Just wanted to let you know about a great website that features travellin' tales from my fellow CTA commuters here in Chicago. There are some really funny, frightening, and poignant observations about trains, buses, and the variety of life-forms found within. The December 20 post is a poem from some guy named Dave - hmmm....wonder who he is.....
Click, read, and enjoy .....http://www.thisisgrand.org
Monday, December 20, 2004
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Mr. Secretary - Your Freudian Slip Is Showing
I just saw a video clip on TV and caught a phonetic detail of Rumsfeld's response to that soldier's question about lack of armored vehicles in Iraq. To wit:
(Rumsfeld) "As you know, you go to war with the army you have - Not the harmy you want".....
"Harmy" ?
Did he say "harmy" ? - Was our Secretary of Defense sub-consciously talking straight for a change? This indeed is a situation full of "harmy" for all the troops. And you heard it from Rummy himself. Consciously, or not.
(Rumsfeld) "As you know, you go to war with the army you have - Not the harmy you want".....
"Harmy" ?
Did he say "harmy" ? - Was our Secretary of Defense sub-consciously talking straight for a change? This indeed is a situation full of "harmy" for all the troops. And you heard it from Rummy himself. Consciously, or not.
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
"Target" Your Shopping Elsewhere
I recently heard that Target Stores, here in the U.S., are barring The Salvation Army from soliciting donations outside their stores this Christmas season. For those not familiar - The Salvation Army is a Christian-based volunteer organization that provides shelter/food/clothing/job-training to the homeless. They also offer shelter/counseling for domestic violence victims, and pitch in with The Red Cross during natural disasters. In short - they are "THE GOOD GUYS".
But, with very little warning,(approx. mid-late November), Target Stores has decided that The S.A. is a hinderence to it's customers, and shouldn't be allowed to solicit funds in front of it's stores.
They claim that, legally, they would have to allow ANY group to solicit funds on it's property, if they allow The S.A. to do so.
The Salvation Army estimates that the drop in donations will be 9 million dollars nationwide.
BAH-HUMBUG!!!
I suspect this has less to do with non-legit charities horning in on donations, than Target's fear of their customers opening their wallets BEFORE they enter the store itself.
As for me, I don't think there is anything available at a Target Store that I can't get elsewhere. And those other stores will also have a red S.A. collection kettle that I will be glad to contribute to !
But, with very little warning,(approx. mid-late November), Target Stores has decided that The S.A. is a hinderence to it's customers, and shouldn't be allowed to solicit funds in front of it's stores.
They claim that, legally, they would have to allow ANY group to solicit funds on it's property, if they allow The S.A. to do so.
The Salvation Army estimates that the drop in donations will be 9 million dollars nationwide.
BAH-HUMBUG!!!
I suspect this has less to do with non-legit charities horning in on donations, than Target's fear of their customers opening their wallets BEFORE they enter the store itself.
As for me, I don't think there is anything available at a Target Store that I can't get elsewhere. And those other stores will also have a red S.A. collection kettle that I will be glad to contribute to !
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Memory and Transposition
Today I was reminded of how powerful the human mind is.
When it needs to be.
When it has to be.
When it has to reconcile the past to a fixed point in the present. When a memory bank searches all of it's files to try and make sense of the current input. In times of crisis - times of doubt. With the wind whipping your ears and your eyes shut tight - back when -....
September 1974 -
You're the new kid in school/7th grade/nobody approaches you/and you're too damn shy to reach out/but here comes Matt/same as you/a rebel in denim/an honor roll dropout/isn't this all bullshit/i love bowie and aerosmith don't you/fuck those jocks/you're pretty cool/i wish i could play guitar too/my brother plays bass/isn't susie the cutest/no way - margo/i'd take mary over margo/are you crazy/shhh - here comes sister mary beth - /ok/did you bring any cigs/i could use one after lunch/this school is the worst/...when i have kids........etc..etc......
And today that fixed point in the present came around.
I heard that Matt had died.
In Arizona.
On a point on a map that neither of us had ever imagined back in 1974.
My memory reels and staggers because 42 years old is just too early. That is the only way to put it. Whoever reads this - please make sure to thank the people who reached out and made life a little easier and friendlier for you - 1974 or otherwise.
Because someday, you will shut your eyes tight.
And the sound in your ears will be the roar of 7th grade.
When it needs to be.
When it has to be.
When it has to reconcile the past to a fixed point in the present. When a memory bank searches all of it's files to try and make sense of the current input. In times of crisis - times of doubt. With the wind whipping your ears and your eyes shut tight - back when -....
September 1974 -
You're the new kid in school/7th grade/nobody approaches you/and you're too damn shy to reach out/but here comes Matt/same as you/a rebel in denim/an honor roll dropout/isn't this all bullshit/i love bowie and aerosmith don't you/fuck those jocks/you're pretty cool/i wish i could play guitar too/my brother plays bass/isn't susie the cutest/no way - margo/i'd take mary over margo/are you crazy/shhh - here comes sister mary beth - /ok/did you bring any cigs/i could use one after lunch/this school is the worst/...when i have kids........etc..etc......
And today that fixed point in the present came around.
I heard that Matt had died.
In Arizona.
On a point on a map that neither of us had ever imagined back in 1974.
My memory reels and staggers because 42 years old is just too early. That is the only way to put it. Whoever reads this - please make sure to thank the people who reached out and made life a little easier and friendlier for you - 1974 or otherwise.
Because someday, you will shut your eyes tight.
And the sound in your ears will be the roar of 7th grade.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Heroic Lies
First, Jessica Lynch, and now, Pat Tillman. Is there any other sure-fire sign that the Pentagon doesn't want to "lose the audience" for it's mega-blockbuster dud in Iraq? They're reacting like film-makers do when their picture gets a lukewarm test-screening.
"Re-Write"!!!, they scream, when public support lags. "Punch up the characters! - Emphasize personal drama! - Make everybody want to enlist!!!"
Let me clarify one thing : Though I disagree with the Iraq War, I have no doubts about the sacrifice that all of the coalition forces are making over there. Lynch was severely wounded, and Tillman paid the ultimate price. Those realities are nothing to laugh at and neither are the countless other casualties occurring thanks to poor planning on the part of the Chickenhawks in Dubya's administration. The troops are no more to blame for this quagmire than the young men and women of the 1960's were for Vietnam.
Same shit. Different generation.
CNN's Anderson Cooper says pretty much the same thing, only less sarcastically. Go to http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/ and check out his comments at the end of the 12/7/04 broadcast.
"Re-Write"!!!, they scream, when public support lags. "Punch up the characters! - Emphasize personal drama! - Make everybody want to enlist!!!"
Let me clarify one thing : Though I disagree with the Iraq War, I have no doubts about the sacrifice that all of the coalition forces are making over there. Lynch was severely wounded, and Tillman paid the ultimate price. Those realities are nothing to laugh at and neither are the countless other casualties occurring thanks to poor planning on the part of the Chickenhawks in Dubya's administration. The troops are no more to blame for this quagmire than the young men and women of the 1960's were for Vietnam.
Same shit. Different generation.
CNN's Anderson Cooper says pretty much the same thing, only less sarcastically. Go to http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/ and check out his comments at the end of the 12/7/04 broadcast.
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
SugarSkullParade
SugarSkullParade
I'M SHOVIN' IT
It has been a little over one week since the U.S. Presidential election and I am just now putting it all together. My dizziness is subsiding and things are starting to become clear. For the most part, I have stopped raging at my fellow citizens (51% of the voting populace, that is), and am now able to understand how this debacle came about.
I think I know how a president, who rushed into an un-necessary war with unexpected consequences while alienating many of our allies - who lost a million or so jobs in less than four years while squandering a healthy budget surplus - who preaches freedom and democracy abroad while restricting civil liberties at home - and who campaigned in a denim shirt while pandering to his billionaire friends, managed to get re-elected.
As with many psychological explanations, it all goes back to childhood.
And food.
It came down to a rejection of change and the unknown, and an embracing of the familiar and comfortable.
As children, we were most comfortable with routine and re-assurance. Regular naptime and regular recess. Everything in order and everything in it's place. And within this well-ordered universe, food served as a comforting touchstone. As we made the transition from childhood to adulthood, food was there to fall back on occasionally - providing brief moments of respite from the uncertainty of change. After all, deep inside, we all crave stability. And that is the Republican's formula for success.
They deliver constancy, a sense of solidity, and reliability, while portraying the other side as unstable (or "flip-floppy").
In other words, they are the McDonald's of national politics. They keep their "menu" simple and un-imaginative. They keep the focus on a few core items and let the other side appear to be scrambling. Scrambling for the latest trends and the next "big thing".
And here's where the McDonald's comparison really kicks in.
They never vary from their routine until public pressure absolutely demands it.
Example : Adding low-fat salads, and fruit to the menu = dropping the anti-homosexual plank from the convention platform in 1996.
Democrats, on the other hand, do their best to accomodate as many interests as possible. They are the party that truly desires to leave "no child behind". But in time of doubt and fear, that doesn't work. It only confuses the customers - and they fall back on good ol' burgers and fries.
And Conservatism.
As for me - my stomach hurts, and someday I'll have to puke.
And I just might need a toilet in France.
Can you say "Le Big Mac"?
I'M SHOVIN' IT
It has been a little over one week since the U.S. Presidential election and I am just now putting it all together. My dizziness is subsiding and things are starting to become clear. For the most part, I have stopped raging at my fellow citizens (51% of the voting populace, that is), and am now able to understand how this debacle came about.
I think I know how a president, who rushed into an un-necessary war with unexpected consequences while alienating many of our allies - who lost a million or so jobs in less than four years while squandering a healthy budget surplus - who preaches freedom and democracy abroad while restricting civil liberties at home - and who campaigned in a denim shirt while pandering to his billionaire friends, managed to get re-elected.
As with many psychological explanations, it all goes back to childhood.
And food.
It came down to a rejection of change and the unknown, and an embracing of the familiar and comfortable.
As children, we were most comfortable with routine and re-assurance. Regular naptime and regular recess. Everything in order and everything in it's place. And within this well-ordered universe, food served as a comforting touchstone. As we made the transition from childhood to adulthood, food was there to fall back on occasionally - providing brief moments of respite from the uncertainty of change. After all, deep inside, we all crave stability. And that is the Republican's formula for success.
They deliver constancy, a sense of solidity, and reliability, while portraying the other side as unstable (or "flip-floppy").
In other words, they are the McDonald's of national politics. They keep their "menu" simple and un-imaginative. They keep the focus on a few core items and let the other side appear to be scrambling. Scrambling for the latest trends and the next "big thing".
And here's where the McDonald's comparison really kicks in.
They never vary from their routine until public pressure absolutely demands it.
Example : Adding low-fat salads, and fruit to the menu = dropping the anti-homosexual plank from the convention platform in 1996.
Democrats, on the other hand, do their best to accomodate as many interests as possible. They are the party that truly desires to leave "no child behind". But in time of doubt and fear, that doesn't work. It only confuses the customers - and they fall back on good ol' burgers and fries.
And Conservatism.
As for me - my stomach hurts, and someday I'll have to puke.
And I just might need a toilet in France.
Can you say "Le Big Mac"?
SugarSkullParade
SugarSkullParade
I'M SHOVIN' IT
It has been a little over one week since the U.S. Presidential election and I am just now putting it all together. My dizziness is subsiding and things are starting to become clear. For the most part, I have stopped raging at my fellow citizens (51% of the voting populace, that is), and am now able to understand how this debacle came about.
I think I know how a president, who rushed into an un-necessary war with unexpected consequences while alienating many of our allies - who lost a million or so jobs in less than four years while squandering a healthy budget surplus - who preaches freedom and democracy abroad while restricting civil liberties at home - and who campaigned in a denim shirt while pandering to his billionaire friends, managed to get re-elected.
As with many psychological explanations, it all goes back to childhood.
And food.
It came down to a rejection of change and the unknown, and an embracing of the familiar and comfortable.
As children, we were most comfortable with routine and re-assurance. Regular naptime and regular recess. Everything in order and everything in it's place. And within this well-ordered universe, food served as a comforting touchstone. As we made the transition from childhood to adulthood, food was there to fall back on occasionally - providing brief moments of respite from the uncertainty of change. After all,deep within, we all crave constancy. And that has helped to provide the Republican's recipe for success.
They deliver constancy, a sense of solidity, and reliability, while portraying the other side as unstable (or "flip-floppy").
In other words, they are the McDonald's of national politics. They keep their "menu" simple and un-imaginative. They keep the focus on a few core items and let the other side appear to be scrambling. Scrambling for the latest trends and the next "big thing".
And here's where the McDonald's comparison really kicks in.
They never vary from their routine until public pressure absolutely demands it.
Example : Adding low-fat salads, and fruit to the menu = dropping the anti-homosexual plank from the convention platform in 1996.
Democrats, on the other hand, do their best to accomodate as many interests as possible. They are the party that truly desires to leave "no child behind". But in time of doubt and fear, that doesn't work. This only confuses the customers - and they fall back on good ol' burgers and fries.
And Conservatism.
As for me - my stomach hurts, and someday I'll have to puke.
And I just might need a toilet in France.
Can you say "Le Big Mac"?
I'M SHOVIN' IT
It has been a little over one week since the U.S. Presidential election and I am just now putting it all together. My dizziness is subsiding and things are starting to become clear. For the most part, I have stopped raging at my fellow citizens (51% of the voting populace, that is), and am now able to understand how this debacle came about.
I think I know how a president, who rushed into an un-necessary war with unexpected consequences while alienating many of our allies - who lost a million or so jobs in less than four years while squandering a healthy budget surplus - who preaches freedom and democracy abroad while restricting civil liberties at home - and who campaigned in a denim shirt while pandering to his billionaire friends, managed to get re-elected.
As with many psychological explanations, it all goes back to childhood.
And food.
It came down to a rejection of change and the unknown, and an embracing of the familiar and comfortable.
As children, we were most comfortable with routine and re-assurance. Regular naptime and regular recess. Everything in order and everything in it's place. And within this well-ordered universe, food served as a comforting touchstone. As we made the transition from childhood to adulthood, food was there to fall back on occasionally - providing brief moments of respite from the uncertainty of change. After all,deep within, we all crave constancy. And that has helped to provide the Republican's recipe for success.
They deliver constancy, a sense of solidity, and reliability, while portraying the other side as unstable (or "flip-floppy").
In other words, they are the McDonald's of national politics. They keep their "menu" simple and un-imaginative. They keep the focus on a few core items and let the other side appear to be scrambling. Scrambling for the latest trends and the next "big thing".
And here's where the McDonald's comparison really kicks in.
They never vary from their routine until public pressure absolutely demands it.
Example : Adding low-fat salads, and fruit to the menu = dropping the anti-homosexual plank from the convention platform in 1996.
Democrats, on the other hand, do their best to accomodate as many interests as possible. They are the party that truly desires to leave "no child behind". But in time of doubt and fear, that doesn't work. This only confuses the customers - and they fall back on good ol' burgers and fries.
And Conservatism.
As for me - my stomach hurts, and someday I'll have to puke.
And I just might need a toilet in France.
Can you say "Le Big Mac"?
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