Mourners Honor Tillman in Arizona

It’s not good news, but it does give you pause to stop and think about just what the guy did. I haven’t mentioned Tillman yet because I didn’t knwo what to say other than ‘Damn, man...thank you.”

You can tell some of that stuff was very important to people...It’s wonderful that they thought to do this.  I do have one lingering question though...what happens to this stuff?  I mean, the hat and the book?  Someone’s old boots that they fought in?  These things should not be tossed away when Tillman’s name is forgotten by the majority of people thinking of him this week. 

I have no idea what the protocol is in situations lke this.  I know that once I read about a 9/11-related situation where people were piling things around the fence at Ground Zero.  The article was about how had it was for the city workers to gather it all up every few days and throw it away, but that was all they could do...there was SO much outpouring of stuffed animals, flowers, signs, photos, notes, etc, they couldn’t just leave it to grow into a mountain, and there was no one to claim it.

I would like to suggest that if they are naming the complex *or* the stadium after Tillman, they set aside a display area to save the more emotional and sentimental items...a windowfront set into a wall, or a small display case somewhere.  Not a whole building or anything, just a small place that the memories that were shared here can be kept to positively impact others who will come along and see them.

Posted by JimK at 02:41 AM on April 25, 2004
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Categories: Things To Ponder,  U.S. Military

A Small Victory - Overheard

Overheardread at A Small Victory:

Ha!  Every once in awhile I think “Am I still going to be listening to Manson or Maiden or Nine Inch Nails along side SRV or Sinatra or Rachmaninoff in ten years?”

...and then I remember that Manson and Reznor are my age.  :)

Posted by JimK at 02:32 AM on April 25, 2004
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Categories: The Blogosphere,  Things To Ponder

A metaphor

Here’s something to ponder:

I’ve been thinking a lot about the absolute root of what separates a “liberal” as defined today from a “conservative” for me.  I think I have an analogy that feels right.

A conservative sees government and the basic fabric of society as a necessity, like a good reliable car.  You should only have as much car as you need to get from point A to point B, with just enough power for the ocassional emergency, or in case you have to pass someone on the highway.  No pizazz at all.

Liberals in America see government and society as an alcohol-fueled funny car, constantly needing to be tuned and changed, adding some new element all the time to try to improve it.  And it’s great in short, powerful bursts, but you can’t drive it every day.

Posted by JimK at 01:39 AM on April 21, 2004
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Categories: Things To Ponder,  Politics

Reading list: Galveston

I’m currently reading Galveston, by Sean Stewart.  I’m not far enough along yet to give any impression other than it’s interesting, but I do have another observation:

Is it just me, or has the quality of printed books gone WAY down in the last couple of years?  I have paperback books I bought in the early 80’s that are a bit yellowed, but still fine.  The three books I have read in the last two weeks have all left my hands covered in black ink, like I’m reading the morning paper ten minutes after it’s off the press.

Maybe I’m just noticing this now because 98% of my reading in the last two or three years has been electronic: I read ebooks like a fiend.  I have maybe 2 or three thousand titles awaiting me...and I grab as many as I can from Usenet or the web all the time, amassing a digital library that already rivals my physical one.  So maybe this is a known thing, and I’m late to the party, but sheesh...your average book is printed pretty haphazardly these days.

Please do NOT tell me this is me getting into some “things were better in the old days” phase, because I will hunt you down and put a hurtin’ on you.  :)

Posted by JimK at 05:44 AM on April 10, 2004
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Categories: Things To Ponder