365 days

So, I've been here in SF for one year now officially. It's been quite a year, mostly in a good way. I think I've changed a little for the better. The job is going well. I've met a few great people. And I've lost a couple people that meant a lot to me. But I guess that's how it goes. I look forward to a second year of maybe knowing what to expect at work and being a bit more effective. Challenges always exist, and they should. Overall, I'm optimistic to see where this year takes me. Bring it on!

Cryptically clear!?!?

I ran across this description today in a music review. What do you think it means?

"Happy sad. Simple yet complicated. Sincere yet cool. Naive but clever."

Also, came across this lyric... how would you interpret it?

"All those giant little animals, don't they seem like monsters?"

An open letter to the media regarding Tom Cruise

Dear American Media Masters,
I hate to break it to you, but I really don't care all that much about Tom Cruise or his personal life. I know you feel compelled to report every aspect of his life as serious news that merits journalistic integrity, but I don't care. I don't care that he's crazy in love for the third or fourth time. I don't care that he's in another blockbuster movie. I don't care that he's a scientologist or that he may or may not be gay. I don't care what his ex-wife Nicole Kidman thinks about him. I don't care what Oprah or any celebrity news reporters think either, for that matter. And you know what, I don't think I'm alone in this celebrity apathy.

Please, please, please, please, dear media masters, please turn your attention to some real news. I'm sure Mr. Cruise is a genuninely nice person, but please offer something else. At this point I'd take a kitten up a tree--almost anything (except more celebrity antics) would be a step up. There must be something? Nope, not celebrity trials. Sorry, behind the scenes movie stories don't count either. Um, no, celebrity diet plans are out too. I'm sure you can think of something to report...Hey, I know, how about something detailing how the war in Iraq is going? Or maybe an interview with someone from another country asking about his or her thoughts on America? Something? Anything? Please?

In touch with 1505

Okay, so these comments will either put the final nail in the coffin that condemns me to hell and/or will get me excommunicated. (Interestingly enough, I actually prayed before moving forward with this post.) Anyway, I'm just going to point out a few things that cause me growing concern about the Catholic Church and how it's not so much in touch with 2005 as with 1505.

Fall of 2004--many Catholic bishops and priests used the pulpit to tell their flocks that to vote for an elected official who may have a pro-choice stance is to put one's immortal soul in danger. Loosley translated: voting Democrat (many of whom are pro-choice) will send you to hell. My question: wouldn't voting for a Republican (all of whom are supportive of the war in Iraq, which has been called "immoral" and "a defeat for humanity" by Pope John Paul II) essentially be bad too?

Spring of 2005--the whole Terri Shaivo issue involved "playing God' -- if you supported the removal of the feeding tube from the (now recently re-confirmed via autopsy) brain dead accident victim, you were playing God and supporting not the liberation of a soul from a brain dead body, but the killing of an supposedly still sentient young woman. My question: wasn't it playing God by inserting the feeding tube in the first place? Many Catholic priests and bishops used their pulpit to condemn the husband as an evil killer who, by the way, was also committing adultery because he had moved on and remarried. Even people lost at sea are considered dead after 7 years, aren't they?

Spring of 2005--the selection of German cardinal Josef Ratzinger as Pope, Pope Benedict XVI. Pope Benedict has called homosexuality an “intrinsic moral evil”; has described the movement toward equality for women “radical feminism”; and has denounced rock music (specifically by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, the Eagles, and Queen) as an "instrument of the Devil" because it "endangers the human soul." And according to David Gibson, a former Vatican Radio journalist and author of a book on trends in the church, “[Ratzinger] has said himself that he wanted a smaller, but purer, church.” My question: isn't the message of Jesus about forgiveness and acceptance? And while he didn't necessarily condone their activities, didn't Jesus associate with lepers, prostitutes, and tax collectors (the homosexuals, feminists, and rock musicians of his time) forgiving them their sins and accepting them as human beings? And let's not even go to the place where we discuss purity and groups of people deemed unpure...

If you read this blog, even only occasionally, you know that I worry about the fearmongering that is going on by our elected officials, the rise in influence of the judgemental religious right, the erosion of the separation of church and state, and the dumbing down of America in general. These are the same conditions that brought about the Dark Ages. A few demagogues took control of the church and set back science and humanity hundreds of years. Demagogue: one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots. (thanks for that definition H.L. Menchen)

If those people were still in control, we'd still believe the earth was flat, the sun revolved around the earth, diseases we caused by demons or some sin your parents or grandparents committed, women were inferior and were to serve only as baby incubators, homos were to be stoned, and the only acceptable music was by church choirs. Wait... Re-read those last three again? My point exactly.

Personally, I don't believe God cares that much if you're a man or woman, who you sleep with as long as it's consensual, or what music you listen to, as long as you try to make the world a little better, try to give to those who are less fortunate, and try not to judge others. What was that phrase... "Judge not, lest ye be judged?"

By the way, I've always wondered just what the Catholic church could accomplish in the world if it melted down all the gilded chalices and golden cruicifixes (adopting humble glass cups and wooden crosses in their stead) and cashed that all in, along with all the jewels, art, extra land and other material-world stuff and just fed, clothed and educated people--and stayed out of the political arena...

Now maybe we can expect some REAL news...

Now that yet another celebrity trial is over with the "not guilty" verdict in the Michael Jackson case, perhaps we can expect some real news on our networks. Oh, yeah, I forgot, this is the American media we are talking about. There'll be plenty of runaway brides, missing white children, shocking celebrity break-ups and other non-items to cover.

Wait, wait, wait, now maybe we can get some news of how the war in Iraq is actually going. Nope. Expect more of what's on 'king W.'s iPod, who Paris Hilton has on her cell phone call list, and the latest person to get a phone thrown at them by Russell Crowe.

Hold on, you mean we won't get to hear how our allies in Europe are reacting to our latest foreign policy moves? Probably not, but we may be exposed to some unfounded gossip about how Hilary Clinton may be a lesbian (don't expect to hear about anything she's accomplished in Congress). Or maybe that 'king W. sometimes talks baby talk to the First dog.

How about some balanced coverage on who "Deep Throat" was and why it's even relevent? Nope. But maybe we can hear why his famous whistle blowing was "unethical" from some right-wing pundits who were tried and convicted for their involvement in Watergate (but the media conveniently won't give your their backstories because it nullifies anything they'd say).

Nichts. Nil. Nada. Nothing. Oh wait, what's that? A ray of hope? Nope, it's just that crazy Courtney Love acting out again! Wow! That really helps me understand the socio-economic struggle of the lower middle class.

Since most of us don't get BBC America on our cable selection, I guess the best that we can hope for is to keep watching The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. I actually do get some vital information by watching the fake news. And I do read the newspaper everyday, but that's a whole other entry waiting to happen.

Nightly news? Today Show? Even CNN? They give us all the infotainment we really need. After all, the whole world just loves us Americans, so why should we bother learning anything about the rest of the world... After all, the "president" doesn't read newspapers, so news must not be that important, right? I can't wait to see what celebrity is found "not guilty" next time.

11:45 and random thoughts

It's 11:45 p.m., about the time I start to wind down and feel like hitting the hay, but tonight I'm not tired. Honestly I haven't been sleeping well lately, or ever! I usually wake up at least 3 times a night--I have ever since I can remember. I'm told I might have sleep apnea, but I don't want to go to a clinic to check that out. I've always just been a light sleeper.

Anyway, random thoughts going through my head right now--stream of consciousness: bills coming due, hating all the rainy weather, annual report at work, friends and loved ones, a trip to Kansas City next weekend, nearing a year at my "new" job, karma, would I ever go back to UMC if they made a good offer (which they won't), probably not, why would i want to go back, new Coldplay and White Stripes CDs come out tomorrow, I wish I was independently wealthy, blah, blah, blah.

Okay, I guess I'm a little more tired now. Getting these thoughts written down maybe got them out of my head for a while. Maybe I'll try to hit the hay.

Enthralled by Mythbusters

Okay, I admit to being a bit of a dork and maybe even somewhat of a geek (and the following doesn't help help my case any either), but I have to admit that I am totally enthralled by the show Mythbusters on the Discovery Channel (Wednesdays at 8 p.m. CST). Jamie and Adam are just too cool, and they get to do fun things like blowing things up and making things sink and doing all sorts of damaging things to Buster, the poor crash test dummy.

They both have a certain personal style, too. One sports a walrus-like handlebar moustache, a shaved head and a black beret, the other has a goatee, big 50's style geek glasses and often wears a fedora.

I've been watching the show since it came on about two years ago, and they still find interesting things to test every week. And they know their stuff! What a cool job they have, getting paid to test urban myths. This week they will try to build a working jet pack of their own, and they are likely to succeed! It's edu-tainment at its finest in my book.