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Politics, open government, and safe streets. And the constant incursion of cycling.

Category: Personal Page 10 of 59

Midweek Makeover: Anywhere But Here

By

On March 31, 2010

In Music, Personal

I don’t pretend to have any legit claim on this song.  It was well after that it was released that I first heard it.  And when I did – flying down Highway 99 – it hit me like a ton of bricks.  Placebo explains:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnZf0Ep57Rk[/youtube]

But it’s not Placebo’s song.  We owe Kate Bush for its existence:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuLlwUaEyr0[/youtube]

And some have tried to expand it:

Running Up That Hill from John Forte on Vimeo.

But I think it’s been nailed.  So much so that no one else should attempt it.  The Chromatics:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUQaocQCMTs[/youtube]

Friday Music: Temptations

By

On March 26, 2010

In Music, Personal, Travel

The places, they call to me.   A most excellent friend just brought up the possibility of returning to Argentina.  I managed this snap on my first trip there:

Not bad for a furtive cellphone shot, eh?  But really, it captures so much of what makes me really want to head back.  As does the music of the Gotan Project:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZk-LJ_KCMg[/youtube]

And Tanghetto:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71G7sF1qun4[/youtube]

I have this silly habit of immediately imagining how I could make a life living in most places I travel.  Pick up some clients in industry X, live in neighborhood Y, and have a Z kind of life.  Predictably, that fades after a little time has been put between me and the place.  But Buenos Aires – along with Hong Kong and Cape Town – has held on much longer.

Commuter Dreams

By

On March 12, 2010

In Cycling, Personal

Love it:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI7T2iuGjjc[/youtube]

Equality in DC

By

On March 2, 2010

In Law, Personal, Society

Almost.there.

New Arlington Decal Design

By

On February 23, 2010

In Personal

You know, when I first saw the winner (in the competition phase), I thought it a very nice capture of a rare bit of Arlington. Now? There is a year of bitter reminders in front of me.

~

Also, the site I linked to – ARLNow.com? Good stuff. I hope it can stick around.

Virginia, Turning Resolutely Backwards

By

On February 23, 2010

In Personal

Looks like Virginia is now suing the EPA, challenging the finding that greenhouse gases “threaten the public health and welfare of the American people.” Ken Cucchinelli, the Republican Attorney General leading the effort, likes to talk about the importance of property rights and responsibility. But that’s just for other people. Ask his supporters – the agricultural conglomerates, the mining operations – to take some responsibility for their impact on others? Goodness, no. They’ve been making too much money externalizing their costs – why should they be asked to dial that back now?

This action is just one of many challenges to progress that we’re going to see from Virginia, which will be demonstrating just how backward it can be.

Admiral Mullen and DADT

By

On February 16, 2010

In Personal

I’ll say it again. It’s not the military that stands between now and a repeal of DADT. It’s Congress and bigotry. The military? They’ll sort it out just fine.

John Cole (Re)Writes a Play

By

On February 11, 2010

In Personal, Policy, Politics

John Cole does a fantastic job of speculating on exactly what would happen if Congress were to attempt to fix something that most of the population would agree should be fixed – that AmeriCorps stipends should be sufficient enough that members don’t need to rely on food stamps.

I’d describe his post as amusing, except 1) I think it’s *exactly* how such an effort would play out and 2) it tracks pretty much how the GOP machine reacted to AmeriCorps in 1994-1995.  It’s the same clowning, over and over.  It’s always going to be politics, and not policy.

Friday Music: Outsourced

By

On February 6, 2010

In Music, Personal

Unholy Rouleur Jim’s feeling darkly – go check it out, and try not to feel guilty about enjoying the fruits.  And in case you need some prompting, here’s some of what he’s digging up:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4sqishGuYw[/youtube]

Just Being

By

On January 31, 2010

In Personal

Somewhere south of Cannon Falls, Minnesota.

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