Snow White, Or...

This is lovable Disney character, Snow White.
This is a ballerina.

This is Snow White Disney Princess Ballerina Doll.



So, what I have gathered from this is:

Snow White + A Ballerina =


Katy Perry

Actual Text Message Conversation

The following takes place between 3:10 and 3:39 p.m.

Paul: I bought Up & Up laundry detergent

Me: It's good stuff

Paul: I've never used anything but Tide before.

Me: I like it. What scent? I think Tide fades clothes sooner.

Paul: Fresh. It smelled more like Tide. I only got the $8 size.

Me: We just had a discussion about laundry detergent

Paul: Kill us now.

Yoko Remembers John

I was going to write a lame tribute to John Lennon today. But Yoko Ono did a much better job.

Elizabeth Edwards, 1949-2010

"The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And yes, there are certainly times when we aren't able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It's called being human... But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that, I am grateful."

- Elizabeth Edwards
July 3, 1949 - December 7, 2010

The Next 20 Minutes of Your Life

Click on a square:

Corn is Good

Andrew Osenga is one of my favorite singer/songwriters living in Nashville. In addition to his excellent songwriting, awesome guitar shredding, and mad production skills, he is also a playwright.

Read his first production, Corn is Good.

Dancing with the Palins

Last week, when Bristol Palin advanced to the finals of Dancing with the Stars, Steven Cowan, a 67 year old man from Wisconsin shot his television set with a shotgun.

Why? He said he was tired of politics, and Bristol Palin wasn't a very good dancer.

As Brisol has advanced through the show with reportedly less than excellent dancing skills, (admittedly, I haven't watched a minute of the show) the anger seems to be escalating. There have been death threats made, white powdery substances mailed to the show, and they are considering moving the finale indoors because of security should Palin make it to the final two.

I thought to myself, isn't this ridiculous? Surely people must have gone crazy to care this much about someone who is barely star worthy to begin with. Had she not been a pregnant high schooler when Sarah Palin ran for vice president two years ago, I doubt we'd have given this girl a second thought.

It is buzz worthy that a family values republican running for vice president had a pregnant teenage daughter, and the younger Palin has attempted to capitalize on that fame ever since.

There was talk of a reality show featuring Bristol and Levi Johnston. She was featured in tabloid magazines. She became a public face for speaking out for teen pregnancy prevention. And then she started dancing.

All because it was supposedly shocking that a family values politician's daughter was pregnant.

Her fame is questionable, but in an era of shows like "Sixteen and Pregnant" and the subsequent "Teen Mom" series on MTV, I guess I kind of get it. Here's the biggest cliched statement of the night: You can be famous for anything these days. I guess you can even become famous enough to be worthy of a dancing competition just by being an unwed teen mom. And because your mom is Sarah Palin.

So where do shooting televisions and death threats come from in all of this?

I've always been of the opinion that if you don't like something or someone, you ignore it. You don't let it affect you to the point where you shoot inanimate objects over it, because then you are the one making it a big deal. If it shouldn't be a big deal, don't make it one. Then, you are the one perpetuating the thing you despise and validating it with your dislike.

Initially I did not understand why someone who possibly shouldn't be famous at all was the focus of such negative energy. Just ignore her. Vote her of the island, so to speak. Revoke the fifteen minutes of fame and move on.

Then it hit me.

In one week's time:

1.) A man shot a television set with a shot gun over a silly dance competition featuring questionably famous people. Over a Palin's performance.

2.) Willow Palin, the next youngest daughter in the Palin clan, took to Facebook in defense of her mother's reality show (yep, the O.G. Palin has a show of her own too...) by using homophobic slurs and bad language to berate someone who said the show "failed." Over a Palin performance.

3.) That wasn't enough: Bristol had to jump in on the bashing too. Also chiming in on a Palin performance.

4.) Barbara Bush laid the proverbial smack on Larry King when she said Sarah Palin was beautiful and was happy in Alaska... "and I hope she stays there." See below:


Ouch!

Then it hit me. Two things happen when you discuss the Palins: They incite inflammatory responses wherever they go, or they dish out inflammatory responses whenever someone criticizes them.

They are polarizing figures in the most extreme way possible.

So yes. Maybe Bristol Palin is just a girl who is kind of bad at dancing and not really famous for anything fame worthy. Maybe just on those grounds alone, men in Wisconsin shouldn't really be shooting their television sets over a dance competition. But it isn't just those grounds alone.

There is a greater context to anything and everything the Palins do. It is a context of inflammatory polarization. Some might argue that it is created by others - by those who oppose Palin and her beliefs validating the thing they dislike by making it a big deal. Some might argue that it is self-created as they have made very big gestures to remain in the limelight over the past two years. Plucked from relative obscurity in chilly Alaska and brought to the main stage, they have remained there by using fame rather than by creating relevance.

Maybe the two go hand-in-hand.

I don't know why this polarization exists. I only know that it does exist.

It is also why I have concluded that I do not want Sarah Palin anywhere near the White House.

I'm tired of politics. And Bristol Palin isn't a very good dancer.

UPDATE:Here's more.

Old Years Resolutions

Perhaps you have noticed that there was a severe nose dive on this blog that occurred sometime after February in the quality and quantity of posts.

I'd like to blame this occurrence on my now 9-month-old daughter. I can find the energy to blog with one kid, but two kids younger than three takes the energy right out of you.

That being said, my friend, Jason, has endeavored to post his thoughts in the blog format as well, and this has caused me renewed interest in my own poor, neglected blog.

What better time to kick it into high gear again but the end of a year? Just in time for my Top 10 Favorite Albums and Top 10 favorite songs from the grand year of Twenty-Ten.

Lists are being compiled, ideas are beginning to flow for topics, and I cleaned up my work space in "The Cave" where I do the most of my writing.

New logo, new format, new ideas, (old ideas), a new beard and a little more time to think.

Expect more posts to come.

Cobwebs

I felt inspired so I sat down to write a few lyrics tonight.

(When I say write, I mean actually write. Pen and paper.)

I got about 8 lines done, had some random thought about work tomorrow, proceeded to make a snack, and forgot what direction I was going with the next verse.

I thought to myself "This is why you never finish anything."

Then I remembered I had a blog.

So... yeah...

Friends

I was driving several weeks ago with my family somewhere when I spotted a 3-4 year old Toyota Corolla sporting a rather ridiculous spoiler on the back of the otherwise stock vehicle.

I sent a picture message to my friend Caleb of this car with the following statement:

Definition of Optimism

The joke was, this Corolla owner had left his vehicle completely stock, yet decided to put a ridiculously large wing on his car, somehow indicating performance necessitating a spoiler that will keep the wild and crazy car from going airborne from speed.

Anyone who has ever owned a Corolla will know, they are no sports car.

Later the next day, I receive the following picture message on my phone from Caleb:


He had noticed this Corolla was equipped with a trailer hitch, compliments of U-Haul. Again, anyone who has ever owned a Corolla would know, there's not much you can tow with less than 150 horsepower.

Caleb's comment mirrored my own about the optimism of this Corolla owner to have such faith in his car's ability to haul stuff.

As soon as I saw the Corolla with the silly spoiler, I immediately thought to send it to Caleb. Why? Because I knew he'd get it.

When I received his picture message the next day, I thought to myself "See, this is why we are friends!"

Caleb and I have been friends for 10 years, which is kind of hard for me to believe. We are both married now, and we both have children. We live states away from each other. We don't see each other as often as we'd like. Even if I haven't talked to him in a few months, I know I can send him a picture like this and he'll get it.

Thanks, my friend.