saturn return to sender

Marj writes,

Bush’s encouragement for us to go shopping after 9/11 brought us to the mirror, but we can’t see ourselves. Rich or poor, we are all pawns to the global economy. As egocentric as we are, we will never be as important as money. We are disposable. The economy must keep growing at the expense of rich and poor. We elect politicians who will ensure our misery.

“We will never be as important as money. We are disposable.” That pretty much captures the brand of cynicism I subscribe to. In the short term, the greed and small-mindedness of the elite stupid dominate.

But then there are occasional spots of light and I do think that over the long term, the dominating trend of life is towards … not “bigger,” per se, but more-encompassing. The ever-growing economy is a flatland version, a shadow, of the larger trend.

Even the ever-higher pile of steaming matter accumulating on the hearth of this administration—and hence this country—is bound to be eventually called for what it is by the good judgement of competent (or at least morally non-blank) people, and the seeming prescience of the framers of the US Constitution. “Shocking,” “absurd,” and “moronic” are Cheney’s flailing attempts to avoid “adult supervision,” according to the George Washington University Law Professor consulted by Olbermann in the clip linked to above. Amen to that.

My current phone plan is about $60/month. The basic iPhone plan is about $60/month and includes unlimited free data and lots more SMS messages than I currently get through Verizon. The upfront cost is about $600, which is about $25/month over the required 2-year contract. So are unlimited data and all the other features of iPhone (eg, also being an iPod, which I’d be buying soon anyway otherwise) worth $25/month? I have to say, I’m leaning towards yes.

DSCF0128.JPG,
originally uploaded by thetaaquarii.

Had the chance to hike Gray’s and Torrey’s peaks on Saturday and couldn’t turn it down. It was an absolutely perfect day, weather-wise.

Full photo set can be found here.

Also: I’ve finally set up a second, low-pressure, “lazy” flickr account. Point, shoot, upload, send out links to friends. Yay!

So, Dick Cheney is his own branch of government. Sometimes. Mostly. When it’s convenient.

“If it’s constitutional, then I’m a banana.”

“The Dick Branch of Government.”

“Vice President Dick Cheney is a rogue nation … leaving only one possible rememdy: invade him. In order to establish a free and democratic Dick Cheney.”

On the one hand, I appreciate that we can (and must) make fun of the idiocy of the leaders of the free world. On the other, I’m getting so tired of idiocy that is antagonistic and malevolent that I have trouble finding humor in this kind of thing anymore. I’d rather see genuine outrage and action.*

I yearn for the benign vacuity of Dan Quayle. I miss the bland malfeasance of Clinton’s affair and subsequent lie. I feel nostalgic for the days when there was the possibility of accidental global destruction at the hand of a president whose mind was failing. At least then it would have been accidental. These days, if our leaders are not actively courting the apocalypse, they are, at best, soulless. There can be no other explanation for how these people sleep at night as they dismantle everything that makes our culture and government valuable.