Living through history...

I know everyone (i.e. my Mum, Lisa, Lisa's family etc) thinks I'm nuts. But really, why I get so excited by Obama is that people don't seem to realize how historically important this is, and how lucky we are to be living in these times. I'm not talking about him being 'the first Black Nominee' or anything like that (although that's cool enough), I'm talking about the obvious (to me anyway) conclusion that Obama is a once in a generation leader, someone that will fundamentally change not just the country, but the world that we live in. As is often the case in the course of human history, it's often at the worst of times that a leader emerges to lead us through and out of those times, forward to a better place and time. Now, I believe, is such a time.

So, I get excited, and frustrated (looks like angry to someone at the receiving end but it really isn't), at my inability to fully explain to people why this man is (or can be) so important to so many people in the world. Not because his policies are radically different (they aren't). Not because he's black (he is). Not because he's an idealist (he isn't). It's because, more than anyone in this time, he is able to harness the good will, and ingenuity, and spirit that have made this country, and this world, what it is today.

In the end, Obama is just a dude with some good ideas, and a great way with speeches, but the people who believe in the direction he articulates, are the ones that will be empowered and inspired to start to go down that long and difficult path.

So anyways, here's Michelle, his wife. Take a look at this and try to remain cynical...

Obamas Sister!

This is interesting. Gives you an idea of who Barack is from his sisters perspective. Like her brother, seems like a genuine and thoughtful person. Enjoy!

Click To Play

Country I Love...

Nice ad. Obamas first 'General Election' ad to run in 18 states. It's aimed at people who don't know who he is, or have only heard mistruths and rumors from those Wingnutty emails. I like this ad - the more people see of this guy, I think the more they'll like him...

360 Degrees of Obama

This is way cool. And remember now, this isn't a Rock Star appearance or a football game - these are regular folks going to a Political Rally - talk about energized!

It's a Cyclorama Shot

Fatherhood...

Not Obama's fathers day speech (which was good btw) but something actually from waaaaaaay back in 2007 ;-) Just a little podcast, done before he was really a viable candidate, so very much genuine and 'unfiltered'...

White Fright!

This was from a few weeks back just before the PA primary, but I thought it was funny. Stewart (as always) distills it down and asks the 'hard questions' :-) Of course, 'never a truer word spoken in jest' - there are plenty of people who really think this way...

CFR

I've mentioned this once or twice before, about an organization which some think is 'running the world' (or wants to). Frankly, I don't believe it, or at least I don't believe there's a group of folks sitting in a big room plotting to 'take over the world' or anything like that. I don't really think my Mom does, either, but I think she believes that their influence is greater than might be accepted by the general public. Who's right? Well, here's the comment from my Mom, and the link - decide for yourself!

This is the link to a long essay on the CFR and NWO which you mentioned on your blog. It's well worth reading I think and perhaps an explanation of why you think I'm paranoid... which the intro to the essay also mentions as a common reaction when faced with the info...do read the whole essay if you can... it goes into the history and good detail on what it's all about.

...and here's the link

We WIN!

That's it - it's effectively over. Obama wins BIG in North Carolina, and holds it to a 2 point victory for Clinton in Indiana. To understand why this effectively seals the deal for Obama, we need to understand the backdrop.

For the last 6 weeks, Obama has been off message as he's been attacked by Clinton with a series of basically Republican talking points. The most effective of these was the Reverend Wright. This is Obama's pastor, and a long time friend. His Race speech in Philadelphia (which I posted here previously) was an attempt to address that. It was, by any objective measure, a fine speech, and went a long way to putting critics voices to rest. But, then up pops Wright again on a promotional tour, saying more stuff and giving the critics more ammunition (and remember here, the point is not whether what he said was right, in fact it largely was, but whether it could be used by the other side, which it surely could). Obama was justifiably angry, because (he said) he profoundly disagreed with the remarks, but in fact one could also infer that he felt betrayed by someone who would have known the trouble it would cause, and went ahead anyway. So, he gave another speech in which he roundly denounced Wright this time, with no room for conciliation or disagreement on what he meant.

The denouncement did the trick, and for the last 10 days or so this speech, allied with Clinton's push for a 'gas tax holiday' for the summer, which would save the average driver just $30, seems to have allowed Obama to get back on message. People recognized the gas tax holiday for what it was - political pandering, and Obama played on this, pointing out that it was precisely the 'politics as usual' that he was here to change.

On to last night, where poll averages were showing Obama ahead in North Carolina by 5 or 6 points, and Clinton ahead in Indiana by the same amount. Instead, Obama blew the lid off North Carolina, bringing in a 14 point victory, and holding Clinton to a 2 point (or less!) spread in Indiana - hardly convincing for Clinton, who really needed to win convincingly in Indiana and at least beat expectations in North Carolina, to continue her 'this is still a close race' narrative.

Even the myopic Main Stream Media (MSM) saw the writing on the wall, and this morning the expectation is that, although she may continue the race, the contest is (barring a completely unforseen event) effectively over.

Hillary's speech last night was upbeat, of course, but slightly less aggressive than we have seen, and slightly more conciliatory. For his part, Obamas speech was classic oratory, at once both conciliatory to the Democratic base, and also assertively laying out why he is running for President - a wake up call McCain that the game is ON!

Ron Paul for Obama?

Yeah, that's right, you heard it correctly - Ron Paul supports Obama. He fell short of endorsing him, but it's interesting to hear him say what I've long thought and argued - that, notwithstanding the massive policy differences between Obama and Paul, they are in fact closer than you would imagine if you just look at the traditional left/right divide. Obama is a former constitutional professor, and Paul is interested in defending the constitution from the BushCo crooks and others. Since McCain is advocating four more years of the same thing, with no accountability for the crimes and systematic deconstruction of the constitution over the last 7 years, why would Paul support McCain?

Anyways, whoever Paul officially endorses eventually (if anyone), it's interesting to see this, and confirms my Mom's argument that he is not, in fact, one of the criminals involved. For me, it increases my respect of the man, and confirms my argument (shouted loudly last night to a confused Republican) that if you love America, the Constitution, and the Republican party, you should be voting for Obama - if he restores the rule of law and the Constitution over the next 4 years, well good for him, and if he doesn't, then the revitalized and 'cleaned up' Republican party can take a crack at it in 2012!

Here is the link to CNN

May the Force be with Him!

This tickled me. Maaaaaan there's people with WAY too much time on their hands :-) Actually, it's pretty cool, and if you're going to mess around with video and have fun in the age of YouTube, why not hit the 'Dark Side' where it hurts! Enjoy!

Henry Root

My Mum just reminded me about Henry Root, man was he FUNNY! This was actually an author, William Donaldson, had a wild and crazy life, became most famous for his letters to various prominent people, all in charcater as 'Henry Root' and ex-fishmonger and prominent Right Wing nutcase. He'd send people 5 pounds for their 'cause', completely missing the point of it all, and incidentally threatening to turn up on their doorsteps at specific times and places, to the panicked replies from the subject.

Anyways, very funny stuff, I'll try and find some examples...

UPDATE - died in 2005. Here's the obit in the Guardian...

I'm 36!!!!

Yay! According to this little gizmo, I'm 36 (in gonzo years, 45 actually), and I'm going to live until 83!!! Hoorah! Kind of cool little thing, it asks you all sorts of questions and calculates your 'real' age and life expectancy. Right on! I knew that 45 was the new 35!!!

http://www.embedtube.com/uploads/33101407Realage.swf

Heffalump Alert!

My Mum sent me this! Very cool! It's an Elephant that can paint! Apparently they are sentient creatures, sociable and so on... Makes you think, really, about the way they are hunted. They seem to be such gentle creatures...

Cut and Paste...

This made me chuckle. I've been trying to get Mum to start her own Blog, and I have to say she's actually pretty good now at the whole computer thing, so I think she can do it. But once in a while, she'll send me something that makes me realize that very basic stuff, that I think is something that 'everyone' knows, is not always common knowledge - and of course, why would it be? We're not born with a computer attached to us!! :-) Anyways, here's the passage that made me chuckle, when Mum was talking about how she answers my emails...

Even with a simple web address - I have to get my little notebook, very carefully and accurately copy the entire address out in pencil, then I go back to the email I'm sending you, and then carefully type it all in again. I suspect that if I highlight the address, then do something else (?) it should show up in the email... but how???

Yes folks, that's right - she's talking about cut and paste :-)

Right ON Obama!

Really, if you saw the 'debate' last night (or heard about it) you may be feeling as angry/sad/frustrated/disgusted as me. 'Why don't you wear a flag pin?' I dunno, would it bring back the 4000 soldiers and marines killed in Iraq? Provide decent Health Care? Educate our kids? Even bring the price of gas down to $1.30 where it was before Bush and his bunch of criminals slashed their way to power? Because if so, I'm guessing he'd wear pink rabbit ears! But truth is, it ain't, and the whole question is a refuge for dimwits and scoundrels to take people's attention away from what a disaster we are living through! Anyways, he handles it a lot better than I would in his position, guess that's why he's running for Prez... Take a look...

If

[IF]

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

--Rudyard Kipling

Dad

...and here's one about my Dad, sadly gone (but not forgotten!). I think I'm a pretty good mix of my Mum and my Dad...

My Dad's name was John. He was a great guy, although I didn't really appreciate that for most of my life, maybe my whole life. People say that being a parent is the most satisfying or fulfilling thing they've done, and maybe that's so. But for me, it's the most frustrating thing I've ever done. I'm used to dealing with computers. You tell them what to do and they do it. If they do something different or wrong, it isn't the computers fault, it's mine, because I programmed it wrongly. Kids are different. You tell them what you want them to do and they go and do something completely different, or not not at all. If a kid were something you got from Toys R Us, you'd go and get your money back because it doesn't work properly.

So, my Dad was, I think, and in retrospect, a good guy. A very good guy. We all (or mostly anyway) think that about our father, but I really think he was. I remember his patience, which had to be stretched pretty thin dealing with four kids. I remember how he'd turn red before he'd lose his patience, but not so often that it's the main thing I remember. I remember he had a quiet way about him, a gentle way, that drew people to him, made people comfortable and open around him. I remember he smiled a lot. He had a funny sense of humor that I may have inherited, and many of his so called 'Scottish Jokes' (read: Silly) live on in me.

Jazz was a big part of my Dad's life, of who he was. Creativity, actually, was really what he was about. He had a creative side to him, that had long ago been subsumed by the need to take care of his family, but in his later years he began to exercise his creativity again, through taking an Art degree through the Open University (like todays online Courses), through pottery, through painting and drawing, and just being interested in the world around him.

Years later, when I became more aware of the world around me, not just as somewhere to live, but as somewhere to appreciate at many levels, I came upon the poem 'If' by Rudyard Kipling. Maybe it was my Mum or maybe my Dad who first showed that to me, but years later, after his death, it spoke to me as a Father to his Son. The qualities that he tried, by example, to show to me, are all there, and when I read that poem it makes me think of him.

So now I have two kids who I try to parent, and Adam has learned 'If', and he doesn't appreciate it either. And I play both kids 'Peter and the Wolf' by Prokofiev, and they don't appreciate that. And I listen to old Jazz tunes, and try to be patient, and do my best to guide and educate and encourage the kids to be open, and generous, and thoughtful, and loving, and free of hate, and honest - and they don't appreciate any of it, just as I never appreciated my Father. But maybe one day, they will, I hope, as I appreciate my Father now, and as I carry him with me, every day, to try and be as good a man as he was.

Brian

I'm going to close down my separate 'People' blog because I barely have time to post to this, let alone multiple blogs. So, here's one of my first posts about my buddy Brian...

This is a funny guy. I mean really funny. Laugh out loud gasp for breath 'Did he just say that?' funny. How does he get to be so funny? Well he has a strange way of looking at things, which is to say, it's a very honest and direct way, and, more than that, he just says whatever pops into his head. He's not trying to entertain anyone, he just has funny thoughts and he says them.

So, this isn't his funniest by any means, but it's what made me start this particular blog so I could write stuff down - Brian doesn't do himself any favors, he would be the first to admit, and I dread his late night phone calls in case it's his last one and he's calling to say goodbye.

Brian has been seeing Sarah (on and off) for a loooong while. She decided to try some diet pills from China, which, if I'm not mistaken, are chock full of ephedra, or whatever the name for that is in Chinese. So, she orders these pills on the internet, and when she receives them also gets four 'Chinese Viagra' pills. Brian, deciding he'd like to try these out, but being strangely anxious about certain areas of his life (whilst also demonstrating complete abandon in others), decides to go to the pharmacy to ask what's in them. The conversation, I'm told, goes something like this -

Brian - Can you tell me what's in these 'Chinese Viagra' pills I'm about to take?

Pharmacist - Let me see, hmmm, well, all the ingredients are in Chinese, so although I can tell you it's from China, I can't tell you what's in it.

Brian - So do you think it's safe to take?

Pharmacist - Well it is manufactured to Chinese safety standards, so maybe it'll be ok...

Brian - Dude, have you seen all the toy recalls recently from China? If that's their safety standard, I'm going to leave it - give me one of those Levitra's!

(Pharmacist cracks up)

Real Conservatives

This guy highlights what I've been saying for a while. By any sane standards, many 'conservative' people are not considered so by todays 'Bizzaroworld' standards...

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/189549.php

ABC Debate Cr*pathon!

Really, if you want to know why US Media sucks, take a look at the debate last night on ABC with Gibson and Stephanopoulos. What a disaster! No real questions about real issues, just an endless crapfest of pointless questions about manufactured political 'controversies'. What a shame. What happened to good journalism? I'm all for giving politicians a hard time, asking hard questions, and making sure they answer them, completely and honestly, but this? Garbage.

The debate is not up yet, so here's some post comments from Olbermanns show...