tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88246521296057099952024-03-21T13:28:30.653-05:00Peace Between PeopleAll of the wonderful things I can't say to my students.Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-64741851861081804142011-07-20T08:41:00.004-05:002011-07-20T09:39:55.165-05:00Remembering Lenny<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RZoOwwDmdVwYk1Sza7xHk79mAidB1P8ttcsLxGHc6z32jgFpdvp8xhntfSqDQCDhcWbnwcUex_rpyi-rzfGAG-G6rLsykcp55TuXtxnP-tQkSbnxLfovf0OrYZKzBjDyVAsaidwZagc/s1600/Lenny.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 197px;" 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mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> </a><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:11pt;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Note: I started writing this for his guestbook, but it ended up really long and I'm not sure it's gonna post. So, here it is. Feel free to share any memories you don't feel are appropriate for the guestbook.</span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:.25in .5in .75in 1.0in 1.25in 1.5in 1.75in 2.0in 2.25in 2.5in 2.75in 3.0in 3.25in 3.5in 3.75in 4.0in 4.25in 4.5in 4.75in 5.0in 5.25in 5.5in 5.75in 6.0in 6.25in 6.5in 6.75in 7.0in 7.25in 7.5in 7.75in 8.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;font-size:11.0pt;" >I've never met anyone like Lenny.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He was one of those rare people who brought laughter everywhere he went.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ll never forget his sense of humor or his contagious smile.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No matter what was going on, no matter how sad you felt, if Lenny was around, you could look over at him and he’d make some goofy face to make you bust out laughing.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:.25in .5in .75in 1.0in 1.25in 1.5in 1.75in 2.0in 2.25in 2.5in 2.75in 3.0in 3.25in 3.5in 3.75in 4.0in 4.25in 4.5in 4.75in 5.0in 5.25in 5.5in 5.75in 6.0in 6.25in 6.5in 6.75in 7.0in 7.25in 7.5in 7.75in 8.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;font-size:11.0pt;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:.25in .5in .75in 1.0in 1.25in 1.5in 1.75in 2.0in 2.25in 2.5in 2.75in 3.0in 3.25in 3.5in 3.75in 4.0in 4.25in 4.5in 4.75in 5.0in 5.25in 5.5in 5.75in 6.0in 6.25in 6.5in 6.75in 7.0in 7.25in 7.5in 7.75in 8.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;font-size:11.0pt;" >I’ll never forget the way he could take over a room (it’s hard to believe that we’ll never see him do the lawnmower or the worm again).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Just a few weeks ago, all of our old buddies from high school went to Cincinnati for a road trip.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The highlight of the trip was when we accidentally stumbled into a bar where we were the obvious minority.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Some people left, but Lenny, Jimmy, Matt, and I stayed.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m glad I stayed.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>By the end of the night, there was a giant circle on the dance floor around Lenny.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Everyone in the place was cracking up.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He was the type of guy who could make any night memorable.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was a common occurrence to laugh until your jaw hurt when you were around Lenny.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:.25in .5in .75in 1.0in 1.25in 1.5in 1.75in 2.0in 2.25in 2.5in 2.75in 3.0in 3.25in 3.5in 3.75in 4.0in 4.25in 4.5in 4.75in 5.0in 5.25in 5.5in 5.75in 6.0in 6.25in 6.5in 6.75in 7.0in 7.25in 7.5in 7.75in 8.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;font-size:11.0pt;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:.25in .5in .75in 1.0in 1.25in 1.5in 1.75in 2.0in 2.25in 2.5in 2.75in 3.0in 3.25in 3.5in 3.75in 4.0in 4.25in 4.5in 4.75in 5.0in 5.25in 5.5in 5.75in 6.0in 6.25in 6.5in 6.75in 7.0in 7.25in 7.5in 7.75in 8.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;font-size:11.0pt;" >I’ll never forget his loyalty.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When we were sixteen, I crashed my car with Lenny in the back seat.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He broke both of his arms.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was a pretty traumatic event for all of us, but Lenny got the worst of it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He had casts on both of his arms all summer. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A few weeks after it happened, I finally got the nerve to go over and see him to apologize.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was so nervous, but Lenny acted like it was no big deal.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He made a few jokes, we laughed a little, and it was good again. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He wasn’t angry at all.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I don’t think many people would be so forgiving.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I think that was when I knew we’d be good friends for a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>From there on, he was always there when I needed him.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:.25in .5in .75in 1.0in 1.25in 1.5in 1.75in 2.0in 2.25in 2.5in 2.75in 3.0in 3.25in 3.5in 3.75in 4.0in 4.25in 4.5in 4.75in 5.0in 5.25in 5.5in 5.75in 6.0in 6.25in 6.5in 6.75in 7.0in 7.25in 7.5in 7.75in 8.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;font-size:11.0pt;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:.25in .5in .75in 1.0in 1.25in 1.5in 1.75in 2.0in 2.25in 2.5in 2.75in 3.0in 3.25in 3.5in 3.75in 4.0in 4.25in 4.5in 4.75in 5.0in 5.25in 5.5in 5.75in 6.0in 6.25in 6.5in 6.75in 7.0in 7.25in 7.5in 7.75in 8.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;font-size:11.0pt;" >Most of all, I’ll never forget the way he lived his life.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It seems cliché, but anyone who knew Lenny, knows that he followed his own rules.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Lenny, Jimmy, and I roomed together our first semester of college.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Although, college wasn’t really Lenny’s thing, we crammed a lifetime of experiences in that semester.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Some of my favorite times were speeding in the Topaz down Highway 55 with Lenny and Jimmy singing Chili Peppers at the top of our lungs filled with the excitement of what was to come.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He wasn’t afraid to try something and fail, then move on to something else.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:.25in .5in .75in 1.0in 1.25in 1.5in 1.75in 2.0in 2.25in 2.5in 2.75in 3.0in 3.25in 3.5in 3.75in 4.0in 4.25in 4.5in 4.75in 5.0in 5.25in 5.5in 5.75in 6.0in 6.25in 6.5in 6.75in 7.0in 7.25in 7.5in 7.75in 8.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;font-size:11.0pt;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:.25in .5in .75in 1.0in 1.25in 1.5in 1.75in 2.0in 2.25in 2.5in 2.75in 3.0in 3.25in 3.5in 3.75in 4.0in 4.25in 4.5in 4.75in 5.0in 5.25in 5.5in 5.75in 6.0in 6.25in 6.5in 6.75in 7.0in 7.25in 7.5in 7.75in 8.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;font-size:11.0pt;" >Lenny made the most of every day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He did what he wanted, when he wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He was fearless.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He has had, and will continue to have a huge impact on my life.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I wouldn’t be the man I am today if we hadn’t been friends.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I am so thankful that I was fortunate enough to be close to Lenny the past sixteen years.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:.25in .5in .75in 1.0in 1.25in 1.5in 1.75in 2.0in 2.25in 2.5in 2.75in 3.0in 3.25in 3.5in 3.75in 4.0in 4.25in 4.5in 4.75in 5.0in 5.25in 5.5in 5.75in 6.0in 6.25in 6.5in 6.75in 7.0in 7.25in 7.5in 7.75in 8.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;font-size:11.0pt;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:.25in .5in .75in 1.0in 1.25in 1.5in 1.75in 2.0in 2.25in 2.5in 2.75in 3.0in 3.25in 3.5in 3.75in 4.0in 4.25in 4.5in 4.75in 5.0in 5.25in 5.5in 5.75in 6.0in 6.25in 6.5in 6.75in 7.0in 7.25in 7.5in 7.75in 8.0in; mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style=" mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;font-size:11.0pt;" >For the rest of our lives, there will be a void where Lenny was supposed to be, where we expected him to be.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It would be easy to be saddened by this, to shed tears over it, and curse the injustice of it all – I know I’ve spent the past two days doing exactly that – but in the end, I always picture Lenny across the room making some weird face at me and smiling that huge smile, and I feel a little better.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In the end, we all just have to be thankful that we knew him when he was here—that we have so many adventures to tell our children about—so many memories to make us smile when the world seems like such a horrible place.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span><b><u><span style="font-family:"Segoe Print"; mso-bidi-Segoe Print"font-family:";font-size:11.0pt;" ></span></u></b></p> <span class="fullpost"></span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-50875567885168564682011-05-25T18:10:00.007-05:002011-05-25T18:46:26.631-05:00Keynote Address -- Fern Ridge High School, 2011<span style="font-style:italic;">Editor's note: This Friday, May 25th will be my last day as a teacher. I am officially retiring. It's been a great run, and I gave it my all, but I'm ready to try something new--preferably something that does not involve teenagers. <br /><br />Recently, I was excited to add a bunch of recent Fern Ridge graduates on Facebook. As I was looking through my list of Fernie friends today, I realized the amazing people I've been fortunate enough to meet in the classroom.<br /><br />Two weeks ago, I had the honor of speaking to our most recent grads and their families at the wonderfully unique Fern Ridge High School graduation ceremony (Fern is the small, alternative high school I've taught in for the past three years). I want to share this with my family and friends, and all the Fern Alumni out there, because I know a lot of people are struggling right now. We live in a thankless world, and it's easy to get lost and forget what's important in life. Hope you enjoy it.</span> <span class="fullpost"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Fern Ridge Keynote Address, 2011</span><br /><br />Chris Oliver<br /><br />Ms. -----, Ms. -----, members of the Board, Fern Ridge and Missouri Options faculty and staff, parents, friends and family, underclassmen and future graduates, graduating seniors…Mom…I am honored to have the chance to speak to you today. As many of you know, this is my last year as a teacher. Yes, I am officially retiring from the classroom. This group of individuals in front of me had a lot to do with the timing of that decision. It’s not what you’re thinking Jake; your classroom behavior played almost no role in my decision. No, I’ve always known that teaching was just one stop in my journey. <br /><br />Over the last three years I’ve grown very close to these graduates. I’ve never felt more proud of a graduating class in my eight years of teaching. As I watched you guys sprinting to the finish line, I realized that it was my time too. Seeing you all here today, this amazing and talented group of young adults, I feel a natural sense of closure and an overwhelming excitement for what the future brings for us all.<br /><br />Thinking about what I wanted to say today has made me realize the many ways I identify with this senior class. I, too, am embarking on a new and unpredictable journey. I, too, am leaving a place and saying goodbye to people that have made a significant impact on who I am today. I, too, don’t know what I’m going to be when I grow up. <br /><br />When I came here three years ago, I didn’t think I wanted to be a teacher anymore. I originally got into teaching because I hated my high school teachers, and I hated high school. I wanted to give students what I didn’t have. After five years teaching at a so-called “traditional” high school, I realized I had become one of the very teachers I hated. My classes were overcrowded, my curriculum was prescribed, and my creative freedom was undermined on a regular basis. By the time I got to Fern, I was disillusioned, burned out, and dreading another year as a cog in a hopelessly flawed machine. I no longer believed as I once had that I could change the system from within, so I wanted out.<br /><br />I will never forget my first day of class at Fern. I was hired very late in the summer and only had a week to prepare, but I was ready. I had my first semester all planned out, all I needed was the students. As the first bell approached I anxiously went over my lesson, making sure it was perfect. I looked with pride at my posters and bumper stickers and thought excitedly about everything I had planned.<br /><br />Then the bell rang. I stood at the door with a huge smile admiring the beautiful ceiling tile art, the unique, but welcoming green carpet, the pictures of past graduates hanging on the wall. I stood with that goofy smile and waited….and waited…and waited some more. No one showed up. I had a roster of ten, and not a single student showed up on the first day. I thought I had made a huge mistake. <br /><br />I was wrong though. And the students did show up, eventually. As they slowly trickled in, one by one, and the days passed, I began to get to know them. I quickly realized, just as every new Fernie does, that I didn’t need to play the part anymore, I could just be myself. As the days turned into weeks, I began to understand how special this place is, and that spark was lit again. Fern Ridge restored my passion for teaching. The classes were small enough that I could get to know each one of my students. I could teach what I wanted to teach. I could say ridiculous things without fearing an angry phone call from a parent. I could have fun.<br /><br />What really makes Fern Ridge great though, is its students. Sitting to my right are some of the most unique and talented individuals in the district. They may not blow you away with their test scores or wow you with their attendance, but I can guarantee you this right now, they will be among the most successful students to graduate from Parkway this year. <br /><br />I have always been a Fernie. I think that’s why, from my first day, I felt like I fit in here.<br />When I was in high school, I always felt lost in the crowd. I felt miserable and alone. Nobody cared what I thought. Nobody valued my voice. I was just another face in a sea of faces and I got lost. It wasn’t until college that I learned what many of the students sitting here today know. Many of you here may not know what it means to be a Fernie. If you’re sitting here you probably know one though and some of this will probably sound very familiar. <br /><br />A Fernie marches to a different beat. Unafraid of what others think, a Fernie will walk down the hallways singing at the top of their lungs. A Fernie will hold protests, and write letters and schedule meetings when they feel something is not right. A Fernie is PROUD to be a nerd. A Fernie creates amazing works of art, and isn’t afraid to call themselves an artist. A Fernie will tear up reading a poem in front of the whole class, or the whole school. A Fernie lends a hand to a fellow student when they need it. A Fernie fights for social justice. A Fernie is brutally honest. A Fernie tells you how it is. A Fernie tells you who they are, sometimes very loudly. A Fernie knows how to use the darker side of the English language, both for good and for evil. A Fernie will take the stage alone and without fear and dance or sing or act or play the ukulele. A Fernie will be a perfect angel for a week, just for a blowpop on Friday. A Fernie is a leader in community service, even if they can’t sit still in the classroom during the week. A Fernie isn’t afraid to fight for their beliefs, whether that fight come in the form of the marines, the college classroom, or the workplace. <br /><br />So I say to you graduates here today, be thankful for the opportunity you were granted by the district to attend a school that allowed you to be yourself. Go out and live your life like a Fernie. Then, tell people about your experiences. Stop a board member and shake his or her hand. Write a letter. Speak at a meeting. Every year this place has to fight for its survival and it’s a horrible shame. Every year administrators and educators are forced to quantitatively justify the need for a small community like this.<br /><br />As I said before, I came here disappointed because I failed to change the system from within, but what I didn’t realize was that some parts of the system don’t need to be changed at all, people just need to open their eyes and see them. Fern Ridge should be a model, not just for alternative schools, but for all schools. A school should be small enough to give each and every student a voice. The staff should be compassionate enough to make sure each and every student feels like someone cares about them. The classroom communities should be tight enough, that each and every student feels capable of doing the extraordinary. Nobody should EVER feel invisible and alone in their school.<br /><br />We live in a society that has forgotten the value of creativity, compassion, independence, and standing up for what you believe in, even in the face of punishment. It is no longer acceptable to forge your own path. We are asked to submit, bend our morals, and chase money and material possessions over our dreams. <br /><br />But success is not about money and possessions. Success is about living a full life. It’s about finding something you love, and putting your entire soul into it. And when that thing no longer makes your heart race with excitement, moving on to something else. Who said we had to stay in the same place for twenty years to be successful. Success is about finding someone you love. Listen to me now, that person is out there for each of you. Be patient. Surround yourself with people who make you feel beautiful and smart and amazing. No matter what, remember that success is about following your dream, whether that dream is fixing cars, teaching school, performing stand up comedy, or becoming the first female president of the country. Happiness has nothing to do with money. It has everything to do with being proud of who you are and what you do.<br /><br /> You all come here today at the end of a journey. For some it was relatively easy. For some it was long and trying. No matter what your experiences and memories of high school are, go out into the world confident—without fear. Believe me when I say this, you can do anything. No matter what problem gets thrown at you, you can figure it out. You’re ready.<br /><br />I want to take a minute talk a little about fear. Everyone, regardless of how successful they are, regardless of how experienced they are, regardless of how brave they are—everyone—knows the unforgiving face of fear. It’s that little voice that plants a seed of doubt in everything you do. <br /><br />It starts when we are young. Don’t paint during reading time, you might get sent to the corner. Don’t draw during math class; you might get a call home. Don’t speak without raising your hand, you might get yelled at. <br /><br />It’s still there as we get older. Don’t ask her out, she might say no. Don’t take that class; you might not be smart enough. Don’t read that poem, they might make fun of you. <br /><br />By the time we’re in high school, sometimes that little voice grows to angry yell. Don’t act like that, they might laugh at you. Don’t dress like that, they might not hang out with you. Don’t speak in class, they might embarrass you.<br /><br />By the time you get to senior year, it can be hard to even get out of bed in the morning. But now, your decisions matter. Don’t go for that scholarship, they might reject you. Don’t choose that major; it might be too hard for you. Don’t go into that career, you might fail.<br /><br />We all hear that voice every day. It’s the source of everything we didn’t do, everything that we wish that we had done. It doesn’t matter what you choose to be when you grow up, as long as you don’t submit to that angry little voice of doubt. To be successful, you have to live without regret. The only way to do that, is to go out into the world defiant and unafraid. <br /><br />So my message to you today is go out and fail. Nobody succeeds in everything. We are a society obsessed with winning. We cry when we lose. We get angry. We turn to television and video games and partying to forget. Don’t forget. Instead, reflect on your failures. Write in a journal. Create a website. Run a marathon. Paint a painting. Sing a song. Build an engine. Do something that allows you some time to reflect. To learn. To grow.<br /><br />These ceremonies are important, and it is an honor to speak today, but this is such a small moment in the amazing adventures you are about to embark on. Each of you has an important story to tell, a verse to contribute to this powerful play. <br /> <br />Take the lessons you’ve learned here at Fern and apply them to your lives. Don’t conform. Stand up for what you believe in. Don’t be afraid to have an adventure. Take risks. Change the world. And if you ever wake up one day and look back over the past two, three, five, ten years and every day seems the same, and you don’t like where you’re heading, RUN! If you feel trapped, just realize that you hold the key. All you have to do is open the door and walk away.<br /><br />Thank you.<br /><br /></span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-72809831720847539902009-12-14T22:56:00.002-06:002009-12-14T23:09:00.221-06:00I'm Sick of Living in the United Corporations of AmericaIt looks like the Democrats might strip Medicare expansion out of the health care bill. No public option, no Medicare expansion, and MILLIONS of new clients for the insurance companies. <br /><br />If this past year has proven anything, it's that we only have one political party in power, the corporation. The revolving door from Congress to K Street, the housing crisis, the health care reform debacle, the military industrial complex, the failure of corporate media to inform the public on anything, Big Oil and Big Coal's influence on global warming and alternative energy legislation, etc., etc., etc.—all evidence that the elected officials in the House of Representatives and United States Senate represent corporate, not public interest. They are in it to maximize profit, not run a country.<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />Each election, we go through a sham process. The discourse is kept at an eighth grade level so that all issues can be avoided. The news cycle bounces from distraction to distraction. In the end, we get a corporate representative at least three quarters of the time. Just a different flavor of the same kool-aid. And it all tastes like aspartame.<br /><br />Kucinich and Paul are good examples of the possibilities outside of a corporate run government on both sides of the aisle, but obviously they are in the super-duper minority…and that’s not working out too well for the country. <br /><br />I like Nader. I would vote Green every election if I could. The Green Party brand has failed though. Green with a capital G has taken on a meaning almost completely outside of the political party. <br /><br />My new Party would be similar, but with a huge emphasis on anti-corporate governance. The primary platform would be based on the goal to eliminate corporate interests from government influence ENTIRELY. I'm still thinking it through and debating it with good people, but let me know if you have any ideas.<br /><br />I've never been a Democrat, but I vote with them most of the time because, well, look what happened the last time the other guys were in power. This next election, I might begin casting protest votes. It would be nice if I didn't have to write in a candidate.<br /><br /></span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-86262395653155592932009-07-16T13:54:00.011-05:002009-07-16T14:51:48.002-05:00Health Care Reform...It's Gonna Happen!Whoa...where am I??? This place is kind of scary. No wonder nobody likes to come around. Anyway, I was going to blow this entire place into cyber-oblivion, but since the <span style="font-style: italic;">Summer of George</span> has officially ended, I decided to ease my way into politics. My only rule has been no cable news. I'm just not ready for all out stupidity yet. <br /><br />It's going well so far. No hyperventilating. I haven't punched any walls, and I only verbally assaulted one person (sorry Doc). I'm planning a head-first dive into FOXMSNBCCNN in a week or so. For now, I'm sticking with the <a href="http://nytimes.com/">Times</a>, <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics">Rolling Stone</a>, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/">HuffPo</a>, and <a href="http://reddit.com/">Reddit</a>; and I'm starting each day off with a little <a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/">Stewart </a>and <a href="http://www.colbertnation.com/home">Colbert</a>.<br /><br /><span class="fullpost"><br /><br />The reason I'm getting back into this mud fight is because we're living in a very important period in the political history of the United States. Health care reform is only going to happen once. There will be college classes covering it. Books will analyze it. And, just like with welfare reform in the 90s, we will be living with the results for the next generation. Unlike many who are allowing themselves to be brainwashed by the steady chorus of fear mongering from the Right, I'm excited about the possibilities. There is a real chance we can <span style="font-style: italic;">finally </span>fix one of the most morally inexcusable failures of this broken country we live in. I don't care how much money I have to throw in, if we can provide the 50 million uninsured with coverage, I'm on board. If we can free the middle class from the slavery of employer-provided health insurance, I'll turn over seventy-five percent of my paycheck. I'm not kidding.<br /><br />The last few days, I've been trying to educate myself as much as possible on the ideas they're throwing out there. For those of you who don't want to wait for me to make sense of it and put my biased opinion out there, here are two great resources you can go to. First, <a href="http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/">Talking Points Memo</a> just posted the <a href="http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/documents/2009/07/cbos-analysis-of-house-health-care-bill.php?page=2">Congressional Budget Office's Analysis of the House Health Care Bill</a>. It's worth the hour or so it will take skim through it. I guarantee that you'll be able to better follow the complex Health care debate over the next month after reading this document.<br /><br />For those of you who don't have the time to read through a 14-page report, watch Jon Stewart's interview with Secretary of Health and Human Services, <a href="http://www.hhs.gov/secretary/">Kathleen Sebelius</a> from <a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/">The Daily Show</a> last night. Almost everything she says makes a lot of sense no matter how terrified you are of <span style="font-size:78%;">socialized medicine (I'm writing this small so as not to alarm you).</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />Part I:<br /><br /><table style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(245, 245, 245);" width="360" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="353"><tbody><tr style="background-color: rgb(229, 229, 229);" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/">The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style="padding: 2px 5px 0px; text-align: right; font-weight: bold;">Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style="height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;" colspan="2"><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-july-15-2009/kathleen-sebelius-pt--1">Kathleen Sebelius Pt. 1</a></td></tr><tr style="height: 14px; background-color: rgb(53, 53, 53);" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 2px 5px 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 360px; text-align: right;"><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(150, 222, 255); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/">www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 0px;" colspan="2"><embed style="display: block;" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:233140" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="window" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="autoPlay=false" allowscriptaccess="always" allownetworking="all" bgcolor="#000000" width="360" height="301"></embed></td></tr><tr style="height: 18px;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 0px;" colspan="2"><table style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%"><tbody><tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a target="_blank" style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes">Daily Show<br />Full Episodes</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a target="_blank" style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/">Political Humor</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a target="_blank" style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.jokes.com/">Joke of the Day</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Part II:<br /><br /><table style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(245, 245, 245);" width="360" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="353"><tbody><tr style="background-color: rgb(229, 229, 229);" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/">The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style="padding: 2px 5px 0px; text-align: right; font-weight: bold;">Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style="height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;" colspan="2"><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-july-15-2009/kathleen-sebelius-pt--1">Kathleen Sebelius Pt. 1</a></td></tr><tr style="height: 14px; background-color: rgb(53, 53, 53);" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 2px 5px 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 360px; text-align: right;"><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(150, 222, 255); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/">www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 0px;" colspan="2"><embed style="display: block;" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:233140" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="window" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="autoPlay=false" allowscriptaccess="always" allownetworking="all" bgcolor="#000000" width="360" height="301"></embed></td></tr><tr style="height: 18px;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 0px;" colspan="2"><table style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%"><tbody><tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a target="_blank" style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes">Daily Show<br />Full Episodes</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a target="_blank" style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/">Political Humor</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a target="_blank" style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.jokes.com/">Joke of the Day</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />I hope you learned something. Feel free to explain to me why you're so afraid of a public option or what sense you've made of this 1000 page document that the Senate is reading over. I don't want to hear any bullshit socialism/communism fear mongering. Think with your brain for once. Buzz words and talking points are for the weak minded and uninformed.<br /><br />Peace.<br /><br /></span></span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-84833783862180583252009-01-23T20:12:00.003-06:002009-01-23T20:20:40.542-06:00Fox News is Scared Shitless and So Should YOU!Okay, I had to share this. Fair and balanced Faux News wants you to be afraid--very, very afraid. So, lock up the house, turn on the alarm, arm yourself to the teeth, and hide under the bed 'cause Obama's comin' for yuh! <br /><br /><style type='text/css'>.cc_box a:hover .cc_home{background:url('http://www.comedycentral.com/comedycentral/video/assets/syndicated-logo-over.png') !important;}.cc_links a{color:#b9b9b9;text-decoration:none;}.cc_show a{color:#707070;text-decoration:none;}.cc_title a{color:#868686;text-decoration:none;}.cc_links a:hover{color:#67bee2;text-decoration:underline;}</style><div class='cc_box' style='position:relative'><a href='http://www.comedycentral.com' target='_blank' style='display:inline; float:left; width:60px; height:31px;'><div class='cc_home' style='float:left; border:solid 1px #cfcfcf; border-width:1px 0px 0px 1px; width:60px; height:31px; background:url("http://www.comedycentral.com/comedycentral/video/assets/syndicated-logo-out.png");'></div></a><div style='font:bold 10px Arial,Helvetica,Verdana,sans-serif; float:left; width:299px; height:31px; border:solid 1px #cfcfcf; border-width:1px 1px 0px 0px; overflow:hidden; color:#707070;'><div class='cc_show' style='position:relative; background-color:#e5e5e5;padding-left:3px; height:14px; padding-top:2px; overflow:hidden;'><a href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/' target='_blank'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a><span style='position:absolute; top:2px; right:3px;'>M - Th 11p / 10c</span></div><div class='cc_title' style='font-size:11px; color:#868686; background-color:#f5f5f5; padding:3px; padding-top:1px; line-height:14px; height:21px; overflow:hidden;'><a href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=216561&title=fox-news-fear-imbalance' target='_blank'>Fox News Fear Imbalance</a></div></div><embed style='float:left; clear:left;' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:216561' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' flashvars='autoPlay=false' bgcolor='#000000'></embed><div class='cc_links' style='float:left; clear:left; width:358px; border:solid 1px #cfcfcf; border-top:0px; font:10px Arial,Helvetica,Verdana,sans-serif; color:#b9b9b9; background-color:#f5f5f5;'><div style='width:177px; float:left; padding-left:3px;'><a target='_blank' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=166515&title=Barack-Obama-Pt.-1'>Barack Obama Interview</a><br /><a target='_blank' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=167938&title=John-McCain-Pt.-1'>John McCain Interview</a></div><div style='width:177px; float:left;'><a target='_blank' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?searchterm=Sarah+Palin&searchtype=site&x=0&y=0'>Sarah Palin Video</a><br /><a target='_blank' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?searchterm=indecision+2008&searchtype=site&x=0&y=0'>Funny Election Video</a></div><div style='clear:both'></div></div><div style='clear:both'></div></div><br />The next eight years are going to be fun.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br /><br /></span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-71684175394499401572009-01-07T16:58:00.012-06:002009-01-07T18:48:09.061-06:00People Who Don't Walk Their Dogs are Oppressors!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktUjzu3NF0lyDg_MfB3pplROCth9x-0xuQyfNKY3Qaj2C_X8qYGd27r9TKBX2sz5m-46Ykq-yZ7CDxzOmIBYyViT2oOZgTZKo6cOgnx5DnqkxElNEpyyoaRP0R18JREM4NqlG1wXKr6w/s1600-h/P1030053.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 183px; height: 137px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktUjzu3NF0lyDg_MfB3pplROCth9x-0xuQyfNKY3Qaj2C_X8qYGd27r9TKBX2sz5m-46Ykq-yZ7CDxzOmIBYyViT2oOZgTZKo6cOgnx5DnqkxElNEpyyoaRP0R18JREM4NqlG1wXKr6w/s200/P1030053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288716234894555106" border="0" /></a>A couple of months ago I was walking my dog, Asher. He's a 7-year-old black lab. He grew up down in Cape Girardeau where I rented a house next door to a huge fenced in chunk of land owned by my fraternity. He was raised without a leash around a lot of people. His best friend growing up was a goat named Duke (a goat I ultimately got stuck taking care of). He's completely socialized and has never so much as growled at anybody or anything. The rabbits that hang out in our South City yard rarely even flinch when he comes lumbering out the back door. I know everyone says this type of shit about their dog, but ask anyone who's ever met Asher, the most violent thing he's ever done is accidentally knock over a beer with his whip-like tail.<br /><br /><a href="http://southcityconfidential.com/">KBO</a> and I like to take him on walks without his leash. He never goes more than ten feet ahead of us and doesn't chase after animals or people when he sees them. It's pretty safe. Anyway, Asher and I were minding our own business listening to some Ryan Adams (Jacksonville City Nights...one of the best albums of the decade and closest I've ever gone to embracing country music), when some dude pokes his head of his house. The yard was littered with pink bikes and large plastic things of varying degrees of obnoxiousness.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />"Hey! Hey you!"<br /><br />Asher stopped and turned around, so I took off my headphones.<br /><br />"Excuse me!" The voice behind me was definitely hostile. I hate assholes.<br /><br />"Yes?"<br /><br />"You know there are leash laws!"<br /><br />"Don't worry, he's harmless. I've had him for seven years and he's never bit anyone or anything."<br /><br />My words echoed deep within the corridors of this dude's icy stare.<br /><br />"Okay, yeah...sorry."<br /><br />I called Asher, he came running and sat down next to me, I put his leash on, and we walked quickly away. Looking back on it now, I wish I had something more clever to cut this guy off his "I have four kids so I'm better than you" pedestal. But I didn't.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzNsdQU5kb_2sFlofUnh3e0RsUne7Yp0Y9hSu2zCbItcOpYSJbYoq4gu50UdxkTS5fpNLOY-fCvUd7cZyI3R5f-FEI_8Q4ZNIhQV8cB0mTT5ivas2XETQQMLKf7t360IGoe1Eze-1SMs/s1600-h/cujo_film.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 142px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzNsdQU5kb_2sFlofUnh3e0RsUne7Yp0Y9hSu2zCbItcOpYSJbYoq4gu50UdxkTS5fpNLOY-fCvUd7cZyI3R5f-FEI_8Q4ZNIhQV8cB0mTT5ivas2XETQQMLKf7t360IGoe1Eze-1SMs/s200/cujo_film.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288716787224801010" border="0" /></a><br />On the way back we walked up the ally. It runs right aside old Leash-Law's fenced in back-yard. His dogs freak the fuck out. He has three of them and they bark like they want to rip your throat out when you walk past. There's a gap in the fence where these caged Cujo psycho-beasts broke through in a desperate lung for the blood of some poor innocent leash-less dog-walker. Fuckers.<br /><br />I remembered this sequence of events when I walked past the yard today, Asher fully leashed, and tried to discard some poo in the ally dumpster. As I stared into the eyes of the crazed creatures, I began to feel sorry for them. And all of the other dogs in South St. Louis that are permanently imprisoned in their back yards. Leash-Law never walks his dogs. He lives twenty feet from my house and I've never seen his dogs outside of his yard. I mean, the dude has four kids at the perfect age to walk their three dogs. Why don't you walk your dog Leash-dude?<br /><br />South city folks love dogs. Not just one dog, but three or four. Between the house next door and the one right across the alley, there are a combined SEVEN dogs. All of them bark with passionate intensity at any movement. I'll be working in my backyard for hours and they will bark and bark until the neighbor sprays them with a hose. These dogs are never walked either.<br /><br />I know we have more important matters to attend to with Israel on a genocidal rampage in Gaza, and the economy recovering from eight years of irresponsible conservatism, but this is something I really need to get off my chest. Dogs need to be walked. They need to be socialized. They should be taken to the park. They should be allowed to run around. Anyone who buys a dog just to imprison in a small backyard or chain to a tire should be sent to asshole rehab. Fucking oppressors.<br /><br />So, the next time you cringe at the site of a leash-less dog, Dude-on-the-Corner, you better recognize. Not all dogs have been caged to the point of insanity. Chill the fuck out.</span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-9442939232514548062008-12-15T16:31:00.013-06:002008-12-16T22:29:34.246-06:00Why Did You Vote Republican?We all have our reasons for the votes we cast. Some vote out of fear. Some vote out of hope. Some vote out of ignorance. While some don't vote at all. Sometimes it's hard to understand why people vote with such idiotic intensity. It's great when someone can come along and make sense of it all.<br /><br />This nice little video really helped me understand the oft misrepresented men and women of America who decided to cast a vote for a Republican in November.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FiQJ9Xp0xxU&hl=en"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FiQJ9Xp0xxU&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><span class="fullpost"><br />In the spirit of Ralph Waldo Emerson who once said, "speak what you think today in words as hard as canonballs, and tomorrow think what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict everything you said today," I have an apology to make.<br /><br />Republicans, I was wrong about you. See, I thought you were voting <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQ5SyXfji0qqOaQZMVAjjQf0CIThoZP-m6tIiT0qeaS6c84WFjPq4s55G50Azp8MAQLG1fBzt0JJSrxqJZcel8gs7fW-hEJ83afbAHs2mxc4V33ChDEKQ3Hv2jYXhyrWRSsm1azPSTRU/s1600-h/Republican+Elephant.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 146px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQ5SyXfji0qqOaQZMVAjjQf0CIThoZP-m6tIiT0qeaS6c84WFjPq4s55G50Azp8MAQLG1fBzt0JJSrxqJZcel8gs7fW-hEJ83afbAHs2mxc4V33ChDEKQ3Hv2jYXhyrWRSsm1azPSTRU/s200/Republican+Elephant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280246099412311874" border="0" /></a>against your own self-interest out of sheer ignorance and blind faith in a paradoxical ideology. It's turns out you just enjoy the suffering. You sly devils, you knew the votes you cast were bad for the country. You fully realized the policies of your beloved party drove the country into the ground. You long ago grasped the reasons religion is separated from government. Yet, you can't help yourself. Once that seductive red-white-and-blue elephant starts to whisper in your ears, you melt. So much more could be ruined if we just had four more years. Just think of the possibilities. Mmmm...corporate despotism.<br /><br />Anyway, I'm sorry. All is not lost though. Now is a perfect time to reexamine the way you look at the world and this country. Take a look around at some new ideas. Social justice, environmental responsibility, compassion--these are not ideas to fear. Who knows, maybe you'll find you enjoy watching your neighbors and your country prosper. It's a thought. Next time you're feeling down because President Obama is doing something that makes sense and benefits you in some way, instead of cursing and getting angry, recall the wise and timeless words of Mr. RW Emerson, and go with what tomorrow thinks. We won't hold your past affiliations against you.<br /><br />Why did you vote Republican? Go ahead, let it all out. We're here to listen.<br /><br />*<a href="http://www.imvotingrepublican.com/">Check out</a> the fine folks that made the video.<br /></span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-51902645864456111332008-12-14T21:00:00.000-06:002008-12-14T22:29:18.354-06:00Abstinence Only Education = Kids Making Dumb Choices<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VNrAqJxEiibXzvd0zBWqc5wKNrqZfcXJLfGbiXjvx0ynAmJdSm1ARREdZtgr94-YR4HPqCt5bop03SaJjU0RPVMpRZI6R8zRWRlQroYi-z9I_orsDYBsqcMakJMocedQwQnpKXhnUbM/s1600-h/sex.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 188px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VNrAqJxEiibXzvd0zBWqc5wKNrqZfcXJLfGbiXjvx0ynAmJdSm1ARREdZtgr94-YR4HPqCt5bop03SaJjU0RPVMpRZI6R8zRWRlQroYi-z9I_orsDYBsqcMakJMocedQwQnpKXhnUbM/s200/sex.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279857225693830338" border="0" /></a>Don't know if you got the <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Story?id=6428003&page=1">memo</a>, but anal sex is the new cool thing. Yep, kids are all about the two-hole these days. While there's nothing inherently wrong with this, <a href="http://www.news-medical.net/?id=43199">a study</a> out of Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center in Rhode Island revealed that this increase is the result of a general lack of sexual knowledge among teenagers. Most striking was the fact that many didn't realize you could get an STD from anal sex and only 29% said they used condoms. This is not good.<br /><br />What the hell did we think was going to happen? In another edition of <span style="font-style: italic;">Yet Another Thing Bush Fucked Up</span>, adolescents are not properly educated about sex. Well, that's what happens when you base public policy on religious dogma rather than scientific studies. For eight years schools have had to forfeit any sex-ed funding if they didn't implement abstinence only programs.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />They call it abstinence only <span style="font-style: italic;">education </span>but let's be real, it's not education. It's the opposite of education. We're telling kids not to have sex because it's bad. That's it. You're going to hell, so don't even think about it. Ever. Don't talk about it. Don't read about it. Don't acknowledge its existence. That's the only way to save your soul and prevent a life of degradation and promiscuity.<br /><br />Needless to say, there are problems with this. First of all, the more taboo you make something, the more enticing it is to a teenager. They're wired to rebel. You just tell them what not to do, and they'll do it. You learn this quickly as a teacher. This may not be true of every student, but it's true of the majority. Even the best of students search for ways to rebel.<br /><br />Second, human beings are wired to desire sex. The #1 thing on the mind of every teenage boy is that smart girl with braces who sits in the front row in Biology class. They're bombarded by images of sex everyday. Just turn on MTV for a few hours and you'll quickly see what it means to be "cool." One's worth as a person is defined by the amount of girls he can hook up with and the amount of money he spends on them. Every day, teenage boys are pushed to prove their masculinity and live in fear of homophobic taunts and public emasculation.<br /><br />With all of this going on, kids desperately need someone to educate them about the complexities of sex. They need help understanding the emotional, psychological, and physical risks that go along with it. While parents <span style="font-style: italic;">should </span>play a role in this education, we cannot simply assume it's going on at home. This is a public health issue. The government should play a role in eliminating unwanted teenage pregnancies and preventing abortions. Isn't that what the Christian right wants? Doesn't everybody win with a comprehensive sex education program? If anything, we should create an new sex-ed position in all high schools staffed by a specially trained counselor.<br /><br />Never fear though, in just over a month, at long last, we will have a president that will use reason and scientific evidence to make decisions. It won't take much to bring about dramatic change on this issue. With just a little common sense, schools will be able to fund much needed sex education programs; comprehensive education will be a strong part of AIDS assistance programs in Africa without attaching abstinence only strings; and we will no longer be wasting <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/96119.php">$204 million</a> spent in the US on a method <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/health-SP/idUSN1423677120070416">proven </a>to be ineffective.<br /></span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-69700702688535856272008-12-12T18:38:00.008-06:002008-12-13T11:03:14.896-06:00Watch Out!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCkWfyayaPTD8zsqLPmz1IH_MxiK1mgL5WsI-LDgQRrXowHXCLnPquFuXYsUfnIET_zEY1daruhixKTeHKinizIZ2Vm5DmfwbKr6lM3isgsbrudESM462NcDhy3uezRyNZcZBeJSg5fo/s1600-h/middle-finger.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 167px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCkWfyayaPTD8zsqLPmz1IH_MxiK1mgL5WsI-LDgQRrXowHXCLnPquFuXYsUfnIET_zEY1daruhixKTeHKinizIZ2Vm5DmfwbKr6lM3isgsbrudESM462NcDhy3uezRyNZcZBeJSg5fo/s200/middle-finger.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279088939228156642" border="0" /></a>I'd like to take this opportunity to personally thank the outgoing shithead Republican Senators for screwing us over one last time. Glad to see you handling the defeat with class guys. Good luck on K Street!<br /><br />At least now we know what to expect from the GOP assholes still lucky enough to be clutching to their Senate seats: eight years of whatever it takes to fuck the country over. We know most of them will blindly cling to their ideology no matter what direction common sense may point. We know power is more important to them than the well-being of the country. And <span style="font-style: italic;">they </span>know that a successful Obama administration might signal the death of their kind. They have no message, no leadership, no new ideas...all they have left is desperation. It ain't gonna to be pretty, my friends.<br /><br />In a preview of future douchebag behavior, Senate Republicans blocked the auto industry bailout last night. Why? Apparently, middle class blue-collar workers are making too much money. Let Ms. Maddow break it down for you.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DCs8OHjozUo&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DCs8OHjozUo&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Yes. You heard her right. They are so ideologically opposed to everyday American workers who organize and fight for their rights, they would rather see the industry collapse than pass up an opportunity to cripple the evil unions. Never mind that the <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2008/04/09/news/economy/incomegap/index.htm">income gap is wider than ever</a>. Never mind the <a href="http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/oct/30/business/chi-ap-mo-exchange-chrysler">massive layoffs</a> occurring all across the country. Never mind the fat pockets of CEOs all across the country. Never mind the fact that the collapse of the auto industry IS NOT Joe the assembly line worker's fault. Never mind the fact that these very Senate Republicans are more responsible for the collapse of the economy than ANYBODY ELSE. None of that matters. It's the union's fault because Rush said so. After all, these Grand Old Pieces of shit love nothing more than blaming people who work two jobs to support their family.<br /><br />I'm not going to lie, I was skeptical of the auto bailout for a while. There is nothing that makes me angrier than the arrogance American car companies displayed in the late 90s and early 00s. The endless bombardment of testosterone-pumped commercials for giant SUVs and trucks made me nauseous. When I see a Hummer, I want to throw something through it's window. The demise of the EV1 is one of the greatest tragedies in the history of industry. The guys who have been running the show for the past 10 years are idiots, and they need to go.<br /><br />But the more I hear from people on the ground in Detroit, the more I understand why action is so important. People need jobs right now. The economy cannot grow if the current job loss trend continues. Manufacturing has almost completely dried up in the US. Now is not the time to watch more jobs head overseas. Republicans have been gambling taxpayer dollars on Wall Street for the past eight years, why not gamble on the middle class for once.<br /><br />Ultimately, this is a gamble. It might not work. We have to accept this fact, grab our collective nut sack, and have faith in the people. At least this time we are betting on something we believe in. As we have found out many times in the past, when we invest in hardworking Americans, they come through. It's the only way we'll get out of this recession alive.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">*I stumbled upon the Maddow clip at <a href="http://www.bobcesca.com/">Bob Cesca's Awesome Blog!</a>, so you should check it out. </span><br /></span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-49664883234365019512008-12-11T18:30:00.009-06:002008-12-11T20:35:22.445-06:00Scapegoats and Scoundrels<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCXNl4QvUwHsf6tnwH_WGQx6a6Z8dI-n4Pxr3m-dzGjffQS5BCk29meOV-0_B3WptFLloPRnUqhKu7QRuHVKCle15eOP_w4g7QNslXLoN_6znm7W9o1_EPI8IB0E8EYJjapTuBme0o3A/s1600-h/Blackwater%2520Iraq(2).jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 131px; height: 102px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCXNl4QvUwHsf6tnwH_WGQx6a6Z8dI-n4Pxr3m-dzGjffQS5BCk29meOV-0_B3WptFLloPRnUqhKu7QRuHVKCle15eOP_w4g7QNslXLoN_6znm7W9o1_EPI8IB0E8EYJjapTuBme0o3A/s200/Blackwater%2520Iraq(2).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278698395654698322" border="0" /></a>In September 2007, a group Blackwater USA <s>mercenaries</s> contractors opened fire on a busy Baghdad street killing 17 innocent Iraqis and wounding numerous others.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/08/blackwater-charges-unseal_n_149293.html">AP:</a><br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">"None of the victims of this shooting was armed. None of them was an insurgent," U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Taylor said...<p>...the slain included <span style="font-weight: bold;">young children, women, people fleeing in cars and a </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">man whose arms were raised in surrender as he was shot in the chest.</span></p> <p>Twenty others were wounded in crowded Nisoor Square, including <span style="font-weight: bold;">one injured by a grenade launched into a nearby girls' school.</span> Another 18 Iraqis were assaulted but not wounded.</p></blockquote>After over a year of outrage and protest from the Iraqi victims of this slaughter, five Blackwater <s>mercenaries</s> security guards were indicted earlier this week. A sixth plead guilty and in exchange will testify against his former colleagues.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/12/08/iraq.blackwater.indictment/index.html">CNN:</a><br /><p> </p><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><p>The 35-count indictment charges each of the former guards with 14 counts of manslaughter, 20 counts of attempted manslaughter and one count of using a firearm in the commission of a violent crime.</p><p> If convicted, the defendants would face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each manslaughter count, seven years in prison for each count of attempted manslaughter and a 30-year mandatory minimum sentence for the firearms charge.</p></blockquote>While this may distract and pacify the masses, if we are serious about real justice in Iraq, this cannot be the end of the investigation. What these men did was horrible, but they did not act alone. Huffington Post's Lee Stranahan made <a href="http://www.bobcesca.com/blog-archives/2008/12/abu_ghraib_the.html">an excellent point</a> a few days ago at <a href="http://www.bobcesca.com/">BobCesca.com</a>:<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">We're again haunted by the ghosts of Abu Ghraib - kids gets hauled into court and blamed for being part of a situation that wasn't really entirely of their making. Old men and war profiteers say tsk-tsk and cash their paychecks. It's only partial justice, which is almost worse than no justice.</blockquote>Fucking right. I'm tired of this shit.<br /><br />While the men who fired upon and threw grenades into that crowd of innocent people should be investigated, just like the men and women who committed the atrocities at Abu Ghraib were investigated, there is more to the story than the actions of those at the bottom of the command structure. People are capable of horrible things when brainwashed to believe that the "enemy" is less than human. Dehumanization is a huge part of creating any killing/war machine. If you are taught that your "enemy" is shit, you don't hesitate to follow orders that require you to kill or torture. The United States has openly embraced this type of training for years, and there is no reason to believe that US military-trained Blackwater guards were trained any differently.<br /><br />Veterans from Iraq and Vietnam can help to add some perspective to the wider picture. After watching listening to Iraq veterans testify about some of the things they witnessed in combat, this Vietnam veteran <a href="http://theimpolitic.blogspot.com/2008/03/dehumanization-of-them-and-us.html">recalls</a> the methods of dehumanization and their effects on the soldiers he served with and the civilians they encountered: <blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">A critical part of this training involves dehumanization. The idea here is to make trainees think of the enemy, not as opposing soldiers but as less than human. Animals if you will. There is far less of a possibility that an American soldier will balk at the order to kill when he believes that what he is killing is not a person at all, but a lower form of life deserving only disgust and hate.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">The problem with this training is that it does not stipulate a difference between enemy soldiers and local </span><span style="font-style: italic;">civilians. All are lumped into one category, given derogatory names and on the battlefield are ultimately treated the same.<br /></span></blockquote>It gets worse:<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">Those of us who were trained to go to Vietnam learned that the Vietnamese, whether they were civilians or combatants, were Dinks, Gooks, Slopes or Slopeheads and Slants. They were just little bastards that lived like animals in the jungle and it was ok to treat them accordingly. There was no place for respect for any member of the population and thus, the civilians became victims, not only of the VC, but of the American forces as well. The result was the same as in Iraq today. Greater numbers of civilians were killed than the actual enemy. And no matter what the military public relations folks say, this is condoned and encouraged behavior.</blockquote>He goes on to give some examples of the blatant disregard for life that he observed in Vietnam. You should read it.<br /><br />I'm sure you're familiar with stories like his from Vietnam, but this is happening in Iraq and Afghanistan right now? In November, several Iraq and Afghanistan veterans traveled to Washington to testify before Congress about the injustices they witnessed while deployed. Democracy Now! aired several of the testimonies on their <a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2008/11/28/winter_soldier_on_the_hill_war">November 28th program</a>. One of the most revealing testimonies came from Vincent Emanuele who served in the Marine Corps from September '02 to January '06. He was deployed to Iraq in August 2004.<br /><blockquote><p style="font-style: italic;">Another mission our platoon was tasked to take on was that of transporting prisoners from our detention facility on base back to the desert. The reason I say the desert and not their town is because that is exactly where we would drop them off, in the middle of nowhere. Now, most of these men had obviously been deemed innocent, or else they would have been moved to a more permanent detention facility and not released back into the local population. Our unit engaged in punching, kicking, butt stroking or generally harassing and abusing these very prisoners until the point at which our unit would be take them in the middle of the desert, miles from their respective homes, and at times throw them out of the back of our Humvees, all the while continually punching, kicking and at times even throwing softball-sized rocks at their backs as they ran away. This, once again, was not an isolated incident.</p><p style="font-style: italic;">Possibly the most disturbing of what took place in Iraq was the mishandling of the dead. On several occasions, our convoy came across bodies that had been decapitated and were lying on the road, sometimes for weeks. When encountering these bodies, standard procedure was to run over the corpses, sometimes even stopping and taking pictures, which was also a standard practice when encountering the dead in Iraq—this, along with neglecting to account for many of those who were killed or wounded. On one specific occasion, after I had personally shot a man attempting to flee while planting a roadside bomb, we drug his body out of the ditch he was laying in, and we subsequently left that body—slide please—we subsequently left that body to rot in the field, where we saw this man up to a week later.<br /></p><span style="font-style: italic;">These are just a few of the disturbing and unacceptable stories I could share with you from my time in Iraq. Others would include continually dehumanizing Iraqis </span><span style="font-style: italic;">by referring to them as “hajis” or “sand niggers.” Even the racist and sexist nature that exists within the military itself, which was obviously—overtly obvious on a daily basis.</span></blockquote>Go to the DN! link above and listen to the entire show if you want to get a full picture of some of the widespread abuse going on over there. For testimony from more Iraq veterans at March's Winter Soldier gathering in Maryland, click <a href="http://ivaw.org/wintersoldier/testimony/Racism+and+War%3A+the+Dehumanization+of+the+Enemy%3A+Part+1">here </a>and <a href="http://ivaw.org/wintersoldier/testimony/Racism+and+War%3A+the+Dehumanization+of+the+Enemy%3A+Part+2">here</a>.<br /><br />Whether it be <a href="http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F05E3D8133EF935A1575BC0A9629C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1">Abu Ghraib</a>, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/jan/03/guantanamo.usa">Guantanamo</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilawar_%28human_rights_victim%29">Bagram</a>, or the streets of Iraq, <span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1LbSjK7pJWEzXwTZzDzWOuZJLd24eMIOb0xo9XFWvwHc8AH4wzwZbfsfexVSwQr-CIdsIJYse078tzT7b98DnfW_YVuYlOuSSL24zCkywYs0F7NXh6Na4Jwh0Gq46b9F6iO1cetMoFE/s1600-h/guantanamo,0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 152px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1LbSjK7pJWEzXwTZzDzWOuZJLd24eMIOb0xo9XFWvwHc8AH4wzwZbfsfexVSwQr-CIdsIJYse078tzT7b98DnfW_YVuYlOuSSL24zCkywYs0F7NXh6Na4Jwh0Gq46b9F6iO1cetMoFE/s200/guantanamo,0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278699132569077410" border="0" /></a></span>when trained killing machines go too far, it's a direct result of the policies set by commanding officers. The trainers, along with the executives/cabinet members/vice presidents that approve the training and create the conditions that result in the crimes, should be investigated and prosecuted. These prosecutions should follow the trail all the way up the power structure, and punish those proven guilty. The true criminals of this irresponsible war <s>of</s> on terror must be exposed and brought to justice if we are ever to restore our credibility at home and throughout the rest of the world.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">UPDATE</span>: Ironically, just minutes ago, <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081211/ap_on_go_co/detainee_abuse">AP ran a story</a> on a newly released bipartisan Senate Armed Services Committee report that DIRECTLY links the BUSH ADMINISTRATION widespread use of torture in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo. More to come soon.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo: Reuters</span></span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-79010426752003109212008-12-10T17:32:00.020-06:002008-12-13T14:52:00.430-06:00Is Blagojevich a Sociopath? Scandal in Six Minutes<span style="font-style: italic;">Editor's Note: I've been working on a couple of posts that have gone <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIh2ctmQxXU">Skynet</a> on me. Pride is the only thing standing between me and the self-destruct button, but never fear, I will do what has to be done to save the planet from a hostile cyborg takeover. I hope to get back to long angry rants soon. I promise.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZcBTHrsAUqTJ1IfWrwKiBQDwypyRO8qD2ZHh50JQYh6EwnTDqlhbJ-ohq6dZ9mlT1dyhyid8GWZmxrqZyKdUe3mfochYd4jpGmSlj4wvsgebb8NnVfbS86pspj4pWIvbO_F7fAPm_C6g/s1600-h/Rod_Blagojevich.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 105px; height: 124px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZcBTHrsAUqTJ1IfWrwKiBQDwypyRO8qD2ZHh50JQYh6EwnTDqlhbJ-ohq6dZ9mlT1dyhyid8GWZmxrqZyKdUe3mfochYd4jpGmSlj4wvsgebb8NnVfbS86pspj4pWIvbO_F7fAPm_C6g/s200/Rod_Blagojevich.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278363284317617314" border="0" /></a>So the governor of our friendly neighbors to the northeast is a scumbag. So what? We're pretty used to it by now. It sucks that he's a Democrat, but, as we learned from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Springer#Political_career">brief politic</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Springer#Political_career">al career </a>of Jerry Springer, corruption don't discriminate. I always knew he was kind of a dick from the snippets of news that would trickle down to Missoura occasionally, but good lord, what a fucking idiot. I'm sure there are many reasons for his reckless arrogance, blatant disregard for the rule of law, and obvious emotional immaturity, but I'm going with a full blown mental illness.<br /><span class="fullpost"><br />Not only does this guy possess the moral and ethical compass of a whipworm, but he's in <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081210/ap_on_re_us/illinois_governor">complete and total denial</a>. Let's take a look at how Governor Rod Blagojevich stacks up against some of the warning signs of Sociopathy.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> +Superficial charm</span> - Have you seen that haircut? Check.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />+Manipulative</span> - He tried to use political leverage to get a sweet job for his wife? Check.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> +Grandiose sense of self</span> - He is refusing to step down even after the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/10/reid-blagojevich-must-go_n_149974.html">President-Elect and ALL 50 Senators</a> call for his resignation? Check.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />+Pathological lying</span> - The day before his arrest after a wire tap revealed he tried to sell a Senate seat to the highest bidder, he told the country, "if anybody wants to tape my conversations, go right ahead, feel free to do it. ... [W]hatever I say is always lawful."<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qsi2jeGLXfU&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qsi2jeGLXfU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Check.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />+Lack of remorse, shame, or guilt</span> - His lawyer the day of his arrest: "He didn't do anything wrong." Uhhhh, did you hear what they recorded with that wiretap? Check.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> +Seeing others as targets and opportunities, not people</span> - When speaking about President-Elect Obama, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/blagojevich-proves-obama_b_149926.html">he said</a>, "They're not willing to give me anything except appreciation. Fuck them." Check.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> +Irresponsibility</span> - Conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery? Check.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> +Criminal Versatility</span> - They didn't even <span style="font-style: italic;">need</span> the Senate seat talk to bust him. Check.<br /><br />I could go on, but my soul hurts. Can we stop talking about this now? No? Fine.<br /><br />As entertaining as it is, you're probably too busy to sift through the <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/images/Blotter/Blagojevich_Affidavit.pdf">76-page document</a> detailing the charges against Blagojevich. Never fear! Rachel Maddow was kind enough to sum it up for us in six hilarious minutes. Her recap is complete with voice actors playing Rod and his wife Patricia. Very nice Rachel. Very nice.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/28149258#28149258" scrolling="no" width="425" frameborder="0" height="339"></iframe><br />Oh, and one final note of beautiful poetic justice that not enough people are talking about...he had to go before the judge in sweat pants. Can someone please find a picture of this? Please?<br /></span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-3498340611111317832008-12-05T19:50:00.001-06:002008-12-05T10:30:47.479-06:00Morning Peace of Mind: Best Montage in the History of Montages<span style="font-style: italic;">You're the best! Around! Nothin's gonna ever keep you down!</span><br />-Joe Esposito<br /><br />I'm here to brighten your day. Nothing else. I bring joy to those around me. I just can't help it. Don't you wish you were hanging out with me right now? Here is a little something to start you off right this morning. You can thank me later.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8fua0g13djo&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8fua0g13djo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Blow-by-Blow Montage Recap</span><br /><br /></span><span class="fullpost"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWEOJzPVC05bsKOi0eakklemIrRYSV0LWb7yOeG5iCrOLYd9u6di3Icr2AJXcQrWQsWxfA_dfRqzi-wXE5UHZyOuEFlapJjgB6z26KtsGTx0XC9ZYDoIm7uRISheAr3IipdwR5N7u0-Y/s1600-h/karate_kid.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 161px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWEOJzPVC05bsKOi0eakklemIrRYSV0LWb7yOeG5iCrOLYd9u6di3Icr2AJXcQrWQsWxfA_dfRqzi-wXE5UHZyOuEFlapJjgB6z26KtsGTx0XC9ZYDoIm7uRISheAr3IipdwR5N7u0-Y/s200/karate_kid.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276132546161878546" border="0" /></a></span><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;">:01</span> – The montage starts with a close-up of the sweet Cobra Kai logo. Perfect.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">:04</span> – Sweep kick. I think that’s an automatic win according to karate rules. Daniel-San looks very nervous. Miyagi looks pissed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">:16</span> – Whoa. Cobra Kai meathead ‘roids out. Steroids probably weren’t too prevalent in U-17 karate back in the eighties, but if they were, I guarantee Sensei Kreese would make them mandatory for his team. Fucking psycho. John Kreese was a Republican. I’m certain of it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">:29</span> – Intimidating stare from DS’s nemesis Johnny. He does some crazy double kick combo—another automatic karate winner. Damn, that dude used to scare the crap out of me. Now, that skinny headband just makes him look like a douche.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">:40</span> – DS’s first fight of the tourney against the token black dude of the movie. Cheap win for the good guys. Elizabeth Shue likes it a lot. Mr. Miyagi seems unimpressed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">:53</span> – Sweep kick to the chest. Take that motherfucker.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1:00</span> – Things speed up a bit for the 2nd round. Wins for DS and Johnny.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1:10</span> – Fat dude gets knocked the fuck out.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1:20</span> – Anyone notice that every ref in the tournament has a mustache? Was that a conscious casting decision?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1:35</span> – Kreese gives a sweet fist pump after another CK victory.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1:39</span> – DS’s first face off with a CK foot soldier. I always hated this weasely fucker. Just when you think all is lost, the kid sneaks in a sly little jab. This move impresses the judges enough that he awards him instant victory. Weasel-fuck doesn’t agree.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2:02</span> – Close-up of another sweet ref ‘stache.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2:10</span> – First look at the world’s most awesome tournament brackets as LaRusso is hoisted into the semifinals. The tournament brackets of my youth were made with poster board and a sharpie. Bullshit.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2:13</span> –Intense pep talk from Miyagi. It doesn’t help. Why does Ralph Macchio always look like he’s about to keel over, curl up into the fetal position, and weep openly?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2:24</span> – The Cobra Kai cokehead steps in against DS with a creepy smile. Kick to the face temporarily stuns the kid. Cold stare from Miyagi. Counter kick by DS for the win! Larusso to the finals!<br /><br />End montage. Joe Esposita. Thank you for your inspiring song.<br /><br />Don’t worry…I won’t leave you hanging. After Mr. Miyagi does some crazy magic on Daniel-San's leg, he's out and ready to fight. Here is the epic and unforgettable championship match between Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso. "Sweep the leg!"<br /><br />Oh, sweet nostalgia.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4NfkH3Q4JOQ&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4NfkH3Q4JOQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />If you're impatient, the crane kick is at 4:05. They just don't make triumphant music like that anymore.<br /><br />"Hey, Mr. Miyagi! We did it!"<br /></span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-21270683438579583482008-12-04T16:38:00.010-06:002008-12-04T21:41:03.967-06:00RFT Blogger o' the Week: KBO<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcOH5OnHWQjTQYvr1MaBua7EUxBi9NpwJd4wmHhcsKHtsdRcZJ3ss0CQJLKcv4Tzhd86UENYfjgg1icp5g5a10Rat4j8LTMACIR9kaWmeK2ASwe2AxGYiBfGguv_WbjCzWhs-dWFVbkU/s1600-h/Fall+%2708+072.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 114px; height: 157px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcOH5OnHWQjTQYvr1MaBua7EUxBi9NpwJd4wmHhcsKHtsdRcZJ3ss0CQJLKcv4Tzhd86UENYfjgg1icp5g5a10Rat4j8LTMACIR9kaWmeK2ASwe2AxGYiBfGguv_WbjCzWhs-dWFVbkU/s200/Fall+%2708+072.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276067511920642770" border="0" /></a>I guess the <span style="font-style: italic;">Riverfront Times</span> decided to class up the joint a bit. My beautiful and talented wife earned the honor of seeing her words printed in the finest alternative newsweekly in St. Louis. This pretty much means she's famous. Next stop, riches! I'll be quitting my job as a teacher and focusing on my housecleaning in two weeks time. Bet.<br /><br />I thought the excerpt they used was hilarious, but I guess I'm biased. She wishes they would have found a better one. To help them out next time, here are my favorite five <a href="http://www.southcityconfidential.com/">South City Confidential</a> posts (in no particular order).<br /><br />1. <a href="http://southcityconfidential.com/2008/03/31/you-do-not-suck-at-all/">You Do Not Suck At All</a> You can't go wrong when you mix karaoke, Hot Damn, and a middle-aged Pakistani named Ali Baba. This may be my favorite SCC post of all time. If you haven't read it, you're in for a treat. Here's a preview:<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">By the grace of God, my first visit was someone’s bachelorette party. Not only did I hear the incendiary “Gangster’s Paradise” performance, but saw what elevates Ali Baba from “funny guy with accent” to “totally audacious character who regularly exhibits borderline illegal behavior”. In case you were wondering, Ali Baba has no problem with public displays of affection. With relative strangers. On this particularly cherry-poppin’ visit, I witnessed Ali Baba effectively dry-hump the bride-to-be on the dance floor. I also, luckily, saw the bride’s skirt hiked up around her waist and her lack of both underwear and public hair. To this day, I believe it was the closest I’ve ever been to another woman’s vagina.</blockquote><span class="fullpost">2. <a href="http://southcityconfidential.com/2008/06/08/what-a-long-strange-trip/"> What a Long Strange Trip...</a> to Lawrence, Kansas. Wakarusa '08. It was quite a time, and it inspired this description of a fellow concert goer we encountered:<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">My favorite person I saw the whole weekend was a middle-aged dude in acid-washed jeans, a tye-dyed Chiefs t-shirt, and a fat mustache that made me ask, “Developmentally delayed, or just on meth?” No joke, this guy danced like a four-year-old girl in a field of puppies and unicorns. It was so great.</blockquote>3. <a href="http://southcityconfidential.com/2008/09/05/i-had-a-dream/">I Had A Dream </a> Ed Best showing off his large tomatoes to Obama? Priceless. Plus, it includes a rant about John McCain after the RNC. Very nice.<blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">DID YOU KNOW HE WAS A POW? OMG pee myself while waving an American flag with an eagle perched on my shoulder, talons ready to tear through an “Islamofascist” as I draw a cross in the dirt outside my house that I built MAH-SELF with my own god-willing sweat and tears.</span></blockquote>4. <a href="http://southcityconfidential.com/2008/09/09/leaves-of-three-suck-on-these/">Leaves of Three: Suck on These</a> If there is a god, why did he put poison ivy on this earth? Tell me. Why? Perfect description the moment I dread most:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">I should have known when I was itchy all over that it was not chigger bites, or eczema, or fleas. I actually considered </span><em style="font-style: italic;">fleas</em><span style="font-style: italic;"> when the obvious was staring me in the face. It came to me last night when I scratched my back and felt the sweet, sweet relief of getting right to the core of an itch: </span><em style="font-style: italic;">wait a minute…that feels like when you scratch…oh MOTHERFUCKER! </em><span style="font-style: italic;">Because at that point, I had been scratching my body for two days. Unrestrained, glorious, relief-inducing scratching.</span></blockquote>5. <a href="http://southcityconfidential.com/2008/04/29/validation/">Validation</a>. She's gonna hate me for this one, I had to include a serious one. And this one makes me feel good about being a teacher. It's sure to warm the heart. One passage can't really do it justice, so you'll have to read it for yourself.<br /><br />Hope you enjoyed.<br /><br /></span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-5339574788501184912008-12-02T17:20:00.009-06:002008-12-02T20:36:03.394-06:00Doggone It, People Like Me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtcDhgJxstbWL1DtKxWJXWObGUwkiVmZeSxa-IbKolvtwZLMNloq9hBbk34KzIG71mT3wstZSWpQq-i18Ap4dKWgasCnS5Lrooyh4UAPRGG1cQ8F1xTQYcERJ_QdcUNyBO6fYD-GjMyo/s1600-h/Franken.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtcDhgJxstbWL1DtKxWJXWObGUwkiVmZeSxa-IbKolvtwZLMNloq9hBbk34KzIG71mT3wstZSWpQq-i18Ap4dKWgasCnS5Lrooyh4UAPRGG1cQ8F1xTQYcERJ_QdcUNyBO6fYD-GjMyo/s200/Franken.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275360894276746306" border="0" /></a>Al Franken may just pull this thing off! Can you believe it? Only in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Ventura">Minnesota</a>. FiveThirtyEight.com's Nate Silver, who <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/05/election-poll-review-who_n_141448.html?show_comment_id=17702770">correctly predicted</a> EVERYTHING, <a href="http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/12/frankens-good-day-shifts-odds-on.html">broke it down</a> today:<br /><span id="fullpost"></span><span style="font-style: italic;" id="fullpost"></span><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;" id="fullpost">The second piece of cheery news for Franken is that officials in Ramsey County have "discovered" a stack of 171 ballots that <a href="http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/35382149.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUs">were never counted in the first place</a>; those ballots returned a net of 37 votes for Franken. This is a very big deal; a net gain of 37 votes makes a huge amount of difference in a race that could easily be decided by a small, double-digit margin. If the 37-vote gain in added to the 50-vote margin that the Franken campaign estimated that it trailed by at the start of the day, that would put them just 13 votes behind with 8-9 percent of the state's votes still left to be counted.</span></blockquote><span class="fullpost">Senator. Al. Franken. How's that sound when you say it out loud? Now picture Rush Limbaugh saying it. Oh, sweet justice.</span><span class="fullpost"> This could be the ultimate vindication for eight years of political frustration and anger. So, suck it Rush! I can't wait to listen to you bitch about this one.<br /></span><br /><span class="fullpost">Franken wrote two awesomely-titled books: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lies-Lying-Liars-Tell-Them/dp/0525947647"><span style="font-style: italic;">Rush Limbaugh's a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations</span></a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rush-Limbaugh-Big-Fat-Idiot/dp/0440508649/ref=pd_sim_b_2"><span style="font-style: italic;">Lies and the Lying Liars that Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right</span></a>. Since the Right MUST pay attention to him now, I think I'll pick both of these puppies up at <a href="http://www.left-bank.com/About%20Us.htm">Left Bank Books </a>this weekend.<br /><br />Here's Franken doing what he does best--calling out liars:<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pOtyigg5BZw&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pOtyigg5BZw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Questions of the day: How long will this thing be held up in court if Franken pulls ahead after the recount? Coleman is a spiteful bastard. He'll file <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/30/norm-coleman-sues-al-fran_n_139287.html">fifteen more lawsuits</a> before he concedes. I hope those 187 ballots that magically appeared are legit. Could Republicans throw sand in the gears and hold this thing up for months?<br /><br /></span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-2245157783215885502008-12-01T20:58:00.007-06:002008-12-01T21:22:11.857-06:00Job Creation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxybt454QOOuBOj8B-FcZMPh0u0N9oWWqtcL_uXt3dQvHDiYZMDQp563BBsDSXnBl5twcbUiP87UT-IiALe3cTWFDX3X239jxAUuFhykl0oKnfFS_67M1ome6AS25rBnL2FngS3Qe-RJk/s1600-h/Thumbs+up+guy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxybt454QOOuBOj8B-FcZMPh0u0N9oWWqtcL_uXt3dQvHDiYZMDQp563BBsDSXnBl5twcbUiP87UT-IiALe3cTWFDX3X239jxAUuFhykl0oKnfFS_67M1ome6AS25rBnL2FngS3Qe-RJk/s200/Thumbs+up+guy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275027802069825794" border="0" /></a>It's probably a bad idea since you are technically my competition, but I feel obligated to inform you of an excellent employment opportunity. If you have ever thought about pursuing a job with the government, it looks like you might finally get the chance. The <a href="http://change.gov/">Obama-Biden administration</a> is <a href="http://change.gov/page/s/application">accepting applications</a> for "non-career positions - whether in the White House or in any Federal Department, Agency or Commission." I think I'm going to shoot for the Bureau of Arms Control. That sounds pretty badass. Pick your agency <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/independent-agencies.html">here </a>and <a href="http://change.gov/page/s/application">apply now</a>!<br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span>Does anyone know if this is standard White House transition procedure?<br /><br /><span class="fullpost"><br /><br /></span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-11370735131569826562008-11-28T12:48:00.003-06:002008-11-28T13:05:47.738-06:00The He-man Helping the Skeletor?I know this is from last week's SNL, but it's fucking hilarious, so I thought I'd share. If you've heard Arianna Huffington before, you'll probably laugh. Compare the performance with an interview on November 17th with Bill Maher on the <span style="font-style: italic;">Rachael Maddow Show</span> after the jump. It's spot on. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/12/saturday-night-live-adds_n_143379.html">Michaela Watkins</a>--so far, so good. The rest of the show was beyond mediocre. Go ahead and delete it off the Tivo.<br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/49303cc8bc95e14a/492948a7ef694f81/8d96b527/-cpid/d1517ee38f1dfeb9" id="W4727a250e66f972349303cc8bc95e14a" width="384" height="283"><param name="movie" value="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/49303cc8bc95e14a/492948a7ef694f81/8d96b527/-cpid/d1517ee38f1dfeb9"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="allowNetworking" value="all"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object> <span class="fullpost"><br /><br />The real Arianna Huffinton:<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cgJk5sOxRBc&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cgJk5sOxRBc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-5174761131118308352008-11-26T12:06:00.013-06:002008-12-13T15:16:31.372-06:00Harvey Milk, Hope, and ThanksgivingA while back <a href="http://southcityconfidential.com/2008/09/05/i-had-a-dream/">KBO posted</a> a trailer for the new Sean Penn movie "Milk," a biopic about San Francisco politician and activist Harvey Milk. Well, it's finally in <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/theater/the-tivoli-theatre/7263/showtimes">theaters</a>, and I'm reminding you to go and see it. Here's the trailer:<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/s2kD-9QZOs4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/s2kD-9QZOs4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span class="fullpost"><br /><br />If all goes well, we'll be at the 8:30 or 9:45 show tonight at the Tivoli. I'll let you know what I thought of it in a few days.<br /><br />If you want to get a grasp on the scope of the Harvey Milk tragedy, watch the NBC newscast from the night of the assassination. The most heartbreaking part is at 2:20 of the video when then president of the Board of Supervisors in San Francisco, Dianne Feinstein, makes the shocking announcement that Mayor George Mascone and Supervisor Harvey Milk have been assassinated. The reaction of the reporters in the room speaks for itself.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oUB-RCNBDnk&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oUB-RCNBDnk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />On this Thanksgiving Day, I'm going to be thinking about Harvey Milk and people like him who refuse to be silenced by hatred and bigotry. He was assassinated 30 years ago, just before Thanksgiving on November 27th, 1978. Here is a man with courage. He was the country's first openly gay elected official. Here we are THIRTY YEARS LATER and we're still passing blatantly <a href="http://peacebetweenpeople.blogspot.com/2008/11/big-props-to-mayor-francis-slay.html">anti-gay and discriminatory legislation.</a> Imagine what it was like back then? I mean, a man who assassinated two elected officials was let off with a voluntary manslaughter charge! Are you fucking serious? The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_White#Trial">Twinkie defense</a>? More like the homophobia defense. It takes balls to lead a movement with such irrational and hateful opposition. And even though he knew people wanted him dead, he kept fighting. Here are his last words. He recorded them to be played in the event of his assassination.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-U_owSvbn00&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-U_owSvbn00&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Harvey Milk was a great man. He was a pioneer of a new civil rights movement. Though we have made great strides that Milk would be proud of, we still have a long and difficult journey ahead of us. It's time to stand up and fight. I hope this story inspires a new generation of LGBT leaders with the fearless determination that it's going to take to change this country.<br /><br />I don't think I could say it any better than the man himself though:<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MbWDNM0wuAc&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MbWDNM0wuAc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><span style="font-size:0;"></span><blockquote>"Somewhere in Des Moines or San Antonio there is a young gay person who all the sudden realizes that he or she is gay; knows that if their parents find out they will be tossed out of the house, their classmates will taunt the child, and the Anita Bryant's and John Briggs' are doing their part on TV. And that child has several options: staying in the closet, and suicide. And then one day that child might open the paper that says "Homosexual elected in San Francisco" and there are two new options: the option is to go to California, or stay in San Antonio and fight. Two days after I was elected I got a phone call and the voice was quite young. It was from Altoona, Pennsylvania. And the person said "Thanks". And you've got to elect gay people, so that thousand upon thousands like that child know that there is hope for a better world; there is hope for a better tomorrow. Without hope, not only gays, but those who are blacks, the Asians, the disabled, the seniors, the us's: without hope the us's give up. I know that you can't live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living. And you, and you, and you, and you have got to give them hope."<br /><blockquote><span style="font-size:0;">-Harvey Milk, 1978, shortly before his assassination.</span><br /></blockquote></blockquote><br /><br /><br /></span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-60116068081638633452008-11-26T11:07:00.006-06:002008-11-28T00:02:02.789-06:00Morning Peace of Mind: I Don't Know How You Did It...But I'm Glad You Did!There are some rumors going around the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Internets</span> via the <a href="http://www.nypost.com/seven/11252008/gossip/pagesix/we_hear_______we_hear_140601.htm#comments">New York Post</a> that Ann <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Coulter</span> may have been effectively silenced for a while. Apparently, she broke her jaw. While I would never wish physical harm to anyone, if this is going to stop <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Coulter</span> from spreading her hatred around, I'll chalk this one up to karma and say a little thank you prayer tomorrow. Not because she got hurt, but because people won't have to hear her voice for a few months. Think of collective sigh of relief on January 21st when the country is free from the voices of George W. Bush and Ann <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Coulter</span>. The moment may be fleeting, but that doesn't make it any less wonderful. I guess dreams do come true for those who wait.<br /><br /><span class="fullpost"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hey, remember when <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Coulter</span> reacted to war protests in Canada by saying they should be thankful we don't "roll over one night and crush them one night." Watch her squirm as she mistakenly claims that Canada sent troops to Vietnam. Awesome!</span><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1FKF4Z36hyQ&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1FKF4Z36hyQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /></span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-33617968566506202092008-11-26T02:00:00.004-06:002008-12-02T12:45:35.242-06:00Naomi Klein: Pick of Summers and Geithner, "A Profound Disappointment"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUlB19s6WtB0KmIMElPJDihI8zsePSNZQJmOuTkX8gX-K5pZm7z9_1RcAZNldpjTMAPZSEWIJ9PAaifqslePoEwWzGfu-4xfuqCd2C2b0bKrhrvec196c3XxRaWpPyhAnxErYQw9wlag/s1600-h/naomi_klein_200.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUlB19s6WtB0KmIMElPJDihI8zsePSNZQJmOuTkX8gX-K5pZm7z9_1RcAZNldpjTMAPZSEWIJ9PAaifqslePoEwWzGfu-4xfuqCd2C2b0bKrhrvec196c3XxRaWpPyhAnxErYQw9wlag/s200/naomi_klein_200.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272867568322597202" border="0" /></a>This is no secret to <a href="http://southcityconfidential.com/">KBO</a>, but I have a bit of an intellectual crush on Naomi Klein. I love everything she writes. Seriously. There were times reading <a href="http://www.naomiklein.org/shock-doctrine"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Shock Doctrine</span></a> when I got so worked up, my hands started to shake. I found myself screaming obscenities at the bathroom walls and ripping pages as I furiously underlined the shit that blew my mind. MK-Ultra? What? Fuck no! I finally had to take a break from the book for my family's sake.<br /><br /><span class="fullpost"><br />Anyway, <a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2008/11/25/naomi_klein_robert_kuttner_and_michael">Klein was on Democracy Now! yesterday</a> talking to Amy Goodman. If I got to choose any two political minds to have dinner with, it would Amy Goodman and Naomi Klein. Hands down, two<br />of the smartest progressive voices in politics today. Klein does not like Larry Summers or Timothy Geithner...but mainly Summers. People forget that Clinton drank the free market/deregulation kool aid all through the 90s. Klein wants me to remind you that free market ideology has been guiding the economic policy of this country for well over 25 years. Yes, that's THROUGH the WJ Clinton administration. Like global warming to Republicans, this is a dirty and inconvenient truth a Democrat can never admit. Klein contends that right now, we are paying for "the intellectual dishonesty of the progressive liberals during the Bush years." Part of the reason these appointments have been widely seen as acceptable is that we "have not been honest about the legacy of the Clinton years."<br /><br />Ouch. Nothing like Democracy Now! to kick you in the nuts with a little perspective. (If you ever<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.democracynow.org/"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 123px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIUVd30svNac-szHS29LrkVfWSFDSjGH7G_bYgAfCKcG1TiAb2JoXHDPYeTlPm5ukH-duDYopXFLYsq9B48XKCN_0elQLC6pntxawCjs_dZKZ7-1v5kUXiK-2WbkrD8LG3FD44KJS0EVY/s200/democracy+now.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272868047493197170" border="0" /></a> want a sobering and honest take on any item in the news, go straight to <a href="http://www.democracynow.org/">DN!</a>, but please, mentally prepare yourself). Klein goes on to conclude that Summers (former Treasury Secretary under Clinton) is not only a follower, but "a propagator of the very ideology that Obama ran his campaign against...He's been preaching the doctrine...he's a dyed-in-the-wool privatizer, free trader. And he along with Tim Geithner, his deputy, play[ed] key roles during the economic crises." This gives me heartburn.<br /><br />It's important to understand that, in the past, when someone on the left like Obama had a "centrist economic policy," it meant that they accepted Milton Friedman's economic philosophy as "simple economics." You've probably had friends with an MBA chastise you about not understanding these simple principles. They can't comprehend anything outside of the free market realm. It's insanely frustrating. Ever since Friedman got hold of the Chicago School of economics and the hijacked the entire of the field of economics, we've been on a crash course towards this very moment. Well, the shit finally hit the fan. It turns out <a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2008/10/6/naomi_klein">they were all wrong</a>. When Alan Greenspan, the perennial god of the market admits that he had a "<a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2008/10/23/greenspan-shocked-to-find-flaw-in-ideology/">flaw in his ideology</a>," you know it's over. The system collapsed and so should the theory.<br /><br />This is why there is no need to panic. First, Barack Obama is our president now. He is in charge, and I don't see him just going along with an idea without getting several dissenting opinions. He is not an ideologue. He has repeatedly insisted that he wants the best solutions, no matter where they come from. One of the many reasons I voted for Obama was his his ability to view a problem in a comprehensive and reasonable way. I trust that he can analyze this crisis, sift through the many alternatives, and choose the plan that makes the most sense for the country. We can't ask for much more.<br /><br />Second, in September, EVERYTHING changed. All assumptions now have to be reexamined. As DN's second guest Robert Kuttner reminds us, it is not politically viable to follow any of the ideas of Milton Friedman or the 90s version of Larry Summer. Obama ran his campaign on the promise of deregulation. If he wants any shot at being reelected, he'll follow through.<br /><br />In the end, Obama chose to go with people who know and understand the steps that got us into this mess. Yes, they know and understand what got us into this mess because they helped create it, but you're not going to find a whole lot of qualified candidates out there who can claim otherwise. What matters most right now is that we have faith in the leadership skills and intellect of our newly elected government. It's never wrong to dissent, but in that dissension (especially if you voted for Obama), we have to avoid being bogged down by pessimism.<br />__________________________________________________________________<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Keith Olbermann does a great job summarizing the Shock Doctrine theory </span><span style="font-style: italic;">as proposed by Naomi Klein. In the interview that follows, Klein gives several specific examples when this strategy has been used by free marketeers to plunder cities and countries. Watch it for your own good!</span><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qwt2HulqmPI&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qwt2HulqmPI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-49817210990584199872008-11-25T08:31:00.023-06:002008-11-28T00:17:41.814-06:00Morning Peace of Mind: Chinese Democracy? Not in My China!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3qBSzUt4b6gKXdxY4YqG7oinPeRUd9B3IhutbSRKJ8ZKgTIveZ2iRcLM-B3x9EgKjsao5-uhUJCk-ucxHYPRc2RM8lQmqW2mtz5WgX3a9VSO2U8r2FjmNIiShOsGCOhgrKSo0whdSN8/s1600-h/gnr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3qBSzUt4b6gKXdxY4YqG7oinPeRUd9B3IhutbSRKJ8ZKgTIveZ2iRcLM-B3x9EgKjsao5-uhUJCk-ucxHYPRc2RM8lQmqW2mtz5WgX3a9VSO2U8r2FjmNIiShOsGCOhgrKSo0whdSN8/s200/gnr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272658984778919858" border="0" /></a>I don't know if you <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hkaycL9W9_NgZ3n542AK57Wph1YgD94L9F100">heard</a>, but with the release of the not-so-anticipated 14 year project <span style="font-style: italic;">Chinese Democracy</span>, Guns N' Roses is officially a cooperating faction in the American conspiracy to "grasp and control the world using democracy as a pawn." While I can certainly understand the paranoia coming out of China's state run newspaper after eight years of George W. Bush, I'm not sure if W is the type to conspire with the likes of Slash and Axl.<br /><br /><span class="fullpost"><br />Chinese Foreign Minister spokesman Qin Gang took the attacks on GNR to a <a href="http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24707670-38197,00.html?from=public_rss">personal level</a> by contending, "As far as I know, many people don't like this kind of music. It's too noisy and clamorous."<br /><br />The album has been <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/3511767/Guns-N-Roses-Chinese-Democracy-banned-in-China.html">banned </a>in China.<br /><br />No word yet on whether Axl Rose plans to travel to China to throw a flying forearm at Mr. Gang for his comments.<br /><br /><embed style="height: 385px ! important; width: 480px ! important;" src="http://xml.truveo.com/eb/i/768010501/a/58ef677afb89fc040e3dec6de7dd6c26/p/1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="345"></embed><h1 style="margin: 5px; padding: 0pt; font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">Watch more <a href="http://video.aol.com/channel/megavideo" target="_top" title="Megavideo videos">Megavideo videos</a> on <a href="http://video.aol.com/" target="_top" title="AOL Video">AOL Video</a></h1><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Guns N' Roses riot at Riverport Amphitheater in St. Louis. Sorry about the quality of video. You can see Axl burst out of the crowd and run around like a mad man at :30. Then, the fire hoses come out. It's worth a look. </span><br /><br /></span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-80682656332206797012008-11-24T17:27:00.017-06:002008-11-28T21:00:34.599-06:00Big Props to Mayor Francis Slay<span style="font-style: italic;">Editor's Note: I've got a much longer, angrier post brewing in response to the passage of Prop 8. Stay tuned.<br /><br /></span><span>Yeah, I know. Missouri went to <a href="http://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/20/its-official-mccain-won-missouri-%E2%80%94-by-fewer-than-4000-votes/">Old Man McCain</a>. This is depressing for two reasons: 1. Missouri is no longer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_bellwether">the ultimate bellwether state</a>, and 2. Missouri went red, again, for the third election in a row. Shoot me. Thank god Obama won. Vancouver was seriously close to gaining a couple new citizens.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzz6ALil_xly9zZdZ6UPLg3ottvWKnHsbMWgxdl3yz1OMAtoGHOdlKLkGAuEEQuysKvCXZzmm4wkI6jmPIyST2YJNwernVa4odymL6vjC04gxlNycgt58tNW5nCsxN2G8Ba2y83B_cLLk/s1600-h/Fall+%2708+089.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzz6ALil_xly9zZdZ6UPLg3ottvWKnHsbMWgxdl3yz1OMAtoGHOdlKLkGAuEEQuysKvCXZzmm4wkI6jmPIyST2YJNwernVa4odymL6vjC04gxlNycgt58tNW5nCsxN2G8Ba2y83B_cLLk/s320/Fall+%2708+089.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272056955865551762" border="0" /></a>No need to get down though. St. Louis City went overwhelmingly blue (as expected), and we have a mayor who strongly supports the LGBT community in St. Louis and around the country. He's all about gay marriage, and that takes courage in these dark times.<br /><br /><a href="http://southcityconfidential.com/">KBO</a> and I decided to support our brothers and sisters in <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/us/politics/06marriage.html?em">Cali, Arkansas, and Arizona</a> last Saturday at a <a href="http://showmenohate.blogspot.com/">Prop 8 protest</a> at the Old Courthouse Downtown. While the results of these unconstitutional votes made me furious and depressed, I felt much better after walking up on the 1,400 St. Louisans who joined Mayor Slay,<strong></strong> St. Louis Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed, State Senator Joan Bray, <strong></strong><a href="http://angryblackbitch.blogspot.com/2008/11/post-prop-8-protest-reflection.html#comments">Angry Black Bitch</a>, and many other great speakers to speak out against state-sponsored discrimination.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaACoAIGJVghagtyuKMh9RYKwqSDDgfQaGKUHYMZUNvA5ixHqoQ0IjfhH6Eem2UKyf8fIe-RAPFyPm2iRCbESOap3JJKi8mbsuv6OR5wydpH67NVSE0OMf2Y0sVGiObZ0dKuKMzDQx2LM/s1600-h/Fall+%2708+094.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaACoAIGJVghagtyuKMh9RYKwqSDDgfQaGKUHYMZUNvA5ixHqoQ0IjfhH6Eem2UKyf8fIe-RAPFyPm2iRCbESOap3JJKi8mbsuv6OR5wydpH67NVSE0OMf2Y0sVGiObZ0dKuKMzDQx2LM/s320/Fall+%2708+094.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272059806636250994" border="0" /></a>It was unbearably cold outside, and the traffic made it hard to hear at times, but it was well worth it. The passionate intensity of the speakers reverberated throughout the crowd. Eyes filled with tears, signs and flags were held high, people booed and cheered and laughed, loved ones held each other tight, and people came together. Listening to the stories of normal LGBT people and the families they love really helps to put the issue into perspective. We're talking about law-abiding, tax-paying, real-life citizens who want nothing more than the simple rights afforded to their neighbors. Marriage, adoption, family health benefits--these are not ridiculous expectations. This <span>is</span> a civil rights movement. And we will not rest until <span>all </span>people are granted them.<br /><br />So, I commend Mayor Slay along with every politician across the country who has the balls to stand up for what is right and just.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Enjoy the pictures. My camera died halfway through the rally, so these are mostly of the first half hour.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3EbMwQcY1BLyRXGJeFjQTGdgO21HeFqyMEXYcYB5AT8gBtb83yImSj2a0YKX07gsUVToai1rOcbiqajaQSyrjKYoVwKtdYnzYrD5TrXhsxgkUyulzsPE5in5GcisCcrZzzhvQCdOTr4/s1600-h/Fall+%2708+091.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3EbMwQcY1BLyRXGJeFjQTGdgO21HeFqyMEXYcYB5AT8gBtb83yImSj2a0YKX07gsUVToai1rOcbiqajaQSyrjKYoVwKtdYnzYrD5TrXhsxgkUyulzsPE5in5GcisCcrZzzhvQCdOTr4/s320/Fall+%2708+091.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272300222617944306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2GX1gr4Cjclz1DsJJlswn_Eie0_Nq938KzdT36zyVw85pTi7LAXWkfSLGc9JYHgsdIAML-pan1xztm6EF54HeJHE_qvzEauj4ybx5gCpEvjuTWauul8XgRCpLPs5PylFJ7AXoVH3lYs/s1600-h/Fall+%2708+090.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2GX1gr4Cjclz1DsJJlswn_Eie0_Nq938KzdT36zyVw85pTi7LAXWkfSLGc9JYHgsdIAML-pan1xztm6EF54HeJHE_qvzEauj4ybx5gCpEvjuTWauul8XgRCpLPs5PylFJ7AXoVH3lYs/s320/Fall+%2708+090.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272297314504226754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2wiiGMbWJ3kaeiLYi7Aap6G8iZREOR4U2WLZZmbNiQE3hdP_5pYUzRkPf3kDx8C25FQVz9mgBD6HtsPVswfGRpFEQUWmCs73KK2ciDO-IkZAwGrUYE8N6ZwE4zwx3PU-4XPQTPB3734/s1600-h/Fall+%2708+096.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2wiiGMbWJ3kaeiLYi7Aap6G8iZREOR4U2WLZZmbNiQE3hdP_5pYUzRkPf3kDx8C25FQVz9mgBD6HtsPVswfGRpFEQUWmCs73KK2ciDO-IkZAwGrUYE8N6ZwE4zwx3PU-4XPQTPB3734/s320/Fall+%2708+096.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272298393794925874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yLnfTaawslr7szhX7uoOR8aAIUIREWMRnpNk-8qrrbnzLehV0Ydse091xiFMNHZ1lmmzmujWnfX1LqbiU0_7R_ifa5b2W8f2QGb6kdD-QWli-PVQ_GM-cUPEj_ivyK5_DWHKihMLQwo/s1600-h/Fall+%2708+097.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yLnfTaawslr7szhX7uoOR8aAIUIREWMRnpNk-8qrrbnzLehV0Ydse091xiFMNHZ1lmmzmujWnfX1LqbiU0_7R_ifa5b2W8f2QGb6kdD-QWli-PVQ_GM-cUPEj_ivyK5_DWHKihMLQwo/s320/Fall+%2708+097.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272298752188271026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijryXepjSy49K9SsmDO-dZwqWY8a3ODe_uBXP_Whniz3fltcxJtbHjmFbLIBETlK1GkgnSPn7AP1n5Gv-Vh_eIzJjU2l64EiA_b0h7EeivW0qT4np7VRlVdSdn6dwemfR9lSMD3rjyWh8/s1600-h/Fall+%2708+100.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijryXepjSy49K9SsmDO-dZwqWY8a3ODe_uBXP_Whniz3fltcxJtbHjmFbLIBETlK1GkgnSPn7AP1n5Gv-Vh_eIzJjU2l64EiA_b0h7EeivW0qT4np7VRlVdSdn6dwemfR9lSMD3rjyWh8/s320/Fall+%2708+100.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272299196865887506" border="0" /></a> </span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-43293780701648232922008-11-24T08:04:00.002-06:002008-11-28T00:21:24.991-06:00Morning Peace of Mind: Pink Sari Gang<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBvf18MsFVgk8G6_Gkfq1_E9UvknadrhBFygqGEsrAytf9atoamDF-edT4gj9ncAXPf_B4r3MoIvHl6SOqLISBzvbw3JrBCltjL-a3mEzhZsR88SGS16Vj4r5VU39YeQlBg8PHk4Mlzs/s1600-h/Pink+Gang.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 203px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBvf18MsFVgk8G6_Gkfq1_E9UvknadrhBFygqGEsrAytf9atoamDF-edT4gj9ncAXPf_B4r3MoIvHl6SOqLISBzvbw3JrBCltjL-a3mEzhZsR88SGS16Vj4r5VU39YeQlBg8PHk4Mlzs/s320/Pink+Gang.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272262492393570146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">Driving down 270 today, I caught the tail end of a story on NPR that grabbed my attention. An impassioned female voice came over the speakers. Her words were translated from into English:<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >"A man will never have enough guts to raise a hand against me. I would just slap him back into place. If a woman really wants to, she can put a man in his place."</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />Whoa. I like her style. Instead of working this morning, I looked up the story on <a href="http://www.npr.org/">NPR.org</a> and listened to <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97383208">the entire thing</a> (don't worry, it's only seven minutes long).<br /><br />I found out that the defiant words are those of vigilante bad ass and leader of India's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">gulabi</span> (pink) gang, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Sampat</span> Pal Devi. As you can tell by the above quote, these ladies do not fuck around. Armed with pink <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Sarees</span>, pink sticks, and a wealth of self-confidence, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Sampat</span> and her gang make it their business to bring the corrupt men of a very patriarchal society crying to their knees--literally. They're pissed about the conditions for women in their communities, and heads are going to roll because of it.<br /><br />They serve the often oppressed women of India by, among other things, moderating land and business negotiations, shaming dirty politicians and corrupt officials by assaulting them with their pink cricket bats, speaking out against and even stopping arranged teenage marriages, and forcing police officers to follow up on crimes against women. Most have little to no education, but don't underestimate them--they're smart and fearless. And they roll deep. In one <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">demonstration</span> against a corrupt police outfit known to take bribes, several hundred members of the Pink Sari Gang surrounded the police station and beat and tied up the officers as they came out. Hell. Yes.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">The Pink Sari Gang is a great example of the </span><span style="font-size:100%;">power</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> of organization. Women in India, though </span><span style="font-size:100%;">they've made many strides socially and politically, are often exploited and seldom </span><span style="font-size:100%;">empowered. Instead of accepting the horrible conditions in the overcrowded towns and cities around India, </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Sampat</span> Pal Devi and her peeps decided to do something about it.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF00GVH1L5BR08xZUrHO6nPFqaPF7GaZSB1xE_zKYi1JNfwkdF6OSH8DTiedjbHCUn0DRWI5VJ_6GqNM18uT2XhalMRaFJNoXmv_c4dy75kZOpH5EGk5yM6QH5CgrkiGv4wlFAW67SJeQ/s1600-h/pink+gang+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF00GVH1L5BR08xZUrHO6nPFqaPF7GaZSB1xE_zKYi1JNfwkdF6OSH8DTiedjbHCUn0DRWI5VJ_6GqNM18uT2XhalMRaFJNoXmv_c4dy75kZOpH5EGk5yM6QH5CgrkiGv4wlFAW67SJeQ/s320/pink+gang+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272273681697909362" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />The Pink Sari Gang should serve as a positive lesson for young girls all around the world. It's a lesson I hope to teach my yet-to-be-born daughter(s) one day</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >:<br /><br />You deserve respect, happiness, and the right to make </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >your own</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" > choices; and if some old dude ever tries to tell you anything different, beat the shit out of him with a pink stick!</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Photos courtesy of <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7068875.stm">BBC </a>News and <a href="http://www.worldproutassembly.org/archives/2008/02/indias_pinkclad.html">World <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Prout</span> Assembly</a>.</span><br /></span></span>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-12730982748567799282008-11-23T01:45:00.000-06:002008-11-23T00:22:01.453-06:00New Republicans...Get to Work!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0z8-SoS46oPaF1jB9NZ5QRmfJR7FfEewioidvNLuFqTYG_4dIT-T4W5ClzGnHzFuHqwwyGEt778s6_f_eedu9juJ3bXNfJwQaLo08d2lwh6TOCD1E48A8_m2_XBIrDM7u55evzMPpHs/s1600-h/RON+PAUL+BUTTONS.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0z8-SoS46oPaF1jB9NZ5QRmfJR7FfEewioidvNLuFqTYG_4dIT-T4W5ClzGnHzFuHqwwyGEt778s6_f_eedu9juJ3bXNfJwQaLo08d2lwh6TOCD1E48A8_m2_XBIrDM7u55evzMPpHs/s200/RON+PAUL+BUTTONS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271710436352985010" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/Stranahan">Lee Stranahan</a> over at <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/">HuffPo</a> has an <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lee-stranahan/hey-ron-paul-republicans_b_145745.html">interesting pitch</a> for the Republican party and the disciples of Ron Paul, and it got me thinking.<br /><br />While I don't believe in many of Mr. Paul's ideas, his brand is much better for the nation as a whole than the seething madness we witnessed at the Republican National Convention this year. I'm tired of debating with crazies. You can't get anywhere in a conversation with these guys. A person consumed by an ideology can never step back and look at a decision objectively. It's never about what's best for the country or the world, because they believe that no matter how crazy something seems at the moment, the future will all work out because their God/Limbaugh/Friedman said it would.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89qt4PozMvauDtSnCVPQkX8EUy037gRSe6qUTl3biz8O8lwcJ-CUOJHknMMvTQ4Ajdr_c2ICLsiXcPCLoPnC4EQx4nJqndgE1CZwgubCtMVugs-mj5YfCNcfDkT3GCAAvclN24gfqTpY/s1600-h/Voldemort.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 141px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89qt4PozMvauDtSnCVPQkX8EUy037gRSe6qUTl3biz8O8lwcJ-CUOJHknMMvTQ4Ajdr_c2ICLsiXcPCLoPnC4EQx4nJqndgE1CZwgubCtMVugs-mj5YfCNcfDkT3GCAAvclN24gfqTpY/s200/Voldemort.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271710933845890482" border="0" /></a>As long as we have religious nuts like Palin, neocons like Bush, and war hawks like Rudy controlling half of our political discourse, this country is going to teeter on the brink of disaster. GET THEM OUT. Let's have a opposition party based on what's best for the COUNTRY AND THE WORLD, rather than what best fits a set of ideological principles. While I'll probably never vote for a Paul-like candidate, at least I could have a conversation with my Republican friends that was rooted in reason.<br /><br />Okay, Paul wants to dissolve the federal government as we know it, he worships the small government gods, he doesn't really have much of an environmental plan, and on and on. Yes, I know these things.<br /><br />So, maybe we should take this idea a step further. I propose a brand new, post-Rovian Republican party. Take those Ron Paul folks and give them a new type of candidate--one in Paul's mold, but a little less radical.<br /><br />Ron Paul started with the idea that we need to end the War in Iraq, now. His appeal was rooted in a very liberal idea: peace. This new Republican candidate needs to seize on this and realize what Ron Paul did--<a href="http://www.bobcesca.com/blog-archives/2008/11/no_2.html">the United States is a center-LEFT country. </a><br /><br />I've been contending for years that a Republican with a true environmental policy would be embraced by many on the right. Social Justice doesn't necessarily have to be reserved for <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgGFxAWMjPVFfs1W8J8dOa5f091T3lymkS8YwdbbTNha2XGcUmX8PLQUNj9kH-sgwE1qBU7gFbhKCP8nU_Ls0N-xdHodF1OPVSYsN03F3RQxHkGpggceua6TFXutQAQ9KwwH4rT-CYhQ/s1600-h/Vote+NO+on+8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgGFxAWMjPVFfs1W8J8dOa5f091T3lymkS8YwdbbTNha2XGcUmX8PLQUNj9kH-sgwE1qBU7gFbhKCP8nU_Ls0N-xdHodF1OPVSYsN03F3RQxHkGpggceua6TFXutQAQ9KwwH4rT-CYhQ/s200/Vote+NO+on+8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271717999622838498" border="0" /></a>bleeding-heart liberals, either. Why can't a Republican believe in small government <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> care about poverty and equality? Why can't a Republican embrace family values <span style="font-style: italic;">and </span>the constitutional truth that ALL people have the right to marry and pursue happiness, regardless of sexual orientation? Can't we lower taxes and promote ethical treatment of workers at the same time? Don't you think it's smarter to promote peace and hope, rather than bombs and fear? Maybe this new wave of Ron Paul Republicans would respond to a <span style="font-style: italic;">positive </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">honest </span>campaign. You never know. This is a new age. Let's think outside of the box people. What do you have to lose?<br /><br />The greatest lesson we can take from Ron Paul and Barack Obama is that there is a new nation of young voters out there craving a more responsible type of politics. While I would love to watch a slow, pathetic, bloody, and complete collapse of the Republican party, I fear that when the dust settles, we might be dealing with the 21st century version of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingsoc">Insoc</a>. So let's get creative people.<br /><br />I'm not a Republican, but I would like to see some major changes in our political system. This takes more than simply electing the right guy at the right time. The pendulum will inevitably swing back to the other side. It always does. I would just like that other side to be less crazy. That's all.Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-44524834484041611762008-11-22T20:49:00.000-06:002008-11-22T21:06:45.559-06:00Meet the New White House Press SecretaryIt's official. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/06/robert-gibbs-obamas-press_n_141752.html">Robert Gibbs</a> is his name, and I like him! Watch him take Sean Hannity to school.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Zgn6rjGbp0c&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Zgn6rjGbp0c&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />Hey crazies at Fox News, be very afraid. This guy does not fuck around.Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824652129605709995.post-28631508550360778042008-11-20T20:52:00.000-06:002008-11-20T20:59:14.903-06:00This Woman is Crazy.Seriously. Insane. She has absolutely ZERO respect for animals and thinks nothing of it. The cameraman asked her if she wanted a turkey getting its head ripped off as the background, and she replied, "No worries."<br /><br />Just imagine for a second if McCain won. How would you be feeling about the future of this country right now?<br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/k8DTSPzU0RI&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/k8DTSPzU0RI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Olly Olly Oxen Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09651808715289844268noreply@blogger.com