Happy Birthday, Leonard Cohen

Happy 75th Birthday to the singing poet (more poet than singer). I was introduced to L.Cohen about 37 years ago by two friends, who also taught me Hearts in more ways than one. He wiped my slate blank, gave me a new religion, and planted seeds I’m still waiting to grow. Nobody weaves sex and religion more intricately than Mr Leonard Cohen (L.Koan).

Sixteen years ago, Mer and I went to Paolo Solari to see L.Cohen. It was dreadful to sit among glassy-eyed fans who insisted on singing along – not that he couldn’t use the help. I hate fans. Might be time to watch McCabe and Mrs Miller again.

From The Writer’s Almanac (9/21/04)

Leonard Cohen wrote, “As our eyes grow accustomed to sight they armour themselves against wonder.”

Happy Birthday and thank you very much. mjh

Lyrics to Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, one of his masterpieces (cue The Master’s Song, while we’re at it).

mjh’s blog — Leonard Cohen’s Birthday (2004)

[hattip to the singing blogger, NewMexiKen]

New Mexico Politics: New Mexico FBIHOP:: Bingaman, Udall want to reform the PATRIOT Act

I was proud of Tom Udall for his opposition to the original so-called “PATRIOT” Act (a despicable acronym). Now he joins others in trying to fix some of that act’s excesses. Bravo.

As an aside to every opponent of health care insurance reform: If you said, “they didn’t even read the health care act,” did you voice similar concerns about the longer, more complex “PATRIOT” Act? Why not? Moreover, you are wrong; I know our rep has read it. Were you as outraged by the “PATRIOT” Act’s demonstrable undermining of our freedoms as you are by the supposed threat posed by health care insurance reform? If not, STFU. peace, mjh

Bingaman, Udall want to reform the PATRIOT Act

by: LP

Thu Sep 17, 2009 at 20:30:00 PM MDT

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New Mexico U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Jeff Bingaman are in a group of nine Senators who wish to reform the PATRIOT Act. The two New Mexico U.S. Senators are part of an original group of nine cosponsors of the Judicious Use of Surveillance Tools In Counterterrorism Efforts (JUSTICE) Act.

The other original cosponsors are Russ Feingold (D-WI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jon Tester (D-MT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR). Feingold was the only U.S. Senator to vote against the original PATRIOT Act.

Recently, the administration of President Barack Obama announced that they were extending provisions of the PATRIOT Act.

From a Feingold press release:

The Judicious Use of Surveillance Tools In Counterterrorism Efforts (JUSTICE) Act would reform the USA PATRIOT Act, the FISA Amendments Act and other surveillance authorities to protect Americans’ constitutional rights, while preserving the powers of our government to fight terrorism.

Here’s a video of Senator Tom Udall, when in the House, he was one of just 66 House members who voted against the original PATRIOT Act, speaking on the need to reform the PATRIOT Act.

New Mexico Politics: New Mexico FBIHOP:: Bingaman, Udall want to reform the PATRIOT Act

“So, Open the Box Already.” – Shrödinger

Recently, a friend of mine recounted a difficult day that ended well. I nodded along – we’ve all been there and will be again. Then, she ended the tale with “god is good all the time” and I was taken aback. Nothing in her tale invoked or even hinted at a god, as far as I could tell. This was not a tale of being saved from a terrible fate; this was a mundane event.

I’m writing now because, sometimes, writing helps me understand. Further, I imagine my friend would be taken aback by me being taken aback. We have an opportunity for discussion here, but we know going in, no minds will be changed fundamentally. Her surprisingly-casual and intimate relationship with the divine will not change nor will the scales fall from my eyes. I don’t want to change her or challenge her but I do want to respond to her or, rather, the shock I felt.

First, people have a right and need to speak and not everything we say should be analyzed or challenged. Self-expression becomes more difficult from adolescence on. In my case, so much of what I say is sheer glibbery, but, then, I don’t have an immortal soul or a god to back it up. If I did, s/he would save me from myself right now.

Secondly, in this world aflame, it is common to blurt out “screw you” or “you lie” in self-righteousness and self-importance. I do not mean to do so here.

I mean, instead, to get back to that initial story in which I saw no god and my friend saw “him” (?) every step of the way. That she believes in a god is not shocking. That she believes “god is good all the time” is jaw-dropping, given endless evidence to the contrary. It is as if we live in what should be separate universes. Yet here we are, occupying the same space-time with one huge paradox: : hers has a god and mine does not.

Burgled

burglary As you may know already , our house was robbed recently. Someone kicked in the side door, destroying the deadbolt, door, and frame. Beyond the destruction in the kitchen, the bedroom took the worst of the attack. The thug(s) ransacked Merri’s dresser, taking jewelry that was primarily of sentimental value. Sloppily, they left one earring each from several pairs. The bed was shoved aside to access an almost empty nightstand. A fanny pack in Mer’s closet was examined. It appears the thief/thieves broke into Merri’s locked office but touched nothing. It’s not clear they made it to my office. Someone methodically removed everything from the glovebox in the truck in the garage and opened both wardrobes. In the end, the most valuable object they took was a relatively new 19” TV and remote from the kitchen (<$200). In the process, they unplugged the stove, freezing its clock at 7:20, either Friday evening, 9/11, or Saturday morning, 9/12. Both times are still in daylight. Coming or going, the crook(s) left the front gate open (not all of the turtles are accounted for) and destroyed a section of the back fence for access to the church parking lot, which is visible from Indian School and the YMCA parking lot.

Because our neighbor checked the house around 7:25am Sat, there is a real possibility he interrupted the robbery. We’re glad he didn’t actually encounter these worthless vermin.

Lucky’s memorial is just outside that kitchen door, in the spot he occupied his last months and moments. If his spirit hasn’t moved on, he was beside himself over his inability to protect us this last time.

In the days since, we have cleaned up. There is a temporary heavy-duty bolt on the shattered door plus an alarm that shrieks at the slightest touch. We’ve ordered wrought iron security doors. We leave and return to the house with great trepidation. We’ve learned that many other houses in our neighborhood have been hit in recent weeks. The filthy scum will move on soon to terrorize another neighborhood. When I meet them in Hell, I will drive deadbolts through their eye sockets.

I think life is best lived without keeping score. If one insists on tracking ups and downs, then it is wise to recall some people have things unimaginably worse. But, detached philosophy aside, this has been a lousy summer: car totaled, dog dead, home invaded. Granted, Merri wasn’t hurt much in the wreck; we had 11 great years with Lucky; and the stupid thieves wasted their time shattering 22 years of peace and security for chump-change. Life goes on.

What’s Fair Play and Good Sportsmanship? For God’s Sake, Don’t Ask a Conservative!

I hated Ronald Raygun with a passion. During his eight years, I was depressed to be in the minority, surrounded by a herd of his dim-witted, adoring fans. Raygun’s fans worshipped him and despised people like me – Liberals, they sneered. It was a dark, unpleasant time. You know what I did? Toughed it out and waited for a better day.

I hated DUHbya most of all. He was a spoiled, stupid, rich frat boy masquerading as somebody humble and hardworking. Duhbya is even dumber than Raygun was. And, whereas Raygun used charisma to gain power, Duhbya and his thugs used bullying. After the 2004 election, Karl Rove, “the architect of victory,” declared Republicans would hold power for the next generation. You know what I did? I wrote my vision of that generation.

Now, after a single election and less than a year of a change in ruling party, what’s the minority doing? Everything they can to undermine the majority constantly. Nice, nice people. They’re frightened idiots who apparently have no faith at all in the strength of America to survive shifts in power. To Hell with them all.

Conservative Assholes

I never called Duhbya a liar because I knew he was stupid enough to believe the lies fed to him by trusted advisors, such as Big Dick Cheney. And, mind you, I would happily give the finger to almost any conservative who has risen above the braying masses. Still, before Republicans devolved to the point they don’t just want to destroy all government but the Union itself, they used to decry the end of civility. At this point, they despise civility and want to drown it in the bathtub.

Four Weeks

Four weeks ago today, Lucky died. We think of him every day and miss him dearly. I dreamed about him for the first time a couple of nights ago. He was looking up at me and I called to Merri, “Lucky’s here!” As I looked up, I could see into another room and saw another Lucky. From a third room, Merri replied, “He’s in here, too!” Read in this what you will.

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