I think it was best stated by Nell Carter when from 1981-1987 she sang "Gimme a Break."
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that we're in a bad way concerning almost everything. War is fast approaching (St. Patrick's Day, that way the people of Iraq won't be the only ones getting bombed), the economy is painfully bad, the list goes on and on. So what do our elected representatives do to change the situation? Simple, the rename their cafeteria food to "freedom fries" and "freedom toast."
"I think it's a great idea. It really shows our patriotism and how great our country really is," said one congressman, "What's that? Problems on our soil? &#@% that, I gots me some food to rename!"
I mean, holy jeez, our government showing this petty second-grade mentality. Next thing you know they'll be wanting to violate UN rules to attack a country for violating UN rules. I mean, can you imagine the silliness of....oh.
All opinions of the war aside, there is something seriously troubling me. I was watching MTV and I saw Tony Blair talking to the "young people" of England, France (whoops, I mean Freedom) and the rest of Europe about Iraq, why Saddam should be ousted, why Europe should get involved. He took questions, he got a lot of hostility and probably didn't change the minds of many. But dammit, he was out there.
Back here in the states what do we get? We get a president who has given only a couple more press conferences than I have. When he does have them, he calls on certain reporters that Ari has suggested for him, the rest of the time we get to hear from Ari himself. This guy is Bush's spin-doctor, that is in the job description. Yet we seem perfectly content to get our leader's views mediated through this knob who colors the truth with the same industrial-sized brush used to apply make-up to Christina Aguilera. (ZING!) Of course, why would we want to hear unscripted answers straight from our leader, there person who we elect (usually)?
As messed up as it might seem, I give Blair a lot more credit than I give my own government. At least he's willing to be held accountable and take the tough questions himself. I would love to see the same from Bush, and no I don't mean he has to go on MTV (the administration already tried reaching out to the "young people" with this CD, but it didn't take) just talk to America more, Georgie.
Sorry about venting. To wash away the bitter, here is some new funny.
Also, belated thanks to Bryan Kelley and the rest of the Kelley Family for sending me the doodles I did in his notebook.
Of course it goes without saying that America is really a great country, and yet I said it anyway. One of the reasons I stated the obvious is because I firmly support the grand American tradition of protesting. America allows us the freedom to protest almost anything, from the government to a lone potato chip who has become derelict in its crispiness duties.
But there is at least one form of protest that I can't seem to grasp. It seems all Portland businesses have unified to protest what they feel could be a blight on their existences: my employment. I can understand if I don't have the right qualifications or my weapons-grade body odor is so offending that I am not hired. But I don't understand why the businesses have to protest outside my apartment...
Many "crazy" store owners urged customers to take advantage of their diminished mental capacity. Seeing a good deal and being unfeeling predators, people tended to go to these stores rather those operated by insane people who knew the value of a dollar. This resulted in a wave of bankruptcy, hitting "non-dollar-related crazy"-owned stores such as Madman Larry's (who cries whenever he sees the color yellow) and Al's Asylum of Savings (run by Al Pavlovsky who thinks he is Napoleon who in turn thinks he is Al Pavlovsky).
Fortunately, I have a potential ally in this regard: Crazy Chef Sato's, which I assume is some sort of Japanese restaurant. I don't see a lot of business there as I drive by and frankly I'm not surprised. People like to attend un-sane business that sell goods, but not food. No one wants to order a hamburger and the get served a toilet paper tube stuffed with chest hair and shoved into a mound of toenail clippings. But Sato's is a Portland institution that has blazed a trail for crazy-owned restaurants, stores and possibly even event planners (who wouldn't want to have their bar mitzvah waist deep in lime jello?).
All this talk of "food" is making me hungry. I think I shall go have a honey roasted turkey sandwich and some french fries. Oops, I mean a honey smoked liberty sandwich with a side of freedom fries. Maybe I'll spoil myself and put some jingo cheese on that sandwich.
One more thing: I'd like to thank Sean for designing some web banners for me. However with my current design, I can't seem to find a place for them. So if you want large graphical signs on your site advertising the existence of mine, please feel free to use these banners and then somehow make them link to my site.