Loosely Speaking

By Ciel - About Me - E-mail this page - Add to My Favorites - Add to Blog List - See other blogs in Everything Else

Thursday, September 11, 2008

What makes me especially sad about this election

is that it is so intensely polarized, that no matter who wins, the other side will find it a very, very bitter pill. Which of these candidates will, winning, actually be able to bring Americans together? I have spent 8 years loathing GWBush. Until Palin, I could have accepted McCain as a man I could respect, even if I disagree with him. Now there is only Obama. He may be young, he may be untried in many areas, but he has character, energy, enthusiasm, and optimism--and these are all things this... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

In this election season, I am trying to keep a sense of humor.

Sometimes they make it too easy. Is anyone else amused that when Obama refers to "...lipstick on a pig..." the Republicans immediately think of their v-p candidate? Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Offensive Bloggery

I just read comments on one of the blogs I have been frequenting, and have to wonder what moves some people to be deliberately, gratuitously offensive to another writer. It isn't as if the commenter knows the person he/she is assaulting with such mean-spiritedness. Is the commenter just that benighted, that he/she chooses to scapegoat this one writer personally for being part of something the commenter has decided is all wrong? He/she seems to identify as a Christian, but this all suggests that... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

What Kids Hear

One of my grandsons is a problematic child. He is a smart, bright 10-yr old kid two days out of three, but the third day, he becomes Something Else. He refused to go to school, ran from my daughter, his step-mom, around and around the car rather than get in. One day he got away with his tactics, and did not go to school. He has attempted the same several times since. When I talked with him about it, he said I had told him that doing the same thing over, one should expect to get the same results.... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Okay, everyone who is pro-death, raise your hand!

"Pro-Life" is a lie. Just being opposed to abortion doesn't make someone life-affirming. Far from it. This issue is not about life, it is about choice, it is about abortion. I don't mean to open the debate about abortion, but to point out how words can imply a truth without telling a truth. Smooth, clever-sounding slogans; pert short-cuts by journalists and speech-writers; some are only that. But in this season of seduction and persuasion, listen for the lies! They are falsehoods used to... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, September 5, 2008

I've just learned something about the Alaska governor

specifically her policy on wolf hunting. From helicopters and planes. It is medieval to still be buying into the idea that wolves are rapacious predators that strip the land of caribou and moose and other large mammals. They are, in fact, the natural check on the herds that keep population controlled, and healthy. They take the weak, the flawed, the diseased. It is man that hunts the best and strongest for trophies, and doesn't know when to quit. Does it matter that wolves are not mindless, that... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, September 1, 2008

the Republican Convention

(this was a comment in one of Kingmi's blogs, before Gustav got on the planning committee. Regardless of hurricanes and emergencies, I am sure that my assessment remains accurate, though there will be less glitz about it.) Personally, I am expecting it to be more of the same attempt to manipulate a win out of exploiting the worst qualities of human nature. I once would have believed that America is generally too smart for that to work. But look at what has been in the White House the past 8... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, August 31, 2008

A new poem inspired by the road

Pioneer Cafe, Montana Morning Ladies of a certain age girls no more except in the heart: What Life has given you have taken despite the dreams you had, despite intentions and resistance; Age acquiring resilience for survival's sake when life is hard or dull beyond endurance. Power in the circle around the cafe table every morning every day except Sundays, maybe: Ladies, old and aging socializing despite, because of Life; finding, making, sharing power 'round this table... and resilience,... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Listening to Lord of the Rings...

The disc in the player is the first in the series of three: Howard Shore's music for the film trilogy of LORD OF THE RINGS. The others will follow. As many of you know from my poetry posted here and there, and a collection available in my listings for sale, I am a Middle-earth ex-patriot. Part of me always is there. It is always part of me. The word 'fan' does not begin to say it. Tolkien wrote magically and straight into my heart. He wrote to be read aloud, and I have read the trilogy aloud... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Tying one on...

I just read one of Strat's posts ( http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Blog.aspx/strat/ July 10) regarding the proper way to wear polo shirts, in which he mentioned the problem of being color-blind and choosing which tie to wear. This reminded me of something I discovered a few years ago when I had a costuming/vintage/retro clothing shop. There was a time, the 60s and 70s if I remember correctly, when a certain brand of ties had a little label in the back telling men with which color suit they could... Sign in to see full entry.

Headlines (What is this?)