Monday, June 28, 2004
SOMEONE THERE TO SHOOT HER EVERY MINUTE OF HER LIFE (2)
From William Raspberry's column on Fahrenheit 9/11:
But it's not all slyness. The most powerful story in the film is
that of Lila Lipscomb, from Moore's hometown of Flint, Mich., who,
when we meet her, is boasting of her family's military service.
A daughter served in the Gulf War and a son is serving in Iraq.
Later, after the son is killed, she reads, on camera, his last
letter home; in it he tells her how pointless and wrong and
destructive the war seems to him.
And now this woman, who "used to hate those [Vietnam War]
protesters," is a peculiarly effective war protester herself.
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From William Raspberry's column on Fahrenheit 9/11:
But it's not all slyness. The most powerful story in the film is
that of Lila Lipscomb, from Moore's hometown of Flint, Mich., who,
when we meet her, is boasting of her family's military service.
A daughter served in the Gulf War and a son is serving in Iraq.
Later, after the son is killed, she reads, on camera, his last
letter home; in it he tells her how pointless and wrong and
destructive the war seems to him.
And now this woman, who "used to hate those [Vietnam War]
protesters," is a peculiarly effective war protester herself.
Thursday, June 10, 2004
CONCENTRATING THE MIND
Sarah Brady became a supporter of gun control and the driving force behind The Brady Bill after her husband was shot in the face.
Nancy Reagan's husband, then president Ronald Reagan, was also shot, but not seriously enough for Nancy Reagan to become a supporter of gun control.
It was only after retired president Ronald Reagan developed Alzheimer's disease that Nancy Reagan discovered a cause worthy of her support. She now lobbies in favor of stem cell research.
Apparently afraid that Ronald Reagan's death would somehow mobilize support for research that could cure Alzheimer's, unwilling to let any outpouring of sympathy interfere with their crazed fundamentalist policies, unable to see that Nancy Reagan is an old woman with little real clout or energy for a battle, the powers-that-be rushed Laura Bush onto television to let everyone know that, (as always, no matter what the issue or what the facts), her husband wouldn't change his mind about stem cell research.
Laura Bush's father also had Alzheimer's disease. No matter.
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"She would of been a good woman," The Misfit said, "If it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life."
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Sarah Brady became a supporter of gun control and the driving force behind The Brady Bill after her husband was shot in the face.
Nancy Reagan's husband, then president Ronald Reagan, was also shot, but not seriously enough for Nancy Reagan to become a supporter of gun control.
It was only after retired president Ronald Reagan developed Alzheimer's disease that Nancy Reagan discovered a cause worthy of her support. She now lobbies in favor of stem cell research.
Apparently afraid that Ronald Reagan's death would somehow mobilize support for research that could cure Alzheimer's, unwilling to let any outpouring of sympathy interfere with their crazed fundamentalist policies, unable to see that Nancy Reagan is an old woman with little real clout or energy for a battle, the powers-that-be rushed Laura Bush onto television to let everyone know that, (as always, no matter what the issue or what the facts), her husband wouldn't change his mind about stem cell research.
Laura Bush's father also had Alzheimer's disease. No matter.
-----------------------------------------------------
"She would of been a good woman," The Misfit said, "If it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life."
Thursday, June 03, 2004
UPDATE - And not so great horses can be beaten by relative unknowns with harsh sounding five letter last syllables of their names.
BINGE AND
Looking for a betting angle in The Belmont Stakes? Consider this:
Man o' War lost once. To a horse named Upset
Secretariat lost twice. Once to a horse named Onion.
Seattle Slew, Triple Crown winner, lost his first race to Tobin.
Tim Tam lost in the Belmont to Cavan.
Forget past performances. Forget speed ratings. Forget the morning line. Obviously, the best horses lose only to relative unknowns with harsh sounding five letter names.
Don't say you weren't apprised.
Note: This post is written using the latest copyright encryption technology. It will vanish after 60 hours, except in the unlikely event that it proves prescient, or if the disappearing ink doesn't.
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BINGE AND
Looking for a betting angle in The Belmont Stakes? Consider this:
Man o' War lost once. To a horse named Upset
Secretariat lost twice. Once to a horse named Onion.
Seattle Slew, Triple Crown winner, lost his first race to Tobin.
Tim Tam lost in the Belmont to Cavan.
Forget past performances. Forget speed ratings. Forget the morning line. Obviously, the best horses lose only to relative unknowns with harsh sounding five letter names.
Don't say you weren't apprised.
Note: This post is written using the latest copyright encryption technology. It will vanish after 60 hours, except in the unlikely event that it proves prescient, or if the disappearing ink doesn't.
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
SAUL FELL OFF HIS HORSE, I ALMOST RAN A RED LIGHT
The Republicans' ability to pick a theme and stay on message has always fascinated me. In our town's Memorial Day ceremony, the local designated grizzled veteran began his speech with the assertion: "Operation Iraqi Freedom is no different from past wars...."
Today we got the official version in the president's address at the Air Force Academy: "Recalling World War II, Bush stresses importance of Iraq" (NYT)
Suddenly, while driving home, I saw the light:
My girls' T-Ball games - there's no difference between them and the World Series.
Playing pickup basketball at the YMCA - it's like the NBA finals.
My office job - it's just as important as being president of Microsoft or Intel.
Homemade tuna salad sandwiches - they're like eating at Nobu, maybe better.
My feud with my big fat obnoxious neighbor about him parking his car on my side of the street - it's worse than the Hatfield and the McCoys.
Those photos of the backyard that my wife emailed to me at work and I printed out on my black and white printer - they're very reminiscent of Ansel Adams.
The Florida election and non-count - it's just like a real democracy.
Cutting my chin while shaving - it's as painful as getting my head hacked off by a crazed Islamist.
Sitting down and typing out this blog entry - it's the same as when Tolstoy was writing War and Peace.
That ability to stay "on message" - it's just like when they discovered that fungus that was the world's largest living thing: an organism hundreds of miles long, spanning several states, with no brain at all.
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The Republicans' ability to pick a theme and stay on message has always fascinated me. In our town's Memorial Day ceremony, the local designated grizzled veteran began his speech with the assertion: "Operation Iraqi Freedom is no different from past wars...."
Today we got the official version in the president's address at the Air Force Academy: "Recalling World War II, Bush stresses importance of Iraq" (NYT)
Suddenly, while driving home, I saw the light:
My girls' T-Ball games - there's no difference between them and the World Series.
Playing pickup basketball at the YMCA - it's like the NBA finals.
My office job - it's just as important as being president of Microsoft or Intel.
Homemade tuna salad sandwiches - they're like eating at Nobu, maybe better.
My feud with my big fat obnoxious neighbor about him parking his car on my side of the street - it's worse than the Hatfield and the McCoys.
Those photos of the backyard that my wife emailed to me at work and I printed out on my black and white printer - they're very reminiscent of Ansel Adams.
The Florida election and non-count - it's just like a real democracy.
Cutting my chin while shaving - it's as painful as getting my head hacked off by a crazed Islamist.
Sitting down and typing out this blog entry - it's the same as when Tolstoy was writing War and Peace.
That ability to stay "on message" - it's just like when they discovered that fungus that was the world's largest living thing: an organism hundreds of miles long, spanning several states, with no brain at all.
THOUGHTS FOR TODAY (#2 IN A SHORT SERIES)
"The only index by which to judge a government or way of life is by the quality of the people it acts upon. No matter how noble the objectives of a government, if it blurs decency and kindness, cheapens humnan life, and breeds ill will and suspicion - it is an evil government."
----Eric Hoffer
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"The only index by which to judge a government or way of life is by the quality of the people it acts upon. No matter how noble the objectives of a government, if it blurs decency and kindness, cheapens humnan life, and breeds ill will and suspicion - it is an evil government."
----Eric Hoffer
