You might notice that there are very few mentions of work here (although a fair bit about school). I made a rule for myself when I started writing a web journal that I would studiously avoid talking about work. I made this rule for both personal and professional reasons; I want to keep work out of my personal life and hobbies, and my employers probably don’t need my hobbies clogging up their search engine results.

You might also notice that I speak out pretty strongly with political opinions here. Of course, I have strong opinions and have no problem expressing them in this format. However, I want to be clear that in my working life my political persuasions are not a factor. I trust that they will not be a factor in your consideration of me as a candidate for whatever position I have applied for.

These things being said, feel free to explore. Hopefully you will find out a little more about my personality than can be expressed in a résumé and application package. Also, for more recent posts I recommend you visit my newer site at samuelrutledge.com as I haven’t updated this site in quite a long time.

President Bush is expected to announce that he is now
sending more troops to Iraq, despite the fact that his generals, his military
analysts, members of Congress, and most of the American people are against the
idea. The reason he is doing it? To give Iraq a government that responds to the
will of the people.”

Yes, increasing. I know, I know. You were thinking, “hey, finally we can stop worrying. We’ve got a new congress coming in who probably aren’t going to want to increase the number of troops in Iraq. They’re going to want to get our troops out of Iraq. After all, Democrats just won an election that was ABOUT Iraq, in it the American public pretty clearly said that they want our troops home. No way are they going to raise troop levels at this juncture, with an unequivocal message from the American people saying ‘NO.’”

So now, what are they talking about? A ‘temporary’ troop level increase of 20,000. They say it’s temporary, just until we can get things under control. But in two years, when those 20,000 troops are still there, still fighting over the same streets, what’s the administration going to say? I’ll tell you what; “we can’t cut and run.”

The administration is perpetuating a fraud on the American public, and they might just be getting away with it. I say, not on our watch. Call your congress people and tell them to come out strongly against increasing our troop presence in Iraq.

So, I’m thinking about what I want to do here - whether I want to keep going with the blog as is, make some serious changes, or just stop. And, of course, there are many other things going on in my life, so this is not my top priority.

But I love all you all, and I hope that life is going well for everyone. Arthur is happy and healthy (and really fat). He’s started smiling, which is very gratifying.

Arthur Joseph Rutledge
Born 9/11/06 at 11:10pm
8 and 3/4 lbs
hearty and healthy

Yesterday, August 19th of 2006, a much beloved friend was struck by a car and killed at the corner of 29th and Hillyard streets.

Allen was a cat struck down in his prime. He lived a joyful life. He was fierce, and brave. He never once backed down from a fight, and he guarded our neighborhood with valor.

And yet, he was gentle. I have never met, and probably will never meet another cat as loving as Allen. He would flop onto his back (often so excitedly that he would rap his head on the wood floor) in a gesture that unmistakably called on nearby humans to rub his belly. He purred easily, never ashamed, full of lusty bravado.

Allen smiled when he was happy, not with his lips so much as with his eyes, but it was certainly a smile of the sort not usually found in cats. His was an old soul.

He liked small places, cubbies and hiding out spots. He would crawl into boxes, bags, bushes, anywhere he was confined.

He took care of his brother, Jack, who survives him. When Jack’s face was dirty, Allen would hold him down and wash it. Allen was the hunter, catching mice and other small prey, but he would always let Jack have a turn to toy with it before making the kill. Our hearts are with Jack as he mourns the loss of his companion.

Allen is also survived by his two people, Taylor and I, and by many human and cat friends. No one who met Allen could help but fall in love with him. He will be dearly missed.