Month: November 2006 (Page 2 of 2)

Thoughts on this weeks election…

Winners

• Don Rumsfeld – At least he gets out of the Iraq mess alive.
• George Bush – Now he can blame the Democrats who control Congress.
• Kerry Healey – She bowed out of the MA Governor’s race with dignity and a message of bipartisanship.
• Howard Dean – Depicted as crazy because he actually showed human emotion, he architected a grass-roots win for his party in some formerly red, but now purplish states.
• Alternative Energy – Democrats talked about it…a lot. Now let’s see some action.
• President Obama – Oh, sorry. I’m getting ahead of myself…

Losers

• Dick Cheney – If there’s anyone the Democrats are coming after, it’s you.
• John Kerry – Please go away and don’t screw up 2008.
• Ken Mehlman – The GOP national chairman um, sucked. Fortunately he has a plan B. Isn’t he the guy in the AccountTemps radio spots?
• Successful dirty, smearing politics – Unfortunately this one isn’t dead.
• Warrantless Wiretaps – The beginning of the end of the erosion of our civil liberties.

Sparks flew last night at dinner… Flavor sparks. Broiled Shrimp and Twin Lobster tails, Prime Sirloin Steak… It was a wonderful meal. We walked it off over 15 blocks then skied 1250 feet up to the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building. More great shots of what we gazed at are here.

Walking along, Jessica said, “Dad, you could have a few girlfriends here.” We walked and the eye candy passed. I wondered how real any of them were.

I’ve got nothing for you today, people… or person… Whatever. Desire to be creative is lacking lately, so here’s some stuff I found while sorting socks.

I think thinking is a good use of ones time. I believe external stimulus can help the process simply by altering perception, even slightly. Classes, art, music, the beauty in nature, wine… Whatever it takes, just think. Here are some tips to help you think like a genius.

Speaking of geniuses, Red Auerbach was a no-show last week at the Celtics home opener. He had a good excuse as he had died. After 56 opening nights, the thought of Celtic cheerleaders must have been too much and Red bowed out. I never actually saw a Red coached Celtic team, but this from his last team sure got me interested. I did own this record… Hopefully I still have it.

Dick Cheney is not a genius, but he is compared to Dubya. Today in an interview with ABC, the Vice President of the United States said regarding Iraq, “It may not be popular with the public. It doesn’t matter, in the sense that we have to continue what we think is right. That’s exactly what we’re doing. We’re not running for office. We’re doing what we think is right.” On Tuesday the voters will respond and let Mr. Cheney know it does matter. Say goodnight, Dick.

Let’s lighten things up with a few videos by my current favorite band, the Drive By Truckers:

• At The Metro in Chicago IL
• “Never Gonna Change”
• Making of “A Blessing and a Curse”
• NPR interview and a whole show from the 9:30 Club in Washington DC

Finally, I do believe the Patriots will drill Peyton Manning with regularity into the new turf tonight at Foxborough and thrash the Dolts, but I could be wrong…

“Where we have strong emotions, we’re liable to fool ourselves.” – Carl Sagan

Thanks for the reality check, Carl. I just hope I can stay awake for it.

I read my posts. After working in the yard for a while, I just came in to make lunch for Mr. Kyle Daley. After negotiating pizza with the lad, I turned on the oven to pre-heat 450, then I sat to read some stuff on bloglines. While reading my post of this morning, I thought about that dude in Glendale. Besides the karma thing, we also had some deep discussions on metaphysics and the power of the mind. Now I haven’t yet moved an object with my mind, but sometimes it does scare me alive. After a few minutes, the boy asked if the pizza was cooking. “I’m waiting for the oven to heat up, my boy.” A few more minutes passed and I looked up at Kyle. It was no problem reading his mind at that moment, then I said, with deliberate pacing, “I… think… it’s… going… to… be… ready… right… now!” At that very moment between the “now” and the silence, the oven beeper went off telling us that 450 had arrived.

Coincidence or Serling-worthy?

While performing with his band on an hour-long webcast from the Ed Sullivan Theatre, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder was talking about the lyrical interpretation of a song. Some, he said, heard “Scared Alive,” while others heard “Scared of Life.” Then he noted, “there’s quite a big difference in those two…”

For what it’s worth, and right now it’s worth a simple definition, Wikipedia defines Karma as “action or activity and its subsequent results.” It goes on to color the definition further as, “the fruits of action.”

I’ve believed in the power of Karma for quite some time now; actually since the early 80’s. Simply, I believe ones actions end up coming back around in one form or another. If they’re positive, good things await. Negative… well, chances are it ain’t gonna be good.

On a wet dreary day about a quarter century ago, I needed money badly. I don’t recall why, but I remember my frustration nearing its peak when my employer informed me “the checks hadn’t come in” that day. Driving home in a POS VW Rabbit I was thinking about stealing the money, then drifted in thought to all the failures I’d non-achieved in 23 years that had me in this position. I was at the proverbial fork in the road. At that point… on that dark, wet and angry road… I decided to take the one, um, less traveled. I’d try this “karma” thing I heard about in the California sunshine… I’d try to stay and act positive, and “do the right thing” when faced with decisions. I stayed positive and thought about constructive things I could do to change. I actually began to feel better… calmer. When I got home, a tax refund check was on our kitchen table. That ten minutes changed my life. I don’t know where it might have gone if I’d wandered a different road that day, but I’m fairly certain it wouldn’t have led here to this life I love.

I escaped it. I’m never going back again.

Life Wasted – Pearl Jam
Let me say just once that

I have faced it, a life wasted
I’m never going back again
I escaped it, a life wasted
I’m never going back again
having tasted, a life wasted
I’m never going back again

The world awaits just up the stairs
Leave the pain for someone else
Nothing back there for you to find
Or was it you you left behind?

You’re always saying you’re too weak to be strong
You’re harder on yourself than just about anyone

Why swim the channel just to get this far?
Halfway there, why would you turn around?

Darkness comes in waves…tell me,
Why invite it to stay?

You’re one with negativity
Yes, comfort is an energy
But why let the sad song play?

I have faced it, a life wasted
I’m never going back again

Oh I escaped it, a life wasted
I’m never going back again

having tasted, a life wasted
I’m never going back again

oh i erased it, a life wasted