I’d like to make a blog that gripes about the current political situation of the United States. One major gripe I have is how one-sided it is - it’s always the Democrats or the Republicans winning major votes, with “third parties” winning less than one percent of the vote combined. I looked at the election results of other countries, and I was rather astonished, mainly by the elections in France, who’s government system seems to be partially based on ours.

In the US, the media is dominated by the Democrats and Republicans. The Libertarians, Greens, and others get little public recognition, and their funding does not allow for nation-wide commercials and big campaigns. Heck, the third parties are trying to get ballot access most of the time. The Democrats and Republicans have the money and the influence to easily, without any effort, gain ballot access, while other parties have to get petitions, donations, and other things. I have heard that there are some countries that give government funding to political parties. In my opinion it would make the elections a bit more fair - the Republicans and Democrats would recieve the same amount of funding as the Libertarians and the Greens. Parties would get equal air-time, but of course, there would be requirements for federal funding.

Let me get to the subject of other country’s elections. The United Kingdom has three major political parties, the Labour Party, the Conservative Party, and the Liberal Democrat Party. These three have the largest levels of seats in Parliament, but other parties have atleast some MPs, even if it’s only one. Germany has the same thing with their parliament, with several parties holding a fair amount of seats.

Now we’ll get to something very interesting: French elections. France apparently has a system where the Presidential election goes in two rounds, the second being between the top-two candidates in the first. In 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy led the first round with 31% of the popular vote (note that I said popular vote, they have no electoral college), with the runner-up behind him being Ségolène Royal, with almost 26% of the vote. The rest of the votes were divided between various other political parties (many of them being scary Communist parties). The second round was between the two I mentioned, and it was neck and neck, with Nicolas Sarkozy winning the election.

The French Senate is divided in this way, although the National Assembly (their equivelent to our House of Representatives) is less diverse, although they have more than one person who isn’t of the two largest parties. There’s another thing of note - the parties of the Presidential elections vary - in 2007 the parties in the second round of the election were the Union for a Popular Movement and the Socialist Party. In 2002 the parties were Rally for the Republic and the National Front. In 1995 it was Rally for the Republic and the Socialist Party.

Compare that to our system. We don’t have two rounds of elections, where the first determines the two parties we vote for. We’re automatically stuck with the Democrats and Republicans. We get no choice at all except for the two idiots either party puts forward - sure, there’s the Libertarians, the Green Party, and the Socialist Party USA, but guess what? They’re really all jokes if you look at it in a certain way. They don’t have the funding or the support of the two major parties. In my opinion, it’s wrong - American democracy really is crumbling.

Only half of Americans voted in 2004, and even then, a good portion of the American public is not well informed about the choices. The two major parties are relatively the same - they’re both varying levels of being socially right and economically right - the Democrats are economically centrist, and despite being liberal, there are a fair number of socially conservative Democrats. I think the first step towards political equality would be to end a lot of private funding for political parties, or atleast offer the smaller political parties the recources necessary for a national campaign. This would be hard to accomplish in America - the people in office probably would not want to give up their monopoly on the government. The second step to eradicate political monopoly would be to abolish the electoral college, which really is the fairest type of election - the people decide based on a majority of the vote - the electoral college really isn’t any more fair. The assumption that pro-electoral college people have is that it would give smaller states less of a political force, but really, people in one state don’t vote as a whole different from another state.

A popular vote would largely eliminate the same state-by-state system, although one person may recieve a majority in one state rather than another. California wouldn’t command the whole US, being the largest state population-wise, since we’re like everyone else, divided by party, Republican and Democrat, liberal and conservative. Hopefully, my blog enlightens some young liberal, and he or she will grow up to be a senator, or President, that is, if Ann Coulter doesn’t lead an Iran-like revolution.

There's another meeting of the mental health carer's group, which, at the moment I chair. The idea behind this group is to liaise, on behalf of carers, with mental health professionals to examine areas of practice, comment on them, and on new developements, and also to convey the concerns of carers to the professionals.

I've been performing this office now for about nine months, having declared that I'm prepared to do it for a maximum of two years, considering my advanced years and general decrepitude. I've found it difficult, as it's so difficult to get carers to meetings. It's not that they're not concerned, so much as that they so often have their hands full dealing with unpredictable psychotic episodes, deep depressions etc. from those for whom they care. I've only been able to find time for this myself because the daughter for whom Joyce and I cared has now left home (and seems to be functioning much better in our absence!)

Meetings of the group, therefore, seem to be sparsely attended, and I've found myself chairing, taking minutes, dealing with correspondence and other jobs without much support. The manager of the carer's support services attends our meetings. He's a great help when there, but seems to mess things up thoroughly when away from the meeting.

For example, we've been trying to have an open meeting with someone of executive status for several months now. One such meeting was arranged, and cancelled at the eleventh hour because of a health crisis affecting one of her children. The next meeting was arranged in my absence (quite acceptable in itself) but our manager sent her a reminder to attend the week before our meeting (when I'd already sent out correspondence advertising the meeting on our usual date (fourth Wednesday of the month) and only informed me the day before she'd been asked by him to attend. Another cancellation.

This executive has now moved upward and onward, and so her successor was invited to attend tomorrow evening. All this done several weeks ago, and all potential attenders advised. Yesterday the manager emailed me to say that somehow he'd mistakenly advised her to attend on the last Wednesday of the month. I had a sleepless night planning my resignation speech, but then had an apologetic message saying that the error had been corrected, and that the meeting could go ahead as planned.

Why are some gifted people so erratic? Our meeting keeps getting messages from on high to the effect that our work is greatly valued, and that our input to the system is very important. It seems that pushing open doors is far more exhausting than it would appear!

Ooh look, a blog feature.

Just thought I'd write a little to say I'm sorry I haven't been frequenting AC for the last year or two or perhaps three.

I have been at Uni in Belfast, N.Ireland studying fine art and am now finished that, looking for a proper job and working 20hours a week at the mo which doesn't occupy me much. So I thought I'd try to keep my writing going and I'm back here to try and inspire myself to write more than I have been lately.

I should probably change my photos etc. because they're all very old and I haven't had long hair for about 5years...

Anyway, I just wanted to say I appreciate Joe hosting my music audios etc. here and I am very glad that some of the people I remember are still around. It's nice to be back.

sarah

Our son Paul and his family are going on holiday tomorrow. A couple of weeks in Skiathos, a Greek island recently made famous as being partly the location of the filming of "Mama Mia" (the other location is the nearby island of Skopelos.) We've earmarked the film as a MUST, as it's getting rave reviews. The songs of Abba, sung by the likes of Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Julie Walters and Meryl Streep - hardly famous for their singing, although they give it their best, and are well able to hold a note. Apparently it's their sheer exhuberance that's infecting the audiences. For us, also, we'll get a glimpse of what members of our family are experiencing first hand.
Our eldest daughter, Alison, has also been trying to get us interested in another trip to Greece, this time to some friends in Crete. About fifty years ago, as a theological student, I studied New Testament Greek, which, to my surprise on first visiting Greece some twenty years ago, gave me a feeling almost of coming home. We've averaged a around a visit a year since then, and made Greek friends with whom I correspond.

The other place that gives me the same "homecoming" feeling is the USA. It's not just the common language, but I feel a bond with so many Americans that I meet. I find myself chatting to strangers, as though they're neighbours. The vast majority of them seem so warm, as though they really like me. Perhaps they find my Yorkshire accent intriguing, or even cute, but I can hardly do so much as order a meal in a restaurant, or a drink in a bar without the person I'm addressing wanting to prolong the conversation. I know that the USA is a huge country, and that perhaps there are corners where I'd find folk hostile to strangers, but I'm very happy with my experiences so far. Strangely, philosophically and politically I feel poles apart from most Americans, but experience them as kindred spirits and human beings with whom I can so easily relate. I can hear opinions voiced that would infuriate me back here in the UK, but feel a warm tolerance when they're voiced in American accents.
In a world where there are so many discordant voices I find this reassuring

Greetings Earthlings. I have been busy. I now have a piece in Frankie of Apartment E's office in The Office Gallery downtown. I am preparing more pieces for show as we speak. Watch for more photos. This newest one is the one in Frankie's office.

The sycophants gather like vultures whose rapacious feast convenes in climactic bursts of beastly devouring, furnace belly bellows burning with desire in the midnight orgy enveloped by darkness like dying widows falling into melancholic seizures of memory no roads leading outward from the sanctum of sanity trapped till the end in endless reverie.

Genuflecting monks design paisley vestments celebrating Gothic revivals of ancient mysteries in the dark night of the soul when silent prayers are sung in polyphonic peace echoing in Chapels measureless to man whose flying buttresses arch into distant skies priests wailing original sin in concupiscent chardonnays sunk deep in chalices of Eucharistic ecstasy their Cherubic faces blushed like grapes of wrath a subtle glint of heavenly host blessings consecrated with vintage miracles.

Just got home last night after spending the weekend with our son and his family. They live in Nottingham, about 75 miles away. Just down the road to Americans, I guess. About an hour and 45 minutes drive.
Watched a great tennis event (not Wimbledon) Our grandson Robert, aged 12, is a member of the local tennis club, and has started playing in the club competitions. He's achieved a grading that allows him to play in the open men's competition, and played the first round a couple of weeks ago against a boy his own age. Having won that, he was drawn against a sixteen year old on Friday. We watched the game, and, to our delight, Robert won again after a marathon three setter. He was then informed that in the next round he'd play an adult. His dad's comment, on seeing Robert's anxious expression. "He should worry, he beats me often enough!"

What pleases me though, is that win or lose, Robert enjoys his tennis. I'm also pleased that he doesn't have pushy parents. I well remember Jackie Charlton, a well known British soccer coach grumbling about such people. "When they give their boy a pound every time he scores a goal, he never learns to pass the ball well!"
Didn't seem to do the Williams sisters much harm though!

I have regained my interest in the topic of Californian independence. This is a small movement, that seems to be made up largely of Libertarians, who are tired of the federal government, and feel like the state is being oppressed by said government. The only site I know of devoted to Californian Independence is this site, and it's not exactly very active.

One arguement against Californian independence is that the economy of California cannot stand on it's own. California has agriculture, the well-known computer industry, and the whole entertainment industry that I despise. We also have gold and some oil, among other things. If California were independent, it would have the seventh or eighth largest economy in the world, with a GDP (gross domestic product) equal to that of Spain, Italy, and even China, according to this map. The per-capita income is 11th in the nation, and our population is the highest out of all the US states.

A state like Wyoming could not exist on it's own, with only half a million people. We have a little more than 30 million, which is a perfect population for a little thing called direct democracy. California already has this cute little system, with voter initiatives in November, instead of everything being decided for us, by people "representing" us, like in the current US system. The voters decide most of the things relating to their government, but sadly, it's only on the state level, and California, the largest state population-wise, has little say compared with the other states.

Oh, and Governor elections are based on the popular vote, not "electoral votes." Also, on the subject of GDP, we have a larger GDP than Australia, Mexico, Canada, Russia, and most nations in Europe except for France, Germany, and Britian. Should all these countries with less GDP than us be subordinants to a larger nation? We have the right to do this, and this right is spelled out in the Declaration of Independence, which sadly, has no major legal standing:

Also, when Kosovo broke away from Serbia, nobody complained about how they couldn't stand on their own, except for the Serbians themselves. Perhaps if we get the word out, we can get Californian independence. Sadly, it's a lofty goal.

Whilst in Corfu, we had many opportunities to relax. We got out of bed when we pleased (sometimes early, sometimes late), ate at what hours we felt like, walked a great deal to local villages, and wandered about on other occasions with no destination in mind. We swam, sat in tavernas with cool drinks, watching the world go by, and reclined on sunbeds by the pool, and on the beach.
On such occasions, many thoughts occurred to me. Ideas that would change my life, and concepts of such profundity that they would transform the lives of any who read them. I resolved to start by putting them in this blog for the benefit of all who have the wisdom to read it.
Unfortunately I now seem to have forgotten them all - though I'll return and regale AC with them at such time as I remember them. In the meantime here's a picture of something I saw that rather amused me. I hope that it can be viewed clearly, as it reflects so much of what I've written above.

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I have waited too long to do this (again), but now I'm starting to have my art displayed in Florida.* I am in a show on July 3 at the Orlando Museum of Art's 1st Thursday event. That same piece will also be displayed in the Orange County Amin Bldg from July 10-July 31.* I hope I can keep up the momentum and get myself out there again. I have a friend that recently opened a metaphysical store, Chasing Rainbows, and she has displayed 7 of my photographs there (for sale).* Tonight we are having a meeting with people doing crystal therapy there.* Sounds like fun.

This my second night in Houston with my mother, my sister, and her husband, and their two sons.

Today I touched a 3.8 million year old sliver of the moon, at the NASA facility. My sister's child played all the rough and tumble games his peers do. It was wonderful to see him leading a normal life free from internal bleeding. At NASA they had all sorts of children's play places. His child's smile was magical.

We had a difficult journey to Houston, getting lost and losing my sister's directions and phone number. Yet through persistance we made our way.

This is the best visit we've ever had with my sister and her family. This is our second night here. Tomorrow we return home. I hope this is a harbinger to many more visits to come.

John

Its funny that i am thinking about mom more than anyone else
Not that there's anything wrong with it.. lol.
But its strange that she does not understand me.. and its weird that she does not have time for me.
Everyday i wish we could sit and talk.. i wish she'd understand things and help me out when i am in doubt, lend a helping hand just when i need her the most.
But she is too busy with her chores....
Despite all of that, i love her.. the most.
And when i try to question, she says she gives me whatever i ask for, fulfills all my demands but i wish i could tell her that the most precious thing she could ever give me is her time..
But i suppose its okay, you have to accept people as they are..

..too bad if people don't realise that.
Sorry i couldn't be bothered for a proper blog post here but i was just venting feelings!

Lately I've been doing a lot of house cleaning. The process is kind of like archeology. I've come upon artifacts going back to before I was born.

I found several Life magazines, two of which were from 1969 about Neil Armstrong's first step on the moon. Another Life magazine was about the 7 day war in Israel. I found a 1929 travel company brochure from the travel agency which booked my paternal grandparents sea voyage around the world.

However, I also browsed through my old journals going back twenty years. It was amazing how much I had forgotten about those lost years. The journal entries took me back to a time and place I only remembered the outlines of. I seemed to relive many of the emotions I had felt back then. I was a very self conscious young man back in the late eighties and early nineties. There were so many on going dramas then. I found myself smiling at a joke a woman told me who has since died. I had recorded in detail conversations and my fears, hopes and dreams. It was a different world I experienced back then. It was the flowering of my life which would take me on adventures I had never thought possible and romance and friendship.

Well that was my retrospective tonight. I didn't expect house cleaning to be a trip down memory lane.

John

Back home now from a lovely two weeks in Corfu. I've enjoyed so much of whatever culture the Ionian offers nowadays. Some breathtaking scenery, electric storms in the evening made spectacular viewing from our balcony, and didn't last long enough to prevent us from doing anything we wanted to do. Swimming in the pool, some fairly strenuous walking in the local hills and on the cliff tops. Delicious meals, wine, ouzo, beer (not all at the same time!) and the Greek dancing. The spirit of Zorba lives on!
We had a particularly demanding walk up a long, narrow, winding road through olive groves to a lovely village, calling in for refreshments half way up at a roadside taverna sheltering from a blazing sun beneath pine trees. Discovered that it was owned and run by a young American woman from New York (any woman under 60 classes as "young" with me.) We had interesting chat, then up to the village, where I enjoyed bacon and eggs, with frappe, at the "Three Brothers" taverna, with its spectacular views. Joyce scolded me for such an unhealthy meal, ordered an omelette, and then proceeded to dip yolk from my eggs with her bread!
I'll now see if I can manage the required technological expertise to present a picture or two. Here goes!

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