Substance over Style
I have to admit, I am jaded with the politics of the current presidential election as well as the upcoming debates. I believe both men are equally suited for the job on qualifications but the tone of civility our nation’s leaders have demonstrated as of late, leave me wanting for a reset button on the whole political process.
In the early days of the campaigns, Bush and Kerry both called openly for their opponent to run a fair and clean campaign. This truce of civility lasted as long as you could say “Vietnam”. Soon afterwards were the non-stop commercials by swift boat veterans that aimed to make sure we all knew John Kerry wasn’t a great commander in Vietnam and they wanted to give the impression that everyone in the military didn’t like Kerry. This left the obvious question; why the hell are we talking about Vietnam? What does this have to do with John Kerry in 2004? How does this help Bush since he would like to downplay his own service record? Why should I care about a man's impression of John Kerry when he hasn't had personal contact with him for over thirty years now? Is Vietnam going to be the focal point on picking our president?
It was a red herring and the fact that it got so much attention is proof that we fell for it. So the lesson learned is; let a third party with no real ties (supposedly) to the political party fight your dirty battles for you leaving your opponent on the defensive. If you can make a man with three purple heart medals from fighting as a volunteer in a foreign war look unworthy for his country, who can't you go after?
Kerry responded to the attacks, he had no choice. His campaign was so on the defensive that he came across angry, his return attack ads that soon followed didn’t help his image either. With Kerry, you have a paradox that seems to elude many, but still leaves a quandary about the man. Kerry is (sometimes) an anti-war candidate, and then he isn’t. He wanted to appeal to the anti war movement that grew strong but made certain to not put both feet in the issue. He also wanted to appeal to the undecided voters who favored Bush on his Iraq policy; this leaves you looking like a flip-flopper when your opponent exploits the fact and he should have seen it coming.
Kerry has been fighting a “whatever position is necessary” strategy to win and many of the people who radically oppose Bush seem to excusing this because they have also adopted the same philosophy to get Bush out of office. The problem with this position is that it leaves a lack of substance from the Candidate, from the party, and from the supporters. I want to like Kerry but it is looking more like it makes little matter as to which man wins. The policies change here and there but the tone has already been set for both administrations and they both look quite similar. From the most radical supporters on both sides you have private agenda’s that do not reflect the sum of what it should mean to be our president.
Unless John Kerry finds his mark tonight at the first of the three debates, I predict that George W. Bush will win a second term by another close, but more accurate, election in November.
(published on watchblog)
Victorinox Rocks
I love their stuff but still confused why they are branded other than "Swiss Army". I have my eye on a new coat there (since I don't currently own one) and by "eye on it" I really mean I was asked to leave the store for drooling on the jacket. NYC is not a place to be without a coat during winter (cough) (cough)
(big blue/green eyes of wanting)
hehe.
Sellout
Ray, over at themaxx.com, has signed a large undisclosed deal to lend his likeness to the new Sims 2.0 game coming out soon by Electronic Arts.
Reconnected
The internet is connected at the new place and I am actually able to communicate once more to the outside world from the domicile. In fact, this is probably the fastest broadband I think I have ever had. WoOt! I gave up from 2-6pm of my life waiting for the cable guy and finally get a call at 9:45pm asking if I still want him to come by. It was an honest mistake though and the guy was really cool about getting everything set up (even with no tv here)
Tomorrow morning another item is arriving via carrier, hopefully it's the precious idiot box. My preeeeeecious....
New Place
In the new apartment with no television yet, no land line phone yet, no internet connection except through my palm phone and one lamp to give light at night 'till things arrive from across the sea. Hopefully a few essentials will arrive in a few days time. Hopefully the sanity will make it till then.
No TV or internet makes Beau something, something......
The Good Kid
Guess who was arrested in Oklahoma last night?
Egad. He looks like the lost child of Steve Buscemi.
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
Alternate title; "Captain Amazing and his world traveling prop plane on a leaky tank of gas! Also staring back seat driving annoying girl!" I know, I know, it was supposed to be a nostalgia piece with a nod to the old sci-fi movies of the 40's and 50's. The problem with doing nostalgia is that after the fun fades away, it just looks like old crap again (see Roger Rabbit). I'm supposed to love this movie because it was edited on a mac and Apple is kind of proud of that. Still, the dark menacing shadows were annoying, the soft focus aged look hurt my eyes and the CGI wasn't all that impressive. Beyond that; Angelina Jolie is a hottie and some of the dialogue between Joe and Polly was pretty funny. There were clear moments of borrowing from other movies when I was beginning to thing Indiana Jones was fighting a dark Sith Lord. It got to be somewhat enjoyable towards the middle of the flick. Go see it if your curious but I wouldn’t cry if you wind up missing it.
Now the Farscape movie, I am anxiously awaiting to see...
All was going so well…
I got a call today, my dad has lost his mind again. I might have to go back to Oklahoma soon to attempt to get things in order but it’s getting really ugly now, as in court room kind of ugly. I thought things were getting better but my father seems to have the reasoning ability of a fifteen year old (seriously) and my uncle seems to be the most duplicitous piece of shit on the planet. Both have done some things that astound and amaze, all done in self-preservation. The problem is they both rarely give regard to anything else.
You can’t choose your family.
Directions Lingo
Still trying to learn New York speak as well as the directions around town. Sometimes it seems pointless to even ask for help;
them: "It's the second stop on the g line past the 3rd blue line stop"
me: "............. .......... ..mnkaay?"
The nearest subway stop from the apt is on "Rector" road. It's hard not to roll the line through your head "Damn near killed her." every time I walk down the entrance.
The Bourne Supremacy
I have to say it, The Bourne Supremacy rocked. I'm starting to get less annoyed by Matt Damon as he seems to be getting cast in parts that well suit him. Ronin used to be one of my favorite movies as far as car chase scenes were concerned but this one has it beat I think.
Upon exciting the building, I suddenly realized that the theatre was right smack in front of the World Trade Center site (view large Quitime VR of site and cinema 2002). This fact was realized to me by the giant beams of light shooting up into the night sky directly ahead to memorialize the missing towers. It was beautiful.
That's when the Freedom truck pulled up.
It was a small fire truck but with video screens on the side playing a video slideshow of images like the constitution, the capitol, eagles soaring, New York, Scenes of 9/11.. A guy in a fireman uniform was on the top waving a flag while another guy in a white suite with long hair and a bullhorn was telling us all on the street to appreciate our freedoms and thanking the hero's on New York. Some inspirational music was playing behind him to set a tone.
At first it was kind of heart warming when I thought it was a real fire truck and a real fireman, but.. i dunno.. something of weirdness smacked me the longer he talked. A guy nearby said to the person with him "Am I the only one who thinks this is a little weird and creepy?"
I wish I had my camera to show you.
9/11
It was three years ago today when we all watched the horrific events happen in New York City. It's still hard to accept as reality. It seems like it all happened yesterday and yet so much has happened since.
It's sureal to be here now, where it all happened, and wonder what it must have been like to be here on that day.
Getting to Know NYC
Have been walking all over the City the last few days and somehow have managed to miss most of the landmarks. I'd love to site see but the temp housing is only free for a limited time, then it gets real expensive.
Yesterday was a nice walk through Brooklyn while checking out some available units. I wasn't all that impressed with what was available but the Brooklyn area was right out of a movie with it's distinct atmosphere.
Today's venture was in Tribeca and Battery Park City. The place in Tribeca was neat-o. The building was very nice with ultra modern-cool decore. The roof had a basketball court, a large sundeck with a view, game room with pool and fuzeball tables along with a plasma tv screening room. Connected in the building was an upscale chain Gym that residence get a discount to join. The downside was the place for rent was small and had little light coming in with a blah view.
The place in Battery Park City is looking to be the winner. Great location for work, gym in the building, laundry on every floor, lawns with trees all around the building, nice size sun deck on the roof, view of Hudson River over looking Jersey City, doorman, lobby, near subway station, etc. Vincent and Amy over at smarl.org was here a few weeks ago and took a good shot of the area.
The rent here in NYC takes some getting used to, and by "used to" I mean catatonic seisures until someone hits you with a defibrillator to bring back a pulse.
My brain is still on Sydney time. Getting up is easy but staying up past 11am is a little hard to do. Fighting off the urge to sleep during the day and stay awake at night.
I think I will become a Yankees fan. Gotta like somebody...
Go Yankees.
Live, From New York, It's Monday Night!
Made it to New York. What a long flight but it was less painful with the business class seating.
The last day in Sydney, something weird happened. After taking on a walk around the city to see the sites one last time, it started to rain down hail all over the city. This rarely happens there and it came down so hard it covered the Royal Botanical Gardens in white. Several of us were caught waiting in a gazebo in the park for it to let up. I'm not sure if it was a sign but, whatever, I'll take it.
Staying in Battery Park for now, walked over and checked out the World Trade Center Site, the lights are shooting into the sky again.
All Good Things...
The weekend is gone, the party was had, two in fact. A great time with some great people I will miss. I was kicked out of a high end club in Sydney called The Establishment for being drunk. Actually I was just standing there when a bouncer decided to come pick on me. I was with a group of people and Guy (who used to be a bouncer) worked it all out where we could at least finish our drinks. The reality was, I wasn't drunk, I just wasn't cool enough to be there. I wasn't dressed up in a suit. We left there and went to a dodgy bar in the rocks called "the Orient" where we jammed front stage with the band.
"With or without you.
I can't live,
with or without you."
Emma's birthday party was the next night and after recovering from the worst hangover in a while, somehow managed to show up for that. Had a nice evening then had to say goodbye's to everyone for the last time. Zoe almost made a haiku but came out more like an Irish toast.
"This is it?
Shit.
Ah well,
F&% it,
have a great time."
She rarely cusses so you know it was strait from the heart.
So, the goodbye's are done. the bags are packed. The apartment has been cleaned out. Movers came and took it all away. All that's left is to make it on a plane tomorrow morning.
NYC or bust.
Viva Manly
Tomorrow the movers come to gather up all the things, box them up and ship them to America. Some by air, some by sea. This is a great convience to me as I don't have to pack or move anything but it leaves one little snag; no furniture for the next three days until I go to America with it. So, hotel living, here I come (again).
My last evening in Manly (Sigh).
I was going to try and get on the beach with my wave board one last time but it's been raining this week and it's not so warm.
I really liked it here. I am going to miss it here. You can bet that every little moment I have that grinds on me about living in NYC, I am going to think back to this little oasis in the Southern hemisphere right next to one of the best cities on the planet. Hopefully, NYC is going to be a positive experience.
Tonight, I will say goodbye to my little village of Manly. Tomorrow is a going away party in Sydney where I can say a farewell to the big city.
Monday is the day to say goodbye to Australia all together.
Change is good. Even sometimes when kicking and screaming.
