Open Thread

Posted by BooMan | Sep 25, 2005 | 38 |

Some good football games today. The Eagles game was a classic. Steelers-Patriots is a great match-up. But I hate waiting all day for the Giants to play. Screw night games, football should be played while the Sun shines.

What’s on your mind?

About The Author

BooMan

Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly. He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.

38 Comments

Salunga on September 25, 2005 at 4:55 pm

Go Eagles it was a scary ride. Yeah its gut wrenching waiting for your team to play on Sunday night.
- BooMan on September 25, 2005 at 4:57 pm
  
  funny listening to Dan Dierdorf, one of the meanest nastiest offensive linemen in NFL history, grit his teeth and call David Aker’s 30-yard game winning field goal “heroic”.
  - CabinGirl on September 25, 2005 at 9:02 pm
    
    That was the only part of the game I caught, but it was great!
sbj on September 25, 2005 at 5:08 pm

This doesn’t fit in with the sports theme, but I don’t know how long it mightbe ’til the next open thread, and I wanted to forward on this copy ofa letter I received from a friend. It’s quite compelling!

No Place for a Poet at a Banquet of Shame

by SHARON OLDS
[from the October 10, 2005 issue]

For reasons spelled out below, the poet Sharon Olds has declined to
attend the National Book Festival in Washington, which, coincidentally
or not, takes place September 24, the day of an antiwar mobilization in
the capital. Olds, winner of a National Book Critics Circle Award and
professor of creative writing at New York University, was invited along
with a number of other writers by First Lady Laura Bush to read from
their works. Three years ago artist Jules Feiffer declined to attend
the festival’s White House breakfast as a protest against the Iraq War
(“Mr. Feiffer Regrets,” November 11, 2002). We suggest that invitees to
this year’s event consider following their example. –The Editors

Laura Bush
First Lady
The White House

Dear Mrs. Bush,

I am writing to let you know why I am not able to accept your kind
invitation to give a presentation at the National Book Festival on
September 24, or to attend your dinner at the Library of Congress or
the breakfast at the White House.

In one way, it’s a very appealing invitation. The idea of speaking at a
festival attended by 85,000 people is inspiring! The possibility of
finding new readers is exciting for a poet in personal terms, and in
terms of the desire that poetry serve its constituents–all of us who
need the pleasure, and the inner and outer news, it delivers.

And the concept of a community of readers and writers has long been
dear to my heart. As a professor of creative writing in the graduate
school of a major university, I have had the chance to be a part of
some magnificent outreach writing workshops in which our students have
become teachers. Over the years, they have taught in a variety of
settings: a women’s prison, several New York City public high schools,
an oncology ward for children. Our initial program, at a 900-bed state
hospital for the severely physically challenged, has been running now
for twenty years, creating along the way lasting friendships between
young MFA candidates and their students–long-term residents at the
hospital who, in their humor, courage and wisdom, become our teachers.

When you have witnessed someone nonspeaking and almost nonmoving spell
out, with a toe, on a big plastic alphabet chart, letter by letter, his
new poem, you have experienced, close up, the passion and essentialness
of writing. When you have held up a small cardboard alphabet card for a
writer who is completely nonspeaking and nonmoving (except for the
eyes), and pointed first to the A, then the B, then C, then D, until
you get to the first letter of the first word of the first line of the
poem she has been composing in her head all week, and she lifts her
eyes when that letter is touched to say yes, you feel with a fresh
immediacy the human drive for creation, self-expression, accuracy,
honesty and wit–and the importance of writing, which celebrates the
value of each person’s unique story and song.

So the prospect of a festival of books seemed wonderful to me. I
thought of the opportunity to talk about how to start up an outreach
program. I thought of the chance to sell some books, sign some books
and meet some of the citizens of Washington, DC. I thought that I could
try to find a way, even as your guest, with respect, to speak about my
deep feeling that we should not have invaded Iraq, and to declare my
belief that the wish to invade another culture and another
country–with the resultant loss of life and limb for our brave
soldiers, and for the noncombatants in their home terrain–did not come
out of our democracy but was instead a decision made “at the top” and
forced on the people by distorted language, and by untruths. I hoped to
express the fear that we have begun to live in the shadows of tyranny
and religious chauvinism–the opposites of the liberty, tolerance and
diversity our nation aspires to.

I tried to see my way clear to attend the festival in order to bear
witness–as an American who loves her country and its principles and
its writing–against this undeclared and devastating war.

But I could not face the idea of breaking bread with you. I knew that
if I sat down to eat with you, it would feel to me as if I were
condoning what I see to be the wild, highhanded actions of the Bush
Administration.

What kept coming to the fore of my mind was that I would be taking food
from the hand of the First Lady who represents the Administration that
unleashed this war and that wills its continuation, even to the extent
of permitting “extraordinary rendition”: flying people to other
countries where they will be tortured for us.

So many Americans who had felt pride in our country now feel anguish
and shame, for the current regime of blood, wounds and fire. I thought
of the clean linens at your table, the shining knives and the flames of
the candles, and I could not stomach it.

Sincerely,

SHARON OLDS
- Nancy LeTourneau on September 25, 2005 at 5:56 pm
  
  Very powerful. It would be fun to hear if she gets a response.
BrendaStewart on September 25, 2005 at 5:19 pm

The after effect of Rita has sent to me the solid rain since about midnight last night and so far all day today…is expected to rain here all week long. We have tornado watchs and warning out all around this area of the country.

Then when I got home from Memphis Friday night late, I went out in the dark to feed my dogs and did not notice my germanshepard being sick. Yesterday I went out in the afternoon, and she was very sick..her breed has what is called hipdysplasia and she has been having problems with this for a year now. I had to have her put down today…out in this god forbidden rain and such, the vet came out and we made hr not feel her pain any more. I am heart broken, for she was my best friend…well one of the best friends I have here at my house. I know now that she is not hurting any longer. I hate to admit this to anyone but you know, I cried like it was a human. I did when her mother died to…they were my babies and they both were so loyal to me. They protected me with all their might. I will surely miss her and her mother more as the days go on. I decided to come here and try to talk to you all. I gave the bad news to my children and I just know how lonely I will be now. So you folks will have to listen to my wo-wo, pity pity me from me now…I could laways talk to my shepards and they seemed to know what I was saying and how I felt.
- BooMan on September 25, 2005 at 5:29 pm
  
  days like these are the toughest. My big old pup is almost 10 years old and he is beginning to have trouble with the stairs. I can tell he is nearing the end. And I can’t face it at all.
  
  Nothing is harder than having to make the decision you had to make today. I hope you’ll be okay after a while. But it will take some time.
- markinsanfran on September 25, 2005 at 5:34 pm
  
  I would cry too if my dog died. They do know what you are saying, not the information part but the emotional part. I’m sorry for your loss.
  - markinsanfran on September 25, 2005 at 5:38 pm
    - BrendaStewart on September 25, 2005 at 7:28 pm
      
      My daughter who passed, had a dog just like yours. Susie was her name. I adore those kind of dogs. They are so funny. Just last Nov. I had my son take her to the vet and had her put down too. She was 14 y/o and was crying out with arthritis and I am nto sure but I think she must have had cancer. I never asked for an autopsy. I just knew she was in ill health and I could not do it myself so I asked my son to do it. I know she is in a better place in dog heaven, but we all grieve for those we love. Susie was like my Chris’ child. I still have her cat. I do not know what I will do when I have to put him down. Oh such a sad day…..
    - RonaldSnell on September 26, 2005 at 1:45 am
      
      Cute dog! Although I’m not a big fan of their barking level. How come all the small dog’s seem to have the volume turned all the way up?
      - BrendaStewart on September 26, 2005 at 9:25 am
        
        Maybe it is cuz of compensation! [due to size]
- Chamonix1 on September 25, 2005 at 5:34 pm
  
  I am so sorry..I can’t imagine it. I have 3 little ones, all girls, ages 10 (mixed sheltie/beagle/jack, rescued when she was 8 weeks old) next, 5 year old long hair non yapping adorable chihuahua, then 3 year old Brussels Griffon. These are my first pets and I can’t imagine life without them. I would be ruined, devasted, I worry about them all the time. I am so sorry. I totally understand your feelings about your pets, Tolstoy said animals are one step above humans…The companionship is like nothing else. Talk about unconditional love. They know when I am sick and play nurse. They are happy when I am happy. Just remember there is no more pain for your poor girl. Remember all the good times you had, nothing can take that away from you and remember all the time you did have with her… I am so sorry for your loss. I just can’t imagine it.
- chocolate ink on September 25, 2005 at 5:43 pm
  
  Taking a animal into your home whether it is a dog, cat, bird or whatever type of pet and having it become part of you or your family in the very best sense is a great joy and comfort to us humans. Having one of these family members die makes for no less pain or loss because they are not human and if we did feel nothing than I would think our humanity was lacking.
  
  There’s nothing wrong Brenda with crying and feeling lost at a family friend dying simply because your friend was not ‘human’. What makes us human is the fact that we can mourn the loss of all creatures, not just our own kind.
- Nancy LeTourneau on September 25, 2005 at 5:52 pm
  
  My heart aches for you Brenda. I have 2 dogs who are about 15. Lately I see signs and begin having to imagine being in your shoes and I just can’t bear it. I don’t have any advice – just that I understand how you feel.
- brinnainne on September 25, 2005 at 5:53 pm
  
  There is a reason for that saying “you look like you dog just died” — I think about the passing of my 7 1/2 year old Faerie Bear (I’m pretty sure he has 5 or 6 more years, but still) and I get heart-broken just thinking about it — I will have to deal with my grief and the boys’.
  
  Shepards are wonderful dogs, intelligent and loving — if there is anything I can do, please don’t hesitate!
  - brinnainne on September 25, 2005 at 5:56 pm
    
    my kids, AND my husband (he was one when the eldest son was born, 2 when the hub-tobe showed up and 5 when littlest joined us) — the only one here who has been with me longer is the ole Marley-cat — and he only outranks Bear by 3 months….
    
    Did you know that we share most of our DNA with dogs? Only slight diffs.
    
    I’m going to shhut up now — rambling.
- btower on September 25, 2005 at 6:27 pm
  
  Brenda,
  I fear the day I lose one of my pups. I am truly sorry for your loss.
  - BrendaStewart on September 25, 2005 at 7:33 pm
    
    OOOHHHHHHHHHHH, such a lovely shepard….such a good looking dog…don’t you just love them…..
- sjct on September 25, 2005 at 6:38 pm
- catnip on September 25, 2005 at 6:47 pm
  
  I had to have one of my cats put down a few years ago. Woke up in the morning and her breathing was laboured – took her to the vet’s and found out she had a tumor on her pancreas. There was no other choice at that point. That was Sly and she was 9 years old. I still miss her sometimes but I know I gave her a good life with lots of love each day.
  
  My oldest cat, Joey, is now 13. She’s healthy but you never know. I treat my pets like people I care about – tell them and show them I love them each day, remembering that each day could be their last. or mine. We only have this moment.
  
  Cry, cry, cry and smile at the good memories of your baby. She will never be forgotten.
- olivia on September 25, 2005 at 6:54 pm
  
  Oh Brenda… I’m so sorry. Losing a treasured pet is like losing a family member. Sending cyber hugs your way.
  
  {{{{{{{{Brenda}}}}}}}}
- BrendaStewart on September 25, 2005 at 7:31 pm
  
  Thank you, each and every one of you for your sympothy. It is truly appreciated. I have just gotten in with the break of rain to bury her. I just stood there with my tears still flowing….once they covered her up, I knew all will be well soon…
  
  Anyhow, thanks, kids, for your interest. YOu will never know how much I appreciate your love and tender words.
- CabinGirl on September 25, 2005 at 9:01 pm
  
  I am so sorry for your loss. I still miss my old Aussie girl Osha, and she’s been gone for 6 years now.
- Limelite on September 25, 2005 at 11:53 pm
  
  of loving pet owners is knowing when to let them go. We are so much kinder to our four-leggeds than to ourselves, don’t you think?
  
  How lucky you’ve been to have such faithful friends.
  
  After having to put down two horses and untold dogs over the years, I can tell you, it doesn’t get easier. It gets harder. But your heart just has to get bigger to make room for the next pet friend who’ll be sharing days, nights, and companionship with you. Because there will be another.
chocolate ink on September 25, 2005 at 6:49 pm

That I’m thinking after seeing bush on c-span getting his fucken military briefing and having the military say that we need a National Search and Rescue Plan(done by the military of course)in response to disasters like Katrina, Rita etc…

WTF..I thought 9/11 changed everything you stupid pricks and that’s why you-bushco-created Homeland Security and other agencies to make us safer and have a plan in case anything else happened and oh yeah threw Billions/Billions of dollars at these programs plus upping the Pentagon budget by a hundred Billion or so.(which hasn’t done jack shit except make us less safe and made a lot of you fucks rich)

Now bush is contemplating the fact that Katerina and Rita changed everything and we need a ‘new’ plan..more goddam money for another boondoggle piece of crap ‘Plan’ that will no doubt also be one major crony clusterfuck..

If the public even begins to buy this bullshit fucken idea I’m ready to contemplate somehow getting my wheelchair back from my nephew and getting to D.C. and crash and burn myself at the White House in the hopes someone will wake the fuck the public up. And ok if I sound a bit loony today it’s cause I’m kinda flying a bit from taking some extra pain meds…
- catnip on September 25, 2005 at 6:52 pm
  
  You made a helluva lot more sense than millions of dead sober Republicans.
  - chocolate ink on September 25, 2005 at 7:02 pm
    
    haha, thanks..when I take extra pain meds-which I’m not supposed to do of course-I get kinda loopy and always more talkative..I usually justify taking them though when I have to get out and do load of laundry and walk back/forth to laundry room in apt. complex here…as I know my feet in particular are going to be in for more pain and I’ll shortly be hobbling back and forth checking on laundry..well see what I mean..too much info and yaking..
    
    And I didn’t even mention the fact that having the military actually be in charge of any disaster instead of Nat. Guard and civilian organizations…one step closer to military takeover as far as I’m concerned..makes it much easier. And I got through this post without one damn cussword..amazing.
    - catnip on September 25, 2005 at 7:04 pm
catnip on September 25, 2005 at 6:54 pm

I was depressed. I had a really long nap. I woke up and read MB’s diary. I felt better.

Now, I just want to know what’s on everybody else’s mind because mine was on overload the past few days.
boran2 on September 25, 2005 at 7:01 pm

Speaking of football, I’m trying to teach my son so that he can be competitive in his flag football league. It is amongst the most frustrating things that I have ever done. He is constantly saying that he can’t do it despite my reassurances and encouragement. I’ve got to just keep reminding him that he has learned other things that he thought he could not do. I’ve got to stay calm. Argggh.
- catnip on September 25, 2005 at 7:07 pm
  
  When my daughter was young, she always thought she had to know how to do things before she even started the lessons – like gymnastics. I eventually got the sequence of things straightened out for her. 🙂
- brinnainne on September 25, 2005 at 7:27 pm
  
  Mine does the same thing, with a lot of things, he has a mean perfectionist streak in him (gee-wonder where that came from?!) — I always end up asking him, for example with baseball, if he really wants to do it, if he says yes (and with baseball he always does, he learned to swing a bat when he was 18 months old — long story for another day), then I say, do your best, not to be better than the other person, but to be better than you were yesterday. That and telling him practice, practice practice — it does not make perfect beacuse nobody is, but the practice is what it is all about.
  
  Speaking of practice — does yours tie his own shoes yet? Mine is still working on it….
ignorant bystander on September 25, 2005 at 7:16 pm

My better half just sent me this link:

What we did on our vacation

in which Teresa at Making Light quotes from and comments on this LiveJournal entry:

Hurricane Katrina-Our Experiences.

I urge you to read them both. I’ll quote a couple of paragraphs to give you an idea.

From a woman with a battery powered radio we learned that the media was talking about us. Up in full view on the freeway, every relief and news organizations saw us on their way into the city. Officials were being asked what they were going to do about all those families living up on the freeway? The officials responded they were going to take care of us. Some of us got a sinking feeling. “Taking care of us” had an ominous tone to it.

Unfortunately, our sinking feeling (along with the sinking city) was correct. Just as dusk set in, a Gretna Sheriff showed up, jumped out of his patrol vehicle, aimed his gun at our faces, screaming, “Get off the fucking freeway”. A helicopter arrived and used the wind from its blades to blow away our flimsy structures. As we retreated, the sheriff loaded up his truck with our food and water.

I know I should add some clever comment, but the eye witness account of Bradshaw and Slonsky stands on its own, and Teresa’s comments are the icing on the cake. Go read them.
olivia on September 25, 2005 at 7:21 pm

I’m excited that hockey season has returned! The junior boys (the 67s) haven’t lost a game yet (including pre-season). And the Ottawa Sens are playing the Toronto Maple Laughs right now, and they are already up 3-0 in the first 5 minutes.
- Cali Scribe on September 25, 2005 at 7:55 pm
  
  Love the “Maple Laughs” comment…tonight is the first San Jose Sharks game being broadcast on our local station — I’ve been in severe Dan Rusanowsky withdrawal for the past year plus! “He shoots, he SCORES!!!!!!!!!” Can’t really do it justice in print… 🙁
  
  As for football, the smell in the Bay Area atmosphere is that of our football teams stinking up the joint — combined 1-5 record. Raiders can’t even beat a team with an injured kicker…and the Niners toyed with my emotions before letting me down yet again. Gonna be a looooong season round these parts…
  - olivia on September 25, 2005 at 8:10 pm
    
    Hey! San Jose just signed a couple of our junior guys: Lukas Kaspar and Brad Staubitz. They also drafted Derek Joslin and Wil Colbert (last year’s captain). Joslin is back with the 67s this year. Btw, the team went to the Memorial Cup/Canada Hockey League Championships last year.
    
    Doug Wilson used to play for the 67s’ coach, Kilrea, and they remain good friends. I joked that the NHL entry draft should’ve been re-named the San Jose entry draft.
    
    Sorry to hear about your f-ball woes. We have a similar circumstance here in Ottawa w/ the CFL. The Renegades are a catastrophe.
Captain Future on September 25, 2005 at 8:04 pm

I’m going to ignore the Steelers loss and point you to my blog for a recap of press stories and photos (including a couple posted here) on yesterday’s march, plus some thoughts on preaching to the converted.
http://dreamingup.blogspot.com

Over and out.

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BooMan

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