(no subject)

Senator Tom Coburn declared: "I don't believe that everything that should happen in Louisiana should be paid for by the rest of the country." _{Guardian UK}

Ummm... so Louisiana should pay for Louisiana's problems, right? The rest of the country needs to get back to taking care of Iraq, then?

Make no mistake, the battle to defeat terrorism will be long and arduous but we cannot lose our resolve. I know families miss their soldiers, especially during this holiday in which we celebrate our freedom. But calling for a timetable for withdrawal would only emboldened the terrorists and strengthen their will to wait us out. _{July 4th 2005 article on Coburn's website}

This from the guy who doesn't think it's right to cite examples from foreign law in a US Court (See Roberts Confirmation hearing - NPR) If he doesn't want to look outside of our borders to see what might be beneficial, why does he want to try to exert control across those borders?

Oh, I know, he's more concerned with what would happen should the terrorists strike us again, they might cause a fraction of the damage visited upon the Gulf Coast; and you know without a shadow of a doubt that if such a disaster was visited upon Oklahoma he'd be asking the country for assistance.

Interestingly enough, I went looking to see how Coburn acted in regards to the tragic Oklahoma City bombing, and I discovered quite a few sources that seem to name him an after-the-fact accessory to that attack, but I don't know about the validity of those sources. In another attempt to come up with something apt to quote to support the opinion in the previous paragraph, I read through some transcripts - something that all voting Americans should probably do - but damn, it was painful. I could probably come up with a quarter million quotes that, when taken out of context or made into a headline, seem more alarming than they might actually be. I'm sure anything really dangerous would seem rather innocent and slip by unseen. Speak much, say little, that's the motto.

Oy.

(no subject)

( memeage )

unresolved

unresolved
September 9, 2005

Silence beckons
and I speak,
filling the void
with empty words;

Visions of what could be
fade back into the nothingness
from which they came
for you think them only lies;

Failing to see them for what they are,
the power of their potential
crumbles like dreams turned to rust,
for what is hope if hope is lost;

With your tears
comes the rain
and I feel your longing
stretched thin
with the years
comes the pain
and I fear your wanting…

Copyright (c) 2005 Everett Ambrose Warren

Book Thirty-One

Book #31: White Fang by Jack London

Justin read this for school last year, and they decided to check out the movie. After watching the movie, he couldn't remember what parts were accurate or less than so, and I wondered. So I read (re-read, if you want to count my first read x decades ago) it last night.

The book and the movie, I decided, barely know each other. They may have met in a bar one night, somewhere in the Yukon, and shared a drink or two. The movie is a fun, upbeat adventure story. The book talks a lot about gods, and how mankind are gods to the dogs. It's an old book, two years younger than the boat I'll be eating dinner on tomorrow night, and it most certainly carries many of the prejudices of the time.

But that is what it should do - it was not written for today, and it should not be sanitized, nor should some of those attitudes be idolized. Figuring out which parts can be learned from, and, more importantly, how they should be learned from, is the key.

Cross-posted to 50bookchallenge and me own journal

(no subject)

The bear is back.

I think.

Some thing popped the top off the compost bin and ate a melon and maybe some other choice scraps. No scratches or signs - and I'm thinking racoons, although certainly industrious enough to get in, would have to struggle more to get the lid off. The bear, however, had the strength to pop it off, although it's amazing he didn't destroy it in the process.

Just in case any of the neighborhood bears are reading this: Thanks for not ruining the bin! Your efforts are much appreciated. And, hey, the other day the kids gathered about three quarters of a million acorns and spread them along the back trail, so if you want, lie in wait back there and snag some of the hooved rodents as they gambole through. Once you've had venison, you'll find compost and bird seed pales in comparision! Cheers, and happy dining!

And, just to cover all bases, here's one to the racoons: Think big! Go for the deer! Them's good eatin'!

politicallous

politicallous
September 17, 2005

"Jack, please, I'm only an elected official here,
I can't make decisions by myself!"

rising waters
obscuring
but that is to be expected
for politics are
forever murky
snakes and alligators
although they call
themselves something
different
an elephant
unmovable
or a donkey
by any other name
life means little
when money and power
are at stake
just another claim
of blame
spineless fools
with pointy fingers
and self-serving tongues
waggling
democracy
in action
desolation through
inaction

Copyright (c) 2005 Everett Ambrose Warren