Joseph Goebbels was Adolf Hitler’s minister of propaganda and successor.  He is attributed with the saying that, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”

Without a doubt, history repeats itself.  However, sometimes there is a different outcome.  Enter OJ Simpson.  He'll now be spending some time in a room with a toilet.  But this time around, there wasn't as much fanfair and media circus as back in '95.  Remember the white Bronco being chased down a California highway?  Kato Kailin, Judge Ito, Marcia Clark, Mark Furman, and the incomparable Johnnie Cochran.  I can't believe I remember all these names, but that shows you how in your face the whole murder trial was.  This trial didn't really have any of that.  I guess collectively we've had enough of OJ.  I've never met anyone who thought he was innocent of murder, but they're probably out there.  But now for sure he's been convicted of robbery, burglary, kidnapping, coercion, and conspiracy all with a firearm or deadly weapon.  I tried to think of a witty "Naked Gun" line, but couldn't.  Well, this video is interesting:

Its a well known fact that the 1987 movie 'Predator' is perhaps the greatest movie in the history of movies featuring a mandibled alien from outer space that enjoys hunting exotic species around the universe, and decides to come to earth and hunt U.S. commandos in an undetermined Central-American jungle as they execute covert operations against terrorists.  It also had one of the best casts ever.  I was watching Predator on cable last week, and I remembered that two of the cast members went on to serve in gubernatorial positions.  Arnold Schwarzenegger is of course Governor of California.  (Its also really fun to do impressions of Arnold, so go ahead and try right now...)

Predator is vintage Arnold.  As "Dutch" in the movie, he gives us timelessly intricate dialouge such as, "If it bleeds, we can kill it", and "You're one ugly m***** ******." 

The other gov was Jesse Ventura who plays "Blaine" in the movie, and served Minnesota from 1999-2003.  Weilding a massive gatling-gun, "The Body" delivered the classic line, "I ain't got time to bleed."  One of the only problems I had with the movie was that Ventura's character gets his guts sauderized too early on in the action.

So I was thinking that the other members of the cast of Predator should run for office.  Bill Duke ("Mac") should run in Texas.  He'd be good for them.  But best of all, is Carl aka "Dillon" aka "Apollo Creed" Weathers.  Talk about a talent.  When gubernatorial elections come up in Ohio again, I'm going to lead the push to put Carl in Columbus.  And from there, onto the White House!!!  Who could possibly run against him?

oligarchy-–noun, plural -chies.

1.	a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.

2.	a state or organization so ruled.

3.	the persons or class so ruling.

I feel like I need to take a hot shower after I write a blog about politics, but I had to get my two cents in anyway.  The "change we can believe in" will apparently not come from Obama's recent appointments to government positions.  Paul Volcker is being tapped to help with the economy.  Volcker was head of the Federal Reserve from 1979 to 1987 in the Carter and Reagan administrations.  Obama has also decided that he likes the way we are using our military around the world (and in Iraq) so he is keeping Robert Gates (Bush's Secretary of Defense).  Sure these are just a couple examples, but there are many other re-treads including: Tom Daschle, Rahm Emanuel, Hillary Clinton, Eric Holder, and don't be surprised if John Kerry and Bill Richardson get to wet their beaks a little in the new admin.

Whats my point, you may ask?  After all Bush's cabinet and VP were all Bush I and Reagan retreads even some Ford and Nixon.  We've had a Bush or Clinton somewhere in the White House halls of power for as long as I've been alive (28) and counting.  Does that make you feel good about our "democracy"?

I guess my point is that I used to buy into the Republicans vs Democrats as if there were real differences between the two.  But R vs D is just Ohio State vs Michigan, Yankees vs Red Sox, Duke vs North Carolina, Mount Saint Joseph vs...?   Those who love their side, love it and hate the other side.  The two parties keep people rooting for "their side", and voting "their people" into power.  This happens at the expense of real discussion of issues and a view of the big picture.  And its much easier to hate a donkey or an elephant, and cheer for the color blue or red.

I'm for real change we can believe in.  How about repealing the Federal Reserve Act, and moving to sound money that is backed by gold?  Here you go:

Well, here we are.  Another week, another jumbled mess of stuff to sort through.  Important news just surfacing:  Jennifer Aniston calls Angelina Jolie "uncool".  I hope we get a response from Jolie soon.  I know I can't wait to hear a reply.  And in political news:  Bush and Obama.  They met.  What did they talk about?  What did they wear?  What does their body-language mean?  Most important of all:  When and where will Barack Obama get his new puppy from?  These are the questions which confront us as a nation.  I just hope we find answers soon, before we have to start paying attention to boring issues like government control of banks, the massive inflation of our currency, or the expotential growth of federal agencies that meddle in our personal lives.

What is today?  Wednesday.   For me, when it starts raining and the sky turns grey, it seems as if everything takes on a whole different mood.  It gets darker earlier, and the days get a bit more grim.  The prospect of reports, projects, and exams are on the horizon for us students, and there doesn't seem to be too much to look foward to.  Thanksgiving break just can't seem to get here soon enough.

Amongst this whole process, I start to reflect on my own situation in life.  Am I where I should be?  Is where I belong right?  What is wrong or right?  Unfortunately, I don't think many people (myself included) take full advantage of where they are in life.  Or don't say what they want to say, or act when they have the urge to do so.  Sometimes it is a slow process; to learn new things, to unlearn others, and to break old habits.  Questioning life can leave you dizzy, and it can waste time.  And you only live once...

I then made my way over to Midland Plaza where the competition was to take place.  I got there early and did some filming.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qUVwbZfrVM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmh5sAgtZ_I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfetx1Aatgs

Upon hearing the news, I headed for the car.

CHANGE.  It happens.  Its inevitable.  (cliche, cliche, cliche...).  Generally, change has a positive connotation.  Change is seen as an improvement, unless it is specifically associated with something undesirable.  For me, one of the biggest changes in my life was switching my wallet from the right butt pocket, to the left butt pocket.  I'm serious.  My whole life I kept my wallet in the right pocket.  I got used to the way it felt whenever I sat down, or whenever I reached for it.  Then one day, I was driving along and I noticed that my leg and lower back were uncomfortable.  The more I noticed it, the more I realized that the wallet could be causing the pain, or at least made me sit in an uncomfortable position.  So, I decided that it was time to change.  The wallet is now on the left-butt pocket.

Besides the location of my wallet, "change" is a concept that has been applied to the campaign of one of the Presidential candidates.  It is the current buzz word politically.  So, a few days ago I was leaving a local establishment, and I picked up a free copy of City Beat weekly magazine.  I began to read the various articles, and this being election time there were many endorsements, opinions, and other fodder.  Specifically, I started reading an article about how the Obama campaign is targeting so-called "red counties", or those areas with traditionally Republican leaning constituencies.  I was then struck by a quote from a Liberty township resident and volunteer for Obama:

 “I don’t like the Iraq War, think our foreign policy’s been wrong for years and we’re hated all over the world. And I’m disgusted with the Republican Party’s right-wing philosophy. So I decided if they (the Democrats) are worth my vote they’re worth working for.”

What I had a real problem with was the perception that the Democrats are the party of peace and love.  To be clear, I'm not a fan of war either or our foreign policies over the last 100 years or so.  To think that Obama will change our foreign policy is a little bit true.  He wants to draw down troops in Iraq, and keep a smaller force there for the near future, (but also says if killing starts up again we'll have to rush back in).  However, he is also willing to invade Pakistan if needed, and continue war in Afgahnistan.  Perhaps even commit troops to Sudan?  Iran? 

Whenever there is a general misunderstanding and lack of knowledge about history, I think its good to go back and take a look.  Time for a little section I call "Wars of the 20th Century-And the Democrats who started them"

World War I, and intervention in Russian Civil War- Woodrow Wilson

World War II- Roosevelt, Truman

Vietnam War-Kennedy, Johnson

Kosovo War, and Somalia Conflict- Clinton

Its insane to think that if Obama gets elected there will be no wars and everyone in the world will love us.  Its even more insane to act as if Republican wars are bad, but Democrat wars are good.  The previous quote also mentions the "right-wing philosophy".  This administration is anything but right-wing.  Bush will leave office with the biggest federal government budget expansion since FDR.  I doubt Obama will do much to alter that, and will in fact grow the government.  Maybe even invade a country or two?  So, what we are left with is an Oligarchy.

The French have a saying: "Plus ce change, plus c'est la même chose" --  The more that things change, the more they stay the same.

The moral of this blog: You can move your wallet from right to left, but there's still no money in it.

It was only a matter of time.  Indeed, I knew the time had arrived.  That singular momentous momentum, that serendated and serendipidously split in the precious paralax instead and yet to submerge to the instant that moving time was so glorifiyingly blessed, the fragile spec of a membrance was multi-intelligable by all possible grievous sentiment or subjugation.  So, I reached for my D.H. Lawrence.

Superfluous, you ask?  Indeed.  So for example, this is the referent:

 Now the musical experience:

chronojam.mp3 (3.02 mb)

Thank you very mucho.  And now, the DHL: "Tell me a word, that you've often heard, yet it makes you squint, if you see it in print!"  I could create an argument where this quote could in fact perhaps be related in some way.  But, remember, a blog is a blog is a blog is a blog.  have fun

I think I've officially hit the mid-semester funk.  Look, I'm even typing in Times New Roman.  Ugh.  The funny thing is, I havent even started my grad classes yet.  They don't start till next week, which is good because they are short (one night a week for about 7 weeks).  I do have an undergrad class right now to satisfy my licensure requirements.  It’s not a bad class at all, but personally, taking undergrad classes right now is like an orthodontic procedure.  Necessary, but somewhat painful. 

To break a mild spell of blogger’s block, I sometimes look to Cincinnati’s sports teams to provide some topics of interest.  However, I don’t want to trigger my gag reflex, so I’ll just reminisce of the last time the Bengals were in the Super Bowl.  It was a different time back then.  I was nine-years-old.  Bush was in the White House.  (Well maybe not too different).  I remember sitting in the living room watching the orange and black take on Joe Montana and the ‘Niners.  I remember the excitement of all the adults around me.  I became a Bengals fan that night.  Now, nearly twenty years later, I wonder about Cincinnati’s young sports fans.  What will their memories involve?  Maybe an 0-16 season this year?  Ugh. 

In restaurant news, there’s a nice sports-bar not too far from the Mount that I enjoy.  J-Taps Bar & Grill is located on 6441 Glenway Ave.  This place has it all.  Greek owned, the menu features great food including the classic Gyro.  It won’t leave you hungry for sure.  There are great specials, and lots of TV’s which make it a good place to watch a game.  Also, they have free Wi-Fi!!!  The crowd is pretty mixed.  Early on you’ll see businessmen taking advantage of happy hour, and families stuffing their mouths.  For all you Mount students, hit up College night on Thursday ($1 drafts).  Plus the staff is cool.  They also have Keno, so if you’re into the “Crack-Cocaine of gambling” they can accommodate your contributions to education through the Ohio lottery  ;) Well, that about does it from me.  I leave you with this: