Archives for May 2004

May 27, 2004

Righteous Fire

I've been meaning to write down my thoughts on the Iraq debacle (Iraqcle?), but Al Gore beat me to it. I hope, when all is said and done, this goes down as one of the most famous speeches in American history.

That said, I hate to quibble...but AL, WHERE WAS THIS FIRE FOUR YEARS AGO????

I'd print the speech out if I were you. If the worst-case scenario happens, Al Gore may very well wind up playing the role of Emmanuel Goldstein and it would be nice to have a copy in physical form.

May 21, 2004

Worst President Since _______

Bush is the worst pResident since....who? Greg at The Talent Show investigates.

Choke

First, the good. I went to see my sister graduate from college today. She's on a roll - just got her degree, already has a great job, and will continue to do freelance writing for Bust Magazine, where she interned last semester. So that's all awesome. She's awesome.

But we all know you're here to read about how pathetic I can be when I put my mind to it. Confession's good for the soul, right? I'll tell you now, so you can make fun of me all you want (my roommate's already started).

Yes, today I was ten feet away from one of my five favorite people on the planet, and my avowed personal hero. Did I go up to him? Did I thank him for being out there, doing what he's doing and keeping the bad people riled up? Did I congratulate him and wish him success with his new film?

I did not.

I gawked for a few seconds. I tried thinking of something to say. The moment passed. He went off to spend time with his newly-graduated daughter. I sulked. Make fun of me now.

May 17, 2004

We're Still Here

In case you wondered, Massachusetts hasn't been struck by violent earthquakes, or thunderstorms, or plagues of frogs today. I guess that means God's pretty cool with gay marriage. Good for Him.

Hilary and Cathy got their license today and are hitchin' up on Monday. I wish I could go, but they're keeping everything low-key. But congratulations from the whole BunkoSquad family to two awesome people.

Meanwhile, I just saw on Fox25 that Governor Mitt spent the day hiding from cameras and reporters, for the first time ever. Maybe he was trying to keep the national Republican Party from throwing him overboard after allowing this to happen on his watch. Maybe he was unearthing a 1675 law that he thought might pertain to the situation. Wherever he was, we don't mind if he stays there a while.

Elsewhere, Mom reports that my sleepy little sub-suburban hometown, 40 miles west of Boston, gave out 12 marriage licenses today.

And finally, from the lunatic fringe, a man who owes his job to "activist judges" confirmed today that he's willing to screw around with the United States Constitution, just because it makes him sick to see these people so happy. Telling.

History

City Hall. Midnight. May 17. One step closer to a better world.

It struck me that for all the wrangling and arguing and lawyering that led to this day, there was but one emotion in the crowd - love. Couples were going inside to show their love. Thousands of friends and neighbors and wishers-well were gathered outside to show their love.

Politics were at a minimum, protests nonexistent (yes, a small pathetic cluster of Fred Phelps drones were there, but they were outnumbered by their police escorts).

It was an amazing experience. Congratulations to all.

May 16, 2004

When You're Hot, You're Hot

Two movie reviews in one week!

I Just Hope Kennedy's Not Involved

Sooz talked me into going out to see the phenomenally-underrated Lloyd Cole at the Paradise Lounge last night; it was an acoustic show in a tiny room that wasn't nearly full enough, and thus was one of the ten best concerts I've ever been to.

Since the show started really late, we also got to have a great conversation with two Emerson professors about life, music, the evil that is Clear Channel, etc. And towards the end of the night, we all came up with a thought that's equally fascinating and terrifying...

In 20 years, will there be an alternative-rock version of Branson?

The possibilities boggle the mind. Bjork and Morrissey and Weezer could all settle in to their own theaters. Beck could stop by and do a few weeks a year. Michael Stipe's BBQ-tofu joint. The Cure Waterslide Park. Middle-aging hipsters can head south for a week every winter (I'm assuming it would end up being somewhere near Athens or Austin) and watch the Red Hot Chili Peppers do three shows a night.

Like I said...fascinating but terrifying. Please leave any suggestions to further terrify me in the Comments.

May 12, 2004

Glenn

Yves' entry today hit me hard; I hadn't realized that it was three years ago today. Our former coworker and friend Glenn Bickford, a brilliant artist and total sweetheart, tortured by demons most of us can't even imagine, took his own life. At 27.

He had moved down to Florida for some reason; his roommate called me because I had somehow remained in his address book. I spent one of the most miserable days of my life traipsing all over town to break the horrible news to everyone, and trying to arrange a caravan up to Nashua for the wake. Just an awful time.

Glenn came in to HBS on Thanksgiving one year, when the store was closed, and spent all day hanging up Christmas decorations. Thankfully, that January, we forgot to take one snowflake down. Naturally, it's still there.

Wish you were still here, GB.

May 09, 2004

Dear Sweet God, He Did It

By which, of course, I mean made it to the end of Birth of a Nation. T'ain't pretty.

May 07, 2004

Knees and Stuff

I've told a couple of people that I think once you turn 30, the first thing to go is the knees. No kidding; they hurt like hell if I've been sitting down for a while.

But I guess the second thing to go is the muse. It's not like there's not stuff out there to write about -- the Red Sox (my Mom took me to see the new movie today, and it's GOOD), the end of Friends (just kidding), the perpetual outrage that comes with living in Bushian pre-Antebellum-II America -- but it's just not coming. So bear with me.

Maybe I'll even review Birth of a Nation to get me out of this funk. That'd be something, huh?