Obsession

Warning: This blog comes at the risk of being (perhaps extremely) distasteful to some readers...

Cultural critics in America are quick to place the blame for the violence in our society on the ever-present violent video games, violent rap music, and violent movies. Fair enough. It is not too big a stretch of the imagination to concede that these may have had some influence on the brutal underbelly of our American civilization.

It follows to me, then, that given the recent obsession with hangings of dictators, associates of dictators, and relatives of dictators, that the word game hangman must be a major cultural force in Iraq. The endless hours youngsters in Baghdad have spent filling in the blanks, drawing a man sentenced to hang wrong letter by wrong letter and body part by body part have allowed death by strangulation to wedge its way into the collective Iraqi subconscious psyche.

As we support the formation of a new Iraqi government, one thing we should mandate before we cut and run is that the governing body set up an investigatory panel to determine the effects of hangman on Iraqi youths. When a connection is established between hangman gameplay as children and obsession with hangings as adults, this investigatory committee ought to demand that all hangman games have a parental warning and violent game rating. Exactly how this is to be enforced is not my call. After all, we want the government to begin to make and follow through on its own decisions.


Originally Posted: Tuesday, January 29, 2007
(Then) Curent Mood: thoughtful
http://blog.myspace.com/yajeev

The State of the Union is Strong

Tonight, we watched our Commander-in-Chief deliver his penultimate State of the Union address. It's one of my top thirty (or so) things to watch in the second half of January. Some observations...

While the President was the star of the evening, the real entertainment was to his rear. Behind our Pres were seated (and occasionally standing) the veep Dickie C and Madame Speaker Pelosi. Lisa observed that Madame Speaker must lose a lot of congressional staring contests, while Cheney is probably the Oval Office champion. In the course of merely one or two minutes, Pelosi blinked an astonishing 100 times to Cheney's 18 (and 3 of those 18 came while resitutating after one of many stand-and-clap moments--these 3 almost shouldn't be counted in the final tally).

The frequency of ups and downs at these shows is rivaled only by Catholic mass.

We enjoyed the expressions on the faces in the audience. Ted Kennedy looked pained beyond tolerance. McCain appeared to be asleep for some time. Condi stared straight ahead, scowling, probably imagining herself in the staring contest on the grand stage.

Special guests served as examples of great Americans. Dikembe Mutombo was there as a representative of tall and wildly successful immigrants. The creator of the popular Baby Einstein children's video series was also in attendance. Bush: "Baby Einstein has grown." I can't be sure, but he may have believed her to be Albert's mom.

Lisa commented that the army men had lots of flair. They did.

I learned today that the speech is sent out in advance to members of Congress to peruse and, importantly, plan when and when not to stand and clap. Even so, there appeared to be some confusion among several start-and-stop clappers who had to check out the applause activity of those in their immediate vicinities before joining in themselves. I can appreciate some good old fashioned peer pressure when I see it.

As the President exited the hall, he signed autographs for members of Congress (republicans and democrats alike) clamoring just to touch his suit or shake his hand. He even signed one Senator's forehead. That lucky bloke'll never wash his face again.

At the end of the speech, John Kerry was the first out the door. I guess he really wanted to beat the traffic. JK.


Originally Posted: Tuesday, January 23, 2007
(Then) Curent Mood: amused
http://blog.myspace.com/yajeev

It's not too late!

This for my Alabama readers... there's still five minutes to go before the polls close... not too late to cast your vote for Russell Paul Parker for State Senate.

Do your patriotic duty... and vote fast!!!



Originally Posted: Tuesday, November 7, 2006
(Then) Curent Mood: hopeful
http://blog.myspace.com/yajeev

Update: Power of One Voice

In my previous post, I voiced my support for Parker for President despite the fact that I was not in his Top 8.

I'm pleased to report that the very same day of that post, I found myself ranked fifth on his Top 8.

This demonstrates how important it is to speak out for what you believe in.

Wish indiscriminantly-- you just might get what you wish for.


Originally Posted: Tuesday, August 13, 2006
(Then) Curent Mood: victorious
http://blog.myspace.com/yajeev

Campaign Contribution

I don't usually use my blog space for advertising. However, every once in a while a cause so compelling presents itself that one cannot simply ignore it. This is just such a case.

While I am not typically given to making political endorsements, I encourage all readers to check out www.electrussparker.com and decide for themselves.

This guy is the real deal.

I support him. Even though I'm not in his Top 8.


Originally Posted: Tuesday, August 12, 2006
(Then) Curent Mood: enthralled
http://blog.myspace.com/yajeev