Comments for The Strain of Gaiety

Comment on In Defense of Twitter in 140+ by Xander

Xander — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:23:47 +0000

“On Twitter, I follow people I know in real life and creative people whom I find interesting. (Notice I didn’t say celebrities.) By employing some simple selectiveness, I keep my Twitter meaningful and interesting to me.”

Bam! AWESOME! You hit the hammer on the head when it comes to what Twitter means to me. Especially that paragraph. Bravo.

Comment on Front row seats at the diversion by Tom T

Tom T — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:57:44 +0000

“Money and assurances are how things get done in Washington” – While I find it hard to believe that anything of real value ever gets done anymore in Washington, a quick peek at http://www.govtrack.us/ demonstrates that there are vast amounts of bills and resolutions being worked on at any given moment – some seemingly beneficial to society and others astoundingly stupid http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=hc111-131. While we’d like to believe that every one of these pieces of legislation is carefully weighed and the opinion of the public sought, we all know that laypersons don’t have the time nor the energy to pay any attention (I know I don’t). Into this enormous vacuum enters the special interests. However, maybe because I grew up in the area, and a lot of the people I went to school with ended up working either for non-profits or NGO’s, I also believe that there are quite a few special interest groups actually working for the betterment of society. A quick peek through my Facebook contacts shows people I know working for Jobs for Justice, National Association of Consumer Advocates, International Youth Foundation, and a couple of friends who actually work in Congress. Seeing their status updates lets me know that some days are better than others, but they are always optimistic, even if the road is long and mostly uphill.

I would definitely like to see the media tackle special interests, the type that undo our environmental laws and advocate tax breaks for multi-national conglomerates. My usual source is Frontline on PBS.

But I also have a little hope that there are enough crusaders out there working for my interests so that I can keep going to the pub, the place where I’m really making a difference.

Anyway, we’ll pick this up when I get out there. I’ll catch up on my Chomsky and Marx.

Comment on Banana-addled by m. berru

m. berru — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:18:53 +0000

That’s awesome! I love it.

Comment on Someone was heard to play “Axel F” on the clapped-out piano by Tom

Tom — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:48:04 +0000

I’m off to the Container Store today to buy plastic tubs to store all the books I’ve purchased that I seemingly never get around to reading. They’re starting to take up too much floor-space, closet-space and space-time.

I’d skip the Melville poetry.

Comment on In Defense of Twitter in 140+ by Courts!

Courts! — Wed, 06 May 2009 22:16:19 +0000

PS – I’m HAPPY the “age of oversharing” is here. Finally, the world has caught up to ME.

Comment on In Defense of Twitter in 140+ by Courts!

Courts! — Wed, 06 May 2009 22:15:02 +0000

Brilliant letter, D4th!!! I feel the same way and I love that you so astutely observed -with eloquence – that Twitter allows us to cut to the chase with those we follow once we meet up in person. Bravo.

Comment on In Defense of Twitter in 140+ by T.J.Roe

T.J.Roe — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 18:42:49 +0000

Nicely Done.

Now I need to tweet this cute thing my cat did.

Comment on I’ve Been a Damned Fool by shaun parker

shaun parker — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 05:20:56 +0000

Nice breakdown sir. Thank you.

Comment on I’ve Been a Damned Fool by Maiya

Maiya — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:46:18 +0000

I’ve always said “Facebook Schmacebook”!

Comment on I’ve Been a Damned Fool by marcia

marcia — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:17:30 +0000

This is poignantt, brilliant and sad all swirled into one.