Old Friends
I suppose I should actually post something new that isn't a regurgitation of an article concerning the members of Top Gear. Although I have to admit, the lack of a decent RSS feed for those items is of great enough concern for me to continue to post Clarkson's writings.
It has been fun having Spencer in town. It probably isn't as fun for him, being away from his wife and all, but its still nice to talk politics, play videogames, and talk about being Dad's with a friend I've known for more than half my life. I can sum up our political views pretty quickly. S = Spencer, B = BJ.
That sums up most of our discussion over the last couple of days. His daughter is adorable. She can be very bold or very shy depending on her mood. Her action ranges from hesitance to ask a question to a declaration of action in the face of overwhelming odds.
Sophia has been furiously trying to will herself into movement. This usually involves rolling back and forth while forceing an outstretched palm to whatever the object of her desire might be at that moment; this then progresses to a few well placed screeches to let that object know that it doesn't seem to be listening to her will. As if to complain to either the world or one of her parents she then begins a series of yelp to let us know that all is not well on the blanket of her world (which happens to be a blanket).
Another curious phenomenon has cropped up. Sophia just loves being tossed lightly into the air. I have also found that eating her ribs or neck elicits cackles and just the sort of hilarity that makes a father grin from ear to ear.
It has been fun having Spencer in town. It probably isn't as fun for him, being away from his wife and all, but its still nice to talk politics, play videogames, and talk about being Dad's with a friend I've known for more than half my life. I can sum up our political views pretty quickly. S = Spencer, B = BJ.
- Ethanol: B=Not sustainable; S=Can Work, Government in Bed with Corn Growers.
- Iraq: B=Bush Dumb; S=Bush Dumb.
- Guns: B=Like 'em, equalizer, education better than ban; S=Guns bad, ban/heavy control good
- Islam: B=Can't change from outside, Current US Policy Dumb; S=Misunderstood, Current US Policy Dumb
- Video Games: B=Fun to play, not more influence to violence than other media; S=Fun to play, more influence to violence than other media.
- Poor: B=Gov't role too large in caring for poor; S=Gov't doesn't do enough
- Form of Gov't: B=Libertarian Lite, retain public works, justice system, patent reform; S=Small Gov't Dem/Green Party (registered Rep.)
- Clinton: B=Good presidency, Weasel; S=Good presidency, Weasel
- Bush: B=Has vision, Horrible horrible vision inconsistent with reality; S=Has vision, Horrible horrible vision inconsistent with reality
That sums up most of our discussion over the last couple of days. His daughter is adorable. She can be very bold or very shy depending on her mood. Her action ranges from hesitance to ask a question to a declaration of action in the face of overwhelming odds.
Sophia has been furiously trying to will herself into movement. This usually involves rolling back and forth while forceing an outstretched palm to whatever the object of her desire might be at that moment; this then progresses to a few well placed screeches to let that object know that it doesn't seem to be listening to her will. As if to complain to either the world or one of her parents she then begins a series of yelp to let us know that all is not well on the blanket of her world (which happens to be a blanket).
Another curious phenomenon has cropped up. Sophia just loves being tossed lightly into the air. I have also found that eating her ribs or neck elicits cackles and just the sort of hilarity that makes a father grin from ear to ear.
Hmmmm... How to respond?
ReplyDeleteEthanol: Sustainable but not practical as it produces less energy. Need to focus on fuel source that produces equal or more amounts of energy as oil. {aka - hydrogen}
Iraq: Dictators around the world should be deposed by all who are willing and capable. While it may take time for democracy to seed we are commited to this course of action and should not be detered. Insulting Bush only exposes weakness in personal opinion and lack of information about the subject.
Guns: Practical and useful.
Islam: Religions can only be changed from the inside but when the followers are unwilling to control the radical elements of the faith then outsiders must do it with zero respect for creed or belief.
Video Games: Fun/Fiction. Should not be taken literally.
Poor: Should be given an opportunity to help themselves and not a monthly cheque. Supplemental income should be availible only to those who already work and just dont earn enough.
Form of Gov’t: Fiscally Conservative / Socially Moderate
Clinton: Charasmatic, horrible president that road on the backs of the people that came before him and did very little to stem the tide of impending active terrorism.
Bush: Needs direction and guidance from people other than those in power with him. Should rely less on beliefs and more on reason.
Clarification is in order. Obviously our conversations have been whittled down to their most basic elements. The rational for Bush being dumb with respect to the Iraq War has more to do with your last comment. Essentially his need fo direction and outside guidance. History has shown that an Islamic nation can depose those who are in power to instill their own government. In one specific case, directly againstthe wishes of the United States. What I'm referring to is the deposition of the Shah in Iran . In this specific instance the desire was to become MORE fundamentalist as a nation. The flawed thought that we can change what people want is the jist of my argument that Bush is dumb. I agree that he has a specific desire to transform Iraq into a pro-western Arabic country that can be the birthplace of freedom in the region. Freedom is impossible until people are free to choose and follow their religion according to the dictates of their own conscience. In "liberated" Iraq people can't even follow different versions of Islam without roving deathsquads, bombs, and the brink of civil war threatening to upset the tenuous government we are trying to implement what hope have we for true freedom, where Christians, Jews, and Muslim can coexist without getting blown up.
ReplyDeleteWe would do more to increase our own safety by focussing on eliminating our use of foreign oil than we would in a war like Iraq. The Iraq war has made the world less safe. Bush continues to beat his head against the notion that he "feels" safer because Saddam was deposed, but in the end the world is less safe based on reports from AMERICAN spy agencies.
Bush refuses to listen or adjust his policy. Bush is making the world less safe. Bush = dumb.
Whoops, I forgot two links
ReplyDeleteSpy Agency Report
Iranian Revolution