November 26, 2008
Good morrow! Apologies for falling behind in my Movember progress reports. One tends to spend a lot of time signing autographs and posing for photos with Japanese tourists when one has a lush, almost mystical forest-like badge of greatness upon one's upper lip. And thus one has little remaining time to devote to online activities. So, without further ado, I present to you the glory.


As always,
J
November 11, 2008
I think the picture speaks for itself. If I wasn't handsome before, well, I'm still not handsome, but, dammit, it's for a good cause.

Speaking of which, if anyone might be interested in making a modest donation toward the cause of men's health (primarily the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Beyond Blue [male depression]), you should be able to do so at
this link.
Peace, Love & Understanding,
J
November 04, 2008
President Barack Obama.
And for the Republicans, I chant: "No more years! No more years! No more years!"
Update: I just had a chance to watch Obama's speech from Grant Park. I really liked the tone of it and lines like:
"Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress." It's not that this is a particularly unique sentiment, but I think it captures the fact that he was not just addressing his supporters, but the nation as a whole. He wasn't just reveling in the victory (like Bush in '04 talking about mandates and "I'm gunna do anything I want"), but preparing for what's to come and calling on everybody to take part.
I suppose at the end of the day it's all politics and who knows what's really honest. But I appreciated that he took this step in stride and as one of many more to come.
On the other side of the coin, I absolutely loved watching a few clips of McCain's concession speech. How beautiful was it when McCain starts into the "I want to congratulate Senator Obama..." bit and the whole crowd explodes with booing? The look on McCain's face and in his eyes as he raised his hands to silence them - the shame - nearly made me misty-eyed. McCain having to watch the fruits of his sleazy, race-baiting, fear-mongering, jesus-hates-non-Republicans campaign expose their rotten innards was a fitting end to the story.
Running a campaign based on hate and ignorance and prejudice and resentment doesn't produce support so much as it produces opposition to 'the other'. And this is exactly what the boos represent - animosity, fear, bigotry. There is no grace in defeat when you're really out for blood. And McCain had to bear it. It's all in his eyes. Defeat, in every form. You reap what you sow, John. The smell will never completely wash off, but I can't blame you for trying.
Now, let us hope this momentum shifts north and puts Canada back on friggin' track. We're always several years behind the US. Hope & Change. It's coming. Eventually.
J
November 02, 2008
So begins my month as a part-time biker-gang member. I'm not sure if I have what it takes, but stay tuned to find out.
"My moustache tells people that there is a 90% chance that I am poorly educated..."J