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United States vs. Iraq
(round 2)

  Seconds: 185073036
  Minutes: 3084550
  Hours: 51409
  Days: 2142
  Months: 70
  Years: 5

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The Misty Moon

The moon is thin and bright, leading me home. The autumnal air gives the moon its omniscient glow, as we scurry beneath it.

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War = Cash

Looking around today, I find this little nugget on the bbc's web site.

It's been long known that there are private contractors in Iraq acting as security personnel. What is news to me, is that the DEA, DoD, and other government groups are using private contractors to run their wars.

Oh, that makes me ill. Now the United States is a global juggernaut with mercenaries. I guess I want to know what kind of sick people are in control of these kinds of decisions. And how to get them to shovel manure for the rest of their life. Or maybe clean up superfund sites. Or maybe make them act as crossing guards in the poorest neighborhoods of our cities.

Jerks.

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The Real Reason

I have seen the President and his Cabinet describe the war on terror in many ways. They have enumerated many reasons why we need to fight terrorism, and they typically evoke some kind of patriotic or democratic rhetoric to support their arguments for war. I have been waiting for a long time, and I haven't been able to identify for what.

Until now.

I don't believe the President, his Cabinet, the Military or any of the collaborators in this effort are in the mess to stop terrorism. I don't believe that they understand the cause or the proper remedy for terrorism. If they understood the cause of terrorism, they would not have gone to war. If they wanted to stop the advancement of terrorism, they would not have gone to war. If they ever try to inculcate the idea that terrorists hate freedom-loving nations, they are wrong.

I want someone, ANYONE, to ask the President, point blank, "what causes terrorism?" And if he says, "the roots are foggy, but I would point the finger at the historic foreign policy of the United States," I will eat my shoe. In fact, I will eat both of my shoes.

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Soulful Soul Food

An evening spent with Saul Williams is an evening well spent. He came to the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. A small venue, two levels, close enough to see the whites of his eyes. I had been expecting something that was some kind of slam poetry. I was pleasantly surprised, and delightfully entertained. Actually, it was more like edutainment. You hear these people and their ideas, words, syllables bouncing off your eardrums, and you often say to yourself, "yeah."

It was an evening of good grooves and good feelings communal between the crowd and the artist. I was glad I got the opportunity to hear him live, because I learned that he was more than I had thought. It's nice to have your expectations shattered once in a while, you know?

In a bizarre twist, you can buy his shit, too. And even listen to it on iTunes.

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Dentists Are The New Artists

I finally got my teeth fixed. I went to the dentist, got some X-rays, and discovered that yes, indeed, I had chipped two teeth. One was not a big deal, but the other one had lost a good deal of cusp. Number 18 and 11, respectively.

They numbed me up and roughed up (or filed down) the surface, then bonded a new piece in place of the old. It's like I have a new tooth now!

I didn't realize this, but when they cement and glue and whatever else they put in my mouth, they have to reshape the cement stuff, so it is the same shape as your old tooth. Now, considering that my old tooth was probably sucked up by a street sweeper in San Francisco six weeks ago, I think it's remarkable that my dentist could do such a good job. Some kind of sculptor, I suppose.

Why go through all those years of training? Can't someone just say, "I have natural dentistry talent." Or are the days of "outside dentists" just around the corner, waiting to be discovered by accident? Oh, the promise that the future holds.

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Mighty Healing Braces

So here they are. The braces I've worn for 5 weeks. I asked the nurse if she had a camera (I forgot mine at home) when I had my braces removed. I asked her to take a photograph of the braces before they were removed. She complied, and I must admit, she composed a very nice photograph of my teeth and braces.

I was pretty doped up for a while. I think I got feeling back into my face around 7 pm, five hours later than the procedure. It makes me happy to be able to run my tongue over my teeth again. Boy, I am just going to lick everything I can this weekend.

Well, glad to be on the road to solid foods, even if I'm prohibited from doing so for another few weeks.

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Taste of Freedom

The taste of freedom today is French Fries. I got my braces off, and took a fancy 'before' picture. I have to scan it, but beware, because it's on the way. They numbed up my mouth, untwisted the wires, and yanked out the wires that wrapped around my teeth. I had 18 wires, each twisted set around a pair of teeth.

The doctor asked what it was like, I said, "like a really bad dentist." You know, when they try to floss you, but it feels like they're trying to sever your gums? A little worse that than. He said, "we could have given you more numbing stuff." I said, "I know, I just wanted it over with."

So now, no braces. Just a fancy Titanium plate for memorandum. Still on the soft food diet, since my left side has not healed yet, and is not expected to be back to 100% before 6 months.

Well, this blog just got a lot longer.

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Crossing The Gulf

There's been a lot of talk about how Iraq is like Vietnam. We've all heard it. Questionable beginnings, deception of the American public regarding atrocities, extremely brutal military, underground insurgencies, etc.

But what hasn't really been discussed in detail is this: the "great ideological gulf." Not only that it exists, but how to cross it an realize that human beings inhabit both shores.

See more ...

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When It Suits You

I am reading this book called "The People's History of the United States," and it has some interesting information. You know, odd things like: George Washington was the wealthiest individual in the British Colonies during the revolution. Bostonians who protested the Declaration of Independence by shouting, "Tyranny is tyranny let it come from whom it may."

See more ...

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What A Great Salesman

So I watch a team running these leaf blower things blow off the sidewalk of our office park about once a week. I got to thinking: what ever happened to a rake?

Then I think: what a great salesman. I could not think of one benefit that these machines provide. So, I decided I'd look into the topic before I started my work for the day. Let's go:

Leaf Blower	Rake
Representation:	Representation:
URLs: www.farmex.now.tc www.northerntool.com www.sears.com	URLs: www.lowes.com www.homedepot.com www.lehmans.com
Price: $79.99 to $449.99	Price: $9.98 to $17.95
Fuel: Gas/oil mix.	Fuel: Hamburgers, beer, chips, lemonade...
Weight: 14 to 21 lbs.	Weight: 1 to 2 lbs. (est)
Noise Level: 72-73 dB	Noise Level: 35 dB (est.)
Annual Fuel Costs: $100 (est)	Annual Fuel Costs: < 52 x Nagging.
Environmental Impact: Greenhouse gas, noise pollution, toxic waste generated during manufacture of plastic, metal, and electrical components.	Environmental Impact: Sapling for handle, toxic waste generated during manufacture of metal tines.

My conclusion? Gas blowers are for lazy, rich people. Or just lazy people who don't understand basic economics. Or for people who have been suckered by marketing and advertising. Which means most of us.

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Gardening Therapy

Gardening. Who would have thought?

I haven't been in my garden since before my busted jaw. Today I went to town. I cleaned the patio, moved a newcomer to the garden (we'll just call him 'Rubber' for now), and gave the Jasmine a trim. The garden looks so much neater.

The thing I think I will miss are the tiny interlopers of Jasmine that started growing between the screen door and my back door. I actually tried to get it to grow into the house, but accidentally closed the back door on the shoot. Damn. But it looks much neater and cleaner now. The Jasmine has a habit of becoming too huge, and leaning off of the fence. This makes it look kind of like the entire garden is imploding under the force of the Jasmine.

So no more imploding garden. It's a happy place. I guess it's kind of like therapy. Just like the way the cat is sleeping in my lap now.

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Blogging On The Brain

I am free from the shackles, my blogging friends. Straight from the celly.

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Wow, You Look Great!

I've heard that phrase quite a bit at the office lately. Usually it's followed up with, "I expected you to look a lot worse!" I don't know if that's a complement, but I'm taking it as one.

I get my braces off in a few weeks, and I can't wait until then. I'm in a state of constant starvation lately. While I'm at work, I can't prepare foods or anything in the middle of the day, so usually I don't eat. But then I can only eat a tiny can of soup for lunch, and that takes me the good part of an hour to choke down. No wonder I lost 10 pounds already. I'm too impatient for this soft food bullshit.

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Torn.

Between the Devil's Food Chocolate pudding that came in a box, or the home-made whipped cream that I put on top.

All soft foods are not bad.

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Gardening.

Today was Monthly Volunteer day at Buena Vista park. I walk through/around/past this park at least once a week. I have not yet participated in Montly Volunteer day. I decided that today was the end me being a bitch and not cleaning up after myself, so I went.

First, we cleaned out the drains, and removed all the dead leaves and twigs and things of that nature. Then we pulled out a bunch of French Broom plants, which are a nonnative invasive species to California. Then we pulled some Himalayan Blackberry, then we pulled some Ivy. A good day of pulling things and getting dirty. We saw a red-shouldered hawk, tons of squirrels, a bluebird, and tons of bugs. It was an absolutely nature-filled morning.

And I met two people who are likewise motivated. One said she was jogging by and thought she'd help out. The other said he decided to do something 'positive' in his community, after being 'bummed out' about the election. I asked, "what else are you going to do? Be depressed for four years?"

I like meeting gardening buddies.

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Too Early To Call.

But I did see this: the most biased set of electors (in any district) is from DC. According to nytimes.com at 11:24 PM PDT, there was 100% reporting of results from DC, and 89.5% of the popular vote went to Kerry.

Whoah.

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Eat It, Suckas.

In case you can't read it, it says, "I Voted." Eat it and like it, you non-voting wimps. In the case that you did vote, more power to you.

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Racoons and Videos

I was working for my dad, and now I have video broadcast from my apartment! Don't worry, until I figure out some kind of fake dynamic-dns thing, this may or may not work. But it's fun in the meantime. Also, if I want some privacy, you ain't gonna see nuttin.

In my glee, I heard a raccoon climb over one fence, then climb under another. I opened my garden door, stood there with a flashlight, and waited. I heard the raccoon climb over another fence...go through a bush or tree...then found the dog. The dog made a whoopla and made a bunch of noise, and the raccoon jumped back through the bush or tree, climbed over the fence again, came running under the fence, and I got a good look at him. He was panting quite heavily, all husky, like he might have been injured. I couldn't tell, though. He paused, looked at me and my flashlight, then scrambled across my garden, then up and (crack, snap, creak) over the fence.

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Good Movies, Good Day.

Today is a feel-good day. I slept through the night with no pain killers, and watched Amelie. That movie just makes me feel all happy and squishy inside.

So I decided I should go out to the store, buy myself some new shoes (I found a shop where I can resole them for less than a pair of new shoes!), buy some new clothes (1 new long-sleeve shirt), and get some good music (some Wheezer and Cake). Although I don't know how good the music will be, I am anticipating a good return on investment.

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Some Pictures

This first one, perhaps taken illegally:

That is my arm, with all the IVs in it at the ER on October 12th. Yes, I am holding a cup of my own urine.

Two X-Rays of my jaw. I tried to illuminate where, precisely my jaw was broken. These X-Rays are called "Panorex", which is kind of like an inverted panoramic picture. The first picture is the break on my chin, and the second is the break near my cheek. Sorry for the poor quality, it's the best I could do.

The Awesome 48 Ounce/18 Speed Blender with 500 Watts of Ice Crushing POWER!

So, all in all, I've been keeping myself entertained. Today was some more video games and fewer movies. I started scanning pictures today (that I've been wanting to do for a long while). I also rented Max Payne for the PS2. Neat, I like the wanna-be Matrix mode you can go into while dodging bullets and such. It makes for good entertainment, even if the Satan-summoning bad guys are really corny.

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Satisfaction.

A sad day for the local video store, whose copy of Bottle Rocket was damaged. A good day for Blockbuster, who just made some more money off of me. Because I ALSO rented a video game.

Bad, corporate citizen. Taking advantage of a poor soul like myself, who must endure hours of solitude in a weakened condition. Pooh on you.

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Must. Get. Movie.

I have got a huge hankering to go get Bottle Rocket and watch it. Must. Comply. Immediately.

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The Pain

The pain cometh. Last night, the throbbing began around 8 or 9, and didn't stop until sometime this morning. The pain started on the right side of my chin, driving into my skull with the pulse of my heart. I also ran out of pain medication last night as well.

I laid down, to concentrate on what this pain was like. Where was it originating from, where was it going, and was there anything I could do to make it slow, change, or disappear.

I first felt the tension in my jawline, the reinforcements inside my mouth, holding my teeth together, and my jaw clenched. I felt the muscles and the resistance inside my mouth, and tried to neutralize it. I have found that when I concentrate on it, the feeling of resistance seems to vary, more and less. I can get to a point where instead of increasing or decreasing, the resistance seems to slide, side to side, changing quality, but not intensity. It's a very eerie feeling, like my jaw is sliding around, or like I'm slipping across a mental plane, watching everything spin and stretch, looking like a watercolor dripping.

This pain last night was different. It beat constantly inside my head, right at my jaw. I laid down, slowed my breathing, and felt my pulse move my neck, my wrists, my hips, and pound in my jaw. The pain eventually accompanied me to sleep, but woke me again around 2:30. Too early for more pain medication. I grabbed some ice from the freezer, and made a pack for my chin. I couldn't bear the cold ice on my chin, and the pain wasn't lessening. I finally started massaging my chin, feeling the bristles of days gone unshaven. I kneaded the muscles in my jaw, pinching the pain when it came, and working it out. Finally, I slept. I awoke again at 6 to take some pain medicine, and finished off the bottle. No trace of the pounding.

Today, I'm slowly feeling my chin. It's pain, the slow, lingering kind. This is odd, but I welcome it. Because if I can feel pain, I can feel other things, too.

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Another Tag Of Healing

They knew my name this time!

My big, fat, lip has gone down some, now I just have a nice, big, round jawline. It's getting better, slowly. I notice that I have some numbness on my chin, just about right over where the plate is supposed to be. Doc said that the nerve may be stretched during the operation, and that the numbness is often normal for a few weeks.

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Under The Knife.

Well, I'm recovering from surgery. I went under yesterday at 12:31 PM, and came back out (regained consciousness) at around 5 PM. It took longer than expected to recover, but I guess that's nothing to worry about.

I was in a crazy groggy state when they let me go. I was so wacked out, it was incredible. Well, not so incredible, because I nearly yacked twice before going to sleep for good. Took some pain meds, and thought, "Oh, I don't need a FULL dose." Well, I do. And thank god for that.

Today was a day of movies, ice packs, and grumbling. I can't speak with my mouth wired shut, and I feel terrible trying to talk to all my family or relatives or friends on the phone, since I can barely utter "yeah" or "nah" out of my mouth. A long conversation is just a trip in itself.

I've got another wristband to scan. I also took pictures of my 'Panorex' X-ray, which is cool-looking. Unfortunately, you punks have to wait for my analog ass to develop the film. :P

By the way, I recieved a recipe for Red Lentil Soup, titled, "yummiest soup ever," and I have to say, it's damn good. And doesn't get stuck (so much) between the teeth.

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My New Weight Loss Program

I figured I could go on an infomercial or one of those late-night blue-screen commercials and sell my new diet technique. A rapid-speaking guy would tell you all the great things about this new diet, then say, "pioneered by nutrition guru, David Zwarg!" Then I would appear on screen, all wired up and utter some kind of uncomprehendible string of gurgles.

At least I think there's humor in that.

I've already noticed that I'm losing weight. I don't have a scale, though, so I can't really quantify it. I can tell, though. I'm more defined in places that weren't before (and you know it's not from working out). I figure I'm going to lose some weight real soon real fast, unless I start drinking milkshakes all the time. (checking the mail for blender ... nope) I think if I did that, I might be suffering from something besides the broken jaw...

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Calm Before The Storm

Today was a slow, patient day. I played "Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick" for most of the afternoon. What a glorious and heinous game. It does kind of make you feel good, you know, lopping of heads of the undead.

It was a slow, cool day. I didn't do much, didn't eat much, didn't move much. But it felt great. Knowing that I'm going to be disabled for all next week and maybe longer, I am definitely soaking up this time before hand.

Many people have been asking if I will be able to talk with my jaw wired shut, to which I replied, "I don't know."

I'm actually worried that I'll forget how to whistle.

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Why Whiskers?

Well, they didn't know my name. So, behold:

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The Soup Fairy

Lately, I have been blessed with the bounty that comes from being nice to the soup fairy. I have recieved some Tomato Basil Soup and some Chicken Noodle (blended) soup. There is plenty more on the way, if my phone conversations have been any indicator.

The two fractures in my jaw require reconstructive surgery to correct. A fracture at the point of my jaw will be corrected with a metal plate inside of gums, while the left cheek fracture will be corrected with by wiring my jaw to my skull. When asked if I was going to recieve radio signals, I said, "I sure hope so!"

One thing about wounds: I can't think about the damage that has been done to my body for too long before I start to get woozy.

Surgery in t-minus 120 hours.

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Health Insurance

I'm so glad that is is so EASY to transfer your records from place to place, especially in a time crunch. It makes me so happy that the health care systems that we have in place cooperate so well with each other, and me, their patient. Of course, I'm just as happy that the sky is purple.

So I went to the ER yesterday. Spent 8 hours getting X-rays and CT scans and the whole gamut of tests. Today I have to see the 'proper' doctor for my health insurance. Of course, since he's not at the same hospital as the ER, I have to take the same damn X-rays all over again.

At least a caring colleague at work brought me my playstation from my desk. Yes, that's right, I keep my playstation at work. When else am I expected to play it? I tell you what, nothing recharges you for scientific exploration and data processing like hacking up the undead with a chainsaw.

I did, however, discover that my jaw is broken in 2 places today. The doctor from the ER was all concerned that I didn't show up for my follow-up appointment, and I had to explain the headache I sprouted earlier in the day. His words: "welcome to health care." He also told me that my jaw is indeed broken in two places. Fun fun.

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Guess...

What you get when you combine 3 x-rays, 1 CT scan, 7 stitches, and 8 hours in the Emergency Room?

A broken jaw and three chipped teeth.

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David Zwarg, Junior Analyst

Presidential Debate #2. Very much the same as Presidential Debate #1 and the Vice Presidential Debate. The moderator was less of a robot, and the candidates were a little more lively.

I think the candidates are getting better and better at avoiding questions. These are questions from moderators, audience, or even each other. It's interesting, because they speak to what they want you to hear exclusively, and they don't add any new information, for fear (?) of it's unintended effects.

See more ...

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David Zwarg, Junior Analyst.

I watched the Vice Presidential debate last night. If you can call it that. I was kind of disappointed to hear the moderator speaking like a robot. I guess that was written into the 'rules' that each contestant -- er, I mean candidate had agreed to.

Basically, I didn't think Cheney came off as that evil. He didn't put out any new information, and repeated the party line quite often. Edwards was also a little puppet. He said nearly the same things that his running mate had said on Thursday. Not much to distinguish the two of them.

See more ...

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David Zwarg, Junior Analyst.

So I watched the Presidential Debate last night. I haven't watched any news programs analyzing the fact, or read the papers yet this morning. This is my take on things, and my take alone.

The debate went well. Except for two occasions, the contenders did not try to snipe at each other. I felt that Kerry finally described some kind of foreign policy. I felt that Bush was standing behind his convictions.

See more ...

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Found Today

At the end of our streets is sunrise;
At the end of our streets are spars;
At the end of our streets is sunst;
At the end of our streets--the stars.
-- George Sterling

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Today's Discovery

I just discovered I have the same color skin as peanut butter.

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Public Law 107-89

By a joint resolution approved December 18, 2001 (Public Law 107-89), the Congress has designated September 11 of each year as ``Patriot Day.''

Yes, it's true.

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"Take Control"

"Take Control Of Your Life", says a poster in my office. Do you think honest people really feel like they have no control over their life? Do you think all the hype and scare that is fed to you makes you feel like you have no control? Maybe the poster should just read, "Turn Off Your Television."

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Morning Star

This morning I arose before dawn, and headed out my front door, and stopped in the threshold. I said: "Wow." The morning was slowly coming to the eastern horizon, and Orion was still visible, and I could see Venus very clearly in the eastern sky. It was so bright, I couldn't believe it. Also, one of its neighbors is Saturn, which looked dimmer, more like a star. I looked around at the rest of the sky, but most of the eastern stars had already been eclipsed by the brightness of the morning sky.

I started walking, but couldn't take my eyes off of Venus, like a jewel hanging in the sky, illuminating the still morning. This is why I like rising so early. I wouldn't see the stars otherwise.

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Party Crashers

Well, now who would've thought about doing some urban climbing on the Plaza Hotel? The sign here reminds me of some paintings here in SF. Like one that says: <- Birds/Cars ->

CBS

See more ...

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Detour On The First Sunny Day.

This morning was the first sunny morning in a while. The fog had just broken over the city, and the warm sunlight was a welcome change from the previous few weeks.

Instead of riding my usual point A to point B route, I decided to include a little bit of Q and Z, the lesser known points. I rode out to the bay, and as I circled North toward Downtown, I passed the shipyards and the behemoths laying in their berths. The odd collection of huge ships, their massive hulls throwing long silhouettes, and the slippery surface of the calm bay. As I approached the Bay Bridge, the morning light makes the bridge so much larger, longer, and so much more magnificent. The sunlight reflected off the bay, and illuminated the underside of the bridge, over a hundred feet over me and my bike, as we passed beneath the last span.

Also, outside of the ballpark, there is a bridge that carries traffic over China Basin. The bridge is a balancing act of tons of concrete, and an arm that covers the remaining distance. The huge balancing forms hang over the roadway, feet away from the windows in the neighboring buildings. The light coming through the bridge, off the windows, and back down on the street was a myriad of girder shadows and bright blue sky.

Good morning, San Francisco.

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The San Francisco Treat - Fog

The fog rolled in yesterday, and has been occupying the city since. The ride over the Bay Bridge was flat and dull. The fog had obscured any geographic feature over ~200 feet tall. The tops of the bridge towers, the top of Angel Island, most of Marin County, all flattened and levelled by the overwhelming gray presence.

It made me pause and reflect: "What a dull city this would be without it all."

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My News Is News.

So I saw this documentary on Fox News over the weekend, and it's an enlightening view on the distortions and assertions made in the media. Not just Fox, but all corporate media. Also, a comment over the weekend that "TV news is shit, always has been."

My idea is something of the nature of San Francisco Indymedia, but more local. Like news relevant to your neighborhood, or news relevant to your block. Things that matter, like city news, planning, events, etc.

Sometimes the city is too big, honestly. The news that comes off of the large media outlets is obviously poor, and generally targeted. The news that comes off the indy news wire engages the activist in all of us, but it does not come off as local news. There are stories in both of these channels that are indeed local, or have impact in my life, but I was thinking it would be great to organize a grassroots news collective. That way, you have local news from all over the place.

Hm...

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I Love Internet Radio

A short interlude on the current radio station that I am listening to (which is internet broadcast):

"I would like to say hello to my friends at the R.I.A.A. ... Wait. ... I don't have any friends at the R.I.A.A."

This, said in a monotone computer-generated voice.

am. dying. laughing.

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Buckle Your Seatbelts.

I'm thinking of redesigning. Anyone got ideas?

I just found the 'Supernova' filter in Gimp. Cooool.

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Which Spin?

This shit has got so mixed up lately, it's almost worse than fear. You see how all these people in the media are shouting left, shouting right? The spin goes this way, the spin goes that way. This person is lying, distorting the truth. This expose on this former lying person is distorting the truth. This revealing article reveals the expose authors distortion again.

Learning anything from them is like seeing your image in a hall of circus mirrors. You can't ascribe any attribute of reality to it. At all.

I say it is worse than fear, this is why: fear is a visceral, real, and undeniable emotion. It's something that can heighten your senses, cause a true physical reaction. Something that is REAL, and cannot be denied. This world of grays reminds me of the Soundgarden song, Superunknown. A part of the verse goes like, "If this doesn't make you smile/You don't have to cry./If this isn't making sense/It doesn't make it lies." (full lyrics available here)

At this point, I prefer the reality of fearing something concrete (NOT SPIN) as opposed to the back and forth flip-flopping of subjective reporting. I suppose this is all part of the web's expansion and ease of use - now everybody can do it (everybody that can afford it).

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Jumping The Gun

Well, it's all top-secret hush-hush and whiz-bang, but there's a new government in Iraq. The New York Times reports on the consummation of their secret plan.

Although that is kind of sketchy, I'm happy for the Iraqi people. Hopefully, the Yankees will now leave. Which means that we must welcome home the soldiers who have fought. This is a tricky point: since they have been in combat, many if not most will suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder. And they face alienation by an American public who may or may not have supported the war. It is important to know that the soldiers, who have been machined into killers, may be humanized again, and integrated into our "normal" lives. That's going to be hard as hell for most people to understand.

Another thing that I'm happy about, is the Supreme Court's decision that the 'illegal combatants' in Guantanamo have the right to due process, and the 'process' they have had does not constitute that. This makes the illegal detentions, well, illegal. Also, it makes the Administration's stance look ancient and tyrannical. At least to me.

Hooray for progress! Or at least what feels like progress.

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For Once, They Agree To Disagree

So the jury is back in, regarding the "Phenomenally Amazing, Practically Unbelievably Horrifying" Iraq/al-Qaida link. I mean the fact that it doesn't or barely exists. And when I say barely, I mean non-functional.

This news has been accepted many different ways. The White House has been slowly modifying it's party line, and now it is agreeing with the commission. Now, this doesn't mean that they come out and say it, but they speak of the same terms. According to the Guardian, it would appear that the commission and the White House are going head to head. The way I see it, they are saying the same information two different ways.

It's just mighty convenient for the White House that they sound similar, even if the spin is applied the opposite way. Is this another bone to pick? I thought that this was an argument George W. Bush lost a while ago.

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An Open Letter To The Webmaster Community

Dear Webmaster:

First of all, I want to thank you for bringing to my attention the usefulness of your work. I would not know where to look in the unconquered dominion of the internet if I wanted to find a chocolate-chip cookie recipe, without the help of Google (thanks!). Also, I would have no idea what the weather would be today or the next day, without something as useful as The National Weather Service, since I don't have a television to catch the latest news (thanks again!).

And with your work, you have been able to provide to us, the internet public, a huge assortment of options. If I want the news, I can decide which type of news. One can pick out of the spectrum of Newsmax, NY Times, or Alternet, in order to find the news that is most relevant to my daily life.

I would like to express to you my profound confusion, therefore, at the abundance of websites that claim to be "the source" or "the only" or "the most [superfluous adjective] website". For example, if I were to travel from my house to my place of business, I would probably look at www.511.org, in order to figure out my transporting needs. But wait! What if I looked at goldengate.org instead? Or actransit.org? Or commute.org? Or rides.org? Which resource is which? Who should I turn to? Who is the best bet here? All these services serve commuters in the San Franciso area, and all of them have different coverages, systems, maps, timetables, etc. Why is this information in multiple places?

Please do not assume the answer is "make another website," because this world does not need ANOTHER website. What is so horrible about collaboration and cooperation? In the push to web, everyone has seemingly crawled, scratched, and bit their way over everyone else, in order to just put up some kind of information on the web. But truly, it is NOT a web.

This is where you come in, webmaster. A web, defined by dictionary.com accurately describes the WWW this way: "Something intricately contrived, especially something that ensnares or entangles." However, for the sake of sanity, why can't the web be: "A complex, interconnected structure or arrangement?" If relevant information was truly linked to additional relevant information, then this web's potential would be SO TAPPED.

So please, webmaster, the next time you consider publishing more information online, consider collaborating with an existing site, and enhancing their service, or be thorough in your linkage, make this web truly interconnected, instead of a dark, lonely corridor full of empty rooms.

Sincerely,
David.

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If Government Was Like The Times

If the United States government was anything like the NY Times, I think this world would be a better place. One may be curious as to why I would say such outlandish things. Well, on the "International" page of the NY Times, there is a link to a critical article on the Time's presentation of information regarding Iraq, Al-Qaida, and WMD. It can be found here if the page has changed.

Now, if the United States government was as critical and as willing to put forth its own critique of itself, well, damn. Can you imagine the kind of information you would get from that kind of outlet? I can just see the headlines streaming by now: "FDA Admits to Passing Untested Drugs," "President's Comments On Iraq And Al-Qaida Misleading," "Secretary of Defense's Attitude Toward Prisoners Of War Is Inappropriate." And they could go on.

But just imagine the possibilities! Imagine if the administration and the higher-ups actually had a dialog with the meat of this country, the American people. I have heard that Bush doesn't read any newspapers. Maybe he needs to just get in touch with his constituency again.

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Like Rats From A Sinking Ship

An article on Aljazeera states that Bush is under fire from former diplomats and military officials for his shoddy foreign policy. Although, I don't know if you can call it a policy.

I might opt for the term "selfish."

The article is available here, along with a fancy picture of the fearless leader himself.

I though a funny little sidenote was how someone commented that "their timing is a little off," regarding the criticism. I don't know how that is any kind of defense for the administration. Why don't they just say, "well, we KNOW that, why didn't you say it a couple months ago when everyone else was saying it?" Can't the administration say, "our foreign policy works because of ..." instead? I mean, do they just not get it?

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Politics 101: Lesson 1: "I Don't Know"

According to an article on scotsman.com, Bush acts like a creepy politician. The article discusses the use of torture, and the knowledge of the administration as to the use of it. The way Bush avoids answers, and answers the question he wanted to be asked (something I heard in The Fog Of War).

This is the logic, according to the article:

1. Bush is asked if torture is ever justified.
2. Bush avoids the question, and says that 'our people' are instructed to follow the law of the United States of America.
3. The Justice Department states "that US laws against torture do not apply to the war on terror."
4. The administration says that the Geneva Conventions do not apply to prisoners of the war on terror. However, they are willing to follow the convention's guidelines.

So, what we're being told is... torture is okay, as long as it's not against a United States citizen. Especially those who are not REALLY prisoners of war, because we like the term 'illegal combatants' instead. That's my take on this hideous situation.

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Golden Memories

So, amidst all of these glowing praises of the wonderful past president that recently past away, I hear very little criticism. I guess I expected more, since I am just learning of his involvement in Latin America during his tenure. It's quite offensive, and I am quite amazed that he was able to convert parts of the United States government into terrorist sponsors.

Not exactly the type of information you want in a eulogy, I suppose. It makes me wonder, what is it going to be like in many years when Jr. passes away? Will people remember his 'humanitarian' effort to bring Democracy to Iraq? Or are they going to remember his deception of the United States politicians and the public?

Time will tell, I suppose, but I don't want to have to wait so long before he goes.

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Abuse Them, But Don't Torture Them.

Okay, it seems that we are descending into a war of semantics. I would like you (the reader) to guess which definition is which. I pulled the definition of 'torture' and 'abuse' (as nouns, although they both have transitive verb forms as well) from dictionary.com, and here they are:

• physical maltreatment
• something causing severe pain or anguish

Now, to me (and me only, I suppose), it doesn't seem like there is THAT much difference between the two definitions. It seems that they are just synonyms: in fact, let's do another search for 'torture' on thesaurus.com. The first result of the first entry for torture is ... drum roll please ... 'abuse'.

These are the facts as I understand them: prisoners of war/illegal combatants are being held by the United States military. Said prisoners are being subjected to 'abuse' by their captors. This much has been confirmed by the President of the United States. The Bush Administration keeps stating that "the United States has abided by international conventions barring torture."[sic]

Okay, I have one last thing to say: I'M NOT FUCKING STUPID.

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United States says, "Not It"

A story on the bbc's website is entitled "US 'not bound by torture laws'". This is what caught my eye. What made me gag is the last line in the story: "The Bush administration has said it supports the Geneva Conventions and humane treatment for detainees." (full article)

Now. What the hell does that mean? The US is okay with torturing people, and believes that it is holding true to the Geneva Conventions? Let's do some reading here:

(1) Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria.

To this end the following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the above-mentioned persons:

(a) violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;

This passage is found in ALL FOUR Geneva Conventions. So. Which part does the current presidential administration need HELP READING?

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One Must Be Able To Laugh.

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Keeping The Lid Off

According to http://www.editorandpublisher.com, the self-proclaimed "authoritative journal covering all aspects of the North American newspaper industry", the media is attempting to pull back the veil of secrecy that the current administration is using to cover up the war on terrorism and the war on Iraq. The article I am referring to resides here.

I think it is interesting not because of the source of information, but the fact that the media industry itself is beginning to question just how much of this attitude is the bandwagon. That's the gist I get. It seems that when the whole terror war was beginning, it didn't matter what the government was doing, just as long as they were doing it. Now the questions arise as to HOW the government is doing what it is doing, and the media and reporters are discovering that it is not all peachy keen.

Question is: is this another crack in the sidewalk? Or a crack in the dam? The two have drastically different outcomes.

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Let The End Cometh

For everyone's sake, I hope I stop writing here on June 30th.

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Keep Us In The Loop

Last Friday, the most powerful post, the prime ministership, went to Iyad Allawi, a US-backed Shiite Muslim with military and CIA connections.

Let me break it down for you: "with military and CIA connections" = "pawn". I guess the US would not have permitted a government to be completely sovereign and think on its own. I mean, the poor people have no idea what REAL democracy is like, so why not help them along? <!-- SARCASM -->

I hope the transfer of power works, and the Iraqi people can make this work. When I say "make this work", I mean: implement their own type of government that preserves human rights and their own national identity, and improves the standard of living of all Iraqi citizens. Is that too optimistic?

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Amnesty Condemnation

Amnesty released their 2004 report on Human Rights today. Turns out that the world is not exactly turning up roses. One thing that makes sense to me is that the "War on Terror" has not done anything to improve the security or liberty of the citizens of the world. In fact, they have worsened. And worsened on the watch of the US, which is implicated in the detentions of "illegal combatants," instead of "prisoners of war."

I mentioned this a while ago, but when you declare war, and you detain those that you capture, by the Geneva convention, if they are "prisoners of war," then they must be treated in a very specific manner. As in, preserving their rights. However, the administration that is drunkenly driving this nation's foreign policy believes that my calling them "illegal combatants" then the Geneva convention's rules do not apply.

Yeah, Amnesty International didn't like the way that played out, so they docked us on that, too. They weren't too keen on the Death Penalty and prison systems, either. It seems to make sense when you think about it...

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Reflections on W.

Oh man, that speech was RIPE. What I'm not going to do is discuss the number of times the man had mispronounced Iraq, Abu-Ghraib, in/dependence, among others. Maybe he's just nervous...it's okay.

I can tell you what bugged me: the number of times he mentioned "the Iraqi people," like he hangs out with them. Like he knows what they are going through. Like he's all buddy-buddy with his new found Iraqi poker buddies. Guess what? Chalabi doesn't count. So I find his authority on what "the Iraqi people" want or need to be suspect.

See more ...

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Empire: United States

I started a volume (rightly so) called "Masters of War" the other day. It's about United States foreign policy in Latin America and Cuba during the Cold War. It's very interesting, since I my interest in the region has been piqued by films and conversations with people that I respect.

A passage in the book that really caught my eye is this:

Talk about resonating. I don't know how anyone else feels about that passage, but I feel like it's a pretty good description of what this nation continues to practice today.

Yuck, I feel like I need a cold shower...

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War Today

The BBC has put together an interesting 'almanac' of violent conflict occurring around the globe as of today. The clickable map highlights all the countries/regions that are currently experiencing some sort of violence, such as civil war or occupation. Iraq, Israel, Chechnya, Colombia are all on the map. As well as some that I was not aware of, like Nagorni Karabakh.

It is sad to see this world get dragged down into ethnic fighting. So many hopes for peace, but so many power-hungry ethnic groups. In the words of one who is wiser than I: "meh."

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If This Bay Were My Lover.

If this bay were my lover,
I would know the winds by heart.
The push and pull of the currents
Would be the incessant tugging of
  my dream-like self..

If this bay were my lover,
Each cotton-torn cloud
Would be the sexiest lingerie.

If this bay were my lover,
The diffuse gusts
That tear across her
Would be her, blushing at me.

If this bay were my lover,
The constant wind lines
Would be her stretch marks,
Defining her contours and landmasses.

If this bay were my lover,
The wind whipped whitecaps
Would be her anger,
Jostling all the puny boats.

If this bay were my lover,
These bridges would not serve
  to cross her,
But to see her from the other side.

If this bay were my lover,
She might not be so cold.

If this bay were my lover,
When I submerged myself,
I hope she could get me,
As much as I get wet.

If this bay were my lover,
It would be dried up and long gone,
Having found out I was not worth loving,
A hundred thousand years ago.

If this bay had been my lover.

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Insight Into Different Focus

The BBC today notes in this article that the focus of the latest developments of this war are not always the same on both sides of the world. A section of the articles reads:

I would have to agree, that in this country, and in the circles of society that I bounce between, that the response to the war is different just crossing the bridge. No doubt the huge geographical and cultural differences would also contribute to the perspective of news.

But if we all think it sucks, why are we still in it? I must have asked this beforehand, but how can this end well?

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Is There A War Still On?

Many thoughts today. I saw a film the other night: "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." Holy shit. Talk about the spin media puts on things.

The film was a documentary about the coup and counter-coup that occurred during President Hugo Chavez' term, in 2002. TWO YEARS AGO. One question kept popping into my head: "WHERE THE FUCK WERE YOU?"

How does this relate to my state of mind regarding our current pawn in the regime change game of life? Well. Glad you asked.

1. The media spin can be deadly. I am reassured that I look at multiple sources of information, inside and outside this country, to find out more of the story. This is always a compromise, because as I wrote earlier, the true truth is always obscured.
2. The moneyed interests of this country outweigh those of human rights. This I don't have concrete or personal evidence of, but from the nature of reports and the concerns of globalization, I believe this to be true.
3. The politicians of this country have come to the belief that the term "not in America's best interest," is equivalent with "terrorist," which is equivalent with "enemy." While these lines are always blurred, the black and white decisions that the policy makers desire almost never occur in real life.

And the latest news of the gruesome killing(s) in Iraq? The sorrow in my heart cannot find solace in the fact that if it was not one individual, it would have been another. It also cannot find solace in the fact that the cycle of hatred that is turning into a cyclone over there. Even though cyclones eventually die down.

I forget who it was, but they were interviewed by the BBC on video. It was some Hamas leader, stating that their movement was "defending Palestine." It sounded exactly like the fervent exclamations made by some inside of this country, that the War on Terrorism and Iraq is in order to "defend the US." Eek.

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On Prisons and Guards

I remember reading about the Stanford Prison Experiment in my sociology class in college. The results were frightening, and the experiment was cancelled after only 6 days. (It was supposed to last 2 weeks.)

Taking those lessons, Professor Zimbardo, one of the researchers in the experiment, applied them to the situation in Abu Ghraib jail. The article is available on the news.bbc.co.uk website.

The thing that sticks with me the most? "If you give a person power over someone who is powerless, someone who has been demonised or made to seem less human, then that absolute power corrupts absolutely."

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On Hearts And Minds

This is the situation, as I understand it: the United States, with little international cooperation, invaded another country in order to liberate the residents of said country from their tyrranical ruler under false pretenses.

Now.

Under said tyrranical ruler, there had been little opposition politically. Under said tyrranical ruler, there had been no terrorist activity, because it could have been perceived as a challenge to said tyrranical ruler's power. Under said tyrranical ruler, there was a degree of peace and order, even if it was done with a large stick.

Then, said invading army comes into the picture, displaces said ruler, and all the mechanisms for suppressing aforementioned terrorists or opposition.

I am slowly beginning to understand more and more why it is such a quagmire. That's not to say I didn't believe it was one before. Or that I think it's a good thing. Hardly. I just find this sequence of events inevitable. Well, you can think of it like 20/20 hindsight, I suppose.

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I Miss These All The Time.

The lunar eclipse is coming! The lunar eclipse is coming! Unfortunately, I'm on the wrong side of the planet to see any of it.

Poo, poo.

I stole this image from http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/OH/OH2004.html

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On Fucked Up Fries and Fruit

Whoah. Where have I been? This happened over a year ago! I guess I wasn't paying that much attention.

I am referring to the stupendous idea of renaming French Fries to "Freedom Fries." I found an old story on news.bbc.co.uk, and a witty commentary on alternet.org.

How offensive. I was caught off guard, and I was kind of dumbstruck when I heard the conversation over dinner over the weekend. I said, "wait -- you're kidding, right?" I guess the best response to any of the "Freedom Food" movement is best summarized by: "Fuck off, they're made in Belgium."

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Accountability

The waves of violence continue to crash. After many months, the United States Army suspends a general that has abused prisoners on her watch. The story on news.bbc.co.uk.

It seems that during this whole intervention that the United States has been on, many of the atrocities reported have been swept under the carpet. In many instances, the armed forces state "there will be an investigation," and then there is nothing remaining stated about the incident. Like that's the way to say, "sorry, my bad."

It is interesting to note that this kind of accountability only comes after a United States media company (CBS) uncovers the "evidence." I wonder if the same kind of punishment would fall upon a General if it was reported by Aljazeera. Very curious, indeed.

I'm also apalled by the apparent innocence of one of the soldiers charged: "We had no training whatsoever." So what does that mean? Disrespect and humiliate is your job description? Where does on person think that they are doing the "right thing" by maltreating prisoners of war?

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Which Truth Is The True Truth?

An article today in the New York Times goes into detail about how the facts are difficult to discern in the middle of the war in Iraq. Who attacked who, who was drinking when what happened, who lit who's humvee on fire, who shot the children, etc.

It seems that those who were there can't really get the details straight. At least it makes it sound as confusing as hell when one reporter recounts all the stories, and they all conflict with one another in some way.

Which makes me think: what the hell is really going on over there? I bet I don't even have a clue as to the environment or the emotion that is boiling to the surface every day. Of course not. Me, in cubeland, reaching out. I have to gleam truth from these nuggets that are transmitted to me thousands of miles away, millions of lifetimes away from any experience in that torn country. Yet I feel and know the whole things sucks.

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Four Hundred Days

Looking at the latest numbers from the BBC and New York Times, it appears that there are 135,000 troops in Iraq today. Also, there have been 698 casualties. Working out the math:

135,000 / 698 = 193.4

So your chances of getting killed, in the armed forces, in Iraq, is 1 in 193.4. Checking out the Odds of Dying, there doesn't appear to be anything lower that that. Or even close, for that matter. The most common way of dying is by "intentional self-harm by firearm," which comes in at 1 in 219. This is the LIFETIME probability, though. So, considering that the stats for the armed forces are for one year, the one-year probability is 1 in 16,900 for "intentional self-harm by firearm."

I do believe this qualifies "soldier" as a dangerous profession.

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Said Doc

"It has always seemed strange to me," said Doc. "The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and sel-interest are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first they love the produce of the second."

- John Steinbeck, "Cannery Row", 1945

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Worried About Mating?

This little entry caught my eye on the bbc's web site. Although, I do think that the caption may have not been written along with this image. I mean, if I was a hungry, growling dinosaur, and I saw fireballs shooting out of the sky, pummeling the earth, and tearing the planet asunder, I can't say for sure I would or would not be concerned with the difficulty of finding a mate.

Sure, I might be anxious, but nothing an interplanetary collision wouldn't resolve.

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Globalization Reaches The Globe.

An article in Pravda, a Russian online news source, has pretty much denounced the behavior of the United States leadership and globalization policies. One thing I noticed was the observation that if businessmen want globalization to occur in order to spread their business, customer base, production facilities, and so forth, then basic human rights and equality must ALSO be globalized.

It makes sense, since the only reason that wealthy people want to globalize is to be able to produce something abroad at an extremely low price, be able to ship it back to the United States, and save money, which charging the same price for the item. They make bank, while the people living next to the factories get fucked over because of perhaps looser labor laws or environmental policies. It makes sense to me.

If things like human rights, environmental protection, and labor laws were also globalized, I don't know if there would be an incentive to exploit a group of people in that manner.

Which brings me to my point: if people were actually compensated the real value of the goods extracted from them (be it labor or natural resources), then there wouldn't be such a huge disparity between the poor farmer or oil-ruch (not money rich) country, and the wealthy business or country that consumes their goods.

<-- begin hypothesis here -->
If the US actually compensated Iraq for the value of it's crude, and the oil companies did not undercut the value of crude, in order to make United States investor's dividends higher, would there be a higher quality of life in Iraq, and would this war have been unnecessary in this utopia?
<-- end hypothesis here -->

Who will ever know? How do we get to that place, and get there as soon as possible?

Oh, right. The article is here.

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Player Haters

Quoting from Baghdad Burning:

I would hope than any human with knowledge of the fierce cycle of hatred that continues in this world today would agree with the above statement.

Sometimes, I have a hard time thinking that this place I call home is such a wonderful place at all. You have school shootings, massive deaths per capita from guns, the murder capital of the world, and a government and military that is occupying another country under false pretenses, and growing to be more false every day. Is this the 'American Dream'? This is what we hope for, and what we teach out children?

I for one do not accept that. I do not believe that foreign policy that involves 'preemtive war' is sane. I do not believe that a government which turns its back on the international community is sane. I do not think that these institutions are things that represent what we as a people want to represent.

This is coarse, unwhole and raw. The things that are great in this world are not being presented by the politics of the leaders of this country. I have many more feelings that fit into these poor bytes.

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I'd Rather Have A Bottle In Front Of Me Than A Frontal Lobotomy.

The great minds at work have allowed us all a small moment of mirthful pleasure, thanks to Terry Jones. You know that wacky guy from Monte Python? Yeah, that's the one. He writes in the UK Guardian that "... the removal of those parts of the brain associated with understanding the outcome of one's actions has enabled the president to function fully and without hesitation." Oh man, this article makes me laugh. Even if it is at stupidity and arrogance of the leadership of my country.

In a related note, I don't know if it was supposed to be funny or not, but I found this image: Making the Rules to Play By on the nytimes.com website. I realize that this is stuff actually included in heinous government contracts, but PLEASE, for the LOVE OF <insert name of diety here>'s NAME, don't make it sounds so damn silly!

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The Pain Shall Grow

The uprising, the ceasefire, the violated ceasefire, the kidnappings, the PAIN. All is convoluted and distorted. It seems you can't get a straight answer or story from any outlet.

First, you have the US Government pointing fingers at Aljazeera, blasting them for not being truthful in their reporting. Now, keep in mind, there are no other major news organizations reporting on the conditions in Falluja. Now, I know they all say "uprising, violence, blah, blah..." but Aljazeera seems to be the one that I have found that actually has someone reporting from the town itself. Well, how are you supposed to know what's going on from a reporter outside the military blockade of the city?

Then it's propaganda and "al Qaeda" and all that shit. Well, if that just doesn't motivate the US layman, I don't know what will. 'Get them "al Qaeda" sons-a-bitches for me, why don't ya?' And suddenly US citizens are sympathetic, and all "oh, it's such a sad thing happening there," when really, it's more like "oh, fuck, what the hell does our leadership think they're doing?!"

ergh.

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Mm, yes.

The concept that the entirety of human existance is a wonderful miracle is something that is often overlooked. It seems that it comes to light in the hypocritical methods we use to reign in 'bad eggs' and 'disturbed' individuals. Shackling the mind to traverse on only happy thoughts is most likely just as destructive and wallowing in sad ones. In order to grow and learn, one must experience the entire gamut of emotions. It has been said before that if you have never really be sad (I mean, really fucking sad), then you do not know what true happiness is. There is a grain of truth there, and it really irks me when children are sheilded from the sad parts, and are told that they must be happy.

I would fucking hate it if someone told me how to feel. The article "Solitude and the Fortress of Youth" on nytimes.com triggered this outburst.

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Celebrate

Former prisoner's of war, rejoice. Today is your day. But only if you're a citizen of the United States. All others, well, suck it up, because apparently, National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day doesn't include foreign citizens.

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Electoral Bliss

A friend recently piqued my interest in the way we run things around here. All this talk of direct democracy, and implementing elections and stuff like that. So the topic of the electoral college came up. I was forced to admit that I had no idea how the system worked.

So I looked it up.

Very interesting stuff, I found a good document here (pdf). Very informative, actually. It outlines how and why the system was created, the pros and cons, and enumerates elections in which the electoral system had been tested.

I guess I feel better, knowing how the system works. I had a few moments there where I was feeling like our 'democratic' country was being taken for a ride by some abusive hoodlums. But no. They're just sleazy politicians. Ah, refreshing.

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Does Anybody Read These Things?

I paid my taxes today. This is a copy of the check I sent them:

I want you to notice the memo. I don't know anyone who reads these things. I hope they will follow instructions, like good beurocrats...

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. . . s a d n e s s . . .

The woe that is in my heart for the people of this world today.

There should be a holy verse somewhere that goes "violence begot violence, who begot violence, who begot violence..." This viscous cycle continues. Whether it is occupation troops from any "Coalition of the Willing [to fuck up the state of world peace]," or any "terrorist cell" that plants a roadside bomb.

How can one preach compassion to people so overrun by oppression? Where is the Martin Luther King Jr. for the Iraqis? Oh, man, that's a sensitive parallel. Where is the ... ah ... (think of a white person who preached compassion and civil rights) ... um ... well, my mind fails me at the moment. But where are the upstanding people of the world when we need them?

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Smarter Killers

So now the Iraqi intelligensia is being targeted and systematically murdered. Doesn't this just fucking suck? Setting aside all the implications of an organized "death squad," the thought itself evokes (in me) thoughts of Nazi Germany and their systematic elimination of citizens.

Is that an acceptable parallel? I don't know, but this is how I think about it: there is an evil mindset that believes that a certain class of people should be eliminated. That class of people can be anything, and in this case it is the academics. There exist those who believe in this mindset and have, organized, mobilized, and equiped themselves with weapons. They target this specific class, and murder them.

So what the fuck is happening to this world? What exactly does this accomplish? What kind of war is fought by killing academics? Probably the least likely to resist with force, at least in my understanding. So where does killing them come into play? Are the killers just disgruntled students? They're bummed out about their poor grades, and now welcome the opportunity to slaughter those who are helping them learn?

WHAT THE FUCK? How will we ever recover?

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Make Friends.

I wonder if our fearful leader has read this book. I haven't, I wonder if he is following it to the letter, or if he is deviating from it quite grossly. In any case, how come his strategy is not working?

In a more selfish note: CAN WE END THIS FUCKING WAR SO I DON'T HAVE TO KEEP WRITING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S STUPIDITY?. Good. Glad that is out in the open now.

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One Year

One year of hell and more wrath for us all.

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Eve of Anniversary

Perhaps not one to celebrate, but the United States of America has been at war with Iraq one year tomorrow. In addition, a report by Amnesty International has accused the United States with Human Rights violations. The article is available on the Aljazeera website (full article), and the report itself is available on the Amnesty International website (full article).

This is what gets me: we think we're all high and mighty, demanding that countries like Syria and China do something about the few human rights that are in place in their countries. Like appealing to the UN and shit like that. But when it comes to running a country OUR way, with OUR administrators, and OUR military, all of a sudden the puppet country is in dire straights.

Isn't the saying: "check yourself before you wreck yourself?"

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Busy Bushy Lies

No surprise that Bush is blatantly lying to the press in order to rebuff his image. Especially before the critical eye of the American voter. Oh, I heard it all before, "the American voter is like a pig in a dumpster," and "elections in America are honest as Enron CEOs."

It's the rottenness of it all, and I just get so upset when I hear the same lies over and over again, and so many sources confirming that it's not true! How many people can get away with this type of deception? It's like an episode of "The Office" I've seen recently. The dialog goes something along the lines of:

By the way, the article that gave me such inspiration to lash out at our fearful leader is found here, on www.atimes.com

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Revised Surprise.

In this post I referred to the takeover of civilian targets by the Iraqi army/military at the beginning of the war as "throwing their own people in front of the train."

I need to revise that statement. With enlightenment by riverbend, I see that according to the Geneva Conventions, there must be no train in that example. The military is supposed to defer attacking any civilian targets, even if they are suspected of housing military or whatnot.

That still makes the move a crummy one, though. It may be too late to harp on the subject, but *ergh*, it makes me so mad.

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Worst of the Worst.

Read that Baghdad has been rated the 'world's worst city', by an unnamed 'UK research company'. The article is available on english.aljazeera.net.

You know, it's not that astounding to believe, when an oppressive army has debilitated the basic infrastructure, then barely enforce law in a situation that borders on civil war. (From the reports gleaned from the media, that's what appears to be happening - I understand this may not be entirely accurate.)

I don't know if I'd want to live there. I just wonder where Oakland is on that list.

A 2003 article on news.bbc.co.uk
The actual "quality of life survey" by Mercer Human Resource Consulting.

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Reflections on Intelligence

Today I read a report from Asia Times and Foreign Policy in Focus, titled "The neo-con philosophy of intelligence.".

I will take this opportunity to explain why I am not a neo-conservative, and why I think they are full of crap.

See more ...

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Bush Hates Peace.

Turns out that our fearless leader was playing fearless well in advance. According to this article on guardian.co.uk, Bush has been planning this war for a long damn time. About 14 months before anything happened. With or without the UN. With or without support or allies. With or without reason.

So I guess this is the type of government the United States has become? A do-it-yourself country that wants to do-it-before-anyone-else? What kind of fuck up honestly believes that this is a positive way to change the world? I mean, if you are hooked on the idea, I don't mean to offend, but don't you think that it is kind of fucked up? Seriously.

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Lies, Overcharges, and Death

Seems to be the standard issue policy of this administration and the military, including their contractors.

Turns out that company we all love with our tax dollars, Halliburton, has routinely overcharged the government for all types of services, like vehicle leases and food distribution. Well, as long as it's making them money, and keeping hard-working Texans employed, what can it hurt? sarcasm

If that is not enough, it seems the forces of Terrorism are turning on themselves. The once-president of Chechnya is killed by a car bomb. This can't be a good thing. What next, independent warring clusters fighting for what they believe to be true? Oh wait...that is what is happening. It just happens that the US military has got more thugs on its payroll than any other.

Wait, there's more. The intelligence community has apparently took to the direction of fabricating intelligence in order to fulfill it's political agenda. Seems like it's been years since I thought about this (it has, really), and I wonder what kind of horrors await this place if we are allowed to be dragged into the muck by such deterministic politicians and ideologues?

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Oversight, over-schmite.

I like how Bush is all up in his own hish like he's got a bone to pick with the world for being evil. Like he knows how to enforce goodness. I think he should worry about the impression that his thugs (oops, I mean troops) present to the global audience. In this article on aljazeera.net, the thug life that is a soldier's life is illuminated. Not so successful on that "hearts and minds" tack.

I don't know if it's a pandemic to domestic politicians, but why are they so quick to blame the other guy, then defend their position? Even when evidence is so clearly not on their side? Why not look at it objectively, and say, "I don't know." Just once. Man, I'd almost pay for that.

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K.E.Z.

The tiny little creature that is now a part of my life. A nephew, a little creature that cries and says "eh" about 1000 times a day. He's so small in the hands of his father, mother, and uncle that one cannot help but think of all the amazing things in this world that are so small.

He'll be one month old tomorrow, and he's growing up strong already. It may be too early to tell, but I've got a good feeling about this one.

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We, The Feds, Know Nothing.

The latest statement by George Tenet, Director of the CIA, reveals that the CIA never professed to know anything. It was all the Bush-meister's fault. He was the one that professed that Iraq was an immediate, immenent threat.

Well, of course. I mean, who would want to go to war if they didn't think that something was an immement threat? "Well, let's bomb the piss out of them, so that I won't have to worry about my oil supply in 5 years." That doesn't come out of too many citizens mouths that I know of.

Can we just blame Bush Jr., for everything? I mean, we do anyway, can we get an official White House press release that says, "Bush Lied To Us All, And We're Pissed, Too."

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Not Your Usual SOTU.

"We refuse to live in the shadow of this ultimate danger." So says the Bush child. Regarding terrorism. You know, I'm not afraid of terrorists anymore, man. I'm afraid of YOU. You freak me out. You scare me with the direction you are heading, and the internation angst that you generate against the citizens of this country. I'm no longer agfraid of an anonymous terrorist threat, I'm worried about the threat to the future of the world, but leaving you in charge of spending our money on tanks and not children.

See more ...

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Blasting Bush

A report published by the Jeffrey Record of the War College (hell if I know where that is) rips the Bush Administration a new one. There's a copy of the report online, on the Washington Post's website. If that goes away, you can always hit it up locally for an indefinite period of time.

Basically, the analysis I've heard rails the administration for starting an unnecessary and unfounded war. Also, the declaration of war on a proper noun is pretty asanine. I think it's great that people in promiment positions and access to this kind of audience are voicing their opinions. I wonder how long it's going to take before people start spreading lies to cover themselves.

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Return To Violence

I've been on haitus for the past few weeks. A holiday with my friends and family, now back at the job, and assaulted once again with the harsh reality of war.

So today on NPR, they were broadcasting a story about how a private taxi was shot up by American Soldiers. For the sake of accuracy, let's call them United States Soldiers. America includes the entire western hemisphere, and I don't think most people there like being associated with this nation in particular.

That said, a private taxi was bullet-ridden by United States Soldiers. And the United States government and commanding officers have denied that our boys made such a grave mistake. Even though there is an eyewitness. He might have been confused. You know, it's hard to keep things straight when a convoy of 5 vehicles opens up machine gun fire on your vehicle. I mean, who wouldn't be confused?

Just how freaked out do you have to be to start shooting at a car as it passes you? I think this is an appropriate use of the prefix "uber." It seems that the soldiers were uber-sensitive of their personal space. Or something. I just know that this makes it more important to vacate that place immediately and let them govern themselves. At least get the United States out of there. We sure as hell didn't win anyone's heart of mind today.

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Neo Xmas Gift

As if it weren't enough that I couldn't hang out with my girlfriend the whole break, she sends me these pictures on Christmas Day. A new type of Christmas treat. Way to make me feel like flying 4 hours, honey.

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Movies Are Here.

Well, not HERE, but they are

here.

Now, please be patient, if nothing happens when you hit that link, that MAY BE OKAY. I put the movies on my home computer, so you are hitting a poor little DSL line which MAY OR MAY NOT be on when you hit it. I'll try to keep it up as long as I can. If you email me, I can tell you when my machine is up, if you would like. Oh, it's just really complicated, so just do what you like. *sheesh*

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Super Sweatpants!

I am preparing to embark upon a journey into my crawlspace at home. Therefore, I am wearing sweatpants that are a few sizes too small. Oh boy, oh boy.

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Snow Day!

Well, I was waiting, and here it came. Snow day. It snowed all night and most of the morning. It was that fine, dusty kind of snow that just floats on down to the ground, and covers everything in that thin sheet of white. I used to hang out at this park all the time when I was a young. The dock has been totally revamped, I definitely don't remember launching big wheels off of that dock. The "launchpad," as I shall refer to it now, was a long, 'T' shaped, flat, wooden deck. Not fancy, just a plain white 'T'. But. That 'T' was long and flat. And that was just what we needed. A long, flat runway. To launch our cycles into. The fun thing about big wheels, is that they often float. I tried riding a home-made bike into the lake. That banana-seat thing sank like a rock. The good thing is, the lake is about 6 feet deep at any point. That makes salvaging a bicycle out of the muck relatively easy. I also used to play around on the spillway, climbing down and trying to direct the feeble streams as they overflowed into the lower lake. The picnic table and bench are new, though. There used to be nothing there to hang out on. There are these old, neglected horseshoe pits that are used I think once a year (maybe). But these trees there have this knarly bark. It was great, my best friend at the time and I would go grab some beers (we were maybe 12) from an old bathtub that was for the 'adults,' and we would shake them up as hard as we could, then chuck them against the trees. They would explode in a shower of foam and twisted aluminum can. Oh, that shit was great.

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Blurry Brett

Yet again, Brett has broken the speed record for light while I was taking this photograph. I don't know how he does it, and when interrogated, he does not capitulate his secret. Grr. Foiled yet again.

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M & M fish. Yummy.

Well, I have to say that I am indeed proud of myself today. I helped to organize and make this little fish. Out of M&Ms. It was good. And it was a happy fish. Swimming in the ocean of blue tiles. Good fishy.

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Video Conferencing, At Last!

Well, we finally figured it out. We just had to do that thing with the switch, and the doohicky with the reset, and the IP subnet mask firewall framistat. And then, presto perfecto! Video conferencing works! So my parents and I talked long distance to my brother's family via a little robotic camera, and the teased me about my short hair. I tell ya, a guy can't get any slack around here without any hair. That's okay, I'm not going to complain too much. It was nice to chat with them, and we saw some neat things, like Kristin's grandfather on the wall. Oops, I mean that sax musician. And the fabulous bassinet. And other baby things that will be used very very shortly.

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Sparkies For Lunch

Chad and I met at Sparkies, a little Englewood steakhouse. Good food, we had some yummy nachos. But this little swanky place had an upstairs bar and lounge. Quite swanky!

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