Friday, August 29, 2008

disgusting hypocracy

This morning John McCain announced Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate for the '08 election. While I'm happy to see another woman in the running for the upper echelons of elected office in the United States, I can't help but wonder how much of this move is simply the McCain campaign's attempt to capitalize on disenchanted Hillary democrats and independents. It's clear that the pick of Palin undercuts McCain's main argument against Obama - that of a question of experience. Still it will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

However, Gov. Palin's acceptance speech wasn't over a mere 3 minutes before NPR had a Republican political consultant on the air talking about how great a move this is by the McCain campaign. As with everything in a post-Rovian political landscape, it's the way he framed the argument that has me seething with disgust at the ridiculous hypocrisy of the Republican party right now. This guy actually had the gall to say that he was happy to see Palin selected because he was "really disappointed" to see how Hillary Clinton was treated during the primaries.

Are you fucking kidding me?!

It wasn't the Democrats who described Hillary's voice as shrill, nagging, and every word out of her mouth as being equal to "Take out the garbage!" It was the Republicans. Repeatedly.

It wasn't the Democrats who said that they didn't want a woman in charge of the nuclear button because once a month PMS would put the world at risk of World War III. It was the Republicans. Repeatedly.

It wasn't the Democrats who turned Hillary Clinton's cleavage into a campaign issue. It was the Republicans. For a solid month.

And this isn't even to begin to investigate all of the hundreds - if not thousands - of attacks levied on Sen. Clinton over the last 16 years by the Republicans simply because she's an intelligent, out-spoken Democrat and ex-First Lady.

In late-August of 2008 they are suddenly very upset about how she was treated? She was treated that way by you, you fuckin' nutcases! How is it even remotely possible to demean and degrade a candidate and then turn around and bemoan how sad the fact is that she was demeaned. Sarah Palin announces Hillary Clinton's name to a room full of Republicans and they cheer now. Why now? They used to boo.

It's fucking disgusting.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

a question for the ages

Oh man ... oh good gravy ....

I had seen this a while ago, but forgotten how utterly hysterical it is. My stomach hurts from laughing at it.

How Is Babby Formed

Sometimes the Internet is phenomenal.

happy birthday, babe!

For those who don't know, today is Amanda's 28th birthday. So, besides all of the "Happy Birthday" singing that I've done, the presents I gave her this morning at midnight, and our day in Santa Cruz on Sunday, I thought I'd celebrate her birthday here in my blog with a list of 28 different characters from Strawberry Shortcake, a cartoon favorite of hers when she was young.

Happy birthday, babe! I love you. : )

1. Apple Dumplin'
2. Peppermint Fizz
3. Huckleberry Hash
4. Seaberry Delight
5. Apple Ducklin'
6. Honey Pie Pony
7. Cheesecake Mouse
8. Tea Blossom
9. Crepes Suzette
10. Eclair Poodle
11. Frosty Puff
12. Banana Bongo Monkey
13. Coco Nutwork
14. Tangerina Torta
15. Sourball Skunk
16. The Berry Fairies
17. Cherry Cuddler
18. Plum Puddin'
19. Watermelon Kiss
20. Annie Oatmeal
21. Chocolate Chipmunk
22. Shoofly Frog
23. Triple Ripple Toucan
24. Kiwi Sea Turtle
25. Sugar Woofer English Sheepdog
26. Mr. Sun
27. Vanilla Icing Lamb

and what might be my favorite:

28. Baby Needs-A-Name

Sunday, August 17, 2008

i'm living in the future!!

This is the first post to oogu that I've ever written on my new iPhone.

I feel like this puts me that much closer to wearing a silver jumpsuit and having jet-pack parking on the Moon.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

flavors of maturity

I've been listening to the new Alanis Morissette album this morning, "Flavors of Entanglements." I have to say, I'm still a fan. Besides having a knack for working with great producers (this time Guy Sigsworth of Frou Frou fame, with help from college friend of Ry and I Sean McGhee), her writing continues to mature in a way that mirrors my own maturation, and as such I constantly find myself at just the right age to really connect with her lyrics and her songs' sentiments.

My favorite track on the album is one called "Incomplete" and it's a great way to end an album. Basically, it's about growing up and realizing that no matter how old you get, there's always more to observe and learn from. It's definitely something I find myself more able to relate to recently. "Incomplete" is the kind of self-reflecting piece of art that makes me feel at peace, makes me feel like someone else is going through the same kinds of internal struggles I am, and makes me feel connected to 30-something humanity. I'm sure all of this sounds ridiculous, but it's how I feel. And after all, art is supposed to make you feel.

"One day I'll find relief
I'll be arrived
And I'll be a friend to my friends who know how to be friends
One day I'll be at peace
I'll be enlightened and I'll be married with children and maybe adopt

One day I will speak freely
I'll be less afraid
And measured outside of my poems and lyrics and art
One day I will be faith-filled
I'll be trusting and spacious authentic and grounded and home

I have been running so sweaty my whole life
Urgent for a finish line
And I have been missing the rapture this whole time of being forever incomplete"

Sunday, August 10, 2008

what was sundered and undone ...

Tomorrow is my birthday, and to celebrate Amanda and I spent the weekend out at the movies. Not recent movies, mind you. No, the Castro Theater here in San Francisco was showing double features all weekend of what it called "Analog Adventures" - as in, imaginative movies from a pre-digital era - as in, the '80s. So, concept aside, what it meant was that we spent Saturday watching The Never-Ending Story and Labyrinth and Sunday watching Legend and The Dark Crystal (the last one with Ry joining us).

I loved it. The Dark Crystal is one of my favorite movies ever, definitely in my top ten. (Come to think of it, what are my top ten?) It was great getting to see it on the big screen again. In fact, it was great getting to see a few of them on the big screen at all as I'd never seen Legend in a theater before.

What struck me as I watched them is how staggeringly imaginative they are and how, as essentially kids movies, none of them would have been made today. They're either too costly, too dark, too cerebral, too violent, or too artsy (in the case of Legend). They all come from this really amazing time in the '80s when the post-Star Wars return to myth, fantasy, and imagination made special effects wizards gods in Hollywood. As for me, it simply meant that I got to grow up with a million different artists teaching me about the power of imagination in a way that Pixar seems to carry the mantle these days.

Anyway, it was a great way to spend my birthday and I really appreciate Amanda letting me drag her along (even if The Dark Crystal was a little rough for her to get through).

Friday, August 08, 2008

happy birthday, ben!

Today is Ben's 32 birthday. So, first off, Happy Birthday Ben.

Second off, this:

Monday, August 04, 2008

9/10 is a great start

A really fantastic review of Mark Griskey's score for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed went up online this weekend on TrackSounds.com. Here are my two favorite quotes:

“Start to finish, THE FORCE UNLEASHED is the most entertaining Star Wars score since RETURN OF THE JEDI.”

and...

"It is a delight to say that THE FORCE UNLEASHED brings me much closer to the original passion I had for the music of Star Wars, when I was a youngster. After all, back then, there were no videos to download or rent or buy. The only way to experience the magic of the film repeatedly was via its soundtrack. That's in part what made John Williams' music so special. The listener could relive the movie without any visual stimulus. The music of the prequel trilogy was far less successful at that, but now MARK GRISKEY's score helps to return some of the passion that leaked out of the Star Wars franchise's hyperdrive."

Love it. Way to go, Mark.

Friday, August 01, 2008

I'm a terrible friend

July 11th was Seth's birthday and I totally forgot until about a week ago. Then after remembering, I never said anything about it until now. I think that makes me an extra-lousy friend. So, to try and make up for it, I present Part 1 of "The Terror of Tiny Town" just for you Seth.

Happy birthday!