Open Thread – Battle
Well… what to say.
The brain is full. The heart is heavy. It’s been a challenging week.
On the upside, the governor’s new oil tax plan appears to be headed for the rocks. And the Anchorage Daily News in its article on the bill has honored me with the title “one blogger.”
One blogger compared the committee action to a rumble at a hockey game, and concluded the senators were winning, big time.
Pretty fancy, huh?
On the downside, the botched Anchorage election appears to be headed for a potential whitewashing. The only way to assure one is to give up. And so we march ahead. Linda Kellen Biegel and I just got out of a five hour Assembly meeting where the activity of the night was sitting back and actually watching the souls get sucked out of the bodies of the audience. So basically it was either lie in bed staring at the ceiling and listening to my teeth grind, or do a little surfing of non-political subjects.
While I was sliding around the series of tubes, I thought I’d check in on one of my favorite conceptual photographers, Dave Nitsche who always has an interesting way of viewing the world. He’s got a great talent for taking a complicated feelings, and with the help of marbles, eggs, syringes, glassware, and whatever else he has in his trunk of goodies, coming up with the perfect way to express it.
The first one I came to was his latest. It’s called “Battle.”
Of course it is.
And so, unbidden, my feelings of the day were projected for me right there on the screen. I, of course, am represented in this magnum opus as the wheel cleaner. There is a hopeful aspect of this seemingly impossible predicament – the fact that there is something the apparent victim can do. It can spray.
This will do one of two things:
1) Extinguish the torch
2) Cause a colossal explosion
Sounds good to me.
The governor’s tax plan did hit the rocks. He pulled it off the agenda of his own special session. Ouch. Maybe he will resign early and let Mead run the state.
Far be it for me to complain about anyone’s spelling,but I believe the “run” the state is clearly missing an i and should have two syllables. Please don’t thank me.
Thank you.
Hang in there, Jeanne and Linda !! Recognize that the tactics of stall and stall some more are to discourage public involvement and oversight; after 3 years of stalling, local fireboard is finally repairing the firehouse here… if it can work here, y’all can persevere up there !! 🙂 just pencil your calender in for the next couple of years….Anchorage ASSembly meeting… oops, did I type that ? 🙂
Geepers! The Rolling Stone asked the President what he reads and he didn’t say “all of ’em”:
http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/171648/president-obama-i-read-all-of-the-new-york-times-columnists/
Poor guy. At least he won’t have to worry about Secret Service Agents admiring his arse because there is nothing going on in the penthouse,like a certain,recent,failed veep candidate.
Mike, they know there is indeed something going on upstairs, but who’s to say some of them aren’t checking out his arse?
Jeanne your work is exemplary. you are a grade A number one blogger. i hope Alaska knows what a jewel they have living and working among them.
although i wish sometimes you would turn those bright eyes of yours on the national stage i understand you have much on your plate.
i am wondering how Mudflatters outside of Alaska are faring and what is happening in their neighborhoods. their cities and towns. got to run out now but will be back.
Nice to be recognized by the daily news. Too bad they can’t acknowledge that you are a true journalist, investigating and reporting. ADN is doing journalism too, but on the same level as my Jr. High newspaper. Quote press release A. Report what persons B & C say about it. End of story.
Wait! ADN is a bona fide online newspaper, with paid journalists?! When did that happen… 😉
Watched the jimmy Fallon show last night. He and our President did a slow jam. What a great show. The young people loved it.
I found a blog that tries to explain “Mitt Math:”
http://therepublicon.blogspot.com/2012/04/mitt-math-and-truth-on-womens.html
It is true..that much physical/emotional/mental energys..are ..burned through..in the heat of battle. Those who stand..at the Frontlines..do so..with an ‘armor’..of educated passion. There will be highs..and lows. The..may I say..stormy-katrina-like energys..that are white washing the political situations..there where you are, and..within the good state of alaska..are in full swing, and ..sway now. Just because..ugly things rise..and sweep away what was to be seen as truth..does not mean..all is lost. It takes the tides..of such..katrina-like petty and vindictive folks..to keep rearranging themselves..as they try to plaster-up the cracks..in their political/religious world view. It takes time..lots of time..for those folks..to keep generating. more of.the flaws that will eventually bring them down. One walks with like-minded..clean and educated people..breathes the fresh air..and builds the campfire higher. The soul..rests..and the goals of the heart that wants goodness..within and..without the Township..simply rest..rebuild. It is the tortise and the hare..good people. Truth..lives longer then lies. They believe, the ‘city-fixers’..the earth is 6000 years old. They are then..good writers..doomed by tiny mental fixations..but you who see with long vision..and clarity..will bring about the changes you seek. When you see those people who think they have ‘won’..,relax..smile at them..move past with gentleness. You can afford to let them..as You..know the future.
Imagine you’re Paul Krugman.
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/25/the-big-wrong/
Do you not know, my son, with how little wisdom the world is governed?
Dear One Blogger, in the seemingly endless battle between wheel cleaner and propane torch,perserverance is the key. One must allow one’s self the discipline to outlast your enemy. Eventually the torch will flicker and fail,whereupon you hose them good and claim victory-shallow though it may be. The good people should have all the advantages for it is written. Unfortunately rwnj propane torches can’t read,nor comprehend the written words. And lastly it is not the size of the dog in the fight,it is whether your health insurance is paid in full. Now go get ’em.
Are you sure they didn’t mean Number One Blogger? 😉
Of course, you’ve got some tough competition up there…
Every battle needs some music to keep it on its feet,
so I offer you this from Playing for Change
Higher Ground:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hGSqqhhokE
ah, that’s more better
to the library
…and beyond
thatcrowwoman
TCW-
Ah, such a wonderful antitode to the folderol we’ve been surrounded by lately!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ege_RBhh37A&feature=relmfu
Rest up AKM and LKB.
played it three times and danced to the music. forgot i had to run errands and had myself a private party. Thanks Crow!
Great music and wish I was younger and could dance like in the “old days”. And then I got this from a friend. Whew!!!!! how does she do it?
http://www.youtube.com:80/watch_popup?v=8LOdmka4_90
One of the things I love best about Playing for Change videos is how all those instruments, many of which are unique to their cultures and countries, blend together to make such beautiful music! Gives me hope that people of different cultures and countries can someday learn to do the same.
And there’s something about Clarence Bekker’s voice that just makes me feel good inside. 🙂
Thanks for sharing this link, TCW!
{{{{{AKM, LKB, and weary wheel cleaners everywhere}}}}}