Friday Stuff

The title is absolutely meaningless in this context and is what I just used a few minutes ago to send an e-mail to the owner of our local wine shop, in which it did, in fact, have some sort of meaning.

I think it's really strange that my brother and I have turned out the way we have. He, the hippie-wanna-be, Monkees-loving, Mike-Nesmith-kitted-hat-wearing, guitar-playing, Beatles-loving, 60's boy turns out to be a right-wing advocate, and me, the conservative, fanatically-religious, Bill-Buckley-loving lock-step establishment boy turns out to be a left-leaning, more-and-more-liberal-becoming, probably-going-to-vote-Democrat-this-time, don't-like-those-wierd-right-wing-guys person.

I have to believe alot of it relates to my continued and increasing skepticism of the powers that be. During Clinton's administration I tended to want him replaced with a Republican because he was such an embarrassment to the country. During the Bush administration, however, I want him replaced with a Democrat because he's such an embarrassment to the country.

I guess the real bottom line is that I don't really trust any of the people who run for public office. I can't remember who originally said it, but I firmly believe that power should never be given to anyone who wants it, along with the old maxim power tends to corrupt, and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely. (Notice that I included the original word "tends." which a lot of folks omit when quoting that.

I also believe that everyone makes mistakes. But my experience tells me that very few will admit to a mistake, but will instead go to the ends of the earth attempt to justify it or spin it away. Frak that, as they say on Battlestar Gallatica. If you screw up, just say you screwed up. Everybody know you screwed up, no sense trying to cover it up.

On a lighter note, I remember the one and only time in my life I was ever offered a joint. I was on a hunting trip with some friends in south-central Texas. We'd spent the day hunting dove and were sitting around a campfire enjoying the night and each other's company. Suddenly, the guy next to me hands me what i thought was a cigarette. I don't smoke, so I just passed it on. Then it hit me! That was a joint! I could've inhaled! Damn! Unfortunately, I can't even say, like Bill Clinton, that I puff on it. Bummer.

We're having an uncommon, mi-April snowstorm today, so I better go warm up the plow.

Dear Francis,

Oh, and I forgot to address my comments with Dear Francis, so here it is.

MF

Oh, and hey, it just bugs the heck out of me to have to put the link to this blog under "Favorites." I think there should be another place to put links that's called "Oh, Alright....."