All posts by scottobear

The State of Disunion

“And the war on terrorism…”
What about the jobs, George?
“… and military spending…”
What about the jobs, George?
“… and we’re all good patriots…”
But what about the jobs?
*thunderous applause*

Color me unimpressed. It isn’t that I don’t support military spending, because I do. But the words I want to focus on are fiscal responsibility. We have states running deficits, high unemployment, giant corporate bankruptcies, the federal government in the red and… we’re going to start some kind of new US-wide volunteer organization? Wha? And we’re going to fund everyone’s pet project so we all get this warm and fuzzy feeling?

If we want to support some kind of large scale war, people have to be prepared to sacrifice more in their programs, not get more. Wars are not cheap. Wars are not just expenditures. Wars cost money, taxpayer money, my money. I support wars, but they must come at a cost, and we must be prepared to pay that cost. No amount of warm fuzzies is going to change the fiscal reality that the federal government is not terribly different than balancing a checkbook.

Bush is off in the thickets again. The entire State of the Union came off more like some kind of patriotic jingoism colored with a little bit of pre-campaign talk then as a serious speech on, well, the state of the Union. It wasn’t just a bad speech, it was embarassing — all applause and no substance. And when there was substance, it was bad substance. The war is all good and fine, but by summer the unemployment rate is supposed to hit 6.5%. No one is going to care much about killing bad guys when they can’t pay their rent. No one is going to be flying, not because they’re afraid, but because they simply cannot afford the tickets. That’s it.

I was not terribly pleased at the apparently erosion of state’s rights and the glad-handing of removing personal rights all in the name of “terror.” Nor was I thrilled with some of the vague handwaving at fixing Enron. “We’ll, uh, pass, uh, something so that, uh, there is more, uh, oversight over, uh, 401Ks. Oh yeah, did I mention investing your Social Security in the stock market?” Heaven save us from politicians and pretend statesmen.

Where ya been, Scotto?

Today was for the birds, literally. The only pics of interest I got by the lake were of seagulls circling overhead… hordes of them. A sweet little crane crossing the street, and a eh picture of a duck on the water. I sort of like the one of the lake rocks… the wind dies down, and the water was very clear. not my best photo-day, but some of these can be tweaked, I think.

I just meandered today. Walked to the lake near Sample road, and read my book in the sun, on the grass under a tree. High quality. 🙂

and, of course, The Newton picture of the day…orange kitty on a tan cardboard packing box. one of his fave places to be, so I’m loathe to open and unpack it. No need yet, so he has his space.

http://www.printroom.com/ViewAlbumPhoto.asp?userid=scottobear&album_id=51284&image_id=4

Bigger, and more pictures are available here.

What a keen picture. I wonder if the central effect was intentional, or if random happenstance caused that raindrop to reflect the sign so clearly; whatever the cause, the image is the kind that I wish my brain would help me compose when I’m behind my camera.

I got a giftie by messenger, just now [6:10pm] from my sweetheart. 🙂 What a lovely surprise! Just in time to fill my reading queue. Lovely wrapping paper, too! Thank you!

Stephen King is going to retire from horror writing? Hm.. I’m proud of him for moving on, and admitting when a well is dry. Plenty of other genres to write for.

My brother can’t make it tomorrow… change of plans.

Looks like my trip to los olas is going to be either postponed or solo. A rework is on order. Perhaps schedule a meeting with Robyn and talk about the website… tag a few contacts. Maybe hit a few museums, and a movie.

going to lay down for a little nap…

May joy and innocence prevail.

Well, Midnight’s approaching, and we all know which is the time that the dead rise from the grave to feast on flesh and month-old miracle whip.

from To Mock a Killing Bird

As Freddie the falcon flew home with his belly empty again he heard the other falcons taunt him with “You couldn’t catch a mouse if it was blind!” and “Ha, you call yourself a raptor!” and worst of all, “Put some nail polish on your talons, sissy boy!”

Time for Scotto to go to bed… busy daytomorrow! Sweet dreams to any and all.