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Who me?

October 27, 2008 at 4:48 AM

It's 10:30 p.m. and I'm at the grocery store, wearing sweats and a T-shirt, no make-up and a ponytail. I'm buying Egg Beaters and whipping cream.

But it's unmistakable. Twenty-something black guy, well-dressed - he's still smiling at me. Hmmmmm. Well, I suppose even we forty-year-olds can attract attention at the end of the day; that does give me hope. Must be these flattering fluorescent lights. Maybe he digs the frumpy look. I'll give him a little smile back.

"Yeah!" he says, nodding. Okay, this is a little over the top. Now he gives me a thumbs-up. What's he seeing here?

Oh yeah....

Unfortunately I think your shirt detracts from that beauty, intellectually mostly. Praise God we live in America and you and I can disagree on our politics, but I've always thought the only thing missing from that shirt's image of Mr. Obama was the hammer and sickle. It has always reminded me of the propaganda images you would see in Stalinist Russia.

And... Palin.. will be here Wednesday, third time in 2 weeks.

It helps when your state is undecided.

http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/15/beyond-red-white-and-blue/

I rather like the image, which reminds me of New Deal artwork, but that's probably the same reason others dislike it.

Personally, I don't mind a little politics on the site as long as no one's voice is squelched. Just please let's not talk about baseball!

I prefer to buy eggs in the shell.

As for Laurie's shirt, it is her website, and she can do what she wants. I for one have found this election a real learning experience. For example, I had never heard of the AIP. Who knew?

Humor, people, humor....

About the cream, I'm decadent with my coffee but low cholesterol with my cooking.:)

Communism may work on a very small scale, but it is, and always has been, a complete failure on the large scale.

No where in the post did she talk about why you should endorse him or not vote for John McCain.

Obama 08!

And it is Laurie's site and she can put whatever she feels like and you don't have to read it if you don't want to. I don't think she's gone all political on us, all she did is tell about an experience she had- The point of the blogs here, duh.

The Egg Beaters are my fault. Blame my family's nasty high cholesterol. But they work just as well as eggs in everything except a meringue. (A touch of milk - or soy milk - helps them fluff up as scrambled eggs.)

You have to be sure to get the original Egg Beaters, though. They make a "with yolk" version now that strikes me an utter waste of time, money and effort. If you want the white and the yolk, just crack an egg!

And speaking of cracked, back to the right-wingers! (Sorry, it was too easy. Couldn't resist.)

1 banana, peeled, in chunks
1 egg serving Egg Beaters
1 cup milk
Splash O' Vanilla

Put in blender, whip until smooth. Serve with a dash of nutmeg on top, during Bugs Bunny Saturday morning cartoons, or, before scary audition.

I love Laurie's T-shirt.

And Laurie, I don't mean to harp on you, but I'd still really like to know why you deleted my second comment when you have let stand others saying pretty much the same thing---that you have the right to write whatever you want on your personal blog. If I've offended you, I wish you'd respond directly instead of just editing the discussion.

Heh heh. ;)

without color, there is no music:).

I agree

People must be held accountable for their actions and in actions. If the Government gives handouts to people and the people expect that handout when they fail then the country will eventually fail.

I think someone with great wisdom said “teach them how to fish" and they will not go hungry.
The problem with Pauline’s post/argument is that she is discounting personal accountability and advocating that government should step in to enable more poor behavior. Most often people experience problems because they make poor choices, are poor planners or feel sorry for themselves. So teach them to make better choices, to change: spending, saving or work habits. Only the individual can do that. They need to quit feelings sorry for themselves and expecting others to just give when they will not even try.

Taking from other “spreading the wealth” and giving to people who will not help themselves does not fix any problem. Again, if I give a man .50 cents of another man’s hard earned dollar it will only create animosity and not solve the problem. But if he is taught to make better choice, to live within his means and build on what he has, you will give him the means to earn his own dollar and no government can do that only you can.

I am surprised that people don’t understand the difference between compassion and socialism also. There is a difference between compassion and socialism. Compassion would be to provide moral support, encouragement, mentoring and teach so that one can move forward on their own. Socialism is where the government doesn’t allow individual ownership stifles initiative and it ensures that everything is metered by the government and spread equally to all there is no “HOPE” in such an arrangement and compassion has nothing to do with it.

here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyvqhdllXgU

What I am really interested in right now is the best technique to use to build and finally master the vibrato?

Thoughts?

I think some violinists ought to start retooling themselves for other careers. When the redistribution starts none of it will be redistributed to them at least not as musicians.

Tests of voters awareness of the issues are part of our racist past.

I prefer a method of voter screening inspired by our American revolution. "No representation without taxation".

Personal accountability and responsibility

Unfortunately, the rest of us are also stuck with consequences stemming from the bad decisions the uninformed voters made.

Your right there. How does that get fixed???? We can only hold people accountable for their actions and in actions not in a mean way but in the right way. The right way is not to enable bad or irrespnsible behavior i.e. handouts, bailouts, voting in poor legisators it does start with us.
Thanks for your comments

if i were rich, i won't mind the campaign slogan because i have the resources to dodge the taxes when the time comes.. who will be holding the bag eventually? the middle class.

if i were neither, i vote!

Indeed, my little post here has inspired many strange ideas! I'm not much swayed by people who voted for the Great George Bush, sorry guys. :)

Having a functioning government is extremely important, and I haven't seen that in eight years. In fact, the last eight years have been corrupt and incompetent beyond anything I could have imagined. If you don't see that, you aren't lookin'!

So yes, I'm for confident leadership at this point, and I see the Republican party as an abject failure, morally and practically speaking. You know who will get my vote. :)

Prepare to play, and then start thinking about what the next four years will be like and within minutes you’ll be shaking so bad your vibrato will be fantastic!

Sorry, I really couldn’t resist…my attempt at humor in the midst of a scary situation…

Just remember who controls the congress right now. That hasn't been a very successful group of servants either. I am out of here to get some violin talk.

It has been interesting

Robert, I'm here to tell you. Laurie still "has it." : )

Pauline - I loved and applaud your comments. I enjoyed others' contributions, as well. I actually prefer to hear both sides of an issue/discussion. Can't say I agree with everyone, but hey. And what I've learned most from this thread is not to post any personal blogs/comments on Wed, Nov 5th, like I'd been thinking I might do. : )

Terez, don't be too afraid. Just because people get loud and extreme does not mean that most people aren't sympathetic to a more reasonable view. No one has to argue to the bitter end for that to come through to the 100 + people reading for every one person posting. Though it's tempting.

To try to have the

LAST WORD!

the little hose is not going to do it, pal, it is an inferno! :)

Sometimes one does not know what to say - and it ca even become difficult to look at comments objectively because the objective comment can be read as an attack against a person, ideology, opinion, etc. ad nauseum.

Nevertheless - I have recently spoken to friends of mine who grew up under Communism and they have spoken quite forcefully about some of the ideas espoused by the Republican Party.

Regarding Laurie's shirt - it's a GREAT shirt, period, and while it may to some be reminiscent of subversive propaganda it must be said that many artists (including Willem deKooning and other members of the group of Abstract Expressionists called "Irascible Thirteen") were responsible for painting large murals in public spaces through the Works Progress Administration, the largest New Deal Agency. Of course, it feels somewhat ridiculous to remind very educated people why the New Deal came about and what it was, but since we're here - some could say that the New Deal was akin to Communism, but I'm sure that no one objected to the fact that during the New Deal years many Americans who had fallen victim to the financial and spiritual destruction inherent in the Great Depression were arguing about working.

Second - there is language here that can only be called reprehensible at best. While there has been abuse of government programs by many people, to say that the government should not bail folks out who have made bad choices speaks of incredible ignorance of the history of racism as bureaucratic initiative throughout the twentieth century. Granted, I too feel that part of any government-sponsored initiative should include an element of "aftercare" (i. e. , let us chart a person's progress and also "teach that person to fish" while having given a lifeline), but talk like that done by one of my colleagues here smacks of racism in disguise.

"but I'm sure that no one objected to the fact that during the New Deal years many Americans who had fallen victim to the financial and spiritual destruction inherent in the Great Depression were arguing about working."

That should read - "I'm sure that no one objects to the fact that during the New Deal years MANY Americans who had fallen victim to the financial and spiritual destruction of the Great Depression were working."

"With that, is it fair to say the government should 'not bail people out due to bad choices'? Are there not hundreds of thousands of Americans who have simply made the best choices that they could considering the facts at hand, and that those same people could have made mistakes, or simply found themselves affected by large forces out of individual control?"

Race is not an issue. Although some may want to make race an issue in my view it is an immature conclustion.

Personal accountability or the lack of it is the issue .

To many Americans today want the government to fix their problems. Well the gov. can't. And there are segments of American Society that for some reason live in the past feeling sorry for themselves. I say use your energy towards moving forward you will be better off. However, if that is what one wants to do that's fine after all it is America.

It is the right of every American to hope but it takes work for that hope to become reality. I hope every day I can play my violin like Paganini but I can't so you all out there need to give me some of your hard earned talent so I can go on tour or better yet the webmaster needs to force you all to give me a year of talent from every registred member of this site. You know I started late in life because my parents were too poor to get me a violin and pay for lessons. Kind of silly if you ask me but like the webmaster that can’t do that neither can Gov fix things and as for Mr. Obama’s mantra of hope I wouldn’t be so sure it hope he’s offering.

So lets get back to practice

So if you just posted something to the site and it is not there anymore, well, that's what happened.

Going forward, if you see any bugs on the site in the next day or two, please let me know. Our ETA is Saturday for a new site design, with some new software support."

Eureka, Karin Lin! Laurie didn't erase your post-- Robert is the culprit!

I wonder how many of you have read Obama’s books. If you want to attack Obama or anyone for that matter and for the sake of your own integrity, at least get his positions straight.

For all I can see, this is really not about Obama vs McCain. It’s about reason vs. ignorance. It’s about having hearts vs.being small-minded. It’s about being self-reflective vs.being self-interested.

1. not going into a debate of dem/rep, obama/mc, just want to caution that promises are made to be broken, esp coming from a politician. sometimes history is a good indicator for the future, sometimes not. no elected officials have to anything they promised after election. as they say, a govt that can give you everything is also one that can take everything from you.

2. i have many black friends and also many white friends. since i am yellow, i will say this: without going into stereotyping, i know how the whites look at the blacks differently from looking at fellow whites. similarly, blacks look at whites differently as well (not necessarily the way laurie had experienced). it is as complicated as it is simple but it comes down to "us" vs "them". ignore that you are ignoring the obama phenom. many whites feel that when blacks cite racism, sometimes it is justified, often not.

2. during campaign everyone puts a label on someone else. it is not really redistribution of wealth, certainly not communism. what it is is a spin by both sides. if i hand out 500 dollars to someone else, i can live but that someone else's lot may not change at all. but, for the promise of 500 dollars, you may get a vote.

3. to many that i know, the 3 most crucial factors going into the voting booth will be race, race and race.

ps. i pretty much say whatever i feel, appropriate or not by others' standards, as you can pretty much tell on v.com. to preserve your own image, if you have to say something in response, watch yourself.

And this continues to be an entertaining thread.

For those of you steaming about it, folks, this is a personal blog. Don't come to the party in the bedroom if you want to stay in the living room, where the conversation continues to be PC, proper, and carefully moderated for content.

i did catch sam's question, in my paraphrase: is it fair that when "folks" make mistakes that the govt does not bail them out,,,and that somehow is related to racism???

bailout. racism. huh?

"it ca even become difficult to look at comments objectively because the objective comment can be read as an attack against a person, ideology, opinion, etc. ad nauseum."

couple things:

1. a person is a subject therefore whatever he processes after looking is subjective. objective is just a play on the word. even if i interpret that phrase literally, it is quite self rebutting if he says has problem looking at objective comments objectively.

2. while sam finds it difficult to read "attacks" against his believes, later in his post he related that he sided with his friends from communist countries their political ideation against a certain political party. i have no problem if one makes a stand on politics. it is just that it will be more "eloquent and elegant" to point fingers at others as well as self.

There is a musicality, a smoothness to his writing and style that pleases me. And I found the New Deal comments to be insightful and interesting.

But I like your comments too, Al. : )

but i must admit that when terez made the reference of bringing the party from the living room to the bedroom, i had flashbacks of whipcream, the dude and the hottie.

Besides so much achievement is subjective anyway. We should throw out best and be satisfied with good enough or even not quite good enough but what they hey... it doesn't matter anyway.

Of course when it doesn't matter anyway who will care about it enough to buy a ticket to hear it? How then will the grievance be redressed?

I undoubtedly offended a number of middle-aged, make-up-less pony-tail wearers as well with my overly-thorough description. In my defense, I would not have described myself that way unless I were middle-aged, not wearing make up, and wearing a ponytail.

a 20 yo black man is a 20 yo black man. whatever images we want to conjure up is our business and out of her control. the fact that it has provoked much reaction and emotion is a testiment of its brilliance.

in a sense, laurie put up a mirror and suggested to us all: look at yourself!

First - while I feel somewhat strange continuing, as this is not my blog here =), I have to thank Terez, Al, and E. Smith for their compliments, as well as for the many comments posted here that have proven, if I may, enlightening.

To Richard, regarding personal accountability and my reference to the deep wound called American racism: having read many books and essays as well as having been bombarded with "news" all of my life, I must say that it is not only unfair, but also incredibly ignorant of anyone to say that one cannot mention the darkness of prejudice and "other hatred" that (despite the Civil Rights Acts and other legislated mandates) still exists in our great "land of opportunity".

Oddly, I have a feeling that should many of us sit and speak candidly about the government being asked to "bail us out", I wonder if we would truly feel the same should the dichotomies of government assistance and how such assistance is viewed in light of other factors (those factors including the notions that many people have about others) was truly explored.

Being "who I am", of course, I do honestly have to say that when I hear certain words (as I'm sure that all of us are attuned to read code words) I have to question what's behind the words, and being somewhat knowledgeable in public policy, social policy, American History, and politics, I must - as we all must - be incredibly careful when speaking so as not to throw life and friendships into conflagrations.

THAT kind of thoughtfulness, my dear colleagues, is what results in true dialogue and understanding.

Furthermore (if I may adopt the "fire-and-be-damned-to-you" rhetoric of Malcolm X), anyone who can simply say that "race is not an issue" when the history books chronicle - quite thoroughly and candidly - the horrors of pre-Civil Rights Act dehumanization, the fearful and shortsighted internment of peoples of Japanese descent during World War II, the systematic and brutal removal of Native Americans (and what DOES "Native American" mean?) from their lands, and the subtle yet equally destructive concepts of superiority and inferiority that permeate "race relations" in both this country and others - as well as sit back while their ethnic peers are treated with subtle disdain and disrespect - is either incredibly optimistic or content to float down the river of Denial.

I'm really only posting because I'm curious if the blog comments will be archived at 100 like discussion board posts.

Edward Said

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