Saturday, September 22, 2007

Cornucopia of Crap

Is there a broader, more representative snapshot of today's America than the Saturday morning open air flea market? Part time machine, part smelly armpit, the flea market is the great melting pot of class, culture and cleanliness. You have folks who peddle their junk every week trying to eke out a living. Next to them you have suburbanites trying to unload part of their gluttonous accumulation of stuff they really don't need. Toothless country boys and soccer moms, who would never associate in any other circumstance, chat away sitting on the tailgates of overstuffed SUVs and El Caminos. During a twenty minute walk-thru you can hear four or five different languages spoken. Haggling, arguing, laughing-it's a beautiful thing.



And don't get me wrong, not all the crap is really crap. There are valuable collectibles and teriffic hand-crafted jewelry items. Then there is my level of crap- beer signs, Smurf glasses, baseball cards. For the most part I just window shop because we already fall into that earlier category of gluttonous overcollectors. But when it comes down to it, most of the crap is Crap with a capital C. I found tables of ashtrays, old shoes, books for every fad diet of the last twenty years and VHS tapes for bad Pauly Shore movies. (I suppose that last item was redundant.) And Knives! It was like Ninjas-R-Us with all the knives, swords and throwing stars. Since I have given up my career as a carnival knife-thower I pushed past these tables and wandered about buying nothing, simply enjoying the sounds and smells of diversity.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

"Don't Taze Me, Bro"

How do you feel about the college kid tossed from the Kerry speech for "protesting" too passionately? Some feel he was a free voice unjustly brutalized by overzealous campus cops. Some feel he was a publicity seeking punk who should have buttoned his lip when enough was enough. I tend to split the middle-He was a little disruptive, but I really don't think they needed to blast him with 50,000 volts.


I think most can agree, however, that there is a good chance that "Don't Taze Me, Bro" will be the latest catchphrase sensation to sweep the nation. i think the only hiccup for the burgeoning "Don't Taze Me, Bro" t-shirt and bumper sticker business may be deciding how to spell Taze. I like using the "z". It sounds strong, hinting at danger and action. But I could get on board with using the "s". All I really know for sure is that the video is pretty humorous and seeing it made my Tuesday. See part of the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCBcOQkUNjI

Friday, September 14, 2007

Dear President Bush...

Mr Bush,

My regret for casting a vote for you seven years ago is exceeded only by the disappointment I feel knowing that my uncast vote three years ago was not the one that prevented you from retaining your position. Not that you care, but let me tell you why I no longer support you. I have watched wire taps and an absent-minded attorney general. I've listened to a man named Scooter and I've carried my shampoo in a clear plastic bag. I didn't say much because those weren't "big deals" . However, enough is enough. You've crossed an offensive line with me.

You are building a legacy on the strong but overworked backs of our armed forces. I find this as distasteful as it is unfathomable. This volunteer army is not a life preserver for you to cling to as you tread water through the rest of your term. With benchmarks unmet and goals ever-shifting, when will "more time" be "enough time"? Buying time with American blood until you can wash your hands of a failed policy is surely conduct unbecoming the Commander-In -Chief.

Both a general and ambassador came to Washington this week to provide you cover by half-heartedly defending the current policy. They, despite their colorful charts and reams of statistics, were unable to say whether Americans are safer for having prosecuted this war. If that one fundamental question can not be answered in the affirmative then riddle me this-For what has America spilled her blood and why should she continue to do so?

You have the power to stop this. Oh, sure, you addressed the nation Thursday, peddling your plan to have some troops return home. You let us know that your plan allows those who view victory in Iraq as essential and those who want the troops home to be on the same side. I almost forgot, you are a uniter not a divider. Too bad your idea to bring troops home falls woefully short. And never mind that you do not clearly define victory.

Now before you hastily judge me, know this: I am not a Democrat nor an unpatriotic hippie or any other condascending label you may wish to apply. I will not be made to feel weaker, smaller or less intelligent simply because I do not support this war. I am a reasonably smart citizen who understands that freedom isn't free and that sacrifices are necessary to defend America. I also know that it is possible to both support our troops and disdain this war. Leaving Iraq now does not dishonor those who have lost their lives there; continuing to push forward in uncertainty does.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Putting the Fun in Dysfunctional

Reminder: "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" begins in its new season Thursday night at 10pm. This is one wacky show that consistently makes me laugh. FX is on quite a roll; NIp/Tuck has slipped a bit, but Sunny and Rescue Me are strong. Enjoy.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

THe Sadness Remains.

When I read a few weeks ago that MSNBC would be airing NBC's actual coverage of the events of 9-11-2001 on the sixth anniversary, I was unsure how I felt about that decision. Is it indeed "living history" as they billed it or unjustified sensationalism? Will it it be any more painful than watching the myriad memorials that are sure to air anyway? After watching the 3+ hours of unedited footage, I still don't know if it was necessary, helpful or hurtful, but it certainly was fascinating.

Being a bit of a news junkee and having been at work when the events unfolded six years ago I wanted to check out some of the coverage. Obviously, I have seen the unspeakable images many times since they occured, yet I found it morbidly spellbinding. I was pinned to my couch for the entire three hours. It was interesting to watch journalists, some caught in the middle of the news itself, struggle to process the information as it flooded in and to comprehend the images they were seeing. I am often critical of the overdramatic nature of news coverage, but this was an instance when there was no hyperbole. I believe it impossible to overstate the drama that was all too real. Watching the attacks progress, the information trickle in and the confusion reign gave me the uneasy goosebumps that six years have failed to dispel. The wound is still raw and watching the horrific images and frightening realization of the magnitude of the story unfold did nothing to salve that wound. Right or wrong that was likely MSNBC's intent all along.