O' the day - 11.29.07

Had a really strange dream last night, but at least I can link it to something in "real" life -- it was about The Golden Compass, and the anti-religious meanings ascribed to its text. In the dream, I was defending the book and Phillip Pullman's views; not necessarily because I'm the upholder of his belief system, but more for the anti-censorship angle. I strongly believe that children shouldn't read only books that agree with every tenet of their life; rather, older children, at least, should be exposed to world views that are at odds with their own. Going through life with one's head stuck in the sand may be a comfortable way to live, but you have no idea what others believe, and can't sympathize or even argue with them. You don't have to agree with someone to enjoy them, and you don't have to blinder yourself from opposing viewpoints to keep yourself safe. The world is a large place, and very small at the same time. If you don't open yourself up to the wider world view, you'll never have a true understanding of humanity.

O' the day - 11.28.07

I realize I'm not the first with concerns about installing the pair of Clintons into the White House once again. I realize I'm not the only one to wonder exactly what role the former president would play in his wife's new position. I'm the first to write on my blog, though, so I'm claiming that small victory.

I'm sincerely hoping that after Ms. Clinton wins the Democratic nomination (which I'm about 80% sure she will), the American people will wake up and remember that this couple has been there, done that -- just how different would this new presidency be from the years 1993-2001? Ms. Clinton has stated that her husband would be an ambassador; how long until he tires of the retiring role and starts throwing his former weight around? Do we have a co-presidency? I'm not sure that's necessarily a terrible idea, but I firmly believe that these are not the two to try it -- they're too much in bed with each other (pun very much intended). Politics and marriage shouldn't mix, in my opinion -- there are too many feelings and emotions that carry over from one to the other. I don't know that both relationships, between the same two people, can be successful at the same time.

O' the day - 11.26.07

WWJD?
Likely not park illegally. If you're going to have a proclamation mounted on your car, shouldn't you at least attempt to live up to that statement? My observation is that most often, these drivers are among the worst and least considerate on the road. WWJD, indeed.

O' the day - 11.15.07

Heaven forbid one actually stand up in support of our military -- the best quote of the month comes from a National Book Award nominee at the dinner for potential recipients. Apparently some loud hissing took place when the nominee for the book "God Is Not Great" mentioned that he spent Veteran's Day thanking the soldiers that stood guard over us and our freedom. His rejoinder was classic (and I paraphrase, but closely): "Your hissing is creepy and mediocre. If you could hear yourself, you wouldn't be doing it." Although I may not agree with his book, kudos to Hitchens!

O' the day - 11.14.07

It's a sad day - we love you, Vern. May you rest in eternal peace.

I don't have anything more to say. It's been a bleak month, and year.

O' the day - 11.12.07

I'm still not quite sure where I sit on the issue of privacy, or the lack of it, concerning government and its ability to see my personal information. Yes, I'm completely sure that I have done nothing that would be of any interest to the feds, and I don't foresee that situation changing any time soon. However, I do like the idea of having my business be my business, and not out for the world to see. In this quote-unquote global economy, though, with the proliferation of life on the net, I don't see privacy as nearly as private as it was pre-1990s. I think a quote from an article on CNN today said it best: privacy no longer means anonymity. Unless one wants to live completely web-, account-, and phone-free, I'm not sure that one can be completely anonymous in today's world. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.

O' the day - 11.05.07

It really irks me to no end to listen to (so-called) workers who will complain to the nth degree about a colleague's efforts (or lack of), yet don't notice the giant redwood in their own visual field. Yes, I know you're angry that you weren't given a promotion due solely to the fact that you've managed to sit on your butt with the same company for the last 15 years. However, that does not give you a right to assume that another person, doing the work of at least three or four of you, has slacked off, due to the fact that he's critically ill. Somehow, in some way that has become something done on purpose -- as if he's enjoying his stay in the lovely vacation paradise of the ICU.