Hmm, this might be my first mobile entry. Long story short - I am going back to SF for work again. Three days in SF, one day in Sacramento and a redeye back home.
Joshua's Journal
My Podcast Link
01/18/2010 10:35 #50845
Back to walk (fly) the earth01/13/2010 15:32 #50810
Why I left the GOPIt is because I cannot relate to social conservatism or the ridiculous machinations of phonies like Pat Robertson. Wanna get sick? Click the link and watch -
Pat Robertson - you are a fucking disgrace to Christianity and to humanity in general. We've got thousands dead because of an earthquake - a legitimate catastrophe - and all you can think about is your objection to voodoo? You've lost, or perhaps never understood, the concept of God's grace. You are the very embodiment of what it means to be a disservice to that which you claim to be.
When I think of Christians I think of people like Drew Ludwig, not some rich, bigoted, racist white guy who occasionally comes down from his multimillion dollar mansion to let us know exactly how shitty the world is outside of his fascist Christian mindset. Pat Robertson makes Drew's work all that much harder because when outright lunatics like Pat Robertson speak their mind, guess who is unfairly left to explain away the nonsense?
You know what - some day I might have a kid out of wedlock. Who knows? It isn't outside of the realm of possibility. If so, I would never tolerate a man like Pat Robertson telling ME that my child is somehow lesser in God's eyes. I don't even think Pat Robertson has a connection to God any longer, if he ever did.
I cannot describe in words how much I loathe people like Pat Robertson. So tell me Pat, how is this tirade advancing the Lord's work? The answer is that it does not - you're a discombobulated old fool. Yep, St. Peter is going to be happy the day he meets you. I'm sure he'll be fascinated with the message you've been spreading all these years. Pat Robertson - you aren't a Christian at all, from my perspective.
Pat Robertson - you are a fucking disgrace to Christianity and to humanity in general. We've got thousands dead because of an earthquake - a legitimate catastrophe - and all you can think about is your objection to voodoo? You've lost, or perhaps never understood, the concept of God's grace. You are the very embodiment of what it means to be a disservice to that which you claim to be.
When I think of Christians I think of people like Drew Ludwig, not some rich, bigoted, racist white guy who occasionally comes down from his multimillion dollar mansion to let us know exactly how shitty the world is outside of his fascist Christian mindset. Pat Robertson makes Drew's work all that much harder because when outright lunatics like Pat Robertson speak their mind, guess who is unfairly left to explain away the nonsense?
You know what - some day I might have a kid out of wedlock. Who knows? It isn't outside of the realm of possibility. If so, I would never tolerate a man like Pat Robertson telling ME that my child is somehow lesser in God's eyes. I don't even think Pat Robertson has a connection to God any longer, if he ever did.
I cannot describe in words how much I loathe people like Pat Robertson. So tell me Pat, how is this tirade advancing the Lord's work? The answer is that it does not - you're a discombobulated old fool. Yep, St. Peter is going to be happy the day he meets you. I'm sure he'll be fascinated with the message you've been spreading all these years. Pat Robertson - you aren't a Christian at all, from my perspective.
01/12/2010 19:49 #50807
OuchieYesterday we were trying to figure out where to take Dad for food - a stroke of brilliance revealed Lagniappes - Dad would love it!
So, we stood for 10 minutes telling Dad how much we love this place, how the food is great and we'd be positive that he'd enjoy it. I told him about the full alligator roast he used to do, how you can smell the restaurant all around the block, thus suffocating and negating that other ridiculous and contrived spot on the corner. Hey Jay, let's get the takeout menu and put together our order! Man, I haven't had this in a while Dad, I can't wait!
Oh, hey, are they open today?
FYI, Lagniappes is closed on Mondays!
What a hilarious and spectacular letdown.
So, we stood for 10 minutes telling Dad how much we love this place, how the food is great and we'd be positive that he'd enjoy it. I told him about the full alligator roast he used to do, how you can smell the restaurant all around the block, thus suffocating and negating that other ridiculous and contrived spot on the corner. Hey Jay, let's get the takeout menu and put together our order! Man, I haven't had this in a while Dad, I can't wait!
Oh, hey, are they open today?
- SCREEEEEEEEECCCCCCCCCHHHHHHH***
FYI, Lagniappes is closed on Mondays!
What a hilarious and spectacular letdown.
lilho - 01/12/10 23:41
i hate that. my fav taco place was closed for a while... open again!
i hate that. my fav taco place was closed for a while... open again!
12/31/2009 14:00 #50705
2010I'd make resolutions, but what is the point? They are only aspirations with mostly feeble commitments behind them... so I suppose I've resolved to admit the pointlessness and tedium behind New Year's resolutions once and for all!
All I'd like is for this next year to be better than the last. I can't wait to see what that all means, but really what I'm hoping for is something good to happen to me that I cannot imagine right now.
All I'd like is for this next year to be better than the last. I can't wait to see what that all means, but really what I'm hoping for is something good to happen to me that I cannot imagine right now.
tinypliny - 01/01/10 05:09
In contrast, I have so many resolutions, I am having a hard time keeping count. I think the whole fun is making so many resolutions that its fun to revel in your own mediocrity after a while.
In contrast, I have so many resolutions, I am having a hard time keeping count. I think the whole fun is making so many resolutions that its fun to revel in your own mediocrity after a while.
12/15/2009 13:45 #50566
Byron Brown Shows Who Is In ChargeAnd it is not him, but the unions.
This is good news and a step forward, but why did Byron Brown have to ask for the permission of the union?
Answer: "Well, you know Josh, there were unionized county parks workers who need to be guaranteed that they will be unionized as city parks workers."
Why is it that we cannot have any progress, any goodness, any kind of positivity in our city without having to take the first step of kissing the ring of some labor boss asshole? I know I'm missing details so I would absolutely love for somebody to fill me in as to why having to cope with the union as a first step was necessary simply to continue the status quo w/r/t the Conservancy, under the auspices of our uberpoliticized/uberunionized City Hall. Maybe this is a technicality that I shouldn't be worked up over - either way, I'd like to know.
While I feel like I should be happy that it looks like the Conservancy will be managing the parks, to what extent will the union interfere with the management of the parks, seeing as we've just been told that certain county parks workers will be unionized as city workers? Will they have no authority over the handful of parks that the Conservancy manages? To what extent will the city be allowed to interfere with personnel decisions w/r/t the Conservancy? I've got a lot of questions and a lot of suspicions, but not enough information, as you can plainly see.
This is what I want, with no compromises. I want the city to transfer control to the Conservancy and back off, because the only thing the city will do is muddy the waters, interfere and mismanage their position, just like they always have and always will do. I can't think of a single positive development that could come from the city being involved with our parks - after all, it was their incompetence and mismanagement of city finances that contributed to the transfer of control to Erie County five years ago. Somebody please just tell me that the Conservancy will be managed as it has been, just with technical responsibility transferred from the county to the city.
The City of Buffalo will never be able to devote as much singular focus as the Conservancy, they'll never be able to effectively manage the finances of the conservancy, and frankly the city will never care as much as the dedicated people at the Conservancy do.
A part of proper management, some say anyway, is the ability to recognize who the best people are for a given task, then empower these enthusiastic individuals to run with it to their utmost. Tell these people that you are counting on their enthusiasm and intelligence to carry the day for a resource that is incredibly important to all of us. Nobody will scramble for resources like people who run not-for-profits and care a hell of a lot about their cause. This caliber of person will always find a way when funds and resources are dry.
I count on the Conservancy to hold these parks in trust for not just us but for our future children, friends and neighbors. I count on their enthusiasm and intelligence to carry the day.
I want to take this opportunity to take the next step, which is to encourage anybody that is reading this to consider volunteering for the Conservancy, or donating money. For $30 you can become a member, although if you would like to donate a smaller amount I know they'd never turn it down. Something like this would make a nice gift for somebody this holiday. I hope this debacle has scared enough citizens into realizing that government will not solve the problems with our parks - it's all down to us. We have to circumvent our government and do this work on our own. When it comes to this issue, we've got to stick together or watch one of the last good things in Buffalo die away.
This is good news and a step forward, but why did Byron Brown have to ask for the permission of the union?
Answer: "Well, you know Josh, there were unionized county parks workers who need to be guaranteed that they will be unionized as city parks workers."
Why is it that we cannot have any progress, any goodness, any kind of positivity in our city without having to take the first step of kissing the ring of some labor boss asshole? I know I'm missing details so I would absolutely love for somebody to fill me in as to why having to cope with the union as a first step was necessary simply to continue the status quo w/r/t the Conservancy, under the auspices of our uberpoliticized/uberunionized City Hall. Maybe this is a technicality that I shouldn't be worked up over - either way, I'd like to know.
While I feel like I should be happy that it looks like the Conservancy will be managing the parks, to what extent will the union interfere with the management of the parks, seeing as we've just been told that certain county parks workers will be unionized as city workers? Will they have no authority over the handful of parks that the Conservancy manages? To what extent will the city be allowed to interfere with personnel decisions w/r/t the Conservancy? I've got a lot of questions and a lot of suspicions, but not enough information, as you can plainly see.
This is what I want, with no compromises. I want the city to transfer control to the Conservancy and back off, because the only thing the city will do is muddy the waters, interfere and mismanage their position, just like they always have and always will do. I can't think of a single positive development that could come from the city being involved with our parks - after all, it was their incompetence and mismanagement of city finances that contributed to the transfer of control to Erie County five years ago. Somebody please just tell me that the Conservancy will be managed as it has been, just with technical responsibility transferred from the county to the city.
The City of Buffalo will never be able to devote as much singular focus as the Conservancy, they'll never be able to effectively manage the finances of the conservancy, and frankly the city will never care as much as the dedicated people at the Conservancy do.
A part of proper management, some say anyway, is the ability to recognize who the best people are for a given task, then empower these enthusiastic individuals to run with it to their utmost. Tell these people that you are counting on their enthusiasm and intelligence to carry the day for a resource that is incredibly important to all of us. Nobody will scramble for resources like people who run not-for-profits and care a hell of a lot about their cause. This caliber of person will always find a way when funds and resources are dry.
I count on the Conservancy to hold these parks in trust for not just us but for our future children, friends and neighbors. I count on their enthusiasm and intelligence to carry the day.
I want to take this opportunity to take the next step, which is to encourage anybody that is reading this to consider volunteering for the Conservancy, or donating money. For $30 you can become a member, although if you would like to donate a smaller amount I know they'd never turn it down. Something like this would make a nice gift for somebody this holiday. I hope this debacle has scared enough citizens into realizing that government will not solve the problems with our parks - it's all down to us. We have to circumvent our government and do this work on our own. When it comes to this issue, we've got to stick together or watch one of the last good things in Buffalo die away.
metalpeter - 12/15/09 20:50
The Conservancy will always do a better Job on the Parks then the city but it should be the other way around. If you work for the city you should know how important the parks are and make them great. The Problem is that when the city ran them it was a city Job oh and I think I'll go work in the parks department. Hey I can do work at my buddies home in the city truck. Hey I can take my dog a drive slow as a way to walk him. But with the Coseravancy people they are there because the Parks are important to them and that is the priotiry. In terms of the Union, the reason they lost the parks is because of all the messed up budget and money stuff, so if the parks went back to the city it seems like the union would have some say in who gets to be part of the parks department. Hopefully this all works out ok.
The Conservancy will always do a better Job on the Parks then the city but it should be the other way around. If you work for the city you should know how important the parks are and make them great. The Problem is that when the city ran them it was a city Job oh and I think I'll go work in the parks department. Hey I can do work at my buddies home in the city truck. Hey I can take my dog a drive slow as a way to walk him. But with the Coseravancy people they are there because the Parks are important to them and that is the priotiry. In terms of the Union, the reason they lost the parks is because of all the messed up budget and money stuff, so if the parks went back to the city it seems like the union would have some say in who gets to be part of the parks department. Hopefully this all works out ok.
james - 12/15/09 13:54
The city had an agreement with the unions prior to all of this, so they really did have to kiss the ring a bit.
The city had an agreement with the unions prior to all of this, so they really did have to kiss the ring a bit.
Josh check out front page of NRO. For the first time I'm considering sending them money.
The people who actually believe the curse, the pact with the devil, they never consider that pointing that tidbit out when people are dying is inappropriate or insensitive. I tried to get one person in particular to understand this very obvious point, but they wouldn't, so I'm not really hearing any bullshit from those types. There is no reasoning with the unreasonable.
Yep, I think it would be appropriate for other Christians to come out and condemn him. And it can't be liberal minded Christians, it has to be amongst his own, or someone like him. Nobody will care if it comes from people like Jim Wallis.
With respect to the GOP and a lot of conservative commentators - they REFUSE to criticize Pat Robertson! Everybody knows what he said was bat shit crazy, but do not hold your breath waiting for Sean Hannity and the like to speak up. The best you can hope for would be a statement like "Well, I certainly disagree with his viewpoint but I know Pat Robertson and there isn't a hateful bone in his body." Actually I think I disagree - he seems fairly hateful to me.
Yes, James, I was referring to the Christian tent and the need for other in the tent to tell him to STFU.
I was trying to indirectly reflect that in Christianity we're in a tent with a lot of other wackos and we're forced to deal with it head on as opposed to leaving the tent. If that makes sense...
Hehe. Well, to be fully and completely honest I really don't think there is room for me in the Democratic Party at all, based on their current agenda. I don't see any moderate Democrats whatsoever in Congress, nor do I see Democrats in any more positive light than Republicans. The idea of a big tent in either direction is a myth. I'm thoroughly disgusted with our politics and I cannot see myself aligning myself with a political party for a while.
Janelle, Which tent are you talking about?
From what I know about your politics (which, admittedly isn't much. But what I have heard seems very sensible). You don't strike me as someone that shares much in common with current Republican party ideology.
Now, if we are talking about a big tent of Christians regardless of party we have a different story. But, if you could kick him in the shins and ask him to not sully the name of his god so often I would appreciate it. :)
Lol @ James. Well, Drew and I stand under the same tent as that "stinking shit-wreck" along with a whole lot of other Christians. Some of us in the tent need to stop letting him be the most prominent spokesman for our tent, though! It would be terrific if a prominent Christan would privately and then publicly take him to task. I'm sure a lot of ministers will be taking him to task from the pulpit, but it will only be preaching to the choir, in many instance.
And yes, Joshua, he does make Drew and I job's harder, so feel free to join us in the fight!
I try not to be a bad Democrat and lump all Republicans together. But how anyone can stand under the same big tent as thank stinking shit-wreck is beyond me.
And remember, there is always room for you in the Democrat Party ^_~
I didn't watch the video but you make a great point. Every Faith system if you look at it seems a little bit crazy. But to be honest if you where not of the faith you are and you where to look at your faith it would look crazy. See this is what these wack jobs don't get. They think that because some doesn't follow their thoughts that they are trash. I agree that the crazy people make the regular people look bad faith wise. I wish I read the article but in today's Buffalo News the Vatican Critixed Avatar. My first thought was wow hasn't it been out for a few weeks why so late they like to attack them before they are out and before anyone has seen them. It just goes and shows are crazy they are.
Amen!