Mt. Merapi and the Sublime

It's amazing how something so beautiful can also be so deadly. Indonesia's Mt. Merapi erupts, killing scores and devastating villages surrounding it. And yet, it is beautiful. Last year, I attended an art show at Claremont Graduate School where one of the graduating artists spoke of the "sublime": nature's immense and transcendent beauty and danger, where the observer can, simultaneously, be dwarfed and taken out of himself. Here's a picture which exemplifies that concept...

Popcorn

Sick of politics and/or anything else lately? Here's something to cheer you up (if only a little). Ain't science wonderful?

Back to the Future

Reruns. With the so-called teaparty (actually, the same ol' social conservatives/right-wingers) on the ascendant in the Republican party, it's back to the same agendas. Fortunately, they only control the House and thus can't get their views made into law. Another good thing: they just can't sit back and complain and "just say no" anymore. Now they have to take some actual responsibility for governing. Their true colors should be on display for all to see.

MacBeth

I heartily recommend this version of MacBeth which appeared recently on PBS' "Great Performances"! Patrick Stewart was excellent in the title roll - better than I've ever seen him. In fact, all the performances were excellent, especially the three witches and Kate Fleetwood as Lady MacBeth. The production, which originated in Stratford and moved to Broadway, is in modern dress, and takes place in an authoritarian, eastern Europe-type state and is mostly shot in a cramped, claustrophobic concrete hell - what looks like an abandoned factory or prison. At times, it takes on the ambiance of a horror story what with its witches and cruelty and blood and overall feeling of enclosing gloom and fear. Very inventive! (It's coming out on DVD on January 11, 2011.)

Prop 19

So Prop 19 lost. I have to say that, though disappointed, I'm not surprised. It seems like legalization is the rational thing to do given the large-scale civil disobedience going on concerning cannabis use. There's so many arguments in favor of cannabis legalization, and they have been enumerated so many places, that I hesitate to go into them here. Let me just point out that, like the woman in the photo above, drug prohibition doesn't work. As with alcohol prohibition, it merely forces use underground where organized crime can exploit it. Were we to legalize cannabis, the Mexican cartels would be crippled since much of their activities are funded by pot smuggling. Also, Prohibition makes criminals out of casual and medical users who, quite rightly, form a contempt for the law. Cannabis has a long history, and its criminalization is a recent thing. It is not nearly as destructive as other drugs or, even, alcohol. It also has beneficial effects medically. For those of us who value personal liberty and freedom from overbearing interference by government, its continued criminalization is foolish and offensive. Too bad this rational measure was defeated. Another reason to distrust the "will of the people."

Begin

Start here. 

My first attempt at a blog. Yeah, I know, I'm just joining the crowd, but it's kind of fun to think aloud about my life and my times and maybe have a few people see it. I welcome any and all comments, as long as we can keep things civil. I'll use this space to express my thoughts on pretty much everything in my life (with a few exceptions, of course), and invite discussion from any readers. I'm writing as a gay man, so my thoughts will express that perspective. I may also put up photos or drawings I like, so beware ;-)! I'll also post about politics, art, film, books, and anything else that comes my way. I may be alarmist at times and take meandering excursions at others, thus the title - points for its source. 

It'll take a while to get used to this, so bear with me. My model is Andrew Sullivan whom I've been reading for years. So, let's go...