There's no hope.

I don't believe in hope. The Obama Hope campaign is lost on me.

I was re-reading a favorite book, "When Things Fall Apart" by Pema Chodron, an American Buddhist nun and I know that I am not alone.

Ms. Chodron suggests putting a magnet on the refrigerator that says, "Abandon Hope" instead of another affirmation like, "Every day in every way I'm getting better and better."

I may take her up on her suggestion because to me saying, "give up hope" isn't cynical. Without hope I am personally responsible for my actions and words. Without hope I can let go of things that are changing and let new ideas and things into my life. Without hope I allow myself to be here, now.

I would love to buy into Obama's Hope campaign because it would let me feel more relaxed that good things are one the way. It just feels like a Christian notion of the after life disguised as cutting edge politics.

Allocation v. Accumulation

It's almost December, the time of year I think about giving, and in particular, giving to charities. How much do I give in such a terrible year with what looks like another one on the way?

After putting it down for three months, I've picked up "The Soul of Money" again. It's by Lynn Twist who is an activist and fundraiser for The Hunger Project. She challenges contributors "to be known for what you allocate, not what you accumulate."

She's right. I know she is, because I've just deleted about ten excuses that I wrote trying to refute her statement.

No doubt it's been a tough year, and my accumulated money has taken a beating in the market. Even so, I'll allocate money to good charities like I do every year. If I really feel like I can't afford allocating money, I'll allocate some of my time to make up for the shortfall.

Survival Tactics

This T-Shirt on Threadless.com makes me laugh. I work in an office that is predominately Republican and they are all pissed off that Obama won. And I'm pissed off because surely most of them voted "yes" on Prop 8.

Do I quit?

I'm just going with the aphorism, "The best revenge is living well."

Or I'm gonna go with the lyrics of Billy Dean's song from the 70's

"So let's leave it alone, 'cause we can't see eye to eye.
There ain't no good guys, there ain't no bad guys.
There's only you and me and we just disagree."

Or I'll just hate everyone and keep looking at my co-workers and think, "It was you that wants me dead isn't it?"

Or I'll think of Maya Angelou's poem, "Still I Rise"

"You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise."

Or I'll just think - Everybody poops.

Thousands Protest Prop 8 in San Diego

Big turnout for the Prop 8 Protest today. We walked from Hillcrest to North Park on University Ave. Very much a supportive gayborhood. Next time I hope something is organized in one of the more conservative San Diego County neighborhoods Coronado, La Jolla or Poway

My sign caught a lot of people's attention. Prop 2 passed and gives chickens rights to more leg room. Prop 8 passed and takes AWAY civil rights! Most people laughed when they saw the sign but added that although it's funny, it's sadly true. One lady muttered as she passed by that the chickens aren't free. You're right lady but at least they are moving in the right direction.

Madonna says Obama issues in a New Era


At her concert last night in San Diego, Madonna was jubilant that Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States. She said it is the beginning of a New Era, and asked us all to put our arms around each other and chant, "We are one.".
http://www.youtube.com/madonna

I couldn't drink the kool-aid.

I was glad Obama was elected but sad that when I kept checking the Internet on my cell phone, the Vote on Prop 8 was leaning towards yes. It looks like by a simple majority California will oppress a minority by taking away the right of same-sex couples to marry. Considering her gay following I was surprised that Madonna didn't acknowledge this possible mixed victory.

Sorry Madonna, we can't congratulate ourselves on a New Era yet. We've just projected all our best hopes and dreams on Barack Obama. He's just a man, he's not a savior, like Jesus Christ style. A new day will dawn soon, I'm rolling up my sleeves and getting back to work.

There oughtta NOT be a law


When I was a kid, I'd make sure to read "There Oughtta Be A Law" cartoon in the funnies. I always chuckled because they came up with really silly new laws. Now that I'm expected to vote on 17 new propositions on the California / San Diego ballot, I keep thinking that there "Ought Not Be A Law" makes me laugh more.

Prop 8: There ought NOT be an amendment to the California Constitution. Period.

What's funny - A law disguised as pious but in fact is hypocrytical is funny. Molière's farce, Tartuffe, tackled this subject back in the 1600s.

Prop 4: There ought NOT be a law that requires parental notification if a young woman wants to terminate her pregnancy.

What's funny - Let's call it Sarah's Law and make people so afraid that they won't realize it's an attempt to overturn Rowe v. Wade.

Prop 2: There ought NOT be a law that animals must be free-range.

What's funny - If passed just think of the training class of people who are hired to enforce it. Consumers should demand that their 'protein' be free-range and only buy from producers who certify it.

"Unjust laws exist: shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once?"

- Thoreau

Dealing With The Devil
Like everyone else I've received dozens of political mailings for the November election. Today was a little different though, because in this mailing (cover to the right) I was made mention as a "special interest" and given a very devilish manicure. I suppose I am pictured shaking Stephen Whitburn's hand.

The inside of the flyer lists 32 donors as "special interests" with their last names blacked out. I have no idea why I made the list. I guess because I am an investment analyst and I gave $540 to Stephen's campaign. I certainly am not a special interest, and I am offended that no one contacted me to ask what favors I am expecting from Stephen.

You know if I were the devil, I'd be insulted if someone made a deal with me for $540. Come on! No self respecting American soul would cave for less than $1 million net.

Which reminds me -
"Not incorrectly they had advised me to use the long spoon if I went to dine with the devil. Unfortunately on those rare occasions the only one available was short."
Eugenio Montale

2009 Skinny Cow Year

A woman I know sold her business last year that she had run for over 20 years. When asked if it was successful she said, "Well, there were some fat cow years and some skinny cow years."

2009 looks like it will be a skinny cow year because of the banking crisis. The good news is that for most americans this means driving a Ford Escort instead of a BMW. Having basic cable not HBO. Prepaid cell phones instead of unlimited minutes.

I'm not callous towards those who are suffering from this turmoil. I'm just trying to put this into perspective so I don't go crazy. Day after day the market goes down and the media has cited the Great Depression so many times that even I am getting scared. I'm pretty sure that during the Great Depression most americans were saving string and tin foil and probably had three sets of clothes, two sets of everyday clothes and one set of Sunday best.

Jane Bryant Quinn said, "I wish you every increase, but if the gods frown there are worse things in life than stepping down."

America will be fine - the skinny cow will get fat again. In the mean time I'll cut back on media in my diet.