Been kinda quiet...
I have been stunned lately by the events on the Gulf Coast, and haven't felt much like writing.

I'm rather outraged by the politicization of the storm and the aftermath, all the finger pointing and accusations and people not stepping up and saying, "Here's where we could have done better."

I'm disappointed in all the people who are supposed to be leaders -- from the mayor of New Orleans to President Bush. Although this whole mess brings to mind something that has long been one of my core beliefs:

America isn't great because of our government; what makes this country great the everyday, rank and file people.

And the people have stepped up with money and goods and services. They've opened their homes, their wallets and their workplaces. When it comes right down to it, I am disappointed right now because I was looking to our government to take care of things -- and like much of the time, the government failed. At every level.

AngryTeen and I were talking about the polticians and the elected officials who are all yelling and screaming about who did and didn't do what and why.

She is just 15, and she has her troubles (like most teens), but I have to tell you that she understands a basic truth: humans do everything they can to get what they want, and once they have it, they will will anything to keep it. The behavior of our political leaders -- in both parties -- has shown this to be truer now than ever before.

I love politics, normally. I was looking forward to the presidential race in '08, but I can tell you right now that it's going to be more of the same -- people peddling the politics of fear and don't vote for the other guy because he's conservative or liberal or Democrat or Republican.

They'll belch out a bunch of hot air, and bicker and blame. No one will advance any new ideas for the future; we won't dream or plan for anything good.

We'll all vote because we're afraid we're going to lose something, instead of putting the best people in office. And everything will remain the same.

It used to be that politicians would promise anything to get elected; now it seems that the strategy isn't to offer anything but protection from the other guy -- or his party.

I'm tired of all of it, and it hasn't really even started yet. I've already made up my mind about for whom I will vote, provided that this person is an eligible candidate. So I might just check out of the next political season altogether and start watching General Hospital again or something.

To end this on a lighter note, I just want to send out props to Linda Larson, whom I am acquainted with through the Times Writers Group. She has written a book called Grow It. Eat It, and it's going on sale soon. Linda has a nice, folksy style of writing, with gentle humor and subtle wit and wisdom.

Lastly, I want to thank Dave Brooks and a couple of drivers at Taxi Plus. I drove cab last Saturday night, and collected all my tips for hurricane relief. Dave and the other drivers matched my donation, and together we raised $150.

Every time I mentioned to the customers that I was donating my tips to hurricane relief, they tossed a few extra bucks my way. It was a good night, and the cheerful giving of everyday people restored my faith a little.

So I got that going for me then.

Now THIS is cool!
Australian Scientists Create Regenerating Mice.

Australian scientists have created mice which can regenerate absolutely any tissue except for the tissues of the brain. Heart, lungs, entire limbs and joints -- you name it.

With all the terrible news out there, I thought it be neat to point out that there is still wonder in this world. Can you imagine where this can lead for humans?

Indescribably cool, that's what I say. (Although I should point out that the Incredible Hulk and Wolverine have been doing this in comics for decades!)

Bill Maher re-run tonight at 8 PM CST
I just found out that Bill Maher's show "Real Time" is in a re-run tonight at 8 PM my time. I'll be watching. Cindy Sheehan is one of the guests, and people will be able to see, once again, that she is happy with the way things are and that she loves loves loves being in the spotlight. I think she's a bit hypocritical, but that's me.

Also, one of my favorite authors is going to be on: Kinky Friedman. He is running for the office of governor in Texas. Friedman is funny, irreverent and brilliant. Politics-wise, he's progressive.

This ought to be good!

A Touch Misguided
There's a group of people out there who are calling for Americans to sign a petition that demands that President Bush and his family send their kids to war.(That's a link to see it for yourself if you want.)

The argument is simple: if Bush and company truly believe this war is so good for America, why are none of the Bush progeny in the military, much less overseas fighting and dying?

Further, the guys with the petition point out that most of the Bushes haven't ever served inthe military, the exception being the President. Of course, according to these guys, his service doesn't count because he wasn't called to go to Viet Nam.

I didn't sign the petition.

I don't believe that the key to this problem is sending more people over there to die. Let's face it, what exactly would the Bush Twins do in Iraq? Sure they are cute, but I don't see them as having any skills that will advance the cause -- or end the war.

I just don't buy into the anger and hate that people who claim to be for peace have against President Bush. I don't like this war, and I wish we would ge the heck out of there, but I don't blame Bush. We live in a militaristic society that rules by consumerism, conquest and conflict. We can pretend differently, but that's the truth.

It doesn't matter who's in the White House. The systemic problems that face us need to be changed by us. I don't need the 'right' president in office to pursue a life of peace.

We don't need the people in power to send their kids to fight and die; we need to focus on the root of our problem and deal with it at the source. And we need to start living different lives if we want to change the system.

Like the cliche goes, "Let peace begin with me."

I will not hate George Bush. I will not call for the sacrifice of his children. I will instead sacrifice the things in my life that contribute to this corrupt system. If enough of us do that, things will change.

Stupid Cat
I am not sure why people who keep blogs also tend to have cats. But I read a lot of journals and blogs, and there are a whole lot of cat people who will never stop talking about the felines who share their lives.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. But I didn't want to be one of those people. I love my cats, to be sure. But they aren't here to provide fodder for my blog.

That said, I have to report something about Lovey. After we got her, Most Patient Wife and I discovered something quite special about our little kitty. Quite special indeed.

She's stupid. I mean, really stupid. MPW gave lovey a last name...Gump. So like a lot of cat folks, we have a few names for Lovey. We call her Lovey, Lovey Gump, Gump!, Dammit Kitty, (stole that one from Justin), and Gumper. She answers to none of these with any regularity.

Now Ginger...she has a few names too. Ginger, Ginger Snappe, Pouncer, Snapper. And since Lovey came to live us, Pouter. I swear that cat is the biggest pouter in the world these days.

The reason I'm writing about this today is that once again, Lovey is doing something stupid, and I can't ignore it.

Lovey likes to chase her tail. Now, that's not unusual. What makes it stupid is that Lovey chases her tail and seems to be afraid of it.

The proof of this is when she starts chasing it, she gets so weird that her tail puffs out really big like a big dog is after her.

Then there are times that she seems to forget that she has a tail, and then is startled to see it, and takes off running.

Stupid Gump.

Cindy Sheehan, Superstar
Before I get too much into this, let me say up front: I don't like this war. I think that we should have done a bunch of other stuff before we invaded, and I think that the costs Americans will endure will be felt for decades.

I did vote for Bush, but only because I thought he was the best person for the job who was eligible. Bring me a Democrat who isn't a putz and I'll vote for him (or HER) in a second.

I support peace activists, but at the same time, I hope with everything I have that our troops are safe and when they come home, we will treat them with honor and dignity.

And I try my best to treat every vet -- of this war and all the others -- with kindness, generosity and respect. I may disagree with our government's policy, but the ones on the ground who dodge the bullets and face war deserve our best. And so do their families.

But I think Cindy Sheehan is a nut. (I also think that the hundreds of folks that are protesting her on the "You Don't Speak For Me, Cindy" tour are nuts as well.)

Why do I think she's a nut? Well, she says nutty things like claiming that President Bush is a terrorist. She says that all she wants to do is talk to him. But she already talked to him last year.

But the truth is, she doesn't want the president to end this, because she's in the spotlight and she's loving the ride. How do I know this? Did Limbaugh whisper this bit into the microphone? Did Fox News did up some family member with an axe to grind? Surely someone in the vast right-wing conspiracy is spreading this lie!

Nope. Cindy Sheehan said this herself while being interviewed by Bill Maher. She said, and I quote, "I'm glad he didn't meet with me, because then none of this would have happened." Cindy Sheehan is in the machine, and that's right where she wants to be.

She's not in the fight for peace, she started out throwing a tantrum and ended up with much more attention than she ever dreamed of -- or deserved.

Who Would Jesus Take Out?
Further proof that Pat Robertson of the 700 Club is insane.

Robertson says that the US should assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. I'm not kidding.

Just what part of "love your enemy" does this guy not get?

It's Summertime, and the livin' is easy...
...at least for now.

Two things have happened in the last week that signal the end of summer.

I heard my first cricket. It was in the Wal-mart parking lot, hiding behind the post office box. Then I heard another at home. Fall is coming. My favorite time of year -- September through February -- is almost here.

The second thing that signals the end of summer is school orientation for AngryTeen. She's heading into tenth grade. I like the way the school sets it up: each grade has its own night to go in, get lunch accounts set up, get class schedules (which are surely going to be changed the first week of school anyway) and have school pictures taken.

I dread a lot of school events because I hate standing in line. I'd rather have a tooth pulled than stand in line. But the night went smooth, and we were out of there in about fifteen minutes. Angryteen wasn't sure where her locker was, so she needed a little time to figure it out.

This was a good, stress-free way to start off the school year. I hope the rest of it goes as well.

A Great Movie
Most Patient Wife and I went to see the movie Hustle and Flow the other night. I’ll make it simple for anyone reading this with a short statement: This is a great movie, it should win a ton of awards, and I hope they make a billion dollars. Go see it.

Now for the review.

This is the story of DJay, a pimp and drug dealer. (Played by the versatile Terrence Dashon Howard.) This movie doesn’t glorify his life; far from it. His whores are worn out and unglamorous, and his drug trade brings him no prosperity.

One day, on a drug delivery to a regular customer, DJay discovers that a local rapper named Skinny Black who made the national scene is coming back to the old neighborhood to celebrate the fourth of July. Skinny Black is played by Ludacris.

DJay remembers Skinny Black’s humble beginnings and his own days as an amateur deejay and rapper. DJay believes that if Skinny can make out of Memphis, he can too. And so the quest begins. DJay turns his attention to making a rap recording that Skinny Black will hear and thus get the break that will take him off the streets.

DJay is aided in this endeavor by an old acquaintance named Key (Anthony Anderson, who does some nice, understated work here) who works as an audio technician, recording high school concerts and court depositions. Key makes a living at what he does, after a fashion (just like DJay), but his middle-class lifestyle is no more satisfying to him than DJay’s pimping is to DJay. They are joined by Shelby, a guy who knows a little about audio production and supports himself with a job filling vending machines.

There are a few subplots involving DJay and his whores. One works as an exotic dancer, another is too pregnant to turn tricks, and the third rides around in D-Jay’s beat up old car tricking at $20 a pop. Shug, the mother, just may be the love of DJay’s life if he could afford such a luxury. She is the most supportive of DJay and his schemes and even helps lay down a track for the recording.

In the course of this movie, DJay actually becomes an Everyman of sorts. I know nothing at all about rap and care for it even less, but I certainly have felt the same way DJay, Shelby and the others feel. They want to rise above their station for a while. They want a moment when someone looks at them and doesn’t see a pimp, a whore, a vending machine filler or the guy who pushes buttons on a tape recorder.

They want to be seen, for one moment, as artists. As someone who has done something bigger with their lives than they have ever done before. And in this struggle, DJay – pimp, thief, drug dealer, thug, loser – becomes heroic and even noble.

I can’t tell you exactly when it happened, but there was a moment in the movie I started to get restless. Not because I didn’t like it, or that I was bored, but I actively wanted the same thing that DJay wanted. MPW asked me if I was all right, and I told her that the characters were getting under my skin. I was itching for DJay to win.

Hustle And Flow is a well-written, well-acted movie. I was sure that I would be able to predict the ending, but I was wrong. It is entertaining, and fun (sort of) and tragic and triumphant in unexpected ways. And it’s got a killer score.

Go see this movie! (But leave the kids at home.)

My Snobby Reading List
Oh yes, let's talk about me some more, shall we?

I have done a bit of reading since my last post. I read Og Mandino's A Different Way To Live, which I didn't really care for.

I liked his other work, The Greatest Miracle In The World and The Christ Commission chief among those books. There's not much new stuff in "Different Way" and maybe that's why I didn't like it. Basically, his advice to people who are unhappy is to "Buck up, soldier!" "Count your blessings!" "Smile!"

Eh.

Janet Evanovich's latest Stephanie Plum book Eleven On Top was a quick, fun read. Think of Fran Drescher from the TV show The Nanny and that character as a bounty hunter, and you have the tone of these books. It doesn't sound like it would work, but Evanovich is a pretty good writer working in a genre that she is a master of (goofy yet sexy chick with an endearing cast of co-horts capers through wacky adventures in New Jersey), and I have loved all eleven books of this series.

It's not great literature, but it's a lot of fun.

I also read The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History. It was an okay read, and there were a few things in there that I had forgotten.

My problem with this book (as I have with a lot of stuff on the extremes of idealogy) is the shrillness of it. The author never comes out and says "Those Libruls are wrong about just like they are about EVERYTHING" but the sentiment is there. At least I felt it.

I was hoping that this book would have been a little more ... fun. I love history, and I love trivia. It seems to me that there this a whole bunch of stuff out there that we haven't learned -- and even more that we should un-learn if we want a better understanding of where we came from.

But this book doesn't make the case.

I haven't picked up The Gospel According to Paul in a couple of days. As much as I admire Paul, and I adore reading about him, this book just hasn't engaged me. But I want to finish it.

But here is an engaging book that I started yesterday and I am about halfway through: The Last Voyage of Columbus. It's a tale of shipwreck, triumph, tragedy, irony, political intrigue and more -- and it's true. Author Dugard weaves a compelling tale about someone history has alternately lionized and reviled. You'll learn a lot about Columbus' world -- and the man himself, as he undertakes what may be his greatest adventure.

Okay, that's enough for now. Move on the next post, please.