Common Dreams
Good shit from Common Dreams, its a whole thing about how if you piss off the enemy then they are going to be that much more willing to lay down their lives in order to kill you. Take Al Capone or any of the other gangsters of that era, they were ruthless men who killed anyone who crossed them. They were judge jury and executioners, and you were not innocent untill proven guilty, but many people in their neghborhoods still liked them because they would help people in need. They would do little things to help out the common folks, thats what is now called winning the hearts and minds. These were gangsters that were loved by their communities, how did they understand this concept and yet our government gets it so so wrong.
Monday, July 31, 2006
how much does a rescue cost?
LA Times
The US will save those americans trying to leave Lebanon, just so long as they agree to pay the government back for the help. so deffinatly file this one under "WTF?" since when do we charge people for a rescue? I dont remember seeing a guy filling out forms as the helicopter evatuated people out of Siagon. If this was reversed and we needed to evacuate americans from Israel, would we charge them?
The US will save those americans trying to leave Lebanon, just so long as they agree to pay the government back for the help. so deffinatly file this one under "WTF?" since when do we charge people for a rescue? I dont remember seeing a guy filling out forms as the helicopter evatuated people out of Siagon. If this was reversed and we needed to evacuate americans from Israel, would we charge them?
Where were they?
AntiWar.com
The Israeli soldiers that were captured, were they in Israel like our media says, or in southern lebanon as some sources are reporting? This is not a minr issue, if the israelis really were on a commando mission into southern lebanon as these sources say then lebanon had every right to deffend itself, including taking the attacking soldiers hostage. And as soon as our soldiers or our allies soldiers become detained then I immediately wonder if they will be tortured, had this been five years ago I would have figured it was possible but not very likely, today after all of our world famous torturing I now assume they will be tortured even though both sides know that they will get nothing usefull out of the ordeal, its just to make a point. So in the great question of who is the terrorist in this whole ordeal? The answer is obvious, both sides are commiting acts of terror against civilians, but that does not mean that everyone is a terrorist. Both governments are terrorists, which of course means that our donating (i think it was) 4 billion dollars to israel would probably make us the largest single terrorist financer in the world.
The Israeli soldiers that were captured, were they in Israel like our media says, or in southern lebanon as some sources are reporting? This is not a minr issue, if the israelis really were on a commando mission into southern lebanon as these sources say then lebanon had every right to deffend itself, including taking the attacking soldiers hostage. And as soon as our soldiers or our allies soldiers become detained then I immediately wonder if they will be tortured, had this been five years ago I would have figured it was possible but not very likely, today after all of our world famous torturing I now assume they will be tortured even though both sides know that they will get nothing usefull out of the ordeal, its just to make a point. So in the great question of who is the terrorist in this whole ordeal? The answer is obvious, both sides are commiting acts of terror against civilians, but that does not mean that everyone is a terrorist. Both governments are terrorists, which of course means that our donating (i think it was) 4 billion dollars to israel would probably make us the largest single terrorist financer in the world.
Friday, July 28, 2006
simplest argument is often the best
Slacktivist; Your Not Allowed to Kill Civilians
It's been awhile so it seems again it's time for a helpful reminder that noncombatant immunity isn't just a good idea, it's the law.
In other words: You're not allowed to kill civilians.
Killing civilians is against the law. Killing civilians makes you a criminal.
Yes, but ...
No buts about it. You're not allowed to kill civilians.
And, also: You're not allowed to kill civilians.
So simple and straight forward, how can you argue with it?
Thank you Slacktivist.
It's been awhile so it seems again it's time for a helpful reminder that noncombatant immunity isn't just a good idea, it's the law.
In other words: You're not allowed to kill civilians.
Killing civilians is against the law. Killing civilians makes you a criminal.
Yes, but ...
No buts about it. You're not allowed to kill civilians.
And, also: You're not allowed to kill civilians.
So simple and straight forward, how can you argue with it?
Thank you Slacktivist.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
NOFX
NOFX is probably my favorite band, and they have two new albums out and I finally got to hear them. One's a LP the others an Ep or a CD and a Single for the kids. the CD is Wolves in Wolves Clothing and the EP is Never Trust a Hippy and holy shit both are awsome. I made myself a copy that included both in one and I haven't been able to turn it off since, although some songs I have to quickly turn the volume down, I am in an office after all. I think my favorite is "Your Wrong", off "Never Trust a Hippy". Its a slow simple acustic guitar type song which normally I hate but when a punk band does a slow acustic song then listen up cause they probably have something to say, and this is no exception just read the Lyrics here.
You're wrong about virtues of Christianity
And you're wrong if you agree with Sean Hannity
If you think that pride is about nationality, you're wrong
You're wrong when you imprison people turning tricks
And you're wrong about trickle down economics
If you think that punk rock doesn't mix with politics, you're wrong
You're wrong for hating queers and eating steers
If you kill for the thrill of the hunt
You're wrong 'bout wearing fur and not hating Ann Coulter
Cause she's a cunted cunt
You're wrong if you celebrate Columbus Day
And You're wrong if you think there will be a Judgement Day
If you're a charter member of the NRA, you're wrong
You're wrong if you support capital punishment
And you're wrong if you don't question your government
If you think her reproductive rights are inconsequent, you're wrong
You're wrong fighting Jihad, your blind faith in God
Your religions are all flawed,
You're wrong about drug use, when its not abuse
I hope you never reproduce
You're getting high on the downlow
A victim of Cointelpro
You're wrong and will probably never know
Thats some good shit right there, and if it wasnt for the cunting cunt line I would play this far louder than is a good idea right at work. sure there are a few anti-religion lines but oh well I can defend my atheism just fine. And the start about virtues of christianity doesnt necissarily mean that there are no virtues of chirstianity it just means that you have them wrong. unlike the last song on that EP called "I'm Going to Hell for This One" or more to the politcal end instead of the religion there is "USA-holes" from "wolves" the middle of that one is great.
We see the iceberg from 15 miles away
The captain orders the ship to "stay the course"
"Full speed ahead" shouts the accurst
The next thing we heard was, "rich women and children first"
The ship is listing, the captain's placing blame on the iceberg
"That berg attacked us, I am declaring war on the Arctic"
Who could ever have predicted the greatest ship could so easily sink (duh)
Subtle? no. But thats why I love 'em. in the past they have had a few political songs and a few serious songs but plenty of just goofy fun shit. Oh and these guys call theres LPs and EPs becasue they are all available on vinyl and there first album was in '84 I think, and they had been around a little bit at that point so these aren't young kids. I think Fat Mike mentions being 39 in one of the songs
so any way listen to their music I think you'll like it. I suppose that depends on what kind of music your into. but if you like fast high energy music with a meseage that can usualy be understood then I think you'll like 'em.
You're wrong about virtues of Christianity
And you're wrong if you agree with Sean Hannity
If you think that pride is about nationality, you're wrong
You're wrong when you imprison people turning tricks
And you're wrong about trickle down economics
If you think that punk rock doesn't mix with politics, you're wrong
You're wrong for hating queers and eating steers
If you kill for the thrill of the hunt
You're wrong 'bout wearing fur and not hating Ann Coulter
Cause she's a cunted cunt
You're wrong if you celebrate Columbus Day
And You're wrong if you think there will be a Judgement Day
If you're a charter member of the NRA, you're wrong
You're wrong if you support capital punishment
And you're wrong if you don't question your government
If you think her reproductive rights are inconsequent, you're wrong
You're wrong fighting Jihad, your blind faith in God
Your religions are all flawed,
You're wrong about drug use, when its not abuse
I hope you never reproduce
You're getting high on the downlow
A victim of Cointelpro
You're wrong and will probably never know
Thats some good shit right there, and if it wasnt for the cunting cunt line I would play this far louder than is a good idea right at work. sure there are a few anti-religion lines but oh well I can defend my atheism just fine. And the start about virtues of christianity doesnt necissarily mean that there are no virtues of chirstianity it just means that you have them wrong. unlike the last song on that EP called "I'm Going to Hell for This One" or more to the politcal end instead of the religion there is "USA-holes" from "wolves" the middle of that one is great.
We see the iceberg from 15 miles away
The captain orders the ship to "stay the course"
"Full speed ahead" shouts the accurst
The next thing we heard was, "rich women and children first"
The ship is listing, the captain's placing blame on the iceberg
"That berg attacked us, I am declaring war on the Arctic"
Who could ever have predicted the greatest ship could so easily sink (duh)
Subtle? no. But thats why I love 'em. in the past they have had a few political songs and a few serious songs but plenty of just goofy fun shit. Oh and these guys call theres LPs and EPs becasue they are all available on vinyl and there first album was in '84 I think, and they had been around a little bit at that point so these aren't young kids. I think Fat Mike mentions being 39 in one of the songs
so any way listen to their music I think you'll like it. I suppose that depends on what kind of music your into. but if you like fast high energy music with a meseage that can usualy be understood then I think you'll like 'em.
Chicago wants living wages
Shakespeares Sister
Chicago has passed a bill requiring all Big Box retailers to pay its employees at least $10 an hour plus $3 an hour worth of benefits. the rule is that if the building is larger than 90,000 sq ft and is part of a billion dollar + company than the have to abide by this rule. sounds perfect although I see 89,000 sq ft buildings being built.....
Deffinatly a great first step towards living wages for employees.
Chicago has passed a bill requiring all Big Box retailers to pay its employees at least $10 an hour plus $3 an hour worth of benefits. the rule is that if the building is larger than 90,000 sq ft and is part of a billion dollar + company than the have to abide by this rule. sounds perfect although I see 89,000 sq ft buildings being built.....
Deffinatly a great first step towards living wages for employees.
Jason Cooper
The Progressive: War Vet's Mother
This is the story of a mother who has been flying her flag upside down as a distress sign, because our vets are in distress. They are coming home with problems both physical and mental and are not being treated appropriately. There are many stories of the VA hospitals both good and bad for the physical wounds, it is the mental scars that are far more difficult to deal with. First off these are soldiers they are not going to want to admit that they have a problem, especially not a problem that doesn't involve cool looking scars to show their friends. That's not mend as an insult to soldiers that simply saying that I think a lot of men, myself included don't want to get help for a mental problem because it is mental we think its something that can be worked out alone, and I am going to assume that soldiers feel this way to, and many of them probably feel even more included to refuse help. This particular soldier realized they had a problem but did not want to go to the VA because the last time he was there, for an injured wrist, he was turned away because they were full. This soldier was in pain, and not the kind that they give vicodin for. This young man who was about a year younger than myself saw things that I don't even want to try to imagine. There are some images that simply cannot be removed from memory. And when he got home to his friends they asked if he shot anyone. That was the wrong question. It’s difficult to try to fit in while in a strange environment but it is altogether different when one feels like an outsider while in familiar territory. To be a stranger in your own home must be a terrible feeling. This young man obviously felt that way as only 4 months after getting home in high spirits he hung himself. I cannot even begin to understand what this family is going through but I give them my deepest sympathy. I had a cousin who took his own life when I was young. It was the first time I had ever experienced death and I think of him often, despite having limited memories of him. Suicide tears at the heart of a family, they can never be quite the same after that, and when it was a soldier returning from an illegal war then it should truly tear at the heart and soul of this nation.
A big part of the article is about the upside down flag, which seems like a very fitting response to this tragedy. It is a call for help, an upside down flag is an international distress symbol and this family and this country are deeply distressed.
There is nothing I can say to this family that would feel appropriate, there is no condolences for this. All I can say is that I’m sorry.
This is the story of a mother who has been flying her flag upside down as a distress sign, because our vets are in distress. They are coming home with problems both physical and mental and are not being treated appropriately. There are many stories of the VA hospitals both good and bad for the physical wounds, it is the mental scars that are far more difficult to deal with. First off these are soldiers they are not going to want to admit that they have a problem, especially not a problem that doesn't involve cool looking scars to show their friends. That's not mend as an insult to soldiers that simply saying that I think a lot of men, myself included don't want to get help for a mental problem because it is mental we think its something that can be worked out alone, and I am going to assume that soldiers feel this way to, and many of them probably feel even more included to refuse help. This particular soldier realized they had a problem but did not want to go to the VA because the last time he was there, for an injured wrist, he was turned away because they were full. This soldier was in pain, and not the kind that they give vicodin for. This young man who was about a year younger than myself saw things that I don't even want to try to imagine. There are some images that simply cannot be removed from memory. And when he got home to his friends they asked if he shot anyone. That was the wrong question. It’s difficult to try to fit in while in a strange environment but it is altogether different when one feels like an outsider while in familiar territory. To be a stranger in your own home must be a terrible feeling. This young man obviously felt that way as only 4 months after getting home in high spirits he hung himself. I cannot even begin to understand what this family is going through but I give them my deepest sympathy. I had a cousin who took his own life when I was young. It was the first time I had ever experienced death and I think of him often, despite having limited memories of him. Suicide tears at the heart of a family, they can never be quite the same after that, and when it was a soldier returning from an illegal war then it should truly tear at the heart and soul of this nation.
A big part of the article is about the upside down flag, which seems like a very fitting response to this tragedy. It is a call for help, an upside down flag is an international distress symbol and this family and this country are deeply distressed.
There is nothing I can say to this family that would feel appropriate, there is no condolences for this. All I can say is that I’m sorry.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
the hypothetical has occured
Penn Live; rape victim denied morning-after pill
this is the exact senario that we have cited as to why it is not a pharmasists job to decide who gets treatment. A doctor perscribed the drugs you hand them out. I dont give a fuck what you think about the matter. If a scientologist said they couldn't give out lithium because he doesnt believe that mental illnesses are real, then that ass hole needs to find a new job and should be held partially liable if that person hurts someone because they couldnt get their meds. And for the exact same reason I believe that if a pharmasist cant do their job for moral reasons then they cant fufill their job and should be fired. If I worked at a slaughter-house and said I was buddist and a vegan and theirfore I couldnt touch anything involing dead animals then guess what I wouldnt get the fucking job would I? Freedom of religion does not mean you dont have to do your job for religious reasons. So if you think that the morning after pill is wrong than guess what dont be a pharmasist, or better yet be one and lead a safe life and promote absitnence to your kids, but when you put that white coat on then its time to do your job , its not time to push your beliefs onto others. I think killing people is wrong, I think war is wrong, so therefore Im not going to apply to work at the new plant building blackhawk helicopters even thought there might be a much better paying job available there. You dont see alot of amish people going into electrical engineering. If your job contradicts your personal values then find a new fucking job. OH and Im a little angry and swearing more because this was the case of a rape victim that first was raped, then has to go to a doctor to make sure they are ok, which must be rather tramatic to have someone checking you out down there after such a tramatic experience, gets her scrip to make sure he isnt forced to carry the child of her attacker only to have some smug popus ass tell her that he thinks abortion is immoral and that he isnt going to give her her meds, but that the can drive to the next town where they might sell it to her. I would say yeah well I think kicking the shit out of a guy whos at work is immoral too but your about to see if that stops me. So my solution is this, If a pharmasist decideds to impose their views onto the life of another in this manner than they become imediatly liable for that child. Both emotionally and financially. Why should this person or the government have to raise this child when this pharmasist made the consious decision to bring it into the world. I didnt have enough calm left in me to finish reading this article so Im hoping that this unfortunate victim was able to get her meds before the effective window closed to where she would then need to get a far more tramatic and dangerous abortion.
this is the exact senario that we have cited as to why it is not a pharmasists job to decide who gets treatment. A doctor perscribed the drugs you hand them out. I dont give a fuck what you think about the matter. If a scientologist said they couldn't give out lithium because he doesnt believe that mental illnesses are real, then that ass hole needs to find a new job and should be held partially liable if that person hurts someone because they couldnt get their meds. And for the exact same reason I believe that if a pharmasist cant do their job for moral reasons then they cant fufill their job and should be fired. If I worked at a slaughter-house and said I was buddist and a vegan and theirfore I couldnt touch anything involing dead animals then guess what I wouldnt get the fucking job would I? Freedom of religion does not mean you dont have to do your job for religious reasons. So if you think that the morning after pill is wrong than guess what dont be a pharmasist, or better yet be one and lead a safe life and promote absitnence to your kids, but when you put that white coat on then its time to do your job , its not time to push your beliefs onto others. I think killing people is wrong, I think war is wrong, so therefore Im not going to apply to work at the new plant building blackhawk helicopters even thought there might be a much better paying job available there. You dont see alot of amish people going into electrical engineering. If your job contradicts your personal values then find a new fucking job. OH and Im a little angry and swearing more because this was the case of a rape victim that first was raped, then has to go to a doctor to make sure they are ok, which must be rather tramatic to have someone checking you out down there after such a tramatic experience, gets her scrip to make sure he isnt forced to carry the child of her attacker only to have some smug popus ass tell her that he thinks abortion is immoral and that he isnt going to give her her meds, but that the can drive to the next town where they might sell it to her. I would say yeah well I think kicking the shit out of a guy whos at work is immoral too but your about to see if that stops me. So my solution is this, If a pharmasist decideds to impose their views onto the life of another in this manner than they become imediatly liable for that child. Both emotionally and financially. Why should this person or the government have to raise this child when this pharmasist made the consious decision to bring it into the world. I didnt have enough calm left in me to finish reading this article so Im hoping that this unfortunate victim was able to get her meds before the effective window closed to where she would then need to get a far more tramatic and dangerous abortion.
The Dark Side
Ive been wanting to see this so heres a link, oh and I found this site after seeing stuff about freewayblogging, which looks like fun to me. So here is the link to The special about cheney and crew, called DARK SIDE
Leviticus, literally
Left in Aboite; Literal Levidicus
freaking sweet. heres a preview
Dear Dr. Laura:Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. For example, when someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.
However, I do need some advice from you regarding some of the other specific laws and how to follow them.
4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27. How should they die?
obviously there are mor, so go read them and laugh your ass off .
freaking sweet. heres a preview
Dear Dr. Laura:Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. For example, when someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.
However, I do need some advice from you regarding some of the other specific laws and how to follow them.
4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27. How should they die?
obviously there are mor, so go read them and laugh your ass off .
Monday, July 24, 2006
TESLA
not the crappy 80's band.
Tesla Motors Is the name of the company that is producing a sports car, that happens to be electric. And being electric they named the company after one of the greatest electrical inovators of all time. Sometime called the "Inventor of the 20th Century." But back to the car for a moment. Lotus was brought in to help with the sports car end of the elecrtis sports car and is quite clearly based on an elise, which is fine by me as the elise is a great looking car that also happens to be one of the best handling (production) cars on the planet. Not terribly supprising but this one is a bit heavier than the lotus but is still lighter than the vast majority of cars out there. There are some distinct advantages to an Electric though, like the fact that its torque curve starts with 100% of power at 0 rpms and stays pretty flat till about 8,000 at which point it gradually drops off untill its redline of 13,000 rpms. Because it has a rediculously flat torque curve it only needs two gears, which is just funny to me at a time when bmw and others are raving about their 7 speed trannies. makes it seem a little silly. oh yeah and because of the whole 100% of power at a standstill the thing rips to 60 in about 4 seconds flat and gets into triple digits in under 10. Thats haulin ass by pretty much any standard. Its not going to outrun an enzo but off the top of my head thats similar to a corvette Z06 which makes 500hp and is probably similarly priced although the Tesla might be a bit more. It cant come any where near the vettes near 200 mph top speed, but honestly who cares? unless your on an oval or the musalane straight at le mans then top speed doesnt even matter much on the track let alone on the street. But then again Ive always been more of a fan of turns than straightaways, I mean any idiot can mash the throttle and go pretty fast but to put a car right on the limts of adhesion around a sweeper or through a set of esses well thats always going to put a grin on my face. So its a pretty cool car my big concern is if I would be able to get used to a sports car with no exhaust noise. I mean to mash the throtle and not hear any thing is just wrong.
Oh and then back to the name, if you dont know Nikola Tesla then I recomend looking him up real quick. The whole concept of the "mad scientist" with lightning jumping around is often attributed to him. Oh and then their were things he invented like RADAR, a remote control boat, the cool Tesla Coils that shoot out bolts of lightning and can light a floresent light bulb without wires, he also invented the radio although marconi is usually given credit, he also beat out edison to make A/C current the standard for home use. He also made a solar panel that they refused to patent because it worked at night an therefore defied physics as they understood it. which is a great reason to have a patent denied, not because it didnt work but because they couldnt understand how it worked. There was also his death ray that some claim was responsible for the Tunguska explosion in syberia although this is fairly discredited. most modern electric devices are connected back to tesla, and inspite of all this most people will never recognise his name which is sad. This is a man who was insulted when compared to Edison.
Tesla Motors Is the name of the company that is producing a sports car, that happens to be electric. And being electric they named the company after one of the greatest electrical inovators of all time. Sometime called the "Inventor of the 20th Century." But back to the car for a moment. Lotus was brought in to help with the sports car end of the elecrtis sports car and is quite clearly based on an elise, which is fine by me as the elise is a great looking car that also happens to be one of the best handling (production) cars on the planet. Not terribly supprising but this one is a bit heavier than the lotus but is still lighter than the vast majority of cars out there. There are some distinct advantages to an Electric though, like the fact that its torque curve starts with 100% of power at 0 rpms and stays pretty flat till about 8,000 at which point it gradually drops off untill its redline of 13,000 rpms. Because it has a rediculously flat torque curve it only needs two gears, which is just funny to me at a time when bmw and others are raving about their 7 speed trannies. makes it seem a little silly. oh yeah and because of the whole 100% of power at a standstill the thing rips to 60 in about 4 seconds flat and gets into triple digits in under 10. Thats haulin ass by pretty much any standard. Its not going to outrun an enzo but off the top of my head thats similar to a corvette Z06 which makes 500hp and is probably similarly priced although the Tesla might be a bit more. It cant come any where near the vettes near 200 mph top speed, but honestly who cares? unless your on an oval or the musalane straight at le mans then top speed doesnt even matter much on the track let alone on the street. But then again Ive always been more of a fan of turns than straightaways, I mean any idiot can mash the throttle and go pretty fast but to put a car right on the limts of adhesion around a sweeper or through a set of esses well thats always going to put a grin on my face. So its a pretty cool car my big concern is if I would be able to get used to a sports car with no exhaust noise. I mean to mash the throtle and not hear any thing is just wrong.
Oh and then back to the name, if you dont know Nikola Tesla then I recomend looking him up real quick. The whole concept of the "mad scientist" with lightning jumping around is often attributed to him. Oh and then their were things he invented like RADAR, a remote control boat, the cool Tesla Coils that shoot out bolts of lightning and can light a floresent light bulb without wires, he also invented the radio although marconi is usually given credit, he also beat out edison to make A/C current the standard for home use. He also made a solar panel that they refused to patent because it worked at night an therefore defied physics as they understood it. which is a great reason to have a patent denied, not because it didnt work but because they couldnt understand how it worked. There was also his death ray that some claim was responsible for the Tunguska explosion in syberia although this is fairly discredited. most modern electric devices are connected back to tesla, and inspite of all this most people will never recognise his name which is sad. This is a man who was insulted when compared to Edison.
Friday, July 21, 2006
ugh.. too much shit goin on
both in my life and that fucked up place called the world. Ive been busy and some how I just dont know how to even begin to discuss the atrocities going on in the middle east. I have no first hand account obviously and I simply am lacking the imagination to even be able to mentally put myself in their shoes. I cannot imagine what it must be like to simply have rockets and artilary dropping in to neighborhoods. Do you just go on with life knowing that there is nothing you can do about it and if you die you die? staying in your home is no safer than walking down the street if a shell/rocket hits you it hits you and you die or are horribly injured if your... lucky? And there is an important factor that I must bring out. At this point in what Im saying it has nothing to do with which side of the border you are on. According to the US state department the deffinition of terrorism is, "the unlawful use of -- or threatened use of -- force or violence against individuals or property to coerce or intimidate governments or societies, often to achieve political, religious, or ideological objectives." from PBS. Both sides easily falling into that catagory. And what difference is there for the people? does it really matter wether your fighting for the "good" of judaism or islam? There is one difference, if your killed praising Allah, then your collateral damage, if you were praying to god the you were an innocent civilian, at least in the eyes of the american press. to be honest i should probably watch/read a little more MSM news before making that claim but for the most part if I have the choice between a few hours with the MSM or a good poke with a sharp stick, well go ahead and poke away.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Global Warming
Discovery Channel; global warming
There was a special on the discovery channel last night which exposed the truth about global warming. I was going to show a link to the discovery channels website and before I even got that far I was stunned by this. I googled "discovery channel global warming" and yes the special I was looking for came up, right after this critical piece about how global warming could lead to better wine, at least untill the vineyard is turned into a desert. Im not exactly sure what it means but it cant be good when the positives of global warming pops up before an excellent 2 hour special that was specificly aimed at dispelling all of the myths about global warming. So anyway here is the link Discovery Channel; Global Warming: what you need to know
There was a special on the discovery channel last night which exposed the truth about global warming. I was going to show a link to the discovery channels website and before I even got that far I was stunned by this. I googled "discovery channel global warming" and yes the special I was looking for came up, right after this critical piece about how global warming could lead to better wine, at least untill the vineyard is turned into a desert. Im not exactly sure what it means but it cant be good when the positives of global warming pops up before an excellent 2 hour special that was specificly aimed at dispelling all of the myths about global warming. So anyway here is the link Discovery Channel; Global Warming: what you need to know
quicky
not much time this morinin but had a few things I wanted to put up
Yahoo News no cease fire
Bush says that Israel has the right to defend themselves and therefore can attack who ever they want. apparently Israel has the same protocol as bush when comes to defence. defence = kill muslims
Common Dreams: school study
so private schools arent much better, altough lutheran schools are, and consevative christian schools do worse in math. Now imagine if they had been testing them on science. ha. well god created the earth, thats earth science. god created the stars thats all you need to know about astronomy. and there is an ongoing test to see the effectiveness of charter schools. which could be interesting.
BBC news
Bush was caught speaking candidly, and he used a curse word. ooooo. big fuckin deal the disconcerning part is the non-four letter words. His buddies in Israel are bombarding their neighbor and he says that the solution is for syria to stop their shit.
We're Fucked
Yahoo News no cease fire
Bush says that Israel has the right to defend themselves and therefore can attack who ever they want. apparently Israel has the same protocol as bush when comes to defence. defence = kill muslims
Common Dreams: school study
so private schools arent much better, altough lutheran schools are, and consevative christian schools do worse in math. Now imagine if they had been testing them on science. ha. well god created the earth, thats earth science. god created the stars thats all you need to know about astronomy. and there is an ongoing test to see the effectiveness of charter schools. which could be interesting.
BBC news
Bush was caught speaking candidly, and he used a curse word. ooooo. big fuckin deal the disconcerning part is the non-four letter words. His buddies in Israel are bombarding their neighbor and he says that the solution is for syria to stop their shit.
We're Fucked
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Kurt Vonnegut on TDS
YouTube, Vonnegut on TDS
one of my favorite authors on my favorite tv show, how I didnt see this when it happened is beyond me but oh well heres the vid.
one of my favorite authors on my favorite tv show, how I didnt see this when it happened is beyond me but oh well heres the vid.
Friday, July 14, 2006
its not a joke
there really is a director of lessons learned....
our president thinks hes in 4th grade.
our president thinks hes in 4th grade.
you dont count because we dont count
Thank you so much to Thomas Paine's Corner, this is hilarious.Seriously Jason you kick ass oh and so does Dave Ward who apparently made this graphic although his site seems to be down
its just dogs and cold A/C
is what some wing-nuts think is going on in Gitmo. But in an odd situation for His Rudeness, the vulgarity in this post is the treatment of the prisoners and not the snark. This is a serious and powerful artice please read it.
The Rude Pundit: Three scenes from a detention camp
The third one about the plight of those with prosthetic limbs is particularly cruel, and to those who have already gone through amputation.
The Rude Pundit: Three scenes from a detention camp
The third one about the plight of those with prosthetic limbs is particularly cruel, and to those who have already gone through amputation.
Val sues Dick
Yahoo News
Wow, this is going to get interesting. Nice way to get around mucking about with all those special investigators and what not, just take it to civil court. Its just like O.J. (ok so its not murder, but there is claims that one operative was killed because of the ousting) sure there might not be enough evidence for a criminal court but theres plenty for a civil court, so just like OJ they might have avoided jail, but hopefully they will still have to pay, and more importantly look as guilty in the eyes of the public. No that this will hurt cheney any, the < 20% of the country that still likes him wont be dissuated by something as simple as treason. Nah hes a good christian, that shoots people in the face.
Wow, this is going to get interesting. Nice way to get around mucking about with all those special investigators and what not, just take it to civil court. Its just like O.J. (ok so its not murder, but there is claims that one operative was killed because of the ousting) sure there might not be enough evidence for a criminal court but theres plenty for a civil court, so just like OJ they might have avoided jail, but hopefully they will still have to pay, and more importantly look as guilty in the eyes of the public. No that this will hurt cheney any, the < 20% of the country that still likes him wont be dissuated by something as simple as treason. Nah hes a good christian, that shoots people in the face.
Director of Lessons Learned
AMERICAblog gets a big thank you for this one, and its awsome so ill save you the time of clicking on the link, here it is. Damn I hope this is real because this is the type of things the Democrats need to do in order to win. Dont sit on the sidelines waiting for the repubs to self destruct, get in there be agressive take the offensive. Hell make fun of the bastards, just laugh at them for what they are. The other perfect example of this was when... I think it was Feingold was asked about cheneys comments and he said Im not even going to respond to cheney, hes at what 19% approval the guy is a joke he has no crediblity. (paraphrase) But thats a perfect responce, the country needs to realise that bush and all who support him have lost all crediblity, they have been caught lying countless times and therefore need to be marginalized by simply laughing at them. If one person is shouting insults and the other peson simply laughs (usually causing louder and angrier insults) at them, how do you respond? I know I would laugh at the guy yelling. So Ive gone on a tangent so back to the original post, heres some good shit from the man from IL. Thanks again to AMERICAblog.
Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) offers a few more lessons learned:
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the President said we continue to be wise about how we spend the people's money.
"Then why are we paying over $100,000 for a 'White House Director of Lessons Learned'?
"Maybe I can save the taxpayers $100,000 by running through a few of the lessons this White House should have learned by now."
Lesson 1: When the Army Chief of Staff and the Secretary of State say you are going to war without enough troops, you're going to war without enough troops."
Lesson 2: When 8.8 billion dollars of reconstruction funding disappears from Iraq, and 2 billion dollars disappears from Katrina relief, it's time to demand a little accountability."
Lesson 3: When you've 'turned the corner' in Iraq more times than Danica Patrick at the Indy 500, it means you are going in circles."
Lesson 4: When the national weather service tells you a category 5 hurricane is heading for New Orleans, a category 5 hurricane is heading to New Orleans."
I would also ask the President why we're paying for two 'Ethics Advisors' and a 'Director of Fact Checking.'"
They must be the only people in Washington who get more vacation time than the President."
Maybe the White House could consolidate these positions into a Director of Irony."
Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) offers a few more lessons learned:
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the President said we continue to be wise about how we spend the people's money.
"Then why are we paying over $100,000 for a 'White House Director of Lessons Learned'?
"Maybe I can save the taxpayers $100,000 by running through a few of the lessons this White House should have learned by now."
Lesson 1: When the Army Chief of Staff and the Secretary of State say you are going to war without enough troops, you're going to war without enough troops."
Lesson 2: When 8.8 billion dollars of reconstruction funding disappears from Iraq, and 2 billion dollars disappears from Katrina relief, it's time to demand a little accountability."
Lesson 3: When you've 'turned the corner' in Iraq more times than Danica Patrick at the Indy 500, it means you are going in circles."
Lesson 4: When the national weather service tells you a category 5 hurricane is heading for New Orleans, a category 5 hurricane is heading to New Orleans."
I would also ask the President why we're paying for two 'Ethics Advisors' and a 'Director of Fact Checking.'"
They must be the only people in Washington who get more vacation time than the President."
Maybe the White House could consolidate these positions into a Director of Irony."
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Fox being Fox, ie: propaganda
Media Matters
They are Still trying to claim that Saddam had to do with Al Qaeda. Seriously people do we really need to dredge up this lie again? get over it the war is being faught for a lie that you happily spred, there is no use in bringing up old lies, theres plenty of new ones around that snow will tell you and you can "report" on.
They are Still trying to claim that Saddam had to do with Al Qaeda. Seriously people do we really need to dredge up this lie again? get over it the war is being faught for a lie that you happily spred, there is no use in bringing up old lies, theres plenty of new ones around that snow will tell you and you can "report" on.
Dont like the flag-burning amendment? Dont go to Iowa
The Progressive
So kid has band practice, and Im guessing based on the bands name Coruption of Blood that its a metal band, cops get called. Cops tell kid he's in violation of noise ordinance, and to turn off the music. They end the practice. Next day kid puts an upside-down flag in his lawn with the band name written across the flag and some how got a big cardboard cut-out of a cop to put next to it. So the cops came back and warned then arreste the kid for violation of Iowa's anti-flag-desicration law. Kid faces up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine. The ACLU of course has gotten on to help the kid out. The law in question in a very long winged way states that if you mark the flag in any manner its illegal, if you use the flag or any other state or national seal for any advertisment or to call attention to a product. If you use the flag or other seal for anything but flag wavin' its illegal. so aparently the national news isnt allowed in Iowa. I guess the stores cant use flags in their ads for the 4th of July.
Besides the blatent hypocracy of arresting a protester for dirgracing the flag but not going after the thousands of businesses which mercilessly throw flags in your face there is also another question I have for the police. Is the kid in trouble for using an upside-down flag for a protest which I guess could be an advertisement of sorts, or is he in trouble for writing the band name on the flag? Personally if its the latter I have less issue with it because while I agree that burning a flag is an extremely powerful non-violent action and that using an upside-down flag is a good non-violent way to get across your anger with the country and should therefore be protected. But on the other hand I'm not so against the idea of not being able to write on the flag. And honestly I love the idea that you cant use the flag in an ad, I think that the constant barage of flag that we see lessens the power of the greatest symbol of our country. If flags were only seen on flag pole standing proud then they are to be revered. When we see them on bumper stickers, tatered flags on the antenaes of cars, when there is always at least one cg flag waving on the tv if your watching the news (ok maybe only fox is still doing this) it is a whoring of the flag. I agree with this part of the law and I'm not sure that it shouldnt be taken nationally. That would be an appropriate flag-dececration amendment.
So while there are those who are too caught up in the notion that the government is always right and that any questioning of the government should be illegal, these people will not understand why I think it is acceptable and very pro-american to burn a flag or hang one upside-down out of protest. I will say that if you are going to do either of these acts please have a very well thought out answer to why you are doing it. This shouldnt be hard bush has given you a plethora of reasons. But the conservative who thinks Im anti-american for thinking its ok to burn a flag, and thinks its wrong to question government. Well get the Fuck out of this country, go back to england. Because it was the people who questioned the government and said that we have inalienable rights to freedom who started this country. It was those who wanted to protect the status quo who fought against what would become this country. You are the loyalists you will protect the status quo because change scares you, if an upside-down flag makes you feel quesey then guess what, it should. Thats the point that flag is the symbol of a people who had enough of being the bitch of imperialism and said that we as humans have rights and we are not going to be governed without representaion. So when our rights as humans is infringed upon (although im not sure that shutting down a band practice really applys) then what better way to show your disatisfaction than to raise a flag upside-down. It makes you feel a little ill because it sybolises that our values have been flipped, and that is the point. If you think that questioning our leaders is unpatriotic then you have no idea what a patriot is. The original american patriots we rebels, you think they burned a british flag or two? they fought and died while the loyalist sat back to see wait for the victor to emerge and then they would return to kissing that groups collective ass. Loyalists are and were a disgrace to this country. If you take insult to this then good, your catching on that loyalist is an insult. It is also an insult to this countries founders that some people think protecting the status quo is patriotic. At this point with a government which constantly breaks the law the most patriotic thing someone could do would be to burn a flag in front of george bush, I think it would also be quite fitting to pour blood into a gas can and spill that at his feet. But thats just me, and I dont nessasarily recomend that because there was a couragous group called the St. Patricks Four that were arrested and spent a bit of time in jail for pouring blood in a recruiting office the day before the start of the Iraq war.
Dissent is Patriotic.
So kid has band practice, and Im guessing based on the bands name Coruption of Blood that its a metal band, cops get called. Cops tell kid he's in violation of noise ordinance, and to turn off the music. They end the practice. Next day kid puts an upside-down flag in his lawn with the band name written across the flag and some how got a big cardboard cut-out of a cop to put next to it. So the cops came back and warned then arreste the kid for violation of Iowa's anti-flag-desicration law. Kid faces up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine. The ACLU of course has gotten on to help the kid out. The law in question in a very long winged way states that if you mark the flag in any manner its illegal, if you use the flag or any other state or national seal for any advertisment or to call attention to a product. If you use the flag or other seal for anything but flag wavin' its illegal. so aparently the national news isnt allowed in Iowa. I guess the stores cant use flags in their ads for the 4th of July.
Besides the blatent hypocracy of arresting a protester for dirgracing the flag but not going after the thousands of businesses which mercilessly throw flags in your face there is also another question I have for the police. Is the kid in trouble for using an upside-down flag for a protest which I guess could be an advertisement of sorts, or is he in trouble for writing the band name on the flag? Personally if its the latter I have less issue with it because while I agree that burning a flag is an extremely powerful non-violent action and that using an upside-down flag is a good non-violent way to get across your anger with the country and should therefore be protected. But on the other hand I'm not so against the idea of not being able to write on the flag. And honestly I love the idea that you cant use the flag in an ad, I think that the constant barage of flag that we see lessens the power of the greatest symbol of our country. If flags were only seen on flag pole standing proud then they are to be revered. When we see them on bumper stickers, tatered flags on the antenaes of cars, when there is always at least one cg flag waving on the tv if your watching the news (ok maybe only fox is still doing this) it is a whoring of the flag. I agree with this part of the law and I'm not sure that it shouldnt be taken nationally. That would be an appropriate flag-dececration amendment.
So while there are those who are too caught up in the notion that the government is always right and that any questioning of the government should be illegal, these people will not understand why I think it is acceptable and very pro-american to burn a flag or hang one upside-down out of protest. I will say that if you are going to do either of these acts please have a very well thought out answer to why you are doing it. This shouldnt be hard bush has given you a plethora of reasons. But the conservative who thinks Im anti-american for thinking its ok to burn a flag, and thinks its wrong to question government. Well get the Fuck out of this country, go back to england. Because it was the people who questioned the government and said that we have inalienable rights to freedom who started this country. It was those who wanted to protect the status quo who fought against what would become this country. You are the loyalists you will protect the status quo because change scares you, if an upside-down flag makes you feel quesey then guess what, it should. Thats the point that flag is the symbol of a people who had enough of being the bitch of imperialism and said that we as humans have rights and we are not going to be governed without representaion. So when our rights as humans is infringed upon (although im not sure that shutting down a band practice really applys) then what better way to show your disatisfaction than to raise a flag upside-down. It makes you feel a little ill because it sybolises that our values have been flipped, and that is the point. If you think that questioning our leaders is unpatriotic then you have no idea what a patriot is. The original american patriots we rebels, you think they burned a british flag or two? they fought and died while the loyalist sat back to see wait for the victor to emerge and then they would return to kissing that groups collective ass. Loyalists are and were a disgrace to this country. If you take insult to this then good, your catching on that loyalist is an insult. It is also an insult to this countries founders that some people think protecting the status quo is patriotic. At this point with a government which constantly breaks the law the most patriotic thing someone could do would be to burn a flag in front of george bush, I think it would also be quite fitting to pour blood into a gas can and spill that at his feet. But thats just me, and I dont nessasarily recomend that because there was a couragous group called the St. Patricks Four that were arrested and spent a bit of time in jail for pouring blood in a recruiting office the day before the start of the Iraq war.
Dissent is Patriotic.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
more than just gouging
Nieman Watchdog
They say that a large part of the increased prices is due to oil speculation rather than supply and demand or even gouging. I dont know enough about economics for this stuff so ill just say this. If nothing else Enron showed us what speculation (and deregulation) can do to prices. Once again Im not sure exactly how seculation works but Im getting the impression that its not a good idea, unless your a speculator, then it probably means a lot of money...
P.S. If this is true then its a rather critical story that needs to be in the public eye, why has this not been talked about more? why is this not in the media.. oh GE is probably one of the speculators... we really are fucked.
Ok I had only read the first paragraph when I wrote this ( i do this sometime when I basicly just want to save the article to read later) and as I read I find out that it is a case of deregulated speculation, which is pretty close to what I had said. I gotta say, while it sounds like the excessive speculation can drive up prices (as it is currently) there is also the point that if I had money to throw at the stockmarket I think I would want to buy into oil, because its my bet that while prices are bad now, they are probably going to go up. From a capitalists point of view it looks like a great investment, sure it might be killing our economy but as capitalist the nation is not my concern, my worries are those or me, myself, and I, and if screwing everyone puts a few (or a lot) more dollars in my pocket then fuck 'em this is america and its my right to ruin this country as long as I can make money.
And thats why im not a capitalist.
They say that a large part of the increased prices is due to oil speculation rather than supply and demand or even gouging. I dont know enough about economics for this stuff so ill just say this. If nothing else Enron showed us what speculation (and deregulation) can do to prices. Once again Im not sure exactly how seculation works but Im getting the impression that its not a good idea, unless your a speculator, then it probably means a lot of money...
P.S. If this is true then its a rather critical story that needs to be in the public eye, why has this not been talked about more? why is this not in the media.. oh GE is probably one of the speculators... we really are fucked.
Ok I had only read the first paragraph when I wrote this ( i do this sometime when I basicly just want to save the article to read later) and as I read I find out that it is a case of deregulated speculation, which is pretty close to what I had said. I gotta say, while it sounds like the excessive speculation can drive up prices (as it is currently) there is also the point that if I had money to throw at the stockmarket I think I would want to buy into oil, because its my bet that while prices are bad now, they are probably going to go up. From a capitalists point of view it looks like a great investment, sure it might be killing our economy but as capitalist the nation is not my concern, my worries are those or me, myself, and I, and if screwing everyone puts a few (or a lot) more dollars in my pocket then fuck 'em this is america and its my right to ruin this country as long as I can make money.
And thats why im not a capitalist.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Politics vs/and Religion
No they should not intermingle, but they do. The Constitution is a secular document, the Bible a holy document. Thats the easy part, the problem is that a single person cannot be both. And this, I think, is why religion is constantly seeping into government. This is also why I feel free to express my religious views (or lack thereof) on an otherwise political blog. Well that and the fact that its my fucking blog and I write about way more random shit than religion. Weither you think religion is a positive or a negative force in this world is up for debate and your stance will probably depend on many variables but it is without question that it is a major force in our world and therefore the only moral thing to do is to debate its pro's and con's this is an issue that can only be delt with by talking.
It scares the shit out of me whenever I hear that something like 45% of this country thinks the world is only 6000 years old because.... well i guess it might be implied in the bible somewhere, presumably in the old testament. Although oddly the Jews dont have this belief so Im not honestly sure where it came from. When 45% of a country will actively block out science and reason then it starts to make me wonder if a democracy is the best choice for government. Majority rule doesnt work in mental insitutions --NOFX. Honestly when you have people who can simply discount logic because it doesnt agree with a four thousand year old book that has been rewritten and translated countless times then maybe there is simply no hope for our society. Perhaps they will want to prove the bible is true so badly that they will simply create their own appocalypse. We nuke the world and suddenly the bible is right. (by man I mean mankind not just dudes) Man created the bible, Man created god, Man can destroy god or he will destroy us all.
It scares the shit out of me whenever I hear that something like 45% of this country thinks the world is only 6000 years old because.... well i guess it might be implied in the bible somewhere, presumably in the old testament. Although oddly the Jews dont have this belief so Im not honestly sure where it came from. When 45% of a country will actively block out science and reason then it starts to make me wonder if a democracy is the best choice for government. Majority rule doesnt work in mental insitutions --NOFX. Honestly when you have people who can simply discount logic because it doesnt agree with a four thousand year old book that has been rewritten and translated countless times then maybe there is simply no hope for our society. Perhaps they will want to prove the bible is true so badly that they will simply create their own appocalypse. We nuke the world and suddenly the bible is right. (by man I mean mankind not just dudes) Man created the bible, Man created god, Man can destroy god or he will destroy us all.
Atheism
Decrepit Old Fool, A cold and broken alleluia
quite an article about one mans journey from a preacher to an atheist.
no matter your personal beleifs this is worth a read.
quite an article about one mans journey from a preacher to an atheist.
no matter your personal beleifs this is worth a read.
Racist military
Common Dreams
There have been several report foating about in blogville about how the military is looking the other way when it comes to racist groups. In the past we had worked hard to make sure that neo-nazis and the like were kept out of the service for what should be obvious reasons. in case a conservative is reading this, Ill spell out a few of the reasons. First off our military is something of an ambasator to the world. For many people the first american they ever meet could be in uniform. So we dont really want them carrying swastikas into israel as an example. Also I dont much care for the idea of using my tax money to pay to train a member of the klan how to be a better killer. thats just a bad policy.
So the info is pouring in that due to low recruitment levels they have not been quite as stringent about keeping such people out. according to the reports the supremesist groups have realised this and are encouraging members to join the military. As if we didnt have enough problems in Iraq, having a bunch of white power lemmings running around killing brown people (I dont know if the term brown is PC or not but thats what my arab friends refer to themselves as) to clense the earth without concern. That will be ugly. And it leads to an important question, If Haditha or other similar massacres turn out to be the work of racists / supremeists, will their recruiters be liable? Will they court marshal every person who knew that this person was a racist and did not report it? will the find evidence that it was reported but the C.O. ignored it? If so will they be held responsible? Criminally negligent homicide comes to mind. there are times when doing nothing is illegal.
And since I mentioned Recruiters I have to remind all the kids out there, Recuiters Lie.
Which reminds me is it illegal to lie about what is in a contract? Now I realise that the person signing the contract is obligated to read the damn thing especially when your signing a peice of paper that says people are going to be trying to kill you. But if they ask questions and the recruiter lies, is that legal? is that contract still valid? We do things at work that involve informed consents which are basicly mini-contracts and while I know the ethics commity would shut us down if we knowingly lied to a client, I guess the difference is that there is no Internal Review Board for the militry.
There have been several report foating about in blogville about how the military is looking the other way when it comes to racist groups. In the past we had worked hard to make sure that neo-nazis and the like were kept out of the service for what should be obvious reasons. in case a conservative is reading this, Ill spell out a few of the reasons. First off our military is something of an ambasator to the world. For many people the first american they ever meet could be in uniform. So we dont really want them carrying swastikas into israel as an example. Also I dont much care for the idea of using my tax money to pay to train a member of the klan how to be a better killer. thats just a bad policy.
So the info is pouring in that due to low recruitment levels they have not been quite as stringent about keeping such people out. according to the reports the supremesist groups have realised this and are encouraging members to join the military. As if we didnt have enough problems in Iraq, having a bunch of white power lemmings running around killing brown people (I dont know if the term brown is PC or not but thats what my arab friends refer to themselves as) to clense the earth without concern. That will be ugly. And it leads to an important question, If Haditha or other similar massacres turn out to be the work of racists / supremeists, will their recruiters be liable? Will they court marshal every person who knew that this person was a racist and did not report it? will the find evidence that it was reported but the C.O. ignored it? If so will they be held responsible? Criminally negligent homicide comes to mind. there are times when doing nothing is illegal.
And since I mentioned Recruiters I have to remind all the kids out there, Recuiters Lie.
Which reminds me is it illegal to lie about what is in a contract? Now I realise that the person signing the contract is obligated to read the damn thing especially when your signing a peice of paper that says people are going to be trying to kill you. But if they ask questions and the recruiter lies, is that legal? is that contract still valid? We do things at work that involve informed consents which are basicly mini-contracts and while I know the ethics commity would shut us down if we knowingly lied to a client, I guess the difference is that there is no Internal Review Board for the militry.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Other Side of a Protest
Oh wow did I ever have fun on Friday. Went to the show at the local music bar, the punk band I'm manager for was headlining and it was the guitarists birthday so spirits were high as was the B.A.C. (blood alcohol content) and then my favorite part happened. a group af about 5-6 people were in front of the bar with signs. It was a christian group that had come to tell us that we were all going to hell for our hedonistic lives. Thats when I opened up my shirt to make sure they could see the t-shirt I had just recieved in the mail from Alternative Tentacles that oh-so-fittingly says Censor Religion. And Im a big guy so its fairly large print. But we had a really interesting conversation. Or maybe ammusing is a better way to put it. I was using techniques that we talk about here at work called motivational interviewing. well to be honest it wasnt a lot of M.I. I basicly just asked him questions while knowing exactly what he was going to respond with. It was almost too easy. there were a couple of my friends standing around watching me talk with the guy, who was very nice, very friendly, and very willfully ignorant. Afterwords one girl said that as soon as she heard me ask what bible he reads and he responded with the King James version she knew exactly where I was going. she laughed pointing out that rather than just hit him with the obvious truth that a book written for a king is going to have propaganda in it I strung it out for 10 minutes getting him to accept every peice of information about how we both agree that modern media is not trust worthy that governments censor and control the media for their own gain all the time. about how man is easily corupted by power. built all of this up and the guy said yes of course to everything, he blamed the devil for most of these atributes but that changes nothing when you get to the fact that he is now putting his entire faith in a book that was not only written thousands of years ago, has been translated and rewritten many times over, from languages that often times do not have exact traslations and finally was rewritten into modern english by king james, now if you were a king and had the chance to revise the single most important book in the world would not the temptation be there to throw in a little propaganda?
I refuse to call our conversation a debate from the grounds that no one was going to disuade the other from their opinion. which I brought up to him, I asked, or probably stated that there was absolutely nothing that I could say to this man that would have convinced him to give up his faith in god, and he has the same chances of winning me over to his side. I also found it interesting that he refused to say what group they were a part of. It was a good time and while there were a few drunk guys that were trying to start fights for the vast majority of people there it was just sorta a joke. they mocked the christians but didnt really care. I wanted to talk with them because I have respect for anyone who is going to try to protest when they know that they are going to be the vast minority. to go straight into the lions den with their beliefs takes balls, even though it was basicly a silly waste of time becuase the chances of actually influencing people who are out at a concert is slim to none, they need to work on their marketing skills for sure but at least they had courage and were able to be in your face so that people had to notice them without really being confrontational. these people were excersising there rights as americans and that is something I support even if I disagree with there side. There were times when I felt like a little bit of an ass because I was just trying to crush his faith by attacking the basis of his beliefs. But really if you start a protest like that you need to expect to be meet with resistance, he was probably more supprised that someone was willing to have a serious discusion than he was by the people who were trying to fight him. this doesnt really fit into the story here but so what flow and order is not really my forte' here, I forot to mention that I also hit him with one of my personal favorite arguments which is that if god does exsist then he is a cruel god with self esteem problems and that if he exsists I wouldnt want to pray to him (or her) any way. If god created all then he created all of the diseases all of the horrible aganising deaths were created from his sick and twisted mind, and he must really love beetles becuase he created over three hundred thousand different types of them. and yet humans seem to think that they are the favorites. ha. ok well thats probably enough bashing on religion for the day.
Jesus walks into a hotel and sets three nails on the counter saying, hey can ya put me up for the night?
i guess i wasnt done yet.
yeah im goin to hell if there is one. go to heaven for the climate, or hell for the company.
I refuse to call our conversation a debate from the grounds that no one was going to disuade the other from their opinion. which I brought up to him, I asked, or probably stated that there was absolutely nothing that I could say to this man that would have convinced him to give up his faith in god, and he has the same chances of winning me over to his side. I also found it interesting that he refused to say what group they were a part of. It was a good time and while there were a few drunk guys that were trying to start fights for the vast majority of people there it was just sorta a joke. they mocked the christians but didnt really care. I wanted to talk with them because I have respect for anyone who is going to try to protest when they know that they are going to be the vast minority. to go straight into the lions den with their beliefs takes balls, even though it was basicly a silly waste of time becuase the chances of actually influencing people who are out at a concert is slim to none, they need to work on their marketing skills for sure but at least they had courage and were able to be in your face so that people had to notice them without really being confrontational. these people were excersising there rights as americans and that is something I support even if I disagree with there side. There were times when I felt like a little bit of an ass because I was just trying to crush his faith by attacking the basis of his beliefs. But really if you start a protest like that you need to expect to be meet with resistance, he was probably more supprised that someone was willing to have a serious discusion than he was by the people who were trying to fight him. this doesnt really fit into the story here but so what flow and order is not really my forte' here, I forot to mention that I also hit him with one of my personal favorite arguments which is that if god does exsist then he is a cruel god with self esteem problems and that if he exsists I wouldnt want to pray to him (or her) any way. If god created all then he created all of the diseases all of the horrible aganising deaths were created from his sick and twisted mind, and he must really love beetles becuase he created over three hundred thousand different types of them. and yet humans seem to think that they are the favorites. ha. ok well thats probably enough bashing on religion for the day.
Jesus walks into a hotel and sets three nails on the counter saying, hey can ya put me up for the night?
i guess i wasnt done yet.
yeah im goin to hell if there is one. go to heaven for the climate, or hell for the company.
Friday, July 07, 2006
I want to shoot people
not in a cheney sort of way. I bought a paintball gun a few weeks ago and havent been able to go yet. Its driving me nuts... hopefully we will this sunday, as long as we arent to exhausted from the concerts.
damnit damnit damnit
Ever order a few books online, making sure to buy slightly older current events books to save a couple bucks because your broke, paperbacks usually, making sure that you get just over the 25 dollar limit so you get free shipping. Only to realise that there was a book you had forgotten about that you probably would have picked over some of the ones you just payed for. well I just did that and its annoying., do I buy three more books, do I just buy the one and get shafted on shipping? these are the big delemmas in life. and the book in question is none other than the Gospel of the Flying Spagetti Monster. I know I know I claim to be an atheist but this is a religion I might be able to get into. I could become a Pastafarian. Garr.... And being a Gospel it will always be relevent so timeliness is not that critical, I just dont want to forget about it again.
Sucks To Be You! award... ?
Texas Republicans! you've had a lot of fun getting al riled up about them mexicans coming in, got to go sit in the lawn chair with a radio and a rifle without having people think you were weird. then again in texas that might have always been a respected hobby. But now your disgraced senator who has become the symbol of corruption in our government is now forced to run for office again. The Repubs agree that they would have prefered someone else run because for some reason they dont think that the epitomy of all that is wrong with our government has a very good chance of winning. So the Dems might have just been handed a lucky break in the battle to win back the majority. Then again it is texas so Delay might be ok if he just screams damn mexicans at every chance he gets.
Ok if your from texas, then sorry took a couple of cheap shots in that one. At the same time I know that when I came back from texas after spending a couple weeks there one hot ass summer I simply remember thinking, Texas is an alright place, as long as your not mexican. But I wasnt there long enought to really understand the.... culture? I do remember the Liquor and Guns store, that was cool, oh and the drive through liquer store where they asked if you wanted your bottle of wine opened for you.
Ok if your from texas, then sorry took a couple of cheap shots in that one. At the same time I know that when I came back from texas after spending a couple weeks there one hot ass summer I simply remember thinking, Texas is an alright place, as long as your not mexican. But I wasnt there long enought to really understand the.... culture? I do remember the Liquor and Guns store, that was cool, oh and the drive through liquer store where they asked if you wanted your bottle of wine opened for you.
You are the Enemy
DU BlogBox I hope that was a permanent link, Im not really sure though, If it wasnt then scroll down to the post called Independence Day.
Osama voted for Bush
ok well not really but the CIA agrees that his video tape released only days before the '04 election was with the intent to get bush reelected.
Truth Out has the article.
If your the least bit confused as to why Bin Laden would want bush the terrorist hunter to stay in power, then read This. A Terrorists strategy Then it will all make sence that at this point no one is helping Osama more than george w. bush.
Truth Out has the article.
If your the least bit confused as to why Bin Laden would want bush the terrorist hunter to stay in power, then read This. A Terrorists strategy Then it will all make sence that at this point no one is helping Osama more than george w. bush.
Am I nuts?
Yes.
Truth Out
Is it just me or is this an important peice of information. Bush told Cheney to release classified information in order to discredit Joe Wilson who of course was in the process of discrediting bushes reasons for war. It sounds like bush never said, leak the CIA wife, but it must still be illegal. I assume it would be illegal to leak classified information other than that he might have the power to de-classify info. But its unethical either way, to bad we dont have a working system to stop such rampant abuse of the system.
Truth Out
Is it just me or is this an important peice of information. Bush told Cheney to release classified information in order to discredit Joe Wilson who of course was in the process of discrediting bushes reasons for war. It sounds like bush never said, leak the CIA wife, but it must still be illegal. I assume it would be illegal to leak classified information other than that he might have the power to de-classify info. But its unethical either way, to bad we dont have a working system to stop such rampant abuse of the system.
American Family Ass.
I love signing up for right-wing newsletters its like spying on the enemy and all you have to do is enter your e-mail address. I do find it interesting and frightening, mostly frightening. But I admit it none-the-less, I love the AFA newsletter in the same way that a bulimic loves a nice footlong hoagie, and with similar end results...
Venezuela and Chavez
Common Dreams: Go to Venezuela, You idiot
Great article from a guy who was bashed by wingers (As in right-wing not Kip Winger) for being an un-american terrorist commie because he thought that the democraticly elected president of Venezeula was doing a good job. Sure he isnt perfect obviously there are still a lot of problems for the country but they, unlike us, are heading in the right direction. Chavez is trying to use the countries natural resources (oil) for the good of the people instead of just the few people who own the gas companies. And he supports something that Ive been doing for almost a year now, trying to buy my gas from Citgo. Its a minor thing, but id rather send a couple bucks down to Venezuela rather than the middle east. people tell me that my personal boycotts or Buy-cott in this case is silly because Im just one guy and it doesnt matter, to which I tell them yeah not buying from Wal-mart or mobile isnt going to close them down, but Im not going to support them either. I earn my money and Im going to spend it in the way the best fits my social and political beliefs.
So back to Chavez why is the right wing so afraid of him? Is it just because hes one of the harshest international critics of Bush? Because if your going to get that upset about every person who points out how horrible a president and a person that bush is your going to get exhausted in a hurry. It just scares the shit out of me that there are still people who like him. I mean seriously how? why? what the fuck has he accomplished? he can hang a banner that says mission accomplished, or can have his people talk to other people who thought a banner was a good idea who then tell other people to deligate out athority as to who should hang the banner. I really would love to have a civilized conversation with a bush supporter, but this almost never works out. The only person I knew who did like bush has finally come around, albeit for all the worse possible reasons. Hes not mad that the "war" is a disaster and that our friend is being sent over again (hes pretty far from danger really, but id rather have him here), nah its not that the economy is shit and he was unemployed for 6 months, nah, did he come to loath or at least question bush when he was caught illegally tapping phones and bank accounts, nope thats a problem for the terrorists, but all media should be banned except fox, nah hes just mad cause he didnt do enough to push "good christian morals" onto the people. Good morals in this case being, inequality for gays, stripping reproductive rights from women, killing innocent people anywhere in the world for some reason or other. But my point is that now that he doesnt support bush we can have civilized conversations although for some reason we always try to have those talks while getting quite drunk... And so for the folks who still support bush, I would seriously like to have a conversation about why. I can justify my reasons without yelling or even raising my voice. It is not a debate, if at this point you still support bush there is probably nothing that can be said that would disuade you from that position, no I am looking for is a simple conversation as to why you support this president, what is it that he has done to earn your respect, because I learned as a child, respect is never given, it must be earned.
another example as to why the word rambling is in the title.... starts with Chavez ends with why does any one like bush? only answer if you can do so without yelling, Im lookin at you O'Rielly.
Great article from a guy who was bashed by wingers (As in right-wing not Kip Winger) for being an un-american terrorist commie because he thought that the democraticly elected president of Venezeula was doing a good job. Sure he isnt perfect obviously there are still a lot of problems for the country but they, unlike us, are heading in the right direction. Chavez is trying to use the countries natural resources (oil) for the good of the people instead of just the few people who own the gas companies. And he supports something that Ive been doing for almost a year now, trying to buy my gas from Citgo. Its a minor thing, but id rather send a couple bucks down to Venezuela rather than the middle east. people tell me that my personal boycotts or Buy-cott in this case is silly because Im just one guy and it doesnt matter, to which I tell them yeah not buying from Wal-mart or mobile isnt going to close them down, but Im not going to support them either. I earn my money and Im going to spend it in the way the best fits my social and political beliefs.
So back to Chavez why is the right wing so afraid of him? Is it just because hes one of the harshest international critics of Bush? Because if your going to get that upset about every person who points out how horrible a president and a person that bush is your going to get exhausted in a hurry. It just scares the shit out of me that there are still people who like him. I mean seriously how? why? what the fuck has he accomplished? he can hang a banner that says mission accomplished, or can have his people talk to other people who thought a banner was a good idea who then tell other people to deligate out athority as to who should hang the banner. I really would love to have a civilized conversation with a bush supporter, but this almost never works out. The only person I knew who did like bush has finally come around, albeit for all the worse possible reasons. Hes not mad that the "war" is a disaster and that our friend is being sent over again (hes pretty far from danger really, but id rather have him here), nah its not that the economy is shit and he was unemployed for 6 months, nah, did he come to loath or at least question bush when he was caught illegally tapping phones and bank accounts, nope thats a problem for the terrorists, but all media should be banned except fox, nah hes just mad cause he didnt do enough to push "good christian morals" onto the people. Good morals in this case being, inequality for gays, stripping reproductive rights from women, killing innocent people anywhere in the world for some reason or other. But my point is that now that he doesnt support bush we can have civilized conversations although for some reason we always try to have those talks while getting quite drunk... And so for the folks who still support bush, I would seriously like to have a conversation about why. I can justify my reasons without yelling or even raising my voice. It is not a debate, if at this point you still support bush there is probably nothing that can be said that would disuade you from that position, no I am looking for is a simple conversation as to why you support this president, what is it that he has done to earn your respect, because I learned as a child, respect is never given, it must be earned.
another example as to why the word rambling is in the title.... starts with Chavez ends with why does any one like bush? only answer if you can do so without yelling, Im lookin at you O'Rielly.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Happy Birthday Fucker
I have to ask you Mr. President, what was it like before dirt? sorry chessy old people joke. although one day a guy did respond with, spent a lot of time banging rocks together. So the most feared man in the world is hitting the big 6 - Oh. I wish I could think of something funny to say that I want to give him, but after reading this, from the Rude Pundit. Well I just dont think I can top that.
Fuck Chuck
Buzzflash: Schumer
Chuck Schumer has stated that he intends to support Leibermann even if he runs independent.... WTF? I dont even like our two party system and this still seems like some bullshit. And Chuck listen up because I am from New York and I do vote, but not for you. Although at this rate whats a vote? Im white so my name probably wont just randomly vanish from the voting records, and I'm no where near Kathrine Harris so I should be ok. Ive never been convicted of a felony so I can still vote. But if I vote in the primary and the person I vote for wins I want them to win. but according to Chuck the Democrats can support who ever the fuck they want. Ok so the primary is now nullified at least we can still vote between the two people that the government has decided whould be the best to choose from. So head on down and cast your ballot on a Diebold voting machine which may or may not have been tampered with and choose between the two selected canidates. cause thats what we call De mock racy. Oh and fuck you chuck you just lost my vote, oh yeah and Im now registered as a Dem so I can vote against you twice.
Chuck Schumer has stated that he intends to support Leibermann even if he runs independent.... WTF? I dont even like our two party system and this still seems like some bullshit. And Chuck listen up because I am from New York and I do vote, but not for you. Although at this rate whats a vote? Im white so my name probably wont just randomly vanish from the voting records, and I'm no where near Kathrine Harris so I should be ok. Ive never been convicted of a felony so I can still vote. But if I vote in the primary and the person I vote for wins I want them to win. but according to Chuck the Democrats can support who ever the fuck they want. Ok so the primary is now nullified at least we can still vote between the two people that the government has decided whould be the best to choose from. So head on down and cast your ballot on a Diebold voting machine which may or may not have been tampered with and choose between the two selected canidates. cause thats what we call De mock racy. Oh and fuck you chuck you just lost my vote, oh yeah and Im now registered as a Dem so I can vote against you twice.
North Korea, testing the waters
with a long range missile.
In case you live in a cave.. but still have internet, I'm lookin at you Osama. heres an article on the tests.
Voice of America; N. Korea missile tests
See this is when the ablity to negotiate would come in handy. We have no crediblity in the world view anymore. No one trusts us, and they are not so afraid of us after seeing that we do not even have the military to control Iraq. China is now stepping in and taking over what was once our job. international judge and jury, and occational executioner. China in a twist that shows how far we have sank is now seen as a more fitting negotiator than the US, then again who would we send to talk to them? Cheney yeah right, Rumsfeld he'd start plotting how to attack South Korea, Conti has lost crediblity so has Colon to a slightly lesser extent. Bolton thats as scary as Cheney. The Big Guns, would we send bush? well at least we wouldnt have to worry about him starting a war, I mean North Korea may be a legitimate security threat in the near future, but they dont have any oil.
In case you live in a cave.. but still have internet, I'm lookin at you Osama. heres an article on the tests.
Voice of America; N. Korea missile tests
See this is when the ablity to negotiate would come in handy. We have no crediblity in the world view anymore. No one trusts us, and they are not so afraid of us after seeing that we do not even have the military to control Iraq. China is now stepping in and taking over what was once our job. international judge and jury, and occational executioner. China in a twist that shows how far we have sank is now seen as a more fitting negotiator than the US, then again who would we send to talk to them? Cheney yeah right, Rumsfeld he'd start plotting how to attack South Korea, Conti has lost crediblity so has Colon to a slightly lesser extent. Bolton thats as scary as Cheney. The Big Guns, would we send bush? well at least we wouldnt have to worry about him starting a war, I mean North Korea may be a legitimate security threat in the near future, but they dont have any oil.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Deisel Race Car
Mulsanne Corner: Audi R10
sounds pretty cool, Audi who has dominated Le Mans and ALMS for quite a few years now is pitting deisel technology against the old guard. they even put scrubbers on the exhaust becuase while they arent neccesay they cost power and add weight, they wanted to show that this is green technology. which is pretty impressive for a race team to do. oh and it makes 810+ ft lbs of torque.
sounds pretty cool, Audi who has dominated Le Mans and ALMS for quite a few years now is pitting deisel technology against the old guard. they even put scrubbers on the exhaust becuase while they arent neccesay they cost power and add weight, they wanted to show that this is green technology. which is pretty impressive for a race team to do. oh and it makes 810+ ft lbs of torque.
Monday, July 03, 2006
Old but important
Capitol Hill Blue
The Constitution is just a "goddamn peice of paper" Those are the words of the man whose first duty is to uphold the Constitution of the United States. Its not suprising that bush would say this true feelings durring a closed door meeting, but its is a sad day for this country when our President admits that he has contempt for our laws. how can one claim to be doing his duty as our leader when, as he explicitly says durring his inaguration speech that it is his job to uphold the Constitution.
The Constitution is just a "goddamn peice of paper" Those are the words of the man whose first duty is to uphold the Constitution of the United States. Its not suprising that bush would say this true feelings durring a closed door meeting, but its is a sad day for this country when our President admits that he has contempt for our laws. how can one claim to be doing his duty as our leader when, as he explicitly says durring his inaguration speech that it is his job to uphold the Constitution.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
