If you're looking for me, I'm at

http://www.facebook.com/bobahop

I haven't written anything for about a year. I've been reading and playing World of Warcraft. I'm living simply, without striving for poetic recognition.

I visited the Navajo Nation this summer and was moved by the beauty of the land and the spirit of The People. I'm trying to be appreciative of the little things that each day brings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mARCRguuCrk

I didn't make this. I found it after catching the last hour of the movie on tv recently. I just really like the movie, that's all.

I used Finale Notepad a few weeks ago and came up with 13 measures of something kinda classical, kinda sad and kinda whimsical. I finally got around to downloading Finale SongWriter so I could save it as an mp3. I composed it at the keyboard (typing keyboard) and then gave it the oboe sound.

Frickin MySpace thinks this is spam or a phish or a virus or something, which is complete and utter bullcorn. It's just a simple mp3, which I created and scanned for viruses and none were found. Type the URL into your browser if it's worth your bother.

http://home.comcast.net/~bobahop/audio/Dryad2.mp3

I hope to do more with it after I get done looking for a house to buy.

I'm writing to urge you to vote against the cynically-named Employee Free Choice Act. Free choice means secret ballot: free from union or employer retaliation focused on individuals based on how they vote. That's why a secret ballot is a cornerstone of our election process.

Let alone how grasping union leaders and members refuse to recognize the realities of the current economy and obstinately stand for automatic pay raises and escalation of benefits that result in the laying off of the very workers they are charged to protect, as the Democratic governor of New Jersey has said he'll have to do. And the rich are supposed to accept higher taxes because it's neighborly. Looking out for number 1 at the expense of one's co-workers is some kind of "neighborly."

It's bad enough that Democrats and unions are in lockstep. Let it not be a goose-step. Vote against the the Employee Free Choice Act.

This from a recent news story

Sens. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., and Russ Feingold, D-Wis., continue to oppose the budget bill, with Bayh telling a Sunday talk show that perception is a now big problem for Democrats.
"It looks as if Congress is just on auto pilot, immune to the problems" of Americans, he said, warning about the image Congress projects by passing a spending bill loaded with more than 8,500 earmarks.
The two Democrats have called on President Obama to veto the bill, but the White House has insisted that the measure is merely "last year's business" and that Congress should pass it quickly and move on to more pressing issues.

Uh, last year's business? I don't recall Obama running his campaign on "My first year will be the last year of Bush." And didn't the Democrats control Congress last year? Don't they still? So why should it be so hard to remove all the bullsh*t? And what more pressing issues do we have than the massively increasing IOU we're pushing into our future?
We'll get the theater of confrontation, but in the end, Republicans and Democrats will come together just enough to screw us over again.

What happened to Obama's budget scalpel? It's become a butter knife spreading sauce over 8500 pieces of pork.

Politics of same.

Years ago we were scared into enacting the Patriot Act with a minimum of deliberation. And now we're being scared into enacting a stimulus bill with a minimum of deliberation. Both parties will end up colluding to rob the taxpayers of hundreds of billions of dollars. Much of the bailout money has gone to the same people whose greed caused the financial meltdown. Even most of the same executives are in place. All I see are both parties colluding to rob the American taxpayer. Not satisfied with just robbing the current generation, they want to stick the coming generations with a huge IOU. We were told in the aftermath of the Savings & Loan crisis that government needed to make sure that such a thing wouldn't happen again. But government has done little to prevent, and I think their repair bill for their own lack of oversight is outrageous. This is not the politics of change. It's politics of same.

I have sometimes felt that people might have more realistic expectations of me if they read about Aquarians in Linda Goodman's Sun Signs. Until they do that, perhaps this article on MSN will do.

Aquarians present themselves in one of two ways. One on hand, you'll see someone who is shy and quiet. On the other, an Aquarius can be boisterous, eccentric, and energetic. Both are deep thinkers with a love of helping others. Highly intellectual, this is a fiercely independent sign that prizes intuition tempered with logic. Both personality types have an uncanny ability to see both sides of an argument without prejudice, making them excellent problem solvers. While very much attuned to the energies around them, Aquarians have a deep need to take time out alone and away to rejuvenate themselves. The keyword for this sign is imagination. The Aquarian can see a world of possibilities even when there appears to be none.

Friends and Family

Even though Aquarians are great with groups of people, it takes a bit when it comes to making close friends. Deeply sensitive and cautious, closeness means vulnerability to an Aquarius, and this is not something to be taken lightly. Aquarians' direct, no-nonsense approach in combination with their strong values can make it challenging to get to know the inner person. Yet those who are able to do so will discover a friendship that lasts through the years. An Aquarius will go the distance for a loved one to the point of self-sacrifice if necessary. They look for creativity, intellect, and honesty in their friends. When it comes to family, the expectations are no less. Although dedicated to a sense of duty to relatives, the Aquarius isn't one for developing close bonds unless the same qualities they expect in their friendships are there.

Career and Money

Aquarians bring enthusiasm to the work they do, especially when it involves expression. They have an exceptionally high ability to put their imaginative qualities to the task and to think outside the box. Careers that allow for concept development or demonstration can suit this sign well. I know is the key phrase for the Aquarius. High intellect combined with an Aquarius' willingness to share their talents inspires many who work in the same environment. Being visionary types, Aquarians love to engage in careers that aim to benefit humankind in the long-run.

Careers that suit the Aquarius are acting, writing, teaching, photography, or piloting. The best environment is one that gives the freedom to tackle the task without a lot of strict guidelines. The Aquarius is unconventional, and given the opportunity to show their true talents, they can perform amazing feats.

Love and Sex

Intellectual stimulation is by far the greatest aphrodisiac for the Aquarian. There's nothing like a lively chat rich in culture and future possibilities to get this sign going. When it comes to love, people best suited are those that are not thrown off by Aquarian frankness. Open, communicative, imaginative, and willing to risk are all qualities that blend well with this sign's perspective on life. Honesty and sincerity are essential for anyone seeking a long-term connection to this dynamic personality.

AQUARIUS TIDBITS

Health
Each sign has a part of the anatomy attached to it, making this the area of the body that is most sensitive to stimulation. The anatomical areas for Aquarius are the ankles.

Ruling Planet
The ruling planet for Aquarius is Uranus. This planet is considered the breaker of rules and tradition. Uranus rules psychology, inventions, originality, creative will, rebellion, and autonomy. This planet is futuristic, intellectual, and even eccentric.

Best Color
The color of choice for Aquarius is turquoise.

Gemstone
Aquarius' star stone is the Turquoise.

Lucky Numbers
Aquarius' lucky numbers are 2, 3, and 7.

Compatible Signs
Aquarians are most compatible with Gemini, Libra, and other Aquarians.

Opposite Sign
The opposite sign for Aquarius is Leo.

Perfect Gift
Unusual machines, music, books on favorite subjects, a gift to their favorite cause

Likes
A good cause, being part of a club, scientific ideas, fun with friends, a good listener

Dislikes
Dull or boring situations, people who disagree with them

House
Natural sign of the Eleventh House. This house focuses on friends, goals, hopes, wishes, circumstances beyond control, and love received.

Famous Aquarians
John Travolta, Ellen DeGeneres, Justin Timberlake, Shakira, Jennifer Aniston, Michael C. Hall

Best Travel Destinations
Sweden, Israel, Moscow, Salzburg

Strengths
Progressive, original, humanitarian, independent

Weaknesses
Runs from emotional expression, uncompromising, temperamental, aloof

Charismatic Marks
Good looks, beautiful eyes, angular faces, thin build

Best Environment
Any gathering of people to exchange ideas
..

I created several new characters on WoW and I've been having fun playing with greater variety. You can read about them at

Wowhead

Also, today I start my two months as guest poet in the discussion forum for poets.org. Drop by here if you'd like to chat about poetry.

http://www.poets.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17828

Here's a shot of Sacerbane in Orgrimmar. His skeletal horse has been turned into a reindeer!

The holiday issue of The Big Toe Review is now up. You can catch a couple of my poems at

http://www.bigtoereview.com/id80.html

but, really, check everything out. There's a lot of good stuff on there going back a long time.

Some people might say this was me in my prime. Others might say, you know, not. This was me at 26 on 7/1/83 at my mom's house in Oklahoma City. Thanks to my cousin Al for another excellent scan!

Some