It's nice to see -- that is, if I'm interpreting my so-called "sitemeter" correctly -- that so many of the same people come back every few days to check up on how Blue is doing and if he's updated the blog. I appreciate that, and would like it even more if those same people would comment on the site. After all, you're practically the paying public.
I know who you are in all but name...remember that.
Well, maybe not...but I do know your ISP!
That doesn't do me a lot of good, does it?

Hot damn! back after an enjoyable weekend!
Why was it enjoyable? Because I went to a Halloween party that wasn't a complete wash. It was actually fun. Some creative costumes (mine included, if I do say so myself), some OK grub, and a couple of humorous anecdotes, which I will now relate to you, gentle readers.
OK, so the link above? Wasn't my costume. But that one was good. My friend Zach (party host) dressed up as a Price Is Right contestant; his friend Tony did the "Magnum, P.I." thing (see above link); and I, your humble narrator, dressed up as what I like to call "1980's Broadway/Solid Gold male dancer at rehearsal."
OK, now just think about a guy dressed up like Jennifer Beals. I had 'em rolling.

If you haven't been reading Andrew Sullivan's pieces that appear in Salon, I recommend you do so. They're great -- especially this one.
Here's the money shot, for me:

Because the essence of bigotry is to reduce the complex, varied, human individuality of a human being into a racial cipher. It is to smelt the irreducible complexity of a person into a racial caricature. It is to deny individuality; it is to give someone no space to think for him or herself, to free to be a person, and not a mere member of the group.

To me, this freedom is an irreducible core of what liberalism should be. It is about a person's right to think for herself with dignity and respect. It doesn't mean that you can't disagree vehemently with such a person, subject her views to withering scrutiny, rhetorical barbs or logical dissection. What it does mean is that you do not play the race card or any other card when engaging that person's views. And one of the key signs that much of today's left is actually, demonstrably illiberal, intolerant and reactionary, is the way in which this is now a common feature of leftist discourse.

Wow.

I've done some interesting stuff in the past couple of weeks, though. Want to sit through it? OK!
I went on a little "round the Great Lakes" trip. Went to visit a friend in Chicago, went to a concert in Toronto, and then, to top it all off, went to a wedding in Philadelphia. OK, so I suppose technically Philadelphia isn't on the Great Lakes, but the other two places are.
Oh, and I also went to see J Mascis in Detroit.
Full weeks. Am brain dead.

Man, have I been busy!
I've been volunteering for a political campaign, making enemies at work, and...well, that's about it, I suppose. I don't get it...I sit down at the computer every day, and yet I can't find the time, or really even bring myself to update this site.
I may be fresh out of ideas, kids. Just maybe.

So again it's been some time since I posted anything up in here. What, something like ten days, right? What possibly could have happened in that time?
Well, for one thing, I guess Robert Torricelli dropped out of his Senate race, placing the 'Publicans perhaps in prime position for a power push. How's that for alliteration? Only took me three minutes!
But wait, what's this? The New York Times thinks that, in order to "do what's right," New Jersey Republicans must allow a suitable replacement to run (link requires registration.
I like Andrew Sullivan's take better. What a simpering, cynical, finger-pointing mess the Torch must be, and what a load of crap in the Times.

Ok, does anyone else think that Stephanie Zacherek doesn't make "The Banger Sisters" sound like a good movie, even though she wants to? Not saying Zacherek is a bad writer (although I've pretty much disagreed with all her movie assessments), but the whole "finding out Mom has a past" movie is dumb anyway, but "finding out Mom has a past as a groupie" is just sick!
And how precious is it that Goldie Hawn plays an aging groupie? Her daughter played a groupie too! Do you see the connection? Get it? Ha!

OK, so it's been a week or so since I posted. So sue me! I'm sure everything I wanted to say between then and now has been said, but let's just see...
1) Bush's speech to the UN was great...
2) Ben Affleck's new TV show sucks...
3) And despite whatever Scott Ritter might say, even the New York Times has its doubts (link requires registration) about weapons inspections...
Guess that about covers it. Goodnight.

Just a quick clarification:
FoxToledo, which I praised yesterday for running a program other than the live coverage of the weepfest, was running the same program as Fox5 in NYC.
And, lest anyone think that the FoxToledo station is bold or anything like that, remember that Fox doesn't have a network news anchor like Dan Rather or Tom Brokaw to shepard us and our feelings through tragic events.
Thank God, and may God protect us from those who tell us what is OK to feel. Just like he protects us from those who know best.

So here we are -- a year removed from 9/11/01, and what's the status? Isn't that the question all the networks, media outlets, and news organizations are trying to answer? Have we changed? How should we have changed? And so on...
Judging by much of the media coverage today, I would say not much has changed. Part of me cringed slightly at the three-hour "hug-a-thon" that was the name-reading at Ground Zero. Part of me understands it, and ALL of me certainly goes out to those that lost loved ones there. However, I think in the hazy mists of maudlin displays we've lost our focus on what September 11 really was.
In my mind, it wasn't just a tragedy, like a train wreck, plane crash, or when a carload of kids on their way home from prom gets plowed into by a drunk driver. Yes, the deaths of 3,000 people on American soil IS tragic, but the act, the EVENT itself was a dastardly act of aggression. It was an attack, and therefore something to be responded to, not simply mourned.
We've lost sight, I think, of what really happened on that day which, if not for what happened, would be remembered for its azure sky and unseasonable warmth. The United States was attacked -- the reason why isn't really important. On another day the U.S. was attacked -- December 7, 1941 -- I doubt anyone wanted to know why. That was a question not asked in those days, because it simply wasn't important. Attacking another sovereign state -- whether because you wanteded its land, want to install your brother on its throne, or because you thought its oil embargo against you was unfair and itself an act of war -- was a no-no, and if it was done it meant war. Japan understood that, and they did it anyway. But, more importantly, we understood that the only response to an attack is a war. End of story.
But, in our touchy-feely culture, I guess we want to know why. We want to connect and begin the healing process.
Not me. I don't care if I ever understand the mentality and motivations of Islamist radicals hell-bent on purifying their religion and making sure all infidels are taken care of. I don't care if they understand me or my way of life, and I certainly don't demand they modify their practices and policies to my liking.
I'm rambling here, but you might get my point.
I just wanted to say "bravo" to FoxToledo, which during the weepfest was the only channel to cut away and show the images that have the power to remind us of what actually happned, not just the results of what happened (Here's what happened: terrorists attacked and brought down my favorite buildings in the world. Here was the result: thousands died.)
It was sad and tragic that so many lost husbands and wives, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers. But it would be truly tragic if those who inspired, perpetrated, and facilitated the act weren't dealt with in the harshest possible manner.

Just a quick update before I dash off to the office...
The weekend flew by, not enough time, there's never enough time, etc... (see "Jessie's Song" and remember fondly).
No flaming wreckage at the Air Show, but it was as hot as I've always imagined Hades to be. People were sitting under the wings and fuselages of the static aircraft, just trying to catch some shade. Boy, that blacktop really makes you cook.
By the way, in response to some queries, the "Stars" link is a song by the band Hum. I highly recommend picking up one of their two full-length albums; however, I believe they are now defunct, so if someone offers you concert tickets, they're fake.

Oops, must go to get my press pass for the Air Show. I believe it's all access, including some limited flying privileges.

My stars!
A busy weekend for yours truly. Must cover many things, and as an intrepid but incompetent (intrepidly incompetent?) small-town journalist, I'm balking at the prospect.
Actually, not really. I need the bucks, and it's all fun stuff. The Toledo Air Show is in town, and high school football is as pure as the sport gets. I used to think college football was exciting -- I still do, of course -- but get thee to a D1 (see #86) or D2 (click on SportsDesk link) high school game if you want reall blood-and-guts football.
Go team.

But, I suppose since summer is over, it's time to turn our attention to less childish things...
Item! The weekly newspaper I work for is now online! You can check us out at The Mirror's website! Not too much content up there yet, but Dan the Web Guru is nothing less than a miracle worker, so stuff will be coming up regularly.
I have no actual news or feature stories up there yet, but I do have a sports article if you click on the "sports" link.

Well, it happened. I lost my Dennis Haskins voice-mail message! Damn it all!
Like Icarus, I flew too close to the sun on waxen wings. I showed off one too many times, and forgot to resave the message to my archive. Damn it all again!
Well, I suppose I can relate the story of how I actually met TV's Mr. Belding -- I was in Brighton, Michigan for a friend's bachelor party. We returned from an evening of carousing and whatnot to the Courtyard by Marriott, at which was being held a "Hawaiian Tropic" pageant. And, near as I can figure, Haskins was the emcee or judge or something.
He was hanging in the lobby when we met him. He had a mustache, which sort of threw me, but other than that he was the same lovable Mr. Belding I grew up with.
The message he left on my phone was "Hey hey hey hey! What is going on here, BLUUUUE?"
I thought I was going to weep tears of purest joy...

I haven't hit up the ol' blog recently, but I've been so damned busy! Writing, covering events and whatnot, reveling, laughing, hoping and dreaming...it's been a real rollercoaster.
One thing of note did happen to me, though. I met Dennis Haskins, who is perhaps better known as Mr. Belding from TV's Saved By The Bell!
As someone who spent much of high school watching at least three consecutive episodes of said show (you know, it was on after school -- we'd snack, go outside for a covert smoke, etc.), I must say it was a thrill.
Haskins even left a message on my voicemail, so I could prove it to those who would be naysayers.
Priceless...

So anyway, I went up to Mackinac Island for a friend's wedding this past weekend, and what a remarkable place (to a certain extent). I don't much care for touristy things, but I was slightly impressed at the geography of the island, as well as its historical significance. For example, I can just picture the British (who held the fort during the War of 1812) shelling American ships as they went through the Straits.
However, I didn't care for the overpowering smell of horse dung and urine. Call me delicate if you must, but it was pretty foul. It sort of reminded me of turn-of-the-century Lower East Side in NYC, when rivers of raw sewage ran free in the gutters.
Ah, history. It ain't pretty, but I love it anyway.

Thank God the ol' Billster pointed out my spelling errors. So I was all like, "Sorry, Your Majesty, but where I come from, "Bill" has three L's!"
His words: "I wish I never angled to get on your site."

My friend Bill points out today that, in the face of such carnage and destruction, Israel is showing remarkable restraint. You know, I can think of another Western-style democracy known for its remarkable restraint in the face of heinous acts. That's right, I'm talkin' 'bout the U.S. Many nations, I'm sure, would have levelled as many Arab nations as possible in the wake of September 11, if they had the capabilities to do so. We, on the other hand, proceeded slowly but surely towards the nation that harbored the enemy, took them out, and stopped while we studied what our next move should be.
All the more reason why we support Israel. They are the U.S., except smaller, a few thousand miles away, and surrounded on all sides by people who want them dead.

Anyone who doubts that the U.S. is right in methodically (or slowly, depending on your view) planning to take out Saddam Hussein should read this Economist article. It's a thoughtful, painstaking look on why, simply put, Saddam Hussein is the worst leader in the world today. My favorite line is this: "But wishful thinking in the face of mortal danger is bad policy."