I have a dream...
Current mood: hopeful
Category: News and Politics

It is a tentative dream... a whisp of a dream... barely an idea.

What if our government spent less money fucking up other countries and used that cash to fix our country? 

Could you imagine the implications...

Fixing roads, educating children, getting flood and hurricane ravaged areas back on their feet, helping homeless, feeding families....

The possiblities are endless.

What if we the people stood up and took responisiblity for our country?

What if people volunteered more?

What if we got rid of these assinine marijuana laws?  We could build more schools and less prisons.  Is it neccessary to lock people up for a joint?  I mean really... don't we have bigger fish to fry?   We tried prohibition in the 1920's.  It didn't work.

Wasn't it Kennedy that said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what can you do for your country."

We did our civic duty by voting some of these assholes out of office.  We have momentum.  Lets keep going.  Lets see what else we can accomplish when we work together.

Dare I hope?

Currently reading : The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (Vintage) By Barack Obama Release date: 2008-07-15

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He had a dream
Current mood: amused
Category: News and Politics

3:53 PM - 2 Comments - 3 Kudos - Add Comment

Happy Halloween!
Current mood: artistic
Category: Parties and Nightlife

1:07 AM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

My Government Keeps Me Safe
Current mood: sad
Category: safe News and Politics

I feel sooo safe and clean.  It is good to know that I am being watched over and cared for.  Our government is involved in every aspect of our lives and for that we should all be grateful.  It is good that our opinions are being carefully screened for miscreant thoughts. 

My neighbor and longtime friend has been expressing himself for years.  He actually has the nerve to criticize the government publicly.  Egad!  What is he thinking?  We can't have this kind of crap.  Maybe I should rethink my friendship with him.  My mother always said that I am judged by the company I keep.


You can tell by this recent photo of him that he is a menace to society.


He has been displaying his opinions publicly for years.  His window is at a major intersection in the city.  Everyone can see what he thinks.

Being that his is moving to a new apartment, he decided for his last hurrah he would display something totally seditious.  The man knows no limits.


So finally, thank god, our government stepped in to protect the masses from his opinions. 


This was hanging on his door yesterday.

There also was a note from the political campaign headquarters downstairs.  They asked that he remove his sign because they did not want any of their politicians associated with him.  I guess there might be a cross contamination of opinions.  We only want the approved opinions floating around in our heads.

From what I gather, you can publicly call for the death of a candidate of African decent.  But please, do not call for a sitting president to be held accountable for his actions.  This is just plain wrong. 

So please feel all warm and fuzzy inside knowing that The Department of Homeland Security will work diligently to keep your mind protected from the wrong opinions.

I feel so clean.

Currently reading : Perilous Times: Free Speech in Wartime: From the Sedition Act of 1798 to the War on Terrorism By Geoffrey R. Stone

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The Irish Love O’Bama!
Current mood: awake

7:18 AM - 1 Comments - 1 Kudos - Add Comment

Firehouses and One Spot Dalmations
Category: Travel and Places

My dearest friend Mike came to town for a few days.  There were a thousand things I wanted to show him in Oregon, but I had to practice self control.  Three days is not a lot of time and this was HIS vacation, not mine.

He is a firefighter from Buffalo, NY.  He volunteers at the Buffalo Fire Museum, and he wanted to visit the Belmont Fire Museum in Portland. 

Here is the link for the firehouse.




This is Nicky.  She is not a black lab.  She is a dalmation with one spot.




There was a film crew there that day.


Nicky belongs to Don Porth who is in charge of the museum.


Mike and I being silly.





They give fire safety classes to kids at the museum.




They used to have to hang the wet hoses in the tower.


















It was built in 1912 to replace a wood structure built in 1904.



So that is pretty much it.  Later Mike and I went across the street to visit the old Avalon theater.  Besides being a firefighter, Mike was also a projectionist for many years.

I'll be posting more photos from Mikes visit later.

Currently reading : Structural Firefighting: Strategy and Tactics By Bernard J. Klaene

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Taking Responsibility
Current mood: inquisitive
Category: News and Politics

This is a excerpt from a book I'm reading now...

"Recent natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina in the United States, have proven how far we have to go in the realm of emergency planning, cooperation, and most importantly, taking personal responsibility for our own welfare.  Local, state, and federal agencies couldn't seem to pass the buck quickly enough for the initial embarrassing, inept response to the hurricane.  As people lay dead and dying, some of my finer countrymen and women were busy arguing about who should have done what.  People in the midst of the devastation were quick to hand out blame as well, as if taking personal responisiblity for their welfare was an alien concept.  It was painful to witness.

Over the years, Americans in particular have been all too willing to squander their hard-earned independence and freedom for the illusion of feeling safe under someone else's authority.  The concept of self-sufficiency has been undermined in value over a scant few generations.  The vast majority of the population seems to look down their noses upon self-reliance as some quaint dusty relic, entertained only by the hyperparanoid or those hopelessly incapable of fitting into mainstream society.

Many people demand outright that someone else think for them, practically throwing themselves at individuals and organization who will act on their behalf so as to avoid making a personal commitment to their lives.  Taking responsibility for oneself has been sacrificed upon the altar of dependence upon others, and insurance companies, corporate health care systems, politicians, banks, and anyone else who stands to make a profit are all too will to keep up the illusion.  This is not holding to the spirit upon which our dear country was founded."

This is from a book called "When All Hell Breaks Loose". 

Tis true I think.  We are all too busy watching Wheel of Fortune and eating our Froot Loops to even think about how to get out of the house in case of fire.  How the hell can we be expected to know what to do in the case of an earthquake or tornado. 

Maybe we should stop expecting someone else to know where the fire extinguisher is.  Maybe I should know how to purify water in an emergency.  Do you even know where your flashlights or candles are if the power goes out. 

We don't need to be paranoid fearmongerers.  But perhaps a little forethought before something happens is a good thing.  The time to learn to swim is not after the boat is sinking. 

Currently reading : When All Hell Breaks Loose By Cody Lundin

10:34 PM - 9 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

Don’t Vote
Category: News and Politics

Currently reading : Outlines & Highlights for Controversies in Voting Behavior by Niemi, ISBN: 1568023340 By Cram101 Textbook Reviews

6:22 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Blasphemy - Guaranteed to Offend
Current mood: confused
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Well now that you put it that way....

Currently reading : How to Read the Bible for All It's Worth By Gordon D. Fee

11:26 PM - 5 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

Coastal
Current mood: thankful
Category: Travel and Places

Last month I went with a couple of friends to the Oregon coast.  It was a beautiful day with beautiful clouds, a great day for photography.

I have no idea who these people are.

Funny how a rock can be such an attraction.

Before we drove to see the Haystack, we were in Astoria.  A lot of films were made in this little tiny town.  Kindergarden Cop, Goonies, Overboard, The Ring and Free Willy are examples.

The Astoria Column

It's a big tower with a lot of historical images on it pertaining to Lewis and Clark.

It's 125 feet tall.

The view from the hill was wonderful.

This was taken where the Columbia meets the Pacific Ocean.

So all in all it was a wonderful day.  Even though I totally spaced and left my memory card in my computer at home.  Thank god for Radio Shack.

Currently watching : The Goonies Release date: 2007-05-15

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