....life, liberty and the dubious pursuit of happiness (Washington DC edition)....
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"Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them…”--Thomas Jefferson
All of this is simultaneously humbling and fascinating. The above image is apparently illustrating the Inflation theory which is a sub-theory of the Big Bang theory. I wonder if we humans at some point in our evolution will really ever develop a true understanding/interpretation of what this whole time-space continuum is really about. Perhaps someone already has the "answer"? This stuff just boggles my mind and leaves me in utter awe of existence.
The below is an excerpt from Carl Sagan's book "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors" which I read years ago and is his collapsed timeline of the universe condensed into our calendar year:
January 1 in first second: Big Bang May 1: Formation of the Milky Way galaxy September 9: Formation of solar system September 14: Formation of the Earth September 25: Origin of life on Earth October 9: Oldest fossil remains (single cell) November 1: Sexual reproduction (creates variation of genes) December 16: First worms December 31 @ 10:30pm: First humans December 31 @ 11:59pm and 58 seconds: Darwin's "Origin of Species"
Hair farming! John Parr is naughty naughty with a big ole mane of hair:
Da Heavy metal swagger! Armored Saint delivers [pizzas?]. Amazing song + cheesy video = perfection:
Actual freakin cow-punk! Jason and the Scorchers wrote the book and blazed the trail for alt-country. Why they still dwell in obscurity represents one of the great musical injustices of the late 20th century of music: We had a posse in the northwest (Seattle style)! Before “Baby Got Back,” Sir Mix A Lot was the man in Seattle and actually went to my high school (Olympic High in Bremerton/Silverdale, Washington):
Steve Earle started his ass-kickin! Copperhead Road, I believe, is still his only actual hit song to this day:
So...it might be a stretch calling Ayaan Hirsi Ali a celebrity but I gotta say she just seems like the most amazing person. And it doesn't hurt that behind the brilliant words along with the compelling and inspirational life story is a gorgeous woman to boot!
Here she lays waste to a pompous ass Canadian interviewer. What an embarrassment how she tears him to shreds so methodically and just closes better then anyone I've seen in a long long time dealing with a hostile host:
I'm bothered how the right wing has co-opted her message which to me seems odd as she's a feminist, has a progressive/secular philosophy and is obviously not big on Christianity or organized religion in general. Here's Fox News fawning over her.
what is it about music that can capture our emotions so much better then words? these for me are some of those times:
I'll never forget this tribute performance from The Who in NYC for those that endured the hell that was 9/11. Others played that night but it was the Who who seemed to capture the moment and the emotions:
Live Aid had a profound impact on me in connection with the issue of human and non-human suffering. Noone was better that day then Queen. Its been said this was Freddy Mercury's greatest moment:
I've always associated the Scorpions song Wind of Change with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union. I love this video and it's message of hope and the possibility of progress.
So this past Saturday I was volunteer leafleting on behalf of a local DC animal protection group Compassion Over Killing handing out pro-vegetarian literature in the Adams Morgan neighborhood adjacent to the McDonalds. Overall, it was a good event and probably 2 out of 3 folks on average accepted the literature over the hour I did it. One older African-American woman though did see right through me and recognized my real ulterior motive of the day: white supremacist vegetarian outreach!! Sure I offered her the literature but I only did so after I first offered it to a white person crossing my path. She then eagerly and passionately informed me of my racist ways. BUSTED! Yes, yes, I must admit that I really want white people to go vegetarian but I could care less if any other color of people stop eating animals. The jig is up, vegetarianism is the true path to white power!
BTW, while also leafleting I ran into my favorite blogger Andrew Sullivan with his beloved beagles. I gave him a piece of literature and congratulated him on his blog. He was gracious. Sullivan has written very sympathatically on animal welfare along with being a constant critic of the Bush torture policies, the extreme incompetence of the aforementioned presidency and the constant stupidity of the war on marijuana and especially on the medicinal use of it.
OK, I admit that I’m a freakin talk radio junkie. I’ve been listening to it pretty religiously since the early 90’s. It's also of course dominated by social conservatives. Sucks. I wish that weren’t the case but it is. Regardless, I find it to be frequently a fascinating slice of suburban and middle America (heavy on the Christian, family & Caucasian vibe with a deep genuflection to the military life) and what its thinking/feeling/outraged about. It’s not my way of seeing the world but that’s not why I listen to talk radio anyhow. I listen to challenge my own notions. Anyhow, here goes my clichéd “good, bad and the ugly” breakdown on the playas: The Good Glenn Beck—Even though I find plenty to disagree with, he is, IMO the most compelling, funny, entertaining and creative major talk radio voice in America. Although I tend to agree with him about the danger of Islam, he plays the fear-mongering card way too much with that issue and with illegal immigration (though I agree with him here as well to a large degree). Also, I think he’s intellectually dishonest on environmental issues and his persistent comic ridicule toward the issue of compassion for animals which I feel points to a meaner side of his personality that he hides quite well. The quality of his radio show has obviously suffered since he started his television show where he comes off far more as a demagogue. Here’s Glenn in nice form on his TV show with the amazing Ayaan Hirsi Ali:
Laura Ingraham—I listen to her at least 30 minutes a day before I head off to work. Her self-righteous Catholicism is frequently obnoxious but I give her massive props for how she injects her life details into the show rather seamlessly with wit, charm and humor. A tough interviewer in general. She’s coming along a bit on environmental issues lately and calls herself an animal lover which gets points from me. She’s also the only talk radio person personality that is a fan of alt-country (woo-hoo). I like the way she brings the rest of her crew into the dialogue of the show. Her worst trait by far is how she cuts off and shuts down opposition callers regardless if they have a good point or not. She’s way too much of a bully on that front. Here’s an example of how lame she is on that front on TV with one of my fave folks, the author Sam Harris (along with friend of Abramoff and satan's little helper: Ralph Reed)
Michael Medved—He is probably the most intellectually gifted and philosophically honest of the talk radio social conservatives (although that isn’t exactly saying a lot). I haven’t heard his show since I moved to DC. Kind of miss it. Back in my animal rights days I heard I actually won his golden turkey award for a campaign promoting vegetarianism in Seattle I did with bus advertisements. The ad juxtaposed the idea that if you aren’t willing to eat a beloved cat or dog, why should you eat other animals like cows and pigs? Apparently he wasn’t cool with that comparison.
Bill Handel—I’ve heard his frequently helpful legal advice over the years on weekends. A funny guy if not randomly insane and mean at times with callers. Strikes me as a bit of nihilist. Still, I love his energy and I learn quite a bit on the law when I listen.
Don Imus—Imus is an amazing interviewer of political figures and journalists. His absence has created a huge hole in that format of radio which I think desperately needs to be filled. I miss his show.
The Bad Ed Schultz—Beyond boring and inconsequential stiff from North Dakota. Haven’t heard his show since leaving Seattle and I don’t miss it. He’s alleged to be progressive but I could never understand why that is.
Neil Boortz—A smart guy (yahoo fair tax!) and I’m sympathetic to many of his libertarian ideas but I just find him too mean and angry whenever I randomly tune in. Jerry Doyle—I really want to like Jerry Doyle more but I just don’t find his show has sufficient energy and flow. Some of his ideas and observations definitely resonate with me though. He was just recently dropped in DC.
Dennis Miller—He just started his radio show. He’s okay at this point and I have hopes that he’ll learn the ropes and be much better a few months from now. He’s in the very least an interesting thinker/entertainer to me although I’d be cool if he dropped his obscure references shtick already.
The Ugly Sean Hannity—Mr. ham head. Nobody loves freedom more then Sean Hannity!!! Completely jingoistic. He lacks subtlety of any type. His debate tactics involve beating his opponents over the head with clubs. “You’re a great American Sean” is how callers frequently say hi to Hannity when they go on the air. How is this crap so popular?
Rush Limbaugh—I used to listen to him daily back in the first part of the 90’s when he was at least relevantly subversive and funny at times (he gleefully ripped to shreds the stupidity of the worst political correctness out there). Nowadays he caters to the automaton wing of the Republican Party that doesn’t want to think, engage or have an honest discussion about anything. Limbaugh the OxyContin drug addict who had his maid secure his drugs yet attacks medical marijuana patients doesn’t have a single ounce of integrity in him.
Michael Savage—A nauseating human being although there is no denying his immense talents to mix the personal and political masterfully to make for compelling radio. If Mussolini was still alive (and lived in America), he’d listen to Savage. I’m ashamed to say I find myself frequently listening just because he is so brilliant at cultivating anger and manipulating political discussion and emotions.
Mark Levin—I find nothing redeemable about this angry piece of human debris. He accomplishes nothing for humanity as he foments the ugliest of human emotions demonizing just about anyone who dares register disagreement with his crystal clear worldview. Nobody treats opposition callers with more hate and less civility then this piece of work.
Randi Rhodes—Not an ounce of intellectual honesty in her body. The Michael Moore of talk radio which is to say she rather lie, cheat or grossly manipulate then give an inch in a debate or discussion.
Tom Leykis—Stopped listening to him eons ago. Back in the day he actually was pretty provocative, intelligently subversive and politicially funny but apparently he realized that his smarter type of talk didn’t get the ratings. Now it’s about the lowest common denominator of reaching stupid horny males who aren’t getting laid and need someone to help justify their misogyny.
Sure, he can be an absolute jerk when he doesn’t need to be and yes his arrogance leads him to think he’s smarter and more witty then everyone else (it’s because he almost always is). But when it comes to enriching the debate in America (in books, in magazines, on talk radio and on television) for the issues that matter in our day, Christopher Hitchens is easily the truest heavyweight in popular political discourse today.
What I love about Hitch is that you can’t pigeon-hole him and that he doesn’t have an ounce of fear in taking on all sides of the political spectrum which means he tells the left (where his political roots emanate) that radical Islam threatens Western Civilization and worldwide actively suppresses human freedom throughout the world (e.g. the rights of women, freedom to believe or not believe in whatever you see fit) . He believes the Enlightenment concept of freedom is worth fighting for and that totalitarianism of all types should be taken on and actively opposed. Of course, Hitchens will also tell the same conservatives who might enjoy the above talking points that Christianity (and Islam and Judaism) is a mythology that does more harm then good to society and that the creepy cretins who attack evolution, free thought, homosexuality, stem cell research, etc. are worthy of nothing except fierce ridicule.
I salute you Christopher Hitchens. Thanks for giving hope to those of us who equally despise the foolishness and hypocrisy of both the left and the right. Be true. And now, here’s the great Hitchens in action. Watch them and increase your IQ:
This is classic feisty Hitchens kicking around Sean Hannity (the hamhead), Ralph Reed (member of the Abramoff gang) and Alan Colmes (Dear Alan please grow a spine) in a discussion over the death of Jerry Falwell
Lou Dobbs shows Hitchens some love in a very interesting interview. So inspiring to see this discussion on national TV!!
OK, I'm a loser and have no life. Many many months before an actual ballot is cast, 10 Republican Presidential Candidates debated for 90 minutes for the nomination of their party.
Scariest moment of night: AT LEAST 3 CANDIDATES RAISED THEIR HANDS WHEN ASKED IF THEY DIDN’T BELIEVE IN EVOLUTION! WTF?!? Tommy Thompson Perhaps the best resume and track record of all of the candidates. “Less than zero” charisma. I can’t believe how awkward he is even though he obviously knows what he is talking about. Too bad unattractive people don’t really ever get a fair chance to be president in this day and age. Tom Tancredo Interesting and passionate guy. I think its bullshit the way some on the left tag him as a racist. I do think he is over his head running. Of course that didn’t stop our current president. He might be the most honest of the candidates. He was one of three that raised his hand saying he didn’t believe in evolution! yikes. Mike Huckabee He has quite a few interesting ideas. He did amazing on Imus a couple months ago. Sharp guy. Surprised he’s not taken more seriously in far right circles. His Christianism is scary to me. Like his ideas about taxes. John McCain I confess: He is a bit of a hero to me. I've donated $25 to his campaign. His opening was awful. I don’t get why he’s just not talking TO people instead of AT them. He's looking his age as well. Awkward. He’s a one trick pony tonight blathering on about Iraq. Damn. I’m bummed. Ron Paul IMO by far the most interesting thinker in the race. He kind of comes off as a right wing hippy to me. I can’t believe he is on that stage! He just doesn’t fit the mold as some of these zombies. Jim Gilmore Qualified? Horrible tie. Not much presence. Hasn’t said anything interesting. Yawn. Rudy Giuliani I don’t trust him completely but he can be a bad ass. Obviously he is an amazingly talented and brilliant person. I could reluctantly vote for him as he’s mostly a fiscal conservative and social moderate. Everybody it seems is waiting for the meltdown situation with Rudy getting nailed on abortion. When will it happen? Q: What’s the difference between a Sunni and a Shiite? He freakin nailed the question! Our current president I guarantee couldn’t answer that question. Sam Brownback I don’t think I’ve heard him say anything interesting, ever. Yes, yes, yes, I get the idea you are a Christian already! Every time he talks, he goes back to his Christian values either directly or indirectly. Thank goodness he doesn’t have a prayer. Mitt Romney The whole package but always a bit too slick in a robot’ish kind of way if that makes any sense. A very accomplished man. He loves his God fearing rhetoric. His body language when talking about abortion is shaky. Pretty light on his feet as far as responding to questions go. Romney obviously has extreme dislike for unbelievers. I bet he respects Muslims far more then atheists and agnostics. Duncan Hunter Tool of the military-industrial complex. Hard ass uber-hawk. This guy wants to invade countries and break things. He loves to talk about conflict. His environmental global warming answer was actually OK. Everything in life seems to be a conflict to him. What an ugly perspective on life. Chris Mathews (moderator) Sucked as usual. All hype, no substance. Many questions were embarrassingly bad.
Well this is an odd and interesting piece on older children still breastfeeding. The mother makes a pretty good case, it seems. Since I'm not a breeder, I don't have an opinion on the practice. Visually it is slightly off-putting to watch:
So this is a softball interview for the most part. Ohio Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich is runnning for president again if you haven't heard. He doesn't have a chance in hell this time either though once again I'm sure his supporters will once again have the best drum circles and the most rainbow peace buses of all the candidates on the campaign trail!
In this interview he was actually pretty charming.
While there are a small handful of things I do like about him (vegan/vegetarian, for the decriminalization of marijuana, against mandatory minimums), I could NEVER support him as a candidate for the reasons he is a pacifist and essentially a socialist. In this crazy and violent world I just don't see how pacifism can be taken remotely serious as a philosophy and definitely not as part of a foreign policy for a country like the U.S. And don't get me started on state socialism which Dennis seems to still embrace all too comfortably with his big central government ideas. Regardless, he is an interesting guy and I hope he can inject some interesting debate into the Democrat debates.
So I gotta say that I think Richard Gere is a terrible actor. I’ve also never really liked him and found his Buddhist activism to have a twinge of self-righteous and pretentious flavor to it even though he is obviously sincere and does care. Now, on to the wingnuts in India who went ape shit berserk and publicly burned Richard Gere in effigy at protests across the country because…get this, he kissed and hugged a famous Indian actress at an AIDS awareness event in front of cameras. Gasp! Oh the horror!! BTW, he now faces legal action for the public kiss! It just amazes me sometimes that humanity can be so freakin stupid and yet still evolve somehow. Don't miss the video, it is hysterical! Almost has a Spinal Tap protest feel to it. :-)
head says: Spurs or maybe Mavs heart says: Phoenix Suns (please, oh pretty pretty please!)
for me, the sublime beauty of basketball lies in the full team concept and not in all that NBA marketed superstar individual crap. i guess i'm old school like that but great team basketball is a true joy to play and to watch. enter Steve Nash, the world's greatest gym rat, ever. As a fellow b-ball rodent, the beaver just can't not root for the Phoenix Suns and the way the entire team operates so selflessly and seamlessly to the point that it almost becomes an aesthetic unto itself. beaver 2007 nba playoffs predictions at the end of the post. but first,
steve nash is down with the sickness:
(L)eastern conference round 1 who cares winners: Pistons, Heat, Nets, Cavs western conference round 1 slugfest winners: Mavs, Rockets, Suns, Spurs round 2 eastern: Pistons v Cavs round 2 western: Mavs v gulp, Suns nba finals: Pistons v double gulp, Suns nba finals mvp: Nash possible spoilers: Heat know how to win (ugly). Rockets are healthy.
