Scandal

Now we see dereliction of duty in Benghazi, resulting in the deaths of four Americans including the ambassador to Libya; now we see the IRS target conservative groups; now we see the DOJ  go after the Associated Press and other news reporters and organizations, rationalizing their actions by claiming that leaks were threatening national security. In short, we see the tactics of the totalitarian state.  

One week ago one of my oldest and best friends died. I internalize my grief as stress; as I have a heart condition, this is unfortunate. My heart literally hurts with the loss of my friend. I have observed a curious phenomenon: he is more present to me now in his absence. 

Admonition

So, after all the posturing, gaffes, mudslinging, distractions, lies, character assassination, punditry, ad nauseam...we vote Tuesday (that is, those of us who haven't already). Seldom has an election been of such consequence. Do we change horses or do we just change saddles? I would advise voters to get out of their comfort zones and actually research and investigate; of course, I doubt they will. After all, more people vote for American Idol than vote for president. Now, don't get me wrong; I've never approved of universal suffrage. I wouldn't deny the vote to women or blacks or any other voting bloc; I would deny the vote to the damn fools who vote for somebody because they'd like to have a beer with them. We're not voting for a sidekick; we're voting for the commander-in-chief and the leader of the free world. Get a grip, people!

October 16th 2012

This is the first entry in this blog, a site devoted solely to my misanthropic musings on the human condition. (There, now doesn't that sound pretentious enough?) I am afraid I find rather little about our species to admire and am overwhelmed by our narcissism (which is self-evident, given that I am demonstrating that trait here). Nevertheless, we are existential creatures in a deterministic universe and I recognize our frailty. Hence, my observations are tempered by the realization that we are all subject to the same emotional buffeting; we are, for better or worse, stuck with one another. Therefore, let us make the best of it.