The Stuff
Posted 8/30/08
Camper Van Stephen
Just got back yesterday from a three-day trip up to Lassen Volcanic National Park. In all likelihood, it will be my only camping trip this year, so thank goodness it was a fine time. I get such a kick out of visiting amazing places like Lassen, admiring the scenery and sights. (Photo of the Moment update to come soon.) It's such a huge change from being stuck in this urban and suburban mess.
But it's also great just being in places like the National Parks. I always feel like I've stepped out of the flow of time when I visit one of the parks. Just walking in to the visitor center, or into one of those little general stores they always have within the park, or even just seeing the signs that mark the entrance to the park or one of the attractions--I'm always aware of that feeling I get, a sense of "this place is just like it was back in the '50s, or the '70s. Time seems to stand still within National Parks; which is, after all, sort of the idea.
Beyond that retro feeling, I simply love getting out into those deeply forested lands, high up in the mountains, and enjoying what can't be had down in the city: laying out beneath a sky full of stars (where the Milky Way is easy to see), swimming in a mountain lake after a hike, sitting by a lively campfire, or even just waking up in the middle of the night and laying in your tent, listening to the kind of quiet that simply never happens around the home. Such an experience brings a kind of renewal that can't be had from anything else.
If you haven't made your way out to a good camping area in a while, make sure you get out there soon. You won't regret it.
Presence Of Greatness
I just finished watching--rewatching, really--the movie Unforgiven. And I've decided it belongs among the Good Stuff: Best Of All listings. It's simply a mind-blowingly great movie. Rarely do you see a movie grapple with the subject of human nature to that depth. If you haven't watched it in a while, or if you've never seen it, do yourself a favor--check it out ASAP.
The Brunette "Blonde Of The Month"
Do you ever watch Fox News? If your life is so benighted that you're a regular view of the "Faux News" Channel--or, like me, you see more than enough of it via YouTube clips on Daily Kos or other sites--then you are surely familiar with FNC's anchor strategy. Ever since they came on the air, FNC has made a point of always having a rotating stable of good-looking Überblondes available for news-reading duties--what I have called the "Blonde of the Month" phenomenon. Obviously working on the theory that eyeballs matter more than ears, Fox has clearly based their strategy on the idea that the way to get viewership is not to report actual news, but to be sure that whatever lies it's telling are being told by prime quality stroke-off material. And it has worked--the channel has consistently been a ratings winner.
I bring this up because it is the most sensible explanation for McCain picking Sarah Palin to be his running mate. Every analysis made in reaction to her selection, by just about every commentator who decided to give it attention, couldn't avoid calling Palin "attractive" or some such synonym. We heard lots of words about her being a "former beauty queen," a perky cheerleader, etc.
To be fair, there have also been comments about her astounding lack of experience, given the office for which she has been nominated, and even a few mentions of her lack of tact and/or polish on a couple of occasions (like the "what does the vice-president do" interview). And we've even seen a little scrutiny of her ongoing battle against allegations of abuse of power as governor of Alaska.
Unfortunately, my gut feeling is none of those negative critiques will matter. Because Palin isn't there, standing by John McCain, because of qualifications. She is there to be a brunette "Blond of the Month." Given the obvious tenor of the campaign so far, the Fascist team must have drawn the conclusion that only an appeal to the basest of voters' instincts will save McCain from a thrashing in November. Thus, trot out a little cheese and hope that the citizen will appropriately bow down to the pretty person in their midst.
Laughable, on the face of it. So why am I not laughing? Because my almost 40 years of life have taught me--perhaps above all things--that yes, the American public really is stupid enough to fall for it. It is entirely possible that we will somehow not avoid the disaster that will be a McCain presidency, because a majority of voters simply won't be able to resist getting a hard-on for a little tail. Pathetic, but all too potentially true.
No, I'm not laughing. I'm hoping, but I'm definitely not laughing.
Postscript: By the way, I don't actually object to Palin on the grounds of lack of experience. I have seen her interviewed on TV, and never got the sense that she was unintelligent or any such thing. I have long held the belief that, if you are faced with a choice on whom to hire for a job, between a stupid person with experience and an intelligent person with no experience, that you take the intelligent candidate. An intelligent person can gain experience, whereas a stupid person, no matter how experienced, can never gain intelligence. No, I object to Palin simply because a) she's standing next to John McCain--reason enough; and b) no one who believes the Earth was created in six days should be placed in high office in this country (such a thing puts us on a par with places like Iran). Those reasons are more than enough, in my eyes, to make her defeat desirable. But as I said above, if it's eyeballs vs. ears, I'm afraid eyeballs will win.
Posted 8/14/08
John McCain Is A Homo
As if you needed any further reasons not to vote for McCain, it turns out he's queer. Need evidence? Just check out this picture, where he's snuggling up like a little bitch with his bull-fruit lover.
Yeah, that's right. Remember: John McCain--totally fucking gay.
This page last updated on 11/1/08