to wander

A pretty meaningless post really. Just found this website where you can map out all the places that you have visited in the U.S. and globally.



This map shows my global travels, primarily thanks to my two deployments in the United States Navy. Right now, I'd settle to go anywhere with sunshine. The Kittitas valley has been covered in freezing fog for the last week. No sunshine and frost on every single exposed surface, which gives some very pretty pictures. I'll have to post some soon. Good night.

snobbery in the key of R

Most of the time, I am able to restrain my urge to use this space as a soapbox to spout my highly opinionated views about music. But, as I read over my latest copy of PASTE magazine last night I was excited to see 3 separate albums soon to be released by artists I have greatly enjoyed over the years. So, this post only serves as a small interruption in your daily lives to go out and buy some good music to accompany you on your travels.
2007 is starting out musically on a very good foot!! Enjoy.

mlk

On the eve of Martin Luther King, Jr. day, I thought I would post an excerpt from one of his many influential speeches. After skimming my copy of " A Call To Conscience", I settled on a highlighted section from his speech entitled "Beyond Vietnam" from April 4th 1967.

Like RFK, many of Dr. King's speeches are still very poignant and valid so many years after being given. Please give time to reflect on the words of the past and help them guide us into the future.

"A true revolution of values will soon look uneasily on the glaring contrast of poverty and wealth. With righteous indignation, it will look across the seas and see individual capitalists of the West investing huge sums of money in Asia, Africa, and South America, only to take the profits out with no concern for the social betterment of the countries, and say, "This is not just." It will look at our alliance with the landed gentry of South America and say, "This is not just." The Western arrogance of feeling that it has everything to teach others and nothing to learn from them is not just.

A true revolution of values will lay hand on the world order and say of war, "This way of settling differences is not just." This business of burning human beings with napalm, of filling our nation's homes with orphans and widows, of injecting poisonous drugs of hate into the veins of peoples normally humane, of sending men home from dark and bloody battlefields physically handicapped and psychologically deranged, cannot be reconciled with wisdom, justice, and love. A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.

America, the richest and most powerful nation in the world, can well lead the way in this revolution of values. There is nothing except a tragic death wish to prevent us from reordering our priorities so that the pursuit of peace will take precedence over the pursuit of war. There is nothing to keep us from molding a recalcitrant status quo with bruised hands until we have fashioned it into a brotherhood. "

moving pictures - 03

This will be quick. Just got back from the cinema. Saw the movie "Blood Diamond". Great story. Great topic. Mildly cheesy token love affair. Well worth everyone's time and $8. Go see it. I'm tired but will write more later...I haven't fully digested this movie yet.

Addendum:
First, let me say that this addition in no way holds any spoilers for those that haven't see the film. I have two reflections/questions after letting this picture sink in for a week.

1. During the scene of Freetown being overrun by the rebels did anyone else get a glimpse into what Kigali, Rwanda must of looked like during the chaos that ensued that first night of the Rwandan genocide? The madness, drunken soldiers, bonfires, and packs of roving men armed with AK-47's and machetes.

2. I found it hard to watch yet, felt I needed to be an observer during the indoctrination of the young boys into the rebel army. I wonder if this is how Joseph Kony warps the minds of the young children he kidnaps in the middle of the night in Northern Uganda. Does he crank up the rap music and the juvenile egos by passing around weed, beer, and handing out machine guns, then send them out to do his killing and raping?

Keep in mind that while the story in the movie is fictional. Blood diamonds, refugees, and child soldiers from Sierra Leone all happened. Rwanda happened. And child soldiers in Northern Uganda is still happening.

birdy nam nam

4 French dj's, 4 turntables.......

AND A MICROPHONE.