chuck kottke

Thanks! I've probably got a proverbial "snowball's chance in hell" of getting his attention, let alone affecting his policy choices, but who knows - maybe, if I hit enough other congress members, they'll put the squeeze on, and..:sneaky::) Yes, I feel the same way, kimchi;).. But we have to keep them honest and compassionate, because it's easy for our Presidents to slip into the power chair, and forget how it feels to be like the rest of us! (recalling Pres. Johnson, who was picking targets in Vietnam like picking options off a breakfast menu.. and he was the "Great Society" President!) So, keep em' honest and down-to-earth!:hat2::whip:

Animals!!:laugh3: Gweneth has two, so that's enough! (unless she wants too;))

cc: Bob Marley...:stunned:Did that really happen?! I'm impressed! What have I got to complain about then!! When you really think about it, many of the greatest musicians ever were or are gay. Elton John, The Village People, and a whole bunch of other artists! I just think it doesn't matter what the person's persuasion is, but their ability to convey life's experiences in such depth and with such soul - their music is enjoyed by millions, so is Coldplay's, and so what's the big deal??

Heck, do they listen to The Beatles? U2?? It's just all great music - Coldplay's the latest in the lineage, and as interesting artistically as they are just great to listen to; and so why is it that you have to listen to rap to be accepted? They have no taste in music if they can't just enjoy music, but have to somehow get approval from their crowd. That's just BS!:P

Yea, that is a good nature & star-gazing song, that's for sure... anyhow, have a good rest, get healed up, and keep kayaking on the mighty Hudson!!;)

Take the "Last Train to Clarksville" by The Monkeys!!:)

Welcome to the Coldplay Jungle!!!:sunny::curtain: Nice to meet you, Rania!

:daisy:Just glad you could join in the fun!

spying Hey,wake up! This is on topic!:rolleyes:: Anyhow, for those who are at least a little bit interested in retaining freedom, here are some place to check out: http://www.votesmart.org (see how everyone voted on the spy act) and for Feingold's statement on the bill: http://feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/statements/08/06/20080625f.htm (hope that works!) Now, Feingold opposed the bill and voted NO on letting the telecoms off the hook; both the telecoms and the President should be held accountable, just like we held Nixon accountable..;)

Hello Jbella76! Um..oh, a.. well...:shy: Thanks!, but I'll leave that up to the "experts"!:laugh3: I'm just trying to keep a little more of an even keel on the boat, despite the tendencies to drift towards the rocky shoals.. Thanks for the words of encouragement - this letter might be little more than "spitting into the wind" so-to-speak, but maybe, if we all pummel their offices with letters to set things strait, we might have an effect.. I keep having flashbacks of seeing events unfold in the late 60's/early 70's, with war protesters marching in circles around the White House, the rallies for human rights, and a series of Presidents who refused to get us out of Vietnam even after it was plain that extending the war was pointless. Barack's company is looking more and more like the same-old "war generals", with the same-old way of thinking, and it's got me a bit concerned. I took a look on Znet (www.zcommunications.org), and read some articles by Paul Street. Of course, I think Obama is less militaristic than McCain, yet it's nonetheless a bit disturbing to learn who advises Obama, and where his policy goals really are.:\ Anyhow, thanks for your support, and as President, I promise free Coldplay concerts for all!:P

Letter, Part II Information and ideas have a more positive effect, and looking back in recent history to nations such as Chile, non-violent revolutions are possible, by the will of the people, given time. They're a much better alternative to military intervention in general. Choosing policies that are hawkish, and overtly aggressive have consistently backfired on us, leaving a mass of saddened or angry discontent citizens in places throughout the world, who no longer look to these United States as a beacon of hope to guide their futures by. Nobody likes nor needs to be told how to run their own affairs; but by their own design, free will, and control of their own destinies will their futures be shaped. Please consider keeping balance in the cabinet that you choose. As we all know, the company you keep can affect the way we think as individuals, and sometimes may lead us astray from effective paths towards peace and harmony in the world. Recounting how Paul Wolfowitz went from being a dove to a hawk from those influencing his thoughts - leading him astray from the more cautious and effective means of solving global issues, towards promoting a policy that led to the invasion of Iraq. Had those bad ideas not taken root, we would all be in much better shape today. Looking at our own nation's history, the French forces sent by King Louis of France, at the request of the American Revolutionaries to gain independence from a despot, were done with good timing, and in good judgment. Had France sent forces before the colonists had taken control of their own futures, or had those forces been used to convert English Colonies into French Colonies, the sentiment and effect would have been the same - no peoples of the world want or need an occupier, and armies sent to aid revolutionary causes to free citizens from the shackles of despotism need to be withdrawn soon, if the will of the people is to be respected. The best way to gain friends and change ways of thinking in troubled regions of the globe is by putting our feet in their shoes, an asking ourselves honestly: How does it feel? What is it like to be in their situation, and to see things from their perspective? Of the many policy catastrophes concerning Iraq, one that comes to mind was the policy of bombing the water and electric facilities. Doing so left Iraqis without safe drinking water, sanitation, refrigeration, or air-conditioning in an extremely hot, dry region. The idea was to motivate the citizens to overtake their own government, but instead it only created anger and bitterness towards the US, as how would any of us feel if suddenly foreign planes bombed our essential life-sustaining facilities? Instead, I would suggest a policy of constructive containment, where no harm is done to the citizens living in those nations, but plenty of encouragement and support is made available to those clamoring for change from within. Less militarized approaches work best, and there is quite a bit of truth in the saying that "the pen is mightier than the sword". To that naturally we could add the internet, periodicals, and broadcasts. Most major religions and modern free states are founded on ideas that individuals and hence societies adopt, and it is by their free will that those ideas become the established ways of doing things. We could greatly reduce terrorism simply by increasing foreign aid and good will towards all, greatly reducing the debts owed by the poorest nations, and allowing them the chance to thrive on their own. Areas of poverty and the disenfranchised peoples of the world are the grounds where extremists take shelter and find supporters. Spending more on reducing poverty and unfairness in the world would be money wisely spent. It is 100X less expensive to reduce conditions that lead to terrorism, that it is to combat the effects of terrorism. and that's just looking at it from an economic perspective - the lives saved and the health gained for all is truly something we cannot put a moneyed value on. I'm sure what I've said here simply echoes many of your own feelings, Barack. But please be careful, as we're all counting on you to make more thoughtful decisions than those made in the recent past. The beltway is a lasso; just watch out so you don't get snared into something that really isn't from your heart. With Great Sincerity, -Chuck.

Letter Dear Barack, It is now more than apparent that an aggressive, interventionist foreign policy, however reasoned, has had the opposite effect in gaining the will of the world's citizens, or changing those patterns of established behavior that are deleterious to the well-being of humanity. Taken from the perspective of a citizen of Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, or Afghanistan, aggressive military actions without first having just cause or the popular support of the people, unless offered as help to an existing struggle for freedom, will undoubtedly fail because to take ownership of one's own future requires there first to be a sense of pride in origination on the part of those citizens to shape their own country's future by their own means. It is their free will, and their free will alone, that must be the driving force for lasting change within those regions. In cases where it is clear that cruel, despotic regimes have taken hold and are systematically killing innocent civilians (because the madness of ethnic hatred has taken over their hearts and minds), or the regimes simply are bent on power and are pitting one group against another, we should not be timid in using strong diplomatic means first, backed by credible multinational force, to end such senseless bloodshed and misery. In doing so, we would be better off operating in sync with free states of the world, and with a mutual understanding of how best to approach each situation. While slow, and sometimes frustrating, a policy of containment is generally a safer bet, allowing time for the citizens to change their nation's policy internally. To hold power in reserve for use only when other means have failed, and many lives are at stake, is the better approach. To lead, we must lead by example; patience, humility, honesty, and thoughtfulness go miles further down the path to peace than unwarranted invasions and uneven policy decisions. To treat others as you wish to be treated; that is to say, the Golden Rule, works as well on a personal level as it does on an international level. In containing places like Iran, it is the rising generations who will take ownership of their own destinies; it is their popular desire & drive towards change that will create a lasting transition toward freely elected governance, equal justice, and the natural rights of all mankind.

Yea, Bernadette for some reason is just the cutest snuggle bunny. She was in Young Frankenstein...:rockstar:

OOh yah, that would be nice!;) Sure you can handle them? They look a little wild!

Rick, you animal!:P You mean, all at once??:laugh3:

Siesta time!:sleeping2::pleased: When do you finally hit the hay down the Argentine way?:rolleyes:

Alright, I'll admit I used to want Bernadette Peters!:p

I think it's fair to say they're both very introspective at times, but Coldplay has done more extroverted types of songs than Radiohead. Radiohead reminds me more of playing albums at the 16 &1/3 speed on turntables..:P

Hey look, 42 posts!:rolleyes: xneverwherex, you have accidentally hit the magic number, so perhaps your luck has changed! I just noticed not too long ago, that 24 seconds into Strawberry Swing, Chis says "Hi Chuck"!:)

Hello zsebigabi ! ;') Hello again!! I tend to favor green or blue, but red & Violet are nice too!!;) Umm... thanks for the support! Someday, maybe they'll let me play in the band!:) "aztem" came up in one of the posts, and I thought it was Hungarian. It did not translate, so I thought you would know what it meant?:confused: Anyhow, I'm Korulbelul Happy!:) Nite!:sleeping:

:rolleyes::laugh3:David, that's perfect! Just hop in you yacht, do some tacking up and down the rivers, head out into the sea, roam over Ireland, back to sea, stop off in Calais for some Chablis, and head north to a Welsh golf course!

& Nothing to get hung about... Strawberry Fields Forever.....:hat::sunny: I just think Yellow Submarine is so funny!:laugh3: & Happy Birthday Paul McCartney, where ever you are these days!

Reminds me - I need to Renew my membership!!:)

How so?^^:rolleyes:

:rolleyes::laugh3: That's funny! When I was a young lad, I believed the Leprechauns really did hide a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow (so naturally, I tried to find the end... got close, but the only gold was in the beauty of the bow.):jester: