History Repeats Itself

It's happening again. A huge hurricane is going to hit LA. I don't think anyone thought that we would see this happen again for years. According to current estimates, the hurricane may go as far inland as Baton Rouge. There are also 2-3 other storms that may potentially head this direction.

The evacuation seems more orderly and successful than last time, but I can't help but think we're going to be seeing similar images on the news again. Not everyone will be leaving. Those people that just rebuilt will be losing everything again. The levees are not repaired, the city was just starting to really recover.

I'll be watching anxiously tomorrow to see what happens, I hope the best for everyone. I hope that the meteorologists are mistaken, and that it turns out to be okay. I hope that all of our people are safe and well.

Field of Dreams

I watched Barack Obama speak last night. It was an incredibly moving experience. He had an excellent speech, and he is an excellent speaker, and his words inspired hope in me. Hope, in my little black pessimistic heart. I didn't really think it possible.

But the thing that I thought was the most important, is his genuine emotional response to the crowd as he stepped out on the stage in a football field filled with 85,000 people cheering his name. (If he was acting, he's damn good, and I don't want to know.) Looking at his face, I could see that this moment was the realization of a dream. And not just a dream for him, but a dream for millions of other people. He recognized the importance of the moment, and took a moment to take it all in. It was the best thing I have ever seen in a presidential election. Maybe that's why he inspires me to hope.

Hottest new political accessory

I was anxiously awaiting McCain's announcement for VP pick. I came into the breakroom, on CNN they had a headline about him picking Palin. In my geeky way, I thought that Michael Palin would be a very funny choice--they could recreate the fish-slapping dance on the White House lawn. But seriously, I thought he had picked a generic white male to complement his generic white maleness.

Then they said Sarah, and showed a picture of an attractive brunette striding with purpose across a field somewhere. A woman? Like, with a vagina and everything? Really? Do they know she has a vagina?

Guess what ladies? We're the hottest new political accessory. Soon no presidential campaign will not be complete without the token woman trailing behind the president. It is a clever tactic. One designed to sway legions of women that wanted to vote for Hilary, women who want to see a woman hold the highest office in the land.

Here's a hint for you fellas: we're not that stupid. You can't throw a woman whose only experience has been two years as governor in a distant state, put her in position that can potentially have little or no influence and expect us to rush to you side. Also, he's risking alienating all those devout conservatives who don't want the frat party to end. I hope McCain enjoys his token vagina, because he's going to be losing with her.

Going Postal

I finally got around to reading Terry Pratchett. I knew I'd like him, because I'm a big time nerd, and I love Douglas Adams. I had read Good Omens, the book written by both Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. It was ok. Not the big life-changing experience the blurbs on the back of the book suggested it would be. Anyway, I read Going Postal. The story was somewhat saccharine, and I had to endure paragraphs such as:

"Very nearly nobody knew about them. But the thory is easy to understand. It runs: the sea is, after all, in many respects, only a wetter form of air. And it is know that air is heavier the lower you go and lighter the higher you fly. As a storm-tossed ship founders and sinks, therefore, it must reach a depth where the water below it is just viscious enough to stop its fall."

And that's on the first page. After you get past the kind of opening that would qualify for the Bulwyer-Lytton Fiction contest (http://www.bulwer-lytton.com/), the book turns out to be good. His greatest sucess, I think, is in building a world with many unusual details. The unexpectedness of many of the events, characters, and even analogies kept me interested. I'll be reading his work again. I believe I'll go for THUD! next.

kiss or fist pump?

As I watch the Democratic Convention, I wonder...when did the basic handshake go away? Every time I see a Politian greet a woman, they give a quick kiss on the cheek as they shake her hand...OR, sometimes they give a fist pump to a man? Is everyone now a sports star? When did I miss this memo? When did we become so worldly? Do I turn my cheek when I meet someone new? Just wondering...

Excitement

I cannot wait for Hillary Rodham Clinton to speak at the Democratic Convention Tonight...I need to see what kind of *inspiring* words she uses for the man who beat her...it should be enligtening and educational. I predict lots of new phrases.

I wonder...

sigh...I believe only men are dumb enough to put a zipper in the side of a dress or pants...only a man would think that was a handy spot for a zipper...sigh