Riotpoof

Twittering

2008-09-17T16:16:00Z

Not writing on this blog for over 7 months has been difficult--especially in an election year! You know how I love to rant and rave. To assuage my build up blogging anxieties, I’ve decided to give Twitter a try. You’ll notice on the right navigation column a link to my twitter postings. If you miss my blog posts and want to keep tags on me please follow me on Twitter.

La Fin

2008-03-06T15:13:00Z

I feel that the life of this blog, in its current state, is near the end. I started this blog almost six years ago when I was at a much different point in my life. It has been a great experience and a labor of love, but I believe that it no longer meets my needs; evidenced by the dearth of postings. Perhaps I will reinvent it somehow in the future, but for now I bid you adieu.

Consumers Unite

2008-02-18T20:14:00Z

I’ve been feeling increasingly ashamed of my lifestyle. No, not my “sinful” homosexual lifestyle, but my American lifestyle. The lifestyle of consumption, disengagement, and apathy. I, like many people, feel a burning desire to change my ways, to be a part of the solution rather than an unthinking contributor to the problem. But, like many people, I’m paralyzed by the realities our our lifestyles (i.e. Jobs, no time, etc...). Ironically, these limitations are created BECAUSE of our lifestyles (i.e. consumption, disengagement, and apathy). Over these past few years I’ve become aware of the severity of these problems. Before I thought if we could just get everyone to recycle, drive hybrid cars and vote Democratic we could eventually slow our progression to our inevitable catastrophic demise. But deep down I always felt I wouldn’t be around for this end. I’m starting to question the reality of this wishful thinking. I think the turning point is closer than any of us would like to imagine.

I think it is important to learn more about these issues. Here are some good starting points. Pass it on.

The story of Stuff

The End of Suburbia

"California is the place we ought to be..."

2008-02-07T22:09:01Z

This is exciting news coming out of California. The most interesting part of this is 60 years ago the California supreme court ruled it unconstitutional to deny marriage rights to interracial couples. I think it is time to extend this justice to us homos.

Pulling in the fangs

2008-02-01T04:45:01Z

I felt the need to write a post-debate comment on this blog, particularly given the vitriol with which I have described the state of the primary election. While I still feel strongly about my previous comments, the debate tonight stirred within me a sense of guarded. Actually, I was quite impressed with the format of this debate. I can’t remember the last time I heard such nuanced and focused policy issues in a major debate. Clearly there are differences between the two candidates, but it is also clear that all of us will be much better off with one of these two candidates as our next president. And as you may already know, I differ significantly from both candidates on many issues (which is why I chose not to vote for either of them). But it became clear to me tonight that while I may disagree vehemently regarding the details of their policies (Health Care to name one), I do feel an affinity for the values and priorities expressed by both candidates. The reason I identify myself as a Democrat is because of those share values and tonight I believe that those values were reflected in the debate. This excites me.

A Sad day for the democratic party

2008-01-30T19:29:01Z

Edwards drops out

It is amazing that even in the primary elections we are limited to two candidates. This is a reason why the caucusing process should be abandoned for one general primary election. Voters who reside in states who vote later are limited by the decision of residents in states who vote early, until the contest is boiled down to two “front runners” who really represent a myopic view. Personally, I fault the media for this. In order to construct a more entertaining story they pit the contest against two giants (based mostly on their fund raising success), marginalizing “second tier” (and even third) candidates. This does a huge disservice to the political parties and subsequently to the citizens of this nation. I’m sick of it!

Good riddens

2008-01-28T17:30:00Z

Suharto--former dictator, military general, overall despicable human being and BFF of the United States government--died yesterday. I have a feeling that a question about Suharto on The Tonight Show’s “Jaywalking” segment would elicit many blank stares from the contestants (a sad reflection on the political and historical literacy of our nation but I digress). Maybe an excellent exercise for high school history students would be to learn about why Suharto does not deserve the accolades he is receiving from some in the media today. His legacy should not be directed only by those who benefited from his reign but should also be guided by the hundreds of thousands of innocent people who were brutally murdered under his watch. Some great reading sources if interested.

The National Security Archive
Massacre: The Story of East Timor

Primary

2008-01-25T19:11:00Z

Normally I have no difficulty deciding who I should cast my vote for in the primary election. I’ve known for months now that Dennis Kucinich represents me the best of all the candidates, regardless what this fun little poll indicates below. Yes, I know. Dennis Kucinich has no chance of winning the nomination. In fact, the mainstream media has decided this election months ago for the voters. The nominee will be either Obama or Hillary. They’ve already set the stage and now all that is required is for their actors to play out the rest of the script. I will take no part in this. My vote in the primary election is a vote for my conscious, a vote for my ideals and a vote for my party. I believe this is my opportunity to let the democratic leadership know what its base thinks and what direction WE want the party to move. Based on my own opinions regarding the important issues, I will not vote for Clinton or Obama (more on this later). Trust me, I would love to see a non-white male the next president of the United States, but I will not compromise my ideals and beliefs to accomplish this. In the general election, I will vote my party. In the primary, I voted my conscious. Unfortunately, Kucinich dropped out of the race early this morning. I decided to cast my vote for John Edwards. I’m sorry Kucinich ended things so early. I hope his short run convinced some democrats that we don’t have to settle for the middle ground.

Keith Boykin summed it up for me

According to the 2008 presidential Candidate Matching Quiz:

91% Barack Obama
90% John Edwards
88% Mike Gravel
88% Dennis Kucinich
88% Chris Dodd
87% Hillary Clinton
83% Joe Biden
81% Bill Richardson
39% Rudy Giuliani
24% John McCain
24% Tom Tancredo
22% Mitt Romney
19% Mike Huckabee
18% Ron Paul
11% Fred Thompson

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz

It's strange really...

2008-01-23T00:18:00Z

I’ve been humming Natalie Merchant’s song River all day and then I see this news: Heath Ledger Dead. It is an odd coincidence because this song seems to be sadly appropriate to the death of Heath Ledger. It is amazing to me to see someone so young lose their life, celebrity or not. Take a listen…

A reflection of my week

2008-01-17T23:33:00Z

Working with smarty pants Ph.Ds has some downsides. Most notably, many of them are egotistical asshole mother fuckers. Personally, I find symbolic bowel movements the best way to say “I hate you.” Yes, it is true. Even though I have my very own graduate degree, I’m not above taking a dump under someone’s desk just for kicks. Try me douche bag! I think I need a vacation/new job.

Presidential Debates

2008-01-06T03:31:00Z

...where intellect goes to die.

Seven and Counting

2008-01-04T04:58:00Z

Candy Canes

2008-01-03T21:39:00Z

Now I know why I didn’t feel the Christmas spirit this year. I didn’t eat any candy canes. I just had one and celebrated a mouthful of holiday festivities. God bless everyone!

Post Xmas

2007-12-27T17:44:00Z

Another holiday season has come and gone. I think next year husband and I should escape to a land without Christmas and avoid the compulsory holiday gatherings. But where can I find such a magical place? China, maybe? Iraq could be fun. But I’m sure evangelical missionaries and Walmart have already colonized those places. I know. I’m a Scrooge. Each year I enjoy the holiday rituals less and less. Now it almost feels like a chore. I’m sickened by the magnitude of the materialism that has engulfed Christmas, yet I find myself participating in it year after year. I think next year I will draw the line and escape the madness. Are they doing those commercial trips to the moon yet?

The Guido Gardens

2007-12-24T00:22:00Z

During my trip to Georgia we visited a lovely church garden with a very enlightening Christmas display. Happy festivities!