Friday Thoughts

This is paradise in Mt. Rainier NP this morning, and that's 16 feet of snow. Ok, it's Good Friday. For the followers of this religious holiday, all the best to you and your loved ones this weekend. I'm a student of Taoism, so it's not that important to me. I prefer the wonders of the world, nature, and people.

So, what's new?

For one, lots of computer work this week. I'm back to where I was before except the computer is better, faster, more powerful, and so on. Ah, Apple Mac G5's, now with Leopard. Not bad, and better than a PC with Microsoft junk, or software to you PC's types.

Ok, onward to the news.

I haven't touched the Elliot Spitzer affair and events. My own comment is to the FBI, who's clients 1-8 and clients 10-onward, and why did you appear to focus so much on client 9, just one person you know is important and public? Politics maybe? Reading the stories, it's seems that way, destroying a high public official who just happens to be a Democrat. If he had been a Republican, would you have investigated that much and gone so public? Me thinks not.

Reading the news on the Russian oil affairs, it seems the big oil companies were taken for a ride by Vladimir Putin. He invited them into the oil industry for their investment, then took over the companies through proxies. Any bets in the future, the Russian government will eventually be the oil industry, just like under communism except now under Putin and friends? What's the difference between then and now? Nothing except they're far richer today.

Interesting stuff about our sneaky Vice President, you know the one we never know where his is and what he's doing, all in the name of security but more in the name of hiding from public scrutiny. It seems Bush and Cheney are trying to get agreements with Iraq for longterm commitments for US presence and support without going through Congress. You see, Cheney doesn't trust even telling Congress let alone getting their involvement.

What's going to hurt is the next President who has to completely undo what Cheney has done, so I'm not sure what he thinks he is doing, besides, making a mess and embarrassing the next President. And we know Bush loves Cheney for doing the dirty work he wants done. And in the face of public opinion, Cheney seems oblivious to reality and the truth, the American people don't want his involvement like this. Hence, hiding.

What's sad is Cheney still believes what he believed in 2001 when he wanted to go to war with Iraq, and that was before 9/11. He was one of the mastermnids behind the strategy and plan after the First Gulf War to invade and occupy Iraq. He can't seem to get his head out of his ass to see the real world. But it's funny that the Wall Street Journal now thinks he cool. Gee, Rupert Murdoch's influence as its owner now?

Anyway, I read David Mamet's column in the village Voice. And arriving at the end of it, I don't see much of a point except he had a moment of personal insight about the dfference between the Ideal we hold dear and the reality of the world. Gee, David, and you're a playwright who's supposed to have the pulse of the people?

David, where have you been all these years you wake up with a "Oh shit!" moment about your values? Sorry, being famous doesn't make you smart or wise, but only foolish to your own image. Get real.

Reading a recent WSJ editorial (Thursday) and New York Times editorial (Friday) about Iraq. Whew, totally different extremes. One saying the American people have it wrong and the other saying the White House has it wrong. Who is right or wrong? Neither and both. Huh?

The answer is that the pundits are wrong by simply standing there yelling at each other pretending to be right. They're not better than people standing on soapboxes on street corners about the evils in the world and way to salvation. The best thing to do is walk on and hope their words drown themselves in the noise of the crowd.

Ok, harsh. Yes. There's truth in both sides. The real answer always lies in between where reality meets people and the solutions are obvious no one has to say let alone explain them. But then that gets in the way of progress and people's personal and political agenda. It's easy to espouse a view that won't work, it's harder to find one that does.

If you want reality, listen to some good TexMex or Texas Blues music on a quiet sunny afternoon. I'm off for the weekend, so I'll catch you next week.