Maybe Kerry Could Win
I predict that Bush will win in November (as everybody else does) unless all of the following occur:
1. Teresa Heinz Kerry remains silent for the rest of the campaign season.
2. The Iraqi Prime Minister is assasinated.
3. The Afghani Prime Minister is assasinated.
4. Oil goes over and remains over $50 a barrel.
5. Jeb Bush's approval rating tanks.
6. Florida African Americans engage in a concerted get-out-the-vote effort.
7. American casualties in Iraq become unbearable to the American people.
8. Kerry is the unaninimous winner of all debates.
9. Israel does something about Iranian nukes. (this one could go either way).
10. Edwards can convince Ohio housewives that they have a shot at him.
Movie Review
I just saw the movie, City of God, last night. If you haven't seen it, it's a movie about kids living in a slum just outside of Rio. The story is about the thugs that run the slum, the drugs they deal, their robberies, murders, alliances and wars. It's a tough movie that ended up reminding me a little of Lord of the Flies in that the children, left to their own devices, turn into savages. The movie's key element tends to be a murder, typically a indescriminant pistol shot over such trivalities as annoyances, robberies and territorial disputes. There are so many murders in fact that I lost count about midway through. As I watched this movie some of the murders disturbed me, others had no effect and were minor plot pieces. If killing were not so shocking to us humans, I doubt this movie would have any appeal. In fact the children involved in this "true story" probably don't view killing the same way most of us do. To them this story would be uninteresting. Which I think is an interesting point and a point that the movie makes. There is one character who goes over to the dark side of thuggery, Knockout Ned. Ned at first requires that none of his fellow thugs kill innocent people. When a guard pulls a gun on Ned that guard is shot and it is stated that there is an exception to every rule. The exception on subsequent heists then becomes the rule and the thugs are impervious to feeling remorse for killing. We see the world through their eyes. The killing becomes commonplace, almost dull. Did the consequences of killing become less impactful? No, but the sentiment around it did. And if one runs their life by how they feel in relation to something they run the risk of commiting errors that have ramifications for all involved.
Howie Hardbore
What did he just say?
Thanks for nothing Lowbar!
The great thing about Lowbar for me is that as soon as I post something that is serious, I often will regret that I did so. I regret because the moment has passed and my feelings on an issue have changed, or the issue itself has changed or I have forgotten what it was I was steamed about. For example, I have completely forgotten what I wrote about last time, only that it had something to do with Republicans. Therefore it doesn't matter. It is only the clutching to an idea that is the mistake. I am no more/less a Republican than I am a Democrat or Libertarian or Mexican or Raiders fan. None of it matters. This post doesn't matter either. It is written and then read and forgotten. It will evoke a feeling in the reader such as utter confusion or there will be no response at all. It doesn't matter. Some posts (not from me) are humorous, some are informative. Some are innane, others are just ignored. It doesn't matter. I could get all heated and rant about this or that. That rant may provoke others to write about what I just said. And none of that would matter. It doesn't matter what I do for a living, what religion I espouse, what nation I go to war for, what I eat for dinner, if I like Coke or Pepsi, if I have genital warts or can't ride a bike. Others will argue that these things do matter. Why? Is it because if one says that they don't matter, then that person is cracking the fragile shell that keeps society intact? Possibly, but that doesn't matter either. What does matter? Nothing (I guess).
Mr. Reynolds, this is how I see you
