11.28.2006
Seriously, What the Hell is Wrong with Suburbans?
In Colorado, a woman living in a subdivision made a Christmas wreath in the shape of a peace sign. And apparently, this is "divisive," and she is going to be fined $25 dollars per day if she leaves it up. Good Christian that she apparently is, she isn't being badgered into taking it down, and will have to pay upwards of $1000 dollars by Christmas Day.
Now, seriously, what the fuck? Excuse my language, but how many Christmas hymns/carols include the phrase "Peace on Earth"? Don't any of these folks remember going to church on Sunday and hearing their pastor/minister/priest say "Peace be with you"? And how about that "turn the other cheek" rhetoric? Bah, humbug! Insignificant!
"'The peace sign has a lot of negativity associated with it,'" said Homeowners' Association President Bob Kearnes. Another neighbor who had used skis with peace signs on the end of them to mark his driveway was asked to take them down because "he was informed that residents were offended by the posting of the peace symbols 'while our country is at war.'" Yeah, wouldn't want to remind folks that we're at war. That maybe, just maybe, we ought to be making some more sacrifices, that maybe our cushy suburban existence is a little incongruous with the fact that hundreds of people are dying daily around the world. And heavens to Besty, you really don't want to be reminded of the fact that there's an alternative to being at war.
Even though I don't go to church now, the little Methodist church in Denton, Nebraska that I attended as a kid and that my mother's family founded taught me the importance of peace, love, and goodwill above all else. Do these suburban "Christians" even go to church? Or are their churches more about building expansions than teaching Christ's love? Hummph.
Now, seriously, what the fuck? Excuse my language, but how many Christmas hymns/carols include the phrase "Peace on Earth"? Don't any of these folks remember going to church on Sunday and hearing their pastor/minister/priest say "Peace be with you"? And how about that "turn the other cheek" rhetoric? Bah, humbug! Insignificant!
"'The peace sign has a lot of negativity associated with it,'" said Homeowners' Association President Bob Kearnes. Another neighbor who had used skis with peace signs on the end of them to mark his driveway was asked to take them down because "he was informed that residents were offended by the posting of the peace symbols 'while our country is at war.'" Yeah, wouldn't want to remind folks that we're at war. That maybe, just maybe, we ought to be making some more sacrifices, that maybe our cushy suburban existence is a little incongruous with the fact that hundreds of people are dying daily around the world. And heavens to Besty, you really don't want to be reminded of the fact that there's an alternative to being at war.
Even though I don't go to church now, the little Methodist church in Denton, Nebraska that I attended as a kid and that my mother's family founded taught me the importance of peace, love, and goodwill above all else. Do these suburban "Christians" even go to church? Or are their churches more about building expansions than teaching Christ's love? Hummph.
11.21.2006
Multiplex Anticipation
I just received Taylor Baldwin's DVD of cricket videos in the mail -- I'm currently watching him eat an entire loaf of whole grain bread -- and I'm ever more excited for the Multiplex, which is only 10 days away.
I've been messing around with a project this morning, but as usual, I'm not wholly satisfied with what I'm doing and don't know where to go. Seeing amazing work by old friends and neighbors (or even just thinking about it) makes it all harder. The proverbial bar has been raised.
11.20.2006
Robbie and I in Prague
I dressed up to have fancy coffee with Robbie in Prague.
Today, I've done well. I cut John's hair, had lunch while watching Curb Your Enthusiasm with him, got a call for a job interview, got some compression work for Dinger Associates, and even have a rough idea about what to do for the Multiplex.
11.15.2006
Nice Drive
The show was wonderful, beautiful. My drive through rain and darkness and dead deer on the side of the road paid off upon getting a big hug from Rob and then surprising the members of Dearland with my unexpected arrival. I kicked myself for leaving my camera at Rob's house (and, come to think of it, I'd brought a digital sound recorder, too), but then relished enjoying the music unmediated after all. There followed a pizza-fueled sleepover at Rob's, a diner brunch at the Waveland Cafe -- where my cup featured a sassy pink cup&saucer saying "Honey, I'm steaming hot and bottomless" -- and plenty of soccer volleying in the parking lot/new car lot next to Rob's place.
We hit the road around 3 in the afternoon, and on this half of the trip I was fortunate enough to have Elvis as a travel companion and iPod-jockey. A very nice drive through western Iowa at dusk. We pulled into Lincoln around 8, ate at Oso (and were greeted by Mathias and Ashley, and Mathias's blog came true when he met the band), and the fellas fueled up with burritos for the middle of the night in the Sandhills. I wish them well.
In other news, I'm currently the featured artist on OneBeta. Take a look.
We hit the road around 3 in the afternoon, and on this half of the trip I was fortunate enough to have Elvis as a travel companion and iPod-jockey. A very nice drive through western Iowa at dusk. We pulled into Lincoln around 8, ate at Oso (and were greeted by Mathias and Ashley, and Mathias's blog came true when he met the band), and the fellas fueled up with burritos for the middle of the night in the Sandhills. I wish them well.
In other news, I'm currently the featured artist on OneBeta. Take a look.
11.12.2006
Going to See Elvis
Tonight, I'm going to do my damndest to drive to Des Moines to see Elvis Perkins in Dearland. I lived next door to a couple of these fellas in Providence. Beautiful, beautiful music. To echo the chorus of critical acclaim: "the new Bob Dylan/Jeff Buckley/Neil Young." I'd love some company, if anyone wants to join. Give me a call.
11.08.2006
Ups and Downs
Thumbs up Lancaster County -- you sent 4 great new State Senators to the Unicameral in Amanda McGill, Bill Avery, Danielle Nantkes, and Norman Wallman.
Thumbs down to Nebraska statewide/district races -- you knew Pete Ricketts (or, as I saw in a manipulated yard sign today, Peter Licker) wouldn't be hard for the Benator to defeat, so why did we come so close with Kleeb and Esch and not that much farther behind with Moul and then Hahn, who were all fielded against such weak opponents, when with a little more work from the state party, we could have won these?
Thumbs up to Democrats nationally -- House and Senate, both. Wow. I think Jon Tester is my favorite new Senator.
And finally, via Crooks and Liars, a tribute to Donald Rumsfeld.
Thumbs down to Nebraska statewide/district races -- you knew Pete Ricketts (or, as I saw in a manipulated yard sign today, Peter Licker) wouldn't be hard for the Benator to defeat, so why did we come so close with Kleeb and Esch and not that much farther behind with Moul and then Hahn, who were all fielded against such weak opponents, when with a little more work from the state party, we could have won these?
Thumbs up to Democrats nationally -- House and Senate, both. Wow. I think Jon Tester is my favorite new Senator.
And finally, via Crooks and Liars, a tribute to Donald Rumsfeld.
11.07.2006
Go Vote.
Vote today. 8 am to 8 pm in Nebraska Central Time. And if there is anything suspicious going on, you feel disenfranchised, or anything of the sort, call 1-888-DEMVOTE.
11.06.2006
11.04.2006
11.01.2006
Anticipation
With the election only 6 days away, I've had a couple incredibly hectic days of work -- the kind where you're working on one thing for 10 minutes if you're lucky before you have to turn to something else and then the phone is ringing and suddenly within the time that you're writing one e-mail there are 5 more in your inbox. A little stressful, no doubt.
It's also incredibly exciting, though, not only that our race is heating up but for all the races around the country -- there's an incredible feeling of momentum and a positive feeling about politics that I haven't felt since becoming frustrated after the 2000 election. At that point in my life, I had invested personally a great deal; I formed my whole rationale about college and the extracurricular decisions I made in high school based on my intentions to enter politics, with my ultimate goal being to become a U.S. Senator.
Things changed pretty quickly. After the unbelievably disappointing 2000 elections -- for which I'd spent hours and hours of my after-school time working for the Democrats while filling out my college applications -- I kept with it for the local elections of May 2001, right before my high school graduation. There was one great school board victory and a few surprising city council losses. I still left for Brown that fall thinking I'd study politics, but then one week in, hearing about September 11th and going that day to my Introduction to Modern Culture and Media class, my attitude toward it all changed dramatically. Through that semester, I became more and more entrenched in media theory, began to view politics as inextricable from culture and mediation. My political science class didn't do it for me, and two semesters later, I was full-on invested in the MCM department. Though I never became wholly disinterested in politics, it definitely took a backburner for the duration of my time in Providence, due in part certainly to the fact that I was living in a truly liberal climate for the first time in my life as well.
Now, however, I feel like I have come to a nice synthesis. I delight once again in being a bit of a political junkie, but yet I still retain the skeptical eye media theory has grown in me. I am comfortable with the discerning eye with which many fine liberal blogs view the media and politics. It's not perfect, no doubt, but it is wonderful to read the writings of people whose passions are politics and the media, rather than simply digest what is presented by those who make it their career, those often edited by others more concerned with advertisement and ratings.
The last 8 months have been one hell of a journey for me. From all the shooting scenarios I've encountered on the campaign trail to the confidence with which I've felt compelled to advise David Hahn and the receptiveness he's demonstrated in discussing decisions regarding media, politics and the future with me, I'm happy to say it's been a very rewarding experience.
The countdown begins now. Come have a drink or two with me at the election night party -- Haymarket Theater, 7pm - 1am ... free beer, karaoke, and more.
It's also incredibly exciting, though, not only that our race is heating up but for all the races around the country -- there's an incredible feeling of momentum and a positive feeling about politics that I haven't felt since becoming frustrated after the 2000 election. At that point in my life, I had invested personally a great deal; I formed my whole rationale about college and the extracurricular decisions I made in high school based on my intentions to enter politics, with my ultimate goal being to become a U.S. Senator.
Things changed pretty quickly. After the unbelievably disappointing 2000 elections -- for which I'd spent hours and hours of my after-school time working for the Democrats while filling out my college applications -- I kept with it for the local elections of May 2001, right before my high school graduation. There was one great school board victory and a few surprising city council losses. I still left for Brown that fall thinking I'd study politics, but then one week in, hearing about September 11th and going that day to my Introduction to Modern Culture and Media class, my attitude toward it all changed dramatically. Through that semester, I became more and more entrenched in media theory, began to view politics as inextricable from culture and mediation. My political science class didn't do it for me, and two semesters later, I was full-on invested in the MCM department. Though I never became wholly disinterested in politics, it definitely took a backburner for the duration of my time in Providence, due in part certainly to the fact that I was living in a truly liberal climate for the first time in my life as well.
Now, however, I feel like I have come to a nice synthesis. I delight once again in being a bit of a political junkie, but yet I still retain the skeptical eye media theory has grown in me. I am comfortable with the discerning eye with which many fine liberal blogs view the media and politics. It's not perfect, no doubt, but it is wonderful to read the writings of people whose passions are politics and the media, rather than simply digest what is presented by those who make it their career, those often edited by others more concerned with advertisement and ratings.
The last 8 months have been one hell of a journey for me. From all the shooting scenarios I've encountered on the campaign trail to the confidence with which I've felt compelled to advise David Hahn and the receptiveness he's demonstrated in discussing decisions regarding media, politics and the future with me, I'm happy to say it's been a very rewarding experience.
The countdown begins now. Come have a drink or two with me at the election night party -- Haymarket Theater, 7pm - 1am ... free beer, karaoke, and more.
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