Vanderbilt Commodores beat the South Carolina Gamecocks for the second time in two years. ESPN was here and the game was broadcast Nationally.
It was a Blackout Game so we all had to wear black. Well, we didn't have to but most of us did.
We won!!!!!! Hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!
Nothing is more fun than hearing 40,000 people yelling "Beat those Cocks". I'm just immature but also happy that we won. We beat Miami at Ohio last week and our Quarterback was the SEC Player of the week.
Jazz covered the game for Channel 4. I wonder how she feels being in the broadcasting booth rather than on the field with the band. I'm proud of her.
And I offer my thoughts upon it.
Well, Cindy first. She needs some practice with the teleprompter. She'll have plenty of it, I'm sure. She's a good wife, though. And here's the negative part of my brain, but if I were Team McCain I'd only talk about marriage very briefly. Unfortunate end to the first one and all. But to McCain's credit, he publicly lists that failure as his greatest.
Nobody can accuse McCain of not having a personal stake in the ongoing conflict. And Cindy is a proud mother to all her children.
Bridget McCain is a testament to John and Cindy's pro-life views. McCain is from the old school, though, and doesn't make loud proclamations about his religious beliefs. So, it would be easy to ignore the very compelling story of Bridget. Easy and stupid.
I hope McCain can keep this crowd energized.
****
Here he comes.
The video is good so far. McCain's mom...funny.
Yes, this video is making its point.
Darkness. A light, and he is here. The convention stage is set up in town hall format, allowing him to be more comfortable with this very big speech.
Crowd is enthused. I think they are ready for a real humdinger of a speech.
You can't let the crowd have its way with you.
Damn camera keeps going to the protester up in the balcony. Whatever, bro. You look like Ed Norton from American History X.
"Much more unites us than divides us"...that's hard to keep in mind sometimes. I hear genuine emotion coming from him.
Fracking Code Pinkers. Good on you, McCain. Play 'em off.
McCain really takes corruption personally. Hopefully he'll run out of Veto ink and have to spend $1.50 of our tax money on a new Veto pen. I'd gladly allow that gov't expenditure.
I remember when I wrote John McCain off in the primaries. I'm not as smart as I thought.
John McCain's message on domestic issues hasn't been really addressed this week, until now. He needs to stick with this theme.
"Culture of Life" wot wot!
He needs to talk more about his health insurance plans. Specifics will come, hopefully soon.
Education: Big issue. Help bad teachers find another line of work! Word up.
Gotta stop making Russian billionaires and Middle Eastern Sultans.
DRILL BABY DRILL!
We need to use nuclear power. It's safe, it's clean, and it's efficient. Let's use all the tools at our disposal to help ourselves.
On to Russia...Call them out, McCain.
Wise to not keep Obama at the forefront, but to mention him. This is about McCain, but it's about how he's more suited than Obama.
I can't imagine this man's experience in Vietnam. I can only admire it.
He is right on about service. Humanity needs a cause bigger than itself to serve, individuals need a cause.
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT. We make history. Damn right. Hell to the yes.
Aw sh%t. Not that Raising McCain song again. Who thought that was a good idea?
Ok, but that's ok. Here comes Sarah Palin and some instrumental music. And confetti!! Whee!
They're playing Barracuda. Nice.
So overall, this was a positive speech. I think it did a lot to solidify his positions, and it's got me feeling assured that we'll make a good go of it in the next two months.
So - did you see the "Heil Palin" photo on the CNN.com homepage today? Apparently it was only up for a few minutes - but I happened to be on the site when it was up.
First reaction: I LOL'd.
Second reaction: Okay, that's not really appropriate. That's obviously a jab at the woman, and from a supposedly unbiased media, that's pretty low. She's right-wing, not reich - give her a break.
Third reaction: LOL'd again. Sorry, but it's still pretty funny.
The truth is, I <3 Sarah Palin. Her policies are absolutely horrible, and I don't care if she ran with the moshiach himself, I still wouldn't vote for a ticket with her on it - but the woman herself is a frickin' machine. I got an e-mail forward today with some of the old Chuck Norris facts now being employed for Sarah Palin (along with a few cool new ones). 3 from the list:
- Sarah Palin's suit is made from 100% dead liberal skin.
- Sarah Palin can divide by zero.
- We don't know who would win in a cage match between Sarah Palin and Chuck Norris, because no one has found a cage that can hold Sarah Palin.
She shoots wolves form the air. Aerial wolf-hunting. That's pretty frickin' cool.
But then - Sarah Palin does not go hunting. Hunting implies the possibility of failure. Sarah Palin goes killing.
Gawd, I'm going to love this campaign. If she doesn't get into office, someone needs to make a reality show about her family.
There is another "spiritual mentor" scandal concerning Gov. Palin that actually makes the CNN photo jab a bit deeper. Her church hosted a missionary from 'Jews' for Jesus who claimed that the violence in Israel was God's judgment on unbelieving Jews. It's pretty hard to not read that as Jew-hatred (JfJ is a pretty rabidly anti-Jewish organization - they just have a very interesting way of being rabidly anti-Jewish), and Gov. Palin was in church that day.
Meh. I've seen worse from Hagee. Seriously - any Jew who didn't know that that kind of theology existed in evangelical churches has really, really, reeeeeally not been paying attention. This kind of stuff is hardly unique to Palin.
As painful and downright scary as it was, I sat through Sarah Palin’s speech yesterday which was screened by SBS, and I can’t believe the Yanks might opt for Ground Hog Day with another Bush-like person. While the American Press are running around stressing about trailer trash behaviour, I’m much more frightened by the religious catch phrases and contradictions inherent in that attitude.
The dumbest thing about Bush, and his worse contradiction, has been the “God’s work” proclamation. Apparently he thinks it’s a very good idea to kill non-Christians and then say it was God’s idea.
To the VICTIMS.
I’m sure the residents of Baghdad are much relieved to hear it.
Low and behold, Palin has jumped straight into the same prayer book. After all McCain’s efforts to steer clear of the inept George W, he has signed on for Bush in drag.
Now I’m not saying this might not be a successful tactic. After all Bush managed to secure a 2nd term even though he was clearly unsuited to protecting America, but will the Yanks fall for the same trick again? We hold our collective breaths and wonder.
I hope the Obama campaign tackle this Old Testament style head on. Throwing the “god” word around mixed with heavy doses of cluster bombs is hardly in the best interests of the US. Surely the US citizens expect their President to protect the country rather than play hairy chested games telling folk how to live their lives and practice their religion?
Perhaps we need to modify the 10 commandments for the US President or at least help the Voters think about the job he should be performing. Clearly Thou shalt not kill has been problematic as has Coveting thy neighbours goods so we could drop those 2 and pop in some new ones.
Firstly, Thou shalt not quote scripture for evil purpose. It already exists somewhere in the dogma and it should cut out military adventures “in God’s name” I’m sure God would feel much happier about that one.
Secondly, and keeping this one simple enough to understand, Thou shalt not poke a hornets nest when you don’t have a lake handy to hide in. This should put a halt to starting wars for political grandstanding without considering the wellbeing of the folks back home.
After seeing Palin’s performance, I think they could have had added a trailer with a bloke in a turban saying “I’m Osama Bin Laden. And I support this message.” I’m sure Osama would have been feeling pretty depressed at the impending departure of George W but now there is a glimmer of hope for his recruiting campaign. A vote for Palin is a vote for the Al Qaeda recruitment team.
To borrow from Sarah Palin’s performance.
What’s the difference between George W Bush and Sarah Palin?
“Lipstick.”
In the midst of my self-paced history immersion program (of my own devise at the public library), I had a thought on our own era. I was reading about the Renaissance, about the discovery of Classical Roman works of literature and art by 15th century Romans and Florentines, and wondering what is to become of all the digital art and literature developed during our own age. It seems to me that a future archaeologist would miss a very significant portion of our culture.
Warning: If this is your first time reading this blog, you probably shouldn't read this post. It's not exactly indicative of the type of material that I usually post here. I've seriously thought about not posting it - and I may delete it later - but for now, it is a part of my conversion experience. The purpose of this journal is to document that experience, so it's going up.
This needs to be my last post on this subject. I'm sick of talking about this crap.
I'm sitting here waiting for a pizza to arrive. In about 15 minutes, a pepperoni and sausage pizza is going to cross the threshold of my apartment. I've heard this kind of little "treif rebellion" is common among converts. It doesn't make me feel any better.
I would say that I don't know why I'm doing this, but I do. I'm upset with some people at my shul. I'm tired of hearing people talk about "blonde-haired, blue-eyed shiksas" around me like I'm not in the room. I'm not actually aryan or even 100% white, but I look the part, so I guess that makes me a blonde-haired, blue-eyed shiksa. I could have my mother's black hair, my grandfather's red skin, my grandmother's brown eyes - and my race would hardly be an issue. But I'm a convert to Judaism who looks like a poster child for the Hitler Youth. Tell me God doesn't have a sick sense of humor.
I'm pissed off that my place of worship is one of the only places where the color of my skin, hair, and eyes is an issue. I'm mad that I'm even thinking about this - that I wear a headscarf in public because I am ashamed of my hair. I'm sick and tired of being an icon - a walking symbol of what people think is wrong with society. I just want to be human.
The thing is - the overwhelming majority of the people at my shul are not racist douchebags. But when someone there is, it hurts. I know there is no place exempt from this. People with Albinism who convert to Islam or Christianity report the same thing. It's a part of living with this disease. But something about religion - it raises the hopes. You can't help but be caught off gaurd.
I'm tired of guilt by association. Some white people somewhere are racist, so because I look like them - or some of them like the way I look - I'm guilty too? How the fuck does that work, exactly? What - I can just walk in to Stormfornt HQ and say "guys - knock it off" and they'll be totally cool with diversity after that?
Oh, I know - I don't get it. By not being okay with someone talking like I'm some kind of social disease, I'm contributing to the problem by failing to acknowledge my "white privilege." Say - where is that privilege, exactly? Did I forget to pick it up at the post office?
The black woman who said these things yesterday - she has 2 houses and an apartment. I sleep on the fucking floor because I can't afford furniture. And I'm the one that's privileged here? Where are my adoring fans at? Where is my free college education? Where is my doctor husband and my Stepford life? Did I drop it somewhere? Where is that cushy job where I just get handed money to show up? I mean - I like writing HTML, but I'll trade.
This woman was a Vietnam vet. She spoke about being spat on when she got back. I asked what on Earth could make someone do that? I really wanted to know - why would anyone, no matter how opposed to a war, feel the need to just go hawk a loogie on a soldier? What could possibly motivate someone to do that?
Her response: I need to learn more about the history of my people. Oh really? Which ones? Maybe my white-ass father who also got spit on by hippies when he got back from Vietnam? Oh, but he doesn't count, right? Fuck you, lady.
She told the story of a relative who works as an accomplished physician
- who after leaving his job at the hospital, was assaulted by a cop who
mistook him for a suspect. I can't imagine what that's like - to be
able to go in the span of a few minutes from being a respected
physician to a punching bag for some asshole cop. That is utterly horrible, and I will acknowledge that I have nothing like that in my experience and I can't possibly understand what that's like. But it is also not my
fault that asshole cops like that one exist. And - just for the record
- I know a lot of cops. Most are actually pretty cool people once you
get past the paranoia. A handful of bad cops gives a lot of good cops a bad name.
But here is my question to you, lady. Why is it wrong that that cop assumed that your son was a drug dealer because some other black guy somewhere was a drug dealer - but your speaking about all people who look like me like we're all members of Third Reich is somehow okay? I know you're going to say it's different. But why is it different? Why isn't it racism when you do it?
Well - pizza's here.
I responded by giving $40 to Obama.
It looks like others had the same idea.
Please join me! Even $10 would be very cool and it will make you feel good for the rest of the week, I promise!
Persistent, unproductive cough.
Shortness of breath.
Insomnia.
Chronic fatigue.
Loss of appetite, yet still gaining weight because metabolism has slowed to a snail's pace.
Circulatory problems: swollen feet, no strength in arms.
This all started with the cough, about two months ago, and the other symptoms have been arriving like clockwork ever since. I feel like the two guys who slowly turn into zombies in Return of the Living Dead. If you want to know why I'm not blogging much, there's your reason. Hopefully, by complaining about my sorry state in public, I'll convince it all to go away.
In the meantime, I'll continue to deal with this slight case of DEATH that I've acquired.
Roger Simon wrote a piece dripping with sarcasm for Politico today. And I love it.
Focusing on the outcry over the media coverage Sarah Palin has been receiving since the announcement about her taking the Republican VP slot last week, Simon perfectly enunciates what I never could in my severely limited attempts at voicing my opinions:
…On behalf of the elite media, I would like to say we are very sorry. We have asked questions this week that we should never have asked. We have asked pathetic questions like: Who is Sarah Palin? What is her record? Where does she stand on the issues? And is she qualified to be a heartbeat away from the presidency?
…We should stop making with all the questions already. She gave a really good speech. And why go beyond that? As we all know, speeches cannot be written by others and rehearsed for days. They are true windows to the soul. Unless they are delivered by Barack Obama, that is. In which case, as Palin said Wednesday, speeches are just a “cloud of rhetoric.”
…Sarah Palin wanted the media to report on her teenage son, Track, who enlisted in the Army on Sept. 11, 2007, and soon will deploy to Iraq. Sarah Palin did not want the media to report on her teenage daughter, Bristol, who is pregnant and unmarried. Sarah Palin thinks that one is good for her campaign and one is not, and that the media should report only on what is good for her campaign. That is our job, and that is our duty. If that is not actually in the Constitution, it should be. (And someday may be.)
On the other hand, I think that a portion of the coverage Palin has received is unfair. And, apparently, some of Hillary Clinton’s aides agree with me:
Georgetown University professor Deborah Tannen, who has written best-selling books on gender differences, said she agrees with complaints that Palin skeptics — including prominent voices in the news media — have crossed a line by speculating about whether the Alaska governor is neglecting her family in pursuit of national office.
“What we’re dealing with now, there’s nothing subtle about it,” said Tannen. “We’re dealing with the assumption that child-rearing is the job of women and not men. Is it sexist? Yes.”
“There’s no way those questions would be asked of a male candidate,” said Howard Wolfson a former top strategist for Clinton’s presidential campaign.
Ultimately, I like Palin. A lot.
But there’s still no way in hell that I’d ever attached my vote to a McCain campaign. The fact that they managed to find someone to run in the VP position who would do much better headlining the ticket doesn’t change the fact that McCain is a slimeball with nothing better to do than sell Americans out at the domestic level while playing up his foreign policy credentials. If we’re going to have four more years of mismanaged policy at home, why not put it all in the lap of someone as easy to write-off as Barack Obama?
Barring the possibility of McCain dropping out of the race in the next two months for age-related reasons, I will continue to throw my vote in for a post-Obamalyptic dystopian future where Americans are finally shaken back to reality.
Yeah, it sounds bad, but we have a nasty tendency of finding order only after chaos. Just look at Carter and his inspiration for Reagan.
Buchanan argues instead that you win elections by finding where the country is split on the key issues and taking the majority position. I think he's right. Obama needs to work to make the issues the center of the campaign, whereas McCain needs to make it, as McCain/Palin/RNC put it, not about issues but about character, experience, and oh yeah the few minor issues they are perceived as stronger on like terrorism, national security, and illegal immigration.
