Finding Hope

Despite the grim picture for progressive politics across the country my new home in Dallas County bucked the trend. Three new Democrat judges, and a new lesbian, Latina, Democrat sheriff. The trend seems to be based on demographics rather than thoughtful Democrat strategies. Apparently Dallas County’s hispanic population has doubled recently and they go 2-to-1 Democrat.

Primer to Renouncing US Citizenship

Electing to Leave has some funny and frustrating advice for those looking to renounce their US citizenship in light of the recent election.

Leave No American Behind

Marry an American is a site where Canadians can pledge to marry a non-Bush voter and rescue them from four more years of Bush.

Back at the church of Matt

This was one of the last pictures I took before moving out of Dallas and back to Huntsville a little over a year ago. It’s overlooking Mockingbird station at the Angelika theater. While I was in Huntsville I sought refuge at the theater there and came to refer to my weekly visits as going to church. Well, I am happy to be back where I can really dig into “church” with both feet. I never found the movie community that I’d hoped to find in Huntsville and for whatever reason a solid movie community seems to bring me the peace, understanding and enlightenment that church brings others.

The Next Step

I’m surprised that the country turned out for Bush. I really thought his failures would be clear to the majority of Americans. I’m not clear what’s next.

When I talk to my mother, who voted for Bush, we see the same things from opposite sides. She talks about voter’s rejecting “legislating morality” and I counter with the fact that 11 states added new legislation to ban gay marriage and civil unions.

San Francisco

I got into San Francisco yesterday around noon. I’ve now completely adjusted to sleeping on the bus and can do it at will. When I got here I wasn’t tired at all. I took off to see the Castro Theater and the Civic Center. San Fran’s public library doesn’t match up to the excellence that is the SLC public library. San Fran also doesn’t seem to have as many active iPod users as DC. Maybe the DC folks are still listening to the 9-11 Report. Still San Francisco can throw down with any city in North America. I think we need a new reality series built around city vs. city grudge matches.

Martha Stewart goes Urban

Helpful tips learned on the bus ride from Salt Lake City to Boise.

• When you see the police approaching and you have illegal drugs, put them in a babies diaper. They never look there.- When you want to cover up the smell of pot sprinkle Old Spice in the air and on your person. “Covers that shit right up.”- Bring a bible with you. Not only is it “that book full of knowledge” but you can rip out the thin pages to roll a joint in a pinch.

Fear and Loathing leaving Salt Lake

Salt Lake City to Boise has been the most amusing and annoying bus trip so far. I ended up in the back next to four other guys desperate to be as fucked up as possible for the entire ride. Four guys, Stephen Baldwin, the Loan Officer, Chatty and Stoner have pot, beer and this nasty sounding concoction of vodka/cough syrup/ghb to achieve this. They start off by smoking at the first stop the bus makes. They get back on the bus quite happy, flirting with these two girls, talking about how they’ve done time and how they’ve beaten drug cases against them. At one point I have to assure them I’m not law enforcement. It’s all in good fun.

High Plains and Denver

I meandered into the high plains in the rental car I got in Pittsburgh. This area is the geographic embodiment of America. The enormous, lush, rolling plains are there and ready to be cultivated by anyone that’s willing to make the effort. Their size is another key part of what strikes me as American. They skies and fields go on and on seemingly forever. My main wish is that the cities of northern Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and so forth were walkable. They are just big enough to require a car to get around and don’t have much in the way of public transportation.

SLC Punk

I’m in the main Salt Lake City public library. This is one of the slickest libraries I’ve ever seen. The building is very striking from the outside, and the inside has a mix of library and commercial kiosks that I’ve never seen before.

I’ve been getting up to speed on the LDS church. You don’t have to walk very far in the temple square before running into someone that’s eager to help teach you about the place and the religion. They have great reason to be proud. While I’m not allowed to see the temple it is very impressive from the outside. The various other offices, administrative buildings and support buildings are enormous, ornate and welcoming.