Mucky Declarations

So, I haven’t blogged about politics since the election, so here goes.

So, according to CNN, everyone is celebratory about the Obama victory except for Catholics and white supremacists. Those guys spoil all the fun. Personally, I’m counting on America to be just as fickle as it has been in the last year or so, with granting the most recent, democrat-led session of congress a lower approval rating than the late George W. One man never has all the answers, and you’ll never find a savior on capitol hill.

In the meantime, per his 60 minutes interview, Obama has committed to have “at least one” republican in his cabinet. Beyond that, he said that the interviewer “wouldn’t get anything else out of me.” Post-partisan indeed.

Most people my age haven’t felt the affects of a recession since they’ve had their first job at 16. Here in Houston, we’re still weighing what all of this means. A month ago, we thought we were immune. But in the past two weeks, I’ve had two friends get laid off.

Washington is looking at who to bail out next. What else is new?

A sleu of Hollywood homes are burning in Cali wildfires (seriously, this is TWO of the top five stories right now…not one, but TWO). Christopher Lloyd’s house burned down. I’m trying to think of a good ‘Back to the Future’ joke right now, but I’ve got nothing.

November 17th, 2008 | Category: News of the Day | Leave a comment

My friends, I have had a life-changing experience.  Due to the strident evangelism of my fellow blogger, Kevin, I too have been saved by Zero.

Now, I know some of you may think I’m crazy.  After all, my parents raised me to buy American, and I will always respect them for that.  However, at some point, one must make these decisions for oneself.  I realized that I could no longer lean on the faith of my fathers, but had to make a personal decision to be saved by Zero for myself.  (Can you remember a specific time and place when you were saved by Zero?  If you can’t, then you probably haven’t really been saved by Zero.) 

The Mazda and the used Ford will be no more, and I will soon be seen in a new or used, high-quality, high-mileage car with zero interest and no payments until 2047 from the local Toyota lot*. 

I’m well aware that I will now probably be a laughing stock at family gatherings.  I can  practically hear the whispers…even worse than when Aunt Nelda traded in her Taurus for the Outback because she thought it would be “more roomy.”  Even though some of them drive Toyotas themselves, deep down, they will know that simply owning a Camry isn’t enough, and that I’m somehow different - I’ve been saved by Zero. 

The world already mocks us.  People have called for an end to our prostelization, but thank the great car lot, we live in the greatest country on earth, and can speak freely about having been saved by Zero without fear of persecution.  (Though, with the new president, we have fears that he will nominate Honda-loving SCOTUS judges.)  Like Fred Phelps, we will continue with our message, no matter who speaks against us.  After all, we stand on the shoulders of giants (and I meant that quite literally - I saw a news story about Toyota customizing a Prius for the world’s tallest man last week). 

My readers, I care for all of your eternal pocketbooks.  Will you not be saved by Zero today?

*some restrictions may apply, void where prohibited

November 15th, 2008 | Category: Random | Leave a comment

The primary tenet of postmodernism is that there are no absolutes. In this critique, I will refrain from arguing against the logical conundrums of such a philosophy (Are there absolutely no absolutes?), but rather focus on the methodology behind a postmodernist’s (PM’s) thinking and discussion.

First, the PM does all in his power not to offend.  For what is the point of offence if another’s philosophical worldview is of no greater or lesser value than one’s own?  It is simply different.  Along these lines, one never really has “positions” on anything, but is rather constantly on “journeys.”  Terms such as the latter convey a less agressive epistemological certitude.  The unspoken intent here is to disarm by pre-emptively claiming the high road.  By announcing that they are really, truly, and honestly seeking a higher understanding, they insinuate that others merely argue from ivory towers of their own presumption.  The other person questions his own, apparently sinister, certitude, and is left in awe of the PM’s curious, zen-like devotion.  You would no more wish to wound such emotional and intellectual innocence any more than a doe-eyed…doe. 

Unable to posit from any axiomatic statement, the PM tends to think quite a bit without ever appearing to come to any conclusion.  To discuss is to pontificate.  In arguments conversations, rather than put forth anything in a straightforward manner, they rather speak of their own opinions.  “Don’t you think…,” “In my experience…,” and “Have you considered…,” statements and questions abound.  The unspoken intent here is to convey propositions without actually formally articulating them.  Sometimes psudeo-socratic, the other person is often left on the defensive, even if the burden lies on the PM to dismantle a perfectly valid syllogism. 

As such, these debates encounters rarely end with a resolution of any sort.  But rather, the PM will probably compliment you on your innovative metanarrative, and claim that you’ve given them another unique perspective which they will mull over.  The unspoken assumption here is an expecation of of quid pro quo - that the other person will indeed do the same, or if not, that the other person will at least say something similar, thus teasing out a well-earned smooch of his tookus.  The PM rarely intends to change their veiled stance, but rather hopes that he has planted a seed of doubt in the mind his opponent fellow journeyman.

November 12th, 2008 | Category: Musings | Leave a comment

This is my live blog for the election. 

That is all.

November 4th, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Do we really believe the soundbytes?

Do we really care about what they tell us to care about?

Does one vote make a difference?

Is it all just a game?

Who’s really in charge?

Does it matter?  Why do we trust them?  Who do we really trust?

Are ideologies meaningful against overwhelming majorities?

Is a pundit’s pundit bound to make nothing but a meaningless thud in the orchestra of history?

What will our grandchildren’s grandchildren think about this time?

What do I think about my grandfather’s grandfather’s time?

Is it possible to grasp, or are we (and they) doomed to repeat?

Lord, help me put my faith in nothing less than your blood and righteousness.

October 28th, 2008 | Category: Musings | Leave a comment

And now, America, we introduce the Great Obama! The world’s most gifted political magician! A thing of wonder. A thing of awe. Just watch him defy politics, economics, even gravity! (And hold your applause until the end, please.)

WSJ Op-ed: Link

October 21st, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

…I’m working on changing the look around here. Please bear with me as I tweak.

October 18th, 2008 | Category: Housekeeping | Leave a comment

…in case anyone didn’t know that I’m a Tooth and Nail fanboy…

October 16th, 2008 | Category: Music and Lyrics | Comments (1)

I have found these two white rapper boys from Georgia Tech who break it down about life in the peculiar little world of a technical university.  Their two greatest hits:

The Ratio
(My school was 7:1 when I entered, and had improved to about 5:1 when I graduated)

The M-Train
(This is hilariously accurate. I was in calculus class with a kid on the football team that just couldn’t handle an engineering degree. So he switched to Eng. Management for the sole reason that they only had to take one semester of calc.)

They do have a third, but it has to do with having a functional and survivable football team at one’s school, something for which I have no empathy whatsoever, and will thus not post it here.

October 13th, 2008 | Category: Random | Leave a comment