Why I Love the West Wing and Articles on the Bush Tax Cuts
Of any series on TV, the one that gets me the most juiced for life is the West Wing. I don't know if it's the witty banter, the political topics or the great conversations, but every time I watch it I'm more psyched about life afterwards. It sort of reminds me of the possibilities. Now I know (from experience) that real life in politics is very different from what is shown there, but the show sort of takes all of the great parts about being involved and condenses it into a one hour feast for the political mind. Besides, with good 'ol GW in the White House, it's really all I have until 2004 (or sometimes I think more likely, 2008).
Now, we all know most of the problems with the Bush Tax Cut. Only goes to the richest who either aren't going to spend it or will to buy their fourth Lexus, which might be of a lesser concern to someone of lower income wanting to buy food. Puts the federal budget into a deficit situation when we already owe about $22,000 per capita in debt (that's $88,000 for a family of four). But there was a recent article in Slate and one in the Washington Post that made even better points. The first talks about the falsely reported economic benefits of the tax cuts, the other about how the municipal bonds (you know, the ones that spurn grassroot investment and build schools) are going to be crowded out because of the rush to equities caused by the reduction of the dividend tax. Both are good reading.
Monday, June 30, 2003
The Discovery of PDQ Bach
This is one that I can't believe escaped me for as long as it did. I remember about two months ago Carolyn and I drove out to Barrington Hills to drive a bike route that she used to ride, and we saw piles of deer -- probably about two to three dozen in total over the whole trip -- just grazing at dusk in groups of three to five in the front yards of the houses. The other major event was listening to the radio, specifically to a program called Schickele Mix, where the host was giving this really interesting talk about fugues. He was playing a trio of fugues, one that was by a composer named PDQ Bach, which I thought was really interesting, because it sounded somewhat modern.
Fast forward to a couple of days ago, and I was talking to Izzy at work, who somehow brought up PDQ Bach again, and I mentioned the song that I heard. He laughed, and told me to look at a PDQ Bach website that had some 'information' about the composer. As it turns out, PDQ Bach is a pseudonym for the program host, who uses it to write parodies of classical music. Among my favourite titles in the repertoire were 'The Short-Tempered Clavier -- Preludes and Fugues in all the Major and Minor Keys Except the Really Hard Ones,' or 'Echo Sonata for Two Unfriendly Groups of Instruments.' Anyway, this is just my plug for the site and for the music, which turns out to be pretty entertaining.
This is one that I can't believe escaped me for as long as it did. I remember about two months ago Carolyn and I drove out to Barrington Hills to drive a bike route that she used to ride, and we saw piles of deer -- probably about two to three dozen in total over the whole trip -- just grazing at dusk in groups of three to five in the front yards of the houses. The other major event was listening to the radio, specifically to a program called Schickele Mix, where the host was giving this really interesting talk about fugues. He was playing a trio of fugues, one that was by a composer named PDQ Bach, which I thought was really interesting, because it sounded somewhat modern.
Fast forward to a couple of days ago, and I was talking to Izzy at work, who somehow brought up PDQ Bach again, and I mentioned the song that I heard. He laughed, and told me to look at a PDQ Bach website that had some 'information' about the composer. As it turns out, PDQ Bach is a pseudonym for the program host, who uses it to write parodies of classical music. Among my favourite titles in the repertoire were 'The Short-Tempered Clavier -- Preludes and Fugues in all the Major and Minor Keys Except the Really Hard Ones,' or 'Echo Sonata for Two Unfriendly Groups of Instruments.' Anyway, this is just my plug for the site and for the music, which turns out to be pretty entertaining.
The Gangs of New York
I did see The Gangs of New York today as well, and, well... it just wasn't really that good. I can't really say it was bad either, there were a few notable things about it, including the performance of Daniel Day-Lewis; but overall the rest of the acting was mediocre, the plot wasn't exceptionally interesting, the love interest wasn't all that believable, and I ended up walking out of the movie wondering what the point of the whole thing was. I really don't understand how it got the number of Oscar nominations that it did, especially since a good number of them were 'artistic' in nature and I found the whole thing to be somewhat convoluted. Anyway, I saw it at a second run theatre, so at least I can say that I sort of got my money's worth. It's certainly not going to make it onto my all time favourite list.
I did see The Gangs of New York today as well, and, well... it just wasn't really that good. I can't really say it was bad either, there were a few notable things about it, including the performance of Daniel Day-Lewis; but overall the rest of the acting was mediocre, the plot wasn't exceptionally interesting, the love interest wasn't all that believable, and I ended up walking out of the movie wondering what the point of the whole thing was. I really don't understand how it got the number of Oscar nominations that it did, especially since a good number of them were 'artistic' in nature and I found the whole thing to be somewhat convoluted. Anyway, I saw it at a second run theatre, so at least I can say that I sort of got my money's worth. It's certainly not going to make it onto my all time favourite list.
Some Thoughts on Memorial Day
Memorial Day is kind of a strange holiday to me. At the same time that it's supposed to be the day where you honour the people who have died in the service of their country, sort of a spring Remembrance Day, it's also the beginning of the unofficial summer. The two ideas unfortunately compete with each other, the latter seeming to win overall. The result is that the day commemorating those who died in war in one of the more military-oriented countries in the world is often viewed as an excuse to barbecue. I find this somewhat unfortunate, especially since Remembrance Day is much more of a solemn event in Canada. It being on November the 11th, however, leaves it free from temptations to cook-out and make merry -- at least in most parts of Canada where it's beginning to be winter.
I tried my best to find a way to mark the passage of the day, but was more or less unsuccessful. It seems that finding the local war memorial or cenotaph on the web is next to impossible, let alone whether there are going to be events held at them. There were a few parades, but I find that a less than adequate way to recognize the sacrifices that were made. In truth, Sue sent me an email about a special Mass that she was attending, but I was behind on my email, and read it a few hours too late. I eventually ended up doing what it seem most Americans to on this day -- inviting people over for a barbecue. Perhaps it is in this act of camaraderie and enjoyment of the freedoms that we have that in a subconscious way we recognize those that paid the ultimate sacrifice to allow it to happen. Still, I believe that it would be better to have a separate summer holiday, like Victoria Day in Canada, and have the day to remember the war dead at a time when that can be the sole focus of the day, especially in a country where the importance and cultural presence of the military is felt as much as it is here in the United States.
Memorial Day is kind of a strange holiday to me. At the same time that it's supposed to be the day where you honour the people who have died in the service of their country, sort of a spring Remembrance Day, it's also the beginning of the unofficial summer. The two ideas unfortunately compete with each other, the latter seeming to win overall. The result is that the day commemorating those who died in war in one of the more military-oriented countries in the world is often viewed as an excuse to barbecue. I find this somewhat unfortunate, especially since Remembrance Day is much more of a solemn event in Canada. It being on November the 11th, however, leaves it free from temptations to cook-out and make merry -- at least in most parts of Canada where it's beginning to be winter.
I tried my best to find a way to mark the passage of the day, but was more or less unsuccessful. It seems that finding the local war memorial or cenotaph on the web is next to impossible, let alone whether there are going to be events held at them. There were a few parades, but I find that a less than adequate way to recognize the sacrifices that were made. In truth, Sue sent me an email about a special Mass that she was attending, but I was behind on my email, and read it a few hours too late. I eventually ended up doing what it seem most Americans to on this day -- inviting people over for a barbecue. Perhaps it is in this act of camaraderie and enjoyment of the freedoms that we have that in a subconscious way we recognize those that paid the ultimate sacrifice to allow it to happen. Still, I believe that it would be better to have a separate summer holiday, like Victoria Day in Canada, and have the day to remember the war dead at a time when that can be the sole focus of the day, especially in a country where the importance and cultural presence of the military is felt as much as it is here in the United States.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)