03 February 2007
25 January 2007
A Call For Sequels
So maybe this is a little past due. But I wanted to throw something out there: the long MLK day weekend in Portland was a bitchin' time. (I am sorry that Z injured himself of course, but other than that...) I'm rather glad that .5 inches of snow kicked the Visco's and my ass into not leaving.
I want to call for repetition. I think that perhaps once every two months would be gooder than not.
- Jen was a Major rockstar all weekend. 4 Stars.
- Drunk trivial is actually as fun as I remember it being in college.
- Drinking all day Sunday is a sign that God may in fact exist. (Not working on Monday is proof.)
- Aahnna puking: 4 stars. Not feeding the dog? 1 Star penalty.
As Visco pointed out recently, sometimes sequels are as good as the original.
I want to call for repetition. I think that perhaps once every two months would be gooder than not.
- Jen was a Major rockstar all weekend. 4 Stars.
- Drunk trivial is actually as fun as I remember it being in college.
- Drinking all day Sunday is a sign that God may in fact exist. (Not working on Monday is proof.)
- Aahnna puking: 4 stars. Not feeding the dog? 1 Star penalty.
As Visco pointed out recently, sometimes sequels are as good as the original.
18 January 2007
Good Morning, Guantanamo
The pentagon released rules for detainee trials this week. They include, I shit you not, the ability to use hearsay as valid evidence against the defendant. Hearsay is evidence based on the reports of others (not direct knowledge) and is therefore not generally admissible in court, or important for that matter. It's sorta like if Visco told me some guy from RiRa said he saw Joe kissing some dude in the kitchen I wouldn't just take it as fact that Joe is gay. But the tribunals in Guantanamo would.
12 January 2007
NotPocalypse
[Today's Sign That the Apocalypse Is Not As Near As I Think]
WallyWorld has accepted bids on what could become the largest solar power project in history. If they proceed it will be 50x larger than the (currently biggest) Google corporate headquarters solar array.
At the end of February Walmart will announce a decision, so they still have ample time to reverse course. But there is some small measure of hope.
At the end of February Walmart will announce a decision, so they still have ample time to reverse course. But there is some small measure of hope.
10 January 2007
Ars Discordia
Well, I just listened to the best thing ever: hearing the Shrub (try) to speak. It really amuses me. The speaking part anyway. (What he says? That, my friends, is a horse of a different fucking color.)
So there is this: Shrub speaking reminds me of, well, me speaking. Only the me I'm referring to is 18 and hungover, is fumbling thru COM 103 in his first semester at UMaine, and is not the leader of the free world.
---
The title of this post is Ars Discordia. It's Latin, but i don't know if it means anything. I took Latin in High School, and you can imagine that my grammar (never good) has not exactly improved since that time. The point is that I am considering starting another blog. One that I will probably not write in. But I might. And if i did it would be slightly more serious political and social commentary. Less swearing and more detail-oriented.
It is unclear to me at this late hour whether or not this is a good idea. Is it respect for the few people who read my blog that I might split off my mundane musing from my leftist babble? Or is it vanity, thinking that some people would actually read two different blogs posted by me?
These things I don't know, so in honor of "sitting on the fence" I will write a new post. I give you, my loyal but tiny audience the opportunity to either read it below, or on Ars Discordia (where there is also a definition.)
So there is this: Shrub speaking reminds me of, well, me speaking. Only the me I'm referring to is 18 and hungover, is fumbling thru COM 103 in his first semester at UMaine, and is not the leader of the free world.
---
The title of this post is Ars Discordia. It's Latin, but i don't know if it means anything. I took Latin in High School, and you can imagine that my grammar (never good) has not exactly improved since that time. The point is that I am considering starting another blog. One that I will probably not write in. But I might. And if i did it would be slightly more serious political and social commentary. Less swearing and more detail-oriented.
It is unclear to me at this late hour whether or not this is a good idea. Is it respect for the few people who read my blog that I might split off my mundane musing from my leftist babble? Or is it vanity, thinking that some people would actually read two different blogs posted by me?
These things I don't know, so in honor of "sitting on the fence" I will write a new post. I give you, my loyal but tiny audience the opportunity to either read it below, or on Ars Discordia (where there is also a definition.)
Strategy v Tactics -or- How Bush is Stupid
Strategy: the planning and conduct of battles to gain the end of war
Tactics: a plan for engaging and defeating an enemy in battle
---
George Bush has finally made his appearance. He waited. He hid. By keeping the doors closed and the phone lines secure since the November elections, Bush has effectively held the citizenry of this country in limbo. Equally important, but almost always forgotten, he has kept the citizenry of Iraq hostage to the terror and strife that descended there in the aftermath of our "mission accomplished" victory.
For two months the President and his staff have been talking about the unveiling of a new "strategy" in Iraq. Their words.
We can look at the definitions above and see that strategy is big picture. Tactics are small picture. You win a battle with tactics. You win the war with strategy. Are battles important? Absolutely. But not if they don't help towards your objective. In terms of football: first downs are only useful if you don't turn the ball over ever possession.
So, what did Bush say? Well, he said basically only two things. (One might argue a third.) First, he said that he is ultimately responsible for the errors of the war thus-far. Interesting, but ultimately unimportant. We all knew this anyway; he's just attempting to gain some measure of credibility by his apparent humility. Second, he said he's sending in 21,000 more troops. And that's it.
What he didn't say is more telling. He did not say that we are going to change the mission of the troops that are in Iraq. He did not say that we are going to engage in aggressive diplomacy with the states of the region to enlist their help in stabilizing Iraq. He did not say that we are going to undertake a massive effort the likes of which haven't been seen since the end of WW II to rebuild the shattered country of Iraq. He did not say that the US will put massive pressure on the peace process in Israeli occupied territories to help treat the cause of the terrorism disease.
From what he didn't say we can deduce that he did not in fact change the strategy for the war. He changed the tactics. More troops. "Stay the Course II."
Sequels are always worse than the original.
Tactics: a plan for engaging and defeating an enemy in battle
---
George Bush has finally made his appearance. He waited. He hid. By keeping the doors closed and the phone lines secure since the November elections, Bush has effectively held the citizenry of this country in limbo. Equally important, but almost always forgotten, he has kept the citizenry of Iraq hostage to the terror and strife that descended there in the aftermath of our "mission accomplished" victory.
For two months the President and his staff have been talking about the unveiling of a new "strategy" in Iraq. Their words.
We can look at the definitions above and see that strategy is big picture. Tactics are small picture. You win a battle with tactics. You win the war with strategy. Are battles important? Absolutely. But not if they don't help towards your objective. In terms of football: first downs are only useful if you don't turn the ball over ever possession.
So, what did Bush say? Well, he said basically only two things. (One might argue a third.) First, he said that he is ultimately responsible for the errors of the war thus-far. Interesting, but ultimately unimportant. We all knew this anyway; he's just attempting to gain some measure of credibility by his apparent humility. Second, he said he's sending in 21,000 more troops. And that's it.
What he didn't say is more telling. He did not say that we are going to change the mission of the troops that are in Iraq. He did not say that we are going to engage in aggressive diplomacy with the states of the region to enlist their help in stabilizing Iraq. He did not say that we are going to undertake a massive effort the likes of which haven't been seen since the end of WW II to rebuild the shattered country of Iraq. He did not say that the US will put massive pressure on the peace process in Israeli occupied territories to help treat the cause of the terrorism disease.
From what he didn't say we can deduce that he did not in fact change the strategy for the war. He changed the tactics. More troops. "Stay the Course II."
Sequels are always worse than the original.
19 December 2006
Little Drummer Republicans
I made this song in my mind today while I was working. To the tune of Little Drummer Boy.
Come, they told me rump-a-pum-pum.
Our gay-ass leaders to see pa rump-a-pum-pum
Our finest sons we send rump-a-pum-pum
Now I say to them rump-a-pum-pum
rump-a-pum-pum
rump-a-pum-pum
The president is an idiot for sure pa rump-a-pum-pum.
He attacked Iraq for oil pa rump-a-pum-pum.
Then Rumsfeld fucked all of our troops in the rump-a-pum-pum.
Georgie has his head stuck way up his rump-a-pum-pum.
Condi straps one on so she can give it in the rump-a-pum-pum.
Ted Haggart thinks that Heaven is in some other dude's rump-a-pum-pum.
Mark Foley loves to get all up in his page's rump-a-pum-pum.
Now it's time to get all up in their rump-a-pum-pum.
And change this shit pa rump-a-pum-pum.
...
Come, they told me rump-a-pum-pum.
Our gay-ass leaders to see pa rump-a-pum-pum
Our finest sons we send rump-a-pum-pum
Now I say to them rump-a-pum-pum
rump-a-pum-pum
rump-a-pum-pum
The president is an idiot for sure pa rump-a-pum-pum.
He attacked Iraq for oil pa rump-a-pum-pum.
Then Rumsfeld fucked all of our troops in the rump-a-pum-pum.
Georgie has his head stuck way up his rump-a-pum-pum.
Condi straps one on so she can give it in the rump-a-pum-pum.
Ted Haggart thinks that Heaven is in some other dude's rump-a-pum-pum.
Mark Foley loves to get all up in his page's rump-a-pum-pum.
Now it's time to get all up in their rump-a-pum-pum.
And change this shit pa rump-a-pum-pum.
...
18 December 2006
This Guy's an Idiot
Our friend, Mr Tom DeLay, is a fuck-show. He started a blog that actually allowed comments ... for 75 minutes. Before they all got deleted some dude took a snap shot...
Some of the comments are pure genius...have a look here, I particularly like the assclown one.
Some of the comments are pure genius...have a look here, I particularly like the assclown one.
13 December 2006
Morning Post
I wake up every morning at 6, and usually listen to a a couple (30) minutes of public radio. The last few mornings I keep hearing about the Shrub and how he is now committed to changing course in Iraq. (But he still doesn't want to pull out early - that would be warus interruptus.) Wasn't it last month that we were winning the war?
But I digress: First she was going to make a big speech before Christmas and let all of his adoring fans in on the "new plan" for victory. Now, the internets and NPR are reporting it will be January before the big announcement.
Translation: For the next 3 weeks at least, 4 Americans will die every day while the military continues in the current manner, that now even Shrub recognizes to be failed.
How do you ask a soldier to be the next to die for a mission that soon will no longer exist?
I couldn't. But Shrubbery can; he doesn't even mind asking an extended number of soldiers that question, and exacting the last full measure of payment while he wanders around Washington and the world having meetings and reading memos.
But I digress: First she was going to make a big speech before Christmas and let all of his adoring fans in on the "new plan" for victory. Now, the internets and NPR are reporting it will be January before the big announcement.
Translation: For the next 3 weeks at least, 4 Americans will die every day while the military continues in the current manner, that now even Shrub recognizes to be failed.
How do you ask a soldier to be the next to die for a mission that soon will no longer exist?
I couldn't. But Shrubbery can; he doesn't even mind asking an extended number of soldiers that question, and exacting the last full measure of payment while he wanders around Washington and the world having meetings and reading memos.
11 December 2006
Odds and Ends
Thanks to Goods for pointing out the best little mini-flick I've seen in some time.
The other one being a Bill Maher piece on new colognes being offered for the holidays:
In other news, you can send some of the holiday spirit here.
The other one being a Bill Maher piece on new colognes being offered for the holidays:
- George Bush's Quagmire - if you use it she won't want to pull out
- Spray it in your undisclosed location - Dick Cheney's Go Fuck Yourself
In other news, you can send some of the holiday spirit here.
08 December 2006
02 December 2006
Open Letter to Shrub
Let me be perfectly clear here. You very obviously have no idea what is going on in the world. Nor do you have the mental acuity to heed even the other idiots who are closest to you and will soon call for our disengagement from this fools errand in Iraq.
Mr Shrub, how is Iraq like Vietnam? We'll win unless we quit? You said that last week, and I'm still puzzled. It sounds like something my god damn track couch spouted on the practice field. No blood or death there, just pride. Not so in war, you jackass. Comments like this allow even the most dimwitted of us to see you for what you are. Your callous disregard for life, Iraqi and yes, American, can only be treachery - the high crimes and misdemeanors worthy of a House impeachment. That impeachment will not be forthcoming, but one will. You will be impeached in the court of public opinion and found guilty by the jury of history; an offense not easily pardoned by a future Republican president.
Since you seem incapable of reason on the simplest plane of normal human existence, perhaps thru art you can be persuaded. A recent pop movie smash hit was titled Spiderman. I know you saw it, it doesn't take a whackjob like you to fantasize over Kirsten Dunst. Most of the movie was monosyllabic enough for you to understand it. You may have missed something very poignant however, since it didn't involve all that much action. At this one point in the movie, the one I'm sure you missed, Peter Parker's uncle tells him that "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility." You should think long and hard about this, and what it could mean - how could it apply to you?
If you're grinning in answer to this query, thinking that you are soon to be in Kirsten's pants with Laura none the wiser, then I applaud your myopic tunnel vision. Or perhaps I will paint you a grimmer picture Mr Shrub, one without a young aspiring actress draped over your knee. Parker, you see, is America. He has great power, he is a 'superhero'. America too has power, it is a 'superpower'. Thus, a metaphor. Get it? Now for the hard stuff, the power and responsibility part. You are the illegitimate leader of America. Illegitimate as you may be, you are still the leader. Now take the next step. I know you can't do it, so I'll help: America has great power, and you lead America. Thus, you have great responsibility. And as my final gesture of good will I will tell you that responsibility is the sense in which one is responsible for achieving (or maintaining) a good result in some matter. The idea, Shrub, is that one is entrusted with achieving or maintaining this outcome, and expected to both have relevant knowledge and skills, and to make a conscientious effort.
We somehow have entrusted you ma'am. And through lies, deceit, idiocy and cowardice you have neglected your responsibility, you have neither achieved nor maintained anything good. On these grounds and those outlined above I call for your impeachment and removal from office and ask the God that you so often call on to take heavenly mercy on your twisted soul.
Mr Shrub, how is Iraq like Vietnam? We'll win unless we quit? You said that last week, and I'm still puzzled. It sounds like something my god damn track couch spouted on the practice field. No blood or death there, just pride. Not so in war, you jackass. Comments like this allow even the most dimwitted of us to see you for what you are. Your callous disregard for life, Iraqi and yes, American, can only be treachery - the high crimes and misdemeanors worthy of a House impeachment. That impeachment will not be forthcoming, but one will. You will be impeached in the court of public opinion and found guilty by the jury of history; an offense not easily pardoned by a future Republican president.
Since you seem incapable of reason on the simplest plane of normal human existence, perhaps thru art you can be persuaded. A recent pop movie smash hit was titled Spiderman. I know you saw it, it doesn't take a whackjob like you to fantasize over Kirsten Dunst. Most of the movie was monosyllabic enough for you to understand it. You may have missed something very poignant however, since it didn't involve all that much action. At this one point in the movie, the one I'm sure you missed, Peter Parker's uncle tells him that "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility." You should think long and hard about this, and what it could mean - how could it apply to you?
If you're grinning in answer to this query, thinking that you are soon to be in Kirsten's pants with Laura none the wiser, then I applaud your myopic tunnel vision. Or perhaps I will paint you a grimmer picture Mr Shrub, one without a young aspiring actress draped over your knee. Parker, you see, is America. He has great power, he is a 'superhero'. America too has power, it is a 'superpower'. Thus, a metaphor. Get it? Now for the hard stuff, the power and responsibility part. You are the illegitimate leader of America. Illegitimate as you may be, you are still the leader. Now take the next step. I know you can't do it, so I'll help: America has great power, and you lead America. Thus, you have great responsibility. And as my final gesture of good will I will tell you that responsibility is the sense in which one is responsible for achieving (or maintaining) a good result in some matter. The idea, Shrub, is that one is entrusted with achieving or maintaining this outcome, and expected to both have relevant knowledge and skills, and to make a conscientious effort.
We somehow have entrusted you ma'am. And through lies, deceit, idiocy and cowardice you have neglected your responsibility, you have neither achieved nor maintained anything good. On these grounds and those outlined above I call for your impeachment and removal from office and ask the God that you so often call on to take heavenly mercy on your twisted soul.
01 December 2006
A Helping Hand
My new weekly segment: The best thing in the world.
This week the award goes to Kiva.org which allows people like us to help the working poor around the world with micro-loans to fan the flames of entrepreneurial spirit.
Loan terms very, usually around a year in length. Thus far Kiva has 100% repayment.
The guy I sent $25 bucks to (he could still use a few more): Ion Cernoivanenco
I encourage everyone to pass this along, loan money if you can, and hope that maybe the internets will save the world yet.
This week the award goes to Kiva.org which allows people like us to help the working poor around the world with micro-loans to fan the flames of entrepreneurial spirit.
Loan terms very, usually around a year in length. Thus far Kiva has 100% repayment.
The guy I sent $25 bucks to (he could still use a few more): Ion Cernoivanenco
I encourage everyone to pass this along, loan money if you can, and hope that maybe the internets will save the world yet.
Computer Climate Prediction
ClimatePrediction
&
Bionic
Download Bionic, it's an open source program that shares your computer's extra clock ticks with projects that need the help, in this case a climate prediction model. Sorry, no Mac version that I know of.
Bottom Line: Reduce your carbon footprint by making use of idle CPU time, and feel good that you are proving Shrub more wrong with every passing millisecond.
&
Bionic
Download Bionic, it's an open source program that shares your computer's extra clock ticks with projects that need the help, in this case a climate prediction model. Sorry, no Mac version that I know of.
Bottom Line: Reduce your carbon footprint by making use of idle CPU time, and feel good that you are proving Shrub more wrong with every passing millisecond.
30 November 2006
James Bondage
The new Bond is blond and blue eyed. He's an fucking Aryan, so what? No chest hair? That, my friends, is a horse of a different color. Part of what makes Bond, Bond, is that he bucks the magazine model stereotype - and still slays bad guys and good girls alike.
But enough of that. The new film rocks. It is certainly a shot in that arm that so badly needed it after the last two films blew goat ass. (I did consider the first Brosnan film [Goldeneye] to be worth the watch.) The action is solid, the acting is good, entertainment value is high. There is darkness here. It crosses a number of lines that are unknown to Bond films. There is also insight into his soul, or lack there-of as it turns out.
Complaints: plot is a little too twisty, I still don't have it quite figured out in all its nuances. Card scenes are a little long and Texas Hold 'Em is just a little too chic right now to make any sense (suddenly I'm watching ESPN...).
Bottom Line: Best action/thriller I've seen in some time. Worth the 8 bucks.
But enough of that. The new film rocks. It is certainly a shot in that arm that so badly needed it after the last two films blew goat ass. (I did consider the first Brosnan film [Goldeneye] to be worth the watch.) The action is solid, the acting is good, entertainment value is high. There is darkness here. It crosses a number of lines that are unknown to Bond films. There is also insight into his soul, or lack there-of as it turns out.
Complaints: plot is a little too twisty, I still don't have it quite figured out in all its nuances. Card scenes are a little long and Texas Hold 'Em is just a little too chic right now to make any sense (suddenly I'm watching ESPN...).
Bottom Line: Best action/thriller I've seen in some time. Worth the 8 bucks.
25 November 2006
But What the Hell Do I Know?
Part I:
1. If the vote is the fundamental keystone of democracy, why the fuck do we vote for president by proxy? Deep six the electoral college. Get rid of it, it's old, it's lame, its antiquated. Most people don't even know what or why it is.
1a. While we're at it, make all electronic voting machines print a paper ticket hard copy of the vote to be signed by the voter, and saved until hell freezes over or pigs fly, whichever comes first.
2. Get out of NAFTA. It will only take 6 months. Free trade is never free. See well-paying jobs hemorrhage south to Mexico. The only people that it helps are executives. Ending our freak involvement in this 'deal' will start putting the middle class back in the middle. Consequently consumers will have enough buying power not to have to buy cheap Walmart crap, which seems to be about the only argument in favor of NAFTA.
3. Force Israel to get the hell out of the west bank and occupied territories. (Sorry Drew.) We can, because the Washington has more influence in Jerusalem than it does in San Fransisco. I'm no anti-Semite, but this conflict is messed up, and is directly responsible for almost all the animosity felt by the US from this part of the region. Now I agree that a country has the right to defend itself, but it wouldn't need to if it weren't taking land and killing civilians in a war decried by almost all the world, including the UN security council, as unjust.
4. Iraq. Good god, where to start. Get our troops home. They're not wanted, and can't do the job anyway thanks to Shrub and his lackeys. Start now. As they leave we should pay, in entirety, for an all-Muslim force to help the Iraqi army/police. We should fix all the destruction. Imagine if we spent 10% of what we're currently spending per day on reconstruction, water, electricity. That would save $1.6 Billion a week, and still be more than adequate to build schools, water treatment plants, roads, protect archeology sites and museums.
5. End the trade embargo with Cuba. It is a disgrace that the most powerful country in the world somehow finds it pertinent to starve and belittle our not-really-that-dangerous neighbor. The cold war is gone, get over it. Castro will die soon, let that be the 'excuse' we need to end the embargo. (It's sorta like the 5th grade bully stealing lunch money from the dorky 1st grader. What the fuck does it prove?) Remember that Cuba offered to send us 1,000 doctors after Katrina. We (read Bush) refused because, well, we are assholes and prefer the suffering of our own citizens to the help of a communist country.
1. If the vote is the fundamental keystone of democracy, why the fuck do we vote for president by proxy? Deep six the electoral college. Get rid of it, it's old, it's lame, its antiquated. Most people don't even know what or why it is.
1a. While we're at it, make all electronic voting machines print a paper ticket hard copy of the vote to be signed by the voter, and saved until hell freezes over or pigs fly, whichever comes first.
2. Get out of NAFTA. It will only take 6 months. Free trade is never free. See well-paying jobs hemorrhage south to Mexico. The only people that it helps are executives. Ending our freak involvement in this 'deal' will start putting the middle class back in the middle. Consequently consumers will have enough buying power not to have to buy cheap Walmart crap, which seems to be about the only argument in favor of NAFTA.
3. Force Israel to get the hell out of the west bank and occupied territories. (Sorry Drew.) We can, because the Washington has more influence in Jerusalem than it does in San Fransisco. I'm no anti-Semite, but this conflict is messed up, and is directly responsible for almost all the animosity felt by the US from this part of the region. Now I agree that a country has the right to defend itself, but it wouldn't need to if it weren't taking land and killing civilians in a war decried by almost all the world, including the UN security council, as unjust.
4. Iraq. Good god, where to start. Get our troops home. They're not wanted, and can't do the job anyway thanks to Shrub and his lackeys. Start now. As they leave we should pay, in entirety, for an all-Muslim force to help the Iraqi army/police. We should fix all the destruction. Imagine if we spent 10% of what we're currently spending per day on reconstruction, water, electricity. That would save $1.6 Billion a week, and still be more than adequate to build schools, water treatment plants, roads, protect archeology sites and museums.
5. End the trade embargo with Cuba. It is a disgrace that the most powerful country in the world somehow finds it pertinent to starve and belittle our not-really-that-dangerous neighbor. The cold war is gone, get over it. Castro will die soon, let that be the 'excuse' we need to end the embargo. (It's sorta like the 5th grade bully stealing lunch money from the dorky 1st grader. What the fuck does it prove?) Remember that Cuba offered to send us 1,000 doctors after Katrina. We (read Bush) refused because, well, we are assholes and prefer the suffering of our own citizens to the help of a communist country.
23 November 2006
The Giving of Thanks
99,000 families still living in trailers in the Gulf region.
But we can spend 255 million in Iraq each day.
655,000 Iraqi civilian deaths due to US invasion.
And 33% of Americans still favor the war.
The national dept is very roughly 8.1 Trillion $.
And we're supposed to be scared of 'tax and spend' liberals.
But we can spend 255 million in Iraq each day.
655,000 Iraqi civilian deaths due to US invasion.
And 33% of Americans still favor the war.
The national dept is very roughly 8.1 Trillion $.
And we're supposed to be scared of 'tax and spend' liberals.
17 November 2006
Chew on This
The election is over, and gas prices have stayed the same. Oh wait, they haven't.
I heard somewhere that on the 28th of this month the US will have been invloved in Iraq longer than we were in involved in WWII.
I heard somewhere that on the 28th of this month the US will have been invloved in Iraq longer than we were in involved in WWII.
16 November 2006
Worst Snowe in the World
Today's reason that I think Olympia sucks:
She supported Trent Lott for minority whip of the Senate.
She supported Trent Lott for minority whip of the Senate.
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