Today is Armistice Day. In the US, we call it Veterans Day. At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11the month, the war was over on the Western Front. That was 1918, 89 years ago.At two minutes to 11 on that fateful day, the last casualty of the war was killed. Canadian Private George Lawrence Price, a conscript of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, was killed in the French town of Havre by a German sniper. He is buried in a cemetery in Belgium that contains both the first and last casualties of the First World War.
It is somewhat interesting that the last to die for the allies was killed in Havre. You may recognize it better if I called it Le Havre. The landing of D-Day and H-Hour was very near Le Havre some 26 years later during the Second World War.
On this day we honor those who fought to protect that which we hold dear: our home. Its a very exclusive club of men and women who put their lives on the line to defend our land, our liberties and our lives. Sometimes these selfless people were honored and celebrated and sometimes they were not. Regardless of how anyone may feel about a current war or situation... these people still deserve respect. They are doing the job so few of us would. When I say job, I do not refer to those who hold a rifle, stand a post and go on patrol. This means the guy who cooks the chow, swabs the deck and keeps the log. Everyone who puts on a uniform in the service of his or her country, in peace or in war, is a veteren and should be honored. Lets remember everyone.
And now, there are other things that happened today. In 1620, the Mayflower Compact was signed.
In 1778, Seneca Indians kill 40 people in what is called the Cherry Valley Massacre.
In 1831, Nat Turner is hung for starting a slave rebellion, in Jerusalem, Virginia.
In 1864, Genereal William Tecumseh Sherman begins to burn Atlanta during his march to the sea.
In 1889, Washingon became the 49th state.
In 1911, there was a record cold front that broke the records for many midwestern towns. It not only broke the highs and lows for the day but also the temperature difference itself. In Springfield, IL, for example, the high was recorded as 80°F. Two hours later it was 40° less with gusts of 40mph. By midnight the temperature was 13°F. The difference was 67°F. It is known as the Great Blue Norther. There was a similar incident of freakish temperature change in February 1999. Changes like this do happen in November, February and March.
In 1926, Route 66 was established.
Another freak weather incident occurred in 1940, in the midwest. s if the dust bowl of the last decade weren't already enough, a blizzard plowed through that left 144 dead.
In 1992, the Church of England voted to allow women to become priests.
And just three years ago in 2004, Yasser Arafat was confirmed dead.
מזל טוב
6 November 2007 Dateline....
Don't you miss that? Don't news outlets know how to be newsy anymore? Did Walter Cronkite take that with him when he retired?
Anyways, I've been out of it for a few weeks. I'm moving into the gritty part of the semester and I'm actually beginning to enjoy it. Granted, I'm jobless (which sucks) and I'm still nursing a perpetual broken hand. But no worries...
I have several things with which to undertake on this November day. They are as follows:
1. Hillary Clinton's "victimhood"
2. waterboarding
3. Writers' Guild Strike
4. My awesome presentation in Global Studies last week
5. Pakistan: 'nuff said
They will not be attacked in that order. Also, I will be writing another get to know the candidates here in a week. I will also be filling you in on some WWII stuff that is rather current. On Sunday, we will have Armistice Day which is a significant day and not just for veterans.
With that bit of housekeeping out of the way, we move on to the opinions.
Pakistan. Its not even the only one undergoing political upheaval. There is some going on in Georgia. Suicide bombings are taking place with more frequency in Afghanistan. First, a small history of this nation. The nation originally was two chunks sliced from India in 1947 in what is called Partition. This was a bloody birth for the young nations. In 1971, the eastern part split away and became Bangladesh. Pakistan has alternated since 1972 between Prime Ministers named Bhutto, first Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and then his daughter, Benazir Bhutto, and military leaders. In 1998, the nation became nuclear just after India did which led to a war particularly in the long contested borderland, Kashmir. In 1999, the current military dictator Pervez Musharraf took over in a bloodless coup. Since then he has reigned over the Muslim state with a heavy hand and yet, the current US administration has fostered a closer relationship than most would find comfortable. Benazir Bhutto returned from 9 years of exile just last month.
On November 1, Bhutto left Pakistan for Dubai. The following day the Supreme Court of Pakistan reversed an earlier decision to allow for an election to proceed in January without scrutinizing the previous election that was challenged by Wajihuddin Ahmad. At 1720, November 3, the Pakistani television reported that a state emergency was imminent. Twenty minutes later, the private media went off the air. At 10 minutes after 6 PM, local time, the state run stations reported that indeed the state emergency had been declared. At 7, it is reported that constitution has been suspended.
Musharraf has claimed that he declared martial law to protect the nation from terrorists. In reality, it is a power grab.. Bhutto has stated that Pakistan is returning to a dictatorship. Musharraf has expressed some dismay with the media's "negative" reporting. "The media could not lend a helping hand to improve the situation" said Musharraf in his speech to the people of Pakistan. The Army has entered the Supreme Court and detained detained Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry because the "judiciary is not working efficiently".
Since the emergency began, journalists, lawyers and other "terrorists" have been detained or in some cases, killed. As seen in other power grabs throughout history, liberal middle classes and the educated classes have been targeted. These are the people who are going to object and will be able to do more than merely object but rally opposition. They pose a huge danger to the regime that Musharraf wants to hold onto. And of course, protests and violence as the Army cracks down on media outlets and regular citizens alike.
What may disturb many Americans is Musharraf's references to Lincoln. Lincoln, though credited with preserving the union and abolishing slavery, made some decisions that, in hindsight, are not considered the wisest. During the Civil War, as with any war, the executive retained certain powers that were stipulated under the constitution. One of these was Habeas Corpus. Over the course of American History, there have been several times when laws have been imposed and rights infringed. Presidents Adams (the first one), Wilson, Roosevelt (the second one) and Nixon have all made strides to make being American a lot tougher.
Bush is right in there who buttered up this military leader so that we could use Pakistan for our wars. Now, we don't even know what to do. The State Department tells Musharraf to knock it off. They keep expressing disappointment. Oh, like that's a threat? Well, yeah, it could be since their alliance was rather... lucrative on their end.
I want to send out a huge "oorah" (I'm ex Navy) to Geo TV and ARY one for deciding to continue reporting the news on the Internet. By doing so, they are working to keep not only their fellow Pakistanis informed but also the rest of the world. Otherwise, we are all stuck with Musharraf and the sanitized state-run media (which I'm sure even you guys are sick of). They're risking a lot to not be complacent and keep working to bring out the truth. For those who understand Urdu go for it. Even if you don't they do speak in English occasionally. For myself, I know Hindi and can make out some of the words and get the gist.
In the meantime, the story is receiving little coverage here in the United States. The Cable News outlets are barely mentioning it. CNN has paid it some attention whilst Fox has devoted nightly opinion shows to Dog the Bounty Hunter. Bill O'Reilly is a lost cause: his show is an excuse to show banned or salacious material that his stooges find on the Internet that "we should not see" and then are shown anyways.
I need to move on. What else is on the list? Hillary Clinton. Lately she has found that the rest of the Democratic candidates are ganging up in her like the Republicans have been. There has been some call that its an "Old Boys Club" and they are ganging up on her cause she's a chick. Well, I don't know about her being a woman, but I don't think that's why. Its called ganging up on the guy in the lead. Or in football, the guy with the ball.
She's the receiver and the ball slips. She dives as does everybody else, those on the team, on the opposing team and the kickers (Paul and Kucinich). They all pile up on the ball. Its going to be about who has the ball when the ref pulls the bodies off.
So, why the complaining? Because it works! By playing the victim she gets women who know what she means. Women can't get a decent run for anything in this country. Men are unable to claim that they are just ganging up on the leader because it sounds sexist. They're screwed.
But is it that tough for a woman in a man's world? Can a woman become the leader of a country? I would like to take this time to point out that both India and Pakistan have elected women as leaders. These are two nations considered far more conservative than the United States. In addition, the first elected women Prime Minister (Ministress?) was Sirivamo Bandaranaike in Sri Lanka in 1960, the same year the United States elected its first Roman Catholic. 1974 saw the first women president in Argentina, Isabel Perón, otherwise known as Evita.
On top of all this there are currently 7 female presidents worldwide: Chile, Finland, India, Ireland, Liberia, The Philippines and Switzerland. There are 4 Prime Ministers: Germany, New Zealand, Mozambique and The Netherlands Antilles. Only Suadi Arabia and Monoco have never had a female anywhere in government. Sweden became the first to recently have their "cabinet" be more female than male with an 11-9 count. If these women can make it, what's wrong with Hillary? If Benazir Bhutto could make it?!?!?!? Hell, some countries who've managed to be led by a woman have been Norway, Canada, Ukraine, Panama, Haiti, Sri Lanka, Peru, Latvia, Yugoslavia, Indonesia, Malta, Turkey, Portugal, France, Jamaica, and I don't know... GREAT BRITAIN!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, I need to get onto other things. Like Waterboarding. Yeah, Waterboarding. The practice is torture. Messing around with the legal terminology all you want does not change the fact that it is torture. It is also form of coercion.
You hold a gun to a person's head and tell them to tell you what you want to know or they die. Hmm... tough choice. Either they bet you bluff or they spill their guts/lie. They more than likely lie. When you say "tell me what I want to know!!!" Gee, ok. I'll tell you. And we have laws to reject confessions from being admissible as evidence. So, what makes the evidence gleaned from this practice any more credible? Because its the CIA?!?!?! Oh God, we're all fucked!!!!!!
Now, the Writer's Strike. Beyond the fact that I've waited long enough for Battlestar Galactica. The writers have now seen fit to stop working. As ticked some of us may be, there is a point to this madness. It is the fees that are made off internet and DVD sales. These writers create material that is, like it or not, intellectual material. Depsite the traditional way of seeing the writing as a product for the show and therefore, the show's property, we've changed where something conceived in someone's mind is now their property. Even if they were paid a salary to do it and should be happy.
But with the MPAA and RIAA raising a ruckus about intellectual property and the copyrights it is now coming back to bite them. Well, its biting the MPAA. The RIAA has its own hydra to worry about. It cannot have it both ways. The writers want to have some of the take when it becomes natural that a film or TV show which 20 years ago made a splash at the box office, faded, maybe made some money in Video sales and rentals then died, is now making killings years after its wrap party. These goods now make money in perpetuity and the writers feel they should, too. So, in essence I agree with them. I just hope that people start watching more news or something.
All Right... last thing... I think.... well two. I had to give a presentation in class on Thursday. My topic was the Global Civil Society and particularly warfare of modern era. I stood up at the front of the classroom and lectured on this with a 72 count powerpoint presentation. I went to town and talked about everything. And when I was done speaking there were a lot of questions. I spent another 45 minutes discussing those.
Afterwards, I was outside with many of my classmates. I got a bunch of good reviews and was even told I should teach the class. So, I feel pretty good about that. I did very well when I thought I might not.
Today, in my Comparative Constitution class, a question was posed to us in the course of debating headscarves in Germany. The Metric system has yet to be adopted in the US making us the lone holdout against the rest of the world. What was brought up was our reason for not jumping on the bandwagon. It would cost trillions to change over all the measurements in the entire country. Well, other western nations have done that and we wouldn't be talking about a 2 year switchover plan. More like 20 year.
And, those trillions would create jobs. Which would create taxes. So, the trillions would end up in government coffers in some way. The government could even go so far as to offer tax deductions to companies who such and such money to implement the plan especially if they do so quicker than mandated by the 20 year plan. We'd start saving money because we spend gobs of money every year on conversions. Yes, conversions!!! In the end companies would save moeny. They also wouldn't have to make things like speedometers in two sets of numbers!
Ok, on this day in 1861, Jefferson Davis was elected president of the Confederate States of America.
A scant four years later, the last unit to surrender after the Civil War was the CSS Shenandoah. It circumnavigated the globe and went looking for ships to sink. Um, kind of sounds rednecky if you ask me, which you didn't. And it managed to fire it guns off the coast of Alaska.
On this day in 1917, the third battle of Ypres ends as does the irregular papers printed celebrating the "entrenched" battle being waged there.
Back in 1935, Edwin Armstrong revealed his radio discovery called Frequency Modulation aka, FM.
In 1985, "Irangate" was undergoing and it was uncovered that Reagan authorized shipments of arms to Iran.
Time to blow this popsicle stand.
Smoking Lamp is out!
On a given night from Monday to Thursday, I watch The Colbert Report, Countdown with Keith Olbermann and The Daily Show in that order. On Fridays I just watch Keith who is my hero. Really, the man already was during his ESPN days but in the last few months, I've really come to love him.Anyways, I bring this up because I watch Bill O'Reilly on occasion. Tonight, I found him awful. There was a case of an 8-year-old boy who called 911 to report his mother driving drunk. While I don't doubt that she may have been intoxicated, O'Reilly jumped to the conclusion that she is an addict. When it became known that the father was not in the picture, she became "trouble".
It's rare that I, a Libertarian, my father, a staunch Republican and my moderate mother all agreed that taking her kids away, even for a month was wrong. We all agreed that O'Reilly was making assumptions and jumping to conclusions. Both my mother and I brought up that the child could have damn well been exaggerating about his mother. Children know at the age of 12 months how to play the game and get shit. They aren't stupid! Not that I'm blaming the kid but are we getting to the era where a kid need only say anything they want to incriminate their parents or any other relative.
Bill O'Reilly likes to consider himself an objective journalist. Despite his lengthy education, he comes across as a narrow-minded ass. He'd advocate taking the children away which even my 20-year-old video gaming brother thought would only compound the problem. Moreover, children once placed in that system do not usually get back to their parents. So, Bill O'Reilly, someone who constantly sticks up for families and family values wants to break up one without knowing all the details or even letting due process take its course. Bill needs to get a clue. He also needs to get a brain with it. I'm not holding my breath.
Good Night and Good Luck!
Its Saturday, but does that mean the news stops? Nope. It keeps right on rolling.
Condoleeza Rice, our current Secretary of State, has come out and said that Russian central government has too much power. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union 16 years ago, Russia has worked, not always succeeding toward a Democratic government. However, in recent years, President Vladimir Putin has begun to crack down on civil liberties. Certain individuals that oppose his methods or his policies have found themselves imprisoned, broke or dead.
Elections for the Duma, Russia's legislative body, and the President this coming December and March. Putin has pledged to step down but may seek election with a pro-Kremlin party and thereby, gaining the Prime Minister position. With the current shift back towards totalitarian rule, it may not surprising that he would make such a move.
The same time that Secretary Rice visited Moscow and gave her grim assessment of the Democracy in Russia, there is a bit of tension between our two nations regarding Nuclear Missiles. You thought those days were over? Yeah, just like I thought Marvel would never kill Steve Rogers.
The United States wants to create Missile defense sites in the Czech Republic and Poland. The system is an effort to counter any posible long range strikes from Iran. Russia, however, can't help cut see them as a deterrent to their own aresnal. In other words, its like when the USSR parked missiles 90 miles off the coast of Florida: Cuba. Putin had basically told them to think long and hard about doing that. He does not want another Cold War. I can't say we're excited at the prospect either. Putin has threatened to pull out of an intermediate-range missile treaty that the USSR signed with the US.
Both sides agreed to meet again in six months in Washington to review this but it doesn't appear to be promising. This will just give the US time to catch its breath and Russia to hold its elections. Our position on the danger of a rogue state such as Iran possessing nuclear weapons is unlikely to change. Russia's position, that Iran is not lying aobut its nuclear program and poses no threat, is also unlikely to change.
Back in 2003, the leader of the coalition forces in Iraq was a man by the name of Lieutenent General Ricardo Sanchez. He retired in 2003 and only now will come out and speak about his feelings concerning the Iraq War. At the time, he says he was following orders and would have been inappropriate to oppose his Commander-in-chief. He now says the administration was "catastrophically flawed, unrealistically optimistic". He also stated that there is no way the military could have acheived the objectives on their own.
In addition to his criticism of the administration, he also leveled some at the National Security Council stating there was "neglect and incompetence". He also railed politicians for having a "lust for power" and "loyalty to their political parties above loyalty to the Constitution". "While the politicians espouse a rhetoric designed to preserve their reputations and their political power, our soldiers die," was one of the most damning statements he made.
Condoleeza Rice, our current Secretary of State, has come out and said that Russian central government has too much power. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union 16 years ago, Russia has worked, not always succeeding toward a Democratic government. However, in recent years, President Vladimir Putin has begun to crack down on civil liberties. Certain individuals that oppose his methods or his policies have found themselves imprisoned, broke or dead.
Elections for the Duma, Russia's legislative body, and the President this coming December and March. Putin has pledged to step down but may seek election with a pro-Kremlin party and thereby, gaining the Prime Minister position. With the current shift back towards totalitarian rule, it may not surprising that he would make such a move.
The same time that Secretary Rice visited Moscow and gave her grim assessment of the Democracy in Russia, there is a bit of tension between our two nations regarding Nuclear Missiles. You thought those days were over? Yeah, just like I thought Marvel would never kill Steve Rogers.
The United States wants to create Missile defense sites in the Czech Republic and Poland. The system is an effort to counter any posible long range strikes from Iran. Russia, however, can't help cut see them as a deterrent to their own aresnal. In other words, its like when the USSR parked missiles 90 miles off the coast of Florida: Cuba. Putin had basically told them to think long and hard about doing that. He does not want another Cold War. I can't say we're excited at the prospect either. Putin has threatened to pull out of an intermediate-range missile treaty that the USSR signed with the US.
Both sides agreed to meet again in six months in Washington to review this but it doesn't appear to be promising. This will just give the US time to catch its breath and Russia to hold its elections. Our position on the danger of a rogue state such as Iran possessing nuclear weapons is unlikely to change. Russia's position, that Iran is not lying aobut its nuclear program and poses no threat, is also unlikely to change.
Back in 2003, the leader of the coalition forces in Iraq was a man by the name of Lieutenent General Ricardo Sanchez. He retired in 2003 and only now will come out and speak about his feelings concerning the Iraq War. At the time, he says he was following orders and would have been inappropriate to oppose his Commander-in-chief. He now says the administration was "catastrophically flawed, unrealistically optimistic". He also stated that there is no way the military could have acheived the objectives on their own.
In addition to his criticism of the administration, he also leveled some at the National Security Council stating there was "neglect and incompetence". He also railed politicians for having a "lust for power" and "loyalty to their political parties above loyalty to the Constitution". "While the politicians espouse a rhetoric designed to preserve their reputations and their political power, our soldiers die," was one of the most damning statements he made.
So you know that there is a presidential election going on? Ok, well I want to take occasional oppotunities to talk about politicians that are running and even some who are not. I also will be taking time to discuss certain posts that are in the administration that a worthy candidate upon election will be filling.
I will choose them somewhat randomly. To begin with, however, I'm leaving out the Republican and Democratic parties and focusing on the lesser known ones (Hey, there are more than two parties here!!). I will work my way to the biggees later. They get more coverage so what's the point? In fact lets go with the completely unaffiliated candidates.
In a randomized order...
#1 Joe Schriner.
He calls himself "Average" Joe Schriner and he is from Bluffton, Ohio. He was bron in 1955 in Cleveland. Currently, his family consists of his wife Liz and three children. Mr. Schriner is a Roman Catholic.
A graduate of Bowling Green University and a freelance journalist, he is running for the third time in a row. He has worked as a painter and handyman. It appears that he is also a coach for Little League Baseball (yay, baseball).
There isn't much listed on his NPAT but that will likely be forthcoming. However, there is some information that says Mr. Schriner supports the implementation of a Department of Peace. He shares this idea with Representative Dennis Kucinich. There is some question as to his independence. He may be part of a so-called Third Party party. He registered with the Green Party in July of 2006.
To keep an eye on this candidate, go here. Otherwise, on with the candidates!
#2 Frank Moore:
A San Francisco artist and performer born in 1946 is running. He came under fire in the early '90's by Senator Jesse Helms for his "obscene" art. The NEA also was a bit wary of his tastes. He does actually do some rather erotic stuff. He was born with cerebral palsy and is unable to walk or talk.
He lists several issues on his platform. Some things are rather extreme compared to other candidates such as guaranteeing "universal prenatal-to-the-grave health care and universal free education with equal access". He has stated that every American would receive $1,000/month that would be non-taxable. His tax scheme also calls for a flat tax and an end to tax deductions for those who make more than $12,000. Essentially, those who make money and do not just live on the government stipend will be taxed.
He says he will cut the military by at least half. He also stated that he will make mass public transit "free, 24/7, and reliable". He also promises to "forgive the loans to the so-called third-world countries over the original principle".
If you'd like to read the entire platform which is very lengthy go here.
#3 Blake Ashby:
The Missouri entrepreneur became a republican during his sophomore year. He even ran in 2004 as a republican for the highest office in the land. He has since become disenchanted with the republican values of his fellow party members. Many of whom do not strictly hold the ideals of smaller government and fiscal responsibility. Mr. Ashby is a stronger proponent of free market capitalism and believes that many of the Republican candidates do much to hurt the free market with regulation and constriction.
Blake Ashby's website can be viewed here.
#4 Michael Moriarty:
The actor who, born in 1941, played Ben Stone on NBC's legal drama Law & Order. He has tonies and emmies. He is from Detroit. A Republican and pro-lifer, he has some rather interesting statements about how people in this country would have you believe that unborn children in the first 2 trimesters are "no more than egg yolk".
Mr. Moriarty left the United States in 1994 for Canada and was a self-proclaimed political exile. He has gained Canadian citizen which you would think might preclude someone from being able to run for President of the United States. His official party is the Realist Party. His campaign website is unreachable therefore, I've provided a MySpace link.
#5 Jonathan "the Impaler" Sharkey:
Ok, this guy I know. He is a self described Vampyre who drinks his girlfriend's blood. He is originally from New Jersey but makes his home in Minnesota which is why I know about him. He entered the gubernatorial race early in 2006 which cost his girlfriend her job as a school bus driver after outing her as a witch in the media. At the time he made claims that he would impale sex offenders on the lawn of the State Capital building. He has run for president two previous times and for other elected offices in New Jersey, Indiana and Florida. Mr. Sharkey is also a satanist and hates God but not his followers. He was arrested in 2006 but the subsequent trial ended with a verdict of not-guilty.
Apparently, he back in Jersey and still running on the impaling platform.
After encountering an unreachable campaign site and a difficult to find myspace page, I have at least his myspace page. I post that picture of him, but there is apparently one of him in a suit from his race for governor here. There is also a documentary called Impaler about him.
I do not endorse these candidates nor an parties, if specified if they run for them. You may notice trends among them such as extreme views on certain issues or measures that should be undertaken. Take this what you will. At times, some candidates are stating causes that are related to problems that deeply affect them on an individual basis or, as in the case of Mr. Moriarty, a moral one. These candidates aren't tied to a political party machine and have less money to work with as well. It is unlikely that people outside their communities and obsessives like myself know of them. They are however, part of the political process and as citizens who are as equal to any other law-abiding citizen deserve the chance to run and be heard.
I, again, formerly endorse no candidate and merely serve to inform. I have my own convictions but until such time as they prove relevant, they shall not find themselves printed in this blog for the interest of avoiding bias.
Thats it for this edition of get to know the candidates.
I will choose them somewhat randomly. To begin with, however, I'm leaving out the Republican and Democratic parties and focusing on the lesser known ones (Hey, there are more than two parties here!!). I will work my way to the biggees later. They get more coverage so what's the point? In fact lets go with the completely unaffiliated candidates.
In a randomized order...
#1 Joe Schriner.
He calls himself "Average" Joe Schriner and he is from Bluffton, Ohio. He was bron in 1955 in Cleveland. Currently, his family consists of his wife Liz and three children. Mr. Schriner is a Roman Catholic.
A graduate of Bowling Green University and a freelance journalist, he is running for the third time in a row. He has worked as a painter and handyman. It appears that he is also a coach for Little League Baseball (yay, baseball).
There isn't much listed on his NPAT but that will likely be forthcoming. However, there is some information that says Mr. Schriner supports the implementation of a Department of Peace. He shares this idea with Representative Dennis Kucinich. There is some question as to his independence. He may be part of a so-called Third Party party. He registered with the Green Party in July of 2006.
To keep an eye on this candidate, go here. Otherwise, on with the candidates!
#2 Frank Moore:
A San Francisco artist and performer born in 1946 is running. He came under fire in the early '90's by Senator Jesse Helms for his "obscene" art. The NEA also was a bit wary of his tastes. He does actually do some rather erotic stuff. He was born with cerebral palsy and is unable to walk or talk.
He lists several issues on his platform. Some things are rather extreme compared to other candidates such as guaranteeing "universal prenatal-to-the-grave health care and universal free education with equal access". He has stated that every American would receive $1,000/month that would be non-taxable. His tax scheme also calls for a flat tax and an end to tax deductions for those who make more than $12,000. Essentially, those who make money and do not just live on the government stipend will be taxed.
He says he will cut the military by at least half. He also stated that he will make mass public transit "free, 24/7, and reliable". He also promises to "forgive the loans to the so-called third-world countries over the original principle".
If you'd like to read the entire platform which is very lengthy go here.
#3 Blake Ashby:
The Missouri entrepreneur became a republican during his sophomore year. He even ran in 2004 as a republican for the highest office in the land. He has since become disenchanted with the republican values of his fellow party members. Many of whom do not strictly hold the ideals of smaller government and fiscal responsibility. Mr. Ashby is a stronger proponent of free market capitalism and believes that many of the Republican candidates do much to hurt the free market with regulation and constriction.
Blake Ashby's website can be viewed here.
#4 Michael Moriarty:
The actor who, born in 1941, played Ben Stone on NBC's legal drama Law & Order. He has tonies and emmies. He is from Detroit. A Republican and pro-lifer, he has some rather interesting statements about how people in this country would have you believe that unborn children in the first 2 trimesters are "no more than egg yolk".
Mr. Moriarty left the United States in 1994 for Canada and was a self-proclaimed political exile. He has gained Canadian citizen which you would think might preclude someone from being able to run for President of the United States. His official party is the Realist Party. His campaign website is unreachable therefore, I've provided a MySpace link.
#5 Jonathan "the Impaler" Sharkey:
Ok, this guy I know. He is a self described Vampyre who drinks his girlfriend's blood. He is originally from New Jersey but makes his home in Minnesota which is why I know about him. He entered the gubernatorial race early in 2006 which cost his girlfriend her job as a school bus driver after outing her as a witch in the media. At the time he made claims that he would impale sex offenders on the lawn of the State Capital building. He has run for president two previous times and for other elected offices in New Jersey, Indiana and Florida. Mr. Sharkey is also a satanist and hates God but not his followers. He was arrested in 2006 but the subsequent trial ended with a verdict of not-guilty.Apparently, he back in Jersey and still running on the impaling platform.
After encountering an unreachable campaign site and a difficult to find myspace page, I have at least his myspace page. I post that picture of him, but there is apparently one of him in a suit from his race for governor here. There is also a documentary called Impaler about him.I do not endorse these candidates nor an parties, if specified if they run for them. You may notice trends among them such as extreme views on certain issues or measures that should be undertaken. Take this what you will. At times, some candidates are stating causes that are related to problems that deeply affect them on an individual basis or, as in the case of Mr. Moriarty, a moral one. These candidates aren't tied to a political party machine and have less money to work with as well. It is unlikely that people outside their communities and obsessives like myself know of them. They are however, part of the political process and as citizens who are as equal to any other law-abiding citizen deserve the chance to run and be heard.
I, again, formerly endorse no candidate and merely serve to inform. I have my own convictions but until such time as they prove relevant, they shall not find themselves printed in this blog for the interest of avoiding bias.
Thats it for this edition of get to know the candidates.
Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in Environmental awareness worldwide. Yeah, he shares it with the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change but its Gore's. He has pledged to donate his portion of the $1.5M prize to the Alliance for Climate Protection. He reiterated his comments about his position about climate change by saying”The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity.” He also cited an African proverb to relate the challenge of environmental concern: “If you want to quickly, you go alone. If you want to go far, you go together.”There was, of course, no mention by Gore that he would seek the Democratic Nomination for President. To be honest, Bill Clinton has proved that to effect real change you need to step outside the state agencies and offices such as the President of the United States. Clinton's Initiative has jump started lots of things like removing junk food from schools. Gore has found his cause and it is not a political one. These two men, regardless of what their politics are great leaders and able to inspire others to change conditions throughout the world.
In other news, Turkey is weighing its options on invading Northern Iraq. This is no doubt a retaliatory remark considering the resolution that will likely go before the House of Representatives. There have been rallies in Istanbul protesting the move in the US. So, does Turkey really mean they will invade the unofficial Kurdistan in retaliation for our legislature's decision to condemn a heinous 92-year-old massacre? Should we call their bluff? Is this the beginning of Congress growing a spin e in essence testing how much effect they have in foreign affairs? What does the Israel Lobby think of all this? Do they even care?
I can only say that this is poorly timed. Congress may be thinking that if they start issues with Turkey which may seriously restrict our ability to wage war in Iraq, they may be able to expedite our withdrawal. However, I think this only lays us prone to a far deeper international quagmire.
Moving on, the “Butcher of Depayin“, General Soe Win of Myanmar is dead at 59 after a long illness believed to be Leukemia. The General was also the Prime Minister in the Militarily governed and beleaguered state of Myanmar, also known as Burma. He is most known for his attack on Democratic opposition and its leader most notably, its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi in 2003. This may create some interesting changes in the Junta's grasp of power in the Asian country.
Lastly, it appears that people may crave chocolate according to the types of microbes and the amount in their intestines. Scientists think they may be able to manipulate the bacteria in someone's gut to get people to lose weight. Anyways...
On this day, in 1492, Christopher Columbus made landfall, just like a hurricane, in the Bahamas. He was entirely convinced he reached East Asia. He believed to the his death.
Still this day does not exist in 1582 for Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Spain. Stupid Julian Calendar!!!
In 1692, the Salem Witch Trials were finally concluded. There was no one left to burn, hang or drown.
In 1792, we started celebrating Columbus day in New York. There was no ticker tape parade.
In 1810, the Bavarian royalty invited the residents of Munich to celebrate a royal wedding betwixt Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. It is the first Oktoberfest.
In 1901, then President Theodore Roosevelt (yes the other one) renamed the executive mansion the White House. There was even an executive order about this. Why would this be so important? Because Executive Mansion sounds elitist and far above and outside the realm of the common working man whom were much more common then they are now. The White House sounds far more common and less aggrandizing.
In 1915, English Nurse Edith Cavell was executed by German firing squad for helping hundreds of Allied soldiers escape German-occupied Belgium to the Netherlands which was neutral. She was working for the Red Cross and this supposedly violated Military Law. The UK felt it was powerless to help her cause and actually believed they would hurt it. She was reburied in Life's Green in England where a memorial service is held every year on this date. Her name became popular to in France and Belgium after her death. Édith Piaf, who was born two months after the execution, is one very famous example.
In 1941, on this day as well as the next, the Germans, now the Nazis, massacred 11,000 Jews in Dnipropetrovsk (Дніпропетровськ ), Ukraine. They marched them to a ravine and then shot them there. Of the city's 80,000 Jews before the war, only 15 survived to the end of the war.
In 1960, Nikita Khrushchev, premier of the USSR, delivers his shoe banging speech at the United Nations General Assembly and declares “We will bury you”. This meant that the USSR would outlast the US. Their government would be there to bury ours.
In 1962, there was a Columbus Day storm in the Northwest that killed 48. It was known for its ferocious winds.
In 1972, there was a racial brawl of more than 100 sailors aboard the the carrier the USS Kitty Hawk as it sailed for the Gulf Tionkin.
In 1979, Typhoon Tip records the lowest atmospheric pressure not related to tornadic activity in the Pacific.
In 2000, due to two terrorist bombers in Aden, Yemen, a hole was rent in the hull of the USS Cole (I believe it was the larboard or port side) and 17 sailors died, one of whom was a friend of mine and fellow basic trainee. Thirty nine others were wounded. The evidence supports that al-Qaeda was responsible.
And finally, France passed a law on this day a year ago making denial of the Armenian Genocide a crime. Ho ho ho [the French “Ho ho ho”].
Good Night and Good Luck.
That's It!!!!!!I say this with all impunity: no more Congressional comments on political activity. Not that there have been more really since the Moveon.org ad attacking General Petraeus. In fact that was ok. And there haven't been any more since....
All right, there was only the one. But repeatedly I see Congressional types and Senators get asked if Congress should make a call about the 12-year-old Bush critic that has been swift boated by the Right Wing blogosphere. But to be honest, this is still not the activity of congress. Let me explain.
Civics 101: You shoulda learned this shit in 9th grade.
There are three (3) branches to the US government. The Legislative, the Executive and the Judicial branches constitute the government at the federal level according to the constitution. The Legislature has the powers of the purse and the sword. This means they have the powers to declare war and raise taxes (Oddly enough, the big guy does not). They also have powers to create laws, enact bills, ad nauseam. In fact here are their powers:
The constitution of the United States of America (in congress assembled), Article !, Section 8. All the numbered statements would be called powers.
1)The aforementioned power of purse and sword (providing for common defense).
2)To borrow money on the credit of the US.
3)To regulate commerce with other nations, states and even Indian tribes (I guess this was before we threw them on reservations)
4)To establish rules of Naturalization and Bankruptcies.
5)To coin money and establish and fix weights and measures
6)To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting and something else I can't remember off the top off my head (Yes, I'm doing this off the top of my head!)
7)To establish post office and I think roads, too.
8)To further progress of Arts & Sciences (read: they should be helping PBS & NPR. And the National Endowment for the Arts!)
9)To create tribunals that are inferior to the Supreme Court (cuz its like Supreme. Who can be superior to them?!?!)
10)To define and punish piracies on the high seas
11)To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisals
12)To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two years (what does that even mean?)
13)To provide and maintain a Navy (there are no restrictions on the Navy. Interesting, considering I'm ex-Navy, I like that)
14)To make rules for the government and regulations for land and naval forces
15)To provide for calling of militias and to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions.
16)To provide for the organizing, arming and disciplining the said militia (does this include the Minutemen?). This one is long but I do believe there is a part that says they can erect forts, armories and dock-yards. Yes, it specifies dock-yards. Yes, one of the vaguest legal documents in history is specific about what Congress can build for the militias. Yes, dock-yard is written in your constitution. No, Jesus is not.
17)To make all laws which shall be necessary for proper for carrying into execution the aforementioned powers, all other powers the constitution decides to give to congress and the offices and yada yada yada...
No where in there does it say “To rebuke the press for printing things, even if they are crap and badly rhymed, that Congress assembled thinks is crap”.
Reasons Congress is pissing me off. First, As much as the moveon.org ad is wrong, I don't think Congress should take up precious tax subsidized time with. I, you and the kid who delivers your paper are paying for congress to sit around and tell people on the internets to not say crap because it makes them so mad.
Second, for Congress to take time to address every little prick on the Internet is just silly. The Internet is so full of shit, there is no toilet big enough to put it into. For such a respected body (if you believe such) to single out a little turd among the shitpile is disgusting. They have better and more important things to do like getting our troops out of misguided and badly planned wars. Oh, like the scales are falling from your eyes!!!
Third, its completely politically motivated and cannot convince a thinking American that politicians aren't just covering their collective asses. There is nothing like Congress saying “OMG, IMHO those fuckups!!!!!”
So, in the spirit of Congress who obviously has too little to do, I move for the following motion:
That both houses of the Congress of the United States shall not make negative nor positive remarks in congress assembled toward the media in its many forms and formats as well as free speech by any citizen of these United States. Furthermore, Congress is urged to restrain its spirit when making bills that exceed the powers of congress as stipulated in the Constitution of the United States.
My mother seconds the motion. Motion so moved and seconded.
All those in favor say Yea:
“Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
All those opposed say Nay:
[crickets in the galleries]
As the yeas outweigh the nays by 100%, the motion is resolved. Its now a bill. Mozel Tov.
Look I spent all that fucking time on this. I didn't even get to the juicy part about Ann Coulter making anti-semitic comments. I guess I can wait... no, I really can't.
For those of you who know me, you know that I think Ann Coulter is insufferable (I must be tired. There is no long string of obscenely large adjectives describing the acrimonious and repugnant spew that she calls her opinions... Oh wait...). Miss Coulter thinks her opinions matter. And despite the fact the woman is educated, she makes some really pathetic and poorly thought through comments like women should not be allowed to vote because they are stupid and have no knowledge of money. To be fair, she is just like any other political hack, Republican or otherwise, who thrives on name calling and insult mongering to sell books. For other people with actual shows and lets just be honest, jobs, they call it raising their ratings.
Ann Coulter appeared on CNBC “The Big Idea” with Donny Deutsch all the way back on Monday. But since I do not go out of my way to consume all things Coulter, I didn't hear of it till it came up on The Countdown with Keith Olberman ( I love you, Keith!), who is by the way on MSNBC, and yes, they are affiliated channels.
She made some rather anti-semitic comments but they were grounded in theology. Basically, she said that Christians want Jews to be perfected. She also used Seinfeld, a sitcom that went of the air 9 years ago as a reference for mixed race couples in New York City having chips on their shoulders. To think Ann Coulter bases her critique on modern urban society on Seinfeld boggles the mind. I think Jerry Seinfeld is weeping somewhere.
I enclose the following transcript in my already overly long post. I actually procured this from Fox News. See they aren't all bad.
DEUTSCH: Let me ask you a question. We're going to get off strengths and weakness for a second. If you had your way, and all of your — forget that any of them —
COULTER: I like this.
DEUTSCH: — are calculated marketing teases, and your dreams, which are genuine, came true having to do with immigration, having to do with women's — with abortion — what would this country look like?
COULTER: UMMMMM (pause) ... It would look like New York City during the Republican National Convention. In fact, that's what I think heaven is going to look like.
DEUTSCH: And what did that look like?
COULTER: Happy, joyful Republicans in the greatest city in the world.
DEUTSCH: No, no, no, no, but I'm talking about this country. You don't want to make this country — it's not about Republicans. I'm saying, what would the fabric of this country look like? Forget that the Republicans would be running the show.
COULTER: Well, everyone would root for America, the Democratic Party would look like Joe Lieberman, the Republican Party would look like Duncan Hunter —
DEUTSCH: No, no, no, I don't want — I'm not talking about politically the landscape. What would our — would we be safer? Would people be happier? Would they be more —
COULTER: We would be a lot safer.
DEUTSCH: Would there be more tolerance? Would there be — would women be happier, would the races get along better? The Ann Coulter subscription — prescription. What — tell me what would be different in our fabric of country, because —
COULTER: Well, all of those things.
DEUTSCH: I can give — I can give you an argument there would be more divisiveness, that there would be more hate —
COULTER: Oh, no.
DEUTSCH: That there would be a bigger difference between the rich and the poor, a lot of other — tell me what — why this would be a better world? Let's give you — I'm going to give you — say this is your show.
COULTER: Well, OK, take the Republican National Convention. People were happy. They're Christian. They're tolerant. They defend America, they —
DEUTSCH: Christian — so we should be Christian? It would be better if we were all Christian?
COULTER: Yes.
DEUTSCH: We should all be Christian?
COULTER: Yes. Would you like to come to church with me, Donny?
DEUTSCH: So I should not be a Jew, I should be a Christian, and this would be a better place?
COULTER: Well, you could be a practicing Jew, but you're not.
DEUTSCH: I actually am. That's not true. I really am. But — so we would be better if we were — if people — if there were no Jews, no Buddhists —
COULTER: Whenever I'm harangued by —
DEUTSCH: — in this country? You can't believe that.
COULTER: — you know, liberals on diversity —
DEUTSCH: Here you go again.
COULTER: No, it's true. I give all of these speeches at megachurches across America, and the one thing that's really striking about it is how utterly, completely diverse they are, and completely unself-consciously. You walk past a mixed-race couple in New York, and it's like they have a chip on their shoulder. They're just waiting for somebody to say something, as if anybody would. And —
DEUTSCH: I don't agree with that. I don't agree with that at all. Maybe you have the chip looking at them. I see a lot of interracial couples, and I don't see any more or less chips there either way. That's erroneous.
COULTER: No. In fact, there was an entire "Seinfeld" episode about Elaine and her boyfriend dating because they wanted to be a mixed-race couple, so you're lying.
DEUTSCH: Oh, because of some "Seinfeld" episode? OK.
COULTER: But yeah, I think that's reflective of what's going on in the culture, but it is completely striking that at these huge megachurches — the idea that, you know, the more Christian you are, the less tolerant you would be is preposterous.
DEUTSCH: That isn't what I said, but you said I should not — we should just throw Judaism away and we should all be Christians, then, or —
COULTER: Yeah.
DEUTSCH: Really?
COULTER: Well, it's a lot easier. It's kind of a fast track.
DEUTSCH: Really?
COULTER: Yeah. You have to obey.
DEUTSCH: You can't possibly believe that.
COULTER: Yes.
DEUTSCH: You can't possibly — you're too educated, you can't — you're like my friend in —
COULTER: Do you know what Christianity is? We believe your religion, but you have to obey.
DEUTSCH: No, no, no, but I mean —
COULTER: We have the fast-track program.
DEUTSCH: Why don't I put you with the head of Iran? I mean, come on. You can't believe that.
COULTER: The head of Iran is not a Christian.
DEUTSCH: No, but in fact, "Let's wipe Israel" —
COULTER: I don't know if you've been paying attention.
DEUTSCH: "Let's wipe Israel off the earth." I mean, what, no Jews?
COULTER: No, we think — we just want Jews to be perfected, as they say.
DEUTSCH: Wow, you didn't really say that, did you?
COULTER: Yes. That is what Christianity is. We believe the Old Testament, but ours is more like Federal Express. You have to obey laws. We know we're all sinners —
DEUTSCH: In my old days, I would have argued — when you say something absurd like that, there's no —
COULTER: What's absurd?
DEUTSCH: Jews are going to be perfected. I'm going to go off and try to perfect myself —
COULTER: Well, that's what the New Testament says.
DEUTSCH: Ann Coulter, author of "If Democrats Had Any Brains, They'd Be Republicans," and if Ann Coulter had any brains, she would not say Jews need to be perfected. I'm offended by that personally. And we'll have more "Big Idea" when we come back.
(BREAK)
DEUTSCH: Welcome back to "The Big Idea." During the break, Ann said she wanted to explain her last comment. So I'm going to give her a chance. So you don't think that was offensive?
COULTER: No. I'm sorry. It is not intended to be. I don't think you should take it that way, but that is what Christians consider themselves: perfected Jews. We believe the Old Testament. As you know from the Old Testament, God was constantly getting fed up with humans for not being able to, you know, live up to all the laws. What Christians believe — this is just a statement of what the New Testament is — is that that's why Christ came and died for our sins. Christians believe the Old Testament. You don't believe our testament.
DEUTSCH: You said — your exact words were, "Jews need to be perfected." Those are the words out of your mouth.
COULTER: No, I'm saying that's what a Christian is.
DEUTSCH: But that's what you said — don't you see how hateful, how anti-Semitic —
COULTER: No!
DEUTSCH: How do you not see? You're an educated woman. How do you not see that?
COULTER: That isn't hateful at all.
DEUTSCH: But that's even a scarier thought. OK —
COULTER: No, no, no, no, no. I don't want you being offended by this. This is what Christians consider themselves, because our testament is the continuation of your testament. You know that. So we think Jews go to heaven. I mean (Jerry) Falwell himself said that, but you have to follow laws. Ours is "Christ died for our sins." We consider ourselves perfected Christians. For me to say that for you to become a Christian is to become a perfected Christian is not offensive at all.
DEUTSCH: We will let the audience decide then, won't we? Ann Coulter. New book. More "Big Idea" straight ahead.
She would have been better of by just going “Hm.... foot”. Ha! A quote I got from Friends no less. To be honest, she is stating what many Christian Evangelicals believe. Many will deny it and for the most part it is not ill-intentioned. They have a mission to save as many souls as they possibly can. I have no idea. I was raised Catholic. We believe in Good Works and that Judgment is reserved for God and God alone. We also said we weren't going to try to convert the Jews anymore. We weren't even going there. If anything we want to become one of the Righteous among the Nations.
So, all Ann did was present the side of Evangelical thought that is for the most part frightening. She mentioned Jerry Falwell and he probably would have rooted her on. He had some beliefs about the Jews and Israel, particularly that if there were an Israel and it conquered the Middle East, Rapture's gonna come. If it does, I got dibs on the car.
I want to point out how difficult it is for her to not base things in political terms. She has to keep everything politics. Does she consider politics when changing lanes.
Just for the hell of it, here's the YouTube entry for this. It must be seen!!!
For the love of all things good and American, someone help her!!!!!
Other news. The mercenary company Blackwater, Inc. is being sued in a US court. Well, ain't that dandy! A Philadelphia firm filed a lawsuit against the company for committing murder on behalf of the families of the men who died. The Iraqi government contends that the 17 men killed on September 16th died by “premeditated murder”. The company is usually contracted to protect US diplomats traveling through Iraq. They claim the convoy they were protecting came into danger. There has been no evidence to back this up and an investigation by both the US and Iraqi government is underway.
And the final thing I'm commenting on should have been the first. A bill has passed the the House Foreign Affairs committee with a vote of 27-21. This bill calls the slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians by Turkey, then the Ottoman Empire, during World War I, genocide. Turkey does cop to it but calls it a massacre.
This has not gone to the full house floor and may in fact, do so Friday. It has gone through committee before but never gone to the floor. If this gets passed, there may well be very shaky relations for the United States and Turkey ahead. We keep discouraging Turkey's desire to move into Northern Iraq to quash the Kurdish communities there. They shouldn't anyway. It'd be an act of war, boneheads! Secondly, they've obviously slaughtered enough.
Turkey has recalled its US ambassador and there have been protests in the streets of Istanbul. Come on. Just forget about it like you did the Armenians. I mean this is pretty insensitive of Turkey I might add. Not to mention, nobody cares. Look how quickly they stopped talking about Myanmar or Burma. And they really have a gripe!
Not to mention, its or legislature. Not yours or the United Nations. We can say the sky is green. Does that make it true? I'm not saying that we do or that the Armenian genocide did not happen but protesting something that could be so insignificant looks like you're fishing for some excuse to act torked or it really happened and you're in denial.
OK, thats it. No “on this day” segment. I'm wiped. Have a good night y'all!
Marion JonesA roundup of cases both good and odd:
Case #1: A young woman in Kentucky was awarded $6.1M by a jury for being strip searched in the office of a McDonalds because of a hoax caller. In 2004, a spate of hoax calls were occuring at various McDonalds restaurants. It is unclear if these were local events or spread among the company's national chain. A Florida man was acguited and the calls have since then ceased.
The young woman in question, Louise Ogborn, 21, was forced to perform sexual acts in addition to the strip at the behest of the caller. The supposed grounds for the strip was because Ogborn had allegedly stolen from a customer. It is likely the caller would call describing a young woman with the chances there would be one that met or had some traits of his description. McDonalds was found liable for not notifying employees of the previous incidents therefore, raising awareness of possible recurrences.
Ogborn has stated that she may use some of the money to attend law school. McDonalds is looking at their Appeal Options.
Case #2: Marion Jones, the track star, racked up 3 Gold Medals at Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. Now, it appears her performance was enhanced by steroid use. Jones admits after years of denial that she used steroids from September 2000 to July 2001. She also says she realized she was being given "the clear" in November 2003 by her coach Trevor Graham. Jones plead guilty yesterday.
"The Clear" is a drug that constantly pops up. BALCO, a San Francisco area lab has been at the center of a steroid scandal in sports since 2003. Baseball Superstar and All-time Home Run record holder Barry Bonds has been implicated in using steroids for years. He is also believed to have taken "the clear" though he says his trainer gave it to him and called it flaxseed oil. Jones also claimed the same thing.
It seems that everyone will lay the trainer/coach out to dry. Athletes claim ignorance and act as though they just took whatever these people give them. So, they scapegoat their trainers. I don't believe that these people are that gullible. I feel sorry for the trainers who may or may not be involved in just slipping them some "flaxseed oil". Also, how stupid do they think we all are? Did Balco tell everyone to call it that if anyone asked?
The fallout from Jones may be massive. The Olympics will likely strip of her medals. This will likely result in the women's relay team losing their medals, too. So, this hurts not just Marion Jones but three (or more) other women! In addition, Ekaterini Thanou, a Greek Sprinter who won silver behind Marion Jones in the 100m at the Sydney Games, is also under investigation. If things keep going badly, the winner if the 100m in Sydney would be Tanya Lawrence of Jamaica.
More to come...
Greetings all!Boy there's a lot for me to unload. I'll start with that particular image. The Apple. As in Apple Macintosh, the accursed (and yes, I know they are good for the graphically inclined) maker of macs. Suffice it to say, I've never been a fan. Don't get me wrong. I've used them but usually at schools who bought them cheaply because Apple thought it would incite parents to buy them for their children. This idea never really caught on and Macs have remained the red-headed stepchild for years. And just like like the proverbial sibling, they're really flashy but lack substance.
My reason for vilifying Apple know no limits. I detest iPods and even more so, itunes. Why? Well, besides the fact that there are better mp3 players out there that get a whole lot less press (and don't have the slick and snazzy marketing campaign), I just don't like the idea of an apple product in my home (I do have to admit I own a couple of Apple accessories that work on PCs). I also think itunes is revolting due to the fact that I cannot control the content I purchase in the same way if I bought the hard copy itself. I can download it but it will only play in itunes unless I burn it onto a cd, then rerip it on to my pc. Ugh....
I own a Dell Desktop and a Gateway laptop. Not that I'm a fan of those brands either but they aren't macs. Frankly, the Dell is only a Dell in name only (the insides are mine, I just use the case). I own a 30GB Creative Zen Vision: M which sadly is nearing the end of its life. I also am a suscriber to eMusic. If you haven't heard of this site, check it out. They are not about contemporary pop music like Akon and Christina Aguilera. Rather they specialize in independent and less popular genres like jazz, classical and older shite that is cool. True Audiophiles move past current music in search of the obscure aan forgotten. I will listen to everything. To look at my library is a test of endurance. It runs from Bach's organ music to Japanese rap to Glenn Miller and gothic. I even have a slew of environmental sounds, old radio plays and soundtracks. I have a cd library to match and consider myself legal. Some stuff was downloaded back in the day but I've since moved past that. Emusic has helped me build a library of big band, folk and even polyphonic music. EMUsic has grown to add audiobooks.
But itunes was still the place to go for current music like the aforementioned Christina Aguilera. I say was... because on September 25th, Amazon started up its on wing of mp3 downloads (and its in Beta). They offer songs at $.89-$.99 apiece. This is a competitive price since Apple's itunes is roughly the same. However, where Amazon rules is the album pricing. It runs about $8.99 or less for current drivel and $6.99-$7.99 for the stuff I'm currently interested in like Bing Crosby, the Dale Warland Singers and Debussy (don't ask about Debussy. Actually, I'll tell you as a classical music buff that classical is a very seasonal genre. Listening to Debussy and other late Romantic composers in the fall is best. Stravinsky, Saint-Saens, Rimsky-Korsakov, Shostokovich, some Chopin, non Nutcracker and 1812 Tchaikovsky, Holst, and Ravel are great listens in October. Debussy's Claire de Lune sparkles regardless of the season, however. Stravinsky's Firebird Suite is excempt from the autumn as it is a spring juggernaut. You'll note the lack Germanic composers though Chopin was Polish (as was Tchaikovsky, too). Most composers on the list are Russian or French... I'm getting away from my point). This is music to my ears. They are DRMless and better yet, highly mobile! I've already downloaded a bunch of Dale Warlad, Anonymous 4 and 4 cds worth of ol' Bing. His non-Christmas stuff. I'll attack Count Basie tomorrow! Regardless I couldn't be more thrilled. To add to my already enormous World War II collection is a treat.
Moving on, I actually have really become absorbed by the war. The war as in World War II. It begs the question. We are currently embroiled in a rather unpopular war that requires little sacrifice for the civilians other than those whose send loved ones to fight. There are no war bonds to buy, no metal to salvage and ration books to use. And yet, without the hardships of the 40's, we complain. Gas prices are too high, FEMA is a mess and the press is a confusing mash of ambitious political hacks. Its no wonder I dream of Edward R. Murrow, Winston Churchill and FDR fireside Chats.But like nationalist sentiment and the allure of scratched, sepia-toned photos, there is something wrong with my fascination with the War. It was not a romantic time. It has been romanticized through film, song and anecdote. Vietnam vets looked longingly at that war and wished theirs had been like it: Just, right and necessary. What hurts is that there isn't such a thing. War is dirty, rotten, hellish, surreal and agonizing. No one, conquerer or conquered comes out without some rather nasty scars. World War II left many and its a shame that we lose so many veterens every year. They are wonderful people who sacrificed so much and deserve our undying respect.
Regardless, we look at it without the reality of what the sense can truly tell you. Looking at photos of crematoria at Auschwitz without really seeing it begins to become a problem when Holocaust deniers begin to get attention. We need to continually re-evaluate the war and its effects on the world we know. We need to look at it without the romanticization of time. With the romance comes mythology and eventually the war becomes not how and who fought or even why, but what we imagine it was and idealize it to be. Otherwise it will become like Victorian age. We have glossed over the human suffering that took place in the name of the Industrial Revolution. We read Dickens now and forget how very real the conditions were.
Because of this, I was glad that Ken Burns made The War. In 7 installments we look at the war through the eyes of those who lived it and experienced it. I had never known about the slaughter of Nazi soldiers near Normandy as they were trying to retreat. It is so obscure that it is difficult find any documentation. Anyways, those who didn't watch it... what's wrong with you? It will be replayed. View it just for the poetic and elegant Sam Hynes of Minnesota (the Woodrow Wilson Professor of Literature Emeritus I might add. He taught at Princeton after getting his PhD!). Listening to his words alone
makes it worthwhileWhile I go through reading books on the war and listening to its music, I also am reading up on its slang. There's a book out called FUBAR (which I might add looks similar to the US Army's FM 21-76: the Survival, Evasion and Recovery Field Manual). In here are not only the American GI and Gyrene slang but the British & Aussie as well as German, Russian and Japanese. There are some interesting entries such as Khaki-Whacky and cackle fruit. The oft-argued about and aptly, the book's title, FUBAR is included. It states in the text that it stands for Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition. There are several arguments about this term. One being that it is Fucked Up Beyond Any Recognition or All Repair or Reason. I was raised by two Sailors who both were raised by former military men. It was always All Recognition to me which by the way I learned at a very young age ;).
But here's a conundrum: was it really used in WWII? My father maintains that it was not. He claims it was coined in Vietnam. A good many things were coined in 'Nam but I never believed him. It gets mentioned far too many times in film and literature alike prior to Vietnam to be from there. The book does not shed any light on this perplexing mystery. However, in the introduction, author Gordon L. Rottman (somewhat ironically named) asserts that many terms predate the war and were coined during the American Civil War or in other countries. Well, thats a different frame of mind. No one had ever thought it might be older than the War! He also mentions that terms were from various other walks of life and professions such as farming even! Again, not a possibilty in my mind. Usage seemed so entrenched in World War II lore that I failed to envision a very different circumstance to its birthing.
I began to do a search for the origins of the fabled FUBAR. SNAFU, the name of this blog, was also included in this search (And in case you do not know what SNAFU means, it is Situation Normal (or Nominal as a good Marine might say), All Fucked Up.) In Google Answers, it says that it came from the Fuchtbar. THis I find hysterical as there is a plot within the World War II-era film Saving Private Ryan where Captain Miller's rangers tell the translator they're saddled with that FUBAR is German. Poor kid looks it up but cannot find it!
"Lieutenant Dewindt: FUBAR.
Private Reiben: FUBAR.
Sergeant Horvath: FUBAR.
Captain Miller: FUBAR
Private Jackson: Y'all got that right.
Corporal Upham: I looked up fubar in the German dictionary and there's
no fubar in here."
It also states that phone booth repairmen used it when they went out to sites to communicate over less then preferable quality back to their bosses. FUBAR and SNAFU were easily heard and quickly said. I wanted more corroboration than Wikipedia however. I continued but I could find no other reference for this storied beginning to the overused term. I did find it interesting that Wikipedia listed other R-words that also turn up such as rescue, recovery, reality, and redemption.
I also found an interesting entry: SUSFU. This is related to FUBAR and SNAFU. SUSFU means Situation Unchanged: Still Fucked Up (By the way, I haven't been saying Fouled instead because it was Fucked. Get over it!). I was wondering about changing the name of this site to SUSFU. Things haven't changed despite the sweeping elections of democrats last year who were dedicated to bringing our troops home from the war. Problem isn't that they can't get things done. The war cannot end. Not as we envision it. It may take decades which frightens me to tears. It may end as it did in Vietnam with a helicopter atop the embassy and Bing Crosby's White Christmas being the signal to drop everything and scram.
I don't know. I'll give it some thought. I'm going to bed. Turning in.... Smoking Lamp is out!
The military regime has now begun to crack down on the largely peaceful monks who've been demonstrating foe several days now in Yangon. Two hundred monks were arrested in nighttime raids in Ngwe Kyaryan. Other sources have the number at 600. The government has also turned violent in the past couple of days using tear gas and firing at protesters in an attempt to clear the streets. This has resulted in 9 dead and 11 injured including a Japanese journalist.The international community has voiced its support for the activists. The United States has come out with a call for sanctions against the impoverished nation. Many within the United Nations agree including France with French President Sarkozy stating "France will not accept the gagging of Burma's opposition". An emergency session was held Wednesday with the UN calling for the government to show restraint. Earlier today, China also condemned the government of Myanmar. However, China and Russia have said that sanctions would not help. Furthermore, China has also said that it is an internal matter.
Protests against Myanmar's embassies has also occured. In Bangkok and Seoul, protesters have thrown rocks at the buildings and chanted. It is no coincidence that the junta has now cracked down on the monks and other citizens have joined into the protest. With the UN calling restraint, it merely begs to be defied.
It is also notable that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been silent. She can do nothing but be silent. She continues to be held in house arrest. During the march to Yangon, the monks were able to pass by her home that has been her prison for 12 years. The government won't let a repeat of her appearing at her gates. Security has been heightened around her home to discourage any demonstrators from contacting her. On this day in 1988, Aung San Suu Kyi was part of a rather violent protest that cost thousands of lives.
Back on this day in 1540, Pope Paul III founded the Society of Jesus. This highly organized religious order would be known as the Jesuits.
In 1821, Mexico gained its independence from Spain.
In 1886, Prophet John Taylor received a revelation that polygamy was no longer a viable practice within the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints. To this day, the church is still devided on this divisive issue.
Back 102 years ago in 1905, the Annalen der Physik journal published an article called "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?" by Albert Einstein. In this paper, Einstein postulated a famous equation E=mc2. After this, Physics which was moderately assumed to be thoroughly complete in its study, was turned on its ear with the discovery of quantum physics. The world would be forever changed.
In 1985, Long Island, New York, was hit by Hurricane Gloria.
In 1998, Google is founded.
In Myanmar, there are now protests against the military regime that has been in place since 1962. Recently there had been smaller protests since August 15th but now Buddhist monks are leading the charge. The instigation of this new wave of protests is the rise in fuel prices dictated by the junta. Prices are supposed to rise 500%. The numbers of protesters is estimated to be somewhere between 30,000 and 100,000 and growing, according to eyewitnesses. The Buddhist monks and also nuns have marched to Yangon (formerly Rangoon) to demand change. Riot Police have been deployed to control the protests. The monks have been chanting for Democracy.Ordinary people are beginning to get involved in the biggest anti-junta protests in nearly 20 years. The remnants of two political parties: the National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, and the Burmese Communist Party which is largely defunct.
Today, is also the first day of the United Nations General Assembly with Ban Ki-moon presiding. President Bush spent a good deal of time addressing the recent spate of protests in Myanmar. Sanctions have been imposed on the country by the US. The President mentioned Iraq or Iran as little as possible. Myanmar provided an excellent new topic that no one can disagree with him on. Who is not in favor of new democracy in place of rule by fear? I will concede that Laura Bush, his wife, is deeply involved in the struggle for freedom in Myanmar.
Also in Eastern Asia, there has been recent upheaval in government of Japan. The Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigned on September 12th taking his cabinet with him amid unpopularity. He was elected only last year and was the youngest, not to mention, the first to have been born after World War II. On August 27th, he scrapped his cabinet after the suicide of the Minister of Agriculture on May 28th by hanging himself. There had been an open investigation into impropriety involving his office expenses.
After getting a new cabinet, things still did not go well. In fact, problems continued with the same office. Norihiko Akagi was the replacement for the Minister of Agriculture and he resigned August 1st after disastrous elections on August 1st and allegations of funding discrepancies. The Liberal Democratic Party took particularly large losses. Three days after the new house was sworn in, Shinzo Abe and his entire cabinet resigned. For months the Prime Minister's popularity had not risen above 30%.
Yasuo Fukuda was chosen by the National Diet today. Word is, he will announce the new cabinet tomorrow, September 26th.
Back on this day in 1066 the battle of Stamford Bridge occurred. The invading Norwegian army of King Harald Hardrada beat Edwin of Mercia and Morcar of Northumbria. The Norwegian victory was shortlived... This is considered the end of the Viking age in England.
In 1513, Spanish Explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa found himself in the Pacific Ocean. Ferdinand Magellen, the Portuguese explorer, named it the Pacific Ocean.
In 1789, the US Congress passed twelve amendments: The Congressional Apportionment Amendment, Congressional Compensation Amendment and the Bill of Rights. The Congressional Compensation Amendment was not ratified until the 1990's as the 27th. The first Amendment still has not been ratified. Only 11 states ratified it Georgia, Connecticut & Massachusetts not doing anything. Under modern ratification rules, 27 more states need to ratify the amendment. The Bill of Rights went into affect on December 15th, 1791. Again, Georgia, Connecticut & Massachusetts did not ratify. They did however, do so in 1939.
In 1962, Algeria becomes free & independent.
And in 1976, soon to be pretentious rock band U2 was founded in drummer Larry Mullen, Jr.'s kitchen in Dublin, Ireland.
erin go bragh
If you're wondering what the hell that is all about, wonder no more.The characters above mean Pingxingguan. This was the location of a battle fought between the Japanese and the Chinese.
So, why am I bringing this up? And what the hell do I think I'm doing? Well, Ill tell you...
It occurred to me that I liked doing my history comments. Its not enough to remind people of our past. I want to do it in a chronological way. I want to cover the Second World War (as it more commonly called in other countries). If I really wanted to get going on this I would have started back in 2001. This is the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War (Sino is an English Prefix meaning of China...). The first Sino-Japanese War was fought in 1894 to 1895. This war was fought in 8 ½ months over Korea by the Meiji Dynasty in Japan and Qing Dynasty of China. The first war saw a grissly battle known now as the Port Arthur Massacre (to be addressed at a later date).
With the Second War, though it began in 1931, many historians place the beginning of open and aggressive warfare at July 7th of 1937. By this point, Japan had invaded Manchuria (滿洲) on September 19, 1931 and renamed it Manchkuo (満州国). It also had placed the deposed Emperor Puyi (溥儀) as the ruler of the puppet state there.
On that day in July, there had been the the Lugou Bridge Incident (盧溝橋事變) or also known as the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. The battle involved a white marble bridge of 11 arches located in Fengtai (豐台), a southern suburb of Bejing (then called Beiping). The Japanese parked themselves at the west end of the bridge and practiced whilst the Koumintang (KMT) forces watched.
At dawn of that day, Japan claimed a soldier was missing inside the city and they wanted to search for him. Colonel Ji said "no". General Song, his superior officer, was behind him on this. They felt it may well be a pretext to invasion of Beijing. In fact, that is what it later led to. Matsui sent an ultimatum: Let us in or we will fire within the hour.
On July 8th, at midnight, the Japanese began to bombard the city. The Chinese reinforced the bridge and with some territorial flux managed to hold the Japanese at the west end. The Japanese later made three demand of the Chinese to a General Zhang Zizhong (張自忠). These were the three demands:
1) The Kuomintang must wipe out all anti-Japanese organizations and halt all anti-Japanese activities inside the cities.
2) The Kuomintang must take all responsibilities of the incident on 7 July.
3) Song, not any other inferior officer of the 29th Army, must apologize.
Zhang it appears was favored by the Japanese. He and Song didn't get along and found himself abandoned in a defenseless Beiping. I don't want to get really into this now but this incident and the subsequant fall of Beiping-Tianjin are one filled with politics and backstabbing. The tactics employed and the choices made are still debated to this day. Beiping fell on July 29, 1937 leaving the North China Plain vulnerable to the Japanese.
While the battle for Pingxingguan took place in late September, there had been a long drawn out battle going on in Shanghai. We'll get to that when it wraps up in November. At Pingxingguan, there were a couple of supply covoys headed for Japanese encampments. They were ambushed by the Chinese. Though there were about 500-600 dead on both sides, it was a victory for China. They also acquired 100 or so trucks and weapons.
Next up, we look at something else notable that led up to World War II: The Spanish Civil War. In addition, I'll try to catch us up on the other events that happened throughout the 30's and the march toward the Second World War. Other historical notes will continue.
On a personal note, this is something I've been considering doing for the past 6-7 months. Ken Burns' documentary and the recent D-Day rebroadcasts have made me more so inclined to do it. I like examining wars because they never really change. The issues we deal with today are the same as they were then.
Take Care.
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