Lee Drama Disappoints...

To say that I am shocked is putting it mildly.

The Drama Department at Robert E. Lee High School is renowned for having one of the best Fine Arts department in the region. Having myself been in the graduating class that took the department to new levels, setting the bar for future performances and thespians to come, I know of what I speak. Being involved in every single performance Lee Drama ever put on during my time there and even giving direction and support when needed once I had graduated, it seemed (until now) that Grade 'A' performances were all the Lee Drama could produce. They were reaching for the clouds and doing remarkably well.

Until tonight. Tonight they made it to the clouds--and what the audience received was anything but nice, comforting and fluffy.

I must admit, I had reservations going into this performance but did it with an open mind--I had already heard reviews and they were not the greatest. But as a past Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, MVP, Vice President, and President of the Department, I have felt it has always been my duty to be involved--even though I have since graduated. I went in with an open mind and left halfway through throughly offended.

Let me make this distinction up front, the actors were first-rate. Lee Drama has prided itself in turning out some of the regions finest actors. It was the substance and the general flow of the script that was so offensive. Less than 3 minutes into the play's 1st act, the fart jokes began--and by the 1st intermission (there were two)--they had not let up at all. This was joined by a plethora of foul jokes, innuendos, crude sexual references, and unceasing profanity throughout.

They were kind enough, however, to include a small apology section in the very back of the program--showing here:

If anyone found any part of this play obscene, vulgar or profane, we sincerely apologize. It was not our intent to offend anyone. Our aim was to stay in the spirit of the play while keeping it clean enough to be suitable for high school actors. Our only defense is this: The play is an acknowledged classic that has been around for 2500 years, and the humor we presented was no worse than the humor found in any comedy aimed at teenagers today. However, we are sorry if anyone feels our play was inappropriate.

The apology hardly made up for the script in anyway. They speak of keeping with the "spirit of the play" but I'm not sure what spirit that was. If they were trying to embarrass the drama department by their 'spirit', then for what it's worth, they accomplished that. Their excuse for the vulgarities and obscenities as being "no worse than the humor found in any comedy aimed at teenagers today"...is the truly humorous part. Most educated and respectful teenagers enjoy a great laugh just as much as the next person, but using that excuse is akin to putting a vulgar show geared for teenagers on Family Primetime and saying, well, teenagers today enjoy South Park, so it's fine that we put it on at this time. The apology written in the back of the program in small font holds less weight than the program itself.

"Clouds" was a disappointment. It was an embarrassment to the Lee Drama Department. I say that as a past actor, stage crew member, light technician, and most importantly--a past sitting President. It is my recommendation that you not see this play this weekend. It is the first Lee play I have ever had to walk out of. I pray that it will never happen again.

I will persevere and look forward. The musical will be better.

New York's Tax Dollars

We always hear the complaining about where are tax dollars are going.

Where are the citizens of New York's tax dollars going?

If I told you the New York Public Library, you probably would say, "Well, that's not a bad thing, libraries are a good thing!" And I would agree.

But that's only part of the ugly truth. New York's tax dollars are being put to work along the hall of New York Public Library's main Fifth Avenue Branch, where numerous doctored "mug shots" of President Bush and other administration officials are hanging.

Glad to see those New York Tax dollars a work.

Deck the halls...

We choose to follow Reagan...

"I want my party to be one of stalwart, unchanging principles and values....Those uncompromising principles and values are our stances on cutting spending and being pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-family, pro-guns and pro-defense. These are the tenets of true conservatives — and we should desire nothing less."

Ronald Reagan stood strongly for these tenets and guided Americans through one of our nation's most glorious periods.

Ronald Reagan was a champion of Christian principles, values, and morals.

"I have wondered at times what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the US Congress….If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under. We are never defeated unless we give up on God."

We choose to follow Reagan...

"I want my party to be one of stalwart, unchanging principles and values....Those uncompromising principles and values are our stances on cutting spending and being pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-family, pro-guns and pro-defense. These are the tenets of true conservatives — and we should desire nothing less."

Ronald Reagan stood strongly for these tenets and guided Americans through one of our nation's most glorious periods.

Ronald Reagan was a champion of the 2nd Amendment right of the PEOPLE to Keep and Bear Arms.

"If we give up part of that Constitution we give up part of our freedom and increase the chance that we will lose it all. I am not ready to take that risk. I believe that the right of the citizen to keep and bear arms must not be infringed if liberty in America is to survive."

The Troll Report

DON'T


FEED


THE


TROLLS

Troll, n., giant, demon: a dwarf or giant in Scandinavian folklore inhabiting caves or hills: also,

1. people who are just being rude and obnoxious
2. who generally try to offend, shock, harass, and/or abuse
3. who otherwise annoy people

We ask that you not feed the trolls for this reason:

Dealing with trolls can often be difficult, but they should not go unwarned, un-removed or unbanned. Trolls can destroy a community, and often this is their goal.

OUR TROLL OF THE WEEK:

DIGNAN

from the Journal of the Ignorant DoucheBag

WHY?
(from his latest blog posting...)

"When...supposed 'Christian' Alex Davis, aka 'Johnathan Maxfield', isn't beating off to his picture of Stonewall Jackson, he's firing off a round while fantasizing about Ronald Reagan. I don't think Jesus would be too happy with you supporting denying health insurance to kids, douchebag. Oh, I see, you just like the parts of the Bible that allow you to pick on gay people; you don't actually care about loving thy neighbor or helping the misfortunate. What a phony. Don't worry, 'Johnathan Maxfield', if by chance there is a hell, you will be going there..."

......

Watch out for next week's Troll Report. You never know who will say the next vile, idiotic, ignorant, blatantly false or stupid thing!

The Troll Report

DON'T


FEED


THE


TROLLS

Troll, n., giant, demon: a dwarf or giant in Scandinavian folklore inhabiting caves or hills: also,

1. people who are just being rude and obnoxious
2. who generally try to offend, shock, harass, and/or abuse
3. who otherwise annoy people

We ask that you not feed the trolls for this reason:

Dealing with trolls can often be difficult, but they should not go unwarned, un-removed or unbanned. Trolls can destroy a community, and often this is their goal.

OUR TROLL OF THE WEEK:

DIGNAN

from the Journal of the Ignorant DoucheBag

WHY?
(from his latest blog posting...)

"When...supposed 'Christian' Alex Davis, aka 'Johnathan Maxfield', isn't beating off to his picture of Stonewall Jackson, he's firing off a round while fantasizing about Ronald Reagan. I don't think Jesus would be too happy with you supporting denying health insurance to kids, douchebag. Oh, I see, you just like the parts of the Bible that allow you to pick on gay people; you don't actually care about loving thy neighbor or helping the misfortunate. What a phony. Don't worry, 'Johnathan Maxfield', if by chance there is a hell, you will be going there..."

......

Watch out for next week's Troll Report. You never know who will say the next vile, idiotic, ignorant, blatantly false or stupid thing!

On Attacking Christians...

"...Christians are known as judgmental because we address sin and its consequences. Christians should be involved in politics because faith weaves itself into every aspect of our lives. Christians should identify homosexual behavior as morally unacceptable because that is what the Scripture teaches. Christians should be pursuing conversations and opportunities that point people to Christ because we are representatives of life's most important message. And Christians should strive for purity and integrity even if that makes us appear sheltered."

--David Kinnaman, author of UnChristian

Some bloggers--as with the jihad--just don't get it.

Helio WINS IT BIG!

That's right, ladies and gentleman--less than 5 minutes ago...it became official.

Helio Castroneves and Julianne Hough
have won Dancing with the Stars!

Helio is a V8 man, racing as an IndyCar Series driver and garnering two Indianapolis 500 wins. Congratulations to Helio on his well deserved victory and to his wonderful dance partner. They made a great pair and really brought it to the floor almost every night.

The voters truly made it known tonight. We have a new winning couple.

What's Wrong with America.

Forget politics.

You wanna know what truly is wrong with America?

This.

According to Fox News, a recent survey has found that a whopping 25% of Americans today can say these from memory ---



Only 14% of Americans today can say these from memory ---

Somewhere, some how, some way, someone has dropped the ball.

We choose to follow Reagan...

"I want my party to be one of stalwart, unchanging principles and values....Those uncompromising principles and values are our stances on cutting spending and being pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-family, pro-guns and pro-defense. These are the tenets of true conservatives — and we should desire nothing less."

Ronald Reagan stood strongly for these tenets and guided Americans through one of our nation's most glorious periods.

Ronald Reagan was a champion of cutting spending.

"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it….I have only one thing to say to the tax increasers--Go ahead -- make my day."

Super Saxman!

Join me in encouraging Delegate Chris Saxman in his run for the Senate Seat!

There's only ONE person in Warner's Tent...

AND THAT'S HIMSELF...

Politicians who want Big Tent philosophies only want one thing--only themselves underneath the Big Top. They want it for their own political power--and not for anyone else.

That's what this Big Tent Syndrome is all about.

We choose to follow Reagan...

"I want my party to be one of stalwart, unchanging principles and values....Those uncompromising principles and values are our stances on cutting spending and being pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-family, pro-guns and pro-defense. These are the tenets of true conservatives — and we should desire nothing less."

Ronald Reagan stood strongly for these tenets and guided Americans through one of our nation's most glorious periods.

Ronald Reagan was a champion of the sanctity of marriage.

The Young America's Foundation is one of the leading (if not THE leading) groups on college campuses around the country for Conservative minded students. It received much praise from President Reagan and, with his blessing, established their headquarters at Reagan's Western White House. Their main focus is lighting that conservative spark in college aged students, following the advice of President Reagan himself who stated, “There is a flickering spark in all of us, which if struck at just the right age, can light up the rest of our lives.”

Most importantly, they believe in setting the same moral and ethical standards the President Reagan held near and dear--before, after, and during his Presidency. The most important of which include: the sanctity of marriage, the unborn, and opposition to illegal immigration and race-preferences.

Thanksgiving Hunger Drives...

"Thanksgiving! Remember, junior high school, high school, elementary school, everybody bringing in cans for the hungry people? Remember that?

"Just imagine, if somebody, when you were in fifth, sixth grade, if the principal had the go-nads to say, "On Monday, children, it was the single most wonderful outpouring of generosity that this school has ever seen. More cans of food, feeding 193 families, came to this school than ever before! We only have one problem and we're gonna deal with it this coming week. We're gonna cancel our regular classes and what we're gonna talk about is, 'What are those people gonna eat next week?'

"Now doesn't that sound like a sensible educational system that dealt with those kinds of questions?"

-Harry Chapin ( 1942 - 1981 )

In Defense of the Democrats

You may have heard our Senator Warner complain that the Republican Party of today is not the "Big Tent" party anymore. And if you're a Democrat, I bet you want to become part of a "Big Tent", too.

Well, stop your worrying! I've got the answer to your prayers (well, maybe not your prayers--I know how you guys are with bringing religion into politics!) ! With this, patent-pending idea!

Thanksgiving Hunger Drives

"Thanksgiving! Remember, junior high school, high school, elementary school, everybody bringing in cans for the hungry people? Remember that?

"Just imagine, if somebody, when you were in fifth, sixth grade, if the principal had the go-nads to say, "On Monday, children, it was the single most wonderful outpouring of generosity that this school has ever seen. More cans of food, feeding 193 families, came to this school than ever before! We only have one problem and we're gonna deal with it this coming week. We're gonna cancel our regular classes and what we're gonna talk about is, 'What are those people gonna eat next week?'

"Now doesn't that sound like a sensible educational system that dealt with those kinds of questions?"

-Harry Chapin ( 1942 - 1981 )

We choose to follow Reagan...

"I want my party to be one of stalwart, unchanging principles and values....Those uncompromising principles and values are our stances on cutting spending and being pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-family, pro-guns and pro-defense. These are the tenets of true conservatives — and we should desire nothing less."

Ronald Reagan stood strongly for these tenets and guided Americans through one of our nation's most glorious periods.

Ronald Reagan was a champion of pro-life issues.

"I have often said that when we talk about abortion, we are talking about two lives -- the life of the mother and the life of the unborn child. Why else do we call a pregnant woman a mother? I have also said that anyone who doesn't feel sure whether we are talking about a second human life should clearly give life the benefit of the doubt. If you don't know whether a body is alive or dead, you would never bury it. I think this consideration itself should be enough for all of us to insist on protecting the unborn."

The REAL Big Tent

...is more likened to a Big Circus...

...or is it a freak show...?

Let us, as true Conservatives, continue to hold fast and strong to the party that Reagan worked hard to form and craft into what it has become today. Let us also hold on to the true conservative tenets found in our Republican Creed:

We Believe . . .

That the free enterprise system is the most productive supplier of human needs and economic justice

That all individuals are entitled to equal rights, justice, and opportunities and should assume their responsibilities as citizens in a free society

That fiscal responsibility and budgetary restraints must be exercised at all levels of government

That the Federal Government must preserve individual liberty by observing constitutional limitations

That peace is best preserved through a strong national defense

That faith in God, as recognized by our Founding Fathers, is essential to the moral fibre of the Nation

Warner's REAL "Big Tent" Concept...

This is the real John Warner.

This is what he REALLY means by the Big Tent.

Is this the Big Tent we want?

Bush at Berkley...Exclusive Photos

Here are some excellent photos (probably some of the first up) of Bush's visit to Berkley Plantation. We had one of our local CRs on the ground there, relaying us excellent information about the events of today. Attn. Genl. Bob McDonnell and Lieut. Gov. Bill Bolling also made an appearance. Some choice pictures are as follows.

The Presidential Transport choppers in...

Bob and Bill flew in with the President...

The President arrives to a huge, cheering, flag waving, patriotic crowd...

The President with the owner of Berkley Plantation

The President addresses the crowd

More Big Tent

Guess I'm not the only one out there who is seriously questioning the validity of the whole "Big Tent" idea. For all you MisLeader Libs, here's someone else you can pump your ignorance into...though I think it will have little effect--if any.

The Clash of the Titans














...and so it begins

You've Got to Laugh...

As Conservative as you all know me to be, I do believe if you can't have a good laugh at your sitting President, you're wound just a little too tightly. I'm not saying this to be rude, but come on guys...if you don't even get a chuckle out of this one...you need to step back from your computer, go outside, and take a walk.

You'll have to fast forward through the bit on John Madden...unless you like him, of course. That part is hilarious as well. The good stuff happens at 3 minutes, 31 seconds.

Oh, and don't worry Republicans...he makes fun of Clinton too.... :)



The best line is the "advisor" line. You'd have to watch to understand.....

Enjoy!

NewsLeader's Ethics in Question?

Well, there is no doubt that this question has been debated in the SWAC Nation for quite some time now. But as of recently, it's been coming to a head. Attention must be paid.

After a recent LTE in particular, the MisLeader let the floodgates open to all the radical Liberals on their website's message boards. What followed was a ton of fan mail which would make the Hate Hannity HotLine pale in comparison. Now, understand, this is not the first Conservative-based letter that has garnered the same reaction, but it was one of the first that had been this hate filled.

So the problem, as SWAC Girl has made perfectly clear, is that with one hand, the MisLeader takes you full name, address, and phone number to put an add in their paper. With the other hand, they let everyone else on their online version, write whatever they want to in response to any LTE they darn well please. It is most always reserved to hate spew and blatant attacks against conservatives. Never mind that they know you personally--your views condemn you to being something--perhaps not even a notch above Homo erectus.

This is nothing short of a gross hypocrisy. But sadly, that type of hypocrisy and blatant liberalism can just be taken for granted when it comes to the MisLeader. Attention has been called to this by numerous individuals to staff members at the MisLeader's office. Dennis Neal promised to look into the issue and that was months ago. Still, nothing has been done. The matter has not even been discussed. So I ask you, Mr. Watson, Mr. Fritz, Ms. Corell, Mr. McCloskey, Mr. Neal--what are we going to do here about this problem?

Hypocrisy....thy name is the Staunton Daily News Leader.

Answering the Fan Mail...!

If you haven't seen the LTE that was posted, here it is.

NewsLeader
Journal of the Civilized Man


One theme runs throughout--SO MUCH FAN MAIL! And boy, do I love it. I figure, if people didn't respond to it, then I didn't do my job. At least we have the local Lib Wagon that came around, recycling it's wash every time a Conservative dares to speak up on issues like this. Neal Boortz always says, you know you've won when they start comparing you or the Republican Party to Hitler himself, the Third Reich, or that we are fascists or dictators.

Guess I won. But for giggles--here is some fan mail I've decided to answer and just show off. Some of this stuff was just toooooooo good to pass up.

From Antonio,

Oops, went to Johnathan Maxfield website and is looks more like the second printing of the bible. Sorry Alex D., but we don’t want any part of your little theocratic dictatorship.

Editors Note: A good point to note here, that our little friend seems to have forgotten, is that if we were leaving in that evil, fascist, theocratic dictatorship (which alone is a contradiction in itself), our buddy here wouldn't be able to write what he just did.

From She'sAPistol,

Alex you are one very confused young man. You are the same person that told my daughter that she was going to hell in the eighth grade because she didn't feel the need to go to church, and yet you hold the message of the church--PEACE- in contempt.

Editors Note: Of course, Peace is what we want. It's what we all want. It's what I want for that matter. But we're not going to get it by trying to get along with everyone 100% of the time because there is sin in the world. We live in an imperfect world. We are apart from God, world peace could be attainable if Adam and Eve had never eaten the apple. But that in our present world, is obviously untrue. We can forever strive for peace--and we should! But it is unrealistic that it will be that way the world over. It simply is an impossibility. That's probably why I get a chuckle out of those "COEXIST" bumper stickers that we're beginning to see. America, whether you believe it or not, is on the forefront of trying to bring peace to countries in turmoil. Look at all the huge progress we're accomplishing in countries where say, I could be killed, maimed, or worse for posting what I've just finished typing. Strides are being made, but saying we wish for world peace and the reality of that situation are two completely different things.

From virginialover4ever,

Wow I just went to Alex Davis's (alias johnmaxfields) website too. I think it is actually Alex Davis's personal interpretation of the Bible which is something that I dont need. I have a Bible of my own- and am very capable of reading it- without Mr Davis's insight.

shesapistol- Alex Davis tells you your daughter is going to hell because she doesnt attend church. Sorry Mr Davis- but who died and made you God. Who gave you the right to tell anybody who goes to heaven and who goes to hell. I think all in all Mr Davis if your read your Bible correctly you will find that only GOD makes those types of decisions. Better watch out Mr Davis- being that judgemental- you made need a water hose at the place you go to when you die.

Editors Note: I'd love to hear from you on what you don't agree with. For a majority of my posts, I don't think I am to radical at all. I'm not a fan of Pat Robertson, Tim LaHay, or even Jerry Falwell (though I have met him many times) at all. I know I'm not nearly where they are at. I'd love to chat with you sometime though.

UPDATE: To be perfectly honest, I don't see ANYTHING radical. Please expand on your reasonings.

From Skyline,

OK, why isn't this Alex alias Johnathan 20 year old person or persons - a war supporter, flag waver, and funeral goer, in the army serving in Iraq or Afghanistan? I would think he could have had a couple of tours behind him by now. Fill in the blank ___________

Have to add an Editor's Note here: I'd love to hear how you are supporting the troops. You're right that I'm not over there fighting. And Dennis Neal once asked me the same question as to why: I'm simply not ashamed to say that the military lifestyle is not for me.Does that decrease the respect, admiration, or pride that I have for our soldiers hitting the sands in defense of our freedoms here at home? Absolutely not. I do as much as humanly possible to support the war effort here at home.

What are YOU doing to help?

From virginialover4ever,

Under the direction of President George W. Bush- we have a judicial- legal and every other system in the United States that is broke. And yet all the republican carbon copies of President Bush can hollar is more troops and more money to spend on the war.

Ed. Note...Ah yes, here we are reverting back to the Bush is an idiot piece of propaganda. I must admit that this does get very old. But my question here it, what proof can you offer up that all our systems in America are broke? And you'll soon find that I am NOT a carbon copy of our President--on certain issue we differ GREATLY.


I once got a lot of flak from some of my Conservative counterparts for being happy and relieved awhile back when Rosie was thinking about leaving the View, then decided to stay on for a longer run. Why is this, you might ask?

Any time a radical liberal gets to stand in the spotlight, his/her own words condemn them. You see, if you just keep letting them do what they do, the more and more the general public sees them for who they really are.

So please folks, keep yelling at me, screaming insults, and kicking my name around. The more you do, the more everyone else shakes their heads at you in dismay.

No Room for the "Big Tent"

There is simply NO ROOM in the GOP for a Big Tent. This recent Letter to the Editor clearly demonstrates why. We, as Conservatives, must chose to stand solidly behind our core tenets or we are doomed to fall for anything.

I would humbly submit to (Buck) Kent, in light of his recent letter to the editor, that we do not need a "big tent" in the Republican Party. That all-inclusive mentality will mold us into exactly what true conservatives don't want and what radical liberals would love — a party of moderates.

The idea of a "big tent" is more likened to the peace, love and eternal harmony mentality that the Democrat Party tries to (p)awn off as acceptable principles and values. Pardon me, but I want my party to be one of stalwart, unchanging principles and values that does not bend to moderates and "Republicans In Name Only" who would try to cripple the party's core values from within. Those uncompromising principles and values are our stances on cutting spending and being pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-family, pro-guns and pro-defense. These are the tenets of true conservatives — and we should desire nothing less.

The conservatives of Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County work hard to identify with those unshakable tenets. To say that we need a wake-up call is a gross miscalculation.

(D)oes a party (that) turns out over 150 people and over 3,000 signatures to place strict ordinances in Staunton against pornography need a wake-up call? Does a party whose members come out in force for Support Our Troops rallies need a wake-up call? Or perhaps the party who turned out over 500 people in support of Weekday Religious Education or who helped pass the Marriage Amendment needs a wake-up call. Don't forget the wake-up call for the hundreds of hours volunteers devote to pounding signs, knocking on doors and manning headquarters. Perhaps the rapidly growing numbers of high school and college Republicans need wake-up calls, too.

We do not need a wake-up call, sir. Not by a long shot.

ALEX DAVIS
Secretary, Staunton Republican Committee

See the full editorial in the NewsLeader here.

Staunton Republican Committee's New Secretary

The Staunton Republican Committee elected a new Secretary yesterday, Tuesday, November 13th.

SWAC Girl has more information on this election and the background of the winning candidate.


Who, also happens to be.....well, me.

In addition, congratulations to Jim Crosby on his recently won election to the position of vice Chairman of the 6th District.

And lastly, but certainly not least, a tremendous thank you goes out to all of my friends, committee members, and other supporters who came out last night to support my election campaign for Secretary. Thank you again--and most importantly, thank you for your votes!

The Smut is Smited

You hear it right, folks. This evening at Staunton's City Council Meeting, it was unanimously decided--open porn shops in this city at your peril.

Unanimous decisions were handed down by the Council seriously restricting and complicating the chances a porn shop has of entering into this fair city and trying to conduct their business.

While only harsh restrictions can be placed on the smut shop already located here, other shops will not pass through our city gates so easily. The Citizens Task Force, led by local Andrea Oakes, saw to that--presenting Mayor Lacey King with well over 3,000 signatures that made their intentions quite clear: STOP PORNOGRAPHY IN STAUNTON.

And now that that has been accomplished--thanks to the excellent action of our City Council, we turn to the next phase of the process that looms above Augusta County. Will the Board of Supervisors step up and take these shops to task as their sister city has? Supervisor Larry Howdyshell has taken on that task, and with the assembled Citizens Task Force in Augusta County, hopes are high that the porn craze is quelled before it even has time to take root.

Epilogic Musing

an exert from vienna studios: 01
by william tate

tate + puccini = umbau

This is a Tate conjecture. It came to me during my last weeks in Vienna. The conjecture follows upon the wondering of why the United States is the way it is.

We Americans missed the Middle Ages - we are operating without a medieval cultural construct.
The observation carries a number of implications.

We are without medieval scale.
This question of scale is about everything from the well-made monument, to the tight and meandering street. The medieval times were about built community, and the architecture of the town fed the communal experience. The place was about people walking, meeting, and festivaling. The street led to courts and squares. Tight went to open, open went to tight. The place of the medieval town invited savoring.

We are without the medieval intellectual history.
It was one of mystery and symbol. The medieval continually tried to penetrate the invisible. We tend toward the empirical and the sign. Ours is a more superficial culture. Matters of mystery are seen as being "dark".

Our sense of time is not evolutionary, but immediate. Thus we have grown upon this new continent with a different construct than Vienna. We arrived here enlightened and rational. Our landscape was wilderness and prairie, and our tools have primarily been the ax and the plow [as in bulldozer]. We open things up, we are efficient, we are productive, and we either build maintenance-free or throw it away in three years.

None of which is medieval.

The conjecture is not to preach Viollet-le-Duc or John Ruskin.
It is only the challenge of Vienna.
Vienna is a city that invites wasting time, walking, listening to music, and dreaming.
She is a city that defines place through streets, cafes, interventions, a reverenced antiquity and an experimental new.
She invites life.
And she is a product of the Middle Ages.

The gift of Vienna is to live the experimental, the mysterious, and the sensual.
What is it we can learn?

Shaking the Cobwebs Off...

Well, I've been away for sometime. It's been quite refreshing, actually. Apparently, there IS a fully-functioning world outside of blogging. Hah. Go figure.



Though I said I was trying to steer clear of political blogging, we've had some great occurrences that happene yesterday and attention must be paid.

The biggest news is that Jeremy Shifflett won! Taking out a MoveOn.Org-er carries the smell of See-wwwwweeeeeeet SUCCESS. He may be young, he may not have the tenure or "seniority" but he has what it takes to run his district responsibly, truthfully, and with his constituents' best intrests at heart.

Despite a Dem victory in the Senate, the SWAC area held strong. Stronger than most might have expected. The Republicans still rule in this area--and the region spoke--that's how they like it.

There is a question that still lurks in retrospect of this whole election, and Elle takes a good look at it: do endorsements really matter? And what's more, why would local Republicans not endorse other, obviously solid Repubs who go up against radical liberals? That is the $1,000,000 question right there.

It's a question that the SWAC Nation has been trying to answer for many, many months now. And apparently, some in the blogosphere are publicly recognizing our efforts (not to say they haven't in the past, by any means.). And thanks to Carl Kilo for that.

So in the words of the man himself,

Hey Whackjobs....Hey Cobalt 6....Yesterday was not a OPEN primary and the SWAC crew kicked some ass!