Month: July 2004

  • July

    My dreams are
    of gardeners.
    They frighten the beaters
    of flowers
    with their gentle faces.
    They answer
    what the old heart asks.
    I close with effort the illusion
    of my nights.
    ______________________

    Deep Thought: I remember I was hammering on a fence in the backyard when Dad approached. He was carrying a letter or something in his hand, and he looked worried. I continued to hammer as he came toward me. “Son,” he said, “why are you hammering on that fence? It already has plenty of nails in it.” “Oh, I’m not using nails,” I replied. “I’m just hammering.” With that, I returned to my hammering. Dad asked me to stop hammering, as he had some news. I did stop hammering, but first I got a couple more hammers in, and this seemed to make Dad mad. “I said, stop hammering!” he yelled. I think he felt bad for yelling at me, especially since it looked like he had bad news. “Look,” he said, “you can hammer later, but first-” Well, I didn’t even wait to hear the rest. As soon as I heard “You can hammer,” that’s what I started doing. Hammering away, happy as an old hammer dog. Dad tried to physically stop me from hammering by inserting a small log of some sort between my hammer and the fence. But I just kept on hammering, ’cause that’s the way I am when I get that hammer going. Then, he just grabbed my arm and made me stop. “I’m afraid I have some news for you,” he said. I swear, what I did next was not hammering. I was just letting the hammer swing lazily at arm’s length, and maybe it tapped the fence once or twice, but that’s all. That apparently didn’t make any difference whatsoever to Dad, because he just grabbed my hammer out of my hand and flung it across the field. And when I saw my hammer flying helplessly through the air like that, I just couldn’t take it. I burst out crying, I admit it. And I ran to the house, as fast as my legs could take me. “Son, come back!” yelled Dad. “What about your hammer?!” But I could not have cared less about hammering at that point. I ran into the house and flung myself onto my bed, pounding the bed with my fists. I pounded and pounded, until finally, behind me, I heard a voice. “As long as you’re pounding, why not use this?” I turned, and it was Dad, holding a brand-new solid-gold hammer. I quickly wiped the tears from my eyes and ran to Dad’s outstretched arms. But suddenly, he jumped out of the way, and I went sailing through the second-story window behind him. Whenever I hear about a kid getting in trouble with drugs, I like to tell him this story.
    Today I am grateful for: Heat waves
    End of Day 9:12 pm
    + = Planted a dahlia.
    - = It’s hot as hell.

  • Citizen Change

    This could be good. I almost fell off my couch with enthusiasm to learn that Sean Combs has launched an effort to bring out the vote, particularly among youth and minorities. If anyone has connections just about everywhere and bling and street cred to back it up, it would be this guy. I could give a hoot about his music or his clothes, but we need more of this kind of participation in the process. Here’s an article from the news:


    SIXSHOT.COM NEWS HEADLINES
    Diddy Launches “Citizen Change”!

    P. Diddy has just launched “Citizen Change,” a non-profit organization that aims to recruit young voters to come out for the upcoming presidential elections.

    “I want young people to know that your vote can change your life,” Combs said in a statement distributed during his annual White Party at the Sony PlayStation 2 Estate this past weekend. “I am asking young Americans to hold their vote hostage and force the candidates to address our issues.”

    According to Diddy, education, health care and jobs are some of the key issues the youth needs to address. “Citizen Change” will work to educate young voters on those issues in the months leading to the elections.

    The coalition will set up outreach programs in 7 target cities and emphasize the importance of voting in Latino and Black communities. Furthermore, the organization will host events featuring celebrities as well as online outreach, direct mail drives, phone banks and door-to-door solicitation.

    “There are only a few people in America who have the energy and enthusiasm to get young people to step up to the plate and get excited and passionate about this election, and I am one of them,” Diddy offered. “The revolution has begun.”


    Deep Thought: It’s funny that pirates were always going around searching for treasure, and they never realized that the real treasure was the fond memories they were creating.
    Today I am grateful for: The Daily Show

  • And You Thought YOU Had Money Issues

    U.S. NATIONAL DEBT CLOCK

    The Outstanding Public Debt as of 20 Jul 2004 at 12:35:38 PM GMT is:


    The estimated population of the United States is 293,780,209
    so each citizen’s share of this debt is $24,781.99.

    The National Debt has continued to increase an average of
    $1.69 billion per day since September 30, 2003!
    Concerned? Then tell Congress and the White House!
    Deep Thought: Basically, this is the way the economy works: I do
    a service for you, and you pay me, even if you claim you didn’t want
    the service and that I “ruined” something of yours.
    Today I am grateful for: Automated bank tellers


  • But Wait There’s More

    Heard it yet on the media? The little whisperings and mumblings – Iran, Iran, Iran. Got any brothers, sons, fathers, friends who haven’t died in war yet? George Bush wants to know. Hey, and look how big Iran is. Room for so much more death. Article from the Sunday Herald Online:
    Regime change in Iran now in Bush’s sights

    By Jenifer Johnston

     PRESIDENT George Bush has promised that if re-elected in November he will make regime change in Iran his new target.

    Bush named Iran as part of the Axis of Evil along with North Korea and Iraq almost three years ago. A US government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that military action would not be overt in changing Iran, but rather that the US would work to stir revolts in the country and hope to topple the current conservative religious leadership.

    The official said: “If George Bush is re-elected there will be much more intervention in the internal affairs of Iran.”

    The Iranian government announced this weekend that it had successfully eradicated all al-Qaeda cells operating in the country, but the statement comes as leaked reports from the US September 11 Commission show definite links between Iran and the September 11 terrorists.

    The final report from the cross-party inquiry, which is examining the origins of the September 11 attacks, is believed to contain concrete evidence of contacts between al-Qaeda and Iran.

    Time magazine reports that at least eight of the hijackers, who lived in the US for months before the attacks, passed through Iran between October 2000 and February 2001 apparently with help from the Iranian authorities.

    Known al-Qaeda members also seem to have been allowed to cross in and out of Iran freely across the Afghan border, with Iranian border guards being told not to stamp the passports of al-Qaeda operatives, harass them or hinder their ability to travel freely.

    The report is thought to hint that Iranian officials were ordered to assist al-Qaeda operatives with any travel needs.

    The September 11 Commission report will, however, stop short of stating that Iran was aware of the plans for the September 11 attacks.

    Tehran has always officially denied helping members of al-Qaeda escape from Afghan istan in 2001 when the Taliban regime fell.

    State television in Iran yesterday showed the country’s intelligence minister announcing the capture of a number of al-Qaeda supporters.

    Ali Yunesi said: “Iran’s intelligence apparatus has identified and arrested small Iranian deviate branches of the al-Qaeda group.” There was no clarification on how many people had been arrested or charged.

    Yunesi warned that Iran would take a tough line against militants using Iran as a base. “Those who seek to misuse the safe situation in Iran will face serious consequences,” he said.

    The Iranian government says it has arrested and repatriated hundreds of al-Qaeda suspects in the past two years in a display of willingness to bring terrorism in the Middle East under control.

    A suspected Saudi al-Qaeda militant, Khaled al-Harbi, who appeared in a videotape with Osama bin Laden, gave himself up in Iran last week, and was flown back to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

    On Friday US officials said the next stage of the September 11 Commission’s report would be available this week.

    There was embarrassment for the Bush administration last week when it emerged a tight deadline was being pushed for the capture of Osama bin Laden to generate headlines during the Democratic Convention when presidential rival John Kerry will be grabbing the limelight.

    Pakistani security forces have apparently been given deadlines to capture bin Laden that are before the US general election in November, according to US sources.

    18 July 2004
    Deep Thought: Mom used to warn me that I could lose an eye playing with BB guns. But she never warned me that I could also lose my BB gun, which I did.
    Today I am grateful for: Paper shredders

  • THINGS THAT REFRESH MY SOUL A-Z
    (See sidebar for others)

    Underdogs

    There’s a certain star-spangled-banner, heart-swelling feeling that comes to me when I get to witness underdog moments. Even reflecting back on them gets the endorphins going. For every one of us who is not going to be Prom Queen, Olympic champion, Nobel prize winner, President, etc., someone steps up to speak for us by doing it themselves. You could tell I’m hooked on underdogs by looking at my tiny film library (I rarely buy a video) that includes: Hoosiers, Rudy, Smoke Signals, A Family Thing, and Ruby in Paradise. Didn’t you love to see Seabiscuit take the big horse down? How about those marathon runners who hang at the back till you think they’ll never catch up and then kick at the end, sailing past the field to edge it out by a nose. What does Lance Armstrong have to tell us? All you have to see is the expression on his face to know the big C met its match. The Little Engine That Could. A Catholic in the White House??!! The unknown soldier. David and Goliath. Nelson Mandela. Jane Goodall. It’s a good thing to have a little assortment of your own to pull around you like a warm blanket when you face your own dark nights. What would THEY do to find the light?

    Deep Thought: If you’re being chased by an angry bull, and then you notice you’re also being chased by a swarm of bees, it doesn’t really change things. Just keep on running.
    Today I am grateful for: Big honkin’ box fans
    End of the Day: 9:04 pm
    + = For my grandson’s 13th birthday, jumped an Amtrak with him and his sister and rode across the state line and over the river into Washington and back for an adventure. Captured it on video.
    - = My son’s girlfriend had her third car accident in 6 months. This time it was a hit and run. She’s a basket case. Her car is totaled.

  • Think Again

    I heard on NPR the other day that the largest unaccounted for group of voters in the upcoming election is that of young people in their 20′s and 30′s who routinely ignore what is going on in the world (despite those of their age who are fighting and dying in Iraq). Here are excerpts from two exceptions to that statement. The graph was borrowed from charlesmartel where you can read a most interesting comment on the AIDS conference. It shows the percentage of GNP given by each country towards humanitarian causes. The comment below is from thedavidwang who hopefully will become a physician. Both clearly care about the world’s future.

    open letter to congress:

    let’s review the current state of the world…
    a ravaging AIDS pandemic, which is not only a health but human rights crisis,
    thousands of civilians still illegally detained in iraq and guantanamo without trial,
    political and civil rights crises, armed conflict, economic insecurity, denial of rights, political repression
    to say nothing of the fact that 44 million of your constituents are uninsured for healthcare.

    damn. that’s a pretty broad range of issues to tackle as the most powerful body of legislators/financiers on the face of the earth.

    but i’d like to think that you’re handling the job with focus, integrity, and fortitude.
    after all, you must be incredibly capable for that many constituents to have voted you to office.

    to my chagrin, watching c-span this week (yes, people do that sometimes), i discover that the 108th congress of the united states of america has spent the bulk of the past week focused on what REALLY matters:
    gay marriage. specifically, that it should be banned. in the constitution.
    funny thing, the constitution has only been amended 17 times since the bill of rights, yet you’ve managed to propose dozens of constitutional amendments in the past year. but i digress -

    i just wanted to remind you that there are only 4 weeks left in the session. nice work congressmen.

    Deep Thought: To us, it might look like just a rag. But to the brave, embattled men of the fort, it was more than that. It was a flag of surrender. And after that, it was torn up and used for shoe-shine rags, so the men would look nice for the surrender.
    Today I am grateful for: Not having to use the metric system
    End of day – 8:29 pm
    + = Was reminded that there has been no word of the West Nile virus yet this summer. Oregon remains one of the few, or maybe only, states not to have any reported cases. Once again, Oregon rules!
    - = Some other kind of sticky summer heat bug bit me on the calf and left a nice red welt.

  • Friday Five
    1. What color ink pen do you like best?
    I generally use the finest point black ink pen I can find. The one right in front of me is a .7mm Bic. But not ball points – I hate how they smear. I use a red ballpoint to cross out my checks that have been paid in my checkbook. Petty annoyance: people who leave the tops off pens.
    2. Do you prefer plain paper or paper with lines (notebook paper)?
    Depends. Most of the time I use steno books for medium-sized lists, little multi-colored pads for notes jotted down, and when I’m feeling really compulsive graph paper for calculating numbers – like money I owe and money I’d like to spend.
    3. What’s better: books from the library, or reading online?
    Does anybody read books online? Why sit up in a computer chair to read when you can lounge? Actually I do 99% of my reading in the morning in the bathtub. Right now I’m actually reading the current issue of Vanity Fair which has quite a startling mix of snobby gossipy rich people crap and articulate political wide-ranging writers. Plus great photos.
    4. Which would you rather get, e-mail or snail mail?
    Nobody writes snailmail any more. They either email or they don’t write at all. The old art of pretty paper and handwriting, etc. is gone it would seem.
    5. Do you have a paper weight on your desk?
    Yes, a large polished stone cut exactly in half. If I had time to think about it I’d probably collect paperweights though. There are such beautiful ones. But I’m trying not to have so many piles of papers in my life.
    Deep Thought: The king threw back his head and laughed. He enjoyed a good laugh, and so did his wife, the queen. When she saw the king laughing she let out a big laugh too. In fact, she laughed so hard she broke her throne. This made them both laugh harder. Then they got serious when they remembered they had the plague. “The plague,” said the king, but the way he said it made them both burst out laughing again.
    Today I am grateful for: Rene Char
    BLOGGING FORWARD TO: brendaclews who paints exquisite prose poetry portraits of the Canadian Northwest.
    End of day 8:00 p.m.
    + = I got through to my bank’s main office FINALLY after months to confirm that the title of my house was successfully transferred into my trust. (I did all the work on my trust myself with software and it took me years and I’m proud of it.)
    - = It was too damn hot to get any yardwork done today and tomorrow will be even hotter.

  • Real Age

    OK, everybody taken the RealAge test? I’ve been taking it every year or two for awhile and just did again. It gives you a nifty action plan to fit your profile. I learned this time that :
    1. My real age is 8.6 years younger than I am.
    2. My HDL is average and could be improved by even more exercise.
    3. I should raise my intake of potassium rich foods from 2190 mg/day to 3000 mg/day to prevent stroke.
    4. I need to increase my social support network a bit to help during major life events.
    5. Need to consume more unsaturated fat.
    6. Get vaccinated against bacterial pneumonia.
    7. Increase grain and vegetable intake.
    It also recommends taking a number of additional more specific health assessments provided at the site.
    All this is free, easy to do, and proactive for your health. Check it out.

    Deep Thought: Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.
    Today I am grateful for: Vitamin supplements

  • Generation

    We want to know what paints the morning.
    We are terrified when faith deceives us.
    Still believing in the cold eye of the sphinx, we listen.

    Deep Thought: Despair is like a cable that is buried just under the surface of the ground. You pull it up and pull it up, but that cable just keeps right on going, clear across a field, until you come to a bunch of guys who are burying the cable. Then just walk up to them and go, “Hey, have you seen Fred?” And they’ll say, “Fred who?” And you say, “Fred of snakes?” Then cover your ears, because big laughs are coming.
    Today I am grateful for: Imus being for Kerry

  • The Illumined

    The illumined with us keep to their own path. Transmigrants of an almost vanished race, they stand aloof and where the custom of the house is to perceive an oddity among the guests, remain unnoticed. Fragile in its length and lightness is the world their eyes reveal to the imagination – but it is extended, like a simple meal of salt and onions, to the mind that grasps it openly and leads it in to sleep on honest straw.

    Deep Thought: If you ever feel like you’re on the verge of a nervous breakdown, just follow these simple rules: First, calm down; second, come over and wash my car; third, shine all my shoes. There, isn’t that better?
    Today I am grateful for: Sensitive Ex-Cops and Pre-Med Students