I looked at one of my unfinished AMV projects last night. I think I'd like to spend a little time working on finishing it over the holidays. I wish I had more time to put into fun projects like that, but I don't. I wish I had more talent for projects like that too.
If you don't know what an AMV is, click here to find out. Good ones are very time consuming and not-so-good ones are time consuming when you don't know what you're doing. ;)
Christmas is coming. I'm partially excited. I really do have mixed feelings about it these days. I know Chloe is going to have a good Christmas -- I can't wait to see her face when she opens all the cool presents everybody is giving her.
Salve asked me what I wanted, but I honestly don't know. The only things I can think of are big ticket items and not really things I need. If I get a new laptop, that will probably be good enough. I did already get her gift (which I know she'll like and won't expect) but she's easier to shop for than I am.
At least I have a couple weeks off work (4 days vacation and 8 days holiday) -- SWEET! I guess I can't complain too much. Merry Christmas (in case I don't get back to the blog before then).
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Monday, November 20, 2006
Thanksgiving
My favorite holiday is here. However, I'm not exactly looking forward to it this time around. The strife in my wife's family is going to make it an interesting affair to say the least. For me, Thanksgiving has always been about food and family, but seeing the troubles on my wife’s side over the past year makes me realize that America has forgotten what this holiday is all about. It’s “Thanks”-giving, not “Complaint”-giving.
Maybe America just doesn’t care. Maybe that’s why people put up Christmas decorations after Halloween and think of Thanksgiving as the day all the big sale ads come out. Watch a little football, eat a lot of food and complain about anything and everything. Can you imagine what America could do if we channeled that energy into something constructive?
My family isn’t perfect, but they can come together for a holiday (generally speaking). So many families are filled with anger that they can’t even get together for a simple holiday. One issue or another has caused pain that is perpetuated by pride, guilt and/or shame. People don’t know how to truly forgive and let live – to move on. They are unable to except the fact that we are human, and we make mistakes. No one likes to be blamed for everything and rarely is it fair to even do so – most of the time there is plenty of blame to go around. Sometimes people can’t accept their own faults though and it’s much easier to imagine someone else caused it. Facing our own faults, excepting our own flaws and taking responsibility is difficult to do – very difficult. That’s why so few people do it.
If people would just stop and pray – or even just be thankful – for a few seconds on Thanksgiving, America would be a much better place to live. I know I'm going to do my part.
Maybe America just doesn’t care. Maybe that’s why people put up Christmas decorations after Halloween and think of Thanksgiving as the day all the big sale ads come out. Watch a little football, eat a lot of food and complain about anything and everything. Can you imagine what America could do if we channeled that energy into something constructive?
My family isn’t perfect, but they can come together for a holiday (generally speaking). So many families are filled with anger that they can’t even get together for a simple holiday. One issue or another has caused pain that is perpetuated by pride, guilt and/or shame. People don’t know how to truly forgive and let live – to move on. They are unable to except the fact that we are human, and we make mistakes. No one likes to be blamed for everything and rarely is it fair to even do so – most of the time there is plenty of blame to go around. Sometimes people can’t accept their own faults though and it’s much easier to imagine someone else caused it. Facing our own faults, excepting our own flaws and taking responsibility is difficult to do – very difficult. That’s why so few people do it.
If people would just stop and pray – or even just be thankful – for a few seconds on Thanksgiving, America would be a much better place to live. I know I'm going to do my part.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Get ready for no changes
One of the candidates I voted for lost again. Oh well, I can't pick a winner every time. If I could, I’d go to Vegas more frequently. ;)
The thing I find so amusing is the way it's being touted as such a huge victory. Democrats are claiming that the country is fed up with the administration and the GOP. If that were the case, then why wasn’t the election a complete sweep, and why did they defeat a few Republican candidates by such small margins? No one is happy about Iraq, but Democrats are exaggerating the voters’ distaste for the GOP.
Allen was defeated – Webb didn’t win. Allen partially imploded with several snafus that could have been the only difference in the winner and loser. Webb was NOT the great alternative. If everyone was so sick of Allen, why wasn’t the margin 60-40, or greater? I would have been happy to vote for a Democrat, if they would have put someone up for election worth believing in. All I could see was another groomed politician. There are plenty of those already in Washington and exchanging one for another doesn’t change anything. Virginian’s were (once again) left with picking the lesser of two evils, and that is a matter of perspective for each individual voter to decide for themselves. If a truly good candidate were put forth, the voters would show their support regardless of party. Very few people care about party affiliation anymore. It’s more about character and integrity, but Capitol Hill hasn’t figured that out yet. They are too busy trying to stay in power to worry about what’s right and what’s good. That could explain why nothing gets done in Washington anymore. Nobody wants to take a stand, just go with what’s popular. Are we in High School here?
Democrats need to wake up and smell the coffee. They aren’t going to “win” the White House by running on a platform of “We aren’t Republicans, vote for us.” The American public is watching. The Democrats control the House and the Senate now. If they don’t make good on the claims that got them elected they may face angry voters as much as Republicans in 2008.
By the way, get off this “time table” BS and start coming up with real solution paths – there is no quick fix, so quit trying to sell it. I’m not buying a word of it. You better come up with a better lie if you want my vote in 2008.
The thing I find so amusing is the way it's being touted as such a huge victory. Democrats are claiming that the country is fed up with the administration and the GOP. If that were the case, then why wasn’t the election a complete sweep, and why did they defeat a few Republican candidates by such small margins? No one is happy about Iraq, but Democrats are exaggerating the voters’ distaste for the GOP.
Allen was defeated – Webb didn’t win. Allen partially imploded with several snafus that could have been the only difference in the winner and loser. Webb was NOT the great alternative. If everyone was so sick of Allen, why wasn’t the margin 60-40, or greater? I would have been happy to vote for a Democrat, if they would have put someone up for election worth believing in. All I could see was another groomed politician. There are plenty of those already in Washington and exchanging one for another doesn’t change anything. Virginian’s were (once again) left with picking the lesser of two evils, and that is a matter of perspective for each individual voter to decide for themselves. If a truly good candidate were put forth, the voters would show their support regardless of party. Very few people care about party affiliation anymore. It’s more about character and integrity, but Capitol Hill hasn’t figured that out yet. They are too busy trying to stay in power to worry about what’s right and what’s good. That could explain why nothing gets done in Washington anymore. Nobody wants to take a stand, just go with what’s popular. Are we in High School here?
Democrats need to wake up and smell the coffee. They aren’t going to “win” the White House by running on a platform of “We aren’t Republicans, vote for us.” The American public is watching. The Democrats control the House and the Senate now. If they don’t make good on the claims that got them elected they may face angry voters as much as Republicans in 2008.
By the way, get off this “time table” BS and start coming up with real solution paths – there is no quick fix, so quit trying to sell it. I’m not buying a word of it. You better come up with a better lie if you want my vote in 2008.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Does tomorrow's results matter?
Republican, Democrat, does it matter? Do you really believe that one is for "the people" and the other is not? I'm not fooled. They're both out for themselves, and voters are just a casualty of war. We’re left with choosing the lesser of two evils (from our own perspective) – instead of supporting one candidate or the other. Arnel has a great link to a Lou Dobbs article which hits the nail on the head.
It will continue to be that way until we show them that the voters have control of the country, by voting for all Independents. The problem is that in the current climate an Independent can’t get enough support to make a viable run. That leaves voters not wanting to “waste” their vote on a lost cause. So, people vote for the candidate that is on the “right”, or should I say “correct”, side of the important issues. Of course, everyone has their own views on what the important issues are.
I’ll cast my vote tomorrow based on the “important issues” again. I can’t remember the last time I was excited about, or at least interested in, a candidate seeking office. Is it too much to ask for a competent, morally sound, upright candidate to run for office? Maybe one day…maybe.
It will continue to be that way until we show them that the voters have control of the country, by voting for all Independents. The problem is that in the current climate an Independent can’t get enough support to make a viable run. That leaves voters not wanting to “waste” their vote on a lost cause. So, people vote for the candidate that is on the “right”, or should I say “correct”, side of the important issues. Of course, everyone has their own views on what the important issues are.
I’ll cast my vote tomorrow based on the “important issues” again. I can’t remember the last time I was excited about, or at least interested in, a candidate seeking office. Is it too much to ask for a competent, morally sound, upright candidate to run for office? Maybe one day…maybe.
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