At Anime Weekend Atlanta, people dress up in costumes the way they do at Dragon-Con, but today, I learned they maybe a little more extreme.

As I was walking around meeting vendors to promote STEAMfest, there was a person dressed in a German Officers Uniform.  I am vaguely inured to that.  The big swastika arm band however, was shocking.  

Even more shocking was the astonishing number of people who said "Oh How Cool!  Let me get your picture!" 

Let me make this perfectly clear:  People were clamoring to take pictures of and have their picture taken with someone wearing what's supposed to look like a World War II Nazi Uniform with a swastika! 

Some quick history:  The Nazis were Germans and their followers who believed that people existed for the state and that Aryan people had a natural right to dominate over others including taking their property and supporting the mass engineered execution of literally 12 million people in the Holocaust. 

There is a difference between wanting to dress up as Darth Vader & wanting to dress up as a Nazi officer.  Darth Vader is fictional.  The Nazis were real.  Darth Vader is ultimately redeemed.  The Nazi leadership went to their ends unrepentant.  They thought that killing 6 millions Jews, just for being Jewish, half a million Roma,  3 million other Poles and Russians, 15 thousand gay people  and more helped make the world a better place. 

When you put on that uniform and when you choose to wear the swastika, you are saying you agree.  This is not a play.  This is walking around in public.  More troubling than the teenager who thought this was a good idea are all the others who thought that such a uniform was 'So Cool!'.  Let it also be noted here that there were other 'German Officers', but the Swastika is what drew the attention and the fans and it is the Swastika which identifies you as a Nazi.  Yes.  I am aware that Nazis are the villains in certain Anime, but again, their the villains because their ACTUALLY evil and when you put on the clothes, you take the ideology with it.  This isn't Star Wars, the Nazis had a very specific idea of what should happen and they thought they were entitled to kill you.

What made this kid's parents think that it was okay for him to go out in public as a Nazi?  What led these other kids to want to have their picture taken with that? 

Can you imagine if someone had shown up dressed as a Ku Klux Klan Wizard?  As Osama Bin Laden?  As Jean Kambanda?   One would think there would have been outrage.  Apparently, over Nazis there is none.  Kids are down with the killing.

The question is now what to do about it?  It's not an isolated incident.  A play about Anne Frank had to be stopped last year at a north Fulton County school when the kids started cheering for the Nazis.  The cast and school officials were shaken. 

What AWA should not do is ban the costume.  Censorship here will not help.  It will only make Nazism forbidden fruit, which is the sweetest of all.  Nor should they ban 'offensive costuming' (though the AWA costume rules do have a decency clause). 

What they might want to do is add something to their costume rules requesting that nothing outright offensive be worn (not insisting, requesting) & they might want to add a panel about fictional evil, which people can reasonably want to play around with, and actual evil in which the true impact and effects of the carnage are shown and manifest. 

Think about it.  What would you do if your son, daughter, sister, brother, or cousin said 'Hey!  I am going to go out to an event with thousands of people dressed as a Nazi officer!  Come with me!  Let's take pictures and put them on internet!"  Would you not go to any lengths to stop this? 

This is the Banality of Evil at its heart.  You should want to stop it, because if you don't, pretty quickly, you'll be next! 

 Abe Fortas loved being a Supreme Court justice.  He was appointed by LBJ, but when the next President, Richard Nixon, asked him to, he stepped down.  He gave as his reason "Because When the President of the United States asks you to do something, you do it."  

The President of the United States would like to talk to the nation's school children.  They're kids.  Yet their parents, in a sign of contempt not only for the man, but for the office he holds, are pulling their students out of class en masse.  

I feel embarrassed for my country, but worst for the kids.  The President of the United States wants to talk to them and they're going to miss it.  This is a man who came from humble beginnings, faced adversity, and worked his way up to become the President of the United States and among the most respected people in the world.  

People all over Europe, Asia, and Africa hang on his every word.  Leaders of other countries would give anything to have coffee with him, and he wants to talk with Children about their schooling and what's important to him.  

There are only four other people who can read this who have achieved what President Obama has achieved.  Being the President of the United States is a truly enormous undertaking, honor, and solemn responsibility.  President Obama has not led us into infamy, no one has accused him of a Byzantine mendacity.  

His Republican Opponents have called him a man of honor.  They may disagree with him on issues, but the nobility of his endeavor is beyond reproach and now parents, at the urging of some conservative pundits, will withdraw?  This is especially ironic in that the last President to do so was Philip's Andover's own George H. W. Bush.  

In some ways, this only helps the President.  It shows the degree to which his political detractors are not people of good faith who disagree, but zealous enemies who enmity for Democrats is grater than their love fro their children and the country.  

If you have kids, don't be an idiot.  He is your President.  Yours.  He's trying to impart information he thinks is important to your kids.  He wants them to learn.  If you don't let them watch, you're proving you don't.

 We're pretty close to being sure that a completely innocent person was executed in Texas in 2004.  The Houston Chronicle and New Yorker document the case.  

According to Innocence Project spokesperson Barry Scheck, The Texas Governor ignored further investigative testimony that showed the very high likelihood of innocence of Cameron Todd Willingham.  Willingham proclaimed his innocence every single moment from his being accused.  He died proclaiming it.  

Texas Governor Rick Perry had the opportunity to commute Willingham's sentence in view of better scientific evidence, but Perry is not a man of science.  He is a Creationist Christian.  A man for whom faith trumps direct evidence to the contrary.  He chose for Willingham to die.  
We have a word for such behavior, and that word is murder.  Perry murdered an innocent person, with all the information to know that he was innocent.  He just chose to ignore it.  

As I have said before, the death penalty is clearly anticipated by the 5th amendment to the Constitution.   However, currently it's available for too many crimes too often and is used as a measure of vengeance.  Vengeance is never justice and our societies inability to erect a wall between the two leads to precisely the blood lust that has killed an innocent person at the hands of the state.  

The same thing will likely happen here in Georgia with Troy Anthony Davis.  

I am unwilling to be an innocent person put to death.  I would fight every step of the way.  In light of the fact that At least two states seem to be okay with this, a moratorium seems appropriate until a national standard at least as tough as the one Massachusetts proposed seems in order.  

Think about it... Are you willing to die for something you actually did not do?

The Atlanta Progressive News reports that race has officially entered the Atlanta Mayor's Race.  Says that report: "..the Black Leadership Forum in Atlanta has circulated a position paper authored by Aaron Turpeau, raising fears that Atlanta could elect its first White mayor in decades and that Black leaders could lose what he believes to be access to the Mayor's office."

There is currently no clear best choice for Candidates in the City of Atlanta Mayors race, but Lisa Borders & Mary Norwood are currently the two big dogs in the fight.  Who the Mayor of Atlanta is matters to everyone in the state and the region.  Bill Campbell was criminal, literally, and Mayor Frankin's first term was amazing.  The Mayor makes a difference.

Now, however, by alleging that race trumps actual positions, Mr. Turpeau risks distracting everyone from choosing the Mayor who is most likely to be able to budge the Legislature to put up some money to solve problems, rebuild city morale, solve its crime and homeless problems, reduce corruption, and work with the Federal Government. 

Race won't mean a thing in that department.  Rather, by introducing race, and by trying to rally Black Atlantans behind Borders, Mr. Turpeau has made it clear that rather than wanting the best Mayor, he just wants to make sure that the Mayor isn't White. 

There's a word for that: Stupid.  Even if Ms. Borders turns out to be the best person for the job, Mr. Turpeau has bittered the pool against her.  If she loses, it's possible that the reason will be that people have exhausted the well of good will for this sort of identity voting. 

Should the White Candidate in the race, Mary Norwood, win, she too will find a bittered pool and what would simply have been natural collaboration will either seem forced or be prevented.  Either way, Mr. Turpeau has sown his own worst nightmare, which perhaps is what he wanted all along. 

The Democrats are down to 59 Votes in the Senate, but perhaps they lost the biggest one.

Edward M. Kennedy has died.  Yep.  He screwed up when he was young.  You bet.  Drank too much when he was old.  Still...

He was the most effective legislator ever, and is among the great Senators.  I believe, but have not checked my facts on this, that he sponsored more major legislation than any other Senator.  More than even Senator Byrd, who lives on.  He was able to get bills through the Senate regardless of who was in power and he stopped bills in the Senate regardless of who was in power.

Health Care, Civil Rights, Environmental Law, Justice Reform, Educational Access, and Immigration reforms were just a few of the areas in which the major legislation guiding the country was shaped with Senator Kennedy's input. 

Oprah has been given credit for choosing President Obama, but really, it was Senator Kennedy's endorsement that made his victory over Senator Clinton possible.  Without that endorsement, it is quite possible the fight would have gone to the convention.

Unless you're an incredibly wealthy racist polluter, you benefited from what The Senator passed.  We have a volunteer military in part because of Mr. Kennedy.  We have a deregulated airline system because of Mr. Kennedy and he was essential in assuring passage of the voting rights acts.  He heralded the Americans With Disabilities act and got a Republican President to sign it.  With Orin Hatch, he created the S-CHIP program which guarantees the poorest children access to medical care. 

Even President George W. Bush praised Kennedy's work. 

Now, as shall be all of us, he is dead.  Ironically, his final act shall be to save us money.  The federal government has extended to all the Kennedys Secret Service Protection.  It's expensive, but in the Kennedy's case understandable.  Now, Mr. Kennedy will no longer need it. 

Recently, the old Nike slogan, 'Just Do It' has been revisited as good advice.  Ted Kennedy proved it.  He did it, we're better off.  Thank you sir.

Sembler wants Dekalb county to finance the completion of its latest mega project.   Generally, I am not a Sembler fan, but there could be a big silver lining here, in fact you could say, it's putting the cart before the horse.

You see, the long term benefit here isn't more taxes, or more housing, or even another branch of Nuevo Lorado, rather, its the chance to build a MARTA station.

Right now, it's a long way between the Brookhaven and Chamblee MARTA stations.  Oglethorpe University is not easy walking distance.  

Adding the Sembler project risks adding a ton of traffic to Peachtree rd.  However, if part of funding the Sembler project also included adding a MARTA station, the whole thing might just come together.

Sembler's 'Town' project is about a block and a half south of Oglethorpe.  MARTA stations tend to be about a block long.  Positioned correctly, both Oglethorpe's Campus and Sembler would be well served.  The result would be an ecologically sound economic boomlet!

Oglethorpe is an under-utilized resource and, like Emory, it has never been as integrated into city life as it could.  Add a MARTA station and suddenly a lot more people can get to the Georgia Shakespeare festival.  A lot more can come to exhibits at the Oglethorpe Museum, and far fewer students would need a car, easing a problem Oglethorpe has long had.

Sembler too would see both the value of its project go up and would see substantial traffic mitigation.  The number of customers who could reach the project wouls sky rocket, as would the number who would want to live there with the train easy walking distance away.

The metro area would win as they would have easier access to cultural and educational amenities.  Dekalb county would win because property values would go up even as traffic per resident was lessened, and locals would benefit as well.

The question is whether any of the political parties here are horses that can be lead.

In one week a lot can happen...

The most important thing, of course, is that the Iranian Government stole the election from it's people.  This, short term, bodes poorly for Iran, and well for us.  Now it's Americas President that's legit and Iran's that isn't.

I need a new shirt because I lost mine on the ATLSteamfest.  Still, the art was great, the play was good, and the people who came seemed really to have enjoyed it.  We will learn and do it again next year.  I am trying to put a Brave Face on it, but the lost money will indeed be a hardship, and the world reminds you that when you win, people care, but you lose alone. 

Camp SUnshine though, mitigates that.  These kids fight far bigger battles than money every day and I appraciate them so much.  They work very hard and are very focused.  They also release well.

Now, it's time to get ready for the next influx of shows from tomorrow's trangendered marriage explorations to battleaxes to dancing monkeys.  They'll all need support and somewhere in there, the road calleth me.  

God bless the road.

Murder is generally a bad solution to most problems, but in the case of killing Dr. George Tiller, it's going to backfire. 

Recent polling show Americans slightly more pro-life than pro-choice for the first time in years.  Killing Tiller will change that.  It will also guarantee that Sonia Sotomayor will face no tough questioning in regard to abortion before the Senate.  In fact, this killing likely will make her confirmation even more likely. 

Fortunately, most anti-abortion groups have condemned this killing.  This is a departure from Randall Terry who  relishes the death of other doctors who provided abortions.  Clearly they have gotten the message that such behavior does not help their cause.

People can disagree about abortion and the ethical asymptotes which ought apply, but there are some basic on which reasonable people can agree.  No one is going out and saying 'Hey!  Let's get preggers so we can go get an abortion!  That'd be the bomb!"  No one is doing this. 

Nor have a majority of anti abortion medical professionals I've chatted with been able to condemn the Tay Sachs case.  It's just different. 

The killer, alleged to be Scott Roeder, clearly does not even want to listen.  He clearly does not understand that in killing this doctor, the total death count will increase. 

I hope that the prosecutor is smart enough to not seek the Death Penalty as the irony would be palpable.  Let the guy plead out to first degree, get him some psychiatric care and let him rot. 

AN Eye for an Eye leaves the whole world blind.  I hope that Dr. Tiller's family can find some solice.  I hope that someone shows them compassion.  So too the other members of the Parish where the doctor was shot.

Barack Obama, a weepy nation turns it's lonely eyes to you.

Back to Highlands tomorrow to see if my director will like the music I chose!

Saw turtles, jellyfish, regular fish wood ducks, & Herons on the lake today.

Slept Too.  Twas wonderful.

Then I was reminded of how good I have it as the Iranian journalist, Roxanna Saberi, is still imprisoned. 

We should all work to free her and see more theatre.

But we do like Pizza.

It has been an odd theatre week.

First, I was a game show contestant that was too successful (I won all three rounds: trivia, cross dressing, & golf ball lacrosse) in a cabaret, then I did a Murder Mystery for a Christian School who had a murder as their prom because dancing might lead to creating children, then a Murder Mystery for a coalition of Conservative Jewish teens who danced like mad in ways that made the Lambada look pretty tame.

All of that, however, did not prepare me to do a farce with a real judge who has tried capital cases with real murderers!

I working on Neil Simon's 'Rumors' in Highlands, North Carolina with Judge Hilton Fuller.  Judge Fuller is playing a psychologist, which means his character is not supposed to judge people!  Irony!  10 Points.  The show is at the Highlands Performing Arts Center and is presented by the Highlands Cashiers Players. 

Now, Judge Fuller is the real thing.  He's a hero or jurist prudence who has prevented a lot of bad things from happening.  The guy deserves credit!  It's just odd to randomly run into him in a theatrical context.  It's sort of like going to your favorite bar and discovering that your bar tender is Linus Pauling....

Oy.  What an odd yet fun life. 

 The United States has proven that we are no paper tiger, but now we have to go prove it where the rumor began.  

We need to prove it to the Somolis.  We need to be a nation of people who are willing to die for a just cuase but are eager to live for it.  

Almost every sane person wants to keep on living.  Americans have more reasons to do so than almost any else as we are most free to define our own lives.  

That also puts the issue of for what we're willing to die front and center on the table.  It requires courage to face the issue.  

Somoli pirates have kept one hostage from their recent seizure of a ship.  If it were me, I would hope that while the United States and the people in it would press for my safe return, they would draw a line and not cross it.  Pay no ransome, trade no prisoners, and if the opportunity came to attack and bomb other pirate back to the stone age, to do it even if I might end up hurt or dead.  

When couragous people and nations tell the kidnappers and the pirates that we're willing to sacrifice ourselves and our own when it comes down to it, but there will be a real price to pay, we'll have to do it less.

The same problem plagues Israel too.  It's understandable, but I personally, would not want my country to pay the long term costs.  

 The Georgia General Assempbly did something right.  Buy Break and Milk Now.  

In the midst of the Brian Nichols verdict, Legislators vowed to make it easier for the state to kill people, by creating non unanimous death penalty verdicts.  This would have been a bad idea because it would have placed emotion above reason and vengence above justice.  Such a law would likely not have withstood court scrutiny.  

Instead, (Thanks APN)  the legislature passed a Senate bill making it legal to hand out a life sentence without parole without first seeking the death penalty.  

This will lessen the degree to which the death penalty is sought and save money on those trials.  Additionally, because prosecutors and jurys will feel more confident in seeking this sentence, the chance that an innocent person will be put to death decreases.  

Still, this bill is not without its problems.  Housing people forever is expensive.  It will increase Georgia's prison population and study after study has shown that when you spend more on prisons, you spend less on education.  If Fulton County has proven anything, it's that providing a quality education turns out to be much less expensive than providing a lousy prison.  

Unfortunately, the real answer here, which is to care more about the effectiveness of prisons rather than the vengence they impose, will be a tough lesson to have Georgia's citizens learn.  Only when the health care costs of caring for thousands of life in prison inmates becomes evident, will the system change, and by then it could be too late.  

Still, that's a much better problem than "Whoops!  We killed the wrong person!"

I work on an HIV awareness play.  Part of the show includes a question and answer question with students in middle schools, high schools, and people of all ages from the communities who book the play.

The show has been modified over the years and currently reflects the 'abstinence only' paradigm that has been required by institutions receiving federal money for the past 8 years. 

Now, the Pope has gone to Africa, an area torn more by HIV than by war and declared that condoms increase HIV transmission rather than prevent it and that abstinence is the only way to prevent the spread of the disease. 

My boss wanted all of us to read the article so that if we're asked about it we could respond.  She didn't say, however, she wanted us to respond, merely that we should be ready to.

 "You can't resolve it with the distribution of condoms,On the contrary, it increases the problem.", said the Pope. 

On its face, this is an empirical question.  You can look at areas and populations in which condoms are distributed and see whether HIV infection increases or decreases.  Studies in African show the Pope is dead wrong.  However, the Pope doesn't care.  For him, the issue is not one of research, it's one of sin. 

Carnality is a sin, and condoms enable carnality, which as a sin, is a priori evil.  If, however, instead, absolutely everyone were abstinent, no one new would ever get HIV from sexual transmission again.  However, in about 100 years there won't be any more people either.  

The Pope's logic goes off the rails when he assumes that carnality requires enabling.  People are going to engage in sexual activity.  They are not going to be abstinent.  In fact, the bible commands that they be fruitful and multiply. 

Again, however, the Pope cares not for logic.  His is a quest for faith.  Regrettably, one person cannot have faith on behalf of another and have the effects of that faith work on the non-faithful parties behalf.  No matter how much the Pope believes that stopping the use of condoms will lead to fewer HIV infections, it's not going to happen. 

Rather, increased testing, condom distribution, and empowering of women to control with whom and when they have sex will lead to fewer infections, a more potent society, and a healthier populace.  When the society becomes empowered, they'll need the church less and the Pope will lose power.  Death requires faith, life requires research.

As my show says, a latex barrier, when used properly and every time can be highly effective in preventing the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases and the HIV virus. 

So, when it comes to sex, 'Gimme Shelter' with a Trojan from the Pope's Trojan horse! 

Washington D.C. has forgotten their Sondheim, "The Art of Making Art is Putting it Together". 

Congress didn't and the President didn't insist on putting anything for the arts in the stimulus package.  In fact, they Democrats let themselves be pressured into removing anything arts related from it. 

This was foolish on all counts.  People in the arts are hurting, and while we're used to dealing with no money, times are tougher for artists too.  Moreover, we really know how to get a bang for the buck.  We use the money we get highly efficiently. 

Give me the money to produce 3 new plays this year and I'll give 25 people jobs, use the money immediately, and have a product at the end of it.  There will be a property, namely the new play, a production of it, and something that can be translated for other markets.  Isn't that precisely what the stimulus package was intended to do?

Instead, I am left having to do the jobs of many more talented people than me for I cannot afford to hire them and pay them anything decent.  In fact, I am going to the theater tonight, for free, to help out on a production.  I would rather hire someone to baby sit the theater and go to Cotton's Restaurant, see my friends, and play trivia.  

However, I can't.  I believe in what the Love Self First people do.  Their work is pretty good and they will ultimately pay the theater some rent down the line.  That rent will go to Georgia Power, a box office person, and maybe a stage manager. 

Still, they do not make up for the Stimulus package.  They are not going adequately find great playwrights to create new work that can be performed, hiring a full staff, recorded, and then translated into digital content that can be sold on itunes and exported through out the world making our current account balance better.

Silly Congress: willing to invest in car companies that made bad decisions, but unwilling to invest in an arts community that generates the ideas and fuels the imagination that we export all over the world.  Sad indeed.

We are living in an age where the Cult of Personality is gaining in strength.  It's scary out there.  The Famous have replaced reason. 

President Obama certainly was elected due in part to his cult of personality.  Hugo Chavez, in Venezuela, road it to change the constitution of the country to create a situation in which he'll attempt to create a totalitarian utopia.  Michael Bloomberg is doing the same thing in New York City.  

What's scary is that rather than make considerate choices and take an active role in creating their futures, people are leaving it to the leaders they know.  To some degree this is even happening in Russia, where Prime Minister Putin took significant powers when he swtiched jobs. 

They question is why people are putting their faith in these figures to the degree that they are when it's clear that so much of their statements ran into agreeable circumstances.  Why is it hard to see that Chavez and Putin's fortunes were a direct result in the increases in their country of oil revenues, while Obama was fortunate enough to run into something he could overcome? 

Using people as a reason substitute has some built in advantages.  It's easier to identify a person, their temperment, and process than to have an idea and assess whether the data the world presents curve fits to that idea.  Putting your trust in someone is easier.  Thinking is hard.  Garnering data is hard, but it's also ultimately better.  When people are willing to look at the situation and say "This makes no sense.  I'm going to give you a fair shot of explaining it to me, but if you're not convincing, I am going with my own thoughts.", we get invention, progress, and a flattening of power. 

Ironically, the current cult of personality can mask itself as a concept for which I have a lot of respect, and that's expertise.  Experts, however, have some background in that which they analyze or discuss.  When we don't trust people in their chosen field, but rather personalities that are rhetorically compelling, we feed not into expertise, but into the cult.  

It's important to know what you know, and to know what you don't.  It's scary enough that people who know nothing are so easily able to command their people.  It's even scarier when the people who submit to the commands know better. 

In October and November of 2008, the BBC was asking people in Gaza whether they preferred Hamas or Fatah as they often do, and at that time, they noted the trend that increasing numbers would just say neither. 

A third way may well be the future.  The Arab world is split on Hamas.  The western world sees Hamas as terrorists, and Palestinians regularly question why the nominal heads of their movement don't even live in the territories.  Israel, of course, resists dealing with them.

Fatah too, however, seems fatally flawed.  Abu Mazen has tried to get control, but has failed to reign in the corruption and bureaucratic nightmare that has rendered the Palestinian Authority inept.  Further, his term is up and now, he too is a despot. 

Just as Israeli leaders realized that infinite rounds of Labor/Likud was a false choice, might Palestinians not also realize that there could be a third way, rooted in Islam, but with an eye toward economic gains for Palestinians in a peaceful environment in which the occupation of territory was resisted, but non violently and with patience which uses simple demographics as an eventual way to induce a peaceful resolution?

Its initial leadership would certainly have to come from those elements of Hamas which have suggested in the past that a Recognition of Israel might be possible and those elements of Fatah who are younger, are exhausted by corruption, and whom yearn for a Palestinian people less interested in victimhood than a resolute stand and effective government. 

The question is whether someone can start this movement without getting killed by either Fatah or Hamas operatives. 

My Fellow Americans,

We arrive at our time in history when it needs us most.  And when I say us, I do not merely mean myself, Vice President Biden, and the government, but all of you as well.

We the people need you as individual citizens to get engaged.  You rallied during the campaign and voted in record numbers.  Now I need you to tell me and the congress which sacrifices you are going to make.  And make no mistake, sacrifice in coming, but we must choose together which choices we will make to strengthen the nation. 

Our sacrifice now means a stronger nation for our children.  Our sacrifice now means a better life for our retirees.  Our sacrifice now means that our leadership in the world rise like the phoenix. 

America has lead among the nations, but others are rising to our challenge.  China owns much of our debt and is fast becoming the world's assembly line.  India has learned from our culture and is building a high tech middle class. 

What the United States of America is uniquely able to do is change the course of our nation on a dime, but you must do it!  You must invest your life in ethical entrepreneurship.  You must create the new products, next advances, and new ethical understandings which help America regain our lead in the world and hence our leadership. 

The federal government can be a partner in this, but it is you the people who will brings forth the fruits of the Bounty of the United States and so I say not only God Bless America, but God Bless You, the citizens of the United States. 

I am humbly your President and I must leave you now because I have to get to work.

Today marks several turning points, but perhaps the most profound might come to be the declining significance of race. 

I certainly understand and even enjoy that this is a day of immense celebration for all people of color, but it's also a day in which white people can celebrate and they are. 

44% of white Americans voted for Obama.  Whites made up the decisive votes in Indiana and North Carolina, which are states no one thought Democrats would win a year ago. 

More than ever the key truly is the content of your character and not the color of your skin.  It's truly about educational attainment and ability. 

This is not to say that bigotry, prejudice, and racism are dead.  Regrettably, many groups feel disproportionately toward others.  However,today, it seems to matter less. 

Especially in these economic times, we cannot afford to waste someone's ability simply because of what they look like.  It's just silly and the country increasingly understands that. 

That's a good day.

Where possible, I try to do things I've never done before.

Today with the relative cold (it did not reach freezing today at my house)  and absolutely clear skies, I wanted to go someplace with a view.  I could not get anyone to go to the Westin with me, but I did get someone to go to the Republican Version of Manuels and we went.  

Republican dens of iniquity are interesting.  Very male.  Very testosterone based.  Lots of red meat.  Very solid but frighteningly overpriced wine list.  I survived and the view was okay.  Now I know how to go spy on the G.O.P. and learn of their plans.

It did get me thinking about other things I'd like to do this year.  You build no new memories without doing new things.  So, among those things which I'd like to do:

•  Make it to the session this year.  Last year was the first time in ages where I did not visit the Georgia General Assembly.  I am not going to miss the whole circus this year.  Too much planning is going for the next election cycle.  It's an exciting new world and worth participating.  My goal is to find 'The One' who is worth writing for all the time. 
• Leave the United States.  I have not left the US for a long time.  I need to get the heck out of the country, even if it's just visiting Windsor, Canada, just to get another perspective.
• Visit Craft.  I have never been to Colichio's restaurants and now that there is one here, it's worth trying once.
• Give new directors a chance to develop shows.  The theater where I work has seen it's last few main stage shows all directed by one man.  No matter how good they have been, it's time to shake things up.  I want women to direct, I want younger men to direct.  I want good shows with different visions.  Time to see whether if we mount it, they will come.

In other words, I am optimistic about what I can do once I get up of the couch and get up before 10.

My Fellow Americans,

I wish you a joyous and prosperous new year, though just as people start calling it winter on December first, when it really happens after December 20th, perhaps the same is true this month too. 

However, in the spirit of the season, and because so many people think they have elected a God, rather than someone to simply run the country, let us offer a few resolutionary urgings for the new years ahead.

1. Pay off your credit card bills.  This, perhaps, is the single most important thing Americans can do for themselves.  Want more money to spend?  Pay off the cards.  Want a stronger country?  Pay off the cards.  Want business to have more capital?  Pay off the cards
2. On February 17th, let your TV die.  People engage in television watching more than any other single activity.  For millions, they're television becomes inactive on February 17.  Let it!  Go Out And Play! 
3. Get out and do something!  Many of you may have been laid off or cannot find work.  Don't just sit there.  DO something!  You have the time, volunteer!  You'll network your tail off, make new friends, make new contacts, and might discover hidden talents.  All kinds of non-profits need you!  From reading for the blind to building sets at your local theater, someone needs your help.
4. Don't lay off the politics!  This election energized more people than any in history.  Stay involved!  For example, participate in Foreign Policy Associations' "Great Decisions" program.  Let your voice be heard in how we evolve the world's opinion of us. 
5. Read.  So many folks have simply stopped reading books, magazines, and any piece longer than 1000 words.  Literally.  I know scores of people who did not read a single book in all of 2008.  That should not be possible. 
6. Fight corruption.  The more tolerant a society is of corruption, the less efficient & less just it becomes.  People will not participate.  Fight corruption in yourself and around you.  Pay your way.  Stop people who are behaving badly.  Single person riding in HOV?  Bust 'em.  Fare jumpers on MARTA?  Bust 'em.  Police Officer who wants a bribe?  Bust them too.  Don't be corrupt, don't take corrupt.
7. Write letters.  Want to get something done?  Skip the e-mail.  Write a letter.  A letter that goes onto someone's desk and that they have to open requires attention.  One page, typed, and with a real signature.  Further, real mail for your friends will keep their spirits up.  You'd be amazed!
8. Fight bullshit.  Almost as pervasive as corruption and related to it, is the growing problem of bullshit.  Bullshit has become an area for philosophical battle.  Fight the tendency to no longer care whether something is true, but only whether it's 'truthy'.  Whether it's true matters.  Whether it's false matters.  Seek the truth.  Get your FBI file. 
9. Exercise outside.  There is a beautiful world out there.  Go see it before it's gone.  When you're done you can have beer and nap.
10. Learn another language.  Want to make your life better and that of the rest of the world?  Learn another language.  You'll get wider perspective, new concepts to see the world with, and be able to do more for yourself, your business, and those about whom you care.

That's my advice.  That's the plan.  I want to live long enough that I'll be embarrassed that I wrote this.  That's success... Then again, it might just be Friday!