The Rally To Restore Sanity

This morning, I am watching the The Rally To Restore Sanity streaming live on thecomedynetwork.ca. I will compose this post as the event unfolds. So far, there has been a band playing funk and soul music. It looks like a nice fall day in Washington DC, perhaps a bit chilly. The crowd looks generally young and energetic. As this event is obviously a spoof of a previous event hosted by Glenn Beck, it is notable how different the demographic appears. Is it strange the type of dogmatic dissonance that a character like Beck is promoting appeals to an older and lawn chair required crowd? The satirical sanity crowd is on its feet, moving to the music, having fun...
10:26 - John Legend says 'fucked him up' during the intro to a soulful tune about a young draftee.  The Capitol building fills the background. Interesting.
Ripping guitar solo at 10:32. "Shot me in my shoulder" refrain from Legend.
Powerful performance, certainly going to energise the crowd.

10:39, the band is done. Introducing the Mythbusters guys. "World's largest sample size."
The camera pans around for the first long shot  I have seen; Huge crowd, appears much bigger than the Glenn Beck thingy. Doing the wave from front to back. Wave physics with a crowd. Brilliant. So sane and reasonable.
10:48, now a new gag, the 'meat orchestra'. "Laugh like a mad scientist", "cry", and cheek  pop. It must be so fun to be there. "I think you guys are almost ready" the use of vernacular is typical.
10:52, trying to get the crowd to jump all together and make a little seismic event. '20 million pounds of meat' on the lawn of the mall. Making people jump, exercise and energy, science and crowd control.
10:56, introducing Jon Stewart. Theme music from the show, the crowd is going wild. People love this guy. "stand for the national anthem." Performed by four troops; I suspect that they are real military service persons. (Three fellas and a lady.)
Reinforcing the concept that one can be a patriotic citizen and still have liberal values. Not too subtle at all. Jon Stewart returns after the anthem, and asks people 'no littering'. Don't recall hearing anything like this during the Beck thingy. "We have over ten million people... we are going to count off..."
11:05, Stephen Colbert is trapped in his fear bunker, two thousand feet below, encased in solid bedrock. LOL. Colbert is shirtless. He is worried that nobody showed, "are the men handsome and the women beautiful, and do they respond to obvious pandering?"
11:08, Colbert emerges from the stage in a capsule, like the Chile miners escape, in a Captain America-esque hero suit... "Release the bees". Colbert is trying to "deliberately fabricate fears that don't exist".
The camera pans by a person with a Canada t-shirt.
11:12 Father Guido Sarducci delivers a benediction. Police sirens can be heard in the background. Guido is now asking God to endorse a particular religion.
11:21, Sam Waterston reads 'Are you sure?', by Stephen Colbert.
11:25 Yusef, formerly known as Cat Stevens performs 'Peace Train'. Colbert interrupts him at 10:27 to declare he will not get on the train. He is acting like a total ass.
10:28, I guessed that Colbert is about to introduce, and he does, introduce Ozzy. A performance of 'Crazy Train', is interrupted by Stewart. Back to Peace Train "I will not ride the Rainbow Moonbeam Choo-choo..."
11:31, Ozzy and Yusef walk off the stage together, as brothers. A musical interlude.
11:44, awards for reasonableness, no surprise, interrupted by Colbert and his fear awards.
11:47, another musical performance. Reasonable intermissions, I would assume people need to have opportunities to relax, perhaps find a porta-john. Methinks as far as live comedy events go, this one may be setting some kind of precedent. There has been no politics as yet. Pure entertainment, in the guise of a political rally. Many laughs so far. The bit with Ozzy and Cat Stevens was comedy genius. The correspondents in the crowd scenes have been well coordinated so far. Without a hitch as far as I can tell.
11:58 "everyone has a right to be patriotic", Stewart appeals to Colbert to not fight and unite in their love of nation. Colbert acts as if that would be impossible. They are singing a song together.
12:10 "Dude, you have no Koran" guy gets a final Reasonableness medal which he throws to the crowd.
Kid Rock performs with Cheryl Crow. Two of my least favourite pop stars, almost offensive pop. In a crowd shot reads a sign, 'FCK H8'. Hmmmm...
Cheryl Crow, even with clothes on appears to be stick-thin and has no bum. In my opinion, her kind of mind numbing ear candy pop music damages critical thinking and ability to recognise quality.
11:24, a debate between Stewart and Colbert. "If Eve had a healthy fear of snakes, she would not have eaten the apple and cursed us with original sin.".
12:29, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar appears on stage as a moderate Muslim.
12:31 R2-D2 makes an appearance as a moderate 'robot'.
Follows with a collage of 'fear-mongering' in contemporary news networks mostly Fox and CNN. Colbert claims victory, having slain Stewart with fear. John Oliver appears as Peter Pan. Stewart reminds the crowd that he is not actually dead. Oliver gets the crowd wound up, and the chanting is killing Colbert. Very silly.
12:41, Stewart seems to be winding it up. A moment of sincerity. "I'm really happy you guys are here." Stewart goes on to assert that the politico pundit press commentaries contributes to the crisis.
"If we amplify everything, we hear nothing."Applause "The press is our immune system, if it over-reacts to everything, we get sicker..." "Americans don't live here (the capitol) or on cable TV..." He is drawing some analogy that all kinds of people drive cars and yet co-operate; Obtuse. "Sanity is in the eye of the beholder,... seeing you here has restored mine. Thank you."
12:54, Stewart introduce Tony Bennett, he sings 'America the beautiful', solo. He sounded good, must be at least 75 or so. (Google check, he is 84!)
Stewart returns to thank Colbert (who steps out of character and is gracious), the people that put this together, the musicians. All performers appear on the stage together.  Roll credits during final performance. I think Ozzy is missing?
"I believe in a Sanity Clause"
Sponsors plugs, etc.

As a fan of the Daily Show and Colbert report, I was not disappointed by the event. Three hours seemed to roll by smoothly. I wonder what and if there will be any reaction to this event.

1:14 PM mountain time; Enough for today, time to go outside and get some fresh air.

Monday morning

Today begins in darkness. Soon it will be time to wind the clocks back again. Not that it makes sense to me anymore why we have daylights savings at this latitude. Regardless of how we manipulate the time keeping, there is more night than day for the next few months. To be honest, I never fully appreciated why we move the clocks around at all. Something about farmers getting the harvest in? I suppose I can google that...
It looks the the weather has changed as well. What has likely been the nicest October on record, weather wise, now appears to be settling in to more typical Rocky Mountains weather; cold and gray. One hopes that snow is on the way.
Yesterday I had a nice long run, 14 km around the golf course road. A cool and damp day that was ideal for the distance, however I was reminded how foul the waste treatment facility can smell. I sensed that it was extra stinky yesterday. I wonder if there is the ongoing problems that I had been told about. Although town of Banff has a well built facility, there has been an issue with hiring or contracting able bodied operators. Something along the lines of the same job at a similar facility in a bigger city would pay twice what T.o.B. does.
Otherwise, the run was nice, with some typical wildlife along the way, and relatively few tourists. Ti's the season.
Praise Ular.

Today has been great so far.

Yup, today has been great so far. To start with, the weather in the Rockies continues to be superb for things I like to do. That is to say since one should not expect an abundance of snow anyways, the trail running and bike riding conditions have been great. As I am still on vacation (read unemployed), I have been at liberty to take advantage of my time.
Today would be like so many fine days this season except for one detail. I kinda trashed my bike with a one-two punch. First, on a downhill section, I broke a brake cable, which was more exciting than anything. Literally I yelled out "no brakes" in case somebody happened to be hiking up at that moment. I was a wee bit out of control. Not long after, I trashed my gears shifting down too quick. In the process, I stacked my chain into my sprocket and smashed the chain guard.
All is fixable, and to the point, very satisfying for me. I haven't broke anything on my bike for quite some time. Barely made it home, and the damage to the gears may be worse than I admit to. I haven't looked closely to be sure of the fixability.
Yup, a great day in the Rockies. Bike riding and trail running in the sunshine, and the only consequence is some minor bike damage. That, and an appetite. My guts are telling me to pour some protein into the system, so enough blogging for now.

Posting on the blog

Posting on the blog, mostly for practise.

Have been working on an essay lately, working title 'writing on writing'
I will reference to this work:

http://books.google.ca/books?id=n0_fAGe13NQC&dq=the+origins+of+life+john+maynard+smith&source=bl&ots=WI3ksTodv6&sig=FlRg85g92tHFe0BSreJyjpWjRXI&hl=en&ei=Vs-8TNC7KY6Pswa4yIzNDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBcQ6AEwAA

The origins of life: from the birth of life to the origin of language

John Maynard Smith, Eörs Szathmáry

8 Reviews

Oxford University Press, 2000 - Science - 192 pages

When John Maynard Smith and Eors Szathmary published The Major Transitions in Evolution, it was seen as a major work in biology. Nature hailed it as a book of "grand and daunting sweep...A splendid and rewarding tour de force." And New Scientist wrote that it captured "the essence of modern biology," calling it "an extremely significant book which, as a bonus, is very readable." Now, in The Origins of Life, Maynard Smith and Szathmary have completely rewritten Transitions to bring their ideas to a wider audience of general readers. Here is a brilliant, original picture of how life evolved on earth, focusing primarily on six major transitionsdramatic breakthroughs in the way that information was passed between generations. The authors offer illuminating explorations of the origin of life itself, the arrival of the first cells with nuclei, the first reproduction by sexual means, the appearance of multicellular plants and animals, the emergence of cooperative animal societies, and the birth of language.

The Origins of Life represents the thinking of two leading scientists on questions that engage us allhow life began and how it gradually evolved from tiny invisible cells into whales and trees and human beings.

Daily blog

I posted on a message board at Theatlantic.com here:

http//www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/10/nazi-re-enactors-get-sensitive/64382/

I have been following this story about a GOP candidate in Ohio who used to dress-up as a Nazi SS officer for so-called military reenactments. Regardless of how authentic and valuable living history may be, it seems fair to say a preference for playing Nazi limits your job prospects.

It has also been predictable how tea-party members and such minded folks in the US have been describing this as a liberal smear campaign. Perfectly logical really. Although this man admires the Nazi party, it is none of your business, and how he enjoys his free time is not to be scrutinised by the media. Further evidence of the zionst marxist and many other words I don't understand liberal conspiracy to discredit a nice honest capitalist uber-mensch. Please go back to your bongs and ignore how we are reorganising civilisation for the benefit of the few.

Apparently Glenn Beck has had something to say about this. It only makes sense, as he loves to dress up like a Nazi as well, while accusing others of having the same tendencies. Again, totally logical. Because I dress-up like a fascist dictator, that qualifies me to recognise the same political agendas in people like Obama. (I have lost enough time to this Fox news personality, and will try and ignore what the clown has to say.)

Time to go, so I want to leave a conclusion. A story like this, and the reaction to it confirms for me that the political right attracts the mentally-ill, asocial, and potentially psychotic. I do not mean that people with conservative values are this way.
There will be more on this to come.
Bottom line is the law of parsimony. If a man likes to dress as a Nazi, he probably is a Nazi.

Forty

On my birthday, it was not my intention to post a rant about a political personality in the US.
However, post I did, and that is out of respect for my friend who asked a question. Thus I reveal that it is my intention to respond to as much as I can if it appears on this blog. I remind any viewers that I am still an amateur at this. I also suggest that any comments will be welcome.

Hey Trolls, ya hear that? A blog newb inviting your attention. Here Troll, here trolly trolly troll.
Trolls are fun. Just to attract some hits, I thought maybe I should post some random stuff.

Lady Gaga is awesome. Justin Bieber is awesome. I love Paris Hilton. Glenn Beck for President. Sarah Palin is sexy. Stephen Harper sure dropped the ball on the UN Security Counsel position, eh. Stephen Harper is Darth Vader. Justin Bieber is really Luke Skywalker. Gold into lead. Flat earth, intelligent design INTELLGENT DESIGN! Intelligent Design? Obama is not Hitler, Rich Iott loves Hitler, I never met Hitler, I like turtles. Sex porn teen porn nude panties naked boys gay straight hardcore real estate.
Stephen Colbert is a puppet of the Zionist state. Jon Stewart pwns Stephen Colbert.
Viagra.

This has been a test, and only a test of how to attract attention to my Blog.

Sarah P.

My friend, and first follower, Albertarosehips, has asked about my thoughts on Sarah P., assuming you meant Palin.
Well, first I admit that before the 2008 election, I was fascinated by the GOP choice of her as the VP candidate. I suspect many were, as it did not appear that she had the credentials for such a position. So, and not cynically so, I wondered what did she have beneath the surface? On the surface, she was a pretty face, a nice lady with a definite milf appeal. As the media also became fascinated with her, the truth was eventually revealed, and certainly confirmed my cynicism regarding the GOP. There was nothing beneath the surface.
As was revealed through interviews and her own statements, she had very little going on inside that pretty head of hers. Sarah Palin was revealed to be not very bright, not consistent in her statements, and of dubious values. Two examples for the latter statement were the evidence of her shooting wolves from a helicopter, and her membership in a doomsday cult in AK. I do not think that anyone who has belonged to a church that claims 'the end is near' is a candidate for vice president.
There was also a large amount of reporting that in her role as Governor of Alaska, she, and to some extent her husband as well, had a poor record. Two other examples of that are the bridge to nowhere scandal, and the raising of the entitlement in an election year.
There seemed to be too much dissonance around her, and a kind of noise that the republicons could have anticipated; to beg the question; why her?
Why did they pick her for the position? My conclusion is that it was an attempt at a con-job, and a very cynical con-job at that. It appears that her superficial appeal was supposed to get the vote. The GOP did not want to have or did not actually have a well qualified candidate, as that individual might be too hard to control. I suspect that the shadowy insiders of the republican party thought that if they got her in with the crazy old man from Arizona, then it would be easy to pull her strings. She was selected as a puppet. The GOP wants puppets as the leaders of America. I have the same conclusion for Bush junior.
If you have been following her career since the election, you would note that she has quit her job as Governor, has had someone write a book for her, and is allying with the 'tea-party' movement in America. Recently, she has been appearing with the Fox news personality Glenn Beck. The Glenn Beck phenomena is to say the least, disturbing. Thus she is guilty by association, and Glenn Beck is guilty of fraud, hate-mongering, and hypocrisy. (He is also getting well paid for it. So is Sarah).
I can imagine that she is pleasant enough person to be around, and a good mom to her kids. Otherwise, she is political poison.

The reckoning continued.

In a previous post, what I describe as a 'reckoning' manifest on the occasion of my thirtieth birthday. Briefly, this was not a deliberate action on my part, it was something that 'just happened'. My nature is to not make a big deal over birthdays, and I actively resist significance in the synchronicity of numbering of years and fingers.
"Wow, over millions of years, I have evolved ten fingers, and I have been been around the sun a number of times that is divisible by ten!" In my mind, this is facile.
Having said this, as it turns out, ten years ago I did have a revelation, and I have not forgotten what that was. My summary of the 'reckoning' is that I was a little surprised to be still alive. Most significant of the 'reckoning' was also a focus for the next few years of my life.
So forty years have come and gone, and I anticipated, and thus realised another 'reckoning'. I intend to share it with you.
The past ten years or more, I have been focused on the physical life. Mountain sports, fitness activities, working as a tradesman of various types, eating, drinking, and sexuality have been my realm. I will not be humble about some of that accomplishment. I have become skilled, often to the point of expertise.
For real, I have become quite good at some things. This is satisfying, however it is not a conclusion. In my 'reckoning', I must also admit that some physical capacity has diminished, and definitely some of my ambition.
Truth is, and those who know me should be surprised by my candor; when you get older, things change. For many, this is obvious. For me, just as it was ten years ago, this is a revelation.
When I was thirty, I was surprised to be still alive.
Now that I am forty, I am surprised to realise that there is more to life than just physical pursuits.
What will the next ten cycles around the sun reveal?
Again, without regard to synchronicity, I state that my ambition is to move into the realm of the intellect. Perhaps even to the point of announcing my intention to be a public intellect. What I mean by public intellect is as an author, or perhaps media personality. A person who is respected for what they have to say. I submit this blog is evidence of that intention. Simply developing the habit of writing, and the craft of writing is a reasonable start. As I develop the skills necessary, polishing-up my grammar, spelling, and punctuation along the way, I hope that some production of value will emerge.
Bottom line, I admit that I need to get paid as well. I hope this works!

My mom is published, sorta

http://http://www.publishamerica.net/product90091.html

this is where to go and buy a copy of my moms book.

Starting to get dizzy.

It has been almost forty times around the sun, this old body of mine. I suspect that I will have to do some reckoning. The reckoning is probaly long overdue.
Ten years ago, the reckoning snuck up on me on the thirty. I was living in Nelson BC at the time, and had the day free to go and play. I went for a bike ride with Ron, and after we split a bottle of screw top on a hill-side near town. Since Ron had other things to do, he headed home, and I thought that now I would like to go rock climbing. I rode off on my yellow Rocky Thin Air, and up to the local granite crags.
When I arrived, I just started with some bouldering, which turned into soloing three routes in succession, all around 5.9/5.10ish. I don't solo anymore, but in those days I was rather confident. At the top, I sat for awhile, and that is when the reckoning really kicked in.
The reckoning developed a theme, and that was 'suprised to still be alive.' I have survived various car wrecks and mountaineering accidents, a lifestyle that indulgenced in intoxicants, and various romantic entanglements. No regrets, just genuine suprise that I was not yet a carcass. Still felt reasonably healthy, sexy even.
Of course I am aware that thirty is far from old, and I was certainly not wise. Now that I am about to be officially forty, I suspect that the inevitable reckoning will force itself upon me.
I really have no idea what that will be...

What's new?

So here we go again. It is my ambition again to have a blog. I will try to post regularily. Since I am still new at this, I suppose that I will leave it wide open as to what gets on here. If you stumble upon this, please feel free to post anything at all.

I would like to write something every day. I want to be able to feel that I have a command of the language. Communication has become something very important to me. I want to nurture that most human ability, the use of language.