The Jobey on...

My personal blog. This is where I unwind and just talk about random things I want to talk about...basically, it's here to clog the blogosphere with useless information...

Monday, June 27, 2005

MONDAY UPDATE

Two items today.

First, the Supreme Court ended their session and handed down their decisions today. The most anticipated decisions were on the issue of state display of the Ten Commandments. The court issued a really weird split decision on the two cases. I'll post a link to the actual opinion later; I'm sure it'll be an interesting read.

Second: Fuck Jeremy Roenick. Discuss.

Sunday, June 26, 2005

"Her Eyes Are a Blue Million Miles" by Captain Beefheart

on Outrage: The Week in Review
This has been an eventful week. And there's plenty to be outraged about if you pay attention.

1) The Supreme Court's 5-4 decision that private property can be seized via eminent domain for private development was handed down on Thursday. Basically, what the decision sets up is a system under which no one's property is safe from a developer or business approaching a local government and, with the proper sweet talk, having the government buy up homes and sell them back to that developer or business and say it was in the best interest of the community. I'm not against the idea of eminent domain; it is written into the 5th Amendment for a reason: if the government needs the land for public use, it needs a way to obtain any land it needs. But the New London situation, in my opinion, oversteps the intention of eminent domain.

This decision will lead to problems in the future. Justice O'Connor, along with Justices Scalia and Thomas, wrote the dissenting opinion, stating, "Today the Court abandons this long-held, basic limitation on government power." She adds, "The specter of condemnation hangs over all property. Nothing is to prevent the State from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz-Carlton, any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory." I don't consider myself to be of the same philosophic viewpoint as the dissenting Justices, but, in this case, they represent my opinion exactly.

To read the actual decision, visit this site. The dissenting opinion begins on page 27.

2) The House passed an anti-flag desecration amendment proposal on Wednesday. We've been over this already on this site, but it bares repeating, so go read over that post and look into the matter further for yourself.

3) The Right is trying once again to dismantle the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This week, there were proposed budget cuts and the appointment of a new president, who just happens to be a former co-chair of the Republican National Committee.

Since the days of Richard Nixon, the right wing in America has been hard at work to discredit and remove funding from our public broadcasting system, one of our great national treasures. If you listen to NPR for their great news coverage or if you value the great journalism of shows like Frontline, Now, or Newshour on PBS, you should take an interest in any attempts to change the way they conduct their work. In an era of shouting neo-cons on the radio and pseudo-journalism on the networks and on the cable outlets, the public stations are a beacon of what America needs from its media to have a healthy democracy...a concept that threatens most Republicans.

on The Motorcycle Diaries
One of the best movies I have ever seen. Beautifully shot, wonderfully written, based on a true story. Ernesto Guevara is one of the best characters in film history. The story is based on the travels of two Argentineans, Guevara, a young medical student a semester away from becoming a doctor, and Alberto Granado, a 30-year-old biochemist. They set out from Buenos Aires on a beat-up motorcycle they name 'The Mighty One," to see Latin America in its entirety. Along the way they see the injustices of the world firsthand and they are affected by them.

The Motorcycle Diaries gives an account of a great journey with significant historical implications. Because of the travel across Latin America, Che Guevara became a revolutionary, aiding in uprisings in Cuba, Nigeria, and Bolivia, where he was murdered with the support of the CIA. This movie shows those coffee shop revolutionaries and the teenagers shallowly wearing a shirt with his image, who Che Guevara was and how he honestly cared about people and helping the downtrodden. Watch this movie.

The Jobey Poll
Which commercials are better: The 'Got a little Captain in ya?' Captain Morgan commercials or the 'Hooray Beer' series from Red Stripe?

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

VERY IMPORTANT WEDNESDAY UPDATE

An anti-flag desecration amendment has passed in the House and is now moving to the Senate where it will require a 2/3 vote in favor to move on to a vote in the states, at which point it will require 3/4 to become an addition to the United States Constitution.

Apparently, such an amendment proposal has gotten past the House eight times in the past, but never has one gotten through the Senate. This time, though, I think we all have to consider this thing a danger to our Freedom of Expression. By some estimates, 65 members of the Senate are in favor of the amendment. That is fucking dangerously close to passage.

Read those sacred words that I've posted on the header of this blog. THAT is what is at stake in this debate. Being able to express yourself and your beliefs in any way you see fit is at stake. The flag is not the issue here; the issue is the precedent set when the government decides how we can and cannot express ourselves. You all know in your hearts what the neo-con faction is thinking if this thing passes: Flag-burning today, just imagine the unpopular speech we can ban tomorrow!

DO SOMETHING: Call your Senator as soon as possible. I know what you're thinking: But, The Jobey, our Oklahoma Senators will be among the staunch supporters of such legislation. Fuck it! Call 'em anyway and remind those shits who the fuck they work for!

Also, just get the word out on this bill. Tell your friends and family. Remind folks about what the Freedom of Speech is all about! Blog on, baby!

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

TUESDAY UPDATE

on hypocrisy
Check out this diary on Dailykos. I touched on this subject briefly back in May, but these guys are taking these Young Hypocrites to task.

So, to repeat: If you are a pro-war Young Republican, enlist or castrate yourself.

Have a nice day.

Monday, June 20, 2005

MONDAY UPDATE

on cereal
GQ has an article in their current issue featuring interviews with some of the National Guard members responsible for guarding Saddam Hussein. They reportedly give out some pretty intimate details of Hussein's life behind bars. One interesting note: Saddam is a big fan of Raisin Bran Crunch and gets a little pissy when he doesn't get a bowl of it for breakfast. Wow. Is there a better day than the day you discover that a brutal dictator shares your love for sweet, crunchy flakes with oat and honey granola clusters and plump raisins? I think I have a bowl right now.

Sunday, June 19, 2005

"Back Then" by Mike Jones

on Hitler/Nazi references
There have been a lot of comparisons to Hitler and Nazis being thrown around by pundits and Congressmen lately. Most have to do with the Guantanamo Bay "enemy combatant" detention center. These statements are stirring up controversy on both sides of the argument, and it's well that they are.

Hitler/Nazi references must be carefully considered before being used. Calling someone a Hilter or a Nazi is too often done as hyperbole. Using as symbols to represent something less than genocide those who have committed genocide trivializes the meaning of that symbol and the actual impact of the guilty parties. I hate to pick on a particular incident, but when a graduating high school senior refers to a campus security guard as a "parking Nazi" in front of a large audience, it cheapens the Nazi reference by applying it to something trivial and all together shallow.

However, if someone truly believes that the reference is justified, then they have a responsibility to use it. The theory of teaching history is that by learning the mistakes of the past we can prevent them from happening again. If a Senator decides that the Guantanamo Bay is setting our society on a track that might lead to mistakes already made by Nazi Germany, they have a civic responsibility to make their views known so they can be considered by the public.

What You Can Do: Make sure others are aware of what Hitler and the Nazi actually did so they can judge for themselves when the use of references to them should and should not be used.

on recent media consumption
Yesterday, I heard "Freebird" in my car twice--once going to my destination, then again coming back home. Incredible. The stars must have aligned perfectly for me during that trip across town.

Last night, I watched Steal This Movie, a bio-pic on Abbie Hoffman. It's a really great movie. If you're a fan of outlaw culture, liberalism, radical politics, or just stickin' it to the man, you'll probably enjoy this one. Otherwise, go read some Ann Coulter, douche. For more information, read this.

This morning, I watched my first and last episode of PBS's Tucker Carlson Unfiltered. The episode was a retrospective of its first year on the air because this was their last episode. Even if it weren't being cancelled immediately after my viewing, I'd still probably never watch another episode. I find bow-tied conservatives a little creepy. Actually, I find anybody in a bow-tie a little creepy.

The Jobey Poll
If Tricia defaults on a Denny's related agreement, what sanctions should be sought for reparation?

Sunday, June 12, 2005

"All Talk/Too Much Brains (Not Enough Cock and Balls)" by TQ/HC

on Wal-Mart
Last week the Daily Show had a story done by Samantha Bee (Union Jacked) about a Wal-Mart that closed its doors after a union was started by its employees. I was astounded that I hadn't heard about this story in the legitimate, mainstream media. I had to search to find that CNN link before I started writing this to have something other than the Daily Show clip as background. A story like this, showing a blatant case of Wal-Mart, an American company, stifling American labor traditions like the right to organize, should be huge news in the states. But most people never heard it, not to mention your average Wal-Mart shopper.

The practice of shutting down a union store and opening a new store down the street from the closed one is something I first heard about in Schlosser's Fast Food Nation. He describes a Canadian Burger King pulling the same trick a while back. Apparently, large chains, retail and fast food, have done some cost analyses and have found that it is cheaper to open a new store than meet the demands of unionized workers. Hmmph.

Anyway, PBS reran the Is Wal-Mart Good for America? episode of Frontline last night. It's a really in depth study of the vast effects of Wal-Mart on the economy. Those segments may take a while to load, but it is worth the wait.

on Norman
I'm still living in Norman. Class is going well so far. I've got a test on Friday. Should be a push-over. I've just been sitting around the house when I'm not studying. Picture this: two Republican college students taking in one Democratic college student for the summer. I smell sit-com. It'd be good if they had more one-liners and I didn't drink as many White Russians. I'm banging my head against the wall in my free time, so, please, feel free to suggest some new activities to engage me.

I finally watched The War Room the other night. Really good doc. Watching the footage of Stephanopoulos and Carville at work back in 1992 is inspiring. Carville is hilarious. A drinking, swearing Cajun Democrat. You can't beat that.

Last night I watched Michael Moore's The Big One. It was made as a documentary of his book tour for Downsize This for the BBC. Some good parts here, but not as cohesive as his other work.

the Jobey Poll
a) Who ya got in game 4: Pistons or Spurs?
b) Where did the Christian Scientists stand on the Shiavo thing?

Sunday, June 05, 2005

"Long Hot Summer Night" by the Jimi Hendrix Experience

on totally random stuff
Went camping last night. There was some rain, not much. There was some lessons learned (Hot dogs and White Russians don't mix). Special thanks to Paul and Erin for helping pitch the tent, in the literal sense. Special thanks to Russell for prepping the site and refusing to quit when putting up the tarp got rough. Special thanks to Chris Cornell. Extra special thanks to Rachel because you made sure I didn't die. Actually, Rachel gets super extra mega thanks for that. I declare it. That's the upper eschelon of thanks around here, Rachel, good show! Special thanks to everybody who came out and saw me off in...well, style, if you can call it that. (If you would like your shout-out removed for any reason, contact me, ya drunks!)

I live in Norman now. So far, only two of my summer desires have been realized. I went to a Driller's game the Wednesday and I've played some frisbee and some disc golf (Shot 1-under at Chandler Monday). As of yet, go carts have not been ridden, nor Denny's eaten at the expense of others. Look to August.

Three things I noticed at the supermarket: 1) Milk, an item on most shopper's lists, is at the back of most supermarkets. That pisses me off. 2) Albertson's currently has one of the weirdest sales I have ever seen: 10 for $10 on mustard. I had to ask myself, "Who needs that much damn mustard not in a squeeze bottle?" 3) Albertson's also has an impressive cigar case up front and really good prices on most of those cigars.

My dad showed me "Desiderata" by Max Erhmann this afternoon before I left for Norman. I suggest you read it. He gave me a copy to hang in the room in which I'm staying, which I have just done.

on Matt Blunt, dead Confederates, and the like
Ok, so, Rep. Matt Blunt (R-MO) was trying to have the Confederate flag flown over a Higginsville, MO, Confederate cemetary for (get this) Confederate Memorial Dayvtoday. The NAACP, among others, is, understandably, pissed. That flag should never fly in this nation. Not only because of the racist overtones implicit in the image of that flag, but the Confederates lost the war, and, therefore, lost their right to fly their flag on American soil in my view. Blunt (huh-huh) is trying to pick up the votes in the "pickup-truck-with-the-gun-rack" and Klan crowds, both of which have pretty strong numbers in the great red state of Missouri. Flying the Confederate flag over the Confederate Memorial Day festivities is nothing more than a way to patronize the dead and strengthen a politician's image with racist-ass white people. There I said it.

the Jobey Poll
The Confederate Flag: WTF, dude?