Map of the U.S.A.

Speaks for itself...



Key (for map on right):
[Green] Free states and territories
[Brown] Territories open to slavery
[Red] Slave owning states

Hunting tragedy

There were some sporadic news this week about a hunter in Winsconsin who shot 6 people. On the surface, it was another beserker we often get used to hearing about on American news. It turns out he may have been defending himself.

http://www.wkowtv.com/$spindb.!query.1listnews.storeview.13554.news

The hunter was a Hmong, a traditional tribal people that historically enhabit parts of Laos, Vietnam and southern China - and it made me think of the Hmongs I encountered while I was travelling in asia. They seemed down to earth, laid back people - many ended up in the U.S. as refugees. The U.S. government during the 1960's-70's has had a sad history of exploiting them during their wars in the region - many were trained to fight by the CIA as counter-communist insurgents but ended up being ruthlessly persecuted after the U.S. pullout. Some made it here as refugees.

http://www.jefflindsay.com/Hmong_tragedy.html

Music for travellers

Saw an interesting quote in a magazine horoscope that went something like:

"One will never be free until there is freedom from the idea of freedom".

Perhaps it is saying something about true freedom as something born of responsibility and discipline.

Been seeing a retinue of old friends in the city as well as friends who moved here from San Francisco. My New York friends are doing well - all have become established in their careers, and getting things done the way New Yorkers know how.

My relocated San Franciscan friends are enjoying life here, some still getting their bearings, (and the neurotic energy of this city has begun to affect some). I took a long walk with my friend Erika, on Sunday night. She had just arrived after spending a few months to drive around the country. The weather was cool but not too cold. Surprisingly, the bars and restaurants were still lively at 10pm. The village and SOHO was just right, not too many people and just enough to not feel too empty.

Two of my ex-band mates from 10 years ago have just released an excellent electronica album: Lexica's "Lost and Left to Be Imagined". It was a surprise to see my name in the liner notes, one of my guitar parts was resurrected, resampled, remixed.

One of the my favorite things to do is now is to listen to music on my mp3 player while walking around the city or taking the subway. Its like a soundtrack to one's own private movie. So many characters everywhere.

I'm listening to Eno's "Music For Airports" right now - good comedown music for tonight.

Tragedy, Comedy, Beauty

"Life is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think."

-Margaret Cho

Needless to say, the election results were a huge dissappointment. Its one thing for Americans to suffer this president, its another for the world to suffer. One of the things that I'll always remember from my travels in S.E. Asia was the trail of devastation that terrible American foreign policy left in the region (which many are still recovering from today). I'm afraid something of this order is happening again in Iraq.

Several of my friends who recently returned to the U.S. from travelling or working overseas are now restless to leave again. My sense of alienation from the other half of this country is tremendous. I personally don't feel like I understand this country anymore. 51% of the vote is hardly a mandate, yet Bush is already intoning as if he has sufficient "capital" to push his agenda full on.

Tonight, I went with an old friend to see a show in Brooklyn by the mastermind guitarist, Robin Guthrie, of Cocteau Twins. Although it was just him sitting with his guitar before banks of effect consoles, his signature sublime sound enveloped the room, bringing back memories of better musical times. Its interesting to think that his sound, pioneered over 15 years ago (and partially spawning the personally inspiring dreampop/shoegaze movement), still is more beautiful and progressive than most of the stuff out today. For an hour or so tonight, I felt as if I was in the presence of angels, entranced into a state of heavenly bliss. The world was impossibly beautiful, if just for a little while.

Vote

People, stop reading this and go vote.

Here are some things to remember about voting. Read carefully. Your vote could decide this election.

1. Find out today where your polling place is by calling your county clerk or checking http://www.mypollingplace.com/
2. Alternatively, call 1-866-MYVOTE1 to find your polling place.
3. Check the hours the polls are open with your city or county clerk.
4. Print the League of Women Voters' card in English or Spanish and put it in your wallet or purse.
5. Bring a government-issued picture ID like a driver's license or passport when you vote. Some states require it but if there are problems, you will certainly need it. If you have a cell phone, take it to call for help if need be.
6. As you enter the polls, note if there is an Election Protection person outside the polling place.
7. If you are not listed as a registered voter, try to register on the spot. Some states allow that.
Otherwise, talk to the Election Protection person if there is one or call 1-866-OUR-VOTE for instructions. If neither of these helps, ask for a provisional ballot, but you will need a picture ID to get one.

[from www.electoral-vote.com]

The world is counting on you.

New York

I'm back in New York City. This is my birthplace, and also where I went to college. Not sure how long I'll stay but I'm enjoying it so far.

The other day, I was in Rego Park, Queens, getting some tacos. The place was run by a Chinese family, speaking in a fujian dialect and across the restaurant me sat two west africans conversing excitedly in their language when their food arrived. Russian can be heard up and down the sidewalk on the way to the subway, as the neighborhood is traditionally Russian orthodox jewish. Compared to San Francisco, this is a true melting pot, where each ingredient hasn't fully integrated into the stew yet.

It was Holloween this weekend and I met up with some old friends from SF who moved out here. We went to a party in Williamsburg and then in the village. We saw the parade. Then I took the late night subway ride home to Queens.

Its nice this time being back - not as full of mixed emotions like before. I guess I've changed and the city's changed. An old friend from college suggested that I've mellowed out in the last eight years since I've been gone, as if a certain passion/intensity has gone from me.

I think Mark Twain once remarked,

"Don't stay in New York too long, lest it makes you too hard. Don't stay in San Fracisco too long, lest it makes you too soft."