The ole' swine and dash
Pictures from Pig Jam
11.20.2004
11.19.2004
Swine list
So, it looks like this is going to take more than one car. I believe john's driving, but I'm not sure how many people are going with him. So far, we have myself, renee, brandon, aj (riding mother-in-law...again), liz and matthew. Three will fit in my back seat, but it's a squeeze. I'll find out who's going with john, then call some people.
11.17.2004
11.15.2004
That good 'cue
I posted about this on my blog the other day, and as there seems to be some interest, I figured I'd mention it here. In Plant City next weekend there will be Pig Jam, a statewide BBQ competition. Who wants to go?
11.07.2004
Thanksgiving
Yeah, I know it's a little early, but I'm just sayin' is all. I'm going to be here for thanksgiving, as is Renee. I'm wondering if anyone else is. I'll be making a meal of some sort, the caliber of which will vary, depending on how many other people are interested. I've roasted turkeys before, but I don't really feel that it's a necessity for the occasion, especially since decent, organic/free-range turkeys are expensive (roughly $35 to start).
At any rate, my point is, there'll be dinner. Any and all are welcome. A pot-luck of sorts might not be bad either, but I'm kind of looking forward to cooking for a day.
Publix also has frozen turduckens... Now there's a word that's more appealing spoken than written.
At any rate, my point is, there'll be dinner. Any and all are welcome. A pot-luck of sorts might not be bad either, but I'm kind of looking forward to cooking for a day.
Publix also has frozen turduckens... Now there's a word that's more appealing spoken than written.
11.04.2004
A Rant Against Choosing Hillary Clinton - and hope for the USPC
So I need to vent, because too many people seem to be all giddy about Hillary 2008.
I don't think alot of "liberals" or "progressives" truly recognize the dilemma we are in. A huge portion of conservative, rural America sees the "Eastern Liberal Establishment" as a godless arrogant force that doesn't give a flying purple shit about them. And, to some extent, they are right.
Another problem has to do with another major factor in all political struggles: demographics. The conservative half of America is the half of America where most of the population growth will occurr in the next 20 years. Hispanics, who in many places still vote Democrat are about to see a birthrate decline in California, Arizona, and New Mexico. Essentially people like us are having 1.8 children, whereas Joe Christian and his wife Janey are having 3.5 children, and they're having them at a younger age. These people ARE NOT GOING AWAY. I hate to be a pessimist, but I don't see a bright future for progressives in America. We could still beat the radical Christian right by organizing better, and organizing more people, but as we saw with the youth vote on Tuesday, this is an uphill battle not just against our "opponents" but also against the apathetic and the self-absorbed. We also face the unfortunate truth that the Christian right is remarkably cohesive, whereas the Democratic party is a conglomerate of different groups who often disagree with eachother on platform issues (many African Americans being against gay marriage etc.) Maybe I'll be more optimistic when Bush goes down in the flames of the fire he started. But even if that happens, McCain will win in 2008. Think about it. The press licks at his feet, a good percentage of democrats like him. For fuck's sake, I even kind of like the guy.
But I still want the Dems to have a chance in 2008, so I beg of you now, and will do so again in 3 1/2 years. DO NOT VOTE FOR HILLARY IN THE PRIMARIES. 1) this country will not vote for a female president in the next (at least) 25 years unless that candidate is a Republican 2) The people who I mentioned above HATE Hillary Clinton with a hatred that burns with the heat of a thousand suns. They see her as a pure representation of liberal elitism, no matter how moderate we think she is. Even my mother, who is an extremeley moderate Repub, has a very vocal distaste for Hillary. I can not think of a Democratic candidate who would be more certain to rally Republicans out to vote. And this would trickle down, meaning more votes for Republican Senate, House, gubernatorial, etc., candidates. I like Hillary, she has a lot of followers, but she will not rally Democrats for her in the way that she'll rally Repubs against her. She makes a fine Senator, she should stay in the Senate. If you have an argument for electing her in the primaries I'd like to hear it. I just think you're signing away 2008.
So I do want to end this rambling angry rant on a more positive note. Our real hope is to wake up from the college bubble and start participating in local issues and politics. OK, so Sarasota might be a lost cause, but most of us won't be here for too much longer, and wherever you go, PLEASE get involved in local politics, even if it just means voting in local elections or participating in a local chapter of MoveON, ACT Now, Amnesty International, ACLU, etc.
As Kos said yesterday, the Republicans and the Christian right have spent the last 40 years building up a cohesive, well-funded political network. Progressives started only a year ago. This is not something that will happen in four years, or maybe even eight. We have to think long term.
If all else fails, California-Oregon-Washington, the Great Lakes states, New England, NY, Pennsylvania and Maryland (Florida is a lost cause) secede and join Canada to make one big Lucky Horseshoe-shaped nation. The United States and Provinces of Canadamerica! Who's with me?
I don't think alot of "liberals" or "progressives" truly recognize the dilemma we are in. A huge portion of conservative, rural America sees the "Eastern Liberal Establishment" as a godless arrogant force that doesn't give a flying purple shit about them. And, to some extent, they are right.
Another problem has to do with another major factor in all political struggles: demographics. The conservative half of America is the half of America where most of the population growth will occurr in the next 20 years. Hispanics, who in many places still vote Democrat are about to see a birthrate decline in California, Arizona, and New Mexico. Essentially people like us are having 1.8 children, whereas Joe Christian and his wife Janey are having 3.5 children, and they're having them at a younger age. These people ARE NOT GOING AWAY. I hate to be a pessimist, but I don't see a bright future for progressives in America. We could still beat the radical Christian right by organizing better, and organizing more people, but as we saw with the youth vote on Tuesday, this is an uphill battle not just against our "opponents" but also against the apathetic and the self-absorbed. We also face the unfortunate truth that the Christian right is remarkably cohesive, whereas the Democratic party is a conglomerate of different groups who often disagree with eachother on platform issues (many African Americans being against gay marriage etc.) Maybe I'll be more optimistic when Bush goes down in the flames of the fire he started. But even if that happens, McCain will win in 2008. Think about it. The press licks at his feet, a good percentage of democrats like him. For fuck's sake, I even kind of like the guy.
But I still want the Dems to have a chance in 2008, so I beg of you now, and will do so again in 3 1/2 years. DO NOT VOTE FOR HILLARY IN THE PRIMARIES. 1) this country will not vote for a female president in the next (at least) 25 years unless that candidate is a Republican 2) The people who I mentioned above HATE Hillary Clinton with a hatred that burns with the heat of a thousand suns. They see her as a pure representation of liberal elitism, no matter how moderate we think she is. Even my mother, who is an extremeley moderate Repub, has a very vocal distaste for Hillary. I can not think of a Democratic candidate who would be more certain to rally Republicans out to vote. And this would trickle down, meaning more votes for Republican Senate, House, gubernatorial, etc., candidates. I like Hillary, she has a lot of followers, but she will not rally Democrats for her in the way that she'll rally Repubs against her. She makes a fine Senator, she should stay in the Senate. If you have an argument for electing her in the primaries I'd like to hear it. I just think you're signing away 2008.
So I do want to end this rambling angry rant on a more positive note. Our real hope is to wake up from the college bubble and start participating in local issues and politics. OK, so Sarasota might be a lost cause, but most of us won't be here for too much longer, and wherever you go, PLEASE get involved in local politics, even if it just means voting in local elections or participating in a local chapter of MoveON, ACT Now, Amnesty International, ACLU, etc.
As Kos said yesterday, the Republicans and the Christian right have spent the last 40 years building up a cohesive, well-funded political network. Progressives started only a year ago. This is not something that will happen in four years, or maybe even eight. We have to think long term.
If all else fails, California-Oregon-Washington, the Great Lakes states, New England, NY, Pennsylvania and Maryland (Florida is a lost cause) secede and join Canada to make one big Lucky Horseshoe-shaped nation. The United States and Provinces of Canadamerica! Who's with me?