http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd01FObU3Q4
City of Blinding Lights by U2
The political spectacle last night in Denver was impressive to watch. The spectacle I am talking about was Barack Obama's acceptance speech at the Democratic Party convention. There were 80,000 people at the football field in Denver and it wasn't to see the Bronco's play. Considering the buzz, hype and enthusiasm around Obama it is surprising that he and McCain are so close in the polls. Though not being American or living in America, it is tough to really understand the dynamic. Today, McCain chose Sarah Palin as his vice presidential nominee. Sarah Palin?? I am sure lots of people throughout the world and even in America were doing the same. Palin is the current Governor of Alaska but is relatively inexperienced on the national scene. This move is a bit hypocritical of McCain considering he has been attacking Obama over his lack of experience. As a response to that Obama chose Biden as his VP nominee, a man with a lot of experience. Now what we have is an experience Senator running for President with an inexperienced Governor as his running mate against an inexperienced Senator with an experienced Senator as his running mate. Personally I would like to see Obama in the White House because McCain is a Republican and can't completely escape Bush policies. Most of which he has supported. Though I must say choosing a woman as his VP was a brilliant choice considering how vocal and discouraged Hillary Clinton supporters have been. Now there is a woman on the ballot and it might be enough to get them to switch parties. Intriguing stuff and it should be fascinating to watch unfold.
It is looking more and more like Stephen Harper is going to dissolve Canada's parliament and call for an election October 14. I think he is running scared and with his values very similar to the Republicans in the States, he is worried about what a Democratic government will bring for Canada. More importantly he is worried what message of change will filter north from the U.S. election, so this is a preemptive strike. Hopefully it backfires and the Liberals gain control again. Even if it isn't a majority, perhaps a Liberal-NDP alliance could be enough to save this country.
Well that is enough politics. The following is from Beloved by Toni Morrison, a story set shortly after the U.S. Civil War. The passage follows a conversation between a couple of blacks regarding what the whites have done for them.
"Don't box with me. There's more of us they drowned than there is all of them ever lived from the start of time. Lay down your sword. This ain't a battle; it's a rout."
Well perhaps with a black man as President, the battle will finally be over and all the racial weapons dulled.
I wrote the following today.
Every Moment Escapes In Houdini Style
My expectations are lacklustre
About finding love or its potential
This summer has left me sick
With no memories for winter
A time of unbelievable quiet
Even for someone who likes silence
The light will fade and reflect
When snow arrives and piles up
I remember a day in early December
There had been nothing like it before
More snow than could be measured
With an extended hand or a planted foot
We took pictures and walked about
The scene belonged in a romantic movie
I realized on the following morning
My life seems like an after thought
Every moment escapes in Houdini style
Though my heart lacks any flashy fashion
Each beat follows another without skipping
A stone has more of a exciting life than me
Someone will collect it and keep it safe
Out of the ever changing weather and into a box
One carefully placed in the bottom of a closet
There is no place safer in the world
Especially for a fragile boy in a man’s body
Time has done something strange to me
I wonder what will transpire in the future
Should my heart remain uninspiring and uninspired
How many absent summers can it endure
Before lacklustre turns completely lifeless
With no hope for winter and its quietness
There are no pleas because silence is special
Eventually time will undo what it has done
Should it be what my random fate requires
Anyway I have not been looking for beauty
Now is not the right time or right place
My skin and bones tell me this much
There is yearning and there is the truth of it
I believe in my instincts and their caution
Being right is a real possibility for once
Should all the colours of autumn fall correctly
Given enough days with fading light
The leaves always change like our fortunes
Hopefully for the better and longer.
08/29/08
The following clips are from Counting Crows performance at the O2 Festival in Hyde Park London earlier this summer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm_0PdrnUm0
Good Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb__16I4RcM
Mr. Jones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8PeMLLwDzQ
Blues Run The Game
Enjoy your long weekend and I know it is hard to believe it is Labour Day already. But it is and time has passed as it usually does, our perception of it is all that ever changes.
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