Time Wounds All Heals, And I May Be It This Time, So This Round To You But The Game Is Far From Over

I watched The US vs. John Lennon last night. Good flick. I admit I don't know that much about him, never having dove headfirst into Beatlemania, but it seems he had a bit of a Messiah Complex. Which, hey, good job, I say. If more people had Messiah Complexes, and weren't, you know, sociopathic, but went around getting millions of people to chant things like "All we are saying, is give peace a chance", I might have more hope for humanity. Anyway, the movie focused on the part of John's life where he evolves from a moptop into a political activist, and the US government's attempts, under Nixon and Hoover, to intimidate and have him deported.

As an aside, one thing that struck me in this movie were the bits of Government propaganda used to support the Vietnam War in those days, and how similar... no, how identical they were to our present day Nixonish regime's propaganda. Lord, we need another Messiah!

One thing that troubled me about the whole incident was something G. Gordon Liddy said in the film. John Lennon was a British citizen, living in New York under a visitor's visa. It galled G. that a foreigner, who loved living in the US and enjoying the freedoms that our National forefathers provided would dare to criticize the US war policy. "If you don't like it, go back to Britain", was the sentiment. And, as anti-US policy as I am, it sounds like a good point. As a US citizen, it would be supremely galling of me to go hang out in London and criticize the Blair administration for it's part in the Iraq war, wouldn't you agree?

Where it breaks down is here. The favorite Republican slogan, said off-camera, of "Shut up, or get out" is so twisted and unAmerican that anyone who says it and believes it, and even worse uses it as a policy making idea, ought to be the ones that get bitchslapped. I feel that, something that is often not thought about in those circles is that America was not a nation founded on religion, or borders, or policy. It was founded on ideas of equality and human rights, regardless of where you come from or who you worship or what kind of hat you hang on your coatrack in the evenings, and as such should be able to stand up to the critical eye of truth, or survive the attacks of lies, whichever Nation the mouthpiece hails from. Obviously, America failed that test in Vietnam, and we are woefully failing it again in Iraq. When the powers that be try to silence people, regardless of their citizenship, it means that they're scared. George Bush isn't scared, which means that Peace & Love and all that hippie malarky has no champion this time around.

Okay, getting off my high horse now, whom I've named Lennon.

Well, I've been "tagged" by Miss Luongo, and when such an august persona as she tells you to write something, you do not decline. I have been told that I must blog about my answers to the questions in the following category: Things I Know By Heart. Before I continue, I feel I must offer the disclaimer that although this rather feels like one of those emails you get with a list of half-questions such as: Favorite Color? Most Embarassing Moment? Second Favorite Movie? etc... and you answer them and reply to everyone on the mailing list, additionally sending it to five new friends, who in turn have to answer, it is not. One of those emails, I mean. First off, it's not an email. It's a "tag you're it!" blog game. Secondly, I was tagged under the geas of Buffy the Vampire Slayer metaphors, and seeing as I'm such a starstruck fanboy when it comes to Buffy, I must oblige. It's like when religious people invoke their deity. God told me to do it, amen! Well, Buffy has commanded me, via her latest acolyte Miss Luongo, and the power of the Slayer compels me.

Man, sometimes when I write things, I realize how lost a cause I really am. Anyway, moving on.

Things I Know By Heart:
Two Novels/Poems/Plays: What am I, Abraham Lincoln? When I was in the sixth grade I was in a play called Snow White and the Six Dwarves. There were only six because Smiley went to Hollywood to do toothpaste commercials. It was a stupid play. But I knew my lines by heart, does that count? I hate poetry. It seems to me that poetry is a cheap economical affected way of saying things in a misleading manner. Say what you mean, dammit! I understand that it's all supposed to be pretty, and in the old days a good way to make chicks weak in the knees. But, give me a good novel any day. I don't know any novels by heart though, that's ridiculous. So...

Love guppy

			You mean all the world to me.
			Without you I can't be free.
			You make me pant considerably.
			You're my love guppy.

			You have the finest rosebud's taste.
			Without you my life is waste,
			I'll stick to you like Elmer's paste.
			You're my love guppy.

			I'd break through a citadel.
			I'd fight with a raging bull, 
			Though winning would seem improbable.
			You're my love guppy.

			My love's as strong as the mid-ocean ridge.
			You shine like the rainbow bridge
			or like that light inside my fridge.
			You're my love guppy.

			For you I'd consume haggis,
			or lose the joys of Bacchus,
			or live in sin with Mike Dukakis.
			You're my love guppy.

			No time's too long for me to wait.
			For you, I'd fight against Fate,
			though maybe you could lose some weight,
			You're my love guppy.

			Without you, I'd be not whole,
			I would have to sell my soul,
			or gulp a quart of Tide-E-Bowl.
			You're my love guppy.

			My passion is always mounting.
			I'm like a geyser founting.
			Well, maybe not, but who's counting?
			You're my love guppy.

			The love that is the more intense
			always has the most silence,
			like quiet bursts of flatulence.
			You're my love guppy.

			I know that my love is true.
			I know that you'll love me too,
			or I'll hold my breath 'till I turn blue
			You're my love guppy.

			I'd not forget you if I tried.
			You make me all warm inside.
			My love's as pure as Naugahyde.
			You're my love guppy.

			Then I hear the words let slip
			From betwixt impatient lips,
			"I want to have a relationship.
			You're my love guppy."

So I don't actually have it memorized, but that's poetry!

Two Films/Television Shows You Can Quote From:  Well that's easy. The Kids in the Hall. The funniest show ever made, and I quote from it on a daily basis. If not out loud, then at least in my head, because if there isn't someone else around who knows the show as well as I do, it's not funny. For instance: "Well I think the great leader is some sort of twisted ass freak!" Or, "I'm crushing your head!" Or, "I'm not being sarcastic." And, not to be too obvious or anything, but you had to see it coming. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Cordelia: "So, does looking at guns really want to make you have sex?" Xander: "I'm 17. Looking at linoleum makes me want to have sex."

Two Songs To Which You Know Every Word: Actually, I have a real problem with this. I don't know any words to any songs... at least, you know, not if the song is not playing at the moment so I can kind of stumble along with it, and that's only if I am extremely familiar with the music already. It's a serious mental block. I'm sure it has something to do with my disdain of poetry. When there's music on, I don't actually really ever pay attention to the words, which shocks my friends to no end. But, like I tell them, it's the music I care about, not the wooing of women by post-pubescent songwriters. Even when I really like the lyrics to something, I never commit them to memory. But having said all that, Scott, being so distressed over my handicap, saw his solemn duty as my best friend to teach me a song, and after days of practicing, (I'm not joking. Days.) I got this one down:

Show me the way to go home. I'm tired and I want to go to bed. I had a little drink about an hour ago, and it went straight to my head! -From JAWS.

Two Dishes You Can Make Without A Recipe: My Mom's special cheesecake, and tacos. If I buy the kind that come in that little yellow box.

Two Cities You Can Navigate Without A Map: I'm going to take this opportunity to be snotty about how well-travelled I am. Munich, Germany. Because I lived within an hour of it for six years and it's actually one of my top 2 favorite cities in the world. I spent alot of time there. The Hauptbahnhof (main train station) is one of my favorite parts of the city and makes a great starting point.
And while it may seem boastful considering what a maze the place is, but Venice. Because it's also one of my top 2 favorite cities and I've been there about 7 times, and because I know all of the major points and I don't mind wandering around it's back alleys lost for a few hours until stumbling upon a place I know. Actually, that's one of the most pleasurable activities in Venice. The other is riding the vaporetti (boat buses) around all day. San Marco piazza is sublime, too.

By the way, if anybody needs a personal tour guide, you know, I am totally for hire. For those two cities, or any other place I've been. Or not been. I'm really good at travelling.

And An Extra Question–What’s A Date You Always Remember, and What’s A Date You Always Forget?: This is the silliest question and reminds me more of those emails I was talking about than the other questions. But, the power of the Slayer compels me regardless, so, I always remember Christmas, because even if for some reason I didn't want to, the retail community makes sure that I don't. And I don't know of any dates I've forgotten, otherwise they wouldn't count as answers to this question, would they then? That was a very British answer in honor of John Lennon. Peace out.

Here's a picture of me in Prague which I thought of posting here because of the inherent personality-typing implicit in the tag questions. It's supposed to be mildly snarky. Probably it's narcissitic. Damn you, Myers-Briggs!

Comments

[Heather]

Look what you got for your birthday! Comment #100! YAY!

[spanky]

wow. and i didnt even try. I was busy wazving my shifty finger at people. naturally people here at work think im fromt he work release program. i look a little homeless.

[Heather]

Hey, better to look homeless than to be homeless. At least, that's what the homeless people tell me. They could be lying.

[Heather]

"Never do so much crack that you rob the same bank twice." New best advice ever.

[spanky]

thanks.

[SaranneFosselmanMiller]

At first, I must say, I logged on to tear up some ass in here, seeing that #100 had not been held for me. But then I saw that the birthday girl got it and I smiled a happy little thought in my head.

Spanky, I don't think that Gary was insulting you. The Church of the Subgenius is....well...I don't know what it is and I'm too lazy to find out. I do know it has something to do with sarcasm and spoofs. Like your funny little number about the bathroom and carrying the papers is maybe something the Church of the Subgenius would like. I'd have taken it as a compliment. I know Gary will correct all this if I am wrong. He's good at looking out for me when I'm making an idiot of myself. I can't beat that.

And, Spank, happy birthday, again and again and over and over.

Heather, LOVE THE SONG! I knew you'd come through for us. I knew we could break 100. We're like a band of blog termites.

I have to be domestic today because my mother is coming to my house tomorrow. Gotta clean and such.

[Cristy]

I like the new Mike coffee. It goes down well with my bloggy breakfast. Speaking of going places, Mike, are ya serious about the tour guide bit? Just askin... Have tax refund, will travel. (Added bonus if your make yo momma's cheesecake.)

[spanky]

I am his assistant christy and i can assist you in all your scheduling needs.

[Heather]

Aaaaaaaaaand, it's Spanky for the blog-block. Listen, Mike doesn't need your help! He doesn't need anybody! He's a loner, Dottie. A rebel.

[SaranneFosselmanMiller]

Huh?

[messiestobjects]

Hey Heather, shhh... anyone that wants to pay me to travel with them rules.

Cristy, email me. Or Spanky. We'll talk.

The Church of the SubGenius rules. The only reason I haven't joined is because I'm tired of copying everything Gary does. He always finds the cool stuff first, dammit.

[Heather]

Sorry. Sometimes I make a Pee-Wee reference and I don't even realize it. "Also, sometimes? I put my hands under my armpits and I smell them like this. It's bad." I have offically devolved into a quoting machine. It's not good.

[Heather]

Gary didn't "discover" the Church of the Subgenius. It's been around for a long time. I knew of it 6 years ago. Where you been? Out of the country?

[Gary]

Yeah Mike you got it wrong - Heather finds everything first. It's actually impossible to do anything she hasn't done, think anything she hasn't thought, etc.

[Heather]

No, it isn't, Jerky. It's impossible for YOU, maybe, but not impossible. Anyway, very sorry about all the quoting and general boisterousness. I'm going now. Someone commit a crime before Monday! Crime = good blogging.

[Gary]

Mike's the only one that loves me WAAAAAAAA!!!

All it takes to be a subgenius is to see the inherent coolness of Bob - his face actually. The church is not faith-based. It's FACE-based.

But that alone won't save you on X-Day. You have to pay $30 for that.

[Miss Luongo]

Saranne, you too can live a charmed life. all you have to do is like what you get. "Soup for dinner? Just what I wanted."

[Cristy]

I'll have to email ya on my MySpace... this page pops up my work mail (no-no).

[SaranneFosselmanMiller]

Julie, you are a genious! (differs from subgenius) Of course. I will now want everything I have and be perfectly content. Forever. And ever.

(I'll let you know how this works out.)

[Miss Luongo]

A raging sore throat? Fabulous! I wanted to lie in bed all day and watch Buffy.

[spanky]

I do not like sore throats and i will never want one. never.

Infact my deep "non wanting" of things is what provides most of my energy to go to work.

I do not want to be on welfare. I do not want the bank to take my car (although the cat and mouse of that would be fun till they caught me somewhere in jersey)

and i dont want to sit on the street with a can, collecting money for zig zag paper and tobacco. because when your that poor you roll your own smokes because you have nothing better to do while you are sitting on the street collecting change.

but being content is the secret i agree. wanting what you have is key in happiness, or the illusion of it atleast.

i look at happy content people and i am annoyed. not because I want what they have, but because they have (to my superficial eyes) not struggled like I have and therefore are less than. This is why I am a jerk. but you already knew that didnt you.

[youknowwho]

Wow...

So much koolness in one place (and door-key-ness too!!!)... I must say I am amazed...

But I know Mike, well a little, and he's never been caffienated in my experience... the model of, oh, valium... so laid back and all... it really does me proud...

The cheese cake he refers to is good but his Mom, later in life, made the real stuff and it was even better but by that time Mike was hooked on condensed milk and cream cheese and, well...

Ms L said, "And we're all disposable. Not alot of us. Not even a lot of us. But the lot of us." and that keeps me on track... we're all here for a while then it's on to bigger and better stuff...

Also good thread, "content," is good... it's the, "I have money - cool. I don't have money - cool" thing and it's all good. There's very little that we need but, man, I do like that surrund sound system I got for Christmas... and the dulcimers and banjos and such... well as Mike's parent I better back away... but you all carry on... I think this is # 121...

[SaranneFosselmanMiller]

Michael's parent, eh? Very nice to know that I use my real name when commenting. I need to assess this when fueling rocket suit talk.

So, I was reading "youknowwho" and I was like, OMG this person is AMAZINGLY insightful. Even moreso than M. Luongo. (sorry Jules!) I was hanging on every word and wondering how someone can say so much in so few words and make me rethink my entire outlook on life in an instant. (again, Julie, to date, is the only one who has ever been able to accomplish this with me because I am too intelligent to listen to the wisdom of another. And to think I went 14 years without her!) If you really are a parent, this all makes sense to me.

I need to start feeling more disposible. I take everything I do very seriously and insist that I am the only one who can carry out such tasks and that I am the best one for the job, etc., etc. I think if I could feel more like a plastic Glad-brand food container (keep it or toss it) my life would become amazingly fulfilling and content.

Come on, guys I'm pushing for 150 here.

[messiestobjects]

Hey Sarannemeter, what are you trying to do, give my Dad a big head? That's the last thing I need... Anyway, he was quoting Julie. Reading comprehension these days, I tell ya.

Hey, I've got a new post. Go contribute!

[SaranneFosselmanMiller]

Duh!