Thursday, April 8, 2010
My saints are down
Life's so long, or short should I say?
I am here to get it on with you today
But I gotta tell ya that my
My saints are down
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Revisionist History? Or honoring a dictator?
Imperial Spain, which financed Christopher Columbus' trip to the new world, and eventually settled predominant stretches of the region began to fall in the 17th century, and fell further still to Bourbon France.
Spanish loyalists set out on a path not unlike our own revolutionaries. They vowed not to respect the rule of France, developed a forward thinking constitution in 1812, and developed an insurgent movent to offer a grass-roots fight against the organized Bourbon forces. France was defeated the following year and King Ferdinand was restored to his throne.
Many Spaniards embraced the liberal changes to their restored country. Ferdinand and his loyalists did not, and the country descended in to civil war. The war ended in an atmosphere not of calm, but of tension. Queen Isabella eventually lost control of her nation, with the liberal revolutionaries establishing a Republic in the 1870s.
The monarchy fought back, selling or ceding its foreign territories developing insurgent movements of their own, bankrupting the country. The following decades brought movements toward a liberal Republic, that was often met by bloodshed of conservative loyalists. The liberals pressed forward against the bankrupt dictatorship. The monarchy fled the country. The liberals established another Republic in the 1930s that greater autonomy for the Basque and the Catalonians, the right to vote for for women, and democratic elections.
The move angered the conservative Nationalists, fearing that the democratic liberals would exacerbate Spain's decline both as a culture and as a world power. The country fell in to a civil war yet again in the 1930s. The elected liberal rulers were attacked by conservatives, anarchists, coalitions of staunch Roman Catholics. The liberal Republicans fought back fiercely, establishing democratic strongholds in key cities, receiving help from the USSR and from international brigades.
The success was short lived, as the nationalists commandeered support from the fascist regimes in Portugal, Italy, and Nazi Germany and pressed onward under the command of General Francisco Franco.
Hundreds of thousand lives later, the Republic fell, and the dictatorship of Generalissimo Francisco Franco began.
Franco issued strict conservative mores, establishing the Roman Catholic Church as par the government and requiring workers to obtain a priest's bill of good character before being able to work. Roles and behaviours were defined along societal bounds, including gender. Politics became starkly isolationist and tyrannical. Mass media was developed for the purposes of state propaganda Democracy abhored, opposition was exterminated, culture stood at a standstill....for 40 years. Yet he levvied his control to push the Spanish economy further from bankruptcy and more in line with his European neighbors.
When Franco's health went in to decline, democratic uprisers and national loyalists organized yet again, each prepared to jockey once again for the power of Spain. Progressive ideas seeped in to government cracking at Spain's isolation and tyrrany, leading to tensions yet again paralyzing the country. When Franco passed away, a parliamentary monarchy took hold, re-establishing a democratic process and writing a constitution. Spain had, finally, joined the modern world.
Franco's critics decried his oppression and human rights abuses. Yet many of his supporters praised how he brought Spain out of bankruptcy and more in line, economically with his European neighbors. Others praised championing of traditional values.
Now, Generalissimo Franciso Franco...is still dead.
Many want his statues to be next. Others, who have a prouder memory of Franco dercy the act as revisionist history.
Is it revisionist history? Or is it moving on from a dark, painful past?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123594813501604681.html
Spanish loyalists set out on a path not unlike our own revolutionaries. They vowed not to respect the rule of France, developed a forward thinking constitution in 1812, and developed an insurgent movent to offer a grass-roots fight against the organized Bourbon forces. France was defeated the following year and King Ferdinand was restored to his throne.
Many Spaniards embraced the liberal changes to their restored country. Ferdinand and his loyalists did not, and the country descended in to civil war. The war ended in an atmosphere not of calm, but of tension. Queen Isabella eventually lost control of her nation, with the liberal revolutionaries establishing a Republic in the 1870s.
The monarchy fought back, selling or ceding its foreign territories developing insurgent movements of their own, bankrupting the country. The following decades brought movements toward a liberal Republic, that was often met by bloodshed of conservative loyalists. The liberals pressed forward against the bankrupt dictatorship. The monarchy fled the country. The liberals established another Republic in the 1930s that greater autonomy for the Basque and the Catalonians, the right to vote for for women, and democratic elections.
The move angered the conservative Nationalists, fearing that the democratic liberals would exacerbate Spain's decline both as a culture and as a world power. The country fell in to a civil war yet again in the 1930s. The elected liberal rulers were attacked by conservatives, anarchists, coalitions of staunch Roman Catholics. The liberal Republicans fought back fiercely, establishing democratic strongholds in key cities, receiving help from the USSR and from international brigades.
The success was short lived, as the nationalists commandeered support from the fascist regimes in Portugal, Italy, and Nazi Germany and pressed onward under the command of General Francisco Franco.
Hundreds of thousand lives later, the Republic fell, and the dictatorship of Generalissimo Francisco Franco began.
Franco issued strict conservative mores, establishing the Roman Catholic Church as par the government and requiring workers to obtain a priest's bill of good character before being able to work. Roles and behaviours were defined along societal bounds, including gender. Politics became starkly isolationist and tyrannical. Mass media was developed for the purposes of state propaganda Democracy abhored, opposition was exterminated, culture stood at a standstill....for 40 years. Yet he levvied his control to push the Spanish economy further from bankruptcy and more in line with his European neighbors.
When Franco's health went in to decline, democratic uprisers and national loyalists organized yet again, each prepared to jockey once again for the power of Spain. Progressive ideas seeped in to government cracking at Spain's isolation and tyrrany, leading to tensions yet again paralyzing the country. When Franco passed away, a parliamentary monarchy took hold, re-establishing a democratic process and writing a constitution. Spain had, finally, joined the modern world.
Franco's critics decried his oppression and human rights abuses. Yet many of his supporters praised how he brought Spain out of bankruptcy and more in line, economically with his European neighbors. Others praised championing of traditional values.
Now, Generalissimo Franciso Franco...is still dead.
Many want his statues to be next. Others, who have a prouder memory of Franco dercy the act as revisionist history.
Is it revisionist history? Or is it moving on from a dark, painful past?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123594813501604681.html
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Rememberance
Within the past several weeks I received word that a woman that I knew passed away. Her death was a surprise, but not entirely unexpected. I was saddened by this, even though I did not know her very well. I don't even know if she had extended family. But now that I've had some time to reflect on her loss, I've found that her passing moved me in ways that I wasn't expecting.
She was someone that I respected, for several reasons. While she wasn't a close friend of mine, she was near enough to be someone that made a positive difference in my life. When I felt that I was stuck at a crossroads, she helped me find my way. When I found my way, she helped me stay steadfast.
Her wisdom stuck with me. Upon reflection, I am realizing that I put her insight to good use perhaps more than I realized. And now, it is too late to thank her, to reach out to her again, or to try to get to know her better. This disheartens me a bit, although it is not something that leaves me devastated, either. Instead, it leaves me with a curious sense of inspiration.
Why did I not reach out to her more before? Unfortunately I'm not that good at telling people how I feel, and I am not that good at reaching to people to let them know that they are important to me. Hell...I'm not even good at keeping in touch with people...people that want to be in touch with me, people that want to be my friend.
Perhaps her departing gift to me to remind me of something lacking in myself...
Rest in peace, M. Thank you for everything.
She was someone that I respected, for several reasons. While she wasn't a close friend of mine, she was near enough to be someone that made a positive difference in my life. When I felt that I was stuck at a crossroads, she helped me find my way. When I found my way, she helped me stay steadfast.
Her wisdom stuck with me. Upon reflection, I am realizing that I put her insight to good use perhaps more than I realized. And now, it is too late to thank her, to reach out to her again, or to try to get to know her better. This disheartens me a bit, although it is not something that leaves me devastated, either. Instead, it leaves me with a curious sense of inspiration.
Why did I not reach out to her more before? Unfortunately I'm not that good at telling people how I feel, and I am not that good at reaching to people to let them know that they are important to me. Hell...I'm not even good at keeping in touch with people...people that want to be in touch with me, people that want to be my friend.
Perhaps her departing gift to me to remind me of something lacking in myself...
Rest in peace, M. Thank you for everything.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Chemistry
Yes, I'm still mad that Rush did not play at the Olympics.
Probably my favorite Rush song, for many reasons.
What those reasons are...I'm not sure if I'll share online. ;)
Signals transmitted
Message received
Reaction making impact --
Invisibly
Elemental telepathy
Exchange of energy
Reaction making contact --
Mysteriously
Eye to I
Reaction burning hotter
Two to one
Reflection on the water
H to O
No flow without the other
Oh but how
Do they make contact
With one another?
Electricity? Biology?
Seems to me it's Chemistry
Emotion transmitted
Emotion received
Music in the abstract --
Positively
Elemental empathy
A change of synergy
Music making contact --
Naturally
One, two, three --
Add without subtraction
Sound on sound
Multiplied reaction
H to O
No flow without the other
Oh but how
Do we make contact
With one another?
Probably my favorite Rush song, for many reasons.
What those reasons are...I'm not sure if I'll share online. ;)
Signals transmitted
Message received
Reaction making impact --
Invisibly
Elemental telepathy
Exchange of energy
Reaction making contact --
Mysteriously
Eye to I
Reaction burning hotter
Two to one
Reflection on the water
H to O
No flow without the other
Oh but how
Do they make contact
With one another?
Electricity? Biology?
Seems to me it's Chemistry
Emotion transmitted
Emotion received
Music in the abstract --
Positively
Elemental empathy
A change of synergy
Music making contact --
Naturally
One, two, three --
Add without subtraction
Sound on sound
Multiplied reaction
H to O
No flow without the other
Oh but how
Do we make contact
With one another?
And now that the winter olympics have come to a close...
I'm feeling a bit down, as I always do when these games come to a close...although the throat infection doesn't help...LOL.
Random thoughts:
NBC's coverage sucked, but they should be drawn and quartered for cutting off the closing ceremonies!!
I reaaaaalllly wish I had a recording of the closing ceremonies. The Moscow Chamber Chorus singing the National Anthem of the Russian Federation in the thundering acoustics of that stadium was...fierce. That captured the power, finesse, darkness, and mystery of Russian classicism like nothing else I've heard.
Someone somewhere on line referred to a broadcaster that I have never liked as "bewildered news anchor Tom Brokaw". I thought that was a fitting description, although I have to bregrudgingly give him props for his Gander story.
Canada is just damn cool.
The games were AMAZING.
THE BEST HOCKEY GAME EVER PLAYED, BAR NONE.
Oh yeah, there was other stuff too.
The Chinese pair that won gold after skating together for...18 years, or something like that? Bode Miller actually grew up. Lindsey Jacobellis f---ed up her snowboarding again. Ski cross and snowboard cross are insane. Julia Mancuso still wears a tiara. We actually beat a Russian in figure skating (how did that happen?). Shawn White's snowboard tricks...lemme just say I hope that guy doesn't end up with a broken neck! Apolo Ohno has gotten even easier on the eyes. A blind U.S. bobsleigh driver can see again. A Czech skier falls off an embankment, breaks ribs, messes up a lung.....and somehow wins bronze..give her a special award for that! A Polish skier wins her country their first Winter Olympic gold in a very long time.
But the question weighing on my mind....
WHY WASN'T RUSH IN THE OPENING OR CLOSING CEREMONIES????????
Sigh...only the best band ever...and they happen to be Canadian...
A certain measure of innocence
Willing to appear naive
A certain degree of imagination
A measure of make-believe
A certain degree of surrender
To the forces of light and heat
A shot of satisfaction
In a willingness to risk defeat
Celebrate the moment
As it turns into one more
Another chance at victory
Another chance to score
The measure of the moment
In a difference of degree
Just one little victory
A spirit breaking free
One little victory
The greatest act can be
One little victory
A certain measure of righteousness
A certain amount of force
A certain degree of determination
Daring on a different course
A certain amount of resistance
To the forces of the light and love
A certain measure of tolerance
A willingness to rise above
Random thoughts:
NBC's coverage sucked, but they should be drawn and quartered for cutting off the closing ceremonies!!
I reaaaaalllly wish I had a recording of the closing ceremonies. The Moscow Chamber Chorus singing the National Anthem of the Russian Federation in the thundering acoustics of that stadium was...fierce. That captured the power, finesse, darkness, and mystery of Russian classicism like nothing else I've heard.
Someone somewhere on line referred to a broadcaster that I have never liked as "bewildered news anchor Tom Brokaw". I thought that was a fitting description, although I have to bregrudgingly give him props for his Gander story.
Canada is just damn cool.
The games were AMAZING.
THE BEST HOCKEY GAME EVER PLAYED, BAR NONE.
Oh yeah, there was other stuff too.
The Chinese pair that won gold after skating together for...18 years, or something like that? Bode Miller actually grew up. Lindsey Jacobellis f---ed up her snowboarding again. Ski cross and snowboard cross are insane. Julia Mancuso still wears a tiara. We actually beat a Russian in figure skating (how did that happen?). Shawn White's snowboard tricks...lemme just say I hope that guy doesn't end up with a broken neck! Apolo Ohno has gotten even easier on the eyes. A blind U.S. bobsleigh driver can see again. A Czech skier falls off an embankment, breaks ribs, messes up a lung.....and somehow wins bronze..give her a special award for that! A Polish skier wins her country their first Winter Olympic gold in a very long time.
But the question weighing on my mind....
WHY WASN'T RUSH IN THE OPENING OR CLOSING CEREMONIES????????
Sigh...only the best band ever...and they happen to be Canadian...
A certain measure of innocence
Willing to appear naive
A certain degree of imagination
A measure of make-believe
A certain degree of surrender
To the forces of light and heat
A shot of satisfaction
In a willingness to risk defeat
Celebrate the moment
As it turns into one more
Another chance at victory
Another chance to score
The measure of the moment
In a difference of degree
Just one little victory
A spirit breaking free
One little victory
The greatest act can be
One little victory
A certain measure of righteousness
A certain amount of force
A certain degree of determination
Daring on a different course
A certain amount of resistance
To the forces of the light and love
A certain measure of tolerance
A willingness to rise above
Thursday, February 18, 2010
1 month in
One month in to the 2 month challenge:
I've lost 7 pounds. My goal was 8 pounds off in 2 months...it looks like I will beat it. I'm eating better. I'm exercising more. My back isn't acting up. All good stuff.
I'm also getting sick, which is not related to my diet or exercise.
*braces for a bout of winter bronchitis*
I've lost 7 pounds. My goal was 8 pounds off in 2 months...it looks like I will beat it. I'm eating better. I'm exercising more. My back isn't acting up. All good stuff.
I'm also getting sick, which is not related to my diet or exercise.
*braces for a bout of winter bronchitis*
Monday, February 15, 2010
I wasn't devious enough...
...to post this Gene Pitney song on V-day. ;)
Hint: it's not about truck driving.
Hint: it's not about truck driving.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Vancouver 2010!
I love the Winter Olympics!
My favorite sports event...period.
When I was growing up in Buffalo, I recall begging my parents to take me to the Lake Placid games in 1980. That wasn't possible, but I remember being glued to the TV. I especially remember the Miracle On Ice, even though I didn't fully understand the politics behind it all until later.
May the games be great for everyone.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Cabin Fever. I has it.
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
New England gets winter. I don't mind winter. But I wanna be out climbing the Monadnocks again. I want to go taking pictures of waterfalls during the spring...
Next year, I *must* get some mountaineering boots and some better outdoor gear so I can climb in the winter as well.
Monday, February 8, 2010
May I please borrow the Workingman's Jazz Band of Maynard, Mass...
...to say CONGRATULATIONS to the New Orleans Saints!
The band is damn good too.
http://www.youtube.com/user/WorkingmansJazz
The band is damn good too.
http://www.youtube.com/user/WorkingmansJazz
Friday, January 29, 2010
The holidays are too early.
From Halloween to New Years, it seems like there's this big crush of activity. We start preparing for the holidays, we plan family visits, we go to parties, we buy gifts, we send cards, blah blah blah.
Its all good, but...its too soon!
Most holidays are based on the Winter solstice and the vernal equanox. But, at least in this climate...the solstice just marks the beginning of winter. Sure the days get longer, but the weather gets nastier. I wish Christmas was at the end of January or early February. I'd rather have a big celebraion that breaks winter up a bit. ;)
Its all good, but...its too soon!
Most holidays are based on the Winter solstice and the vernal equanox. But, at least in this climate...the solstice just marks the beginning of winter. Sure the days get longer, but the weather gets nastier. I wish Christmas was at the end of January or early February. I'd rather have a big celebraion that breaks winter up a bit. ;)
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
I have to eat my words, do they have calories?
OK, I have to take back my self-indulgent whine...LOL.
Just as I was complaining that I feel like I'm alone in my efforts to lose weight, someone (who I'm sure has not read my blog) and offered company. A martial artist that I recently met online put forward an idea of a challenge. Not a contest, a challenge...with a plan.
He said what he wanted to do, and how he was going to do it. He spelled out his dietary changes and his fitness ideas, and asked for others to join him. THe challenge is going to be two months long. So I joined him. Hopefully some other online folks will as well. But even if they don't...at least I am not alone (for the next 2 months.) Kewl. I'll post the results in mid-March.
Just as I was complaining that I feel like I'm alone in my efforts to lose weight, someone (who I'm sure has not read my blog) and offered company. A martial artist that I recently met online put forward an idea of a challenge. Not a contest, a challenge...with a plan.
He said what he wanted to do, and how he was going to do it. He spelled out his dietary changes and his fitness ideas, and asked for others to join him. THe challenge is going to be two months long. So I joined him. Hopefully some other online folks will as well. But even if they don't...at least I am not alone (for the next 2 months.) Kewl. I'll post the results in mid-March.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Who knew classical piano could be so damn cool?
Migod...
Lola Astinova piano like she's on drugs that haven't been invented yet.
Lola Astinova piano like she's on drugs that haven't been invented yet.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Yeah yeah yeah, this year, no excuses, blah blah blah....
OK. I'll admit it. I (raises hand sheepishly in the air) am one of the eleventy gazillion Americans that need to lose weight, and haven't and made a resolution blah blah blah...
There are reasons/excuses. Yeah my thyroid burned out. Yeah I screwed up my back badly a couple years ago and its only been since October that I've been able to go through my day and even get in some exercise without a lot of pain...and therefore haven't been able to train the way I want to. That's getting me...nowhere.
The approach for this is the same way I approached my back therapy. I'm going to do what is right...for me. Its exercising on a regular basis, however I can work it in. Its eating a lot of leafy greens.
I wish I wasn't "alone" in this, but I feel like I am. Many Americans are looking for shortcuts. Many others are ridiculously judgemental of others, especially when it comes to weight. There doesn't seem to be enough knowledge and support of helping one another do it the hard way (through exercise and eating realistic foods).
Ah, well, if ya want it done right, do it yourself...LOL.
There are reasons/excuses. Yeah my thyroid burned out. Yeah I screwed up my back badly a couple years ago and its only been since October that I've been able to go through my day and even get in some exercise without a lot of pain...and therefore haven't been able to train the way I want to. That's getting me...nowhere.
The approach for this is the same way I approached my back therapy. I'm going to do what is right...for me. Its exercising on a regular basis, however I can work it in. Its eating a lot of leafy greens.
I wish I wasn't "alone" in this, but I feel like I am. Many Americans are looking for shortcuts. Many others are ridiculously judgemental of others, especially when it comes to weight. There doesn't seem to be enough knowledge and support of helping one another do it the hard way (through exercise and eating realistic foods).
Ah, well, if ya want it done right, do it yourself...LOL.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Well the Patriots are out of it....
So....GEAUX SAINTS!
Migod I'd love to see them pull off a Superbowl victory.
Migod I'd love to see them pull off a Superbowl victory.
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