"On a happier note" written by James on estrip.org

10/23/08 04:37 - 49ºF - ID#46282

On a happier note

So, I find it difficult to not get angry sometimes. And I don't fault myself for getting angry. The trick isn't never being angry, but dispelling that anger. And so, to no longer be angry at Sarah "me so awesome for not aborting fake person" Palin I just had to look at this video.

You should watch it, even if it looks familiar. Trust me.

Permalink: On_a_happier_note.html
Words: 73
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/23/08 02:29 - 49ºF - ID#46278

Palin: I'm so AWESOME!

Way to go Sarah Palin!

You are such a great, principled woman. You could of had an abortion, but you didn't! You would have been tempted to abort one of those horrible, ugly, demi-human's with Down's syndrome. But you are so filled with conviction that you didn't kill this disgusting offspring.

Dobson reminded Palin that he sent her a letter after her infant son, Trig was born saying the baby's birth was "a powerful testimony" to the "sanctity of human life." Trig was born 6 months ago with Down Syndrome.

She told Dobson that Trig's birth was "an opportunity for me to really be walking the walk, and not just talking the talk" on her opposition to abortion.

maybe I am just a little pissed off at this woman, maybe I am a little sensitive about this issue lately, maybe it is the way this article was framed. But these remarks do not come off well, as if there was doubt that an absolute stance against abortion applied to other human beings we value less.

gardenmama writes at 04:55:38 10/23/08 - Comment #40805: Absolutely with you on that - mom could use a little humility and compassion. I have alway had the same difficulty with the limiting access issue - it's a brutal class distinction that frequently makes me want to just scream.

james writes at 04:48:26 10/23/08 - Comment #40803: Mr.Mike. She is a voice by proxy. Because of her genetic closeness to Trig she is magically an advocate. And having lived with this for six months I doubt she has any real idea what to advocate for, not that her life's entirety has given her particular insight into much of anything.

G-Mama: That is why I have always found the state's right argument to be false. Limiting access only grants access to those with the means to obtain them. And while I don't believe in a utopia where anyone can get anything, this is an unnecessary restriction. I will say for Trig though, how great that he is born into a family that can afford to give him a high-quality life that families of lesser means can't afford. Good for him. I hope he teaches his mother a little humility and compassion.

gardenmama writes at 04:31:21 10/23/08 - Comment #40802: Maybe it's because I'm a woman, but it seems to me that the real point here is, she had a CHOICE. She can blow her own horn, and so can everyone else who wants to - but she still had a CHOICE!!!

Maybe someone else wouldn't have made the same decision because they know how difficult it can be on a family and on the individual with a disability, or because they just don't feel they have what it takes to give a child what it may need (disabled child or not). Life is different when you have money and power and can access what you and your children need.

mrmike writes at 03:52:32 10/23/08 - Comment #40799: I don't know. I'm the sibling of two special needs guys and she isn't the advcocate that my folks could used when my brothers were young. Only six months in, she is just starting down a what is going to be a tough road for parents, child, and the whole family. I don't say this to denigrate but it rings sort of hollow at the moment. If you are an advocate, you advocate. To pronounce yourself as going to be a voice seems a little empty. Be a voice, that brings people in and would give her some actual credibility.

jason writes at 03:23:18 10/23/08 - Comment #40798: I don't particularly like John Roberts pretty much immediately talking about Trig's paternity, or Capitalists talking about how he and others like him are a financial burden to society, or any of that stuff.

I don't think anyone should be given "credit" for not destroying their baby. Okay Sarah, yeah you walk the walk, that's nice I guess, but most parents don't destroy their children. Oooh fer sure!

james writes at 03:04:36 10/23/08 - Comment #40794: Bravo, way to not abort a disgusting retard!

I don't think the value of an individual is any less because they have Down's syndrome (and I am not implying that you do). But there is an element to these stories that prop up the notion that they are worth less.

And this baby has been on a non-stop PR campaign for mommy dearest since the convention. She is using him constantly to talk about abortion, and that I find deplorable. "See, I should have flushed it but I didn't! Way to go me." barf.

joshua writes at 02:56:31 10/23/08 - Comment #40792: I think she should be applauded for that particular choice she made. She did do the hard thing, after all. I don't think the insinuation is too unreasonable, given that it seems that many people might not have made the same choice knowing the truth about the health of the baby.

We know you are chafing at the mentioning of the lady's name, but c'mon man. Please set it aside for just a second!

Permalink: Palin_I_m_so_AWESOME_.html
Words: 182
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/23/08 09:13 - 38ºF - ID#46269

Jacob Bronowski

There has been some chatter about Carl Sagan's Cosmos being available online in the chatter pannel, which got me thinking.

The first series that got me hooked on these epic, far reaching TV series was Jacob Bronowski's The Ascent of Man. He was a prominent mathematician, but his mind was not bound by mere numbers. He was more of a numbers-based anthropologist, able to dissect what it is to be human through the lens of science. Much like one of my favorite authors, Lauren Eisley.

The Ascent of Man talked about not just science, but the scientific mind and the unraveling of the human story. Filmed at the height of cold war tension, the series is an appeal to the scientific reason which both brought us to the verge of annihilation, and could being us back. Here is the final clip, where Bronowski goes to Auschwitz, where many of his friends and family members were killed.

It is one of the most moving pieces of film I have ever seen.

Permalink: Jacob_Bronowski.html
Words: 177
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/22/08 07:27 - 38ºF - ID#46257

Fucking Idiot in Chief.

I have said it before and I will say it again, John McCain should have fired his entire political operation months ago. Look at that scarf!

I guess while in Neiman Marcus spending $115,000.00 she asked the sales clerk "I need a political scarf, the one for my party. Is that the one with the Elephant or the Donkey?"
and the good clerk said hiding the smile "The donkey, definitely the donkey. You betch'ya."

gardenmama writes at 04:50:41 10/23/08 - Comment #40804: Re: libertad's comment - "How many are LEFT?" LEFT - that's hysterical!

james writes at 11:06:32 10/23/08 - Comment #40780: Well Taddykins, she dropped 150k at a few different retailers. NM, Macy's, Saks, to name a few. I am not sure if she picked up this gem at any of those, but it is hilarious to speculate.

fellyconnelly writes at 11:00:34 10/23/08 - Comment #40778: hahahahaha awesome!

libertad writes at 10:55:48 10/23/08 - Comment #40776: No luck on the website. I'm thinking about calling them with a super femme voice and say "I just have to have that scarf that Sarah Palin was wearing at the latest rally. How many are left?!"

libertad writes at 10:50:44 10/23/08 - Comment #40775: Thank you for a great laugh. I didn't even notice the donkeys at first because I was so taken aback by the absolutely hideous scarf itself. Now I wonder if they have that listed on their website...

jason writes at 09:12:58 10/23/08 - Comment #40767: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA......HAHAHAHAHA. Unbelievable.

james writes at 10:11:33 10/22/08 - Comment #40762: Paul: the story isn't fake. It was all in the campaign's financial disclosure reports.

But christ she must be dumb.

paul writes at 10:04:13 10/22/08 - Comment #40761: Is that for real? It seriously blows my mind that she can be so dumb. I mean even if the story is fake about the shopping experience, she is wearing a red, white, and blue donkey scarf that says vote on it, lol.

gardenmama writes at 07:58:19 10/22/08 - Comment #40745: I'd say definitely an ASS!

janelle writes at 07:33:29 10/22/08 - Comment #40744: Or a goat??

tinypliny writes at 07:33:03 10/22/08 - Comment #40742: Hahaha... $115K in erroneous scarves.

janelle writes at 07:32:42 10/22/08 - Comment #40741: Maybe they are moose or caribou.

Permalink: Fucking_Idiot_in_Chief_.html
Words: 75
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/22/08 08:50 - 34ºF - ID#46246

And the Ass Saw the Angel...

... and that angel had pea soup on his chin.

John McCain got an endorsement today that is right out of the Onion. John McCain has said he will be tough on terror. He wont come home from Iraq in defeat. John McCain is going to crack down on rogue states like Iran and their all powerful president. So it is no surprise that McCain should receive the endorsment of...al-Qaeda?

This requires presence of an impetuous American leader such as McCain, who pledged to continue the war till the last American soldier," the message said.
"Then, al-Qaeda will have to support McCain in the coming elections so that he continues the failing march of his predecessor, Bush."
"If al-Qaeda carries out a big operation against American interests," it said, "this act will be support of McCain because it will push the Americans deliberately to vote for McCain so that he takes revenge for them against al-Qaeda. Al-Qaeda then will succeed in exhausting America till its last year in it."

What a chilling retelling of The Emperor's New Cloths.

Permalink: And_the_Ass_Saw_the_Angel_.html
Words: 180
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/21/08 01:48 - 41ºF - ID#46232

We Come in Peace

Never has the 70's been so monumentally awesome.

Permalink: We_Come_in_Peace.html
Words: 16
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/20/08 04:58 - 59ºF - ID#46212

Happy Meaversary

This is my 300th journal. I think a month ago I had 250, but I am working hard to make semi-quality posts for you (e:Paul) so we meet our quota.

I have been so busy this summer I didn't get a chance to take as many photos as I would have liked, but here are a few I took with my homemade pinhole camera. I took all of these on that walkway ontop the tide break on the Niagara river.

It makes nice little abstractions from objects on account of the lack of focus. Often the lens will be dirty, and being just a pinhole it gets some cool color anomalies.

But sometimes a regular landscape looks like something soaked in gin.

This winter, I need to do more indoor photos. Which means bigger, badder light bulbs!

Permalink: Happy_Meaversary.html
Words: 143
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/20/08 08:50 - 41ºF - ID#46206

Costume

I am still working on costume ideas. I fear that I am an idea man and incapable of executing anything I put my brain too.

1)Dungeon Master: no, not the kind wearing leather chaps. Rather, get together a hideous costume with a nerdy t-shirt, a fake beard, and a bottle of "the dew" and there ya go, DM.

2)DMILF. As I posted earlier, doing a sexy Dungeon Master could be hilarious, but I don't want to glue a four sided die into my belly button. And again, chaps might enter into it.

3)Wall Street Hobo. After the crash, Manhatten Jones decided to hang up his brief case and ride the rails, searchin for that big hand out in the skies. I like this costume because it gives a good excuse to be too drunk.

Permalink: Costume.html
Words: 134
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/19/08 09:05 - 49ºF - ID#46199

Weekend from WTF

I went down to Ohio to canvass for Obama. For a dying city, Cleveland looks very nice, had a vibrant night life, and had plenty of new construction. Think about it Buffalo, are you so different? Update that skyline.

I am guessing the total cost of the trip was around $9,000 for 33 people. That includes hotel rooms, ten rental cars, a bus, and food. This tab was picked up by a union and so we canvassed only union folks as not to violate any campaign laws. Fine.

I talked to maybe three people at most. The other thirty people I was designated to canvass were not home. The experiences of the other 32 were identical. Thankfully, I had the company of two fine gentlemen who worked on the campaign this summer with me and I couldn't have asked for better company. We would knock out a days work in an hour plus driving time. The other groups would go all together, four people on a single door. So, I spent the majority of my weekend waiting around to do more work that didn't exist. Very nerve wracking.

But hey, I got to see lots of Cleveland and her distant suburbs and I got to hear Democrats disguise their racism with "I am still undecided". Bitch please, this shit has been going on for a year now. If you are still undecided it is because you don't like black men.

Goodbye forever Cleveland suburbs other thank Shaker Heights and Lakewood.

james writes at 08:37:05 10/20/08 - Comment #40603: Joshua: I think people have more than enough information to make a decision. Obama and McCain are not very close on policy issues. I may have bought Hilary reluctance a few months ago, but polling has shown that effect to have disappeared mostly.

You may have a laundry list of questions Joshua, and that list is probably filled with legitimate issues. But you are not a Democrat. You are also not a union member. Both of those demographics are going to Obama overwhelmingly. Why would such people not want to support Obama?

metalpeter writes at 06:35:14 10/20/08 - Comment #40584: (e:Joshua) makes a great point about Hillary that I didn't think of and that makes a lot of sense. I do think race is a factor and someone isn't going to say that they don't want to vote for the black guy/terrorist when they like his ideas. I think that is a real factor for a lot of people. But I think there is another factor, the debates. I didn't see all of all of them. But both guys did the same thing they both said that they had nothing to do with any thing Bush did or the Economic Crisis and said the other guy was part of it. Half the time when they answered a question they didn't get specific and often didn't even answer the question dirrectly so how can you trust somoeone like that. The other factor is just because you are registered doesn't mean you are going to vote. I think there are a lot of people who don't really like either guy. But see when someone comes to your door you can't, well I don't like McCAin because of a women isn't capble of being the comanader and cheif and you can't say, Fuck that Nigga... and you might not like either one of them and they both blam the other so you say "I don't know"

joshua writes at 01:27:53 10/20/08 - Comment #40568: I've got a plausible theory, which I think you'll probably begrudgingly acknowledge. I say begrudgingly because IMO anyway, it is a ridiculous but truthy concept. A lot of those white, blue collar Democrats wanted Hillary and are pissed off.... still after all this time. I mean really, I watched Geraldine Ferarro about a month ago admit on FNC that she still wouldn't endorse Barack Obama. That should have changed by then, let alone now.

This is just me being me, but if people are still undecided I have a laundry list of questions relating to how that could be.

I think racism is the last and weakest excuse for why people won't vote for Barack Obama. There is a hell of a lot more to criticize about the man other than his skin color, and the mere mentioning of racism is starting to really grate on those white, union democrats. People such as my father, for example, although I'm sure he is voting for Obama. I also think a lot of those people are feeling forcibly compelled by Obama supporters to support someone they weren't (and apparently aren't) sure about, which is also annoying them.

james writes at 01:12:30 10/20/08 - Comment #40567: Oh, it isn't representative of a larger group. But something fishy is up with white, registered union democrats being undecided.

jason writes at 01:04:42 10/20/08 - Comment #40565: Well, I certainly can't (won't) quibble with you over guesses and gut feelings, or how it is representative of a larger group. So I'm just going to drop it.

james writes at 09:56:06 10/20/08 - Comment #40558: Maybe YOU don't like terrorists, Drew.

drew writes at 09:47:43 10/20/08 - Comment #40557: Maybe they just don't like terrorists, James.

brit writes at 09:12:27 10/20/08 - Comment #40556: I had several old bints say they were undecided then say they weren't sure about a black president when pushed for more details in Ohio. My response was 'well, come on now...he's not that black' I of course was being sarcastic but some of them agreed with me and said they would think about it!

james writes at 09:12:08 10/20/08 - Comment #40555: Jason,

I got this impression for several reasons. They were registered democrats. I was also canvassing for a democrat running for state house, they were voting for him. They are union people. Now, all of that should indicate that Obama should be their choice. But, after a year of this race they are still undecided. I am guessing it is because Obama is black and they don't want to vote for the black man. There is no reason to be undecided at this point.

Voting for McCain does not make you racist. Voting for Obama does not make you free of racism. But being undecided when you should be voting democrat sure is fishy to me.

jim writes at 09:01:55 10/20/08 - Comment #40554: Jason, he talked to these people directly and got the impression that they were a bit racist, by the way they talked about Obama.

jason writes at 08:59:44 10/20/08 - Comment #40553: Just because someone is undecided doesn't mean they are racist. If you do vote for Obama does it certify you as non-racist, earn you a membership card and get you off the hook forever?

libertad writes at 08:50:59 10/20/08 - Comment #40551: I can't stand that there are undecided voters. If you can't make a decision by this point then they should just stay home and spare the rest of us from their ignorance. Clearly there is enough difference between the choices to make one.

On another note, I think I would be freaked out if 4 people came to my door to persuade my vote. It is almost mob/vigilanty like.

Permalink: Weekend_from_WTF.html
Words: 247
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/17/08 01:09 - 51ºF - ID#46158

Bobby Conn