Contemporary Wisdom

For some reason, there seems to be an assumption that a Democratic President could not lead our country during a war as well as a Republican. The GOP has painted itself with warpaint, decrying the Democrats would be "weak" in pursuing the war on terror. Step back a moment. Almost every war in the 20th century was conducted with a Democrat in the White House: WWI--Woodrow Wilson; WWII--Franklin Roosevelt; Korea--Harry Truman; Vietnam--Lyndon Johnson. Only during the final years of Vietnam and the first Gulf War was the president a Republican. So why do people seem to believe that a Democratic President would be any worse than a Republican as Commander in Chief? Hogwash.

I Need a Home!

Yesterday morning, Audrey got out of the car at the bus stop and said, "Dad, there's a kitten under the car!" Before she headed to the bus she asked, "You're not going to leave it, are you?" Of course not. The dirty, skinny little kitty is now at my house, well-fed and loved on. My cat, Cookie, isn't very happy about it, and we can't keep another cat permanently. Hopefully, we'll find someone who wants a lovable kitten to take it in. The kids named her last night--Necco.

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Change Coming On

This is from a show at the Cannery in Nashville in 1996.

Shipping All Over The Place

Adios, Alberto

Well, it's good to see that some things are predictable. Back on April 19th, I posted a blog about how every time the President, in the face of some controversy involving one of his cronies, expresses his "complete confidence" in said crony, and that once Bush says it, the crony's days are numbered. The two lackeys I mentioned in April were Alberto Gonzales and Paul Wolfowitz. Wolfowitz resigned from the World Bank a while back, Gonzales held on until today. Goodbye, Alberto. I'm sure the administration will miss your expert advice on the legality of their domestic spying, secret prisons, and interrogation measures.

Looking to Advance Your Career?

I heard it reported yesterday that the much-anticipated (and overly hyped) report to Congress from General Patraeus will be written (i.e. spun) by the White House, so don't expect anything but more of the same stuff being spouted by W in his speeches. What we have to remember is that there are limited opportunities for military advancement at the higher levels, and that advancement is somewhat political. You will not be promoted to top General in Iraq if you don't publicly support the policies of the administration. Did you notice how none of the top Generals previously asked for more troops during Rummy's time at the DOD? Then all the Generals who retired went on the news shows saying we needed more troops? Gen. Patraeus is going to tell Congress that the surge is working, we're making progress, be patient, we need to stick it out and give it time (stay the course...stay the course...). We're going to be stuck in Iraq for quite a while regardless of who gets elected in 2008, because nobody wants to be the one blamed for "losing" the war. What is not clear at all is if we stay long enough to provide some stability and security, will it stay stable and secure when we draw down? Are the ethnic/religious divisions going to go away? I doubt it.

Trigger Man

Alan Griffith wrote this song during my stint with Blue Million. I think this is the only recording of the song.

The Monarch

Audrey and I have been watching the milkweeds near my Dad's driveway for Monarch caterpillars. We finally found some this weekend, so we're watching them so we can snag a chrysalis to put in a jar and watch a butterfly emerge.

I Want You

I've finally learned how to post vids on YouTube, so I'll treat you to one of Mark's newer songs, live from my living room.

Cheney in 1994 on Iraq

You must watch this.

1775

"Last year the Ministers promised every Thing and performed nothing; nothing fell out as they had foretold; all their Measures were ill taken and worse executed...The indulgent Nation, duped by such shallow Artifices and disappointed by such weak Councils, still persisted in believing in those who had nothing but Falsehood to varnish over Blunders."

--from an opposition article from the St. James's Chronicle, referring to the attempts and failures to put down the American Revolution. (I got it from the book "Iron Tears: America's Battle for Freedom, Britain's Quagmire: 1775-1783" by Stanley Weintraub.)

It took Britain 8 years to give up in America; I only hope we're so lucky as to get out of Iraq as early as 8 years; I doubt it will happen that fast.

Ghost

This is a pinhole image that I meant to double expose. I goofed, wound the camera after a shot of the blank wall, then shot Amee against the wall. Luckily, it was easy to layer them in Photoshop and turn it into the shot I meant to get in the first place.

I Miss Photo Booths

This is one of my all-time favorite pictures. This set of pics were taken at King's Island in one of the old photo booths that actually printed out a real photo, not a jaggy-piece-of-crap-laser/thermal print. I don't remember exactly what year this was, but it was after we were engaged but before we were married--probably around 1989 or 90.

More New Shots

Finally, Some New Shots

I actually shot some new images for the first time in ages.

Cut It Out!

I did this shot many years ago. I shot individual photos of each band member, printed them, cut them out, made a set out of cardboard and cloth, placed the band cut-outs on the set and photographed it. Seems like a lot of work to go through for a band picture we never used for anything...

Head to Head

Which one is better? C.H.U.D. or Humanoids From The Deep? Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers or Horny Fishmen looking for love?