Post Zero

Hello, my first post.  I don’t want to make this into something it’s not so I’ll happily forego a painful and pretentious purpose statement.  I’m not sure what form this blog will eventually take but I’d imagine it might heavily focus on sports, film, television, and politics.

I don’t usually follow politics all that intently but I have been transfixed by the Clinton-Obama nomination fight like so many others.  Consequently, the next 5 months will probably feature politics more than it might otherwise.

I’m still trying to figure out this whole “web blog” thing so hopefully this blog will improve dramatically in the near future.  But for now, here’s a crash course primer on things I believe.   I’ll be adding it to it from time to time.  It’s nothing like a coherent belief system just some idle thoughts.

And so, I believe…

 

..that many supporters of Barack Obama will look back on their behavior during this time and feel an unmitigated sense of shame and remorse.

..that Jimmy Carter is an out-an-out anti-Semite.

…that the gay marriage debate is gay.  I have plenty of gay friends and not a single one of them has ever brought up the subject of gay marriage.  The only people who like to talk about it are Republican politicians and religious figures like Larry Craig and Ted Haggard.  See my point.

…that Roger Clemens belongs in jail.  If lying before Congress or sleeping with a 15 year old girl isn’t enough to do it, then I’m certain there’s another justifiable offense waiting to be unearthed.

…that the Coen brothers are unquestionably among the best filmmakers of the past 25 years (“Intolerable Cruelty” and “Ladykillers” notwithstanding), but their refusal to participate in “Lebowski Fests” or even answer questions about “The Big Lebowski” should not be seen as “cool” aloofness but rather monumental arrogance.

…that George Lucas needs to be stopped.  I mean, seriously, man-eating ants and space aliens???

…that all politicians are venal, corrupt, and weak.  I don’t mean to single out politicians because that’s how I view everyone.  Yes, I’m including “The Anointed One” in my assessment.

…that “Booty Call” is the most underrated comedy of all-time.

…that the NBA’s continued employment of Dick Bavetta, Bennett Salvatore, and Victoria Palmer removes all remnants of legitimacy from a once proud league.  I don’t think the NBA is necessarily fixed, but without a clear commitment to improve its officiating it might as well be.

…that the Boston Red Sox ownership team have finally crossed the line from a justifiably expanding the team’s fan base to outright groveling for every last cent they can milk out of “Red Sox Nation.”  A Red Sox fan dating show that films during games?  Official “Red Sox Nation Citizen” cards that retail for $10?  Look, Werner, Lucchino et al have brought two World Championships to the city, have revitalized Fenway Park, have shown a willingness to spend significant amounts of money to bring in quality players, and have made themselves accountable to fans, so I’m not going to trade all that for a fan base that doesn’t wear pink hats, but perhaps it’s time for them to start reeling in some of their more ridiculous money-making schemes.  They might consider whether adding an extra .01% to their bottom line is worth the embarrassment to an organization that has meant so much to so many for so long.

…that reasonable Clinton and McCain supporters would be better off not referring to Barack Obama as “Barack Hussein Obama.”  I’m the furthest thing from a PC fanatic but the word “Hussein” is clearly a loaded one in this day and age, so if you hope to make a cogent and rational argument against Obama that you hope might get through to an Obamaniac – a tall task, I know, that is likely to be ultimately futile – it would behoove you to drop the “Hussein.”  Why give them a ready excuse to play their silly game of “Hillary supporters are racist”?  For now, it is preferable to go with “BHO” if you must.

…that any congressman or senator who has been in office since 2000 needs to shut their trap when they go off on some rant about President Bush.  President Bush didn’t pass the Patriot Act, or authorize the war in Iraq, or fail to pass a health care bill, immigration reform, climate reform, etc.  YOU DID!  Presidents don’t pass bills, Congress does.  President Bush is an incorrigible fool but you’re clearly not any better than him so before you decide to write something bashing the President for the Huffington Post, do us all a favor and commit hari-kari because that would be a significantly more effective way of serving your country.

…that John McCain is not Bush III or John McSame.  At the same time, he’s a few flip-flops away from getting there.

…that it is sad, sad state of affairs when a diehard liberal such as myself finds that the only television news station he can watch without gagging is “Fox News.”  I hate to admit it after years of bashing them, but damn it if they aren’t the only news network that even feigns to be “fair and balanced.”  If I were a senator – note that I didn’t say “President” – the first bill I would introduce would be to abolish MSNBO, er MSNBC, thereby immediately reducing America’s greenhouse emissions by 25%.

…that a far more pernicious force than the “military-industrial complex” is at work in America and it should hereby be known as the “wedding-industrial complex.”  Anyone who points to the oil industry as avatars of greed and avarice have clearly not had to plan a wedding.

…that when Manny Ramirez finally hangs up his cleats, the world will be far more dreary and commonplace than it already is.  Those who view him as “simple” and “detached” clearly have no basis for interpreting reality. 

…that Vincent Gallo’s “spanning time” speech in “Buffalo 66” is the simultaneously the funniest and most despairing scene I’ve ever seen put on film.

…that there is no feasible climate change bill that can be passed by Congress that will do anything to help to the environment.  Whatever gains are made will be more than offset by some terribly noxious unintended consequences.   Fortunately – or unfortunately as the case might be – oil and gas prices have probably just about reached the point that entrepreneurs have the necessary incentive to invent and introduce alternatives so we all might not be living underwater in 50 years yet.

…that if you live with someone who’s unemployed, please, please take into consideration that doing anything – anything at all – when you’re unemployed requires at least 10,000% more effort than when you’re employed and active.  When you’re unemployed even making it to the post office is a laborious endeavor.   Please keep that in mind.