Live and let die

can you see the frog and the horsie?

An actual conversation I had the other night with someone who will remain anonymous:
"what? *long pause* what?!"
"I said what I wanted to say, why are you saying what?!"
"Because I didn't hear you! That's what people say when they didn't hear you!!"
"Shut up!!!!"

Idiocracy is on, I don't know if you've seen it. It's to me almost on the sci-fi edge of comedy, meaning it features scenarios that may be possible in the future--20,000 Leagues under the Sea was considered crazy sci-fi when it first came out in 1954, yet monstrous squid are now ubiquitous. There are more such movies here , as compiled by Popular Mechanics. But what I'm saying is, 10 minutes into Idiocracy when the rapidly-growing and twisted family tree of losers is explained, I wasn't laughing even though it was funny.

The future of health care:


I don't think it's that far outside the realm of possibility that a Bush-driven country could soon be putting Gatorade on crops and letting garbage mountains assemble. And I'm not going to expound on the politics of the situation--living in Lubbock has taught me it's a breath-wasting, migraine-gathering endeavor to argue Democracy in West Texas. The Republican vibe seems to have tinged the TV tonight--the roast of Larry the Cable Guy with big ol' Toby Keith is on next week. And again, I'm not trying to ruffle conservative feathers--you're allowed to think whatever you want. I'm just sayin, your head dog Rush Limbaugh doesn't know the difference between the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence--literally.

It's interesting as a person with a specific background and knowledge set replete with beliefs, attitudes, and whathaveyou watching the world try to reconcile differences and make plans for the greater good while remaining civil. One is bound to overtly or covertly impose their own attitudes as to right and wrong, sensible and idiotic. It seems like those most uninformed are most comfortable in crucifying those those don't share their views. In a loosely related example--I was in the 7th circle of hell (walmart) and saw an Obama shirt with a picture of him being sworn in with the quote "So Help Me God." It made me look at it carefully, my head cocked like the RCA dog. If I'm reading this right, this is a hater shirt saying he's in such deep shit that God better help him, heh heh. Nice attitude, people. For the rest of you haters who can't really make it clear to the rest of us why you think the end of an era of errors and downright criminality is a bad thing, I direct you to this site, which will allow you to pick a reason to not support Obama.

Anyway.
Some things too many people don't know enough about:
- NPR
- The Bronte's
- cobble-stone downtown roads
- Principato Rosato
- Eastbound and Down
- kickball
- Zero 7
- my carrot cake

I'm not dead yet!

Right now my life consists of working at work and working on the house, which has turned into a full-scale renovation due to the negligence and downright evil of Amber Ramirez and her boyfriend--if I ever meet you, you're in big trouble. You're lucky I didn't open your mail. How are you going to run up a $3300 electricity bill and skip town? Plus you didn't pay rent the last two months. How you managed to turn this cute little house into a cockroach-infested smelly disgusting pit in a year is beyond me. The neighbors mentioned your abundance of pitbulls and come-and-go traffic at all hours of the night--granted, Lubbock folk are a bit more racy (i.e. racist) than Austinites, but they seem to suggest drug-dealing, albeit not very good dealing considering the stack of debts you left behind. One night while honey and I were painting a red Mustang stalked the driveway for the better part of a half hour. Friend of yours? And you had kids here? Shame.

Anyway.

It's coming along, despite a landlord with no sense of urgency and a bad habit of taking on way too much, mixed with a healthy dose of finding contractors on craiglist who don't like to show up when they're supposed to.

Quick election/political thoughts--I watched 5 minutes of the RNC, all I could stand. Just enough to watch Meg Whitman, former Ebay CEO open for the Bushwannabe McCain. What better way to show how Republicans are primarily rich white folk than have an Ebay CEO speak for you. Her point seemed to be that by voting Rep, you'll get a tax cut (if you're already rich), gas prices will go down (but the initial problem of renewable energy won't be addressed) and doing your taxes will be easier (shit, I did mine online with minimum trouble and I'm a retard when it comes to that kind of thing). Not convinced. At all.


more later, kids.

We like those driving behind us to know our political views.

The current state of things:
- both my bedroom and closet light bulbs burnt out today.
- I have a heat rash on my belly.
- I really need to stop drinking so much.

Turn your sound on so you can listen to Nas. Trust me, it syncs up nicely with the videos of Bush dancing below.

Sex, politics, and religion tend to bring out the most interesting discussion. Since I've already dedicated time to sex and religion, I'll give you my thoughts on the debate the other night, which took place at UT where I go to school.

I consider myself an Obamacan, despite my cynical questioning of the possibilities of Real Change. But Hillary's opening statement was off the fuckin chain, and he never seemed to regain his rhythm. She sat there and smirked her evil dragon smirk and thought about eating babies while he stumbled disjointedly through somewhat non-specific answers. Maybe I'm being too harsh about Hillary, but here's the thing--I can't let go of the notion that maybe, maybe, this is a revenge thing. Stay with me--first, do we really want a woman who can't handle her man handling the country? I'm just saying. I know that's unfair, but still. Second, what if she's just running so she can get some grudge nookie from some hapless intern? Then and only then will she and Bill truly be even.

I'm only half serious here. Unbundle your undies.

I think it's unfortunate how scrutinized the candidates are on their tone, gestures, facial expression, word choice, etc., this after weeks and months of traveling, pressure, and little sleep. Some analysts on NPR were discussing Hillary's praise of Obama this morning, how she said she was honored to be running against him. Was this sincere? Is she admitting defeat? Is she manipulating us by being nice and positive one second and letting the bitch trickle out in the next?

The famous Xerox zinger. BOOOOOO! Go think about intellectual property. All of you.


Do I think Obama might possibly get assassinated? Yes. We have a bad history with strong black leaders. Is John McCain a reanimated zombie? Yes. He has an even better chance of dying in office, but of old age. Does Ron Paul look like a muppet? Lil bit. So as you can see, I'm unsure as to who the new leader of the free world should be. In the meantime, I'm glad to see GWB is holding shit down:


Apparently the rhythm Barack had misplaced in Austin had gotten Bush again in Liberia.


Anyway, tonight I went with Mama Christie and her man to the Manchaca Fire Dept. Friday Night All You Can Eat Catfish Fry Spectacular Bonanza Jubilee. That's not the real name. They've been doing this for decades. I was nice to go to a family-oriented function for once--6th St. got old a long time ago for me. It's a similar vibe to the Friday night spaghetti dinner in my hometown, or a cajun boil, or a Mexican potluck (which my mom said they had at her school today, which I think is funny cause I don't think any Mexicans go to that school). Lots of picnic tables, a good ole boys country band made up of men whom my father is starting to resemble, kids zooming around on Heelies and old school trikes, old folks, young folks, a tin roof and a concrete floor, and all the catfish, hushpuppies, beans, slaw, and french fries you can eat or fit on a plastic plate for $10.95.

My belly is full and itchy.

president evil

They say you shouldn't talk about sex or politics. I've already talked about sex.


I have the luxury of no classes on Wednesday so I'm watching this horrible abortion of a press conference. The issues of culture, education and democracy are woven into most of the books and discussions I've been into lately, all tied in by language, and I'm gritting my teeth to listen to Bush right now. I was raised in the buckle of the Midwest Bible Belt and my mom's basement is decked out in Americana decor, and I'm disgusted. He's spent a third of the speech so far dissing Congress for not doing anything and excusing himself from all governmental practices or knowledge, another third not answering legitimate questions by making excuses and heading off into tangents held together with cliches and reactionary talk, and the last third not answering questions by simply refusing to answer them and accusing the press of trying to trick him. This is our president. If I had a tank, I'd be headed southeast, and I don't even like politics. Even his speech patterns inspire doubt, full of pauses and qualifiers, completely void of confidence or direction, all delivered with a maniacal smirk. He's pulled a political Britney Spears, and I bet his speech writer feels like her management company.


I don't want to get into a whole big thing about current events, but it struck me that our government no business screwing around (I use that term loosely as some exchanges and relations are beneficial but others damaging) with other countries, simply because we don't really know how to understand them. Or maybe we do on some levels, but not the general public, and even still there's an entire culture's difference when it comes to ideas like "democracy" and "peace" and "normal." Crissy's been back from Japan for the last couple weeks and told me about all the cultural differences she's experienced in the various countries she's visited. We have no idea. Yet we're suppose to support these governmental actions carried out by people and causes who don't know how either and have their own ideological interests and agendas, filtered through a red-taped ridiculous process hampered by power struggles and personal scandal. And read this! This is bullshit. I know in real life it's not this simple, but George? Help the people and countries who need help, and be really careful about how you define "help."

In case you missed it, this is a similar press conference, where Bush suggests the danger zombies present to the US.



Top 10 Bushisms, more can be found here:
10) "Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream." —LaCrosse, Wis., Oct. 18, 2000 (Listen to audio clip)

9) "I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family." —Greater Nashua, N.H., Jan. 27, 2000(Listen to audio clip)

8) "I hear there's rumors on the Internets that we're going to have a draft." —second presidential debate, St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 8, 2004 (Listen to audio clip)

7) "I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." —Saginaw, Mich., Sept. 29, 2000 (Listen to audio clip)

6) "You work three jobs? … Uniquely American, isn't it? I mean, that is fantastic that you're doing that." —to a divorced mother of three, Omaha, Nebraska, Feb. 4, 2005 (Listen to audio clip)

5) "Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country." —Poplar Bluff, Mo., Sept. 6, 2004 (Watch video clip; listen to audio clip)

4) "They misunderestimated me." —Bentonville, Ark., Nov. 6, 2000

3) "Rarely is the questioned asked: Is our children learning?" —Florence, S.C., Jan. 11, 2000

2) "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." —Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004 (Watch video clip; listen to audio clip)

1) "There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." —Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002 (Watch video clip; listen to audio clip)