Saturday, November 06, 2004

Losing, non potest

My view
of Politic Americanus can probably be summarized thusly:

I have only one firm belief about the American political system, and that is this:

God is a Republican and Santa Claus is a Democrat.

God is an elderly or, at any rate, middle aged male, a stern fellow, patriarchal rather than paternal and a great believer in rules and regulations.

He holds men accountable for their actions. He has little apparent concern for the material well being of the disadvantaged. He is politically connected, socially powerful and holds the mortgage on literally everything in the world. God is difficult. God is unsentimental.
It is very hard to get into God's heavenly country club.

Santa Claus is another matter.

He's cute. He's nonthreatening. He's always cheerful. And he loves animals. He may know who's been naughty and who's been nice, but he never does anything about it. He gives everyone everything they want without the thought of quid pro quo. He works hard for charities, and he's famously generous to the poor.

Santa Claus is preferable to God in every way but one: There is no such thing as Santa Claus.

- PJ O'Rourke
Parliament of Whores



This isnt to say I identify with the republican point of view. not at all - except I suscribe to craven capitalism.

I am a black male, and as such, I appreciate that the general Republican point of View regards me as an oddity on the margin. In the abstract class sense, of course. *big wink*

Now, that doesnt mean I am automatically a democrat, even tho I DO identify as such for convenience sake, more than anything.

If I had to define my political views, I would say I am a libertarian - which in the political sense, means I am an agnostic.
--------
I doubt anyone under the age of 30 remembers who John Anderson is.

What with the close, but definitive return of Bush, a lot of people, specially here, are stunned, angry, distraught that their candidate lost, it brings to mind the first time I experienced the loss of the candidate I wanted to win.

Young voters are acting like its the end of the world.

No it aint. Ive been through worse, many times.

Ronald Reagan vs Walter Mondale in 1984. Heh. He got stomped.

Bad. Like by 49 states.

Stunned was not the word.

Against Reagan???

According to Democrats, Reagan was the second coming of the antichrist, making Bush junior seem like a cuddly tub o' tribbles in comparison. Mister "Trickle-down economics and ketchup is a vegetable" was so obviously a walking disaster for regular folk. We thought he was vulnerable.

We found out different.

So, John Anderson. Was a moderate-liberal in 1980, who was the the thinking person's candidate. Sorta like the Howard Dean of this era.

Even though he was a Republican, he appealed to people on a wide political spectrum.

At Evanston High School, a suburb of Chicago - a uber-liberal, politically-aware college town if there was ever one - (think Berkeley, but nowhere as weird), John Anderson became the candidate of the young people.

Even those of us who werent old enough to vote yet. I was 16, so I could only watch as the seniors went all gung-ho in anticipation.

The hype was strong for the highly-regarded congressman. He toured the schools, his organisation setting up get out the vote drives for high-schools and colleges.

Man, we bit. He paid us attention when the traditional political machines wouldnt, which galvanized the liberals.

He ended up garnering 6 million votes in the 1980 campaign.

Long story short - he didnt win.

We were crushed.

It's like we found out there was no Santa Claus.

Little did we know that was just the start of the pain.

The subsequent demolition of Carter, Mondale, Dukakis was the tip of the iceberg. So, electing Clinton in 92 was life or death, even if we barely knew who slick willie was at first.

Cuz we hated Bush Senior.

And then we learned the consequences of apathy in 2000.

So, for those under 30 and other first time voters, my advice - Dont let what happened get you.

Even if its a choice between two evils.

Keep voting. You might lose the fight, but you can never stop fighting for what you believe.

Keep voting. Make your choices. Even if you think there is no point.

For there is indeed a point to all this.

Even when you discover there is no Santa Claus.


Wednesday, November 03, 2004



Yesterday. Today.

Today's horrorscope:

Master your own bliss. Wherever you go, be alert for signs of beauty, anything to lift your spirit: a stranger's smile, a pretty tree, an interesting cloud formation. The world is filled with simple joys and things to bring you quiet pleasure. They're all around you. You need only to pay attention and open your heart.


Today, a cold front from a passing low-pressure system dropped a few sprinkles of rain on this burg.

Yesterday morning, i was out and about at 5am. The skies were crystal clear, and in the dark sapphire blue of the pre-sunrise sky, Jupiter and Venus (thanx Clint) hung together in close proximity. And then a high-flying jet flew between them, leaving a perfectly straight white contrail to punctuate the scene.

This morning, the sky was turbulent with all the shades of gray, from downy white to gunmetal grey, as layers of low and high clouds marked the passing of the weather front.

Beautiful.
-------
On rotation

groove is in the heart - Deelite


Yesterday morning I woke up relaxed thinking that being patient had paid off.

By the ofternoon, i totally lost it.

lilbro: shoulda asked your brother
JPennant: for what?
lilbro: help
JPennant: im real sensitive about asking anyone for help
lilbro: bitch
JPennant: thanks pa, but I only ask when I feel i really need it. And even then, I try to avoid it.
lilbro: prideful slut
JPennant: Eh. Ive earned that big ass chip on my shoulder
lilbro: woman
JPennant: hm?
lilbro: women r prideful
lilbro: hence u r acting like a woman
lilbro: bitch
lilbro: luv u though
JPennant: careful what you call me. i just made a man cry and 2 security guards rush up like they wanted to check me
JPennant: seriously
lilbro: LOMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JPennant: its kinda amusing the reaction when i lose it
lilbro: man that was good.
lilbro: u not a bitch
lilbro: psycho yes
lilbro: bitch no
JPennant: hehehe
-------
Today, i only had to growl once as i set about fixing the damage.

I got the note of apology/explanation i needed and wasted my entire morning with damage control.

By the afternoon, I was out admiring the scudding clouds and relaxed again.

JPennant: hey g ... how tings?
glinessa: things are cool...how about you?
JPennant: heh. in spite of having the nagging feeling that things arent supposed to be THIS hard, i feel like progress is being made
JPennant: ;-)
glinessa: hahaha...sounds like me and law school
JPennant: Ah, yes.. the ol' oneL grind
glinessa: yeppers
JPennant: man, I dont envy you
glinessa: no one should


JPennant: if you had told me 3 years ago that i would have to take these baby steps at my age, i prolly woulda shot you on sight.. :-)
glinessa: lol
JPennant: but now, i realize there is benefit to this
JPennant: Like those people who grew up in the depression
JPennant: theyve got habits that trace back to that to time, but theyre generally pretty successful because of it
glinessa: yeah
glinessa: ok...going home...will be back on later....will you be on?
JPennant: yeah, im just gonna lax about for a bit
glinessa: ok...talk to you later
JPennant: right on

Glinessa signed off at 2:04:12 PM.
--------

daKid: sup G?
JPennant: yo Kid!

JPennant: I was just about to head out, dangit
daKid: lol
daKid: I have the bomb ass timing :-)
JPennant: heheh
JPennant: how you doin pa
daKid: awesome, et tu?
JPennant: taking baby steps at 40
daKid: baby steps are good. at any age.
JPennant: heh, maybe ;-)
JPennant: you still in south florida?
daKid: not maybe, slow and steady never lost the race my friend.

That's a wise man.


Sunday, October 31, 2004



Adjustments

A truism
about moving is that you need money to move.

Very true, but there is also a psychic cost to shifting locales.

i never realized how ingrained my habits have become over the years, and getting a place and then doing what I have to do.. its just not the same.

Not been online as much recently, so my communication duties have suffered.

Just went through a backlog of mail I needed to answer. Combine that with the pressing day to day things i need to do, and Im feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Man, youd think as you get older youd have shytte figured out, but no - its a constant self-improvement thang. Specially when youve gotta work through habits and tendencies and habits ingrained over the years.

So, Im on a self-improvement kick via Dr Dr phil and Tony Robbins..

Man.

Thought it woulda gotten easier by now.
-----
Im not mad exactly, but im wishing for some karmic bitchslap on someone.

From: "James W"
To: "'Joe Pennant'"
Subject: RE: table, lamp and chair
Date: Sat, 30 Oct 2004 10:55:34 -0700

If something changes, give me a call on my cell, otherwise,
I'll
plan on meeting you outside the building at 2pm tomorrow.


1:50pm

I get to the apartment door and get to waiting for the guy giving away a table and a chair.

Soon, two men also pull up and start lovingly fondling/massaging each other.

Eh. I didnt take notice.

the guy opens his door.

"Hi, Im Joe"
"Oh, um. I thought you wouldve called. i gave them to someone else."

No, i didnt get outwardly angry. Except this @#*#&#@&@ had wasted my (*&#^@& day having me wait till sunday afternoon, when I live a half (@&#^@* block away.

What, he wanted to give his craigslist IKEA crap to someone gay rather than straight??

This has actually happened before.

0@*&#&@&.

Yeah, I was not happy.
--------
Again, my horroscope gloms onto the climate...


..you're in the mood for a change. Your appearance, job and environment could be targets of your improvement mission.

Damned skippy.

I need to make cjhanges before Im forced to.

As someone once told me years ago: Do for yourself before someone does unto you.

It becomes even more true as time goes on.