…I Am A Tree

Archive for the ‘In The News’ Category

I first learned of Bettie in the 1980s, when The Rocketeer comic by Dave Stevens was first coming out. I’d seen her image a few times before, and chalked it up to nostalgic porn. It turned out, though, that she was much more than that. Oh, yes, Bettie was Satan’s Angel.

By all appearances, she had a rough go of it, but appeared to have put her demons to rest in the 1990s.

Rest in peace, Bettie — you deserve it.

I remember very well where I was when I heard the news (today, oh boy) that John Lennon had been murdered. I’d been out gaming and drinking with some friends and had just gotten home and was changing my clothes when I heard the DJ on WHCN in Hartford say that John Lennon was dead. While I’d always enjoyed the Beatles, I wasn’t as die-hard about them as many of my friends were, but I appreciated their place in the greater scheme of modern music. I couldn’t believe John was dead.

The older I get, the more I realize just how great a loss this was. The music we were cheated from hearing by Mark David Chapman is unknowable. Sean was left fatherless, and Yoko without her husband.  Weird though, that today, of all the December 8ths since that fateful night in 1980, I’m actually feeling John’s loss.

With that, I’ll leave you with this.

Just be responsible and put some thought into it before pulling levers blindly. Is it asking too much of people for them to be a little informed?

Here’s to history, one way or another.

He’s just like George Bush, except older and with a worse temper.

NSFW due to language. It’s very well done.

I’ve hardly said much this campaign season about how I feel about things. Part of it is the burn-out I went through with the 2004 elections, part of it the fact that the campaigns started so early this year, and part of it is simply apathy. I’ve just not been involved overly much in the campaigns.

Until the day after the Democratic Convention that is, when the Sarah Palin bombshell was dropped.

You don’t need me to regurgitate the countless ways she’s eminently unqualified to hold the office of Vice President — there are far more interesting sites with writers far more willing to write on at great lengths about her than I have the inclination to do. So where does that leave me, if I’m clearly not in the McCain camp?

How about some discussion on Obama? I haven’t really talked about him at all, especially since he wrapped up the nomination in June. Frankly, I’m beyond disappointed in him. His claim to be a force of Change (capital C) was only so much hot air, given his rapid tack toward the Center ever since. His voting for FISA only pissed me off more, and his selection of Joe Biden over Hillary left me nonplussed, especially given the inclusion of Sarah Palin on the GOP ticket.

Is it asking too much of a candidate to stick by his or her beliefs and principles?

So where does that leave me? Neither Party really seems to represent me, even though I am a registered Democrat. I think that my actual affiliation these days is Not Republican. That doesn’t necessarily mean Democrat, and it most certainly doesn’t mean Ralph Nader. It just means I will not vote Republican.

I’ve come to the realization that our political system is completely broken. Yesterday’s collapse of an agreement surrounding the financial crisis only highlights this — Congressional Democrats had a deal with the Secretary of the Treasury, only to have Congressional Republicans torpedo it. The administration’s own Party put the kibosh on things. Surprising to me, based on the soundbites I’ve heard, I actually agree with those Republicans, too, for the most part.

Scary times.

Still doesn’t mean I’d vote for Those People.

So if I’m Not Republican, who do I actually vote for come Election Day? Kim’s hit upon the answer, which will require more research from me before I head to the polls. We’re not going to vote that night until about 8:30 PM (polls in New York close at 9 PM). We’re going to be watching closely, to see how well McCain is doing in New York. It’s unlikely he’ll do well, but given the long odds that he does put New York into play, I will vote for Obama.

Otherwise, I will be researching third party candidates who did get onto the New York ballot. I plan on having a candidate in hand who matches my beliefs closer than Obama does, which hopefully won’t be that difficult.

So there you have it, my current political stance for the world to read.

Damn. He was great.

Pink Floyd keyboard player and founder member Richard Wright has died aged 65 from cancer.

Wright appeared on the group’s first album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, in 1967 alongside lead guitarist Syd Barrett, Roger Waters and Nick Mason.

Dave Gilmour joined the band at the start of 1968 while Barrett left the group shortly afterwards.

Wright penned songs on classic albums including The Dark Side Of The Moon and Wish You Were Here.

Wright’s spokesman said: “The family of Richard Wright, founder member of Pink Floyd, announce with great sadness that Richard died today after a short struggle with cancer.

“The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.”

Shine on, you crazy diamond.

..here, last night, in Saturday Night Live’s opening skit with Tina Fey playing Palin and Amy Poehler playing Hillary.

I haven’t talked about this at all, but plan on doing so very soon. Sad to say, my political blogging may be returning a smidge.

…but really, what more can I say than I have in years past? It’s seven years later, yet I can still recall so much of that horrific day.

This still captures the essence, for me.

“Look mummy, there’s an aeroplane up in the sky”

Oooooooo ooo ooo ooo ooooh(x 2)
Did-did-did-did-you see the frightened ones?
Did-did-did-did-you hear the falling bombs?
Did-did-did-did-you ever wonder why we had to run for shelter
When the promise of a brave new world
Unfurled beneath a clear blue sky?

Oooooooo ooo ooo ooo ooooh (x 1)
Did-did-did-did-you see the frightened ones?
Did-did-did-did-you hear the falling bombs?
The flames are all long gone, but the pain lingers on.

Goodbye, blue sky
Goodbye, blue sky.
Goodbye.(x 2)

“The 11:15 from Newcastle is now approaching”
“The 11:18 arrival….”

Follow the link as evolutionary biologists play the game.

This is going to be the coolest damned game, ever.