Hi pessimist,
I’m unable to sleep as well. Suppose the reasons are many. For instance, this bloody war and all the needless death of innocent souls, such as the latest try at “nabbing the bad guys” and ending up creating, yet, more havoc for those who already have more than plenty of this sort of bloody thing; yet, more foes…
Turning 61 yesterday and realizing that the world that me and my generation are leaving for our kids and grandkids is, by far, shittier than the one that our generation’s eldest left for us; indeed, less apparent care for the pain of others, less visible compassion for those we don’t know, but who happen to be our sisters and brothers and, obviously, less desire to fight for freedoms and rights that took so many worthy lives as well as the toil of so many souls for years on end—all of it, in order to help “form a more perfect Union…” Seeing unity of thought and deed go by the wayside perhaps because many of us have come to believe that sticking to one’s party, and no matter what, is the only thing that counts…
A brilliant mind, my youngest brother, going through another one of his horrible “crisis”. Yeah, bipolar disorder is a bear to contend with, and learning yesterday that his eldest son may be going through the same thing as well has been quite the birthday present…
Thankfully, I also think about sweet smiles, truly beloved family members; loved and respected neighbors; cold, rainy weather; squirrels trying to find some vittles and perilously dangling from birdhouses knowing that right there has to be the Manna they seek; the fact that there has to be a better tomorrow waiting just around the corner, and also the fact that when I’m able to sleep soundly there are more dreams than nightmares. So, all in all I guess that I am a quasi-optimist; yet, it is so very easy to drift into pessimism if I’m not extremely careful…
Paz to you, my friend, Peace
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU QUIDAM. Remember, life can change in a moment, and for the better.
Don't get me started on squirrels. I hate those little rats with tails.
Posted by Judith at January 15, 2006 05:50 AMBremer seems to be backtracking on the things he says in his book. Could someone have gotten to him? He is trying to whitewash Rummy now in direct conflict with parts of his book.
Statement Number 1:
In his book Bremer says: "I told Rumsfeld that we needed more troops, but HE NEVER GOT BACK TO ME."
Today on MTP: "Well, we actually had many conversations after that memo."
Well Bremer, which is it?
Statement Number 2:
In his book: "I told Rumsfeld we needed supplies because our envoys weren't getting through, and we were going to have to resort to rations, but HE NEVER GOT BACK TO ME."
Today on MTP: "Well, I guess because I was leaving in five weeks, nothing could be done in that short of time anyway."
WTF? Oh that explains it. Thanks Bremer for enlightening us. (Above paraphased)
Posted by Judith at January 15, 2006 06:35 AMshould read "resort to rationing"
Posted by Judith at January 15, 2006 06:37 AMWhat's keeping me up?
The fact that I live on the other side of the world in Australia I guess.
Hey quidam my birthday is on the 14th as well. I turned 20.
Don't let the world get you down my friend. I'll give you a hint: there is nothing in this world that can truly ruin your life.
The beautiful thing about not being able to see the future is that you only have the past for perspective.
If you only relied on the past though every day of your life would be gloomy. There have been millions upon millions of bad people in earth's history and many people have had their own little attempt at ruining the world for everybody else. They are all dead. And the world is still here.
You needn't be afraid. Have a guess what the difference is between a person who faces a challenge head on and dies the next day and someone who runs away from a challenge and dies the next day. The brave one had more fun.
Oh and don't wait for tomorrow to bring a better day. Start by improving the current one.
And don't wear white after Labor Day.
Posted by Adam at January 15, 2006 06:44 AMTed Koppel - Threats to Good Journalism
"But more and more, I think the economic model is that the advertiser dictates -- not specifically in terms of what an advertiser wants to have on the air but indirectly through demographics, by saying the only people that we are really interested in reaching are the young men and women between the ages 18 and whatever it is...it's like 18 and 35. By saying that, they are dictating the kinds of programming that the commercial, over-the-air networks are going to end up offering. If you look at magazine programs, for example, they have gotten so much softer over the past few years, and as far as actual one-hour documentaries on serious subjects, they're almost nonexistent. I think Peter Jennings' program on health insurance on ABC, which aired posthumously, may be one of the last you're going to see."
http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,1149232_3_0_,00.html
Posted by Judith at January 15, 2006 06:50 AMThe bipolar bug runs in my family too. If you haven't read "Bipolar Disorder/A guide for patients and families" by Francis Mark Mondimore, I recommend it.
Happy Birthday to You Two!
Posted by Sharon at January 15, 2006 06:55 AMQuidam, my Sister sent this to me, and I am passing it on to you.
A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?"
Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.
The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."
He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, the burdens become increasingly heavy, and we aren’t able to carry on. As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden. So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment. Relax; pick them up later after you've rested.
Life is short.
Enjoy it!
I think Ted Koppel may be full of crap. How long has it been since most media stopped telling us anything about world affairs? Do young people not care? I think they would if it was interesting. I've heard that foreign correspondents were dropped because they are so expensive. Also all those stupid reality shows are so cheap to make and they've been multiplying like rabbits. I hate to think the 18 to 35 age group is getting stupider and is more entertained by really stupid stuff, and they don't care about the world but maybe it's true. I doubt that, it's the profits and if people keep watching, the shows'll get cheaper and cheaper. How many people channel surf since nothing good's on?
Posted by Sharon at January 15, 2006 07:06 AMMaybe those pharmaceutical companies that constantly advertise drugs for older folks (since younger people are more healthy) have no say in what kind of shows there are? I think it's strictly what crap tv can be made that is cheapest and the sheeple of all ages will watch....and channel surf.
Posted by Sharon at January 15, 2006 07:17 AMSharon, you may be right. Although, there has been a "dumbing down" of the public, as seen through reality shows and stupid comedy shows.
Posted by Judith at January 15, 2006 07:27 AMMy daughter's birthday yesterday, too. What up w' January?
Posted by iamcoyote at January 15, 2006 07:30 AMThrough a link on Huffington, I listened to a C-Span program covering Rep. Jim Moran (D Va) and Rep. Murtha - A big program with a spill-over crowd - Everything was going perfectly - Murtha was great, and the crowd was enthusiastic - but then a father with a son fighting in Iraq reasonable argued, (giving good reasons why) that we should impeach Bush - and at that point, Moran demurred - he stated something like: 'impeachment is not in keeping with the Democratic process'!!!!
It is clear, Moran would not vote for impeachment - and my disgust for so-called Dems grew another mile.
"I think it's strictly what crap tv can be made that is cheapest and the sheeple of all ages will watch....and channel surf."
That I agree with. People who are seeking more than a stupid comedy show or reality TV do so.
Posted by Judith at January 15, 2006 07:31 AM'impeachment is not in keeping with the Democratic process'!!!!
DOT, WTF?
Well, evidently Conyers didn't get the memo.
Wednesday, December 21st, 2005
First Step Towards Impeachment? Conyers Introduces Bills to Censure Bush and Cheney
Earlier this week Democratic Congressman John Conyers introduced measures to censure President Bush and Vice President Cheney - not for the domestic spying case but for misleading lawmakers on the decision to go to war in Iraq.
Conyers is also seeking the creation of a select committee to investigate the Administration's possible crimes and make recommendations regarding grounds for impeachment.
To back up his case Conyers has just released a reported titled "The Constitution in Crisis: The Downing Street Minutes and Deception, Manipulation, Torture, Retribution and Coverups in the Iraq War."
To support Conyers" efforts activists have also launched a website this week titled censurebush.org.
Rep. John Conyers (D - MI), second longest serving member of the House of Representatives and the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. In the 1970s he played a prominent role in the recent impeachment process of Richard Nixon.
We're moving with a great caution toward what a number of people are realizing should be appropriately done.
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/12/21/1447240
Posted by Judith at January 15, 2006 07:52 AMOh my God, Arlen Specter on This Week just said that if the president broke the law on spying, the remedy is impeachment and prosecution. Is there really a silver lining over the rainbow?
Posted by Judith at January 15, 2006 08:10 AMIs there really a silver lining over the rainbow?
Well, that didn't make sense, but got the idea.
Don't let the world get you down my friend. I'll give you a hint: there is nothing in this world that can truly ruin your life.
You are very sweet, but you have yet to live under the Buschco regime. Things still appear somewhat sane in Australia.
Happy Birthday, quidam! It's often difficult to understand the devastation of these mental disorders. I can only hope you live in a country with appropriate heathcare. If you are in the United States, the hell your family members are forced to go through is unconscionable.
Excellent post, Judith!
Thanks to all for the best wishes and wonderful words.
Paz
Judith:
Digging around censurebush.org, I found a wonderful piece where a guy advocated buying the phone records of republicans, in effect spying on them. A wonderful bit that gave me much glee! And it poses an interesting possibility. When neo-cons say, "If you've got nothing to hide..." well, let's show up with listening equipment and long range telephoto lenses, and get their IP addresses and see what they're doing online. We could discover if that's true. You know, the nothing to hide part.
Posted by phidipides at January 15, 2006 08:42 AMPhidipides, great idea, because as we all know, the Republicans have nothing to hide. ;) Well, barely anything to hide. Well, maybe just a few things to hide. Well damn, how about everything they do or say?
Posted by Judith at January 15, 2006 08:47 AMHappy birthday, Quidam! Many happier returns!
I did finally get some sleep and don't feel well, but reading about your brother reminded me that I could have it much worse. Your wise comments are one of the reasons this blog has become what it is, and I for one thank you.
Posted by pessimist at January 15, 2006 10:03 AMShows like "Countdown" , Stewert, and Colbert may attract some of the "reality show morons" with their humorous aspect. If single females and the poor were better educated in politics, and how a Bush victory would hurt them, they might not have stayed home in the last election.
Posted by TIKI AL at January 15, 2006 11:45 AM