hello goodbye hello goodbye

I realize most futurists predict that the average life expectancy will increase due to improvements in health technology. However, I look at my generation. I just don't know if Generation X (yes, I still use the term) will out live the Baby Boomers. So much in our lives has fallen short of the Boomers. The Boomers got everything and wasted it. And I'm convinced they are hell bent on destroying us. I don't see why they won't also win the contest of life expectancy.

For all you Boomers reading this, don't e-mail me to say you understand and that you are the exception to the rule, that you haven't wasted your opportunities. I wish it weren't so, but someone has to say it: you have failed so far. Don't get me wrong-- my generation is even worse. We've had to opportunity to fix the disaster and instead we got fat and lazy.

I may be rather pessimistic right now. I'm just really doubtful on our ability as a community to fix anything. Wait a week-- my opinion might change.

Out of shear boredom, I changed my voice mail message. It's Steve Martin singing.

Quote from the Royal Tannenbaums-
"Do you want to play some word games or do some experiments on me or anything?"

The road iced over here in the DFW meteroplex-- so no school for Mr. Hopkins for a few days. It was nice just staying at home. Got some writing done. Met with an old high school friend at this too-hip-for-me pizza place. Did some crash course research in the Cold War for a story I might do. Stayed away from the Internet.

I recently sent this e-mail to George W. Bush, president@whitehouse.gov

Dear Mr. President:

We can dance if we want to. We can leave your friends behind, because your friends don't dance-- and if they don't dance, they're are no friends of mine. We can go where we want to, a place where they will never find. And we can act like we come from out of this world, leave the real one far behind.

We can go when we want to. The night is young, and so am I. And we can dress real neat from our hats to our feet and surprise 'em with the victory cry. I say we can act if want to. If we don't, nobody will. You can act real rude and totally removed-- and I can act like an imbecile.

We can dance. We can dance. Everybody look at your hands.

Sincerely,
David Hopkins

Oh gosh. After looking this e-mail over, I probably shouldn't have sent it. The FBI is going to put out a file on me or something. If I mysteriously disappear, please inform the major news media agencies that I was just kidding. After all, it's the "safety" dance.

Thank you Adan for making my day (found via Athanata). Captions borrowed from Adan as well.


Jesus is like "Kick that little pagan's ass!!"


Here Jesus is doing what he does best,
taking one for the team,with a nice pitch-off.


Jesus says "You gotta take it to the hoop!"

All kidding aside, I'm amazed how Jesus is presented in these children's products: "Jesus is the daddy who didn't run out of you and your mother. Jesus will take you to karate, play football and basketball with you." This message has spread throughout the church: Jesus is ________ to replace the ________ you never had. However, a metaphysical concept is never an adequate substitute for a physical comfort-- unless maybe you're delusional. I don't care how real Jesus is to you. A daddy is a daddy, and we all need one.

At the peace march on Saturday, my digital camera failed me. The batteries died. I was hoping for hundreds of cool photos for my blog and, alas... nothing. Fortunately, Dan took some pictures.

The ethical role of journalism in the world of politics has been traditionally (or at least ideally) to report the truth in order to keep our most power decision-makers honest. However, the expansion and power of mass media business has made journalism too "present." As a result, journalism has transformed our decision-makers into performers. Honesty becomes stage honesty.

I realize this concept is nothing new to educated individuals. However on my drive to work, I thought about this and it made me sad.

Signs Carried at British Peace Rallies
by CounterPunch Wire

Don't Mess with Mesopotamia
War is SO 20th Century
When Bush Comes to Shove
Brains Not Bombs
George Dubya: Weapon of Mass Distraction
Bombing for Peace is like Screwing for Virginity
Evolve! Get to Work for a non-violent Future
If War is the Answer We're asking the Wrong Question
Killing Innocent People is the Problem, not the Solution!
Save America! Spare Iraq! Make Texas take Him Back!
Who Would Jesus Bomb?
Stop Mad Cowboy Disease
Make Love, Not "W"
There is no Path to Peace--Peace IS the Path
Justice or Just Us?
Tame the Tyrant in the Mirror, Then the One in Iraq
Nonviolence, not Nonexistence
How many Lives per Gallon?
Make Alternative Energy Not War
How Did Our Oil get Under Their Soil?
Regime Change Begins at Home
No Hitting (held by young girl)
God does not Bless Only America
Rich Man's War--Poor Man's Blood
Has Anyone Seen Our Constitution Lately?
What if God Blesses Iraq?
Let's Try Preemptive Peace
Our Grief is not a Cry for War
If You Are Not Outraged, You Are Not Paying Attention
Honk if You're a Terrorist
Smart Bombs Don't Justify Dumb Leaders
We Have Guided Missiles and Misguided Men
Who's the UNELECTED Tyrant With the Bomb?
Make Tea Not War
Relax, George
Fight Plaque, not Iraq (and the guy was carrying a toothbrush)

Still need reasons to protest a possible war in Iraq? Let's look at the facts.
The United States is capable of doing do so much good in the world, but this is NOT our finest moment.

Why do I say the things that I do?
David vs. Jesus in a fair fight

No More Exits for Colin Powell ~ The Globalist ~ 02.13.03

Based on the Vietnam fiasco, General Powell highlighted the need to have clear objectives with a firmly established exit scenario — as well as strong support from the American people. And on those two scores, the current U.S. administration receives an “F” and a “C-“, respectively.

There is no denying the fact that — even though the discussion of an exit scenario has probably not been any more relevant ever than in the case of Iraq — the Bush Administration is doing its darndest that this crucial matter is not even discussed.

God's haiku on Iraq
from another Al-Haqq e-mail

Some think I condone
the bombing of my children.
They must not know me.

Right now, I'm reading The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Klay by Michael Chabon. From Amazon reviews: Like the comic books that animate and inspire it, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay is both larger than life and of it too. Complete with golems and magic and miraculous escapes and evil nemeses and even hand-to-hand Antarctic battle, it pursues the most important questions of love and war, dreams and art, across pages brimming with longing and hope. Samuel Klayman--self-described little man, city boy, and Jew--first meets Josef Kavalier when his mother shoves him aside in his own bed, telling him to make room for their cousin, a refugee from Nazi-occupied Prague. It's the beginning, however unlikely, of a beautiful friendship. In short order, Sam's talent for pulp plotting meets Joe's faultless, academy-trained line, and a comic-book superhero is born. A sort of lantern-jawed equalizer clad in dark blue long underwear, the Escapist "roams the globe, performing amazing feats and coming to the aid of those who languish in tyranny's chains!" Before they know it, Kavalier and Clay (as Sam Klayman has come to be known) find themselves at the epicenter of comics' golden age.

Stop the War in Iraq March and Rally
Saturday, February 15th 2003 1:00
Dallas, Texas

This event will be the largest peace rally Dallas has seen in many years. Bring your friends and neighbors. Organize your religious institution, community group, union or student group to participate. This is a nonviolent, legal event, with a permit from the City of Dallas. Police will block the streets of the march route. Trained Peacekeepers will be available.

Location: Cathedral Guadalupe Church 2215 Ross Ave Dallas Texas 75201-2707
Contact: Duane Ediger admin@dallaspeacecenter.org 214-823-7793
Sponsored By: Dallas Coalition Against War in Iraq North Texas Coalition for a Just Peace Dallas Peace Center http://www.dallaspeacecenter.org

nomo pomo?
by Kevin A. Miller

reacting to a rant: If you look at the bottom, I posted my response too!

I turn off my car stereo. I borrowed Melissa's "at work" CDs. Listened to Coldplay and thought, Life is for Living would have made a perfect final song for Space to Occupy, because I love the lines: "Life is for living and I don't want to live it alone." While walking to the front doors, I notice how cold my hand is. The aluminum soda can is freezing my hand, in addition to the cold wind. I could just throw the can away, but it's only half empy. I think to myself, "This is what addiction must feel like." A siren sounds out in a nearby neighborhood and I realize someone (nearby) is having a much worse day than me.

Daniel Miller reminded me of the whole Myers-Briggs thing. As if it's any surprise to those who know me, I tested as ENFP.

Quoted from site:
-"Less mature ENFPs may need to feel they are the center of attention all the time, to reassure them that everyone thinks they're a wonderful and fascinating person."
- "ENFPs often have strong, if unconvential, convictions on various issues related to their Cosmic View. They usually try to use their social skills and contacts to persuade people gently of the rightness of these views; this sometimes results in their neglecting their nearest and dearest while flitting around trying to save the world."
- "ENFPs hate bureaucracy, both in principle and in practice; they will always make a point of launching one of their crusades against some aspect of it."
- "ENFPs have what some call a 'silly switch.' They can be intellectual, serious, all business for a while, but whenever they get the chance, they flip that switch and become CAPTAIN WILDCHILD, the scourge of the swimming pool, ticklers par excellence. Sometimes they may even appear intoxicated when the 'switch' is flipped."
- "ENFPs like to tell funny stories, especially about their friends."
- "They also tend to be procrastinators, both about meeting hard deadlines and about performing any small, uninteresting tasks that they've been assigned."

Who me?

Most recent CD purchase: Ben Folds Live Really enjoyed the simplicity-- Ben, his piano, and his crowd of concert goers. "Not the Same" with the chorale response from the audience! Cool... and oddly moving. Considering the song.

The damage caused by Suburban Hell:

"One of the clearest ways is the decay of the common good. The idea of extreme individualism. The idea that the only thing that matters is your personal interest. You don’t have responsibility to the public interest. We live in a childish way with no regard for future generations, which means we disrespect the present – not to mention the past." - excerpt from an interview with James Howard Kunstler on why suburban living is self-destructive.

Art Gish, 63, an American from Athens, Ohio, and a member of Christian Peacekeeping Team organization lifts his hands as he blocks the way of an Israeli army tank, the barrel only seen, in the southern West Bank town of Hebron Thursday Jan. 30, 2003. Israeli army bulldozers demolished the vegetable market in the center of Hebron, and troops closed Palestinian police and TV stations in the West Bank city as part of a crackdown on suspected militants. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Thank you, Chris via Jason.Evans.Online for the image.

I live in the city. I teach in the suburbs.

Every morning when I drive to school, I cruise past hundreds (thousands?) of cars all tightly packed in on the other side of the road. While on my side, I have an open highway. I turn up the stereo and sing to those drivers who the listen to AM radio traffic reports... as if by force of information they could move their car faster along.

On Thursday, I will be having dinner with Andrew and Dan. Of course, I see Dan all the time-- but meeting Andrew will be really cool. (Sorry Dan) We've corresponded online for years now. Andrew will be in Dallas, so we're going to Café Brazil in Deep Ellum. One of my favorite places to eat.

To all you fellow bloggers: If anyone (seriously) reading this blog is in Dallas, send me an e-mail. Let's have dinner. I fear no stranger! Even if you're freaky, obsessive, and anti-social, I'd love to be terrified by my own poor judgment while having a meal with you. And of course... I'll bring Dan along.

Best Imitation Of Myself,
Ben Folds

I feel like a quote out of context
Withholding the rest
So I can be free what you want to see
I got the gesture and sounds
Got the timing down
It's uncanny, yeah, you'd think it was me

Do you think I should take a class
To lose my southern accent
Did I make me up, or make the face till it stuck
I do the best imitation of myself

The "problem with you" speech
You gave me was fine
I liked the theories about my little stage
And I swore I was listening
But I started drifting
Around the part about me acting my age

Now if it's all the same
I've people to entertain
I juggle one handed
Do some magic tricks and
The best imitation of myself

Maybe I'm thinking myself in a hole
Wondering, who I am when I ought to know
Straighten up now time to go
Fool somebody else, fool somebody else

Last night I was east with them
And west within
Trying to be for you what you wanna see
But I can't help it with you
The good and bad comes through
Don't want you hanging out with
No one but me

21st century pop culture is developing its own religious iconography.
The new crucifixion:

From The Movie Cliches List:

- You're very likely to survive any battle in any war, unless you show someone a picture of your sweetheart back home.
- Smokers smoke only when there is a romantic or dramatic reason to. At other times the smoker has no need of cigarettes.
- Heros and villains can successfully use wood, no matter how thin, as a safe shield against bullets of any caliber.
- All beds have a special L-shaped top sheet, which reaches up to armpit level on women but only to waist level on men.
- When bringing home bags of groceries in a film, it's required that you spill at least one bagful on the kitchen floor.
- If the tapping sound or flashing light represents morse code, there's always someone around that can interpret the message.
- If you're a high school student in a film, you will always get one of the preferable eye-level lockers.
- Airplanes with nuns on ALWAYS crash. Moral of the story, never get on a plane with a nun.
- Whenever someone looks through the binoculars, you see two joined circles instead of one.
- Radiation causes mutation not to your future children, but to you, there and then. Mutation is never immediately fatal, but first either makes you into a formless blob, or a functional creature with animal-like features.
- Menstruation is an unknown phenomenon in movies. Female movie characters are all immune from it.
- Whenever anyone knocks out anyone else and takes their clothes, it's always a flawless fit.
- Movie character never make typing mistakes.
- A dying person's last words will always be coherent and significant.
- Eight to ten-year-old kids are the best computer hackers on earth and can break into any system.
- A malfunctioning or burnt lightbulb usually means that someone is hiding in the room, ready to jump on our hero/heroine while he/she's busy hitting the switch or tapping the bulb.

207,135 feet in the air
Traveling Mach 18.3
A loud bang heard for hundred of miles
So powerful, shakes the houses below
Fire and smoke in the sky
Raining upon suburbia
Within the tragedy, I quietly ponder:

"Such an amazing way to say goodbye"

Melissa and I moved into our apartment this weekend. It's nice living in Dallas. The transition was made much easier with the help of some friends (Dan, Kausar, and James), Melissa's parents, my sister Liz and her boyfriend Cody.

A few observations:
* UHaul is a monopoly.
* My neighbors only speak Spanish. I actually find this very comforting-- in a global village kinda way.
* My sister wins the Real Estate lingo award when talking to my mom on the phone: "Yeah, it's close to a really nice neighborhood."
* While in Fort Worth, I did not hear the spaceshuttle Columbia blow up.
* At home, I will be without a phone line, cable television, or Internet service for about a month.
* I really dislike apartment gates.
* We have a ridiculously large supply of canned corn.
* Our cat is adjusting fine.

"Tech support!"
-vanilla sky