On the Inanity of Leaf Blowers

You already know the sound. There really is no adequate way to describe the sound, but one imagines that this is very similar to what the First Circle of Hell must sound like.

But I'm not here today to talk about the sound. That's a lost battle. I take issue, today, with the very idea of leaf blowers themselves. Unlike a rake - that carefully organizes leaves in neat piles, thus facilitating their collection into large plastic bags - or even a lawnmower - that mulches them down into handy specs of organic matter, neatly hidden below the grass - a leaf blower takes your solution and turns it into someone else's problem.

A leaf blower is the answer to the quandry, "I have leaves to take care of, but I'm too lazy to actually get rid of them. What if I just moved them and made someone else deal with it?" They are the very definition of out of sight, out of mind. But with that noise added just out of pure cruelty.

Nothing False About Hope

There has been no shortage of ink spilled and hot air expended in the wake of last Tuesday's midterm elections. And while there was a spirited combat joined for the most ridiculous assertion made post-November 2nd - if you must know, 2nd place went to CNN International's proclaiming of "A New Republican Era" - top prize in my view must go to those who uttered things along the lines of:
"Go back and listen to Obama's 2008 speeches. They sound so naive now."
"Obama shouldn't have used such soaring rhetoric during the campaign. He just set himself up for failure."
"The President who is now in office is a long way from the idealistic, fiery candidate of 2008."
There's a word for this kind of talk, and if you'll kindly click that link below, you can find out what it is.

Where We Go From Here

I'll be completely honest with you, I'm not yet entirely sure how this thing is going to play out. I've been considering the idea for quite some time, and there were several points that felt like "the right moment" and, yet, I didn't pull the trigger for whatever reason.

Well, tonight, another "right moment" arrived and I pulled the trigger. I wanted a title and I wanted a theme. I'm at least halfway there, and I hope you'll come along for the ride. Now, some things you should know going in...