I always associated Tangled Up in Blue with the Whitlams too. I was pretty ambivalent to Bob Dylan back then.
That first Living End CD is still a staple of my lawn mowing music rotation (not a bad thing – but it does only include music that can be played loud).
Huh. It just this moment occurs to me that it was *20 something* years ago that I was sitting on an Edinburgh-bound train when a conductor slapped me in the back of my sleeping head and accused me of leaving a guitar in the aisle. My response gave rise to the title quote.
FWIW, gay marriage per se is not much of an issue for me. Instead, as the author discusses, marriage is a proxy for family for many secular privileges and responsibilities. So from the perspective that gay men and women — and everyone else for that matter — should have equal access to these privileges and responsibilities, I fully support gay marriage.
There are different categories of “they both do it” which have varying degrees of truth/dishonesty. But in short, lies are not created equal and I would say that the Republican/Tea Party platform is further off in fantasy-land.
The reason to start talking, however, is to get past the rhetoric and at least try to get some facts on the table. FWIW, discussions with real people are not nearly as maddening as what is on television since there are things that normal left- and right-leaning individuals agree upon. For instance, on the hot-button topic of health care and PPACA, despite my position that for a first iteration it is largely positive, there are legitimate grips about the legislation. (Although I argued that Republicans largely lost their leverage on the legislation when the strategy to block at all costs was executed and central Democrats had to appeal to the liberal base.) But broadly speaking, regarding the rhetoric in the press, there is little incentive for most politicians to say things that are both clear and meaningful.
noticed that you followed up the death of alice swanson. i am saddened to see that she has faded into history — on FB, the group formed to mourn her disappeared. do people forget that soon?
You know, I don’t know that I can really give a fair defense/explanation of how the community works around fellow cyclists who’ve been killed, but I can say this, without qualification -I think about her regularly, and she motivates the work I do.
Yeah, that sign actually went up just a few weeks before we arrived. I was a bit disappointed in that, but that was was but a tiny tiny dent in what was otherwise one of the most amazing weeks I’ve ever had.
Why so down on VA? I doubt VA will be the holdout it was in Loving v. Virginia. Maybe this is NoVA bias, but I like to imagine based on my few trips around the state that there is hope. I know there are gay folks in Roanoke, Charlottesville, Richmond, and Virginia Beach. They have parents and friends, and that is it. Virginia is not the state it was in 1967 or so I hope anyway.
Whose culture? Is he referring to what Glenn Beck called “white culture”?
I think a key difference between conservatives and liberals is not mentioned here. It’s fear. Conservatives are afraid of change and anything too foreign or unfamiliar. Liberals are less likely to fear change and tend to welcome diversity, both in terms of culture and ideas.
I can’t really listen to other versions of this song without feeling too off-kilter. When I was little my family would often listen to my Dad’s reel-to-reel tapes (made from the vinyl, see, so the records wouldn’t wear out) in the evenings. This song, more than any of the others, brings me back to being 6 on a winter evening sitting on my Dad’s lap.
Interesting. My take on conservatism and liberalism is quite the opposite.
For me as a conservative, I see that the government’s primary role is to protect us from each other, not to protect us from ourselves. The government is not there to give us a safety net. That is what family, church, and charity is for. If the people want Planned Parenthood, they will give their own money to it. If the people want Head Start, they will give their own money to it.
Liberals, it seems to me, do not believe that people are smart enough or wise enough to manage their own affairs. They must be told what cars they can drive, what toilets they can buy, what light bulbs they can buy, and what insurance they MUST buy. People must have their money taken from them to give to the elderly in their retirement, because people are too foolish to save for their own retirement, and their children and grandchildren too selfish to take care of their parents and grandparents. Money must be take from the people and given to the “right” charities, because the people are too stupid and selfish to donate their money properly.
That is why conservatives give more money, time, and blood to charity than liberals do. Conservatives believe it is OUR job, as individuals and voluntary associations, to take care of those in need. Liberals believe that it is the government’s job, and so must TAKE the money to do those things.
Which begs the question, if the people are too selfish, stupid, and unwise to manage their own affairs and to help those in need, how can they possibly be altruistic, smart, and wise enough to vote for those who will make those decisions for them?
I actually want to comment on your Arlington Turkey Trot pictures post (from 2007). I just sent you a FB msg that went to your ‘other’ inbox, and the contact link here gives an unusable email. :)
Michael Roy
Thanks for posting Family Affair. It was on the first album I ever bought, There’s a Riot Going On, a classic. SATFS was a great band.
MB
I’m not sure there could be a cooler first album than that, Michael.
Will
I always associated Tangled Up in Blue with the Whitlams too. I was pretty ambivalent to Bob Dylan back then.
That first Living End CD is still a staple of my lawn mowing music rotation (not a bad thing – but it does only include music that can be played loud).
James Young
On this, we agree completely.
MB
Huh. It just this moment occurs to me that it was *20 something* years ago that I was sitting on an Edinburgh-bound train when a conductor slapped me in the back of my sleeping head and accused me of leaving a guitar in the aisle. My response gave rise to the title quote.
Invisiblehand
I’ve never heard of the upstairs lounge fire.
FWIW, gay marriage per se is not much of an issue for me. Instead, as the author discusses, marriage is a proxy for family for many secular privileges and responsibilities. So from the perspective that gay men and women — and everyone else for that matter — should have equal access to these privileges and responsibilities, I fully support gay marriage.
Invisiblehand
There are different categories of “they both do it” which have varying degrees of truth/dishonesty. But in short, lies are not created equal and I would say that the Republican/Tea Party platform is further off in fantasy-land.
The reason to start talking, however, is to get past the rhetoric and at least try to get some facts on the table. FWIW, discussions with real people are not nearly as maddening as what is on television since there are things that normal left- and right-leaning individuals agree upon. For instance, on the hot-button topic of health care and PPACA, despite my position that for a first iteration it is largely positive, there are legitimate grips about the legislation. (Although I argued that Republicans largely lost their leverage on the legislation when the strategy to block at all costs was executed and central Democrats had to appeal to the liberal base.) But broadly speaking, regarding the rhetoric in the press, there is little incentive for most politicians to say things that are both clear and meaningful.
MB
Has it been a while?
Yes, it has.
manfred rogerson
noticed that you followed up the death of alice swanson. i am saddened to see that she has faded into history — on FB, the group formed to mourn her disappeared. do people forget that soon?
MB
You know, I don’t know that I can really give a fair defense/explanation of how the community works around fellow cyclists who’ve been killed, but I can say this, without qualification -I think about her regularly, and she motivates the work I do.
MB
It always takes me by surprise
how dark it gets
this time of year.
freewheel
thoroughly enjoyed this
MB
Didn’t really think much about what made a good video, with this one.
Still working on that.
MB
The comments at Richmond Sunlight regarding a bill trying to change the requirements for “demonstrating competency” are worth a read – http://www.richmondsunlight.com/bill/2013/hb1326/
MB
I had a tougher time finding out what, exactly, the background check involves. I can’t vouch for the veracity/accuracy of the info at this link, but it makes sense – http://www.armedcampuses.org/content/laws-concerning-carrying-concealed-firearms-virginia (scroll to the bottom of that page).
washcycle
They got a new sign since ’96.
MB
Yeah, that sign actually went up just a few weeks before we arrived. I was a bit disappointed in that, but that was was but a tiny tiny dent in what was otherwise one of the most amazing weeks I’ve ever had.
Vivian J. Paige
I was watching “This Week” when Rove said that. And totally agree on where VA will end up.
InvisibleHand
This will be an interesting gubernatorial election coming up.
tx2vadem
Why so down on VA? I doubt VA will be the holdout it was in Loving v. Virginia. Maybe this is NoVA bias, but I like to imagine based on my few trips around the state that there is hope. I know there are gay folks in Roanoke, Charlottesville, Richmond, and Virginia Beach. They have parents and friends, and that is it. Virginia is not the state it was in 1967 or so I hope anyway.
freewheel
“Conservatives care a lot about culture…”
Whose culture? Is he referring to what Glenn Beck called “white culture”?
I think a key difference between conservatives and liberals is not mentioned here. It’s fear. Conservatives are afraid of change and anything too foreign or unfamiliar. Liberals are less likely to fear change and tend to welcome diversity, both in terms of culture and ideas.
Joy
I can’t really listen to other versions of this song without feeling too off-kilter. When I was little my family would often listen to my Dad’s reel-to-reel tapes (made from the vinyl, see, so the records wouldn’t wear out) in the evenings. This song, more than any of the others, brings me back to being 6 on a winter evening sitting on my Dad’s lap.
Jack
Interesting. My take on conservatism and liberalism is quite the opposite.
For me as a conservative, I see that the government’s primary role is to protect us from each other, not to protect us from ourselves. The government is not there to give us a safety net. That is what family, church, and charity is for. If the people want Planned Parenthood, they will give their own money to it. If the people want Head Start, they will give their own money to it.
Liberals, it seems to me, do not believe that people are smart enough or wise enough to manage their own affairs. They must be told what cars they can drive, what toilets they can buy, what light bulbs they can buy, and what insurance they MUST buy. People must have their money taken from them to give to the elderly in their retirement, because people are too foolish to save for their own retirement, and their children and grandchildren too selfish to take care of their parents and grandparents. Money must be take from the people and given to the “right” charities, because the people are too stupid and selfish to donate their money properly.
That is why conservatives give more money, time, and blood to charity than liberals do. Conservatives believe it is OUR job, as individuals and voluntary associations, to take care of those in need. Liberals believe that it is the government’s job, and so must TAKE the money to do those things.
Which begs the question, if the people are too selfish, stupid, and unwise to manage their own affairs and to help those in need, how can they possibly be altruistic, smart, and wise enough to vote for those who will make those decisions for them?
Cheryl
Hi Mark,
I actually want to comment on your Arlington Turkey Trot pictures post (from 2007). I just sent you a FB msg that went to your ‘other’ inbox, and the contact link here gives an unusable email. :)
MB
P.S. – I love Rick Astley, too.
Jayran
I leave for a few years and this is what I come back to?
*This* is a worth cover:
https://youtu.be/kYICwkCnUIk