| (no subject) |
[Aug. 2nd, 2005|07:30 pm] |
A lot has happened since I last wrote. I think I'm going to do one of those "here's what i've been doing for the past million years" posts. If it gets a bit rambly I apologize. Anyway, after the end of the school year, I moved into an apartment in the South Bronx with Matt and Voltaire, and Daniel Paggi is staying with us for the summer. The place is really great. Our apartment is about six blocks east of Yankee Stadium, on the 3rd floor, which is the top floor, of what could I suppose be called a brownstone. The rent is cheap, there are three bedrooms and a small guest room, a giant living room, nicely sized kitchen, and full-size windows. My room is awesome, it's the biggest bedroom in the place, and I can leave it a mess and still manage to comfortably walk around and live. This is great for me because I don't believe I have ever actually managed to keep any room in which I have lived clean for more than two days. Anyway, we can get onto the roof easily and there is a stoop out front. On the street below, people hang out on their stoops all the time. The neighbors are very friendly and easy to talk to. I have actually been amazed at how friendly the people are, even to newcomers like us. At first I think we were a little bit of a curiosity, being three white guys and one Filipino dude, and for the first few weeks I felt like something of an outsider, but soon I began to meet people and now I feel right at home. The neighborhood has something of a reputation for being a rough part of town, but I have never felt as if I was in any kind of danger, no matter what time of day or night. Even walking around at four in the morning, the few people who are out on the street will smile and say hello even if they don't know you. I think the neighborhood's bad reputation was earned in the 80s and has remained because very few non-residents ever go there, except for the Yankees fans who never travel more than a block from the stadium. Also it seems like a classic case of white fear. The only thing most white people know about the neighborhood is that it is almost entirely black and latino. There are virtually no white people in the neighborhood except for the cops, and you never see a white person just wandering around. I have caught myself staring at the very rare white people who pass through because I am suprised to see them. White folks seem to be scared of pretty much everyone, including each other, so unfortunately most just assume that the neighborhood is dangerous. Honestly, I think it's perfectly safe there. The only thing that worries me is the possibility that the neighborhood will become gentrified. Certain parts of the South Bronx have already been "discovered" by artists who are looking for a cheap place to live. Like me, I guess. I saw an article a few weeks ago in the New York Times that said the South Bronx (or "SoBro" as they are calling it, which I think is fucking obnoxious) was going to be the next cool place to live. I really don't think it's going to turn into another Williamsburgh, the community is far too entrenched to allow that to happen, but it's true that it might change a bit over the next ten years. I hope it doesn't change too much, I really like it the way it is, and the last thing I want to see is a bunch of stupid hipster kids showing up like they own the place and turning it into something else entirely. Like I said, though, I seriously doubt that's going to happen. Ramble ramble ramble, sorry!
In other news, I have been really busy this summer. It started off pretty slow, but suddenly I was playing gigs four nights a week. Then about a month ago I started playing with the Eileen Ivers band, which I have to admit I was slightly apprehensive about at first, but then I started to really enjoy it. Basically it's an Irish band with a funk/rock rhythm section. The music is not particularly exploratory, and I wouldn't slap on one of the CD's and listen to it, but I have to say that playing the show is all kinds of fun. It's a very high-energy show, and the crowds we play for are always jumping, dancing, and screaming by the last few tunes. It's also pretty cool cuz we travel a lot and the money is good. More importantly it has reminded me that, in my heart of hearts, I am a performer. The rush I get from playing for such large, energetic crowds is incredible. I had almost forgotten that I am musician, and it's really nice to be reminded.
This weekend we played at the Festival Interceltico in Spain, and it was one of the best experiences I've had in a really long time. The last time I was in Spain I was eight years old, and that was pretty much the last time I wasn't around people who spoke English. I grew up speaking Spanish, and while I was never fluent, I could get by in conversation, but I haven't spoken it since I was very young. For this gig we were staying in Spain for three days, and by the end I found myself actually speaking Spanish again. It was great to have the challenge of communicating with people who don't speak English, and I think I bonded with the people I met much more than I would have if we spoke the same language. When you are trying to communicate with someone across a language barrier, it's like a mini-struggle that you are both involved in. To actually succeed in getting across and understanding each other requires a great deal of team work, and at the end you feel a surprisingly strong bond with this person because you had to struggle together to communicate. I have always wanted to speak better Spanish and now I am really inspired to get off my ass and do it.
While I'm having a fucking kick-ass summer, all this traveling has given me a case of culture shock. I have barely been home at all in the past three weeks, though I have been coming and going in and out of New York. Two weeks ago I was in Albuquerque, then at a music festival on the west coast of Canada. That was really great. I made some new friends, played in a headlining spot on the main stage for a crowd of thousands of people dancing and screaming, smoked some sweet Canadian cheeva, and chilled the fuck out. I like Canadians because they are really into hanging out and talking. I had been kinda stressed out being in New York, and it was great to be in such a relaxed environment. After Canada, I was back in the Bronx for two and a half days, and then off to Spain, where once again people were super relaxed and really friendly. All everyone wanted to do was play or listen to music, smoke hash, and hang out. After the concert, we had a jam session with some of the local musicians and some of the guys from the band that played after us. It was super cool. That was on this past Saturday night. Then on Sunday I got on a flight to London, which is where I am now. I'm not playing here or anything, I just wanted to hang out for a few days and have nothing to do. This is my second time in London and I'm beginning to realize that it is a fucking weird town. It's such a dramatic change from where I was in Spain. Londoners are not very friendly, I would say much colder than people in New York, everything here is ridiculously expensive, all the bars shut down way before my bedtime, and I can see stress written on peoples' faces.
Last night was pretty strange. I met up with my friend Tasha, who lives here, and we went to this Irish bar near her place. It was really great to see her. Another SLC student, Adam Nichols for those that know him, was in town and stopped in as well, and we had a really chill time getting buzzed in the early evening. We stayed in the bar until well after closing and drank with the bartender until about 1:30 or so in the morning. Adam and Tasha were staying nearby, so they went on their way and I waited for the bus. There was a homeless guy hanging around the bus stop, so I struck up a conversation with him. He was a really nice guy, great to talk to especially at such an hour when no one else is around on the streets. Eventually I caught a bus, transferred to another one, and made it to Camden Town where I'm staying in a hostel. When I got off the bus, I was approached by a guy I had met the night before. He seemed like a nice enough guy, from St. Lucia. When I spoke to him the night before, he tried to sell me a bag of weed, but when I told him I didn't want any he seemed content enough to just talk for a minute. Last night we started talking and then he asked if I wanted to go somewhere with him and his friend, a woman named Dianne. At this point it was about 3:30 in the morning and no places were open, but I figured perhaps he knew of an after-hours place. I noticed that Dianne seemed very anxious and wasn't in the mood for chatter. After walking about halfway down the block Tyrone stopped outside a vacant lot and asked if I wanted to smoke some weed. I said sure and he and Dianne ducked into the lot. I asked if we could just smoke on the street, and he said no, trying to get me to come into the lot and behind a wall where no one could see us. I began to sense that something wasn't quite right with the situation and said I was going to go to sleep. Tyrone then became persistent. He said we would smoke "white weed" and produced a bag with a few white rocks in it. He loaded up a pipe with one of the rocks and told me to take a hit. Meanwhile I noticed Dianne had a wild look in her eyes. "Tyrone man, I know what that is," I said, having no plans to smoke crack anytime soon. He continued to demand that I smoke the pipe. I told him I didn't want any and that I was going back to the hostel and going to sleep. I said goodnight three times to Dianne, but she didn't acknowledge me and instead stared wildly at Tyrone. I started to walk away, and he asked me if they could come to the hostel with me. Not anxious to bring crackheads into the hostel with my name written all over them, I said "Sorry, but I can't. There's a no guest policy. Have a good night though." I shook his hand and walked away towards the hostel. As I passed the tube station, another Caribbean man said to me, "That girl, mate, she sorted you out?" I then realized what exactly had just happened. I said no, and continued on my way. I have lived in large cities my entire life, but that was the first time I was offered crack. When I climbed into bed all I could think of was the look on Dianne's face, that Tyrone was willing to use her to make money, and that she was going to sell her body for a drug. It was a long time before I fell asleep.
This is a crazy world. |
|
|
| (no subject) |
[May. 10th, 2005|07:17 am] |
Wow. I just read an article about hip hop from the Mail & Guardian (Johannesburg), written in 2000, claiming that MC Hammer was "probably the single greatest rap entertainer of all time."
That's appalling. |
|
|
| yay conference season! |
[Apr. 27th, 2005|01:39 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  exhausted | ] |
I have been awake for sixty hours.
If you stay awake for seventy-two, you can be declared legally insane.
Good night! |
|
|
| teenage wasteland |
[Apr. 25th, 2005|08:21 pm] |
There are many things I really like about Sarah Lawrence College. The friends that I have made here are beautiful, wonderful, for the most part ridiculously intelligent and solid people with whom I hope to remain in contact for the rest of my life. There are, however, some things I fucking hate. Today, I said casual hellos in passing to virtually everyone I crossed paths with. At least six times, whoever I was addressing made only the tiniest semblance of eye contact with me, said nothing, and continued on their way. Sometimes the other person was a casual acquaintance with whom I've had at least one conversation in the past year. This is not a big deal, it happens all the time, but I haven't slept in 30 hours and at this point I start getting pissed off about little things like that. Who the fuck are these people? Where do they come from and who raised them to be assholes? Most people would consider it extremely rude to not return a greeting even if it comes from a complete stranger. Even in New York City, the vast, vast majority of people walking down the street would say hello back. For the most part, the only people in the city who completely shun random friendliness are rich white yuppies. Are all of these people the offspring of terrible east coast yuppy parents who teach them that they are better than the people around them and thus should treat them with a mixture of disdain and fear unless they get their asses kissed first? Has their rudeness penetrated the habits of other, actually decent people who are just playing along with what seems to be the norm here? Are Sarah Lawrence kids so into the idea of becoming the hard-assed New Yorker (largely a myth, by the way) that they see this as a rite of acculturation to east coast city life? What the fuck.
In other news, I looked in the mirror a few hours ago and realized I may have let myself go a bit. I haven't showered since Thursday. (It will soon be Tuesday morning.) My hair hasn't been cut or trimmed in fourteen months and I am now the proud owner of an enormous red afro that could easily rival Carrot Top's lame part-down-the-middle ass. I haven't shaved in at least a week and a half, and now have a legitimate beard, and I hate having facial hair. I couldn't find my backpack today so I've been carrying my books around in a pillow case slung over my shoulder. Basically I look like something of a hobo, and you know what, it's kinda fun.
Oh, we finally got an apartment. As of May 15 I will be living for the indefinite future with Voltaire Casino and Matt Stapleton (with perhaps another housemate as well, we don't know yet) in the South Bronx, about five blocks away from Yankee Stadium. The place is real nice, with three rather large bedrooms, a bigass common room (henceforth referred to as the rumpus room), a nice new kitchen and bath, an extra little room that is going to become either a cheap room for a fourth inhabitant or a recording studio, a skylight, roof access and a stoop out front. And now we can say we live in the South Bronx and inspire shock and terror in the hearts of our less adventurous friends who decide to live in trendy hipster hangouts like the East Village and Williamsburg. Fucking sweet. I'm only half joking.
The heart is a curious organ. Does it ever operate in its own best interests?
- southsaac alderbronx |
|
|
| (no subject) |
[Apr. 4th, 2005|03:58 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  sleepy | ] |
The skunks are back. It must be spring.
I'm very, very tired and worn out. The next few weeks are going to be a glance into the furthest depths of homework hell. I don't even have the energy to think about it
Spring break was alright. I'll talk about it sometime when I can count the letters in my name. |
|
|
| (no subject) |
[Feb. 7th, 2005|04:57 am] |
| [ | mood |
| | sleepy | ] |
Birthdays were once the awesomest days ever. This one was pretty laid back, and a reasonable amount of fun. However, being 22 reminds me that it won't be long before I'm a twenty-something. And soon after that I'll be 30. And then I'll be a senior citizen. I hope I'll be an entertaining old man. Maybe I'll wear loafers. I just hope I get to really do something with my life before I'm over the hill. I know that's a shitload of time from now, but I suppose this is the first time in my life I've ever thought about aging. Anyway, I celebrated with the crowd from SLC that came to my gig at the Malthouse Saturday night, as well as the vaguely sketchy locals that were already there. NEVER let anyone convince you to drink shots of Tequila Rose, even if they're Irish and persuasive. That shit is nasty.
I realized a couple days ago while hanging out with a friend that I felt like I was being myself for the first time in a while. I feel like I've been really self-conscious lately when I've hung out with people, including close friends, and I know I really don't have to be. Part of it has to be that I've been smoking too much weed. I feel like it's making me abnormally introverted and mildly paranoid about my social life. And while it's good to be self-critical, I think smoking too much is making my sense of confidence a little more fuzzy than is healthy. I didn't make any New Year's resolutions, but I suppose I can make a couple for the 22nd anniversary of my existence. I'm going to really try to smoke a lot less weed, and loosen the fuck up when I hang out with people. Wish me luck.
One more thought and then I have to sleep. When I leave Sarah Lawrence, how much will I still have to deal with people who suck like the people at this school who suck? It's a very particular and special brand of sucking, and I really don't want to be around it for much longer.
Good night.
- isaac |
|
|
| london |
[Jan. 12th, 2005|07:30 am] |
So far my winter break has been pretty awesome. The only thing that sucked was when my car spun out on I-80 in northeast Ohio because of icy roads. Nobody else was involved in the accident, and I wasn't hurt. I had to leave the car there at a garage and drive the rest of the way in a rental car. Matt Stapleton came out to Chicago just before New Years and we had a great time knocking around the city. On New Year's Eve we went to hear my dad's band play at a bar on the north side and stayed there until just after midnight. Then we went to a couple parties with some friends from high school and got nicely wasted. On New Year's day there was a party at Dennis Cahill's place on the west side with a good chunk of the Chicago Irish music crowd. Much drinking, playing of tunes and smoking of cheeva. The rest of the week we watched movies, went bowling, and got drunk. I drove back to New York in one sitting, picking my car up on the way. I got to Queens at 4:00 Saturday morning after sitting through lots of shitty radio and shitty weather. The next few days I sat around on the couch and caught up on sleep.
So now I'm in London. I'm staying with Olivia in New Cross (southeast London) which seems like a nice neighborhood. I'll only be here for another week, but I'd like to find some live music while I'm around. I have no clue where to go or who to look for. Anyone have any suggestions?
- isaac |
|
|
| i am a driving machine |
[Jan. 9th, 2005|01:47 pm] |
|
I arrived in Queens at 4:00 yesterday morning, having driven in one sitting all the way from Chicago. New Year's there was awesome, Matt and I had a lot of fun. So much to report but all I can really think about now is that I'm going to London tomorrow and I have no idea where to go or what to do while I'm there. Any suggestions? |
|
|
| (no subject) |
[Dec. 6th, 2004|08:55 pm] |
things that make me happy
1. friends
2. hugs
3. cats
4. cigarettes
5. songs with two quick hand claps at the end of nearly every 4th bar
things that make me sad
1. war
2. homework
3. shitty weather
4. both broken social scene shows being sold out
5. songs without claps at all |
|
|
| strategizing for the fake democrats of Ray Seidelman's group conference |
[Nov. 30th, 2004|07:00 am] |
this might be annoying. but it would be really nice if it happened, right?
----------------
Perlstein offers that what the Democratic Party needs is
not the cancellation of "all the old long-term dreams," but
the creation of new ones. Democrats must agree to commit to
a long-term party platform that does not change with each
election. A recommitment to the party's traditional long-
term goal of narrowing the economic gap is vital to its
success in elections, and to the future of this country. By
showing an unbending commitment to economic liberalism, the
Democratic Party can harness the votes of several groups
that have recently favored Republican candidates, and also
regain the trust of those groups that have traditionally
voted Democratic, but now feel as if they have been left
behind by the Party's desperate attempts to attract swing
voters.
I believe that the Democrats' strongest prospect lies in
the articulation of wishes for a country that embraces a
multiplicity of different peoples, cultures, and
ideologies; a politics that unites the wide variety of
cultural opinions in this country along lines of economic
equality and social justice. The Republican Party has made
appeals to voters along lines of cultural division,
attracting votes on the conservative side of issues like
abortion and gay marriage. The Democratic Party must
emphasize to voters that there are other issues that affect
them much more directly, most importantly the widening
economic gap in this country and its implications for power
and political access.
In the 2004 election, Republicans made significant gains
among poor and middle-class white voters in growing rural
and exurban communities. (See Matt Bai's article on the
Republican turn-out machine in New Mexico.) These voters
have little if anything to gain from the Republican Party
economically, but they were drawn in by "moral values"
issues that really do not have much part in their day-to-
day lives. The Democratic Party must reach out to these
voters not along cultural issues but economic ones. They
must directly advocate increasing limitations on corporate
business, and greater taxes on the wealthiest income groups
in order to alleviate the taxes on the majority of the
population. Also, supporting greater (and more responsible)
spending of tax money on public services such as schools
and healthcare will attract this group of voters who will
not see these programs from the Republican Party.
This policy of economic liberalism will heal the wounds
felt by alienation from the party of working-class urban
voters. The Democratic Party has historically been very
strong in large urban areas, but has lost some ground due
to party wishy-washyness. Returning to its history of
fighting for the underprivileged will make stronger ties
with the traditional Democratic base.
---------------------------
i hate school.
- saac |
|
|
| thank god we never elected him in the first place |
[Nov. 5th, 2004|06:11 am] |
Fuck.
I am deeply disappointed with the outcome of the election, as are many of you, I'm sure. It is a dark time we live in when more than half of voters in America are unable to see through the lies, haphazardness, blatant disregard for "true American values," and pure idiocy of a president who disenfranchised voters (along lines of race, no less) to steal an election, started a war based on false evidence and without the support of the UN and half of the people in this country, has done more to fan the fire of political and economic inequality than any president we've had in 50 years, stunted our basic civil liberties, strongly advocates the influence of religion on government (isn't the separation of church and state demanded by the very first words of the First Amendment?), is totally unwilling to listen to anyone who disagrees with him, is completely incapable of acknowledging his own mistakes, and can barely even form a standard English sentence without tripping over himself and sounding like a fucking child.
That said, I am optimistic because I think the fight for change has begun. This election has seen unprecedented amounts of activism and widespread grassroots organization. Young people are finally getting interested in politics, and we're going to be running the show before too long. Having Bush in office another four years can only piss us off more and add to the strength of liberal opposition. History shows that shit has to get bad before it gets better. We have only begun to be shocked and awed out of our political apathy. Some nasty shit is going happen over the next four years, but I think there's light at the end of the tunnel.
- sack |
|
|
| (no subject) |
[Nov. 2nd, 2004|02:32 am] |
Two nights ago I dressed up like a girl and played a gig at the Malthouse. Which was fucking hilarious. I learned that Irish men are a-okay with drag queens provided that they play Irish music.
Last night I dressed up even more like a girl and went to NYC for the Halloween Parade, and then to a bar below Houston St. A bunch of thugged out guys slapped my ass as I walked past them. Must be because my ass looks good in tights and a mini skirt.
Tonight I am in Chicago. I came home because I couldn't get an absentee ballot, and I have to vote tomorrow. I went out to Martyr's and caught up with a bunch of my old friends from home, many of whom did not recognize me at first due to the massive red fro on my head. Tomorrow I fly back to New York and bite my nails as I watch the polls roll in. |
|
|
| oh my god |
[Nov. 1st, 2004|04:47 am] |
On the Bush-Cheney '04 website, there is a section dedicated to Bush's (cough) passionate commitment to the well-being of black people in America. It's really quite disgusting.
WHO BELIEVES THIS SHIT?!!!??!?
The photo album at the top of the page is just a scroll-through of eight pictures of Bush in the company of black people. The second photo is a highly dramatic and obviously posed and planned picture of Bush praying in a black church. In the fifth picture we see Bush talking to a bunch of boring white people, and he is apparently ignoring two black women who are extending their hands to shake. We do not even see all of one woman's face. In the seventh picture, Laura Bush appears terrified and uncomfortable looking a group of black women in the eye while addressing them. In the eighth picture, Bush is talking very closely to the top of an important black person's head (I am unsure who this is), and his facial expression suggests that he is saying something like, "Now listen to me, boy." I mean really, these pictures are fucking ridiculous. It's like he's saying, "Oh no really, I have black friends!" But it's worse because he's saying something more like, "I encounter black people every now and again!"
The rest of the page talks about tepid "reforms" and unimpressive numbers describing how Bush has helped Americans of color. Many of the points do not even mention black people or even minorities in general. Not a single one addresses discrimination.
I want to puke.
By the way, if you want Bush out and Kerry in, but don't necessarily like the Democratic Party a whole lot, please please PLEASE vote for Kerry through the Working Families Party. They have endorsed Kerry as their nominated candidate as well, and if you vote through them, you're still voting for the same guy but adding to the leverage of a community and labor based party.
Home to Chicago to vote tomorrow. Good night. |
|
|
| amidon and alderson |
[Oct. 13th, 2004|06:12 pm] |
sam: whatever floats your goat, man.
isaac: are goats buoyant?
sam: yeah man, they are big, empty animals. |
|
|
| music |
[Oct. 10th, 2004|04:35 pm] |
I really, really hate the singer in Lamb. She's just fucking obnoxious. Her producer does some good stuff on tracks that don't feature her voice, but anytime she's involved, he starts to suck a little bit. Maybe there are a couple tracks where they work well together, but most of the songs I've heard haven't caught my ear at all. More often than not the lyrics are tired and feel recycled.
Four Tet is awesome. Finally got his LP, Rounds. I would really like to find out what equipment he uses and how much of what he does is sampled from other sources and how much he records himself. I heard his other project, Fridge, and I really like them too.
I want the Notwist to come and save me with a new LP. Until then I have Lali Puna to keep me company.
I know it's a little old, but I'm having fun listening to Ladytron's 604.
Tortoise and the Bad Plus. Two bands that kick ass. |
|
|
| sorry, more politics |
[Oct. 9th, 2004|10:41 pm] |
Republicans criticize John Kerry for purportedly demonstrating a less-than-consistent voting record. One voter interviewed by the BBC offered after the debate last night:
"I left the debate with the impression that Bush, right or wrong, crafts his policies based on principle while Kerry, as result of being in the Senate for 20 years, will leave his principles open for negotiation."
It seems that this demand upon a political leader is stressed above all else by Bush supporters in this fucked-up campaign. Bush's rhetoric is based chiefly on his assertion that unbending resolve is what America needs in a leader. He has portrayed himself as a one-dimensional character, closed to the opinions and suggestions of anyone who might disagree with him. His definition of a good leader is one that is unwilling to listen to the interests of the people. He continually insists that every executive decision he has made since his inauguration has been necessary, "right", and flawless. His chief criticism of Kerry is that the Senator has shown a willingness to consider views other than his own. Do Americans really want to have someone in office who won't attempt to represent their interests should they disagree? Don't people realize that such a leader is undemocratic? The whole point of having a president rather than an emperor is that a president supposedly guides legislation and executive action taking into consideration the wishes of the governed. Bush's idea of "leadership" is very frightening. This kind of leader is a tyrant. An angry person who has to have his way. A spoiled child. Someone who is closed-minded and arrogant, unwilling to admit that they are human and by nature imperfect. Bush speaks entirely in black and white, right and wrong, never suggesting that in real life, nothing is quite that simple. He says that some people are evil but won't acknowledge that they may be desperate. He says the war was "right" but won't accept that his diplomacy has made us unpopular, nor will he address the concerns of millions of people in this country who disagree with him. To me, he appears less and less human every day.
In the second half of the debate last night, John Kerry made me like him for the first time. I felt that he dominated the debate in general, but when questioned about his position on abortion, he suddenly became human.
Woman in audience: "Senator Kerry, suppose you're speaking with a voter who believed abortion is murder, and the voter asked for reassurance that his or her tax dollars would not go to support abortion, what would you say to that person?"
Kerry: "I would say to that person exactly what I will say to you right now. First of all, I cannot tell you how deeply I respect the belief about life and when it begins. I'm a Catholic - raised a Catholic. I was an altar boy. Religion has been a huge part of my life, helped lead me through a war, leads me today. But I can't take what is an article of faith for me and legislate it for someone who doesn't share that article of faith.... as a president, I have to represent all the people in the nation and I have to make that judgment. Now I believe that you can take that position and not be pro-abortion, but you have to afford people their constitutional rights. And that means being smart about allowing people to be fully educated, to know what their options are in life and making certain that you don't deny a poor person the right to be able to have whatever the Constitution affords them if they can't afford it otherwise."
This answer showed me that he is someone who can appreciate the complexity of difficult decisions, and that he is capable of true leadership because of his firmly pro-choice stance in spite of his Catholic upbringing. It also suggested to me that he may even be a compassionate human being who will truly stand up for what he believes is right. He wasn't just trying to get elected when he answered that question. He was talking about something he firmly believes in and stood up for it in the face of questioning that seemed geared towards slipping him up. Most media sources are saying that Kerry avoided the question. Bullshit. He answered it firmly, proudly, and clearly.
Bush responded to Kerry's answer in a disgusting manner. He opened his response with, "Trying to decipher that." What a fucking bastard. He was condescending, combative, disrespectful of a nationally sensitive subject, and brought up, once again, Kerry's voting record. At that moment, Kerry seemed disgusted by the president's ignorance. He responded by saying, finally, that the president was speaking in ridiculously simplistic terms, telling us that things are just more complex than the president wants us to believe. Thank you John Kerry, I finally really like you.
Today's Campaign Fun Facts! brought to you by the BBC
A bulge in the back of President George W Bush's suit jacket during the first TV debate with John Kerry has triggered rumours that he was wired to get help.
Voters' views: Second presidential debate
Web blunder boosts Bush bashers
US election: Arab-American views
University students cheer their man |
|
|
| live music returns to the Wheel |
[Oct. 7th, 2004|04:09 pm] |
|
Beginning tonight, live Irish music returns to Thursday nights at the Spinning Wheel in Bronxville. Every week will feature Sam Amidon on fiddle and myself on pipes, with a rotating crew of guitarists. On guitar tonight will be SLC's favorite not-so-innocent crush, Matt Stapleton. We'll start playing about 9:30 or 10:00 pm. All students (or others!) with ID are encouraged to come drink beer, listen to music, lust after Matt, and hide random objects in my fro. The Wheel is located at 32 Palmer Ave. in Bronxville. Thanks and hope to see you there! |
|
|
| (no subject) |
[Oct. 6th, 2004|01:42 pm] |
|
many things vaguely disturbing about the vice presidential debate last night. one thought that leaps to mind: dick cheney claimed that john kerry has been on the "wrong side of defense issues" in every case, ever. does he mean to suggest that the vietnam war was a fucking great idea? does he mean that we should never have pulled out? fucking hell. he also specifically mentioned john kerry's vote against the gulf war in '91. funny, i could have sworn that w's father decided midway that the gulf war was a bad idea. it seems cheney believes that any vote against dragging the united states into armed conflict is "the wrong decision." scary. |
|
|
| (no subject) |
[Oct. 5th, 2004|05:35 am] |
music can make you remember the same things with extreme joy and intense pain at the same time.
i miss last year. sometimes i was on top of happy mountain. sometimes i was utterly miserable. but i felt very much alive. now i feel almost nonexistent. i guess music helps me remember being truly alive. |
|
|
| (no subject) |
[Oct. 4th, 2004|03:07 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  thankful | ] |
one moment: just fine
next moment: despair, depression, feeling of total and utter solitude
and the next: matt and voltaire make everything a-ok |
|
|
| navigation |
| [ |
viewing |
| |
most recent entries |
] |
| [ |
go |
| |
earlier |
] |
| |
|
|
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
ubuilleann's journal