6.23.2003



That's When I Reach for My Revolver



I have mostly managed to avoid the Hillary Clinton media juggernaut of the past couple of weeks, but a groggy me was unwittingly exposed to portions of a radio interview she had given. Maybe it was a result of the semi-consciousness, but I could have sworn that some of the things I heard her say actually made sense. One of the things she said is that the Bush administration is neither compassionate nor conservative. Of course, the fact that the Republican Party decided to say "We're compassionate, now" is an indication of an image problem, at least. But I would agree that the current White House is not conservative, at least in a traditional since; it's a fiscally irresponsible, interventionist administration. If you really want to see conservativism (my biggest problem with the W. is that he took a syllable out of the word conservativism and made it conservatism; and everybody acts as if it is perfectly normal to truncate syllables from a root word when you add a suffix. That should be an impeachable offense.) read one of Pat Buchanan's books. No, seriously. Push aside his xenophobia and consider his views, especially on the economy.

Also, the Bush administration wants to extend the assault weapons ban Which I have mixed feelings about, because some part of me wants to walk the streets toting a kalashnikov. But I guess if I want that kind of freedom I'll have to move to Iraq.

Coming soon:
An alpha charlie bravo polemic: Why the Bush tax plan won't work

Go Howard Dean!

6.14.2003



Myxamatosis



I didn't realize it was Friday 13th yesterday, until only ten minutes were left in the day. And there was a full moon... all of this apparently means nothing to me.

I neglected to mention that after I had assembled my new futon from futonz.com (if you need a futon in the Chicago area, John will bring you one) I decided that I wanted it on the other side of the room. Which was no problem--I had to move stuff; and in the course of moving stuff I discovered that I had five million pennies lying around. Wait, if I had five million pennies, I'd be a thousandaire! Woohoo! I'm middle class! I'm middle class!

I had stuff to say about the Sammy Sosa incident, but who cares now. I think I'll go play with my prarie dogs. Just for the record Phil, of Phil's Pocket Pets,a Tamagotchi is a pocket pet. A prairie dog is not. A giant Gambian Rat is not. Well, maybe if you're wearing cargo pants. This whole incident reminds me of a scene in the movie Exotica where a Canadian customs agent is training a new guy to recognize people trying to smuggle animals into the country... It seems I have nothing more to say about that.
hmm, Well.


6.11.2003



Le Grand Tango



It's always exciting to get new furniture isn't it. I ordered a futon (ah! the versatile comfort) via the internet (my how easy it is to buy stuff when there's a mouse in your hand). I assembled it myself so if it falls apart I'm suing me. Other significant purchases may be coming soon. I've been sneaking peeks at guitars (most people probably stick to one instrument they can't play, but not me) and i've been hearing how prarie dogs are good investments as pets.

And also I want to thank Tower for putting Gidon Kremer's Homage a Piazzolla in the Piazzolla section where I found it easily. I always imagine that it's a bit trippy for the guy at the classical music counter, who in appearances at least is an afficionado, to see me walking up, compact disc in hand and then discover that it isn't Mozart or Beethoven that i'm probably "trying out," but Piazzolla or Mahler or Satie or even Steve Reich, signifying that i'm so beyond the typical "i'm educated now so i should listen to classical music" experimentation. I'm hardcore. I like minimalism. But in reality, I just skipped over Bach and went straight to Mahler. Who needs Brahams when you can listen to Satie? And nothing makes you seem more esoteric than popping in a Steve Reich recording.