Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Why Obama?


Here are a few reasons to clarify why I believe voting for Barack Obama is the correct decision.
As you may have noticed, this election has generated an unprecedented interest in the American system of Democracy. Not since the Nixon/McGovern race have we as a country had such strong opinions and intrigue in who we choose as our leader.
A vast number of Americans have grown disenchanted and lethargic about our government, our electoral process, our leaders, our supreme court and generally our country.
America is falling into the later stages of Democracy and freedom, best described as such:
The Average age of the worlds greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence

1. From bondage to spiritual faith;
2. From spiritual faith to great courage;
3. From courage to liberty;
4. From liberty to abundance;
5. From abundance to complacency;
6. From complacency to apathy;
7. From apathy to dependence;
8. From dependence back into bondage.

As of now we Americans fall somewhere around complacency and apathy.
Voting for Obama and what he represents is at least a step in the right direction, as it is a step away from apathy.
I am not looking forward to dependence or bondage.

Obama, to me represents choice, diversity and difference. America is no longer a Caucasian Christian country. America is now a DIVERSE country. Although those of us living in isolation would never guess, as we tend to live amongst groups of people we feel comfortable around.
We are now representative to the world as an experiment in cross cultural diversity.
If anyone is uncomfortable with that may I suggest Canada?
Also we are no longer the leader of the free thinking Western world in terms of health care, creativity, technology, innovation, progress and a myriad of other categories. We are trying to hang on to our Old America of the prosperous late 1940's and 50's. We have now become the Al Bundy or Uncle Rico of the world, desperately clinging to our high school football days.
We need to stop thinking about high school football and move on to where we are now and where our next great victory will come from.
Not a victory from war or conflict, but perhaps a moral victory or an intellectual victory.
We are going to have a revolution of some kind in the near future.
My hope is that our revolution is not one of blood and violence, but one of change and acceptance of what we can achieve.
Hatred, intolerance, corruption, greed, lethargy, complacency, closed thought and ignorance need to be stopped.
Will electing Obama do this?
100% absolutely not a chance in hell of doing this.
But steering in the direction of change is the right thing to do.
Voting for another surly old white republican will not change anything.
I honestly care about America, I was born and raised here, it saddens me to see it fall apart, not unlike a drug addicted friend or relative. I hate to see America hurting itself and standing back and watching without intervening makes you just as guilty.
So are we going to keep keep feeding America its drugs in the form of John McCain? OR to we take America to the Barack Obama center for Democratic Rehabilitation?

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Church and State



I think it would be awesome if a totally imaginary man in the sky ran our Government.
That's the way it should be.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Post Hipster America



The answer to the often pondered question of whats next after the hipster rebellion/bike messanger brigade passes, has come to light.
And it is Steampunk.
Bare with me now.

This had been right in front of our faces and just below radar for awhile now.
Get ready for the explosion. In my opinion this will tear through America in 2009 and be mostly done with by 2010.
In keeping with certain aspects of "trendiness" this fad falls right in line with the key ideals that form a trendy fad trend that effects dress, music and attitude as well as myriad other aspects of culture.
Steampunk has:
1. DIY mentality- IN FULL EFFECT these people spend hard time and effort making their crazy contraptions and gear. This 100% falls in line with the Pabst bike messanger theme of patchwork clothing and handbuilt "fixies". (You can call them Fixie Pixies if you like). The Steampunk thing takes this to a whole new level, I have seen some CRRAZY contraptions/bikes.
As well as being the next step to the "Dirty Baby" thing that VICE has been advocating for some time now.
2. The originality/superiority complex- You know how this goes often stated with this phrase "I HAVE BEEN LIVING THIS FOR YEARS NOW AND IT PISSES ME OFF THAT IT HAS BECOME MAINSTREAM... etc etc." Which pisses me off BTW. Shut up you trend monkey victim.
Steampunkishness is also a complete reaction to the overly techy corporate world we created. (Burning man?)
3. The One Step Further Aspect- Hipster garb was out there, Steampunk garb is WAAAAY out there. After going to the HONK parade in Cambridge this weekend I was certain this is where trends are headed.HONKFEST
As a side note on the one step further thing, this is bringing about a new batch of hairy chics so be careful to do the full inspection before you get one home and she drops the dreaded PITHAIR bomb on ya. (Do you follow through on this? I am not sure of the protocol.)
4. Music Culture- There is a definite "brass band" funk Vaudville thing going on with this one. I went to go see Man Man about 6 months ago (Who are awesome to say the least) and I did not even realize this was part of the next wave. How naive!
Each dude in the band plays like 9 instruments (some hand made, some found).
So there it is feel free to elaborate or retort, but we will all be seeing more of this in our malls and on our shelves for us to purchase, embrace, make fun of, be aware of, criticize, ridicule, love, hate and laugh at.

[editors note]
I am well aware that this entry comes off as pompous.
Am I better than trends- and "cooler" than you.
Probably not. I have been a harsh victim of some really nasty trends in the past.
I wore skids, I listened to Bell Biv Devoe I rocked Caffeine pants with mad straps at numerous raves, I ride bikes, I listen to hip hop etc... The list goes on and on.
I just choose the middle of the road most of the time rather than balls to the wall full out embracing of fashion/culture trends. I don't like my outward appearance to fully dictate how I am perceived (to an extreme extent.) Which could be considered weak, or smart depending on which side of the debate you fall on.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Oh No! Johnny Rotten

Johnny Rotten now does butter commercials link

Hello apocalypse my name is Chuck.

Where?

Google maps plus album art equals sweet deal link