Freedom isn't Free
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Posted:Nov 9, 2007 1:16 pm
Last Updated:Mar 30, 2009 1:18 pm
6393 Views
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I know it sounds like a cliche but in a high speed Internet world where everything is downloaded, cappuccino is instant, food is fast, anything can be bought or sold on eBay and shipped out over twenty four hours via FedEx, instant messenger can link people half a world away-
there still requires a standing volunteer army of citizen soldiers who are even now risking life, limb, and limited opportunity to bake in an implacable desert sun while lugging 80 pounds of gear through sandstorms, hoping he isn't blown apart by a 12- year old carrying plastique around his waist or run over a landmine on the way to his next will-sapping assignment to engage an enemy he can't see while bureaucrats at home bicker about when he can come home despite the fact that he's served 3 tours of duty already and will spend who knows how long in an under-equipped, poorly funded VA hospital being treated for wounds, physical and mental, suffered in a war so unpopular that the media won't show images on it because it kills ratings.
This Monday, be sure to thank the veterans whose service made it possible for me to write this, you to read this, and everyone to agree or disagree about it- in English.
Thanks Grandpa, Poppy, Uncle Eddie, Uncle Bob, Ludwig Jr., Rudy H. and all the vets who I haven't met but owe a beer.
This one's for you.
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Rocl and Roll Hall of Shame REdux
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Posted:Nov 6, 2007 1:14 pm
Last Updated:Nov 7, 2007 1:41 pm
6202 Views
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All right, enough is enough!!! Have you seen the piss poor nominees for induction into the RNR HOF this year? It was bad enough that it took 7 years for Black Sabbath to get in and 5 years for Van Halen, but the frontrunners for this year's debacle-in-training are:
John Cougar MEllencamp
The Beastie Boys
Donna Summer (!!!!)
Chic (yes, the band that spawned the riff to "Rapper's Delight)
AND..............
MADONNA!!!!
WTF???!!!???
A second rate clone of the Boss, 3 dance/disco acts, and some whiteboy rappers are going in, and the list of rock bands that are eligible and COULD go in are:
HEART
Judas Priest
Deep Purple
Alice Cooper
Thin Lizzy
Genesis
Joan Jett
KISS
I'm not particular fans of any of those acts but each of them would certainly be a more sensible choice than MAdonna!!!
Jann Wenner must die a slow and painful death.
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Happy Halloween!!! (A day late)
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Posted:Nov 1, 2007 12:49 pm
Last Updated:Nov 7, 2007 1:40 pm
6353 Views
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Hope all of you ghosts and goblins, spooks and spirits, tramps and trolls, and other assorted things going bump in the night had fun on All Hallows Eve this year and avoided any smashed eggs, shaving cream, or other unpleasantness that might ruin your trick or treating!
I personally don't want to see chocolate for another year... 
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Just a quick thanks
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Posted:Oct 29, 2007 12:49 pm
Last Updated:Nov 7, 2007 6:49 pm
6373 Views
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For everyone who extended their well wishes and good vibes in light of my brother's illness, I want to take this time to show my gratitude for helping me through a difficult time. It really did have a postive effect and hopefully my hapless brother will be getting the treatment that he's been needing for the past, oh-20 years!
I can't tell everyone what it meant to know that you were out there thinking of my family and for that I am truly grateful. Big  from me and mine!
And to that little asshole from Sweden who thought it was funny-I hope you get gangrene on the tip of your penis and fail to get it treated in time. (Sorry, Buddha-compassion has its limits.)
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This time I stole one from Vixen...
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Posted:Oct 21, 2007 7:34 pm
Last Updated:Nov 16, 2009 12:49 pm
6472 Views
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But she got it from Bustybettyboop, so all's fair!
The Game is on!!! And you're it!!
Describe ME in one word... just one single word. TELL it to me and...
Then post this on your blog and see how many strange & interesting things they say about you. This is really fun.
Here's how to Play:
1. add a comment...describing me(only) one word.
2. Then put this on to your blog and see what people say about you when limited to one word!!!
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Joe Torre fires Steinbrenner
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Posted:Oct 19, 2007 1:50 pm
Last Updated:Oct 21, 2007 8:12 pm
6341 Views
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So the big news for Yankee fans is that manager Joe Torre has refused a 1-year contract extension involving a $2 million dollar pay cut with incentives only if he makes the World Series from Steinbrenner and his goons.
This is due to the Yankees failure to make the Series over the past 3 years.
So-anybody in the league looking for a manager with the following credentials:
12 straight post season appearances
6 ALCS championships
4 World Series rings
1998-set a record for regular season wins AND consecutive post-season wins
Accomplished all of this in the capital of all media cities
Did it while working for a guy who paid Carl Pavano $20 million dollars for roughly 2 games worth of work.
Take care, Joe. Thanks for the memories and restoring some class to an organization that was devoid of it throughout the 80's and showing future generations how to be a leader and a man at the same time.
(All you Yankee haters-see how you feel if Torre suddenly winds up managing YOUR team!)
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A prayer or two might help
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Posted:Oct 17, 2007 1:32 pm
Last Updated:Aug 18, 2016 8:53 pm
6454 Views
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So this weekend my ne'er-do-well brother decided that he wanted to end it all and popped a whole bottle of pills while downing it with vodka and let my mother find him and his note. Needless to say, I'm pissed off, my mom is heartbroken, and my dad is needlessly stressed out.
He has no job.
He can't go home so he's homeless.
He doesn't have insurance.
If he gets on Medicaid, then maybe he'll qualify for a program but considering his track record even that is iffy.
I'm not one to believe in the power of prayer but any positive mojo would be welcome right now.
Talk to you all soon.
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Monogamy
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Posted:Oct 12, 2007 12:57 pm
Last Updated:Mar 30, 2009 1:19 pm
6507 Views
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I was just reading Luv and Magic's blog entry on whether monogamy is natural or something imposed by society. While I understand the social benefits of monogamy(population control, emotional intimacy between partners, rearing) I'm thinking more and more lately that it really is constricting, especially if one considers that people are living longer and healthier nowadays.
Is it fair to expect your partner to fulfill your emotional, sexual, psychological, social, and domestic expectations in the 21st Century?
TXBitch and I have had some serious conversations about this because she (and RT, if I'm not mistaken) are firmly on the other side of the coin-that commitment is just that and both partners should be fully expected to do whatever is necessary to maximize the relationship so that it reaches its fullest potential. I have to admit that I doubt very much that this occurs in a good chunk of the relationships out there but does it mean that there's no middle ground?
I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on this. Luv and Magic, we've already discussed. 
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Melancholy and the Infinite sadness
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Posted:Oct 2, 2007 3:03 pm
Last Updated:Jul 2, 2009 11:42 am
6323 Views
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Maybe it's because I started teaching the seniors Hamlet today or maybe because it's the first day in a while where I had to wear long sleeves, but today I'm just moody and gloomy. This prompted me to look up a poem from Lord Byron, an excerpt of which I posted on Lady Willow's blog.
Here it is in its entirety:
She walks in Beauty
SHE walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that 's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow'd to that tender light 5
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair'd the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face; 10
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow, 15
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!
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A little zany today
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Posted:Sep 29, 2007 6:23 am
Last Updated:Oct 3, 2007 2:04 pm
6216 Views
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A haiku:
Dined with L. Carroll
He told me I was crazy
which seems a bad sign
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Marathon Man: RIP
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Posted:Sep 25, 2007 3:22 pm
Last Updated:Nov 16, 2009 12:50 pm
6369 Views
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Dimples told me the bad news last week that my blog buddy Marathon Man had passed away unexpectedly while I had been away and I've been considering how best to honor a genuinely sweet and funny man who is probably most responsible for me having all of my blog watchers. I didn't want to be maudlin or weepy but being a writer I wanted something poignant and heartfelt and I found it in this Emily Dickinson poem:
Because I could not stop for Death,
He kindly stopped for me;
The carriage held but just ourselves
And Immortality.
We slowly drove, he knew no haste,
And I had put away
My labor, and my leisure too,
For his civility.
We passed the school, where strove
At recess, in the ring;
We passed the fields of gazing grain,
We passed the setting sun.
Or rather, he passed us;
The dews grew quivering and chill,
For only gossamer my gown,
My tippet only tulle.
We paused before house that seemed
A swelling of the ground;
The roof was scarcely visible,
The cornice but a mound.
Since then 'tis centuries, and yet each
Feels shorter than the day
I first surmised the horses' heads
Were toward eternity.
"Good night, sweet prince,
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest." (Hamlet)
I think that about says it the way I wanted.
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Well, I'm back-sort of.
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Posted:Sep 19, 2007 6:50 pm
Last Updated:Sep 25, 2007 3:11 pm
6316 Views
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Hi to everyone in blogland! Sorry I've been away so long but since I came back from the cruise I've spent the last week of August preparing for the new school year. Just to give a quick summation of the past few weeks:
Cruise-Fun but too many . Maybe a different cruise line other than Carnival next time. Excursions a little pricey but Canada is mind blowing in its natural beauty. Actually LOST weight because I went to the gym every day on the ship and only ate during meal times!
School-Finally got my own room this year (yes!) which is a godsend. No freshmen, either! Onl sophomores and seniors. Plus, I got my film class back!!! 
Grad school-This entails a year long research course involving some kind of thesis based upon existing research on educational protocols. What does that mean? I don't know either. It's what I've come to expect from the American education system (hint: cash in your 401k now and take that long-awaited vacation b/c today won't be able to do the math to pay you back correctly in 25 years!)
Sorry I've been away so long-it appears I've lost some watchers but hopefully they'll swing by again.
Did I miss anything while I was gone?
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To link to this blog (Canice70) use [blog Canice70] in your messages.
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WTF? Will the real Yankees please stand up?
