Huh? Part Something or Other

CD in Play: Soundtrack, The Darjeeling Limited

Note to Self

Magnus, when you find a Kinks album that you have always really wanted - buy the damned thing with no reservations. You know they are always being discontinued and scooped up at the most inappropriate moments. Remember you have been longing to get The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society, Something Else by the Kinks, Percy, Lola versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One and Muswell Hillbillies. DO IT MAN!

Samurai Me

I picked up Miyamoto Musashi's The Book of Five Rings. (Go Rin No Sho) I am finding it interesting. Musashi's philosophy has been discussed in other books and stories that I have read on the age of the Samurai, but this the first time I have read it for myself. Very interesting indeed. Many Westerners read this stuff and then proclaim themselves to be practitioners of some sort of zen philosophy. I am not going to quite make that plunge, but there is much that Musashi discusses that is relevant for my life.

A point a raised with a friend on his blog was one that Musashi made about sword fighting: do not get so caught up in blocking and parrying that you forget to cut. Everyday life often seems like an adversary to me. I get used to anticipating the next blow and begin to live defensively when I should be going on the offensive. There are lessons here that my Dad has tried teaching me, but I had always ignored or approached half-heartedly. He was right, but don't tell him, least he get a swelled head.

And interesting book and must read for people feeling lost in the bustle and fury of Life.

Fun With Republicans

There is always a risk of offending people when you delve into their politics but, personally, I think the GOP is nuts if they don't nominate Rudy Giuliani to lead this election. But it ain't my country so who am I to comment? And any American reading this and nodding in agreement with that sentiment needs to pull their head out of their ass and figure out why people abroad care about who becomes next the President of the United States. Stop being a bad neighbour and start thinking. Do it dumb-ass! (that includes any of you Gibneys I am related to down there in California, Hawaii, Oregon, Idaho or Indiana) Actually, that "dumb-ass" remark is specifically aimed at a couple of people from assorted on-line forums. As for you Democrats, I like Barack Hussein Obama and think that Hilary Clinton is just a baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad idea. Not because she is woman, so don't take the cheap route.

However, Mike Huckabee has come out of Iowa at the top of the Republican heap. He still has to do well in New Hampshire and things don't look too good for him there - but who knows? Evangelical, ex-Southern Baptist pastor, former Governor of Arkansas, bass playing Huckabee is better known to my fellow Canadians as the man Rick Mercer got to congratulate Canadians for preserving our "national igloo" against global warming. This was on the Talking to Americans segment. I hope that Huckabee was just playing along, but...