Sunday, September 28, 2008

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Political Jargon

As a complimentary offering to some of my past presidential race thoughts, here are some of words I have heard this week that keep being thrusted into commentary, speeches and analysis.

porc barrel spending
old-boy politics
outside the belt[way]
bridge to nowhere
corruption
change (by both candidates now)
trooper-gate
Roveian campaigning
Greedy Wall St.
Corporate fundamentalists
earmarks

With all this fun fluff, still interesting... and necessarily disappointing, that real issues have not been touched on, such as positions and views on the War in Iraq/Afghanistan, Geopolitics with Russia/Iran and the broadening energy gap, national debt, trade deficit, the domestic economy and climate crisis. Most Americans would rather devote their mental resources to [American] idols than cast their vote in the stakes for the American future. Gubers

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Not in the News

"Talk about the candidates...and the issues."

What issues have even been spoken about? I haven't heard about the War in serious discussion over the last month in the news besides suicide attacks in Iraqi markets and more dead GIs. I keep hearing about change from both parties yet nothing about how America is going balance budgets on a soaring national deficit.

After I scoffed at hearing of how Palin's youth and beauty would energize a "male vote", I stood corrected at the Pat's game listening to a score of young men as devoted defenders of her beauty. How pathetic our election has turned into a beauty pageant. If Sarah Palin breathes life into McCain's campaign with strong ideas, good, however, if she has fronted a pretty face for a decrepid man's brain, then this is not helping the US pick the right president.

I always have concern over families having many children. In a world where resources are being tangibly met with growing scarcity, I cannot imagine the gall (or wealth) that families declare that they are more righteous to have many children. I cannot chastise those with large families, and I will certainly won't defend my suggestion seriously, but I do find it revealing that the candidates craving the creed for "family values" also have the largest families.

It's disheartening to hear working-class voters describe particular candidates as being similar to their "upbringing." Reminiscent of Bush's "barbecue pal" appeal, I wish Americans would stop replacing their vote for political candidates with a popularity contest for who they could get along with best. They are all cold-cold men (and women) and should never be placed into some buddy-buddy contest. Just f'n silly.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Screaming Orphans at the Newport Irish Festival

I have to admit that it was the billing for the Screaming Orphans that made me commit to driving to Newport for the Irish Festival and not the advertising of “authentic” Irish food. Black 47 was also performing, and the weather dictated that it was not going to be a pleasant beach day and be it my company had never seen Newport, we crossed over Jamestown to Newport, found parking, strolled the grounds at the International Tennis Hall of Fame before settling in at Crowley’s or La Forge, or both, for mid afternoon refreshments.

While it seemed the crowds at the festival were hampered to some degree by the sticky drizzle, we entered and made our way to centre stage to hear the Screaming Orphans begin their set. They played favorite Irish drinking songs with some of their own touches and their original songs. As the set continued, the crowd... and the band, settled in. Last time I discovered this group, I thought the traditional Irish music they played was first-rate; this time, besides the few favorites they played (Finnegan’s Wake, Whiskey in a Jar), the high point must have been Liar, an original tune they either did not play back at Woodhaven House or did not remember them playing! The song was flavored with a hint of cranberry, but it was excellent. Enough so, I bought it online.

Black 47 followed suit, but by that point I was getting a little sluggish and hungry, and my party was tired of standing in the elements, so we skipped out after a few tunes. Even so, I wasn’t as impressed with B47 as I was with ScOr. And it wasn’t because they happened to be attractive and B47 decidedly not. No seriously, it wasn’t. Their lively attitude and energy seemed to challenge the crowd to get excited regardless of the crowd being mostly ambivalent to their sound at first. By the end of their set however, most of the spectators found their respective grooves and were shaking the cobwebs off of their toe-beats and patented head nod moves. There were even a few enthusiasts jigging out to the Irish tunes and hopping around for the pop selections. ScOr is a fun band meant to be experienced with a beer and met with a lively attitude. Again, a good experience!

Monday, September 1, 2008

September 1: Labor Day

Four day weekend in Narragansett, RI: Beach, Picnics, Coast Guard and Casey’s, Irish Festival in Newport, Fish Market, Beach fireworks, Sneaking down late, Living, Laughing and Loving. And here on Monday sitting in front of my computer with all the events of the past weekend over, sadness kicks in peppered with the smiles of memory.

Just so I remember how funny my dad can be, I’ve included a few quotes from others as well, with all due courtesies…

[Oblong Fag falls off the side of the copper fire pit, scorching the grass with flames. Dad reaches to pick it off the grass and throw it back on the fire pit.]
Mom: “You can’t pick that up C, you’re going to burn your hands!”
Dad [As he is grabbing the fiery stick at the end not burning]: “Yes I can…because I am Superman!”
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“I am going to call one chapter in my book, ‘Adventures of Antboy’”
---
“Antboy. I think that could be my new name.”
“Ok. But I don’t want to be antgirl.”
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“Sandcheek.”
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I guess the one thing you can always take from long weekends, is that these are always the times to spend with a smile on the face, with experiences that remind you that you’re living. Those other weekends can be spent doing whatever work needs to be done around the house. But give us the long ones to enjoy. And enjoy we will.