RoaringSheep

Together We Can

If you don't live in New England, you probably haven't seen those ubiquitous blue and white bumper stickers that say Together We Can.  The man behind the stickers, Deval Patrick, was sworn in today as the first African American governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  It will be interesting to see how his first term goes.  Hell, I think it's going to be interesting, period, to finally see someone who I respect governing Massachusetts finally.

I wasn't always a Deval supporter.  I never disliked him, but the 2006 election season was one where none of the candidates really captured my support until the very end.  I have to admit, I was impressed almost every single Friday this summer, when I passed by people holding Deval Patrick and Together We Can signs -- they stood in rotaries, at intersections, and even on bridges over highways.  Even this summer, I was intrigued about what was so special about Deval Patrick that made people want to give up their Friday afternoons to breathe exhaust fumes and sweat in the heat and humidity.  However, I also worried that this was going to turn into some sort of Howard Dean situation -- huge enthusiasm early on, followed by the candidate's self-destruction later.  It didn't.

Deval Patrick ran a relentlessly positive campaign, and, although he definitely got his back up at times when responding to press inquiries or to other candidates during debates, he didn't sink to the cheap shots and overwhelming negativity that so dominates our political landscape now.  At this point, he seems poised to try to keep his governorship positively focused.  He's been governor for less than 24 hours, so it's hard to tell, but his message so far has been gracious and inclusive, and hopefully the response will be similar.

What do I think will happen?  I don't know.  Massachusetts has a reputation for being very liberal and tolerant.  However, it also has a reputation for being very racist.  Yes, we've elected Deval Patrick and you can be legally married here no matter what the sex of your spouse, but hate crimes and racist attacks still occur.  It's not utopia, but there are some breaths of fresh air, and I think Deval Patrick is one of them.  It's an exciting time to live in this commonwealth and I hope that it stays that way.

Ringing Out December

Last month, I decided to actually do something other than listen to my iPod on shuffle, which has almost exclusively been the way I've used it since day one.  I created a December playlist, with songs that had some connection, even a remote one, to the month or the holidays:

I Useta Love Her -- Saw Doctors

Christmas Vacation -- The Descendents

Orgasm Addict -- The Buzzcocks

Million Miles -- The Shods

Fairytale of New York -- The Pogues

Always Remember -- Blood or Whiskey

Somebody -- Depeche Mode

This playlist worked for me, but the challenge now is to come up with one for January.   I can't decide whether I want some songs that will basically say Get up off your fat arse and get your shit together, for fuck's sake, it's 2007 or whether I want some songs that say You can do it, you're the best.  What do you think?  What do you feel like listening to in January and why?  (And please, don't mention New Year's Day by U2.  Not gonna happen on my iPod, thankyouverymuch.)