David Horsey is funny

For more, check out his website or visit the Seattle PI (duh).

the snow and other things

i like these comics above, i recommend checking both these sites: asofterworld and xkcd, recently referred to me by a grad school pal. funny (mostly, sometimes)

for crying out loud, i cannot think of anything to blog about for the life of me. oh, i could write about the snow. about how i got caught biking in the snow for the second time this winter. but that is just lame.

my friend steff, of mindy's blog's fame, recently discovered the new digs. welcome, steff. that makes two of ya.

yes we can!!

alright folks, for those of you as bummed out as i am about hillaryland's win last night in new hampshire, take 13 minutes to watch Obama's speech from last night.  of course, it is inspiring, it would be surprising if it wasn't.  if you want the shortened version, go to Obama's website and watch the piece they edited together.  

now, i also heard him on npr this morning responding to a challenge that he wasn't offering any new or specific policy proposals that set him apart from the other Dem contenders Clinton and Edwards.  his response was brilliant.  i can't find the audio over on npr, or the transcript, so let me paraphrase a bit.  he basically said, look, there are numerous policy papers and groups who work with all the candidates to put forward a progressive policy agenda, but what we need right now is not technical.  what we need right now is leadership, someone who can build a new and lasting coalition of power to get an agenda passed.  and that that was what his candidacy is really all about, new leadership, and in my eyes, actual leadership.  think about it, how does hillary lead when there is such a strong, albeit undeserved, anti-hillary sentiment?  and i don't even mean just among voters, there are colleagues of hers in the house and senate who won't work with her because her last name is clinton.  Edwards, who i really do admire and whose policies i do believe are the most progressive, is not trying to repair the divisiveness in the country.  that is not part of his rhetoric, just the opposite he is standing up as the one who will fight the powerful interests.  and while in my heart of hearts, i want the moneyed interests to get the hell out of policy-making, i just do not see that happening under our current capitalistic society.  in our society, money means power.  to change that requires revolution, not another rich white guy.  and the way i look at it is, if we can believe Obama's rhetoric of change, and we believe that he has the genuine support of voters--as opposed to the washington establishment--then i feel he is in the best position to change the bullshit that goes on in DC on the regular; namely: corporations writing laws.  while Edwards talks passionately about what the actual problem is, i believe Obama is the only one who will actually have the political capital to do anything about it.  

i read comic books

i read comic books.  it is true.  i am 27 years old and i probably enjoy comics more now than i ever have in my life.  truth is, there are just as many comics out there meant for adults as there are for kids.  i like comics because of the fun escapist story lines, metaphors showing us how fucked up the real world actually is, and/or the artwork -- sometimes all of the above.  some of the artwork in comics is as good as any medium you will see.   and with commercial appeal too boot.  anyways, the whole point of this post was to say that 2007 brought me back to comics when i re-read the watchmen, dark knight returns, and the complete one volume edition of bone.



in 2008, i plan on reading the sandman.  if you have a copy i can borrow, let me know. 

GOBAMA GO!!!

in celebration of Obama's inspiring win in iowa, i went back and watched where it all began, the 2004 democratic keynote address that propelled Obama to stardom.  i've been pulling for this guy since this speech, the most inspiring thing I have heard in my short lifetime.  this is the second half of the speech, building up to the big finale, you can youtube the whole thing if you care to.  



new hampshire could be interesting.  if independents decide to vote in the dem primary, will they go for Clinton as they did in '92, or will they break for Obama like they did in the Iowa caucuses?  do young people even live in new hampshire?  because i think this story of Obama bringing out all these new voters will catch fire on college campuses as the more casually interested hear about this guy who other young people are excited about.  Hillary can have her elderly women, if Obama can bring new voters out for an exciting and historic presidential election in 2008, that experience could lead to many new lifelong voters.  which would be a good thing.  and i personally think that the significance of our first black president will have a stronger more lasting impact than any single "more progressive" policy Edwards might have any hope of passing if he wins.  crotchety old white rich guys in congress can block just about anything they dont like.  but they cant deny the impact of a black leader and role model, not just for young people of color, but at least as importantly for young whites.  i think that young white kids need to see a powerful and successful black role model that challenges the stereotypes, biases, and prejudices that are bred into us by our parents and society.  i do not feel at all bad about admitting that race is incredibly important to me in this election, because i truly believe we still live in a racist land.  some people don't accept that and my response is that they are ignorant or naive or both.  ergo, i think supporting Obama is the most progressive stand i can take in this election.  

PS -- not to mention the fact that he was against the war from the start.  Edwards was not.  and for that matter, Edwards has been all over the map on a lot of stuff.  i believe he is passionate about poverty, that is why he will make a wonderful labor secretary in obama's administration.  

PPS -- i do not think he will accept second fiddle again.  nor do i think Obama would if Hillary were to get the nomination, i reckon he'll stay in the senate where he could challenge her again in four years if she ends up shitting the bed.  or he could just run for governor of IL in 2008, which he probably would/could not do from a VP post.  

PPPS -- Dan Balz blogging at WaPo thinks Clinton could face more trouble in new hampshire by comparing demographics between Obama voters in IA and the potential NH dem primary electorate.  Good stuff, basically says there more independents and younger voters in NH, and very well educated, all groups who favored Obama over Clinton in Iowa.  

happy new year

today i am hung over but excited for the new year.  2008 has the potential to rival 2006, which was a pretty good one in my book.  2007 was great too, but '06 was a classic.  as you can see i shaved meself a 'hawk yesterday.  some people wear goofy hats on new years eve, so i thought i would wear a goofy hairdo.  thing is, i look pretty damn good with this hawk.  like a complete and total poser ass chump, to be sure, but pretty damn good nonetheless.   

after an evening of vodka, whiskey, and some good snacks, we hiked over to a park to watch the fireworks.  nice show they put on, although there was a computer glitch which delayed things a bit.  the PI has a story on that if interested.  i am not.  but the picture (below) they took is purdy.  

a lot of people want to know my resolutions for the year.  i mean a LOT of freakin people.  well this year i think i will try to rock a little harder, a little more often.  i'll go to more shows, maybe like one a month.  and i will rock.  

another is i will befriend michael cera.  his current writing partner clark is a douche and is really holding him back.  clearly, i am way funnier.  or maybe michael cera is the douche, and that clark is funny.  regardless, they suck together.  i resolve in 2008 to break them up.