subtle, yet unsettling

This special edit of Bush's prior State of the Union speech (speeches?) is both clever and disturbing.

Actually you've probably seen it already haven't you.

If not, check it out. I don't agree with it but I think it's strikingly well-done and effective. The schtick seems kinda obvious in hindsight, but I haven't seen anything quite like it before - no flashes to images of horror, no "techno" soundtrack or stutter-speak.

I really need to ignore all current events.

so pale and precious

We have been on this kick at the office where we buy a bunch of groceries at Wegmans and then make our lunches and dinners out of the groceries for the rest of the week. It's almost all finger-food; the staple is raw bell pepper and hummus. Apples, pears, oranges, good cheese, carrots and prosciutto also figure prominently. We got a cutting board and a couple knives, and to my great joy Mike seems happy to play dad and run the cutting board. The Wegmans stuff isn't cheap but it has to be cheaper than eating out all the damn time, and better for you than frozen food. At least we are getting some raw vegetables regularly now (including things like broccoli and cauliflower). Also I have discovered that the Pacific Rose apple is the finest of all eating apples, better than the organic Fujis I used to swear by. Pacific Rose apple, where have you been all my life? Well in New Zealand apparently, but really, how come I didn't know about the Pacific Rose apple til now? I'm an old man damn it and I've jammed plenty of apples into my face over the years, and none were this good.

I listened to (and enjoyed) Chips from the Chocolate Fireball today. XTC... I dunno, invariably I like them a lot for a short amount of time then my patience with them is exhausted and I don't want to hear any more for at least a year. Why is that? Years ago I used to get in arguments with this couple I knew who would insist XTC was as influential on pop music as the Beatles. This was important to me at the time, this argument.

But now I don't like to argue about anything, really, because I have once again determined I am just too damn wishy-washy. I hem and haw and can see multiple sides to things. I am good at being judgmental, which I dislike about myself, but horrible at really making decisions. And I whine. Like now. But today I told Mike I had decided that I should avoid all current events, all opinions and pundits. I should just ignore it all, because I can never decide what I think, and I get all stressed out, and it's stupid and pointless. Still, you can't do anything about the weather and I do check weather reports so I know if it is going to be snowing or something, right? Gah.

For example: I read this "How I Joined Teach for America — and Got Sued for $20 Million" story recently and that made me all depressed. This guy, his solution sounds like it boils down to having jail (except it's school) for second graders. How sad is that? But he clearly knows way more about the issues involved than I do, so who cares what I think?

Meanwhile, I personally live so well that it's almost comical. Of course, that gets me bitchy and whiney too, as ever since I broke down and read Atlas Shrugged a few years back, I have had this obsession with wanting to not feel like some parasite of society. This is sad too right? But this is relevant to me lately since I feel like I am not getting enough done at work, and living like a regular parasite. But then it dawned on me tonight that I have found something to angst over with regard to nearly every job I have had. Unbelievable right? No, really. I complain and worry a lot. It's true. I know there has been no evidence of that in my journal to this point, but it's how I am I assure you.

There have to be some drugs that I can take for all of this. For the sake of others, at least, if not for my own sake.

Tomorrow night, State of the Union address. Which I will almost certainly watch. But now, bedtime.