Obama Is Not The Pied Piper, and Other Ice Storm Stories.
I’m drinking a beer watching the ice fall. It is doubtful I will be out of here early tomorrow morning. though I’ll have to make an attempt. The change from sleet to ice occurred in an instant, an instant more for the gravel beneath me to turn to a black ice. It was alright, I had taken a quick walk to the sushi bar and didn’t have far to walk home. I’d voted early in the morning, before anyone was even at the polls. I was the first or second to vote there. I was heading downtown for class and didn’t want to risk a late vote. I am a weather channel junky. I was expecting the predicted worse case scenario. As it turned out it was a good move, the evening was hazardous. I was nineteen last time. I’m better prepared this time around, and the need to cast my vote to prove it was strong.
Despite the ice storm which occurred late, most of the day was snow or sleet, Obama prevailed in Maryland. Maryland closed it polls ninety minutes late, after a judge ruled the weather was so bad they just couldn’t close on time as people were risking life and limb, suffering all kind of falling on ice indignities, for the sheer pleasure of voting for someone, anyone, to potentially replace the jester. Willing to do anything it took, more than willing to fight the ice in order to vote for a worthy candidate for the first time in eight years.
Republicans, the few who did vote, were there to purge, a cleansing of the soul, despite their dearth of
inspiration or confidence provoking candidates. It’s much more difficult to take a fall for nothing, so I don’t fault them for not running to the polls.
I am posting the link below because it will stop me from having to write it myself, or having to explain myself to anyone ever again. The assumption that all the young people are easily led by those with an ounce of charisma, into the land of change, like we’ve all fallen under the spell of the Pied Piper or something, is beginning to get on my nerves. Though the scenario my be similar, post rat infestation, lies, broken promises and all, there is no cave, and we will come out the other end much better for this. Believe me. We read, think, analyze, research, and we will reap the rewards. Unlike the children of Hamelin we will be seen again, living in a much better country for it.
So Yea, I Drank Barack’s Milkshake
Yea, I know you’ve seen this before in December of 2006 but it is quite fitting here.
Crispian St Peters - The Pied Piper - Music Video via Noolmusic.com
Get Video Code For Crispian St Peters - The Pied Piper - Music Video
What you have to look forward to in Wonderland or Not:
As promised in my previous post I am going to ask you to leave the name of your favorite “heart” song, meaning song with “heart” in the title, not necessarily a song about the heart, a broken heart, or love. The only requirement is that it have “heart” in the titles….. you have a couple of days between now and the end of Valentine’s Day to think about it. I’ll post mine late tomorrow, or late Valentine’s day, and that is when you can tell me what it is your favorite “heart” song, and why.
Peace and ice melting pellets.
Maryland in the house! I just went ice skating with the doggies. That was fun.
I don’t think people should vote for the better speaker. People should vote for whoever Scarlett Johansson tells them to vote for. Or is it “whomever”? I should know this stuff. Hillary lost my non-existent vote when she wanted to ban the video-game “Bully.” It was such a middle-of-the-road, we-can-all-get-along-as-long-as-creativity-isn’t-offensive bullshit.
“Broken Heart” by Spiritualized, of course.
The last time I was blanketed in such cold weather as yours was when I was in D.C. back in ‘03 when we were getting 3-5 inches every night.
I don’t envy you for that.
But I do think it’s cool that you risked such inclement weather to do your civic duty. Here, all I had to do was get up a half-hour earlier and drive to the polling place. It doesn’t have the same ring of perseverance and dedication your voting story does, Miss Cooper.
i’ve been reading about so much snow lately. but here i am, sending kisses from my island to yours. xx.
Oh the pressure–the heart song
I would expect you to brave any sort of weather to vote because that’s who you are
Olivia, I’m an early 50’s-the decade–baby boomer, duh–therefore many people expect me to vote for any man over Hillary. Which is absurd
Here’s a great quote from a Maureen Dowd article
Elaine Sirkis, 77, an Obama supporter, confided that she just isn’t sure she’s ready for a woman president. Betty Conway, 83, a Hillary supporter, confided that she just isn’t sure she’s ready for a black president.
As Conway walked away, Sirkis smiled sheepishly. “I’m sorry,” she told Berman sweetly about her friend. “She’s a bigot.
ww.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/opinion/13dowd.html?hp
The weird thing is I agree Hillary has the better health care plan–but for reasons I have stated many times I think Obama will make the better president and this election is truly about healing a nation–and details of plans can be worked out after a victory
I have gained much respect for “your generation.” More than that I have seen kids who have been alienated since they first knew how to pout come alive again–I’m truly not being dramatic
Don’t be defensive. This is an amazing time to be young in America or to be an American
My friends were basically apolitical, apathetic–America stopped being a true democracy, who cares, elections are rigged. No longer. They give their money–and watch it being used–to Obama and their time
I read the article you linked to and thought it good but yesterday’s victories prove that Obama’s message of positive change and hope is growing
I put the post “Illusions” you couldn’t find on the sidebar
Duh, I know the perfect song–and it’s true poetry :)
Heart Full of Soul. The Yardbirds. Jeff Beck on guitar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4HIgqFnvik
Unchain My Heart by Ray Charles. There’s no second place.
He is the pied piper I tell ya.
Ice is just melting here, on and off power outages including the building I work, that’s why I’m home where the power is on currently. I voted late.
I can now follow the Clemen’s hearing all day. ;)
I’m thinking about my heart song, I take my duties seriously.
Sorry you had a difficult weather day…I do the weather channel mainly when the Hurricane season hits. (That, I guess, is an odd fascination.)
A ‘Few’ Songs for you to fill the request.
Closer to the Heart - Rush
“And the men who hold high places
Must be the ones to start
To mould a new reality
Closer to the heart…”
Owner of a Lonely Heart - Yes
“Move yourself
You always live your life
Never thinking of the future
Prove yourself
You are the move you make
Take your chances win or loser…”
(Timely with the election. And of course, 80’s music.)
More modern: Broken Hearted Savior - Big Head Todd & The Monsters
“Fields are white in snowy spring and I can’t
remember the last time I’ve seen her.
The highway is still cold and wet and I can’t
forget the way I had to leave her.
And every passing day, she flickers and she fades.
Is someone to catch her when she falls from the heavens?
And I’ll love her yet, though she has done me wrong.
And I’ll bring her back, though she has been long gone.
And I’ll always be her
broken hearted savior.”
(This goes to the weather we are doing.)
Happy Valentine’s Day. Or as I see it, “Just another day.”
Just Another Day - Oingo Boingo aka Danny Elfman Band
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2zENgSWR90
“(there’s life underground)
I feel it all around / I feel it in my bones
My life is on the line / when I’m away from home
When I step out the door / the jungle is alive
I do not trust my ears / I don’t believe my eyes
I will not fall in love / I cannot risk the bet
Cause hearts are fragile toys / so easy to forget….”
Closer to the Heart - Rush
Yea, it’s the best.
Being a bit of a music nerd, here is a lucky seven of my faves in order of awesomeness:
1. “I want to be the boy to warm your mother’s heart” by White Stripes
2. “Heart of gold” by Neil Young
3. “I am trying to break your heart” by Wilco
4. “Pain in my heart” by Otis Redding
5. “Give back the key to my heart” by Uncle Tupelo
6. “That’s how a heartache begins” by Patsy Cline
7. “Heart shaped box” by Nirvana
It’s sort of funny that the manner in which his rhetoric is decried is just as simplistic and inane as the fictitious campaign they described would be.
John McCain has already begun to focus on Obama in his attacks. It’s clear who he fears more. But there’s no way that the pied piper label would stick in a general election.
Pia: you probably have more knowledge germane to healthcare than I, but I really doubt that a coercive plan is really going to do the trick here. And it seems to me that if she’s running on that platform while receiving the sort of Big Medicine money support she’s been enjoying it means that the insurance companies stand to profit from it.
as for the “heart?”
Cream: Deserted Cries of the Heart
Janice Joplin: Piece of My Heart
Elvis: Heartbreak Hotel
The Eagles: Heartache Tonight
Blondie: Heart of Glass
Robert Johnson: Kind Hearted Woman Blues
Bob Dylan: Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts
Ray Charles: Your Cheatin’ Heart (this is the only version of the song that I endorse in any way
Stay warm, babes.
Uh Tom Waits–Heart of Saturday Night
Tell me is the crack of the poolballs, neon buzzin?
Telephone’s ringin’; it’s your second cousin
Is it the barmaid that’s smilin’ from the corner of her eye?
Magic of the melancholy tear in your eye.
Makes it kind of quiver down in the core
‘Cause you’re dreamin’ of them Saturdays that came before
And now you’re stumblin’
You’re stumblin’ onto the heart of Saturday night
Olivia,
Jeez - we get a lot of snow and ice here in Truckee, CA - to eliminate the slipping whilst walking, you can purchase running type shoes that allow you to put cleats in the bottom which work wonderful - you can also get hiking boots that have the same.
EsotericWombat - Cream’s song is titled “Deserted Cities of the Heart” -
Francis Scudellari - I can’t believe I left Neils’ masterpiece off my list. Arrgh.
Pia - We are of the same age - I always enjoy your comments here - and, quite frankly, find myself feeling somewhat awed by the words you speak. Kudos.
Olivia - You are the best. I have no more words.
I voted for Obama, he is a gas;
forget Hillary Clinton, a pain in the ass. …