Author: fifteenkey (Page 24 of 95)

This really isn’t what President Obama had in mind to celebrate one year in office today, but if he’s searching for answers why Scott Brown won last night, he can find it in front of him when he’s shaving this morning.

“Are you bummed out and writing an angry political blog?” I didn’t read this text message until I awoke to a replay of Scott Brow’s victory speech around 4:30AM. No, my dear, I’m not angry.

In my heart, I knew this thing was over last week when that Suffolk poll came out, and I wrote about my own discontent with the timid stance of my President toward the banks who own us. I believe that’s the main issue here. According to an election day Rasmussen poll, approximately 20% of Democrats voted for Brown. They provided the margin of victory and their votes were not a referendum on health care, they were an expression of frustration that their President and his Democratic majority in Congress have not fought for them.

Most importantly though, Senator-Elect Brown won a majority of middle class voters. In my own very middle-class Fitchburg-Leominster area, the numbers were a crushing 59%/40% and 63%/36% respectively in favor of the winner. Those disaffected voters, in my opinion, would benefit from health care reform, but always seem to get screwed no matter what party is in power. They’ve had enough.

The Obama White House and national Democratic squawks are blaming the Coakley campaign and their candidate. She was weak and ran like she was entitled to the seat, but is there any doubt who would be the winner this morning if the “other” Joe Kennedy had run?
Firing back at their national critics, Coakley pollster Celinda Lake contends their campaign was “hampered by the failure of the White House and Congress to confront Wall Street.” I agree.

Ms Lake continued, “If Scott Brown wins tonight he’ll win because he became the change-oriented candidate. Voters are still voting for the change they voted for in 2008, but they want to see it. And right now they think they’ve got economic policies for Washington that are delivering more for banks than Main Street.”

I hope my president stops the bleeding of this little nick by leading and actually delivering the change he promised. If he doesn’t, the blue blood will really run in November.

I meant to post about the Joe Pernice show last week, but you know, life happens and I don’t have infinite hours to write this nonsense. I found myself having dinner with two of my favorite women in the world, one just released from Typhoid quarantine and the other a refugee flood victim. The pair seemed to be having a good time when suddenly both of them attempted to dump me simultaneously. After some guilt-inducing banter, Barb decided to stay for the show. (See us in the back corner?) I don’t think she was sorry.

Joe Pernice is a poet with a voice and a skill for arrangement that can make a song about napalming a village of little girls and bunny rabbits sound beautiful. (Note: Joe doesn’t have such a song.) I had forgotten about my Ray Neades post a few weeks ago when Joe mentioned Ray and played my highlight of the night, “Grudge Fuck” in his honor. Again, the title sounds pretty horrible, but it’s actually a beautiful song, albeit a “little stalkerish.”

One weird thing was a very loud request for a song off the Pernice Brothers 1998 debut “Overcome By Happiness.” Joe chuckled at the request and then launched into about 30 seconds of just nailing it, before suddenly stopping and saying, “That’s it. That’s all your getting.” I guess maybe the woman with a drink in her hand didn’t die in the garage this time.

Three points from the ‘boyz? Three? That’s pathetic, but I love seeing “America’s Team” spit the cow chip as much as most fans enjoy our “pretty boy” Tom Brady and the rest of Bill Belichick’s “cheaters” lose. Minnesota should really enjoy this win because that loud, dome-field advantage they fed on today will be in New Orleans next week and I expect the Saints will be marching all over Brett Fahv-re’s #4…

In the AFC, the J-E-T-S have been impressive, but doesn’t San Diego always find a way to lose at this time of year… at home… as favorites? Indy lucked out playing a Baltimore team who smashed their emotional piggy bank last week with a complete ass thrashing of the Patriots “value” players. With Peyton Manning and the home field, I fully expect the Colts to pass (a lot) Go on their way to Miami.

Still…

What haunts me is the dream scenario for many Yankee fans and CBS, who can play up the aforementioned Mr. Fahf-RE playing against the team he quit on last year, New Jersey’s JV squad, the Jets. It will be unbearable… Two weeks of Favre-Jets… Ugh.

I’m a liberal and I’m considering voting for Republican Scott Brown in Tuesday’s critical Senatorial election in Massachusetts. A news report today in the Boston Herald cites a new Suffolk University poll indicating, “an astonishing 17 percent of Democrats report they’re jumping ship for Brown.” Suffolk pollster David Paleologos suggests that’s because of “Coakley’s laser-focus on hard-core Dems, potentially at the exclusion of other Democrats whom she needed to win over.”

I disagree. I’m pissed off at the weak-assed performance of my President and his Democratic majority in Congress. They’ve let a minority of tough Republican (and conservative Democrats) oppositionists obliterate their primary legislative agenda: Healthcare. The current, watered down Senate bill sucks and I’m apathetic about its passage. The agent of “Change” I financed and voted for moved so far right after Election Day I haven’t had the chance to enjoy George Bush’s retirement. Yeah, Dubya’s gone, but many of his policies remain and Barack Obama and the Democrats haven’t shown the stomach to fight for the priorities that got them into office:

• The wars? – Still going strong. Not wanting to appear weak on “terror,” they’re funding and “surging” in the Bush-Cheney unwinnable conflicts.
• Healthcare? – Healthcare stocks are up double-digits since the Senate bill passed without a public option.
• Wall Street Greed? – Insiders like Geithner and Summers dominate Obama’s team and Barney Frank’s House Banking Committee “reforms” has gums, not teeth.

I have to give credit to the Republicans. After getting their asses handed to them in November of ’08, they’ve dug in to defend their assets… big corporations. It’s so ironic that they can still successfully sell that bullshit Reagan “Big Gubment” nonsense (the exception of course being when the big government is a fiery fucking war machine), but have no problem with our asses being owned by big defense contractors, banks and insurance companies. The left just isn’t willing to fight as hard for “the people” and “fairness,” especially when campaign contributions from the same corporate masters drains their gumption, leaving them pale and lifeless.

So while the right fights, the left acquiesces. When Bush and a smaller majority than the Democrats currently have wanted his tax cuts for the rich passed in ’01 and ’03, they used a legislative “reconciliation” procedure to get it done with a simple majority, not the 60 votes the milquetoast (see: Harry Reid) Democrats have been ass-kissing and compromising to get. The Republicans don’t give a fuck if you like them. They’re Al Davis’s Raiders before they totally sucked: “Just win, baby.”

And could Massachusetts Democrats have run a less compelling candidate than Martha Coakley? Jesus, she’s like a female Walter Mondale.

It’s such bullshit. I was so fired up going into the presidential election and elated at the “mandate” the blue numbers that November night meant. Since then the Donkey’s been bitch-slapped by a feisty minority Elephant and will pay for that weakness in this year’s elections. In my opinion it’s because they have gutlessly moved right to appease the phony “teabagger” protesters, Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh.

So Mr. President, you want to govern from the center and sustain Dubya’s policies after we on the left put you in office? How ‘bout I vote to send Scott Brown to help you out?

I won’t do it, but I’m sure not too happy to stop “giving a shit” about all of this.

This was a good day that a family experienced during Spring 40 years ago.

I’m guessing I was 11, as the Braves were my team in minor league. I assume there was a game earlier in the day, but I was so obsessed with the sport there may not have been one. I either liked being seen in public as a “baseball player” or the feel of scratchy wool against my skin. I report. You decide.

Corey, the blond would be 5 and Kevin about 7. There’s another picture in this set including my mom and dad, but it’s not handy, so we’ll just go with the Daley boys. Just a couple months’ later, mom and dad stopped sharing Polaroid frames and every other aspect of life except us.

The family fracture affected all of us differently, but I fared OK mostly due to my surrogate parents, Tony and Barbara Gonnella. Yeah, my best friend’s parents took me in and I always felt part of a true nuclear family, an Italian family at that! Tony was the ultimate sports dad and was always at our games. Mrs. G. was always just there and I could always talk to her. And she was beautiful. Still is at… um, well… now. My buddy Mike took a whole lot of ribbing from our buddies in those years about his hot mom, but I never said a word. As a teenager essentially squatting in that house, she was like my 2nd mom and while her beauty was not lost on me, I respected her and my best friend. Still, I think that image of her as a woman in her 30’s burned an ideal in my malleable mind. There was no “Gonnella sister” and it took a couple decades before I met a woman from that mold. I wasn’t consciously looking for her, but when she appeared I was regressed to a babbling teenager.

I didn’t fully realize the mold thing until recently as I’ve been asking myself questions and cleaning out compartments in my mind for answers. Of course, being a person of significant depth (I am laughing too…), I fully appreciate there are more important things than physical attractiveness, and in a future post I’ll hopefully have learned what some of those are… Actually, as I begrudgingly matured, high intelligence became a demand, and I’ve never been truly happy with a woman that lacked it. That’s especially true now that the kid in the wool uniform is 51. When the physical thing is measured with a stopwatch and excess of that can cause joint displacement and other ailments, you’d better be interesting the other 23:58:30 a day.

Anyway, I’m not sure how this post got here, but lunch or dinner with my two moms has to happen soon. I wonder if the long lost Gonnella sister will join us.

“Jane, you ignorant slut.” Sorry, but the post title just brought me back… It also reminds me of the 1978 Stones appearance on SNL when they kinda sucked playing “Some Girls” material and drove commentary like, “I like the old Stones.” Anyway…

Currently “Kiss the Girl,” a big musical number from 1989’s “The Little Mermaid” is featured on the HDTV. The reason I bring this up is that in spite of her impressive shells, Ariel doesn’t really do it for me in the animated female realm. Yeah, Jessica Rabbit seems drawn for men by men, but for me, Pocahontas is still Number 1 with a bullet. I have to say though, this weekend I was impressed with the CGI hotness of Avatar’s Neytiri… Yes, I’m thinking and writing about animated female characters. What can I say, it was a long weekend.

I also received a few compliments on my writing this weekend, which is always nice to hear, or in this case, read. “I love your blog” was one, followed by an odd comment, since it was left today on a 2007 post: “Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!” Personally, I was hoping for some positive reinforcement for my recent line, “Hearing a woman moan or scream “Oh, God” repeatedly in a Meg Ryan sequence isn’t a reason to believe, but it is solid word of mouth advertising.” I thought it was pretty funny.

In my non-virtual world, today featured a visit from daughter Jessica, her fiancé Jack, plus grandchildren Mackenzie, 8, and Cameron, 10 months. It was nice to see them. Jessica seems to be doing a good job with them, and Jack, I learned, just received a 4.0 in school with perfect attendance. He’s a gentle soul, and his resemblance to my father’s late brother blew my freakin’ mind. I have to get some pictures from my dad of my uncle in his early 20’s. Based on my recollection, Jack is a damn avatar of my uncle as a kid. Man…

Finally, I’ve been battling 1’s and 0’s in the form of two database tables this weekend. Here’s a tech tip: Access lacks the ROUNDUP of Excel and that really bummed me out.

Oh, two more things… I don’t know where the hell the Patriots were, but there was a playoff game today in Foxborough and only the Baltimore Ravens showed up. The dismal effort, coupled with a comatose post game Bill Belichick press conference lead me to believe there are serious morale problems on that team and the off-season will bring significant changes, including in the management ranks.

Ah, never mind the second thing.

Hearing a woman moan or scream “Oh, God” repeatedly in a Meg Ryan sequence isn’t a reason to believe, but it is solid word of mouth advertising. There are just certain times when people are stronger net prompters of the big guy (Him, not me), and those times seem to be at the edges of our experience: the ecstasy and the empty.

Just like the sharp commentary that pierces this space when I go on a political rant (a mention of pantsuits seems to draw the most ire, but I guess that’s slamming my inferred sexism, not loony-left positions) writing about God draws crowds like those gathered to see if the guy is going to leave the ledge or not. My “Living in the New Year” post of a couple days ago drew more comments than I’ve seen in quite some time. Even Sophocles left a comment. That was cool. Like politics, religion is extremely polarizing in a world where inhabitants are screaming away from each other toward the coldest extremes. For example, in the domestic political realm, has the liberal-conservative invective ever been so bitter?

Wading into Timothy Keller’s “The Reason for God” last night, the author contends a polarizing phenomena is occurring with masses growing at both ends: believers and skeptics. Being at one end, I can tell you it looks like quite a journey to get to the other. And how does one get there if they choose to? One (of many) reasons for my doubt is that the journey of many “born again” Christians I know began with them hitting some bottom in their life and God became a crutch to help lift them up. I’ve observed this several times with people in my life and wonder if my bottom or some catastrophic event would push me there. Again, I doubt it. Why don’t people find God after they win the lottery? Or do they?

Not to say that the “born again” crowd is all inclusive of the faithful. It seems there are as many degrees of faith as there are people. One guy I know is very strong in his Catholic faith, still goes to church, yet has been married for over 20 years to a woman who doesn’t really share his conviction. The faith of that gentleman and other very smart people who are in, or have passed through my life, have me asking the questions. If these smart people, who I greatly respect, have faith, isn’t it worth another look, even if only to understand our differences? I understand faith transcends the mind, but I need to first understand the intellectual credibility of God before I can walk further. Right now I’m stepping tentatively like Bob Wiley. The first words in the book’s introduction grabbed me like a tractor beam, so I’m allowing myself to be sucked in…

“I find your lack of faith – disturbing.” – Darth Vader

It’s January 7th and many resolutions have been crushed under the gravity of undisciplined us. If pressed to resolve, a vague “live more” would be my response, but what does that mean?

• Love – Do I have to explain this one? A dreamer once wrote it’s “all you need.”
• Give – Whether family, friend, foe or total stranger, if you’re not contributing to their well being, then the reason we exist eludes you.
• Laugh – Just looking in the mirror should be good for a few. While you’re at it, make others laugh. A lot.
• Cry – It’s soul cleansing, moisturizes dry eyes, and provides good contrast to make laughter all the richer.
• Try… new things – I’m counting the eel I had last night, and cross-country skiing is on the list.
• Create – Experiment with food, words, crayons, watercolors, wood, fabric, light or any other artistic medium.
• Read – Feed your head with words and the images you create from them. Right now I’m nibbling “Dr. Quantum’s Little Book of Big Ideas – Where Science Meets Spirit.” I hope to have a fusion reactor built by the time I’m finished. The stimulation of reading and learning will help you ideate (I know… not really a word, but I’m in Marketing.) or solve problems completely unrelated… I promise. It will.
• Machine shop – Don’t hate me because I lost weight over the holidays… I’m down nearly 25 since last Memorial Day thanks to like-minded co-workers and a desire for healthy longevity. Now I want to finish downsizing and buy some clothes.
• Live Local – Support local businesses. Move your money to a local bank or credit union.
• Travel – Just go… anywhere you have not been. Boston is one hour from me and I’ve never walked the freedom trail. Paris in the springtime is a dream that needs realization.
• Open – Another holiday self-gift is “The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism.” I have a reason to believe, but I offer no guarantees except my eyes are now open.
• Nothing – Getting back to a vacuum means you can fill it anew.

That’s all I’ve got, but I’m um, open to suggestions. What are you doing to live more?

Some years ago on this day, a 28 year old mother gave birth to her second child, a daughter. I first glimpsed that daughter about 28 years later and… Well, I’d just like to thank that mom for bringing her into this world.

On a completely unrelated bent, here’s what design looked like in 1958, the year yours truly was born.

2008 lacked a Fifteenkey “best of” list, and I like lists, so let’s compare where I was v. where I am…