Ceci n’est pas une blog

Some kind of record, maybe.

As Southern California was burning yesterday and the sky was covered in a thick grey-orange blanket, I spent the day at Disneyland reliving a 1980 trip to Orlando with an old friend who was in town from Boston. We met and adventured with Alex (famous inventor of illustrated iChat) who happened to be there on a family vacation. We closed the park at midnight and then headed to hotel zone for a couple beers. By the time we got to the parking structure at 3:00am, this is how it looked. The small grey bump in the distance is my lone Audi waiting for it's owner. I am quite certain I have never seen this much negative space on any day, at anytime, in any part of the House of Mouse.

Make it stop!

Found myself emailing the following to my friend, Darryl tonight. 

Is there something someone can do to stop Sarah Palin from laying the foundation for a future political career of national significance? There's talk of her succeeding Ted Stevens and becoming the new GOP party leader. I don't know whether to be horrified or relieved that that's the best they can come up with. Is she a real threat? Hopefully we can bask in the glory of 8 Obama years and he will be able to turn this mess of a country around enough to preclude the possibility of an American First Dude. What a supreme embarrassment that would be, huh?

He assured me that she will be a force to be reckoned with to some extent. I am afraid he is right. 

You all know I have serious issues with the Bush administration and I have clearly spent far too many hours ranting about Sarah Palin and what her selection said about the McCain campaign. And there's that thing I have about never having slept with a Republican (an ordinance not likely to be repealed). However, I would welcome a healthy debate. An intelligent dialogue about the finer points of constitutional law and it's relevance in the increasingly fractured social structure of the  21st century. A well-reasoned argument about how best to handle our responsibilities to both the citizens of our country, the world and the planet we inhabit. 

What we consistently get from the new millennium Republicans are caricatures dispensing circuitous jargon based on insular agenda and the radical Right evangelicals’ misguided mission that seems to have a permanent chokehold on the party. Give me a Republican who clearly sees that the "real America" is found everywhere — not just in rural, white, Christian, conservative parts, but in Harlem and East LA and in the Castro District. A man or woman who we would be proud to present to the rest of the world as our representative.

It's the lack of decorum and statesmanship that is most insidious. It is nice to imagine that the next century will bring a liberal dynasty in which equal rights pervade, our citizens are cared for and fed and we are in good standing in the global community. But if this is indeed a fantasy, let's all hope that the GOP takes advantage of their opportunity to reinvent themselves and comes up with a better offering than Sarah Palin.

Tectonic Plates are Shifting

Little time to write this morning. I am reading a smattering of news from across the world. I am intrigued and tickled by Carla Bruni's cricitcism of Brulesconi as reported by the London Times. I can't decide if she is just naïve and about to get a spanking from her husband, or has incredibly big balls. Maybe it's a little of both.  

The thing I came across that's stretching my cranium this morning is a commentary posted on CNN.com by former senator Bill Frist, who was undeniably a major participant in the supreme arrogance displayed by the Republican party in the last 8 years. It seems as though he has been humbled by the recent election and has chosen to speak out about it. I am skeptical — as I always am when I actually agree with a Repbulican — but his words seem genuine and I am happy to read them. A shout out to his Princeton students who seem to have schooled their teacher.

Bill Frist’s CNN.com Commentary

Get the Nak

Once again, Aden Nak rants perfectly on some fundamental issues with the American government as it stands today. He articulates something which has been bugging me for 8 years about the Bush administration. In my mind, it has to do with a certain arrogance — like a parent saying, "because I said so." The Valerie Plame episode is a prime example of Bush & Co. behaving as if they are above the law, answering solely to themselves and each other. Somehow they seem to have gotten away with so much on this premise. And sacrificed the health of our nation and our good standing in the world community. With a little history lesson and a lot of outrage, Nak brings it into focus. 

Laws, Not Men  (from ph33r and loathing by Aden Nak)

Make sure to read the comments for clarity on his facts.

IT WILL BE FINE

Today, I was IMing with my friend, Alex (Relevant History), as I often do. He was trying to comfort me, as he often does. I was coming unglued anticipating what tomorrow will bring. And he chatted this pic.

As the conversation went on, he began to contribute with pics, creating what I now call "Illustrated iChat". Love that!

This is a visual LOL.

And this is OMFG - duh.

The Legacy of a Revolution

On the eve of the 2008 Presidential Election, I am struck by the magnitude of what has occurred over the last year. I dare say that if for no other reason (and of course there are plenty) than the way he has run his campaign, Barack Obama deserves to be president. 

From the moment he announced his candidacy, he has rolled out a comprehensive and inclusive program in which millions of people were touched, moved, inspired and changed. This could only be conceived of, organized, administrated and accomplished by someone who not only understands the people he is asking to represent, but who understands how, when and where to speak to them. I am a diehard Clinton fan. I was thrilled and inspired by his candidacy and then 8 years of his presidency. But this is something different. Times have changed and Obama is right there — relevant, accessible and connected. 

As an art director who specializes in identity and strategic brand development and implementation, I have a deep appreciation of the Obama brand, if you will. Starting with the man, his convictions, his policies, his family, his credentials and moving to his speeches, his voice, his logo, his slogan, his Web site, his eblasts, his texts, his iPhone app, there is a seamless, rock-solid message. This consistent and persistent expression of his vision is powerful and reflects his authenticity and clarity of purpose. Of course it is the content of the message that ultimately I am voting for, but the delivery of the message is really his legacy. It is Obama who has changed the way we do politics in this country forever. After witnessing what he and his team have created in the course of his campaign, we can feel confident in his ability to lead our country. In fact, it would be a privilege to finally be in his capable hands.

About to post this, I came across a piece in today's New York Times by Adam Nagourney. Apparently I am not alone in my thoughts. 

Sea of Change in Politics After Race for President 

Swing to the Left

Michael Tomasky in the Guardian asserts that liberals can stop worrying about the GOP's attempts to swing the swing vote to McCain for 3 reasons:

1. The quick and strategic response to each attack by the Obama campaign

2. The priority people place on the economic crisis

3. Trust and the perception of liberal v. conservative

It's succinct and excellent. I want to believe he's right.

Liberal paranoiacs, breathe easy: the swift-boating of Obama isn't working

Hi Ohio

From The Nation - posted by Ari Melber, Oct. 30, 2008:

Totally Awesome Obama Ohio Video Hits YouTube

You know this whole thing could still come down to Ohio.

The presidential race was so close last time, in fact, that the margin averaged out to just nine votes per precinct across the Buckeye state. That's one of the motivating points in a new GOTV video on YouTube, which Obama's aides uploaded on Thursday night, appealing for more volunteers in the homestretch.

The feature starts with footage from Obama's recent address to a statewide meeting for organizers, and then dashes through images of Ohio scenery and hard-working volunteers. Like other Obama GOTV messages, the video closes by pressing supporters to remember that victory would be enthralling, but defeat is always possible. In other words, Don't Let Up.

Same Species?

Oliver playing with his new trucks on the floor of the foyer at Abercrombie and Fitch.

It's Obama, for shizz.