like using parentheses to provide humorous asides, can you tell?) in which she said to the crowd: "Look around you; you are not alone. You are Americans!"
So I can interpret that two ways. 1) I'm not American because I was neither there nor agree with her politics or 2) The crowd was a little confused as to what to chant. One person started chanting "Canada! Canada! Canada!" another yelled "Go Wales!" but the largest group was chanting "Luxembourg! Luxembourg! Luxembourg!". So Mrs. Palin had to go up there and remind them that they were Americans after all. Or maybe it's 3) She was saying something generic and clichéd to whip up a crowd without actually thinking about what the heck it was supposed to mean. Personally I'm going with the 2nd.
I am now going to talk about Glenn Beck. Glenn Beck who basically every liberal worth his or her salt has trashed. Glenn Beck who says thing like Look forward. Look West. Look to the heavens. Look to God and make your choice, Do we no longer believe in the power of the individual? Do we no longer believe in dreams?".
Here is what I want to say about Glenn Beck, He's satirizing the Conservative Media. Seriously, Glenn Beck has basically become Stephen Colbert. What he says is so crazy, so out there, and is performed in such an over-the-top way that he's gotta be joking. Or nuts. Or just in it for the money. Personally(as someone who used to occasionally watch clips of Glenn's CNN show) I'll go for the first one. He used to have a sense of humor and some rational thought. And now he's jumping around, tearing up in a really, really obviously fake way, writing crazy things on a chalk board. It's either money or humor. And I want to go with the humor because Glenn Beck used to strike me as a nice enough guy. He did say some pretty conservative things but he was rational and slightly rational about it. On CNN he did once compare having to choose between Obama, Clinton, or McCain as having to choose between being shot, stabbed, or poisoned, but he was still a little logical. Now he just isn't, but he is very entertaining. And I'm not sure that when I'm laughing at Glenn Beck, he isn't laughing along with me.
So I can interpret that two ways. 1) I'm not American because I was neither there nor agree with her politics or 2) The crowd was a little confused as to what to chant. One person started chanting "Canada! Canada! Canada!" another yelled "Go Wales!" but the largest group was chanting "Luxembourg! Luxembourg! Luxembourg!". So Mrs. Palin had to go up there and remind them that they were Americans after all. Or maybe it's 3) She was saying something generic and clichéd to whip up a crowd without actually thinking about what the heck it was supposed to mean. Personally I'm going with the 2nd.
I am now going to talk about Glenn Beck. Glenn Beck who basically every liberal worth his or her salt has trashed. Glenn Beck who says thing like Look forward. Look West. Look to the heavens. Look to God and make your choice, Do we no longer believe in the power of the individual? Do we no longer believe in dreams?".
Here is what I want to say about Glenn Beck, He's satirizing the Conservative Media. Seriously, Glenn Beck has basically become Stephen Colbert. What he says is so crazy, so out there, and is performed in such an over-the-top way that he's gotta be joking. Or nuts. Or just in it for the money. Personally(as someone who used to occasionally watch clips of Glenn's CNN show) I'll go for the first one. He used to have a sense of humor and some rational thought. And now he's jumping around, tearing up in a really, really obviously fake way, writing crazy things on a chalk board. It's either money or humor. And I want to go with the humor because Glenn Beck used to strike me as a nice enough guy. He did say some pretty conservative things but he was rational and slightly rational about it. On CNN he did once compare having to choose between Obama, Clinton, or McCain as having to choose between being shot, stabbed, or poisoned, but he was still a little logical. Now he just isn't, but he is very entertaining. And I'm not sure that when I'm laughing at Glenn Beck, he isn't laughing along with me.
Friday, August 27, 2010
lyrics of the week
Waiting for the Great Leap forwards(live) by Billy Bragg(you have no idea how much I wish I had wrote this)
It may have been Camelot for Jack and Jacqueline
But on the Che Guevara highway filling up with gasoline
Little Donald Rumsfeld spies a rich lady who's crying
Over luxury's disappointment, so he walks over and he's trying
To sympathise with her but he thinks that he should warn her
To be prepared to be bombed back into the Stone Age
(Ya, how’s that touch you? Ya fancy that? Maybe back into the Ice Age even. Who knows.)
In the former Soviet Union the citizens demand
As to why they are still the target of Strategic Air Command?
And they shake their fists in anger and respectfully suggest
We take the money from our missiles and spend it on our hospitals instead.
Mixing Pop and Politics they ask me what the use is
I offer them my acupuncturists and my masseusses
While looking down the corridor
Out to where my ego is waiting
I'm looking for the New World Order
Jumble sales are organized, all my mates have got fat
Even after all this time you can still swing round a cat
You can be active with the activists
Or sleep in with the media
While you're waiting for the Great Leap Forwards
Oh, one leap forward, two leaps back
Will YouTube give MTV the sack ?
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards
Well here comes the future and you can't run from it
If you've got a wesite I want to be on it
Can I be your friend? Can I say it with a smiley? Ya
In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune
But this is reality not american idol
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards, ya
It's a mighty long way down rock 'n roll
From Top of the Pops to diggin’ a hole
You're Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards
So join the struggle while you may
The Revolution is just an ethical haircut away
When you’re waiting for the Great Leap Forwards
It may have been Camelot for Jack and Jacqueline
But on the Che Guevara highway filling up with gasoline
Little Donald Rumsfeld spies a rich lady who's crying
Over luxury's disappointment, so he walks over and he's trying
To sympathise with her but he thinks that he should warn her
To be prepared to be bombed back into the Stone Age
(Ya, how’s that touch you? Ya fancy that? Maybe back into the Ice Age even. Who knows.)
In the former Soviet Union the citizens demand
As to why they are still the target of Strategic Air Command?
And they shake their fists in anger and respectfully suggest
We take the money from our missiles and spend it on our hospitals instead.
Mixing Pop and Politics they ask me what the use is
I offer them my acupuncturists and my masseusses
While looking down the corridor
Out to where my ego is waiting
I'm looking for the New World Order
Jumble sales are organized, all my mates have got fat
Even after all this time you can still swing round a cat
You can be active with the activists
Or sleep in with the media
While you're waiting for the Great Leap Forwards
Oh, one leap forward, two leaps back
Will YouTube give MTV the sack ?
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards
Well here comes the future and you can't run from it
If you've got a wesite I want to be on it
Can I be your friend? Can I say it with a smiley? Ya
In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune
But this is reality not american idol
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards, ya
It's a mighty long way down rock 'n roll
From Top of the Pops to diggin’ a hole
You're Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards
So join the struggle while you may
The Revolution is just an ethical haircut away
When you’re waiting for the Great Leap Forwards
Thursday, August 19, 2010
In which I am so freaking angry
Warning: The Following Post Contains Graphic Ranting Which May Offend members of the mild-mannered public
Alright so I'm mad. A new poll came out which says that 1/3 of Americans believe that President Obama is a Christian, down from 1/2 last year. And 1/5 of our wonderful nation think that Obama is a Muslim. A different poll has 47% for Christian and 24% for Muslim. Also 61% are opposed to the "Ground Zero" "Mosque" with 26% favoring it.
Soooooo, It is now official: We are total freaking idiots. I'm glad that's wrapped up, we can all go home. Ta-ta.
Seriously, did aliens visit the participants in that poll and steal their brains? I try very hard to be accepting of people with different beliefs and opinions than me, but this time I just can't. This is so ridicules and so crazy and so dangerous that it's time for me to stand up. We have people talking in the Senate of The United States of America about repealing the 14th Amendment! We have a law in Arizona that is blatantly racist!
We don't like Obama because he hasn't done the stuff he said he was going to so we're going to vote in a bunch of people who totally disagree with everything he's ever said. Does that Make sense? Heck no, but we're Americans, We don't think we just do!
None of this is Obama's fault. It is the Republicans who have perverted the Constitution so that you need 60 votes to pass anything in the Senate. Their new motto is "No. I don't care what the question is, my answer is no" or as James McMurtry said "A Little Bit of Hope is a Dangerous thing"
In some ways I hope that the Republicans do win back the Congress this year so every day, every freaking day I can trash them. I will desimate them and I hope the Democrats do too. They won't be able to pass a single thing. But then Fox News will say that they're being "Obstructionists who are un-American". We just can't win.
I hope, I really hope that the American people will see sense and ignore the storyline that the media is creating and vote for the people who they agree with. The people who they think will do the best job.
Here are some lyrics to get my battle against the right started. These are not some of my most sophisticated lyrics but they get my point across.
Burn The Flag
Hey yeah
hey yeah we just got into congress
hey yeah it's time to rule the nation
it's time to destroy the nation
hey yeah it's time to fill our pockets
let's forget what our founders would have wanted
let's forget about what they would have wanted
let's shove our own insane agenda
down the throat of the USA
Hey let's get together and burn the flag
let's get together and torch the white house
let's get together and topple the monuments
let's get together and build big bonfire
take the constitution
and toss it on it
let's get together and burn the flag
let's get together and burn the flag
let's get together and burn the flag
hey yeah we are republicans the GOP
and we don't really care about economics
unless we can't fill our pockets
let's shove our own insane agenda
down the throat of the USA
let's get together and burn the flag
let's get together and burn the flag
let's get together and burn the flag
come on let's go find old Maddison
dig em up stick em' on
a pole and burn him
let's get together and burn the flag
let's get together and burn the flag
let's get together and burn the flag
I am a talk show host
and I don't care what I say
I just want people to like me
let's get together and burn the flag
let's get together and burn the flag
let's get together and burn the flag
let's shove our own insane agenda
down the throat of the USA
let's get together and burn the flag
Alright so I'm mad. A new poll came out which says that 1/3 of Americans believe that President Obama is a Christian, down from 1/2 last year. And 1/5 of our wonderful nation think that Obama is a Muslim. A different poll has 47% for Christian and 24% for Muslim. Also 61% are opposed to the "Ground Zero" "Mosque" with 26% favoring it.
Soooooo, It is now official: We are total freaking idiots. I'm glad that's wrapped up, we can all go home. Ta-ta.
Seriously, did aliens visit the participants in that poll and steal their brains? I try very hard to be accepting of people with different beliefs and opinions than me, but this time I just can't. This is so ridicules and so crazy and so dangerous that it's time for me to stand up. We have people talking in the Senate of The United States of America about repealing the 14th Amendment! We have a law in Arizona that is blatantly racist!
We don't like Obama because he hasn't done the stuff he said he was going to so we're going to vote in a bunch of people who totally disagree with everything he's ever said. Does that Make sense? Heck no, but we're Americans, We don't think we just do!
None of this is Obama's fault. It is the Republicans who have perverted the Constitution so that you need 60 votes to pass anything in the Senate. Their new motto is "No. I don't care what the question is, my answer is no" or as James McMurtry said "A Little Bit of Hope is a Dangerous thing"
In some ways I hope that the Republicans do win back the Congress this year so every day, every freaking day I can trash them. I will desimate them and I hope the Democrats do too. They won't be able to pass a single thing. But then Fox News will say that they're being "Obstructionists who are un-American". We just can't win.
I hope, I really hope that the American people will see sense and ignore the storyline that the media is creating and vote for the people who they agree with. The people who they think will do the best job.
Here are some lyrics to get my battle against the right started. These are not some of my most sophisticated lyrics but they get my point across.
Burn The Flag
Hey yeah
hey yeah we just got into congress
hey yeah it's time to rule the nation
it's time to destroy the nation
hey yeah it's time to fill our pockets
let's forget what our founders would have wanted
let's forget about what they would have wanted
let's shove our own insane agenda
down the throat of the USA
Hey let's get together and burn the flag
let's get together and torch the white house
let's get together and topple the monuments
let's get together and build big bonfire
take the constitution
and toss it on it
let's get together and burn the flag
let's get together and burn the flag
let's get together and burn the flag
hey yeah we are republicans the GOP
and we don't really care about economics
unless we can't fill our pockets
let's shove our own insane agenda
down the throat of the USA
let's get together and burn the flag
let's get together and burn the flag
let's get together and burn the flag
come on let's go find old Maddison
dig em up stick em' on
a pole and burn him
let's get together and burn the flag
let's get together and burn the flag
let's get together and burn the flag
I am a talk show host
and I don't care what I say
I just want people to like me
let's get together and burn the flag
let's get together and burn the flag
let's get together and burn the flag
let's shove our own insane agenda
down the throat of the USA
let's get together and burn the flag
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
In Which I Strongly Object To Those Islamist Trying To Take Away My Rights
So I don't know about you, but I am shocked and appalled about this whole-Mosque-at-Ground-Zero fiasco and I have decided that it is time to speak up! These people who attacked us on September 11th want to shove their religious opinions down our throats! I mean what possible reason could there be to build a Muslim Education Center in the vicinity of Ground Zero? What possible reason?!
On September 11th, 2001 we were attacked by people who hate and wish to destroy our valuable freedoms. We need to let Ground Zero stand as a monument to future generations that our freedom was challenged but we held firm. But we cannot have this monument if we allow a religious faith to build a cultural center two blocks from where our freedoms were attacked, that's like spitting on the Bill of Rights!
Now don't get me wrong, I'm tolerant, I'm open, and I'm a big fan of religious freedom as long as it doesn't involve anyone I disagree with doing anything that I don't like! I mean seriously! First we let them build an education center and then what?! They'll want to vote? They'll want to be able to be able to run for office? And then where will we be? Muslims running the Government, out goes separation between Church and State!
On September 11th, 2001 we were attacked by people who hate and wish to destroy our valuable freedoms. We need to let Ground Zero stand as a monument to future generations that our freedom was challenged but we held firm. But we cannot have this monument if we allow a religious faith to build a cultural center two blocks from where our freedoms were attacked, that's like spitting on the Bill of Rights!
Now don't get me wrong, I'm tolerant, I'm open, and I'm a big fan of religious freedom as long as it doesn't involve anyone I disagree with doing anything that I don't like! I mean seriously! First we let them build an education center and then what?! They'll want to vote? They'll want to be able to be able to run for office? And then where will we be? Muslims running the Government, out goes separation between Church and State!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Lyrics of the week
Ok this one is weird. Just a warning.
Watching You (While You Sleep)
everyday
at around 10
you go up to your room
and put on your pig jammies
then you lay down
and read Mag Cabot
then you turn off your light
and go to sleep
Now you may wonder
how I know this
there's really a very simple explanation
you see I've been
Watching You While You Sleep
Oh oh oh
Watching You while You Sleep
Some say it's perverted
some say it's mad
but me I just call it love
oh
Watching You While You Sleep
It's not that I'm a stalker
it's just that I'm bored
there aint much to do in this town at night
when you can't sleep
all I do is
Watch You While You Sleep
Oh oh oh
Watching You while You Sleep
Some say it's perverted
some say it's mad
but me I just call it love
oh
Watching You While You Sleep
`
Watching You (While You Sleep)
everyday
at around 10
you go up to your room
and put on your pig jammies
then you lay down
and read Mag Cabot
then you turn off your light
and go to sleep
Now you may wonder
how I know this
there's really a very simple explanation
you see I've been
Watching You While You Sleep
Oh oh oh
Watching You while You Sleep
Some say it's perverted
some say it's mad
but me I just call it love
oh
Watching You While You Sleep
It's not that I'm a stalker
it's just that I'm bored
there aint much to do in this town at night
when you can't sleep
all I do is
Watch You While You Sleep
Oh oh oh
Watching You while You Sleep
Some say it's perverted
some say it's mad
but me I just call it love
oh
Watching You While You Sleep
`
lyrics of the week
So in the next few days I will be posting numerous songs that I wrote(I had a very productive week writingwise). I will start off with Loner.
Loner
No
Take It away
I'm Fine
I don't need drugs
I'm Fine
Just Leave me alone
I'm a-ok all on my own
I'm not insane
I'm just a loner
I'm okay
all alone
Don't put me
in any padded cell
I'm fine
listen to me
Just because
I'm not like you
doesn't mean I'm crazy
I'm not insane
I'm just a loner
I'm fine
all alone
No Pop
I'm not a narcissist
Nope Doc
I'm not a sociopath
Why can't you understand
this is how I am
I like being alone
I'm not insane
I'm just a loner
I'm okay
just being alone
I want to be let alone
I want to be let alone
I want to be let alone
Loner
No
Take It away
I'm Fine
I don't need drugs
I'm Fine
Just Leave me alone
I'm a-ok all on my own
I'm not insane
I'm just a loner
I'm okay
all alone
Don't put me
in any padded cell
I'm fine
listen to me
Just because
I'm not like you
doesn't mean I'm crazy
I'm not insane
I'm just a loner
I'm fine
all alone
No Pop
I'm not a narcissist
Nope Doc
I'm not a sociopath
Why can't you understand
this is how I am
I like being alone
I'm not insane
I'm just a loner
I'm okay
just being alone
I want to be let alone
I want to be let alone
I want to be let alone
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
In which I am uncharacteristically nice part 1
I have decided that there should be a new semi-regular feature in which I promote work that friends of mine have done. Here is part 1
Monday, July 19, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Lyrics of the Week
If Lightning Strikes
Verse Chords: Am, G, C, F, Am, G
I know I swore that I'd be true
and I didn't mean to lie to you
didn't always tell you I'd be there
but I always left a loophole or two
In so much pain now I'm numb
have to end what we've begun
Isn't it funny that I don't even care
But I swear to god I never meant to hurt you
didn't I always say
Chorus Chords: C, Am, F, G
If Lightning Strikes
All Bets are Off
Cards on The Table Show Me What You Got
Roll the dice and hope you don't get hit by
the Lightning Strike
If Lightning Strikes
Sure It Was Fun
While It Lasted
Can't You Accept That
We'll Never Get It Back
But I Swear to God that I need to Change
Didn't You Always Say
If Lightning Strikes
All Bets are Off
Cards on The Table Show Me What You Got
Roll the dice and hope you don't get hit by
the Lightning Strike
If Lightning Strikes
Verse Chords: Am, G, C, F, Am, G
I know I swore that I'd be true
and I didn't mean to lie to you
didn't always tell you I'd be there
but I always left a loophole or two
In so much pain now I'm numb
have to end what we've begun
Isn't it funny that I don't even care
But I swear to god I never meant to hurt you
didn't I always say
Chorus Chords: C, Am, F, G
If Lightning Strikes
All Bets are Off
Cards on The Table Show Me What You Got
Roll the dice and hope you don't get hit by
the Lightning Strike
If Lightning Strikes
Sure It Was Fun
While It Lasted
Can't You Accept That
We'll Never Get It Back
But I Swear to God that I need to Change
Didn't You Always Say
If Lightning Strikes
All Bets are Off
Cards on The Table Show Me What You Got
Roll the dice and hope you don't get hit by
the Lightning Strike
If Lightning Strikes
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Seriously FoxNews.Com readers, Seriously?
Today I was working on article for the blog and I went on Foxnews.com to see if they had any information about the subject I was writing about. So I'm looking around on their politics page and I see a poll that asks the question "Which is your favorite amendment in the Bill of Rights?". I think it over a little and I decide to go for the first amendment(Freedom speech, religion, assembly, and press) so I click the little vote button and I get to see the results. Here they are:
First -- freedom of speech, press, assembly, religion 42.8% (15,167 votes)
Second -- freedom to bear arms 39.1% (13,849 votes)
Third -- no quartering of soldiers 1% (372 votes)
Fourth -- probable cause, limits to search and seizure 1% (365 votes)
Fifth -- due process, no double jeopardy, no self-incrimination 1.1% (394 votes)
Sixth -- speedy trial, ability to question accusers 0.3% (108 votes)
Seventh -- trial by jury 0.5% (168 votes)
Eighth -- no cruel punishment or excessive bail 0.3% (90 votes)
Ninth -- retain other rights not enumerated 2.5% (896 votes)
Tenth -- federalism, states rights 11.4% (4,022 votes)
So 13,849 people feel that the right to bear arms is better than the right to a speedy trial or the right to a trial by jury or the right to no cruel punishment or the right to due process or the right to have no unwarranted search a seizure. So all I have to say is Seriously FoxNews.Com readers, Seriously?
First -- freedom of speech, press, assembly, religion 42.8% (15,167 votes)
Second -- freedom to bear arms 39.1% (13,849 votes)
Third -- no quartering of soldiers 1% (372 votes)
Fourth -- probable cause, limits to search and seizure 1% (365 votes)
Fifth -- due process, no double jeopardy, no self-incrimination 1.1% (394 votes)
Sixth -- speedy trial, ability to question accusers 0.3% (108 votes)
Seventh -- trial by jury 0.5% (168 votes)
Eighth -- no cruel punishment or excessive bail 0.3% (90 votes)
Ninth -- retain other rights not enumerated 2.5% (896 votes)
Tenth -- federalism, states rights 11.4% (4,022 votes)
So 13,849 people feel that the right to bear arms is better than the right to a speedy trial or the right to a trial by jury or the right to no cruel punishment or the right to due process or the right to have no unwarranted search a seizure. So all I have to say is Seriously FoxNews.Com readers, Seriously?
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Classic Post: Attention America, I'm about to be very unpatriotic
Like many other people I went to see fireworks with my family on the 4th, and I realised something....Fireworks are a big waste of money!! We spent approximately $193 Million to import fireworks from China. For what? Some pretty lights in the sky? Famvin reported that 9.1 million people died of hunger last year. Bread for the World reports that a child dies of hunger every five seconds. And we are spending $193 million on fireworks.
I like fireworks as much as anyone, but what purpose do they serve? They are pretty, but didn't China prove last year during the Olympics that CGI can work just as well? Let me hit you with some more statistics, God I love the Internet. The National Institute of Health reports that 1500 people die of cancer everyday in the US alone. America is ranked worst in preventable deaths, with 100.7 in 100,000 people died last year, according to commonsense. To make a long story short, people are dying and we are spending millions to set off pretty lights! People are dying, and no one seems to care!!
Alright I'm getting carried away, but come on! When you look at the figures it is hard to argue that it is worth it. But if you do think that it is worth it, then please tell me. Comment and tell me why you think that way. I will accept your opinion even though I might disagree with you. All I ask you to do is think about it, nothing more.
----July 5th 2009
I like fireworks as much as anyone, but what purpose do they serve? They are pretty, but didn't China prove last year during the Olympics that CGI can work just as well? Let me hit you with some more statistics, God I love the Internet. The National Institute of Health reports that 1500 people die of cancer everyday in the US alone. America is ranked worst in preventable deaths, with 100.7 in 100,000 people died last year, according to commonsense. To make a long story short, people are dying and we are spending millions to set off pretty lights! People are dying, and no one seems to care!!
Alright I'm getting carried away, but come on! When you look at the figures it is hard to argue that it is worth it. But if you do think that it is worth it, then please tell me. Comment and tell me why you think that way. I will accept your opinion even though I might disagree with you. All I ask you to do is think about it, nothing more.
----July 5th 2009
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Gin and Tonic Jokes
Okay so for those of you who do not know I was in Washington DC this weekend with my book club to go to the ALA Summer Conference. On the first day we were there I told a joke to a friend of mine that intentionally had no punchline. The joke was "A Man walks into a bar and orders a gin and tonic." I told it to mess with her(I pretended that it was a hilarious joke and she just didn't get), but I then took it upon myself to come up with a joke that revolves around a man walking into a bar and ordering a gin and tonic. Here are the three best results.
The Lovers joke.
A man walks into a bar and sees that the barman is helping a woman so he decides to wait. Suddenly the barman puts his hands on the bar and vaults over the bar and gets down on one knee. He pulls out a ring and says "I know we've only known each other for two minutes but you're the only one for me. Please be my wife!" The woman replies "I know that I don't even know your name, but you're my soul-mate.Yes I'll be your wife. Yes, Yes, Yes Yes YES!" The barman jumps up and embraces the woman. They hug, they kiss, it's romantic, it's passionate. "Hey guys break it up! break it up!" The man says as he runs forward. He pushes the woman out of the way and she sprawls on the floor. "This is important." The man says as he turns to the barman. He pokes a finger into the barman's chest and says "I want a gin and tonic."
The Punchline Joke(The most recent of the gin and tonic jokes)
A man walks into a bar and slams some money on the bar. "I Want a Gin and Tonic and I want it fast. The barman says "Okay man, here you go." The customer takes the glass and throws it on the ground where it smashes. "I said I wanted it fast!" The man yells, "Pour me another." The barman wants to argue with the man but he is kind of a small guy and the customer is built like a linebacker and seems very angry so he just pours him another drink. Again the customer throws the glass on the ground and demands to have another one "fast". The barman pours him another and yet again he smashes it. This goes on for a while with the barman pouring the man a drink and the man smashing it. Finally the barman hands the man the last glass the barman owns and again the customer smashes it and screams "I said I wanted it fast!" The barman has finally had enough and is on the brink of tears. "Look," he says trying to stay calm, "You keep saying you want it fast, but I've poured it for you almost instantaneously. What is it that you want?!" The customer stares off into the distance for a little bit turns back to the barman and says "I'm afraid I've forgotten the punchline."
The Not a Good Idea joke(by far the most popular gin and tonic joke)
A man runs into a bar and slams some money down. "I want a gin and tonic." He gasps, looking around wildly. The barman pours him the drink and he downs it in one gulp. Suddenly police appear from everywhere. They pop out from behind doors, they come out from the floorboards, and some even descend from the ceiling on ropes. They shoot the customer over and over and over again. Then they grab his lifeless body, pull him over to a pole which they have brought in, tie him to it, and set the pole on fire. After the body has been burned they all run off leaving the barman standing there shocked. Another man walks in, looks around, and walks up to the barman. He puts some money down on the bar and says "I'd like a gin and tonic please." The barman slowly shakes his head and says "That's not a good idea.
The Lovers joke.
A man walks into a bar and sees that the barman is helping a woman so he decides to wait. Suddenly the barman puts his hands on the bar and vaults over the bar and gets down on one knee. He pulls out a ring and says "I know we've only known each other for two minutes but you're the only one for me. Please be my wife!" The woman replies "I know that I don't even know your name, but you're my soul-mate.Yes I'll be your wife. Yes, Yes, Yes Yes YES!" The barman jumps up and embraces the woman. They hug, they kiss, it's romantic, it's passionate. "Hey guys break it up! break it up!" The man says as he runs forward. He pushes the woman out of the way and she sprawls on the floor. "This is important." The man says as he turns to the barman. He pokes a finger into the barman's chest and says "I want a gin and tonic."
The Punchline Joke(The most recent of the gin and tonic jokes)
A man walks into a bar and slams some money on the bar. "I Want a Gin and Tonic and I want it fast. The barman says "Okay man, here you go." The customer takes the glass and throws it on the ground where it smashes. "I said I wanted it fast!" The man yells, "Pour me another." The barman wants to argue with the man but he is kind of a small guy and the customer is built like a linebacker and seems very angry so he just pours him another drink. Again the customer throws the glass on the ground and demands to have another one "fast". The barman pours him another and yet again he smashes it. This goes on for a while with the barman pouring the man a drink and the man smashing it. Finally the barman hands the man the last glass the barman owns and again the customer smashes it and screams "I said I wanted it fast!" The barman has finally had enough and is on the brink of tears. "Look," he says trying to stay calm, "You keep saying you want it fast, but I've poured it for you almost instantaneously. What is it that you want?!" The customer stares off into the distance for a little bit turns back to the barman and says "I'm afraid I've forgotten the punchline."
The Not a Good Idea joke(by far the most popular gin and tonic joke)
A man runs into a bar and slams some money down. "I want a gin and tonic." He gasps, looking around wildly. The barman pours him the drink and he downs it in one gulp. Suddenly police appear from everywhere. They pop out from behind doors, they come out from the floorboards, and some even descend from the ceiling on ropes. They shoot the customer over and over and over again. Then they grab his lifeless body, pull him over to a pole which they have brought in, tie him to it, and set the pole on fire. After the body has been burned they all run off leaving the barman standing there shocked. Another man walks in, looks around, and walks up to the barman. He puts some money down on the bar and says "I'd like a gin and tonic please." The barman slowly shakes his head and says "That's not a good idea.
quote of the day
"So you're above Liberal Elitism, Alex?"
"Yes."
----- My memory of a conversation between Alex and Ben(my co-writers for this blog for those of you who do not know. In Alex's defensive he went on to say that he was actually far below liberal elitism, but I think the point stands.)
"Yes."
----- My memory of a conversation between Alex and Ben(my co-writers for this blog for those of you who do not know. In Alex's defensive he went on to say that he was actually far below liberal elitism, but I think the point stands.)
Friday, June 25, 2010
quote of the day
"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, I'll hire you as my lawyer."
---Brandon Sanderson
---Brandon Sanderson
Thursday, June 24, 2010
lyrics of the week
When You're With the Doctor by Me
He lives in a blue box
and he comes out of nowhere
and asks you to come fly away with him
you know you should say no
but when a guy offers you space and time
what're you supposed to do
refuse
he takes you to the future
and shows you how the world's going to end
and you meet a face
a freaky face
and then you meet some guy who lives forever
who says he's that face but
when you're with the doctor
all that is normal
when you're with the doctor
anything is possible
when you're with the doctor
your imagination has no bounds
when you're with the doctor
He takes you to meet some friends of his
dickens and Shakespeare
he likes to show off
but when the world is threatened
he will always be there
fighting autons, cybermen
and daleks too
when you're with the doctor
all that is normal
when you're with the doctor
anything is possible
when you're with the doctor
your imagination has no bounds
when you're with the doctor
he had to die today
to save you from an early grave
he's always been a great guy that way
but you're never see his face again
he's changed into a new guy but
when you're with the doctor
all that is normal
when you're with the doctor
anything is possible
when you're with the doctor
your imagination has no bounds
when you're with the doctor
what do you all think?
He lives in a blue box
and he comes out of nowhere
and asks you to come fly away with him
you know you should say no
but when a guy offers you space and time
what're you supposed to do
refuse
he takes you to the future
and shows you how the world's going to end
and you meet a face
a freaky face
and then you meet some guy who lives forever
who says he's that face but
when you're with the doctor
all that is normal
when you're with the doctor
anything is possible
when you're with the doctor
your imagination has no bounds
when you're with the doctor
He takes you to meet some friends of his
dickens and Shakespeare
he likes to show off
but when the world is threatened
he will always be there
fighting autons, cybermen
and daleks too
when you're with the doctor
all that is normal
when you're with the doctor
anything is possible
when you're with the doctor
your imagination has no bounds
when you're with the doctor
he had to die today
to save you from an early grave
he's always been a great guy that way
but you're never see his face again
he's changed into a new guy but
when you're with the doctor
all that is normal
when you're with the doctor
anything is possible
when you're with the doctor
your imagination has no bounds
when you're with the doctor
what do you all think?
lyrics of the week
When You're With the Doctor by Me
He lives in a blue box
and he comes out of nowhere
and asks you to come fly away with him
you know you should say no
but when a guy offers you space and time
what're you supposed to do
refuse
he takes you to the future
and shows you how the world's going to end
and you meet a face
a freaky face
and then you meet some guy who lives forever
who says he's that face but
when you're with the doctor
all that is normal
when you're with the doctor
anything is possible
when you're with the doctor
your imagination has no bounds
when you're with the doctor
He takes you to meet some friends of his
dickens and Shakespeare
he likes to show off
but when the world is threatened
he will always be there
fighting autons, cybermen
and daleks too
when you're with the doctor
all that is normal
when you're with the doctor
anything is possible
when you're with the doctor
your imagination has no bounds
when you're with the doctor
he had to die today
to save you from an early grave
he's always been a great guy that way
but you're never see his face again
he's changed into a new guy but
when you're with the doctor
all that is normal
when you're with the doctor
anything is possible
when you're with the doctor
your imagination has no bounds
when you're with the doctor
what do you all think?
He lives in a blue box
and he comes out of nowhere
and asks you to come fly away with him
you know you should say no
but when a guy offers you space and time
what're you supposed to do
refuse
he takes you to the future
and shows you how the world's going to end
and you meet a face
a freaky face
and then you meet some guy who lives forever
who says he's that face but
when you're with the doctor
all that is normal
when you're with the doctor
anything is possible
when you're with the doctor
your imagination has no bounds
when you're with the doctor
He takes you to meet some friends of his
dickens and Shakespeare
he likes to show off
but when the world is threatened
he will always be there
fighting autons, cybermen
and daleks too
when you're with the doctor
all that is normal
when you're with the doctor
anything is possible
when you're with the doctor
your imagination has no bounds
when you're with the doctor
he had to die today
to save you from an early grave
he's always been a great guy that way
but you're never see his face again
he's changed into a new guy but
when you're with the doctor
all that is normal
when you're with the doctor
anything is possible
when you're with the doctor
your imagination has no bounds
when you're with the doctor
what do you all think?
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
quote of the day
"We need fathers to realize that responsibility does not end at conception. ...Too many fathers are MIA, too many fathers are AWOL, missing from too many lives and too many homes. They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men."
-----President Obama
-----President Obama
Monday, June 21, 2010
lyrics of the week
The Way We Live Now
(I'm not going to tell you who this song is by, I want you to guess(Without googeling it))
Alas poor theater I knew it well
forget about the arts funding
it's never coming back
Welcome to the new world order
where science and math reign supreme
welcome to the way we live now
forget about the way it used to be
you have some imagination there boy
don't worry we'll soon take care of that
by giving you things to memorize
and discouraging all independent thought
Welcome to the new world order
where science and math reign supreme
welcome to the way we live now
forget about the way it used to be
forget about your history books
we don't care about the past now
and we don't think about the future
we're living only for today now
put down that paintbrush now boy
you'll never paint again
forget about Picasso and Van Gogh
I don't even know who they are
Welcome to the new world order
where science and math reign supreme
welcome to the way we live now
forget about the way it used to be
Forget about Romeo and Juliet
Forget about Midsummer Night's Dream
I've never even heard of them
and we'll never preform them again
Welcome to the way things are now
Forget about the way things were
Don't ever try and change them
No body cares anymore
welcome to the new world order
where Math and Science reign supreme
welcome to the way we live now
isn't this the way you want to be
(I'm not going to tell you who this song is by, I want you to guess(Without googeling it))
Alas poor theater I knew it well
forget about the arts funding
it's never coming back
Welcome to the new world order
where science and math reign supreme
welcome to the way we live now
forget about the way it used to be
you have some imagination there boy
don't worry we'll soon take care of that
by giving you things to memorize
and discouraging all independent thought
Welcome to the new world order
where science and math reign supreme
welcome to the way we live now
forget about the way it used to be
forget about your history books
we don't care about the past now
and we don't think about the future
we're living only for today now
put down that paintbrush now boy
you'll never paint again
forget about Picasso and Van Gogh
I don't even know who they are
Welcome to the new world order
where science and math reign supreme
welcome to the way we live now
forget about the way it used to be
Forget about Romeo and Juliet
Forget about Midsummer Night's Dream
I've never even heard of them
and we'll never preform them again
Welcome to the way things are now
Forget about the way things were
Don't ever try and change them
No body cares anymore
welcome to the new world order
where Math and Science reign supreme
welcome to the way we live now
isn't this the way you want to be
quote of the day
"A Dalek fleet. Minimum 12 thousand battleships, armed to the teeth. Ahhhhhhh! But we've got surprise on our side. They will never expect 3 people to attack 12 thousand Dalek battleships...because we'd be killed instantly. So it would be a very short surprise."
--The Doctor in the Pandorica Opens
--The Doctor in the Pandorica Opens
Friday, June 18, 2010
quote of the day
You know, you remind me of the man that lived by the river. He heard a radio report that the river was going to rush up and flood the town. And that all the residents should evacuate their homes. But the man said, “I’m religious. I pray. God loves me. God will save me.”The waters rose up. A guy in a row boat came along and he shouted, “Hey, hey you! You in there. The town is flooding. Let me take you to safety.” But the man shouted back, “I’m religious. I pray. God loves me. God will save me.”A helicopter was hovering overhead. And a guy with a megaphone shouted, “Hey you, you down there. The town is flooding. Let me drop this ladder and I’ll take you to safety.” But the man shouted back that he was religious, that he prayed, that God loved him and that God will take him to safety.Well... the man drowned. And standing at the gates of St. Peter, he demanded an audience with God. “Lord,” he said, “I’m a religious man, I pray. I thought you loved me. Why did this happen?” God said, “I sent you a radio report, a helicopter, and a guy in a rowboat. What the devil are you doing here?”
--Aaron Sorkin The West Wingq
--Aaron Sorkin The West Wingq
lyrics of the week
AMERICA
Tracy Chapman
You were lost and got lucky
Came upon the shore
Found you were conquering America
You spoke of peace
But waged a war
While you were conquering America
There was land to take
And people to kill
While you were conquering America
You served yourself
Did God's will
While you were conquering America
The ghost of Columbus haunts this world
'Cause you're still conquering America
The meek won't survive
Or inherit the earth
'Cause you're still conquering America
America
America
America
Your found bodies to serve
Submit and degrade
While you were conquering America
Made us soldiers and junkies
Prisoners and slaves
While you were conquering America
America
America
America
You hands are at my throat
My back's against the wall
Because you're still conquering America
We're sick and tired hungry and poor
'Cause you're still conquering America
You bomb the very ground
That feeds your own babies
You're still conquering America
Your sons and your daughters
May never sing your praises
While you're conquering America
America
America
America
I see you eyes seek a distant shore
While you're conquering America
Taking rockets to the moon
Trying to find a new world
And you're still conquering America
America
America
America
The ghost of Columbus haunts this world
'Cause you're still conquering America
You're still conquering America
You're still conquering America
Tracy Chapman
You were lost and got lucky
Came upon the shore
Found you were conquering America
You spoke of peace
But waged a war
While you were conquering America
There was land to take
And people to kill
While you were conquering America
You served yourself
Did God's will
While you were conquering America
The ghost of Columbus haunts this world
'Cause you're still conquering America
The meek won't survive
Or inherit the earth
'Cause you're still conquering America
America
America
America
Your found bodies to serve
Submit and degrade
While you were conquering America
Made us soldiers and junkies
Prisoners and slaves
While you were conquering America
America
America
America
You hands are at my throat
My back's against the wall
Because you're still conquering America
We're sick and tired hungry and poor
'Cause you're still conquering America
You bomb the very ground
That feeds your own babies
You're still conquering America
Your sons and your daughters
May never sing your praises
While you're conquering America
America
America
America
I see you eyes seek a distant shore
While you're conquering America
Taking rockets to the moon
Trying to find a new world
And you're still conquering America
America
America
America
The ghost of Columbus haunts this world
'Cause you're still conquering America
You're still conquering America
You're still conquering America
Monday, June 14, 2010
In which I am filled with a righteous anger
I love Agatha Christie and I love the theater so when a friend of mine told me that NC State was performing three Agatha Christie plays over the summer I was very excited. My excitement was in no way lessened when I went to see the first play, A Murder is Announced. I loved most things about it, and I would probably give it Four Stars out of Five(the missing star is due to the fact that I didn't like the way the detective was played and thought that the villain was played in a very obviously creepy way).
Yesterday I went to see what I thought was Death on the Nile, one of Christie's classics with her greatest detective Hercule Poirot. I walk in to the theater with two friends who are also Christie fans and we sit down and wait for the play to being. The set is fantastic and we get pretty good seats so we're feeling pretty good. An announcement comes to turn off cell phones and the play begins.
It starts off well with most of the actors doing pretty well. And then, and then the victim enters. The basic plot of Death on the Nile for those who don't know is that this rich young woman(Linnet)'s best friend(Jackie) is getting married and she(Jackie that is not Linnet) asks Linnet to give her fiancee(Simon) a job. Linnet does so and Simon ends up breaking up with Jackie and marrying Linnet. Jackie as one might assume is less that happy about this and begins to stalk Linnet and Simon as they go on their honeymoon in Egypt. One night on a cruise ship Linnet is murdered in the very way that Jackie had wanted to kill her earlier. However Jackie cannot have done, so who did? It's up to the world famous detective Hercule Poirot to figure it out before anyone else is killed.
Yeah, so here's the problem the play was not Death On the Nile, no it was Murder on The Nile. In Murder on The Nile World famous detective Hercule Poirot is replaced by random clergyman Cannon Something-or-other. Yeah I can't even remember his last name even though I saw it last night. In the book it makes sense for Poirot to handle the case, as he's actually...you know... a detective. In this play the authorities on the ship seem to be totally incompetent as the clergyman is also a suspect, in fact in the book he(or rather the character he's based on) was one of the prime suspects for the murder.
Also, Jackie, poor poor Jackie. By far the most interesting character in the novel. However in the play well.....how about I use an example? The night of the murder Jackie is in the Saloon of the ship and is totally drunk. She is yelling at Simon and finally pulls out a gun and shoots him in the leg. This is a very dramatic scene that is Jackie's crescendo it's when she just can't take any more. It's a very dramatic scene in the novel. So how does the actress playing Jackie in the play decide to play it? By yelling a non-stop string of words at a very high pitch with no inflection.
It was both painful and hilarious. I don't know why that actress got the role but she was really really bad, I'm sorry I really hope her mom isn't reading this but I gotta call it like I see it.
Anyway, to some up this play was bad. And I mean bad. Add to the fact that the main actress couldn't act and that they got rid of the detective in a MURDER MYSTERY a terrible script and you will never have a good play.
I am going to see the final play in this series in a few days and I am really looking forward to it and I am really hoping that I just saw an off night for "Murder" on the Nile.
NC State Theater Fest 2010
A Murder Is Announced: 8/10
Murder on The Nile: 4/10
Spider's web: ?/10
Yesterday I went to see what I thought was Death on the Nile, one of Christie's classics with her greatest detective Hercule Poirot. I walk in to the theater with two friends who are also Christie fans and we sit down and wait for the play to being. The set is fantastic and we get pretty good seats so we're feeling pretty good. An announcement comes to turn off cell phones and the play begins.
It starts off well with most of the actors doing pretty well. And then, and then the victim enters. The basic plot of Death on the Nile for those who don't know is that this rich young woman(Linnet)'s best friend(Jackie) is getting married and she(Jackie that is not Linnet) asks Linnet to give her fiancee(Simon) a job. Linnet does so and Simon ends up breaking up with Jackie and marrying Linnet. Jackie as one might assume is less that happy about this and begins to stalk Linnet and Simon as they go on their honeymoon in Egypt. One night on a cruise ship Linnet is murdered in the very way that Jackie had wanted to kill her earlier. However Jackie cannot have done, so who did? It's up to the world famous detective Hercule Poirot to figure it out before anyone else is killed.
Yeah, so here's the problem the play was not Death On the Nile, no it was Murder on The Nile. In Murder on The Nile World famous detective Hercule Poirot is replaced by random clergyman Cannon Something-or-other. Yeah I can't even remember his last name even though I saw it last night. In the book it makes sense for Poirot to handle the case, as he's actually...you know... a detective. In this play the authorities on the ship seem to be totally incompetent as the clergyman is also a suspect, in fact in the book he(or rather the character he's based on) was one of the prime suspects for the murder.
Also, Jackie, poor poor Jackie. By far the most interesting character in the novel. However in the play well.....how about I use an example? The night of the murder Jackie is in the Saloon of the ship and is totally drunk. She is yelling at Simon and finally pulls out a gun and shoots him in the leg. This is a very dramatic scene that is Jackie's crescendo it's when she just can't take any more. It's a very dramatic scene in the novel. So how does the actress playing Jackie in the play decide to play it? By yelling a non-stop string of words at a very high pitch with no inflection.
It was both painful and hilarious. I don't know why that actress got the role but she was really really bad, I'm sorry I really hope her mom isn't reading this but I gotta call it like I see it.
Anyway, to some up this play was bad. And I mean bad. Add to the fact that the main actress couldn't act and that they got rid of the detective in a MURDER MYSTERY a terrible script and you will never have a good play.
I am going to see the final play in this series in a few days and I am really looking forward to it and I am really hoping that I just saw an off night for "Murder" on the Nile.
NC State Theater Fest 2010
A Murder Is Announced: 8/10
Murder on The Nile: 4/10
Spider's web: ?/10
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
quote of the day
"This song is Copyrighted in U.S., under Seal of Copyright #154085, for a period of 28 years, and anybody caught singin' it without our permission, will be mighty good friends of ours, cause we don't give a darn. Publish it. Write it. Sing it. Swing to it. Yodel it. We wrote it, that's all we wanted to do."
---Message on mimeographed copies of Woody Guthrie lyrics distributed to fans in the 1930s as quoted by Pete Seeger in an NPR interview "Pete Seeger remembers Woody" (1996)
---Message on mimeographed copies of Woody Guthrie lyrics distributed to fans in the 1930s as quoted by Pete Seeger in an NPR interview "Pete Seeger remembers Woody" (1996)
quote of the day
"To punish me for my contempt of authority, Fate has made me an authority myself."
----Albert Einstein
----Albert Einstein
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Sestak Scandal
I would guess that of you guys have heard about the Sestak Scandal, but for anyone who has not, here is a brief summary. In the Pennsylvania Democrat Congressional primaries, the 7th district had to close candidates. One of them was White House backed Arlen Specter. The other was white housed opposed Sestak. Sestak won.
So your thinking, ok. So what? Some Dem beat another Dem. Not a big deal right? Wrong! Sestak came on camera saying that the white house offered him a big important job in exchange for dropping out of the race. Thats a bribe, and a very big deal. Now the white house came out and said that they instantly investigated this, and found they did nothing wrong. that was 2 weeks ago. Sestak still claimed they attempted bribery, but he will not say what job it was though.
The important part of this is that the white house said nothing wrong happened, but if nothing wrong took place, then just tell us what did take place. The white house has completely clammed up on this. they will not say anything about this. If it comes out that they did try to bribe him, then they will be in extremely hot water, because not only did they commit a felony, they also tried to cover it up and lied about it!
Now just put 2 and 2 together. It is pretty likely that this is a true claim. if it was not, why on earth would Sestak say, over and over again that it was? and if the white house didst do anything wrong then just say exactly what happened.
Now, even if this is proven to be true it will probably not end in impeachment. Most likely some one will get fired and Obama will explain it all away, and even though it was most likely not directly Obama, if is proven that Obama authorized this bribe, then I can't see how he could escape impeachment.
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