Thoughts From A Long Drive

Profound Thought #1

As I drove through the night on my way up here, I couldn't help but think of Robert Frost's poem, "Acquainted With The Night." Upon reflection, it occured to me that the poem was a pale representation of the real thing (please — try not to hate me if you love Frost; that's just my opinion and I've always thought there was something I wasn't getting about his poetry). Upon further reflection, it occured to me that the relationship between "Acquainted With The Night" and the genuine experience of a late night was roughly equivalent to the relationship between a National Park campground and true wilderness. Sort of gives you an inkling of the real deal, provides you with a gateway; but a far cry from the actual experience (yes, I realize the poem is an extended metaphor, comparing the dead of night with the dark side of life; I think the equivalence is valid in both cases).

Upon further reflection still (one has a lot of time to reflect, driving through Virginia in the middle of the night), it occured to me that another, identical equivalence is the relationship between organized religion and the divine.

Profound Thought #2

Being actively awake in the middle of the night puts one into a dreamlike state, much like the feeling of being "in the zone." Unlike the zone experience, however, the dreamlike state doesn't disappear under scrutiny, no matter how much one analyzes it.

See, I thought all that was seriously profound, so much so I felt compelled to scribble down some notes as I whizzed along I-81 at 73 mph in the middle of the night.

Music in my head:

• Robert Plant — "Big Log" (just popped into my head as I wrote this entry)
• Hi-Standard — "Pink Panther" (Best. Punk. Cover. Ever.)
• Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta — "You're the One That I Want"
• Scritti Politti — "Perfect Way"

Kicking Back

Could life possibly be any better?

Answer: Yes, but not much. I almost forgot to mention the swiss dark chocolate...

Posted by Me at 23:03 link

Arnie Wins Style Points

Don't get me wrong: I'm against the California recall, and if I lived in California, I'd vote against it, and throw my "insurance" vote to Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante. When I heard Schwarzenegger was running, my first thought was He'll fall flat on his ripped gluteals.

The more I read about him, though, the more I feel compelled to give the man his props. He works hard and he's a decent guy. As a bodybuilder, he was amazing, winning the Mr. Europe title, winning the Mr. Universe title five times and winning the Mr. Olympia title seven times. He became a millionaire by age 22 from investing his winnings in real estate and in his mail-order bodybuilding supply business.

The documentary Pumping Iron showed his human side, brought him wider fame and led to an acting career. When I saw the movie, I expected to see a bunch of dumb meatheads, but Schwarzenegger came off as a suprisingly intelligent, funny, likeable guy. I confess to having enjoyed a couple of his big action flicks, too. Granted, he's not a great actor, but he's a lot better than anyone thought he'd be. Along the way, he proved he's no dummy, earning university degrees in business and economics. In all these areas, hard work has paid off for him.

But what I'm really talking about here is the way he's handled the inevitable surfacing of his rowdy past. In 1977, he gave an interview to a notorious men's magazine, in which he detailed a lifestyle including drugs and promiscuous sex. Lots of promiscuous sex.

He said: "If a girl comes on strong and says, 'I really dig your body and I want to f*** the s*** out of you,' I just decide whether or not I like her.

"If I do take her home, I try to make sure I get just as much out of it as she does

[full story]

I don't support him for governor of California, but I have to admire someone who can take a full drink from the cup of life without feeling they have to be ashamed of it. How good could anyone be who's "lived their life to be a politician"? Life's short; we all have the right to enjoy it. Way to go, Arnold.

Posted by Me at 12:40 link

Doctor Dean is the Man

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 — Howard Dean has grabbed a commanding 21-point lead over rival John Kerry in the latest New Hampshire poll in which voters said they prefer a take-no-prisoners Democrat to one who could oust President Bush.

....

When asked whether it was more important to have a candidate willing to stand up for what they believe or a candidate who can win in November 2004, voters said they preferred the former by a 2-to-1 margin.

[full story]

Music In My Head

• Dead Kennedys — "I Fought The Law"
• The Main Ingredient — "Everybody Plays The Fool"
  (this has been on my answering machine for over three years now!)
• Apollo 100 — "Joy"
• Tito Puente — "Take Five" (live)
  (Yes, it is really the Dave Brubeck song, but Puente ditches the 5/4 tempo. The blistering groove and solos more than make up for the alteration)
• Simon & Garfunkel — "The Only Living Boy In New York"

Hello Mars!

Whatever happened to the Age of Aquarius, anyhow?

Check out this article to see when Mars will be closest to you. By the time most of you read this, though, it'll be too late. Bad me for not keeping you better informed. :-(

As for me, I'm not sure I'm going to get back up at 01:45 to check it out. Ah, I guess I have to do it! [sets alarm]

Update: I did get up to check it out. The dogs and I went for a walk, which they thought was a great idea. I wasn't sure exactly when Mars would be closest, so I kept my eyes fixed on it from 01:45 until 02:05.

Maybe it was just because I got up and walked around in the middle of the night, but it was a moving experience. Even with the streetlights and other light pollution, Mars was bright and beautiful. It outshined everything else in the sky. Cool!
[posted by Bud at 09:30 Wednesday]

Sorry, Ted — Peace is Still the Answer

Terrorist acts aren't heroic, they aren't noble and they aren't patriotic — terrorist acts are criminal. Killing civilians for political reasons is a crime against humanity. Have we learned nothing from Northern Ireland, from Israel/Palestine, or from India/Pakistan? Violence begets more violence, which begets still more violence. Violence solves no problems; it creates worse problems.

In war, taking the high ground is vital to success. Nonviolence is the moral high ground. Active, peaceful resistance is heroic, noble and patriotic. Peace is the powerful conflict resolution strategy that works. Let's all resolve to solve our differences peacefully. That way, we'll all triumph.

Posted by Me at 20:42 link

Back to the Blue Ridge!

Oh well, it was great fun in some very misty mountains, good exercise and a good chance to catch up with Thom, whom I hadn't seen much of since January. We're hoping to get outdoors a little more regularly this fall. He told me about an amazing trip out West he and his wife just made: they visited Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Arches National Parks (and more) all in one trip. I'm a little envious. Does it show?

Maybe I should be afraid...

There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct or more uncertain in its success than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.
Niccolo Machiavelli The Prince 1532

Also — "...a new order of things??? I'm a little apprehensive about what the assignments may involve.

Posted by Me at 17:54 link

I'll Drink to That

Red wine may hold the secret of long life. Scientists have discovered an ingredient in the drink that extends the life- span of baker's yeast by up to 80 per cent.

Laboratory experiments show the molecule also has an effect on human cells, making them much more resilient to radiation. The research raises the possibility of developing drugs that lengthen life and prevent the diseases of old age.

The molecule, resveratrol, belongs to a well-known group of plant compounds found in red wine, fruit and vegetables and olive oil. These polyphenols are famed for their antioxidant properties and the new research indicates that some seem to activate a family of enzymes, sirtuins, known to extend the lifespan of yeast and laboratory worms living on a restricted calorie intake.

[full story]

According to "The Oxford Companion to Wine," pinot noir tends to have high levels of the chemical, cabernet sauvignon lower levels. "Wines produced in cooler regions or areas with greater disease pressure such as Burgundy and New York often have more resveratrol," the book says, whereas wines from drier climates like California or Australia have less.

....

Despite the years of testing that will be needed to prove that resveratrol has any effect in people, many of the scientists involved in the research have already started drinking red wine. "One glass of red wine a day is a good recommendation. That's what I do now," Dr. [David A.] Sinclair said. Resveratrol, he said, is unstable on exposure to the air and "goes off within a day of popping the cork."

To your health....

[drinks]

Is America Waking Up?

The majority of American voters would not like to see President Bush re-elected to another term according to a poll by Newsweek magazine.

The survey released Saturday showed that 49 percent of registered voters would not back the president for a second term if the vote were held now. Forty-four percent would support Mr. Bush's re-election.

The poll marked the first time in a Newsweek survey that supporters of Mr. Bush were out-numbered by those who would not like to see him back remain in office. In April, 52 percent of voters backed the president for a second term, while 38 percent did not.

The Newsweek report attributed the decline in the president's popularity to public disenchantment over the Iraq war. The poll found 69 percent of respondents said they were concerned that the United States will be bogged down for many years in Iraq without achieving its goals there.

[full story]

As Mr. Bush tries to enjoy a month-long vacation, Howard Dean continues slamming Bush's policies — and proposing intelligent alternatives — on his whirlwind tour of the U.S.. Dubbed the "Sleepless in America" tour, it's the good doctor's way of getting right up in the President's face.

I'll drink to that, too.

Posted by Me at 22:38 link