Uncle Fishbits

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/09/mccain-palin-rally-attend_n_133240.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjxzmaXAg9E&eurl=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/09/mccain-palin-rally-attend_n_133240.html

This is seriously one of the most messed up things I have ever seen.  Disturbing.

I just don’t want people that think dinosaurs and people walked the earth together 6000 years ago with access to nuclear weapons.

It is precisely the reason we *don’t* want muslims to have nuclear weapons.

They are EXTREME.  And not in the awesome soda beverage way.

Value Voters Will Always Protect Their Belief Systems.

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1832128

well done, frankly.

She has been in the spot light for what… three weeks?  Three interviews?  This is our future.  With McCain’s health being questioned by doctors: http://therealmccain.com/doctors/

Seriously… I would love to see all the horrible mistakes compiled.  These are today’s clips, basically.  I cannot answer all these questions, but my VP who *will* be president should be able to.  The first two are terrible.

CANNOT NAME ONE PAPER SHE READS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRkWebP2Q0Y

Doesn’t know Hamas: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/the-worst-sarah-palin-cli_b_130761.html

Counters herself on Roe V Wade, doesn’t know other Supreme Court hearings:http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/01/eveningnews/main4493062.shtml

Bailout question totally bungled:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8__aXxXPVc

Fannie and Freddie Mac Gaffe:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/08/palin-makes-her-first-gaf_n_124792.html

Conservative commentator says she is out of her league, and should step down: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/26/palin-should-step-down-conservative-commentator-says/

AND…

tracking the gaffes:

http://wordpress.com/tag/palin-gaffes/

And more….

http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/10/checkers_not_chess.html

People (ie, liberals) keep worrying about the conservatives and how they will destroy the country and blah blah blah. The democrats are SO VERY LOUD, but incredibly incapable of leveraging that into a solid win. Why? I just think people are getting incredibly unprincipled and, frankly, somewhat stupid. I think there are a lot of loud democrats that might not even vote. Maybe they aren’t even registered…. A lot of talk, ideas, complaints… with little to no action. While Nixon’s silent majority sits back and steals the election, quietly, time and time again, the liberals are blogging with multiple question marks

So.. why is it?  Why is this solid “silent majority” always haunting the liberal camp? (I love that term because I think of a whole bunch of sociology and humanities professors in tents camping and drinking bad beer)

The majority of this majority aren’t the seasoned, well learned, incredibly well spoken conservatives that we respect and listen to. These are the conservatives by default.  These are people possibly not even political. The Heartland. The people of “values”. These people are the ones that are by default conservatives because they desire status quo, basically to avoid having to inject any real culture or diversity into their lives.

The heartland, frankly, is a problem. I am not talking about the good people of the literal, geographic, heartland. I am talking about the cynical take politics and the press take, and the people they are *REALLY* talking about when they use that word.

I think it is time as a nation to recognize that we will keep producing slobbering, gun toting, xenophobic racists and prejudicial people because as long as the intelligentsia is being outbred by stupid people…..  We will have a group of people with a tremendous amount of ethereal clout and sway in the government.  These people will keep growing in numbers, and we will walk down a path not unlike Judge’s “Idiocracy”.

People will skew further afield among radically nationalistic and paranoid beliefs because we will lack the critical thought necessary to interpret our surroundings. Scared of different people or ideas, these people panic and react by getting discriminatory ballot measures into the election, for when their core belief systems are challenged. Always for state’s rights and less government, unless it affects them. Then it works slightly differently.

Anyhoo… this is my ramble about thoughts, politics, and why this system will become more flawed, I guess.

Hell, I know people are always talking about getting more people to vote, but do we really want more unintelligent, uninformed voters out there… voting based on what sound bite they saw, or how good the candidate looked on a magazine cover?

In the future, everyone will be part of the “heartland” that decides the election every year. The sad, honest aspect that the news never tells you is that “the heartland” means “redneck”.  I don’t want to make broad statements about anyone, and I am not talking about the lovely people from all over.  I am simply talking about these “heartland” voters the press refers too, and I think it is a thinly veiled guise.  The country is getting dumber.  Period.  It is frightening, it is obvious, and it is so bafflingly scary that no one seems to want to deal with it.  So we keep walking down the staircase.  It is a long staircase, and oblivion is a long way off.  But it seems ignorant to just ignore this issue.  Just because it will take a long time to get to oblivion doesn’t mean I want to keep walking without trying something.  Anyways these stairs are a bitch…..  what a worthless ramble.

Democrats will always be louder than they are driven. Conservatives will always be morally devisive with their politics. In the end, this system is going to fall apart because it relies on informed, intelligent people to take care of the democracy…

With media becoming more corporate and bottom line oriented to appease the consumers of their stock, rather than the eyes consuming the end product, it is nearly impossible to be properly, fairly informed… and people’s desires to be so informed are waning in the onslaught of focus on celebrity gossip and technological consumerism.

Democracy needs an intelligent, informed voter.

The United States is turning into a country with voters who could not possibly be one of those things… let alone two.  The moral of this story… please.. all you smart people?  Get hooked up all romantic like and start making babies now.  PLEASE… now.

Why is capital punishment devastating to the success and order of modern civilizations?  When you kill innocent people, order falls apart.

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/01/31/illinois.executions.02/

Evidence that *suggests* about 175 innocent people were put to death (I am sure that number is debatable), exonerated with DNA evidence. With the above Illinois article, they proved that over 50% of death row inmates were innocent and resultingly freed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/12/national/12DEAT.html?amp;ei=5007&en=68a074149c394948&partner=USERLAND&ex=1376020800&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1221856198-tSdryQig9oXScWFYOyd+KA

And here is the kind gentleman that we are talking about today…

http://www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/troy-davis-finality-over-fairness/page.do?id=1011343&n1=3&n2=28&n3=1412

http://www.troyanthonydavis.org/

read about him… and learn.. and help!!!

So… I have done a lot of activism for my niche philosophical beliefs…. And capital punishment is way up there. Just my two cents in how to get everyone proselytized and energetic in caring about this issue and this man….

Unfortunately, we find that activism gets mired in the hapless self centered day to day operations of living life…. It’s hard to pay bills, it’s hard to support your family…. “How could I possibly focus on this person in another state? How can I really do anything to make a difference?” People often give up before even trying to help because they think the problem is so much bigger than themselves. Especially something as devastating and frankly, depressing, as capital punishment.

I note that when you challenge someone on their beliefs, prejudices, or thought processes, it can be very hard for people to be receptive. Even if they believe in something (capital punishment) that they have never really thought deeply about. I would venture to say, if you challenged most thinking people on their beliefs of capital punishment…. You would get them thinking and help them realize that:

1) Killing a human being, in no uncertain terms, is unethical. There is never a time it is “right” or “okay” to kill a human. Never. It is more complex than that (self defense, heat of the moment) of course. But that is ethics. It isn’t vague and fluid like morals. Ethics is ethics.

2) No matter how you view the “state” and its needs in protecting the masses, you can never, EVER justify state sponsored murder. We have all heard it.. but killing someone to show killing is wrong isn’t just hypocritical… it is wildly absurd.

BUT…

… it seems often with such lofty goals and trying to get to the heart of people you need to do it in a way that doesn’t make them uncomfortable. A lot of people have their mundane existences throttling them such that they feel they wouldn’t have the energy or ability to affect any real change.

That is why I think it is important to realize one way to REALLY get to the heart and soul of the issue is pop culture. It is funny, but the 30 second sound bite culture has a lot of sway. It sort of makes me sick, because instead of getting a group of a few friends together to chat about your beliefs in a panel or debate form (which RARELY happens nowadays)… having someone watch a movie or TV programme is often a much simpler way to approach opening them up to knew ways of thinking, or believing… or filtering the world around them.

Sometimes, giving people the tools to use critical thought to arrive at philosophically sound interpretations of reality isn’t enough, and you sort of have to wage war on their emotions without letting them now. As a skeptic we often have to pull back on our passions so we can get the point across. As soon as you get into a conversation with someone about “why their beliefs are wrong” or telling them that they can do more than they are doing… people don’t listen, they react. They get defensive, feel a lowered self confidence and esteem, and stop receiving your message.

SO… this coffee laden ramble leads me to the main point:

MOVIES! Movies are a brilliant way to subtly get your point across without seeming too dogmatic or accusatory (IE “you need to do more”, or “your view on capital punishment is wrong”)

So I made a list of a couple movies that might be worthwhile and useful for our mission here. I am sorry I come from the “waiting to organize and save something” san Francisco bay area, but organizing a last second movie night with friends would be simple… then have a round table discussion or just chat about Troy in the end…. I will chat with Lauren about it.

But if you want to do something similar…. Informal evening with snacks, a movie, and a chat afterwards….

I think it is a powerful tool to use within a community. My two cents:

Dead Man Walking

The Life of David Gale

Even Shawshank, but to a lesser extent. Green Mile too, but it ends up mired in the supernatural and might lose its point. It has an incredible Jesus/Martyr metaphor that is fantastic, however.

I will work different angles and stoke my team of letter writers and devoted advocates for change….

Thanks for alerting me to Troy. It is a cause most of us could do with understanding deeper, and caring about more.

YOU CAN HELP!

By going here and filling in an email:

http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=2590179&template=x.ascx&action=11223

or using this fact sheet to get others to write in for amnesty:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa25008.pdf

OR CALL TODAY!

or today.. one quick call…

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE—call the following number today…ASAP:
404-651-6671….
It is the Georgia Parole Board.  You will get a live person on the other line.

And keep watching the innocence project!

http://www.innocenceproject.org/

Treasure Island music fest was MIND BLOWING TO ME.

As a San Francisco native, a little psuedo suburban punk rocker mod rude boy goth (yeah I dressed worse than anyone, and listened to worse music than anyone, so I can judge)……

What *IS* the deal?  With that scene?

WHAT… IS… THE… DEAL?

I mean, I know I am 32.  I am quickly becoming very, very unhip.  I do music festivals… camping in freezing cold 29 degrees, or 105 degree during the day type of affairs.  I have worked them.  I have gotten crazy at them.  I burned for years, and am down with the psuedo - bohemian scene (because frankly, I like fadoras with feathers in them and the burner girls are sooo cute.) and love microcosms of style and dress.  Like I said, I was in the SF punk ska scene and moved through to goth.  I was totally a little suburban kid trying to create a minority class for myself.

BUT THE 80′S ARE BACK!

It frightened me.  It baffled me.  The kids at Treasure Island have adopted 80’s gotcha surf style with day glo, ray bans, neon vans and pumas….

is that all because of Justice?  It was crazy!!

Someone explain…. why the hell is mid 80’s consumerism with fluorescent everything and John Hughes style coming back???  It is so awful.  I would post pics, but I don’t want to be mean to the kids.  They think they are cool as shit, and so did I.  I can’t judge…

but it was staggering.  Like.. what is the deal?

So what is the deal?

where did that come from?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3qFdbUEq5s&eurl=http://failblog.org/

This is why I am a skeptic.  This is also why I get passionate about critical thought and the idea of helping people develop their scientific method filter for reality.

This is perhaps the most embarassing but hilarious and awkwardly funny moment that has happened to me in years.  At least…. in a long long long time.

This AM, a good friend sent two emails… one about a recalled dog toy, and the other an email to all her professional contacts, peers, speakers, etc about a job opening… (yeah this is bad)

the story about the dog ball is here…http://www.thechaistor…

The dog was chewing on the toy, it created a vacuum, and sucked the dog’s tongue into the hole.  It cut off the blood supply, and the dog had to have the tongue amputated.  That is a HUGE deal for a dog.

So, I am reading this email, one day after a fishing trip, hung over…. no coffee….

and I am appalled that my dog is playing with one right as I am reading it.  SERIOUSLY… I have two of these damn things.

SO I FREAK… take the ball, and am astonished.  Read up on the story… blah blah.

I reply to my friend about the situation…. the below is my reply.  I replied all to all her colleagues about a new job posting for this HUGE environmental group in Monterey, instead of for the email she originally sent about the ball.

HERE IS HER ORIGINAL EMAIL:
——————–
Please distribute this widely:

Return of the Natives Restoration Education Program of the Watershed Institute of CSU Monterey Bay announces an opening for an Americorps Promise Fellow to work in school and community based environmental education programs for 10 months starting October 1, 2008 through July 30, 2009.  This service position provides a $14000 living allowance and a $4750 education stipend upon completion of 10 months of service and 1700 hours of service.

Below you will find the information that is posted on the Americorps website.  Applicants can make contact below–but a formal Americorps Application will also have to be completed.
This is not a position for a full time student.  However, a student taking only one course will be considered.
Thank you!
——————————

Here is what I replied to this work group:
—————————-

jesus christ I have two of these in my hand right now.. one slobbery from this morning.  shit.

thanks yo

——————————

needless to say I have been crying laughing for about two hours.

When I realized, I tried to dig out of my hole:

—————————————–

The dangerous perils of technology have officially struck ***** and myself for the first time, and I must be accountable for this embarrassing gaffe.  We are good friends, which is something she may want to revisit after this buffoonery.  We are also dog lovers, and this morning, she sent an email in regards to a dangerous dog toy ball, and realized it was the precise rubber toy that my dog had been playing with this morning.  There are two of them, and pose a dangerous suction risk for the dog.  It is a terrible story, and pertinent for most dog owners:
http://www.thechaistory.blogspot.com/

Well, first day post a fishing vacation, a morning without coffee… and a massively ineloquent exclamation sent to all of you.

Unfortuanately, out of context, it truly was one of the most bizarre things ever, and have dinner plate eyes wide with regret.

Apologies to all of you, and *****.  Have a good event, and pardon me.
——————

I have been getting “that’s okay, funniest thing in awhile” responses….

oh my my my.

Reply all =   -1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMBXJ9I3pJM