The Speech

Ken AshfordElection 2008Leave a Comment

Here it is:

I thought it was amazing (although it reads better than his actual delivery — although, then again, his delivery was better than any other candidates’ could have been).

Obama managed to distance himself from the rhetoric of Wright (not a hard trick — in fact he’s been doing that for a couple of weeks now).  But then he was able to simultaneously embrace it, and the harsh and divisive rhetoric of others (both black and white), as being a fundamental problem that should be addressed.  When it comes to race issues, Obama was saying, attention must be paid, and this media-driven nonsense of wallowing in racial tension, rather than fixing it, does not help.

He avoided the obvious cheap political tricks that one would expect from a typical, and lesser, politician.  He spoke of lofty ideals and goals.  From a political campaign standpoint, it was brilliant, perhaps unintentionally, because it successfully cast Obama as the man to take on the racial divides of this country (Subtext: You hear that, uncommitted superdelegates?  Now if you choose against Obama, it’s almost like you are dismissing the goals he set out).

As one might expect, Obama fans are swooning, some even calling it one of the most important speeches on race relations in many decades.  Many conservatives, naturally, are being divisive and cynical, without any apparent irony that they are precisely the type of people of which Obama spoke.  The good news for Obama is that the media establishment — at least on television — seems to think it was a success.

The Last Five Years

Ken AshfordIraqLeave a Comment

Happy Fifth Birthday, Operation Iraqi Freedom!

U.S. Deaths Confirmed By The DoD: 3988
U.S. Deaths Pending DoD Confirmation: 2

Total: 3990

David M. Herszenhorn, NYT:

At the outset of the Iraq war, the Bush administration predicted that it would cost $50 billion to $60 billion to oust Saddam Hussein, restore order and install a new government.

Getting at the true cost of the war is difficult. Expenses like a troop increase were paid from the base defense budget, not war bills.

Five years in, the Pentagon tags the cost of the Iraq war at roughly $600 billion and counting. Joseph E. Stiglitz, a Nobel Prize-winning economist and critic of the war, pegs the long-term cost at more than $4 trillion. The Congressional Budget Office and other analysts say that $1 trillion to $2 trillion is more realistic, depending on troop levels and on how long the American occupation continues.

Among economists and policymakers, the question of how to tally the cost of the war is a matter of hot dispute. And the costs continue to climb.

***

All of the war-price tallies include operations in the war zone, support for troops, repair or replacement of equipment, reservists’ salaries, special combat pay for regular forces and some care for wounded veterans — expenses that typically fall outside the regular Defense Department or Veterans Affairs budgets.

The highest estimates often include projections for future operations, long-term health care and disability costs for veterans, a portion of the regular, annual defense budget, and, in some cases, wider economic effects, including a percentage of higher oil prices and the impact of raising the national debt to cover increased war spending.

Swamped

Ken AshfordLocal Interest, Personal, Theatre1 Comment

Light and/or intermittant blogging for a while.

Work is a bear.  And I’m in rehearsal for two shows:

(1)  The Nebula of Georgia, playing at Open Space Theatre on April 10-12, and April 17-19, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m.; Sunday at 2:00 (for tix and information, call 336-292-2285).  I play Lyndal, a goofy filling station owner in rural Georgia, in a comic drama about a family coming to terms with their past.

and

(2)  The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, presented by Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance, May 9-18, to be performed at SECCA, Winston-Salem.  Times and information to come (although you can always call 336-768-7655).  I play the Governor of Texas (played by Charles Durning in the film).  And yes, I do this number:

Don’t ask me how I plan to do this….

John Adams

Ken AshfordPopular CultureLeave a Comment

I caught parts one and two of the HBO miniseries John Adams last night.  It is very gripping and Paul Giamatti is amazing, so if you get a chance to see it (it’s being repeated many many times this week and next), you really should.  Or fire up the DVR.  A really interesting look not only at Adams himself, but the personalities of the characters with whom he was associated (Abigail Adams, Washington, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson).  You all know who those people are, but you actually learn about what kind of people they are.

War And Romance

Ken AshfordBush & Co.Leave a Comment

Bush laments that his advanced age doesn’t let him participate in his own screw-ups:

"I must say, I’m a little envious," Bush said. "If I were slightly younger and not employed here, I think it would be a fantastic experience to be on the front lines of helping this young democracy succeed."

"It must be exciting for you … in some ways romantic, in some ways, you know, confronting danger. You’re really making history, and thanks," Bush said.

Of course, we all remember that Bush had an actual opportunity to put his life on the line in a war, and he chose to avoid doing so.

This Week’s “Dear Abby Hijacked”

Ken AshfordDear Abby HijackedLeave a Comment

Today I am introducing, as a semi-regular feature on this blog, a segment called DEAR ABBY HIJACKED, in which I take letters to Dear Abby (printed earlier in the week) and provide my own answers without bothering to read what "Abby" said in response.

Simple concept really.  Might be fun.

So away we go with the debut installment:

DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend, "Richie," and I have been together three years. Richie watches his pennies, so I was very surprised two days before Valentine’s Day to return from a family trip and find a gorgeous vase of professionally arranged flowers and a small heart-shaped box of chocolates on my coffee table.

I was very impressed, surprised and excited. I asked Richie where he got them, and he told me the name of a high-priced florist. I was off work the day before Valentine’s Day, so I went out, bought expensive wine and filet mignon and made a fantastic home-cooked meal for him.

When Richie got home from work, I asked him again where he got the flowers, and he again named the florist. I asked if he really went and got them, and if they were really intended for me. (It was just so out of character for him to splurge like that. The arrangement must have cost at least $100.) When he didn’t respond, I probed some more. He finally confessed they were from a funeral his parents had attended the day before I got home.

Can you believe Richie was trying to pass off flowers from a complete stranger’s funeral as nice flowers he got me for Valentine’s Day? He lied to me. Now he says I’m ungrateful and that there’s nothing wrong with what he did! I told him he is greedy and cheap, and the thoughtful thing to do with leftover funeral flowers would have been to take them to a cancer ward at a hospital or to a local nursing home.

What do you think? Am I overreacting? I’m afraid this may be a deal-breaker. — ANN IN GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.

Dear Ann,

Yes, I think you might be overreacting.  Why was it important that Richie have spent actual money on you?  Do you measure his love for you (or your love for him) by the amount of dollars and cents he spends?

And why is it less "thoughtful" to give those flowers to you rather than to a cancer ward or local nursing home? 

The fact is, he DID get those flowers for you for Valentine’s Day, and it doesn’t matter that he was able to get them for free.  The same goes for the chocolates (which you seem to have ignored).

That said, there may be a problem if Richie is financially well off and can afford to splurge on you.  But perhaps he can’t.  Does he "watch his pennies" because he HAS to, or because he truly is miserly?  It’s not clear from your letter.  If it is the former, then cut him some slack.  If it is the latter, then consider this incident a red flag. 

Another red flag is the fact that he initially lied to you.  But before you castigate him for that, ask yourself why you think he lied.  Was he ashamed?  Have you been so materialistic as to make him feel ashamed?  If the answer to those questions is "yes", then the two of you have much to work out, and that includes you.  If the answer is "no", then — again — you have yourself another red flag warning.

Sincerely,

Dear Abby Hijacked

DEAR ABBY: Will you please suggest a response that will end the conversation when someone comments in a negative way on how young I look, and asks what I have done? I’m 69, but look a decade younger.

I grew up plain and poor, but became a successful professional and changed my appearance. I have had hair and makeup lessons, advice on clothing and cosmetic surgery.

I often receive rude comments from both strangers and acquaintances who have chosen to age "naturally." I’m not interested in answering their sly questions about cosmetic surgery, but because I’m usually accosted in social settings, I don’t want to be rude. I just want to make them realize that I consider their questions impolite and want them to shut up. Any ideas? — PRETTY CAN BE BOUGHT, WACO, TEXAS

Dear Pretty,

Perhaps the thing to do is to not take compliments about "how young you look" negatively.  There is no shame in cosmetic surgery, getting hair and makeup lessons, etc.  The prejudice against those things seems to lie within you, not others.  Why not just be up front?  Why not say "I care about how I look, so I had my face lifted?"  Or whatever.

People taking an interest in your youthful looks is not impolite.  It’s a compliment.  Take it as one.  And if they still look down on you because you won’t allow yourself to age "naturally", then find yourself a new set of acquaintances who accept your lifestyle choices.  But before you can ask others to accept your choices, be sure that you have accepted those choices as well, and are proud of them.

Sincerely,

Dear Abby Hijacked

Wilhelm Scream Compilation

Ken AshfordPopular CultureLeave a Comment

From Wikipedia:

The Wilhelm scream is a stock sound effect first used in 1951 for the film Distant Drums. Actor-singer Sheb Wooley is considered to be the most likely voice actor for the scream, having appeared on a memo as a voice extra for the film.

The Wilhelm scream has been featured in many films and television programs since. Alongside a certain recording of the cry of the Red-tailed Hawk, the "Universal telephone ring", the Goofy holler, the Tarzan yell and "Castle thunder", it is probably one of the best-known cinematic sound cliches.

A compilation:

Mississippi Voting

Ken AshfordHistoryLeave a Comment

With Obama’s huge win in Mississippi this week, Meteor Blades, a blogger at Daily Kos, remembers what he was doing 44 years ago in Mississippi — trying to get black voters registered.  It was the summer when three civil rights workers — James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner — went missing, and whose bodies were later unearthed in the Mississippi mud.

Good read.

The Skittles Caper

Ken AshfordCrime, EducationLeave a Comment

At least it’s not drugs:

Skittles NEW HAVEN, Connecticut (AP) — School officials have decided to go light on an eighth-grader caught with contraband candy in New Haven, Connecticut.

Michael Sheridan, an eighth-grade honors student who was suspended for a day, barred from attending an honors dinner and stripped of his title as class vice president after he was caught with a bag of Skittles candy in school will get his student council post back, school officials said.

Superintendent Reginald Mayo said in a statement late Wednesday that he and principal Eleanor Turner met with student Michael’s parents and that Turner decided to clear the boy’s record and restore him to his student council post.

Michael was disciplined after he was caught buying a bag of Skittles from a classmate. The classmate’s suspension also will be expunged, school officials said.

The New Haven school system banned candy sales in 2003 as part of a districtwide school wellness policy, school spokeswoman Catherine Sullivan-DeCarlo said.

"I am sorry this has happened," Turner said in a statement. "My hope is that we can get back to the normal school routine, especially since we are in the middle of taking the Connecticut mastery test."

Turner said she should have reinforced in writing the verbal warnings against candy transactions.

Michael had said that he didn’t realize his candy purchase was against the rules, but he did notice that the student selling the Skittles on February 26 was being secretive.

If You’re At All Interested in “Kristin”…

Ken AshfordSex ScandalsLeave a Comment

…the high-priced call girl with whom soon-to-be-former governor Spitzer had repeated liasons and "business" transactions, then this New York Times article is for you.

Or you can check out her Myspace page (her real name is Ashley Alexandra Dupre) although for all I know it won’t be viewable by the time you read this.

Or you can just ogle this picture and muse as to whether she’s worth $3,000 an hour:

Picture2b5

Here’s a snap of her Myspace (click to enlarge):

Picture2b1

Consider youself titillated for the day…..

UPDATE:  Her last blog entry, via Radar Online:

Thursday, August 30, 2007

positive energy will attract positive energy: Law of Attraction
Current mood: determined

Hello Everyone!! how are you?? This Blog i am going to just talk about my feelings on relationships…from a boyfriend/girlfriend, to closest friends, to family and business relationships…they are all the same to me…

The past few months have been a roller coaster with so called friends, lovers, and family…but its something you have to deal with and confront in order to move on…

I stepped away from each situation that happened and asked myself…

1) What is this person doing to make my life better? (financial, intel, drive, networking etc.)

2) How does this person make me feel? (happy, sad, motivated, depressed, constantly doubting, drama, etc.)

3) How is this person a positive influence in my life? (do they share the same interests, same dreams, does that person make me better when i am with them, or when they are in my life…i would be the same person if they werent in my life, but its just better with them in it…is my best interest always number one in their head ADoes that person drive you to be better?

*Is that person right there behind you when things arent that good, or even if they are??

*Will that person be an asset to your life…(will that person have value): doesn’t have to be financial, i am talking respect, courage, and umm RESPECT.

If you are in a relationship, and it is "doing absolutly nothing" for you, makes you feel bad about yourself or situations, just causing unessesary drama, and ruining things that you may actually care about…why would you want that in your life?? you need to surround yourself with the people that make you feel good, and that will help you get to that next step in your life. that is what a relationship is all about…growing and moving forward.

Surround yourself around people that are making moves, and doing what "they want and love" with their lives, positive energy…thats what life is all about…living. Because if you dont, misery loves company, they will only try to bring you down with them…but the question is, are you strong enough, to not let that happen?

Its hard to see if you let it get to that point…

…and then from all those answers you have to decide if that person is worthy of being a part of "your" life….because it is your life, your show…you decide who you want the characters to be…not the other way around. Every person is different, every person has their voice…can you recognize your voice, listen to it, and stick up for it??

Bless,

much love…aad

UPDATE:  Well, well, well — look whose songs are #1 and #2 of downloaded songs at Amie Street