The Blôgüle

Note to self (2010)

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:54:00 +0000

Dear Me:

~~If you are reading this, it's 2029, the machines have taken over. It's up to you to send Kyle Reese back~~

~~If you are reading this, I am already dead~~

No, seriously. I'm about to tell you all about yourself as of December 31st, 2009.

First, the basics. You are 22 years old, you graduated from The College of New Jersey on May 15th, 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, and you've been happily dating Melissa for over 2 1/2 years. The good news, you have a great job working as a clerk for the U.S. Census Bureau. The bad news, you still live at home with your parents.

Why, you ask?

You currently have $44.05 in your bank account. Your monetary ventures since graduating from college, to put it lightly, have been a little less than lucrative. Still, you've managed to succeed modestly, gaining valuable political campaign experience as a Field Director for the Atlantic County Democratic Committee and as Communications Director for the Hammonton Democrats. And, even though every single candidate you worked for lost, you managed to gain respect from everybody involved. I think the energy from that experience carried over to your current job, where the people you work with are really fun to be around and you get great benefits like "working 40 hours a week" and "daily lunch breaks" and "getting paid."

In other news, Melissa's job at the library has allowed you to catch up on your reading (Her decision to pursue a career in Library Science, in addition to being awesome, stands to benefit you greatly). In just the last couple of months, you've read 5 1/2 novels, including the first of Isaac Asimov's Foundation series, Do Android's Dream of Electric Sheep?, and Dune. And though you haven't been able to keep up with video game culture as much as when you were 13, you picked up the latest Western RPG for Christmas, Dragon Age, and it's pretty freakin' awesome...

...

..Wait, stop. Will my potentially 53 year-old self think that Dragon Age was important enough to include on an annual life update? (I certainly hope so, but probably not.)

Moving right along, the national political stage has been in shambles for the past year or so, particularly since Barack Obama took office on January 20th, 2009 (you were there by the way, the inaugural address was awesome!). From the cries of "Socialism!" and "Death Panels!" on the right to the Filibuster-proof Democratic Senate dropping the ball on the public option and voting for a piecemeal version of Healthcare Reform on Christmas Eve, American politics has been a roller coaster ride of laughable proportions. I'm sure you'll be a much better judge of this year's historical importance (Behold! The power of hindsight), but I'd say we've accomplished a lot.

So, that's you in a nutshell. Also, the events of 2009. Also, video games for some reason. I hope this has been informative (entertaining?). Regardless, I'll be back next year for another update.

Regards,

You

New Political Developments

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:08:00 +0000

I got a job!

For strategic reasons, I cannot reveal the details of my duties or who I'm working for, but I can say that I'm making enough money to start saving for a move, and it involves working in the political arena (Yay me!)

I woke up at 6:30 AM completely unaware of what would unfold today, my first day on the job. I showered, dressed, ate three eggs, and drove to my new workplace where I met my new boss. He sat me down with a hot cup of coffee and we began discussing strategies to implement over the next two months. As the pile of scribbled notes, business cards, contacts, and research began piling in front of me, I slowly came to terms with the nature of my new position--Boss man! Nananananuhnuhnuhnuh nanananananuhnuh nuh BOSS MAN!!! (BANG! POW!)

For this organization I have three colleagues (four if you count my boss), and I have the most experience in our collective field of work. Technically, I'm entry-level, so yeah. When I realized this, I did my best to take charge; developing schedules, setting policies, giving input on mission strategies etc.

Coming into today, I assumed I'd be chief wordsmith. I left the office today directly in charge of the whole operation, including five staffers. Will I succeed?

Stay tuned to find out.

Rob Andrews Town Hall in Glassboro, NJ

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:24:00 +0000

I was there.

Standing in line for two hours, listening to a barrage of unsourced generalized questions, rude yelling, and the spread of proven falsehoods. A few legitimate concerns got through, some really informed people showed up. Overall, however, this wasn't the tastiest slice of Americana.

After having my ears pierced by blood curdling screams of "NO ABORTIONS FOR MY BABY!!!" and "AMERICA IS THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!!! DURRHHH!!!!", it was my turn at the mic.

"Good evening, Congressman Andrews. My name is Matt Brinn, I'm 22 years old, and I'm from Folsom, NJ. You said earlier that this Healthcare bill would cost $1 trillion over the next ten years. How many people here showed up because they think that the cost is way too high?"

The flag-waving crowd goes wild. Obama supporters sit silently.

Wait for it...

...

..Wait for it

...

"Where the HELL were all of you when George W. Bush was wasting $3 trillion on the war in Iraq? How about when he gave $700 billion to the CEOs of the banks with no oversight?"

Stunned silence from the flag wavers, roars of approval from the Obama crowd.

"Sixty four percent of all bankruptcies are caused by medical bills. Congressman Andrews, I commend you for standing up in front of us today. I'm a recent college graduate, and I'm uninsured. I'm currently looking for a job, hence the suit, and more people agree with you than are represented here. Thank you."

As I exited the building, I counted four high fives.

UPDATE: I made the Courier Post. Page 2 of the article says:

"And Matt Brinn, 22, of Folsom, turned the opponents' enthusiasm against them when he asked audience members to clap if they objected to the cost of reform.

'Where the hell were all of you when George W. Bush spent $3 trillion on Iraq,' snapped Brinn, drawing a fresh round of cheers from reform supporters."

Unfinished thoughts...

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:57:00 +0000

Here I will collect a number of thoughts which I believed would make for excellent blogging, but didn't make it past the first sentence or two.

- First and foremost, I have a job interview on Monday, August 24th with Democracia USA, a nonprofit organization that registers Hispanic voters in the tens of thousands each year. Details in the days to come.

- Driving down an interstate highway is a nerve wracking experience for most drivers. What unsettles me the most is the bits of exploded tire strewn about the shoulder of the road. Violent murderous accidents, it seems, happen every few feet. Clean up crews find it important to remove crushed cars and dead bodies, why not the destroyed tires?

- How much of a road repair construction company's budget is allocated to the purchasing of orange rubber cones? All of it, I think, judging by the thousands of cones forming an impenetrable wall around each individual project.

- Why does a single black hair insist on peaking its head out of the small mole near my hip no matter how many times I tweeze it? You'd think it'd get the message.

That is all.

The Philadelphia Zoo

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:47:00 +0000

HBoO and I went to the Philadelphia Zoo today. We saw lions and lemurs, flamingos and monkeys, tortoises and pelicans, and a zillion other animals big and small. One thing I noticed, the Philadelphia Zoo needs to hire a new person to write the little blurbs about each animal. You know, those little signs posted next to each habitat that give you the name and basic information about each animal. Not to be a snob, but they were written poorly.

[snobbery]

I remember reading:

"A wonderful animal at the zoo is the pelican." Was this written by a kindergartener?

"Animals are awesome." Stamped onto several of the bird displays.

"Africa south of the Sahara."There's got to be a more succinct way to say this. Perhaps that prefix that reminds me of delicious sandwiches on torpedo rolls can be used in this situation?

I guess what I'm saying is, I really want/need a job, and "Zoo Signpost Technician" fits neatly within my qualifications. Why is the person who crafted the text on these signs employed as a writer and I'm not? *Pout*

[/snobbery]

In other news, swan-shaped paddle boats are really fun. Ask HBoO, we pulled off some pretty impressive maneuvers, including a series of hairpin turns and a complete spin at full speed. If the summer Olympics introduced a new sport at the 2012 games, and that sport was "Trick Paddle Boating," I'd definitely expect to take home the gold.

The end.

Opeth, the king of misheard lyrics

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 03:15:00 +0000

Since the dawn of musical recordings, lyrics have been misheard. Without those trusty liner notes, we'd all think that Jimi Hendrix was excusing himself to kiss some guy, Bruce Springsteen was lit up like a douche, and Elton John was embracing Tony Danza ever so gently.

However, the progressive death metal band Opeth takes the cake. When deadly badgers aren't making his weed and he isn't fixing his pants, Mikael Akerfeldt and his thick Swedish accent make their best effort to make growling vocals sound discerable. The result is almost always an uncanny valley of lyrical hilarity.

Here's the song Bleak from the Blackwater Park album. I'm going to write out the lyrics as I hear them.

Bleak

Beating,

Hearts still beating from the claws

Teeming,

Self defeating of the laws

Aching,

Ribs are aching from the blood

Fading,

You are fading from my sight

Rancor morning, coldness lingering in sun

Shrouding to nightmares of the sun

Moving

I am moving closer to your side

Luring

You are luring me into the night

Crying

Who is crying for you? I am.

Dying

I am dying fast inside your tears.

Rancid towards the reament faster yet

Clearing thoughts, my mind is set

Devious movements in your eyes

Lead me from the hills

Reconcile white clouds with your lies

And fills them with me

You're closer to final will

You're staring right past me in dismay

A liquid seeps from your chest

And drains me away

Mystery conshrouds your thin white man

and draws me without

Coping this mop this diamond veil

It's splendor is might

Help me cure you

Atone for all you've done

Help me lead you

A sonic taste of gum

Devious movements in your eyes

Lead mefrom the hills

Reconcile white clouds with your lies

And fills them with me

You're closer to final will

You're staring right past me in dismay

A liquid seeps from your chest

And drains me away

Mystery conshrouds your thin white man

and draws me without

Coping this mop this diamond veil

It's splendor is might

Let's all see David

tainting a phantom

Tried shrill

shivering claws

I hated with words and a feast to come

Crabs in my way sparked tradition

This is all you need

***

Here are the real lyrics.

What are your favorite misheard lyrics?

Kids with brain cancer should be allowed to be vampires if they want to

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 04:21:00 +0000

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear of a show titled "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"?

A lethal dose of camp? Check. Bad makeup? Check. Intriguing plotlines with multidimensional characters that provoke deep philosophical debate? Huh?

I spent the last two days in New York City with HBoO glued to the TV watching the second season of Buffy. For those that don't know, it's Joss Whedon's first series. Before DollHouse, before Serenity, before Firefly, there was Buffy the Vampire Slayer. A ridiculous premise, Sarah Michelle Gellar is a 90 lb. martial arts expert who kills superhuman vampires in a small California town, Buffy succeeds in transcending and/or subverting almost every norm of television for teens.

I'll give you an example...

In one episode, a childhood friend of Buffy's moves to Sunnydale (the small town where the show is set) and attempts to court her. In the process, we learn that he is affiliated with a group of dorky goth kids who want to become vampires. Foolishly, he makes a deal with the show's ultimate baddy to deliver Buffy (the Slayer) and the dorky goth kids to the real vampires in exchange for immortality through vampirehood.

For the first three quarters of the episode, this kid is portrayed as the usual weekly threat to Buffy and her friends. Towards the end, however, when Buffy is fighting the kid in an attempt to save everybody, his motives are revealed. He has brain cancer and rather be immortal as a vampire than suffer the torments of a malignant terminal illness. He ends up getting his wish, but, seconds later, Buffy puts a stake through his heart. The theme, quite plainly, is that there is no such thing as pure good and evil, just endless shades of gray.

That's some serious shit when you consider that the title character's fighting stance looks like this:

But, seriously, it's really good. If you haven't already, check it out.

"Hello again" and "The internet has officially destroyed my attention span"

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 14:56:00 +0000

Wow. It's been almost three months. Please excuse me while I list my excuses for not blogging...

I was:

1) Looking for jobs

2) Getting back in shape

3) Re-earning lost college credits...

...

63) Dead at the time...

...

546) Scaling Mt. Evere...

...

87767) I'm stupid

There. Now that that is over with. Let's pick a subject and begin where we left off (Not politics, that's like my job now).

---

I'm currently rereading the Lord of the Rings trilogy because I am the paramount manifestation of cool. Much like the guy who calmly walks through a ghost town wearing awesome sunglasses and long trench coat that flaps badassedly in the wind,

I sit alone in my room catching up on the lore of a fictional race of midgets with hairy feet.

Those two are pretty similar, right? ..Right?

So, I was reading The Fellowship of the Ring when I realized that I have absolutely no attention span when reading a book. My thought process goes something like this...

"Setting down his lilies carefully on the grass, he ran to the tree. There he saw Merry's feet still sticking out--the rest had already been drawn further inside. Tom put his mouth to the crack..." LOL "...and began singing into it in a low voice." I wish they included Tom Bombadil in the LOTR movies. But, no, I don't. It just wouldn't have worked. I was bored to tears the first time I read about him. Now, though, I'm a much better reader. Maybe I should reread a lot of the stuff I hated in high school. Nah, that stuff sucked. "...'I was too careless on the hill-top,' answered Strider..."Wait, Strider? When did Aragorn show up? Aww shit, I did it again. Now I have to go back and reread like..three chapters. Damnit, I don't feel like it.

And then I put the book down and don't pick it up for a month. Does this happen to anybody else, or am I functionally retarded?

President Obama channels Abraham Lincoln in a speech on national security...

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Sat, 23 May 2009 16:03:00 +0000

President Obama made a speech last night criticizing the previous administration for undermining the United States Constitution while simultaneously proposing to suspend habeas corpus for "enemy combatants," a move that is in direct defiance to the Geneva Convention. After refusing to release photographs of detainees being tortured, and now holding POWs indefinitely without trial, Obama has succeeded in increasing the opacity of his self-proclaimed transparent administration.

While standing in a room alongside the United States Constitution, Obama said, "...there may be a number of people who cannot be prosecuted for past crimes, in some cases because evidence may be tainted, but who nonetheless pose a threat to the security of the United States." So, for the past eight years, we have held prisoners without trial with no clear evidence of crimes committed.

He continued, "...my administration has begun to reshape the standards that apply to ensure that they are in line with the rule of law. We must have clear, defensible, and lawful standards for those who fall into this category." In order to deal with these (innocent until proven guilty) detainees, Obama says he will change international POW laws so that prosecutions can be made. Until then, these people will be held indefinitely without trial.

During the presidential campaign, both Barack Obama and John McCain were looking to align themselves with principles mandated by (arguably) our greatest president, Abraham Lincoln. Unfortunately, by breaking international law, Obama is initiating a wartime policy that Lincoln would have supported. In September of 1862, Lincoln issued the following statement:

"Now, therefore, be it ordered, first, that during the existing insurrection and as a necessary measure for suppressing the same, all Rebels and Insurgents, their aiders and abettors within the United States, and all persons discouraging volunteer enlistments, resisting militia drafts, or guilty of any disloyal practice, affording aid and comfort to Rebels against the authority of United States, shall be subject to martial law and liable to trial and punishment by Courts Martial or Military Commission:

Second. That the Writ of Habeas Corpus is suspended in respect to all persons arrested, or who are now, or hereafter during the rebellion shall be, imprisoned in any fort, camp, arsenal, military prison, or other place of confinement by any military authority of by the sentence of any Court Martial or Military Commission."

Lincoln allowed all supporters of the Confederacy and conscientious objectors of the war to be imprisoned by the military indefinitely without trial for the duration of the Civil War. Now, without any evidence of crimes committed, Obama is circumnavigating international law and our own military courts in order to hold POWs in the War on Terror without trial.

It was wrong then, and it's wrong now.

-Matt

Wow, that was fast...

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:22:00 +0000

As I lined up for the history department's graduation ceremony, the professor who taught my least favorite class in my final semester bumped into me. She turned and I watched as her expression instantly transformed from annoyance to confusion. "Matt, you're graduating? I wish I would have known, your grade for my class would have been a little better." I had absolutely phoned in my efforts for Modern Latin America, a class that neither counted towards my major nor was it required for liberal learning. After accidentally misreading my program planner, and, thinking I needed a South America course to complete my major, I wasted my final college course on her boring class. But she didn't know any of that. "Thanks," I said, "I passed, so that's all that matters."

Yes, I've completed my college education. Like millions of others across the nation, I, too, was forced to wear a black cellophane cap and gown while enduring extreme temperatures. I was packed into a football stadium, where I had to listen to faculty, students, and guest speakers drone on about how lucky I was to graduate during the worst economic climate since the Great Depression.

In fact, a terrible economy has been the signature motif of my senior year. In my final semester, I wrote a 26 page thesis comparing our time to the Great Depression. I wrote articles on how the economy was negatively affecting my part time job, how it was forcing my little sister to choose military service over a college career, and how my fellow graduates were moving home or incurring further debts in post-graduate programs because of slim job prospects.

I'm moving home. I have no job and no money. It feels a lot like the plot of a Broadway show or those stories that immigrant great-grandparents tell. "I arrived in New York with the clothes on my back and $12 in my pocket," they say. What will I tell my great-grand kids? "I arrived home with a fancy piece of paper and a mountain of debt," I'll say. It doesn't really have the same ring to it.

I sat near the back during the ceremony, right in front of a professor who has been a member of the department since 1958. Having to sit through the pomp and circumstance fifty-one times makes the whole thing a lot less significant, I learned, because he was whispering loudly to a fellow faculty member throughout the duration of the ceremony. "They should teach them how to fold their diploma into a paper hat," he chuckled, "Then they can use it when they apply at a fast food place." I turned to him and smiled. "I hope mine comes with instructions on how to fold a paper airplane," I said. Then I walked up and smiled for the camera.

-Matt

GOP Fail...

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:18:00 +0000

Last week, in an attempt to appear relevant, House Republicans banded together to vote down Barack Obama’s $819 billion stimulus package. After four straight years of heavy losses, however, the move became nothing more than a symbol of the GOP’s imminent collapse. The bill they opposed passed 244-188. Plagued by dwindling numbers, outdated ideology, and a homogenous “rich whites only” image, the Republican Party is now being forced to make a choice. Change or die.

The success of the Republican Party since the Reagan Revolution was made possible by the coalition of fiscally conservative bankers and socially conservative southerners. This unlikely team put Ronald Reagan in the White House in 1980 and 1984, took over the House and Senate in 1994 to combat Bill Clinton, and narrowly won George W. Bush the presidency twice, in 2000 and 2004. Partially in response to the failures of the Bush presidency, and partially due to the lackluster campaigning of John McCain and Sarah Palin, the coalition collapsed in 2008, forcing fiscal conservatives to jump ship as Republican rhetoric swung into the realm of racism and fear. The result was a Democratic sweep, putting Barack Obama in the White House with a near filibuster proof Congress.

The scramble since November 5th has been as entertaining as it is pathetic. Lacking the ability to block liberal legislation, the Republican Party has transformed into a party of socially conservative whiners led by Rush Limbaugh, a controversial conservative pundit. In a short article published just before inauguration day, Limbaugh wrote, “…I’ve been listening to Barack Obama for a year-and-a-half. I know what his politics are…I hope he fails.”

After a week of dodging questions related to Limbaugh’s treasonous remarks and his newfound central role in Republican policy, President Obama issued a statement. He said to Republican leaders in Congress, “You can’t just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done.” This was said soon after John Boehner, House Minority Leader, cited the funding of bike paths, Planned Parenthood and a cleanup of Washington DC’s National Mall as the reasons why Republicans refused to support Obama’s massive stimulus package. And, despite Boehner calling Republicans “the party of better ideas, better solutions,” recently on Meet the Press, their only contribution to the political process as of late has been the enigmatic SarahPAC, Governor Sarah Palin’s pompous tribute to herself.

The collapse of the Republican Party, as wonderful as that sounds, is dangerous for democracy. Since the bitter Republican/Federalist rivalries of the 1790s, America has maintained a balanced government with two viable parties keeping each other in check. As the Republican Party implodes and the Democrats enjoy their unbridled chance to lead, a strong opposition party with fresh ideas must rise from the ashes of neo-conservatism and provide Americans with their most important right. Choice.

-Matt

Matt is tagged for a meme, signals triumphant return...

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 04:06:00 +0000

Some anonymous person (HBoO) convinced me to write 25 things about myself that are reasonably unknown.

Here we go:

1. When I was a kid, my bus stop was a quarter mile down the street. My friend and I would walk past several ranchers to get there, each with its own dirt or stone driveway. One of the dirt driveways had a deep hole that would always fill with water when it rained. During winter, the water would freeze, creating a miniature ice rink. Every day, we'd "skate" on it or smash the thin ice with our feet, at which point we'd pretend to drown. The water was just a few inches deep which leads me to believe that my 9 year old imagination was just like LSD.

2. Once, I challenged a kid on my street to a race to the top of the street and back. I lost the race...and my dignity.

3. I have a small mole on my right thigh that always grows a single black hair. It may or may not be cancerous.

4. I hold my cell phone in my front pocket. If I forget to put it there before I go out, my pocket periodically vibrates.

5. I brush my teeth the exact same way every time.

6. I often think about trying stand up comedy.

7. I don't know how to properly use a tissue. When I have a cold, I snot rocket into a toilet.

8. I shower with my back facing the water.

9. Though I owned and played Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic 2, Sonic 3, and Sonic and Knuckles for several years, I never beat any of them.

10. I owned NHL 95 for Sega Genesis. Often I would create a character named Matt Brinn and give him maximum stats because I'm awesome.

11. I used cheat codes to beat Grand Theft Auto III, but not Vice City or San Andreas.

12. I think my favorite cheesy song from the 80s is Cum on Feel the Noize by Quiet Riot. Honorable mention-Sand Castles in the Sand

13. If all else fails, I have a great radio DJ voice.

14. And a movie trailer voice.

15. In a world...

16. I joined the internet community on July 1st, 2001 at the now deceased planetnamek.com with the username "MangaMan". I participated in lengthy Dragon Ball Z debates and text RPGs.

17. I say LOL out loud when I think something is only kind of funny.

18. When I did Tae Kwon Do, we had to memorize the meaning of each form that we did. I can still recite the meaning of the white belt form from memory.

19. Chun Ji means literally the heaven and the earth. It is in the orient and is interpreted as the creation of the world or the beginning of human history. Therefore, it is the initial pattern played by the beginner. This pattern consists of two similar parts, one to represent the heavens and the other, the earth.

20. My favorite movie is Amelie. I'm not afraid to admit that I bawled when the cat moved the beads. I still tear up when I see it.

21. No other movie has made me cry. Grave of the Fireflies came close.

22. I recently watched Firefly, the Joss Whedon show that got canceled after 14 episodes. It's the best show I've seen since Cowboy Bebop. I guess this means that one of my favorite things is sci-fi western comedy dramas that last a season or less before releasing a movie spawned from DVD sales.

23. Bad acting in a good movie stings my soul. Bad acting in a bad movie makes life worth living.

24. When I take my glasses off, I'm compelled to rub my eyes incessantly.

25. It's been thirty hours since I've consumed a food that isn't pizza.

***

Wow, twenty five things is too many. Until next time...

-Matt

House agrees to write legislation to bail out auto industry...

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 02:09:00 +0000

I just read the the front page of the New York Times. In response, I wrote all of my representatives to convince them to vote against another cataclysmic mistake in a series of cataclysmic mistakes. Here's the text of my letter:

I ask you, with utmost urgency, to oppose the $25 billion bailout for the big three auto companies. Though there are numerous reasons to vote against it, I will focus on just one: the source of the funds.

According to the New York Times, the $25 billion is likely to be taken from "subsidized loans intended for developing advanced fuel efficient cars." I think this sends the Big Three the wrong message. If we give them money that was intended to be used to revamp the industry, it will encourage them to continue nefarious business practices that caused their collapse.

To understand their backwards mentality, turn on any TV and watch the car commercials. These companies are emphasizing big vehicles that conform to an outdated concept of "manliness." It is obvious that these companies are not listening to consumer demands for smaller more fuel efficient vehicles; otherwise they would have evolved their business model according to their customer's desires.

We cannot reward a private industry that fails to supply consumer's demand. Bailing out these companies not only undermines our capitalist system, it will rob the American people of crucial funds that should be saved for progressive policies that provide jobs for our ailing economy.

Once again, vote NAY to any piece of legislation that provides the auto industry with tax dollars. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Matthew Brinn
Concerned Citizen

I urge you all to copy this letter (or write your own) telling your representatives to vote against any legislation that allocates funds to bailing out the auto industry!

-Matt

T. Boone Pickens discounts everything that Stephen Moore thinks/says...

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:15:00 +0000

T. Boone Pickens, the biggest advocate for the expansion of wind energy in America, argued his cause against Stephen Moore of the Wall Street Journal.

Pickens began the argument by stressing the necessity for America to relinquish its dependence on foreign oil by embracing green energy technologies. He expanded on this point by providing thorough knowledge on existing resources, their allocation, and the feasibility of maintaining our current lifestyle. In short, we can't. According to Pickens, who has worked and managed energy plants for his entire life, if America scoured its lands for nonrenewable energy, it'd be able to provide just four million barrels of oil a day for a limited number of years. Currently, the USA consumes 12 million barrels each day.

Moore, at this point, interjected with his views. "Oil doesn't come from the ground, it comes from our minds," he said, "I don't believe in peak oil."

Pickens, obviously flustered by the remark, emphasized the cost of drilling in these places. "Yeah, we can drill 30,000 feet into the Gulf of Mexico. It'll cost $120 million and, if we're lucky, we'll get four billion barrels, not the 20 billion figure that is being tossed around Congress," he argued. On more than one occasion, Pickens was able to provide statistical and monetary information that Moore was unaware of. Throughout the course of the debate, Moore repeatedly nodded his head in agreement with Pickens rebuttal. "Yes, well, you'd know those numbers better than I would," he said.

This, in my opinion, is a microcosm of America's energy ideologies. On one side, you have pragmatists who realize that our lifestyle is unsustainable and needs to move in a new direction. On the other side, people blinded by their preference to maintain the status quo skew figures and refuse to accept basic facts. Whether you believe oil is running dry or that it'll last forever, the truth is that oil is destroying our environment so, therefore, it's killing us. We have made the basic technological innovations to leave fossil fuels behind, but special interests only concerned with today's profits are hampering our progress. Let's move forward with these new ideas so that one day, years from now, we can watch this debate and chuckle at Stephen Moore's ignorance because, honestly, that's all his opinion deserves.

-Matt

President-Elect Obama addresses governors...

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:34:00 +0000

Earlier today, President-Elect Obama called a meeting with the governors of all fifty states to discuss his plans to launch a coordinated effort to fix our financial situation.

I just finished watching his statements on C-SPAN, it was as refreshing as it was moving. To hear a politician humbly ask for help, not just from his Democratic buddies, but from Republicans as well, put a smile on my face. One thing in particular that he said nearly brought a joyful tear to my eye.

He said, "I offer you [Republicans] the same hand of friendship and the same commitment to partnership that I do to my Democratic colleagues. There is a time for campaigning and a time for governing...We are not going to be hampered by ideology while trying to get this country back on track. We want to figure out what works."

He went on to discuss his desire to try gubernatorial ideas from either party that work on the state level in Washington. I can't remember a time when an American leader had the pragmatism and the humility to ask for help in such a way. Later, during the press conference, Governor Rendell of Pennsylvania said that such a meeting during a transition period was "unprecedented."

As trite as it is to say at this point, I'm excited. I have that nervous excited feeling in the pit of my stomach, and I can't wait to see what happens next.

-Matt

George W. Bush apologizes, hopes history will gloss over the last eight years...

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:12:00 +0000

In an interview with Charlie Gibson that will air later tonight, George W. Bush expressed hope that he will remembered for combating the AIDS virus.

Let's take a look at an important statistic, provided by Avert.org.
Notice the downward trend once Bush takes office in 2001? No? That's because teen pregnancies, AIDS, and other STIs have gone up since Bush took office thanks to a faith-based initiative to force schools to teach abstinence only sex education. The result is the same amount of teen sex, but less forethought to use protection. So, according to statistics, Bush wants to be remembered for spreading sexual ignorance.

I guess that's better than being remembered for eliminating civil rights, over 4000 US deaths in an unjust war, sitting idle during a global economic meltdown, and refusing to act during the most destructive natural disaster in our history. If you look at it like that, he chose wisely.

-Matt

Revamp...

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:14:00 +0000

Yes, I've been neglectful, but let's try something new. See that new header? It means that this blog is taking a new direction. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to start writing about issues (talkin' 'bout the issues but keeping it funkay!) that I have some insight on. Things like, the global economic meltdown, the crazy people that are being thrown to the forefront of the "new" Republican party, Obama's transition to the White House, and maybe this huge thesis I have to write over the next six months on the politics of the Great Depression and how they are being rehashed, day by day, in the waning months of 2008.

Bored? Too bad. This is what I've been thinking and reading about, so this is what I'm going to write about. Stick around, hopefully I'll say something smart..:-)

-Matt

Senator President Obama...

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:32:00 +0000

It's been a long month. My absence, which I've learned has filled countless buckets with the salty tears of disillusionment, can no longer be tolerated. It is time to speak, so speak I shall.

Last night, at 6:30 PM, I was frantically pacing across a cold tile floor, my heart racing, my hair graying. At 7:00 PM, I was driving. Erratically. On NPR, I heard news of hope.

"I'm standing in a hotel conference hall where Republicans are meant to be gathering for a victory celebration. The cheese is out, the tables are set, but there are only a few people here, and they don't look very happy. Judging on each Party's party, I'd say the Democrats have this one in the bag."

I smashed through my door and turned on my computer and television. As I watched MSNBC, C-SPAN, CNN, and Fox, I surfed New York Times, Washington Post, Electoral Vote, and Digg. My eyes strained, my mind stretched, and my fingers flew as each passing moment brought news of both victory and defeat.

"Obama has taken both Pennsylvania and Ohio. McCain's road from here is VERY steep."

At 10:30 PM, I cracked the first of many smiles.

As the West Coast polls closed, it was clear the end was in sight. New data was pouring in, Obama had taken Virginia. My mind eased and my fingers slowed. In a few minutes, John McCain would concede the election.

And concede he did. I hate John McCain's policies. I hate John McCain's temperament and judgment. I DESPISE the way John McCain ran his campaign. HOWEVER. I have a deep respect for John McCain's graceful bow to the better man, and his sincerity in wishing that his followers band together with the rest of the nation to solve the problems of tomorrow. Kudos John McCain, you have regained your dignity.

At midnight, November 5th, 2008, history was made. President-elect Barack Obama walked on stage with his family, thanked the crowd, then delivered the greatest speech of our generation.

---

Today, we turn the page on eight long years of fear. Eight years of lies. Eight years of secrets. Eight years of war, of fundamentalism, of divisive hatred. Today, we look forward to eight years of hope. Eight years of truth. Eight years of transparency. Eight years of peace, of hard work, of unity.

Many difficult days preceded today's triumph, and many difficult days lie ahead. But, now, with the dark days of despair behind us, we can turn our eyes toward the warm, distant light ahead and work to break the chains of ignorance that have held us back for so long. Today is both the end and the beginning. A long and difficult road is ahead of us, but I'm ready. Ready to stand up and fight for my future, ready to work tirelessly to restore the ideals upon which this nation was founded, and ready to embrace the hardships that await us.

Today, for the first time in my adult life, I'm not ashamed to call myself an American..:-)

-Matt

Fight the bailout...

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:05:00 +0000

For those that don't know, both the House and the Senate passed a bill to use $850 billion taxpayer dollars to bailout Wall Street investors and conglomerate banking institutions. The stock market continued dropping. On top of that, President Bush side-stepped the whole democratic process prior to the passage and had the federal reserve print an additional $630 billion. In short, America will soon be the victim of hyperinflation much like Germany after World War I.

I wrote my Congressman urging him to vote against the bailout. Surprisingly, he responded.

Dear Mr. Brinn:

Thank you for contacting me about Congressional action to address our
nation's economic crisis. I appreciate hearing from you.

Today the House of Representatives debated H.R. 1424, the Emergency
Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. This bill aims to prevent harm to
Americans that would result from a collapse of our nation's financial
system. I voted for H.R. 1424, which passed by a vote of 263 to 171.
President Bush promptly signed this bill into law.

I share my constituents' anger about this mess and how we got here. The
government did so much wrong, and while Democrats in Congress tried to
set them straight many times, we obviously did not do so strongly
enough.

At the outset of the debate over the original, unacceptable Bush-Paulson
proposal, I argued that the bill would need to include these principles:
taxpayer ownership and protection, aggressive oversight, and help for
homeowners. These principles are all met in part, but this bill is not
perfect. For one thing, the Secretary of the Treasury should have even
greater limits. The cost recovery from the financial district should be
sooner. I dislike the Senate's adding extraneous tax provisions. Every
Member of Congress has a better idea of how to fix the problem, but no
one has 218 votes for his or her plan. This is the compromise.

As I can tell, there would be harm in doing nothing. The crisis is real.
We need to act quickly to staunch this crisis of confidence, because if
credit locks up, it affects ordinary Americans, ordinary homeowners, and
every small business. It is already happening.

Some have suggested we defeat this bill to teach a lesson to Wall Street
highflyers. We could do that. We could teach a lesson to Secretary
Paulson, President Bush, and the regulatory agencies. We could teach a
lesson to the mortgage companies who entice borrowers to get over their
heads. We could teach the Senators a lesson not to attach extraneous
things to a financial bill. We could let the credit markets freeze up.
We could let small businesses fail to meet next week's payroll. We
could let college students drop out because they can't pay tuition. We
could leave farmers, homeowners, and factories out in the cold. Would
that teach the right lesson to the right people? I don't think so.

Instead, I supported this bill because there is more harm if we do not
act, because of its improvements, because it will cost far less than the
original Paulson proposal, because it adheres to the principles we laid
out at the beginning of the debate, and because it includes a temporary
Alternative Minimum Tax fix and my own property tax relief initiative.

We will be making a serious mistake, however, if we do not act further
to address this crisis. There remain long-term problems: problems of
bond traders wheeling and dealing in paper with no thought of the homes,
factories, and people behind these bonds; problems of some employers who
show no allegiance to their workers; problems of families who even in
good times consume more than they save; problems at regulatory agencies
that revel in the unrestrained trading.

We have more to do to address our weak economy, which we learned today
has seen a loss of 159,000 jobs in the last month. I will continue to
lead efforts in Congress to get to the root of the problem, repair bad
mortgages, and to help middle class families. We need a program similar
to the Home Owner's Loan Corporation (HOLC), which the Federal
Government created in 1933 in that mortgage crisis. The program, which
lasted 20 years, shored up a collapsing market by purchasing delinquent
mortgages at a discount and working with homeowners to restructure the
mortgages into more manageable terms. Congress and President Roosevelt
authorized HOLC for $4.75 billion - or $76 billion in today's dollars.
With this investment, in its first two years, HOLC helped more than 1
million homeowners. When the HOLC finally ended, it showed a net $14
million surplus for taxpayers. We should not wait for a new
administration to address our nation's pressing economic concerns.

Again, thank you for contacting me about this crucially important issue.
I look forward to hearing from you again about this or any other matter
of concern.

Sincerely,

RUSH HOLT

---

He told me that Republicans were to blame and Democrats had been trying for years to avert this crisis. In short, he lied to me. I replied.

Dear Mr. Holt:

Thank you for the quick and lengthy reply. I appreciate your sense of duty
to maintain a dialogue with your constituents. However, I must say that I
fundamentally disagree with your decision to turn a blind eye to the
majority of Americans by voting yes for this bill
(http://tinyurl.com/4gox6n). Understand that this issue is the defining
issue of this generation, so your failure to listen will cost you my vote
and the vote of everybody I know come November 4th.

Here's why.

You said, "I share my constituents' anger about this mess and how we got
here. The government did so much wrong, and while Democrats in Congress
tried to set them straight many times, we obviously did not do so strongly
enough."

The blame for this economic mess does not fall solely on Republicans,
Democrats, Wall Street Suits, or Irresponsible Homeowners. Here are the
facts.

The federal reserve cut interest rates to a record low after the dot-com
bubble, allowing homeowners to purchase houses beyond their means. Both
Republicans and Democrats are to blame for supporting mortgage tax
deductions which gave additional incentive to these buyers. Real estate
agents continually sold large houses to families that couldn't afford them
so that they could make more commission. The Clinton Administration pushed
hard for low down-payment requirements for middle and low class families.
Mortgage brokers gave uncredited buyers adjustable loans with interest
rates that grew exponentially over time. Wall Street firms turned these
high risk loans into Mortgage Backed Securities, while the Bush
Administration turned a blind eye. Finally, it was everybody's fault to
believe that the housing bubble would continue expanding indefinitely.
(http://tinyurl.com/4tsmnf)

Market bubbles, by definition, must pop. We are at a critical moment in
America's economic history, and we need to choose our actions wisely. The
right thing to do is to let the financial institutions at fault collapse,
which will provide opportunity for a larger number of smaller banks to
take their place. More banks means more competition. This will drive
housing prices down to their true worth while providing new jobs in the
banking sector.

At this point, depression is inevitable. We should take our punches now by
letting the conglomerate banks fail, having the market correct itself in a
year or so. Instead, you've decided to print $800+ billion dollars in
order to temporarily save these failed institutions. Instead of allowing
the market to correct itself, you've inflated the bubble to the point that
a pop would cause global economic Armageddon. Where is the $800 billion
coming from? Surely not through taxation, that would bankrupt millions of
Americans causing riots in the streets. No, the plan is to create this
money from thin air, destroying the value of our currency and driving the
price of necessities sky high.

By voting yes for this bill, you've made your choice. Unfortunately, it
was the wrong one, and America will pay the price. You and everybody who
voted for this bill are to blame for the inevitable economic crisis that
will come, so don't be surprised when you lose reelection on November 4th.
You'll have earned it.

Sincerely,

Matt Brinn
Concerned Citizen

---

I urge you all to write your own representatives to let them know that they will lose reelection if they continue to ignore their constituents. It's time to stand up and fight for our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness..!

-Matt

The first presidential debate...

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 03:13:00 +0000

Post 150!!!

The first presidential debate has happened. It lasted 97 minutes. The moderator, Jim Lehrer, was disappointing. His questions addressed broad concepts rather than clear issues, and he did a terrible job keeping the candidates in check. He was supposed to moderate the debate. Instead, he posed questions that allowed the candidates to recite their talking points and argue semantics without having to cite their sources. John McCain took full advantage, extending his answers well beyond the alotted time and changing the subject with long-winded anecdotes. Barack Obama had the decency to ask Lehrer to continue at one point, but he, too, was guilty of taking advantage of Lehrer's meekness. Hopefully, the next two debates will have better moderators.

As for the actual content, John McCain kept his cool better than anybody expected. For the majority of the debate, he answered his questions with a level head, but most of his responses had zero substance. Half the time, Senator Obama had to interrupt him because he was supporting his points with pure falsehoods. Barack Obama successfully rebutted dozens of times throughout the night. His constant interjections of "Not true, John" did well to dismantle many of McCain's tired talking points.

The climax came during a question on dealing with foreign leaders, when John McCain vehemently disagreed with Barack Obama on the importance of talking with Ahmadinejad of Iran. McCain forcefully defended his refusal to talk to aggressive foreign leaders, while Obama dismissed him as erratic and undiplomatic. This exchange showed Senator's McCain's true temperament, a frustrated man whose worldview is racist and Americacentric. The best jab came when Obama asked McCain if he'd refuse to meet with Spain, referencing McCain's gaffe last week. He had no response.

The closing remarks of the candidates were particularly important. Barack Obama spent several minutes talking about the world's opinion of the United States. Having recently spent several months abroad, his vision of bettering America's standing on the international stage resonated with me deeply. McCain's closing remarks on placing trust in his experience did not.

The outcome of this debate will not be considered the best case scenario for either candidate. John McCain, on the surface, was able to hold his own. Elementary investigation into his points would reveal his inadequacy as a candidate, but that doesn't mean he will lose any blind supporters. I think Barack Obama successfully strengthened his base support and his performance will usher left leaning independents to his side. It's too early, however, to declare a winner.

-Matt

You can't beat our meat...

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:16:00 +0000

Unless, of course, our pork is drawn to look like a giant penis. Then, I guess, you COULD beat our meat. If you really wanted to...

-Matt

Looking up...

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 02:40:00 +0000

A couple of days ago, towards the end of my shift, I happened to notice something wonderful. Though the primary purpose of carrying a camera is to ward off attackers with a blinding flash, capturing photographs is a little known secondary feature. Abandoning a customer desperately in need of a pretzel, I zombily* shuffled outside to photograph a phenomenon...
Ooooohhhhh...

Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh...

Later that evening, I was visited by extraterrestrials. A brilliant spherical light appeared in the sky above me. It remained stationary for several minutes, then disappeared behind a cloud. Moments later, it reappeared. For several hours, it hovered motionless in the sky. I was able to capture a photograph of the UFO...
I apologize for the graininess. My camera doesn't take night photos very well, so this is the best that I could do. I'm truly honored to have witnessed such a profound moment in history. I ask that everybody lay down their arms, hold hands, and welcome our new alien overlords in peace..;-)

-Matt

*-No, it's not a word. Yes, I used it anyway.

Fail...

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 02:03:00 +0000

I didn't even make it halfway..:-(

-Matt

I'm out of ideas today...

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 03:01:00 +0000

Thirteen days of NaBloPoMo hath sucked away all of my ideas. Here we are. Today, I went to work. I came back from work, defrosted some Italian sausages, and read lots and lots of political articles. Nothing new today, except Barack Obama is now losing the election...

...
...
...

.. I'm hoping the presidential debates change that. I can't imagine anybody will watch them and see John McCain as a more capable man for president. The first is Friday, September 26th at 9 PM EST. Also, Sarah Palin finally did an interview. Our potential vice president didn't know what the Bush Doctrine was. Good...

...
...
...

..I'm sorry for today. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better...

-Matt

Elementary school throwbacks...

brinn.matthew@gmail.com (BurningSky) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:22:00 +0000

This semester, I'm taking Math 101, officially titled Math for Liberal Arts Majors. Yes, it's bullshit. I knew that going in, but it's a requirement to graduate, so there isn't much use in complaining. Twice a week, I'm treated to a dull lecture by an ancient man about different types of elections (plurality votes, weighted votes, etc.). I struggle to maintain consciousness. On Tuesday, I lost the battle before leaving my house. Today, I made it all the way to the math building...

I sat down in my usual seat, center row, three seats from the front. The professor called my name...

"Brinn?"

"Yes?"

"We made a seating chart last time, you weren't here."

"..Okay?"

"Well, that seat is taken, you can't sit there."

I looked around. Half the class hadn't bothered to show up. There were no less than ten empty desks.

"Um..ok?"

"Now, you can sit in any of the seats up front, or move back two seats."

"Wait a minute. I've been here every class except the last one. I've sat in this seat every time. Who sits here?"

"Doesn't matter, I have a seating chart, you can sit two seats back."

I gathered my stuff and moved two desks back. The class collectively chuckled. Nobody came in late to claim my former desk. I now sat in the last row, all by myself...

A seating chart? In COLLEGE???

I knew I looked a bit young for my age, but this... ... ..what's next? Scheduled bathroom breaks? Snack time? Recess?

I know...

It's nap time...

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...

-Matt