Hypocrites and moneygrubbers at the UN, as usual.
U.N. official slams U.S. as 'stingy' over aid
The US makes the single largest contribution to aid the Asian countries that were hit with the flood...15 million, compared to 4 million from ALL of Europe. Mr. Egeland ought to examine how much his own country (Norway) gave before he starts calling other countries "stingy".
What an ass [burro].
28 December 2004
23 December 2004
This is going to be a short post as no words I could come up with could do this topic justice.
It speaks for itself:
http://www.starnewspapers.com/star/spedit/col/19-co1.htm
It speaks for itself:
http://www.starnewspapers.com/star/spedit/col/19-co1.htm
22 December 2004
Hello All,
With the onset of Christmas and its resultant lawsuits filed by the ACLU, I am reflecting a bit more on atheism, religion, and the public sector.
Two things I will mention somewhat randomly, neither of which I can claim credit for...
* Jeff Adams mentioned this, how liberal PC types insist that we use the allegedly inoffensive "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". Somehow that is supposed to be less offensive to minority religions and those who are atheists. The word "holiday" is derived from "holy day". How ironic! Happy Holy Days to you too!
* Jonah Goldberg made a quaint observation in a recent column, which I will post here:
By my rough calculation, 99.87 percent of Christians who say “Merry Christmas” to people who aren’t Christian do so because they’re trying to be nice. And, by my equally rough calculation, 97.93 percent of people who take real offense when they’re on the receiving end of such Yuletide wishes are trying to be a pain in the — uh, well, they’re trying to be a pain. Let’s put it this way. If you were in Morocco (and a non-Muslim) and someone said to you, “Have a nice Ramadan,” you’d probably say thanks respectfully and leave it at that. But some people are aghast that, here at home, someone might say “Merry Christmas” to them without first making sure they’re Christians.
Well put, my Jewish compadre.
Anyway, I was thinking about atheism vs theism, and the absolute disdain with which most atheists view "faith". The existence of God, most people will agree, is not something that has been proven or disproven definitively, in a scientific and observable sense. The very fact that there is so much disagreement on this in civilized, educated societies further illustrates that. Therefore, any views held on the existence or unexistence of God are based on...you guessed it...faith. It requires faith to be an atheist. An atheist hasn't proven God's existence or unexistence...his belief that God does not exist is an article of faith.
Weird example because my brain has not yet defrosted (its 14 degrees outside, and no, not Celsius). How about the existence of a being named Sidney Borkenheimer that lives on a planet in the Andromeda galaxy? Dead serious. The non-nutjobs among us are saying, not likely. You may be right, it isn't likely, but as none of us have ever been in the Andromeda galaxy and can hardly observe it even, none of us have the ability to say whether or not ol' Sid exists. We can look at statistics and make a reasonable guess, but any acceptance of a conclusion is based on faith.
With the onset of Christmas and its resultant lawsuits filed by the ACLU, I am reflecting a bit more on atheism, religion, and the public sector.
Two things I will mention somewhat randomly, neither of which I can claim credit for...
* Jeff Adams mentioned this, how liberal PC types insist that we use the allegedly inoffensive "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". Somehow that is supposed to be less offensive to minority religions and those who are atheists. The word "holiday" is derived from "holy day". How ironic! Happy Holy Days to you too!
* Jonah Goldberg made a quaint observation in a recent column, which I will post here:
By my rough calculation, 99.87 percent of Christians who say “Merry Christmas” to people who aren’t Christian do so because they’re trying to be nice. And, by my equally rough calculation, 97.93 percent of people who take real offense when they’re on the receiving end of such Yuletide wishes are trying to be a pain in the — uh, well, they’re trying to be a pain. Let’s put it this way. If you were in Morocco (and a non-Muslim) and someone said to you, “Have a nice Ramadan,” you’d probably say thanks respectfully and leave it at that. But some people are aghast that, here at home, someone might say “Merry Christmas” to them without first making sure they’re Christians.
Well put, my Jewish compadre.
Anyway, I was thinking about atheism vs theism, and the absolute disdain with which most atheists view "faith". The existence of God, most people will agree, is not something that has been proven or disproven definitively, in a scientific and observable sense. The very fact that there is so much disagreement on this in civilized, educated societies further illustrates that. Therefore, any views held on the existence or unexistence of God are based on...you guessed it...faith. It requires faith to be an atheist. An atheist hasn't proven God's existence or unexistence...his belief that God does not exist is an article of faith.
Weird example because my brain has not yet defrosted (its 14 degrees outside, and no, not Celsius). How about the existence of a being named Sidney Borkenheimer that lives on a planet in the Andromeda galaxy? Dead serious. The non-nutjobs among us are saying, not likely. You may be right, it isn't likely, but as none of us have ever been in the Andromeda galaxy and can hardly observe it even, none of us have the ability to say whether or not ol' Sid exists. We can look at statistics and make a reasonable guess, but any acceptance of a conclusion is based on faith.
21 December 2004
OK, this is for all the theophobes out there. Time and time again we are told that public mentions of or references to God/religion are strictly verboten and "unconstitutional", thus all these lawsuits about Nativity scenes and Christmas carols and such. It went so far that a principal in California (where else) forbade a teacher from distributing copies of the Declaration of Independence to his students because of its reference to God. So the Declaration of Independence has been ruled unconstitutional, essentially (so maybe we are back to being colonies of the Empire???). No, let's go a step further shall we, and examine Article VII of the US Constitution:
The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same. Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth. In Witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names.
Doesn't that just frazzle your wig? Not only a reference to God, but an acknowledgement that He is "our Lord"? If that isn't unconstitutional I don't know what is!
Yes, the Constitution is unconstitutional.
What ludicrous banter. The nation was founded on religious freedom...the idea that people could freely and openly express their religious views without fear of oppression or suppression from the government. The ACLU and its ilk is doing its part to undo that freedom...the idea that religious freedom is something that can only be whispered of in homes and churches with the doors well-bolted. OK, thats a bit of an exaggeration, but they certainly aren't fighting for freedom of expression at all. You've got to realize, its not about freedom from religion, as the secularists want. The Founding Fathers never promised you the right to not have to witness or come in contact with the views of others. In fact, its just the opposite...you should be free to openly express your faiths/views/etc. It is very much tied to freedom of speech...its essentially a smaller subsection of that. The Left likes to make a big deal about freedom of speech but it is all too quick to seek government censorship of religious expression.
The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same. Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth. In Witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names.
Doesn't that just frazzle your wig? Not only a reference to God, but an acknowledgement that He is "our Lord"? If that isn't unconstitutional I don't know what is!
Yes, the Constitution is unconstitutional.
What ludicrous banter. The nation was founded on religious freedom...the idea that people could freely and openly express their religious views without fear of oppression or suppression from the government. The ACLU and its ilk is doing its part to undo that freedom...the idea that religious freedom is something that can only be whispered of in homes and churches with the doors well-bolted. OK, thats a bit of an exaggeration, but they certainly aren't fighting for freedom of expression at all. You've got to realize, its not about freedom from religion, as the secularists want. The Founding Fathers never promised you the right to not have to witness or come in contact with the views of others. In fact, its just the opposite...you should be free to openly express your faiths/views/etc. It is very much tied to freedom of speech...its essentially a smaller subsection of that. The Left likes to make a big deal about freedom of speech but it is all too quick to seek government censorship of religious expression.
16 December 2004
The best column I have read in a good long time. I very much wanted to post the whole text here, and nearly did, but legal better judgement prevented me:
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/paulgreenberg/printpg20041216.shtml
Read it, I implore you. Put things in perspective.
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/paulgreenberg/printpg20041216.shtml
Read it, I implore you. Put things in perspective.
23 November 2004
A letter from a Marine officer in Fallujah, posted on the Internet (thegreenside.com), borrowed with much gratitude from Wes Pruden...I just thought these were worth sharing. Think twice before you condemn a Marine quick to defend himself and his fellow Marines.
"As the Marines cleared an apartment building, they got to the top floor and the point man kicked in the door. As he did so, an enemy grenade and a burst of gunfire came out. The explosion and enemy fire took off the point man's leg. He was then immediately shot in the arm as he lay in the doorway. [Another Marine] tossed a grenade into the room and ran into the doorway and into the enemy fire in order to pull his buddy back to cover. As he was dragging the wounded Marine to cover, [the] grenade came back through the doorway. Without pausing, he reached down and threw the grenade back through the door while he heaved his buddy to safety. The grenade went off inside the room and [a Marine] threw another in. He immediately entered the room following the second explosion. He gunned down three enemy all within three feet of where he stood, and then let fly a third grenade as he backed out of the room to complete the evacuation of the wounded Marine. You have to understand that a grenade goes off within 5 seconds of having the pin pulled. Marines usually let them 'cook off' for a second or two before tossing them in. Therefore, this entire episode took place in less than 30 seconds."
A second example: "A squad leader was wounded as his squad was clearing a house when some enemy threw pineapple grenades down on top of them. As he was getting triaged, the doctor told him that he had been shot through the arm. [The squad leader] told the doctor that he had actually been shot 'a couple of days ago' and had given himself self-aid on the wound ... He firmly told the doctor that he was a squad leader and did not have time to get treated as his men were still fighting. There are a number of Marines who have been wounded multiple times but refuse to leave their fellow Marines. It is incredibly humbling to walk among such men. They fought as hard as any Marines in history and deserve to be remembered as such. The enemy they fought burrowed into houses and fired through mouse holes cut in walls, lured them into houses rigged with explosives and detonated the houses on pursuing Marines, and actually hid behind surrender flags only to engage the Marines with small arms fire once they perceived that the Marines had let their guard down. I know of several instances where near-dead enemy rolled grenades out on Marines who were preparing to render them aid. It was a fight to the finish in every sense, and the Marines delivered. Perhaps the most amazing characteristic of all is that the morale of the men is sky high. They hurt for the wounded and the dead, but they are eager to continue to attack. Not one of them would be comfortable with being called a hero even though they clearly are."
"As the Marines cleared an apartment building, they got to the top floor and the point man kicked in the door. As he did so, an enemy grenade and a burst of gunfire came out. The explosion and enemy fire took off the point man's leg. He was then immediately shot in the arm as he lay in the doorway. [Another Marine] tossed a grenade into the room and ran into the doorway and into the enemy fire in order to pull his buddy back to cover. As he was dragging the wounded Marine to cover, [the] grenade came back through the doorway. Without pausing, he reached down and threw the grenade back through the door while he heaved his buddy to safety. The grenade went off inside the room and [a Marine] threw another in. He immediately entered the room following the second explosion. He gunned down three enemy all within three feet of where he stood, and then let fly a third grenade as he backed out of the room to complete the evacuation of the wounded Marine. You have to understand that a grenade goes off within 5 seconds of having the pin pulled. Marines usually let them 'cook off' for a second or two before tossing them in. Therefore, this entire episode took place in less than 30 seconds."
A second example: "A squad leader was wounded as his squad was clearing a house when some enemy threw pineapple grenades down on top of them. As he was getting triaged, the doctor told him that he had been shot through the arm. [The squad leader] told the doctor that he had actually been shot 'a couple of days ago' and had given himself self-aid on the wound ... He firmly told the doctor that he was a squad leader and did not have time to get treated as his men were still fighting. There are a number of Marines who have been wounded multiple times but refuse to leave their fellow Marines. It is incredibly humbling to walk among such men. They fought as hard as any Marines in history and deserve to be remembered as such. The enemy they fought burrowed into houses and fired through mouse holes cut in walls, lured them into houses rigged with explosives and detonated the houses on pursuing Marines, and actually hid behind surrender flags only to engage the Marines with small arms fire once they perceived that the Marines had let their guard down. I know of several instances where near-dead enemy rolled grenades out on Marines who were preparing to render them aid. It was a fight to the finish in every sense, and the Marines delivered. Perhaps the most amazing characteristic of all is that the morale of the men is sky high. They hurt for the wounded and the dead, but they are eager to continue to attack. Not one of them would be comfortable with being called a hero even though they clearly are."
19 November 2004
Well, I haven't posted in a while, and much has happened in the meantime, and many thoughts I have intended to document here, but alas, time is not on my side. So many issues I have at various times desired to expound upon, but I just don't always have the opportunity. Not that this is some repository of intellectual brilliance by any generous stretch of the imagination, but I feel like I've let many ideas slip through my fingers in the last week, and that is somewhat of an unhappy thought. More commonly though, I read something utterly brilliant by someone else and neglected to link it here, which isn't so bad.
The marine in Fallujah who capped the dying terrorist. Oorah for that guy. In all seriousness, he was scared. He'd been shot in the face the previous day (so I read). His unit had lost one man and had five wounded by booby-trapped corpses the previous day (or days, don't recall). How much movement does it take to pull a pin on a grenade? Not much, I'd have shot just about anything that moved too. Shoot first, ask questions afterwards. War is not about fairness or justice, it is about winning, because until you win, there will be no fairness or justice. Our boys should play it safe. The terrorists have already demonstrated their fondness for suicide attacks so a fatally wounded man attempting to blow himself up with a few infidels is a plausible and likely scenario. Do I think this was necessarily the case? No. The odds are decently in favour of this guy just groining or moving because of the pain. But take no chances. If you pull a gun on a cop, does he wait until he has determined that, oh, its just a non-functional replica? No he does not, he puts a bullet in you post-haste. Take down the threats...even potential unverified threats. Much truer in wartime than in police activity.
Again, this is all so frighteningly reminiscent of Breaker Morant. Great movie...please do yourself the favour of watching it.
The atrocities of war are not committed by normal men...they are committed by normal men under abnormal circumstances.
How foreboding of me. I'm really not feeling so serious. Oorah to our boys, carry on, and let's end this post.
The marine in Fallujah who capped the dying terrorist. Oorah for that guy. In all seriousness, he was scared. He'd been shot in the face the previous day (so I read). His unit had lost one man and had five wounded by booby-trapped corpses the previous day (or days, don't recall). How much movement does it take to pull a pin on a grenade? Not much, I'd have shot just about anything that moved too. Shoot first, ask questions afterwards. War is not about fairness or justice, it is about winning, because until you win, there will be no fairness or justice. Our boys should play it safe. The terrorists have already demonstrated their fondness for suicide attacks so a fatally wounded man attempting to blow himself up with a few infidels is a plausible and likely scenario. Do I think this was necessarily the case? No. The odds are decently in favour of this guy just groining or moving because of the pain. But take no chances. If you pull a gun on a cop, does he wait until he has determined that, oh, its just a non-functional replica? No he does not, he puts a bullet in you post-haste. Take down the threats...even potential unverified threats. Much truer in wartime than in police activity.
Again, this is all so frighteningly reminiscent of Breaker Morant. Great movie...please do yourself the favour of watching it.
The atrocities of war are not committed by normal men...they are committed by normal men under abnormal circumstances.
How foreboding of me. I'm really not feeling so serious. Oorah to our boys, carry on, and let's end this post.
12 November 2004
Sayonara to Yasser "That's My Baby" Arafat!
No tears of remorse for yet another terrorist sent on to his eternal "reward". A man of peace? He died in peace, at least, a slow death in a hospital bed surrounded by skilled doctors and close family and friends. Contrast that to his victims. Innocent children, fathers, mothers, wives, husbands, aunts, uncles, all sorts of people who left for work or school without their loved ones having the opportunity to say goodbye, to express their love one final time. This is a "freedom fighter"? We call a man who refused peace at every turn in favour of murdering Jews a "man of peace"? What twisted thinking. In a world where we are all so careful to "remember the Holocaust" we seem quick to forget the wanton murder of Jewish innocents in Israel.
We give credence to terrorists when we eulogize this thug, this brutal murdering monster. Can't you see? When we speak effusive praise for this slimeball, we authenticate and legitimize his methods. A terrorist is now a hero? What a message that sends! I don't care whether the cause was just or not. That isn't the question. No cause warrants terrorism. Goodbye Yasser, enjoy your stay, you'll be there a while.
No tears of remorse for yet another terrorist sent on to his eternal "reward". A man of peace? He died in peace, at least, a slow death in a hospital bed surrounded by skilled doctors and close family and friends. Contrast that to his victims. Innocent children, fathers, mothers, wives, husbands, aunts, uncles, all sorts of people who left for work or school without their loved ones having the opportunity to say goodbye, to express their love one final time. This is a "freedom fighter"? We call a man who refused peace at every turn in favour of murdering Jews a "man of peace"? What twisted thinking. In a world where we are all so careful to "remember the Holocaust" we seem quick to forget the wanton murder of Jewish innocents in Israel.
We give credence to terrorists when we eulogize this thug, this brutal murdering monster. Can't you see? When we speak effusive praise for this slimeball, we authenticate and legitimize his methods. A terrorist is now a hero? What a message that sends! I don't care whether the cause was just or not. That isn't the question. No cause warrants terrorism. Goodbye Yasser, enjoy your stay, you'll be there a while.
10 November 2004
Here is another digression...
I've been interested in how exactly to jump back into the music world, so to speak...and I've been considering opportunities and talking with a few people on the matter. One thing I was thinking about is some Christian musicians' mindset that secular music is *inherently* bad, as is playing such music. While I applaud the sentiment of wanting to dedicate one's talents to ministry, and share the sentiment myself, I find a kind of hypocrisy there. Should Christians who have skill as painters only paint nativity scenes? Should Christians who have skill as writers only write about theology? Should Christians who have skill as plumbers only service toilets in Christian homes? I'm a fan of jazz music, and I've played in a couple jazz groups. The music we played was improvisational and instrumental. No lyrics, no message, nothing. It was just music, perhaps not edifying in any way more than being pleasing to the ears of jazzers in the audience, but it was a great experience. Like I said, if a man wants to paint for a living, he'll have a hard time finding enough work if he obstinately adheres to a dogma where he will only paint religious subjects. While I'm not advocating at all an embrace of "sex drugs and rocknroll", I'm just saying we as Christians should examine this stuff objectively and honestly. Some Christian musicians get so caught up in using their music as a tool to deliver the Gospel in an easy to swallow package. They concentrate so much on the practical effect, on the message to get across through lyrics, that they lose sight of why someone would want to listen to music in the first place. (Caveat, I'm not one of those people who has ever gotten much from lyrics, I'm definately more a music guy.) If you concentrate on aping popular styles of music and injecting a Christian message into it, it seems more like marketing than music. Keep in mind the composers centuries ago who would dedicate wordless symphonies to God. Their works were designed to reflect the beauty and awe of God and His creation. All without words. As far as I know none of them ever rhymed "strife" with "life". Yes, I know some of you Christian songwriters know exactly what I am talking about. But that is what motivates me. I detest marketing and never want to use music that way. I want it first and foremost to be excellent. I, again, detest the notion that we as Christians should accept wimpy, watered down, lame caricatures of what secular musicians are doing, Christian remixes if you will. It's like low-fat ice cream. It tastes bad but its good for you. Why eat it then? What is the point of ice cream if it tastes bad? What is the point of music if it sounds bad? If you just want to deliver a message, write it down into a book and have it published, don't layer on a cheesy pop soundtrack over it and call it contemporary Christian music. I'm all riled up, I admit, as I find it agregiously irritating for a lot of the mindless tripe that is recorded out there to be labelled "Christian". Remember what and who we represent!!! Strive for excellence, Brothers, and above all do not allow yourself to settle for tepid, mediocre mock-music if you dare do it in His name!
That said, I suppose there are a lot of people out there who are very genuinely aspiring to glorify Him, not just in a strategic marketing sort of way, and maybe they just haven't developed as songwriters. What can I say, I'm a picky elitist, that is a flaw of mine. However, He isn't, and that sort of joyful noise isn't impeded by what I might consider to be pathetic writing.
Rant over. Have a wonderful day.
I've been interested in how exactly to jump back into the music world, so to speak...and I've been considering opportunities and talking with a few people on the matter. One thing I was thinking about is some Christian musicians' mindset that secular music is *inherently* bad, as is playing such music. While I applaud the sentiment of wanting to dedicate one's talents to ministry, and share the sentiment myself, I find a kind of hypocrisy there. Should Christians who have skill as painters only paint nativity scenes? Should Christians who have skill as writers only write about theology? Should Christians who have skill as plumbers only service toilets in Christian homes? I'm a fan of jazz music, and I've played in a couple jazz groups. The music we played was improvisational and instrumental. No lyrics, no message, nothing. It was just music, perhaps not edifying in any way more than being pleasing to the ears of jazzers in the audience, but it was a great experience. Like I said, if a man wants to paint for a living, he'll have a hard time finding enough work if he obstinately adheres to a dogma where he will only paint religious subjects. While I'm not advocating at all an embrace of "sex drugs and rocknroll", I'm just saying we as Christians should examine this stuff objectively and honestly. Some Christian musicians get so caught up in using their music as a tool to deliver the Gospel in an easy to swallow package. They concentrate so much on the practical effect, on the message to get across through lyrics, that they lose sight of why someone would want to listen to music in the first place. (Caveat, I'm not one of those people who has ever gotten much from lyrics, I'm definately more a music guy.) If you concentrate on aping popular styles of music and injecting a Christian message into it, it seems more like marketing than music. Keep in mind the composers centuries ago who would dedicate wordless symphonies to God. Their works were designed to reflect the beauty and awe of God and His creation. All without words. As far as I know none of them ever rhymed "strife" with "life". Yes, I know some of you Christian songwriters know exactly what I am talking about. But that is what motivates me. I detest marketing and never want to use music that way. I want it first and foremost to be excellent. I, again, detest the notion that we as Christians should accept wimpy, watered down, lame caricatures of what secular musicians are doing, Christian remixes if you will. It's like low-fat ice cream. It tastes bad but its good for you. Why eat it then? What is the point of ice cream if it tastes bad? What is the point of music if it sounds bad? If you just want to deliver a message, write it down into a book and have it published, don't layer on a cheesy pop soundtrack over it and call it contemporary Christian music. I'm all riled up, I admit, as I find it agregiously irritating for a lot of the mindless tripe that is recorded out there to be labelled "Christian". Remember what and who we represent!!! Strive for excellence, Brothers, and above all do not allow yourself to settle for tepid, mediocre mock-music if you dare do it in His name!
That said, I suppose there are a lot of people out there who are very genuinely aspiring to glorify Him, not just in a strategic marketing sort of way, and maybe they just haven't developed as songwriters. What can I say, I'm a picky elitist, that is a flaw of mine. However, He isn't, and that sort of joyful noise isn't impeded by what I might consider to be pathetic writing.
Rant over. Have a wonderful day.
09 November 2004
In Honour of the Dubious Death or Non-Death of the Leader of Palestinian Terrorism, we proudly present:
The Parrot Sketch:
A customer enters a pet shop.
Mr. Praline: 'Ello, I wish to register a complaint.
(The owner does not respond.)
Mr. Praline: 'Ello, Miss?
Owner: What do you mean "miss"?
Mr. Praline: I'm sorry, I have a cold. I wish to make a complaint!
Owner: We're closin' for lunch.
Mr. Praline: Never mind that, my lad. I wish to complain about this parrot what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very boutique.
Owner: Oh yes, the, uh, the Norwegian Blue...What's,uh...What's wrong with it?
Mr. Praline: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. 'E's dead, that's what's wrong with it!
Owner: No, no, 'e's uh,...he's resting.
Mr. Praline: Look, matey, I know a dead parrot when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now.
Owner: No no he's not dead, he's, he's restin'! Remarkable bird, the Norwegian Blue, idn'it, ay? Beautiful plumage!
Mr. Praline: The plumage don't enter into it. It's stone dead.
Owner: Nononono, no, no! 'E's resting!
Mr. Praline: All right then, if he's restin', I'll wake him up! (shouting at the cage) 'Ello, Mister Polly Parrot! I've got a lovely fresh cuttle fish for you if you show...
(owner hits the cage)
Owner: There, he moved!
Mr. Praline: No, he didn't, that was you hitting the cage!
Owner: I never!!
Mr. Praline: Yes, you did!
Owner: I never, never did anything...
Mr. Praline: (yelling and hitting the cage repeatedly) 'ELLO POLLY!!!!! Testing! Testing! Testing! Testing! This is your nine o'clock alarm call!
(Takes parrot out of the cage and thumps its head on the counter. Throws it up in the air and watches it plummet to the floor.)
Mr. Praline: Now that's what I call a dead parrot.
Owner: No, no.....No, 'e's stunned!
Mr. Praline: STUNNED?!?
Owner: Yeah! You stunned him, just as he was wakin' up! Norwegian Blues stun easily, major.
Mr. Praline: Um...now look...now look, mate, I've definitely 'ad enough of this. That parrot is definitely deceased, and when I purchased it not 'alf an hour ago, you assured me that its total lack of movement was due to it bein' tired and shagged out following a prolonged squawk.
Owner: Well, he's...he's, ah...probably pining for the fjords.
Mr. Praline: PININ' for the FJORDS?!?!?!? What kind of talk is that?, look, why did he fall flat on his back the moment I got 'im home?
Owner: The Norwegian Blue prefers keepin' on it's back! Remarkable bird, id'nit, squire? Lovely plumage!
Mr. Praline: Look, I took the liberty of examining that parrot when I got it home, and I discovered the only reason that it had been sitting on its perch in the first place was that it had been NAILED there.
(pause)
Owner: Well, o'course it was nailed there! If I hadn't nailed that bird down, it would have nuzzled up to those bars, bent 'em apart with its beak, and VOOM! Feeweeweewee!
Mr. Praline: "VOOM"?!? Mate, this bird wouldn't "voom" if you put four million volts through it! 'E's bleedin' demised!
Owner: No no! 'E's pining!
Mr. Praline: 'E's not pinin'! 'E's passed on! This parrot is no more! He has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed 'im to the perch 'e'd be pushing up the daisies! 'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-PARROT!!
(pause)
Owner: Well, I'd better replace it, then. (he takes a quick peek behind the counter) Sorry squire, I've had a look 'round the back of the shop, and uh, we're right out of parrots.
Mr. Praline: I see. I see, I get the picture.
Owner: I got a slug.
(pause)
Mr. Praline: Pray, does it talk?
Owner: Nnnnot really.
Mr. Praline: WELL IT'S HARDLY A BLOODY REPLACEMENT, IS IT?!!???!!?
Owner: N-no, I guess not. (gets ashamed, looks at his feet)
Mr. Praline: Well.
(pause)
Owner: (quietly) D'you.... d'you want to come back to my place?
Mr. Praline: (looks around) Yeah, all right, sure.
The Parrot Sketch:
A customer enters a pet shop.
Mr. Praline: 'Ello, I wish to register a complaint.
(The owner does not respond.)
Mr. Praline: 'Ello, Miss?
Owner: What do you mean "miss"?
Mr. Praline: I'm sorry, I have a cold. I wish to make a complaint!
Owner: We're closin' for lunch.
Mr. Praline: Never mind that, my lad. I wish to complain about this parrot what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very boutique.
Owner: Oh yes, the, uh, the Norwegian Blue...What's,uh...What's wrong with it?
Mr. Praline: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. 'E's dead, that's what's wrong with it!
Owner: No, no, 'e's uh,...he's resting.
Mr. Praline: Look, matey, I know a dead parrot when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now.
Owner: No no he's not dead, he's, he's restin'! Remarkable bird, the Norwegian Blue, idn'it, ay? Beautiful plumage!
Mr. Praline: The plumage don't enter into it. It's stone dead.
Owner: Nononono, no, no! 'E's resting!
Mr. Praline: All right then, if he's restin', I'll wake him up! (shouting at the cage) 'Ello, Mister Polly Parrot! I've got a lovely fresh cuttle fish for you if you show...
(owner hits the cage)
Owner: There, he moved!
Mr. Praline: No, he didn't, that was you hitting the cage!
Owner: I never!!
Mr. Praline: Yes, you did!
Owner: I never, never did anything...
Mr. Praline: (yelling and hitting the cage repeatedly) 'ELLO POLLY!!!!! Testing! Testing! Testing! Testing! This is your nine o'clock alarm call!
(Takes parrot out of the cage and thumps its head on the counter. Throws it up in the air and watches it plummet to the floor.)
Mr. Praline: Now that's what I call a dead parrot.
Owner: No, no.....No, 'e's stunned!
Mr. Praline: STUNNED?!?
Owner: Yeah! You stunned him, just as he was wakin' up! Norwegian Blues stun easily, major.
Mr. Praline: Um...now look...now look, mate, I've definitely 'ad enough of this. That parrot is definitely deceased, and when I purchased it not 'alf an hour ago, you assured me that its total lack of movement was due to it bein' tired and shagged out following a prolonged squawk.
Owner: Well, he's...he's, ah...probably pining for the fjords.
Mr. Praline: PININ' for the FJORDS?!?!?!? What kind of talk is that?, look, why did he fall flat on his back the moment I got 'im home?
Owner: The Norwegian Blue prefers keepin' on it's back! Remarkable bird, id'nit, squire? Lovely plumage!
Mr. Praline: Look, I took the liberty of examining that parrot when I got it home, and I discovered the only reason that it had been sitting on its perch in the first place was that it had been NAILED there.
(pause)
Owner: Well, o'course it was nailed there! If I hadn't nailed that bird down, it would have nuzzled up to those bars, bent 'em apart with its beak, and VOOM! Feeweeweewee!
Mr. Praline: "VOOM"?!? Mate, this bird wouldn't "voom" if you put four million volts through it! 'E's bleedin' demised!
Owner: No no! 'E's pining!
Mr. Praline: 'E's not pinin'! 'E's passed on! This parrot is no more! He has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed 'im to the perch 'e'd be pushing up the daisies! 'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-PARROT!!
(pause)
Owner: Well, I'd better replace it, then. (he takes a quick peek behind the counter) Sorry squire, I've had a look 'round the back of the shop, and uh, we're right out of parrots.
Mr. Praline: I see. I see, I get the picture.
Owner: I got a slug.
(pause)
Mr. Praline: Pray, does it talk?
Owner: Nnnnot really.
Mr. Praline: WELL IT'S HARDLY A BLOODY REPLACEMENT, IS IT?!!???!!?
Owner: N-no, I guess not. (gets ashamed, looks at his feet)
Mr. Praline: Well.
(pause)
Owner: (quietly) D'you.... d'you want to come back to my place?
Mr. Praline: (looks around) Yeah, all right, sure.
07 November 2004
The All-Important Update:
Yes, I know scores of you were sitting around wondering what became of my runny salsa. To put your collective minds at ease, I was able to reduce it it down to a very thick, potent salsa. Extremely hot. Like salsa concentrate, basically. I'm finishing off a bowl of it right now, as the Irish Stew that is finishing up in the slow cooker is not smelling too wonderful. Who likes turnips? Oh well, its food, and it kept Irishmen from starving at least.
Team America is the year's funniest movie, bar none.
Enough of this unimportant jibberjabber. Goodnight.
Yes, I know scores of you were sitting around wondering what became of my runny salsa. To put your collective minds at ease, I was able to reduce it it down to a very thick, potent salsa. Extremely hot. Like salsa concentrate, basically. I'm finishing off a bowl of it right now, as the Irish Stew that is finishing up in the slow cooker is not smelling too wonderful. Who likes turnips? Oh well, its food, and it kept Irishmen from starving at least.
Team America is the year's funniest movie, bar none.
Enough of this unimportant jibberjabber. Goodnight.
06 November 2004
V I C T O R Y
Sorry my lads and lassies, but for Blogger's burps and indigestions I would have posted sooner. I daresay listening to "Glamour Profession" by Steely Dan is forcing me to fight off a growing temptation to lapse into Eustace mode, my babies. But I shall refrain to let the funk ebb and flow so freely. AGH! There, you see!!!
Anyway, guys, the last week has been quite a wonderful time. Hard work (little of it mine) paid off, and a sweeping victory and mandate for the conservative platform. I stayed up quite late on Tuesday night, until around 3AM when I decided to do what the pantywaist networks were afraid to do, and call the race for Bush. I celebrated with the 50ml bottle of Hine Triomphe cognac I had saved for months for the victory. The grapes used to make that finest of spirits were picked from the vine when Eisenhower (or perhaps Truman?) was president, and its age showed well, it is worth every penny of its exorbitant price which I will be unable to pay again for a good long while. Anyway, it was a glorious win. Bush of course swept with 51% and a nice electoral majority. He got more votes than any president in history. The electoral map was a swath of red, with only blue pockets on the Left Coast, the Northeast, and a few industrial states (unions) to the North. And Tom Daschle was tossed out of the Senate, decapitating their power there and sending a message that we don't care for obstructionism as a status quo method of doing business on Capitol Hill. We increased our majority in the House, and more importantly, got up to 55 in the Senate, giving us a better ability to defeat ill-used filibusters. And while we lost a couple Congressional races in Kansas City (to Cleaver and Moore), I expected that, and the defeat of McCaskill was much more important to me. Glad to have Blunty Boy in the Governor's Mansion.
This all spells great news for the Supreme Court. Hopefully we can replace the aging Supremes with a less aggressive, more constructionist Court that will simply do its job and enforce the Constitution. I don't want an "active" Supreme Court, I just want one that will stick to the letter of the law, and make decisions on what the Constitution says, not what they think is "right". Let's get them back to doing their appointed job...nothing else.
Well, the Dems are depressed and rightly so. It's difficult to understate the gravity of this election. It represented so much more than whether we have President Bush or President Kerry. It represents a defeat of an active liberal press doing everything it could to influence the election, within and without the bounds of ethics (Dan Rather!). It represents a defeat of the liberal elites who said that Bush was a numbskull and would be promptly tossed out (these same liberal elites now think the election represents the stupidity of Americans...there's just no losing gracefully for them, is there?). It represents an endorsement by the majority of Americans of conservative policies, foreign and domestic (and I might remind you "Democrats" that we live in a "democracy", like it or not). It represents an immense victory for conservative ideals.
Kerry deserves a mention...I respect him now more than ever. Whatever his faults, he was well-bred and brought up with some sense of honour it seems. His concession in the face of obviously insurmountable odds spared the nation a lot of headache. Thanks for calling off the lawyers, John. His concession speech was moving and noble, and his words of encouragement for Democrats to not let this embitter them, but to strive to unite and work together, were quite refreshing. No, I don't regret my vote by any stretch, but I am thoroughly grateful for his gracious and honourable conduct after defeat was obvious.
Although here's one funny thing to note...after the President won big, the next major question posed by liberal politicians and the press corps was "what will you do to heal the divide?" Bush is going to try, as he did in his first time, to make sacrifices and offer Democrats what they've been after (education bill, energy bill, health care bill). But the more important thing to realize is that they are the losing Party. It is up to them to get on board with the winners selected by America. You want the divide healed? Step a few feet in our direction...its your responsibility, not ours. If John Kerry was the one selected by America, would the Democrats have to adopt a conservative agenda to "heal the divide"? No, Bush has a mandate. The American people have spoken, so he has the responsibility to govern as he campaigned. Truth in advertising, you know.
I'm eating salsa I made, which is far too runny. I'll have to cook it down next time. Or use drier tomatoes. "Yes, I'd like some reduced-water tomatoes please." I'm worried I'm going to spill it into my keyboard. Oh well, keyboards are cheap. Here's a strange idea. They have things called Grapples at the store, pronounced "grape"-les. They are apples that are somehow injected with artificial grape flavour. Looks like an apple, tastes like a grape Jolly Rancher. If that don't beat all. I almost succumbed to the temptation to purchase them but the price (a whopping six bucks for four Grapples) kept me from giving in. What has the world come to, when we have to use inject artificial fruit flavour into FRUIT.
Ahhh, Bootsy Collins...your music brings out the funkiest in me. Groovytown.
Yes, the ambling randomness of this post has deteriorated into jumbled babblings on whatever passes the not-too-strictly-guarded doors of my brain.
Why does Hyvee not carry lamb? I wanted to make Irish Stew tomorrow. Now I've got to make some silly beef version. Oh well, it'll be good. I assume it will at least, because it has carrots, potatoes, and turnips in it. I don't know what turnips are and have never had them before. We'll see tomorrow. A natural pairing for such a meal would be Irish stout, but all I have on hand is Boulevard's Dry Stout, which is a reasonably nice brew but a overly thin lightweight compared to some of the better, heartier Irish/English ones (Guinness Extra and anything by Samuel Smith or Young's). The Boulevard is designed for American lager drinkers who don't like a thicker, wine-like mouthfeel...they want thin, crisp, and bubbly. Oh I could go on for you-don't-want-to-know-how-long but the pretentious meter just turned yellow (high alert, as yet uncritical) so I'd better shut up.
All in all, what a week for Republicans. Something to savour no doubt, but no time to slack off or get comfortable. To liberals, I'm sure your dismay is profound and painful, as long as your denial isn't insanely deep-rooted. I'd caution you, for your sake, against bitterly labelling Americans as idiots. You only show yourself the idiot, and manifest what liberals have believed all along, that Americans are dumb sheep that don't what is best for them, and it takes the guiding hand of a liberal government to run their lives for them. If you haven't sunk to that depressing level, then we'll see you on the field of ideas...the rematch will come soon enough!
One other note...Ann Coulter wrote a scathing criticism of Karl Rove this week that I found thoroughly unwarranted. She claimed in the wake of our victory that it should have been a much broader win but for Karl Rove. She wanted the campaign to focus on gay marriage and social conservatism instead of terrorism, and that that would have made our victory even larger. Bullca-ca. As one who enjoys reading her columns and agrees most of the time, this was a slipup in my opinion. The whole crux of the conservative view on gay marriage is that it is not a federal government issue. It is not a crucial issue to the country. Sure, in light of strong support for gay marriage bans across the country, it looks like a winning political issue, but those bans that were passed were state bans. It is a state level issue...irrelevant to the Presidency. Most people don't care about gay marriage like they care about terrorism. So Ann Coulter, you're usually pretty on target, but this week, well, maybe you had celebrated a bit too much and weren't thinking quite straight. It's happened before, when I disagreed strongly with my favorite columnist, Charles Krauthammer. So far Jonah Goldberg hasn't triggered an angry disagreement from me yet, though. Good job, Jonah.
OK, I'm getting terribly ranty and this is too long.
Have a good night ladies and gents.
Sorry my lads and lassies, but for Blogger's burps and indigestions I would have posted sooner. I daresay listening to "Glamour Profession" by Steely Dan is forcing me to fight off a growing temptation to lapse into Eustace mode, my babies. But I shall refrain to let the funk ebb and flow so freely. AGH! There, you see!!!
Anyway, guys, the last week has been quite a wonderful time. Hard work (little of it mine) paid off, and a sweeping victory and mandate for the conservative platform. I stayed up quite late on Tuesday night, until around 3AM when I decided to do what the pantywaist networks were afraid to do, and call the race for Bush. I celebrated with the 50ml bottle of Hine Triomphe cognac I had saved for months for the victory. The grapes used to make that finest of spirits were picked from the vine when Eisenhower (or perhaps Truman?) was president, and its age showed well, it is worth every penny of its exorbitant price which I will be unable to pay again for a good long while. Anyway, it was a glorious win. Bush of course swept with 51% and a nice electoral majority. He got more votes than any president in history. The electoral map was a swath of red, with only blue pockets on the Left Coast, the Northeast, and a few industrial states (unions) to the North. And Tom Daschle was tossed out of the Senate, decapitating their power there and sending a message that we don't care for obstructionism as a status quo method of doing business on Capitol Hill. We increased our majority in the House, and more importantly, got up to 55 in the Senate, giving us a better ability to defeat ill-used filibusters. And while we lost a couple Congressional races in Kansas City (to Cleaver and Moore), I expected that, and the defeat of McCaskill was much more important to me. Glad to have Blunty Boy in the Governor's Mansion.
This all spells great news for the Supreme Court. Hopefully we can replace the aging Supremes with a less aggressive, more constructionist Court that will simply do its job and enforce the Constitution. I don't want an "active" Supreme Court, I just want one that will stick to the letter of the law, and make decisions on what the Constitution says, not what they think is "right". Let's get them back to doing their appointed job...nothing else.
Well, the Dems are depressed and rightly so. It's difficult to understate the gravity of this election. It represented so much more than whether we have President Bush or President Kerry. It represents a defeat of an active liberal press doing everything it could to influence the election, within and without the bounds of ethics (Dan Rather!). It represents a defeat of the liberal elites who said that Bush was a numbskull and would be promptly tossed out (these same liberal elites now think the election represents the stupidity of Americans...there's just no losing gracefully for them, is there?). It represents an endorsement by the majority of Americans of conservative policies, foreign and domestic (and I might remind you "Democrats" that we live in a "democracy", like it or not). It represents an immense victory for conservative ideals.
Kerry deserves a mention...I respect him now more than ever. Whatever his faults, he was well-bred and brought up with some sense of honour it seems. His concession in the face of obviously insurmountable odds spared the nation a lot of headache. Thanks for calling off the lawyers, John. His concession speech was moving and noble, and his words of encouragement for Democrats to not let this embitter them, but to strive to unite and work together, were quite refreshing. No, I don't regret my vote by any stretch, but I am thoroughly grateful for his gracious and honourable conduct after defeat was obvious.
Although here's one funny thing to note...after the President won big, the next major question posed by liberal politicians and the press corps was "what will you do to heal the divide?" Bush is going to try, as he did in his first time, to make sacrifices and offer Democrats what they've been after (education bill, energy bill, health care bill). But the more important thing to realize is that they are the losing Party. It is up to them to get on board with the winners selected by America. You want the divide healed? Step a few feet in our direction...its your responsibility, not ours. If John Kerry was the one selected by America, would the Democrats have to adopt a conservative agenda to "heal the divide"? No, Bush has a mandate. The American people have spoken, so he has the responsibility to govern as he campaigned. Truth in advertising, you know.
I'm eating salsa I made, which is far too runny. I'll have to cook it down next time. Or use drier tomatoes. "Yes, I'd like some reduced-water tomatoes please." I'm worried I'm going to spill it into my keyboard. Oh well, keyboards are cheap. Here's a strange idea. They have things called Grapples at the store, pronounced "grape"-les. They are apples that are somehow injected with artificial grape flavour. Looks like an apple, tastes like a grape Jolly Rancher. If that don't beat all. I almost succumbed to the temptation to purchase them but the price (a whopping six bucks for four Grapples) kept me from giving in. What has the world come to, when we have to use inject artificial fruit flavour into FRUIT.
Ahhh, Bootsy Collins...your music brings out the funkiest in me. Groovytown.
Yes, the ambling randomness of this post has deteriorated into jumbled babblings on whatever passes the not-too-strictly-guarded doors of my brain.
Why does Hyvee not carry lamb? I wanted to make Irish Stew tomorrow. Now I've got to make some silly beef version. Oh well, it'll be good. I assume it will at least, because it has carrots, potatoes, and turnips in it. I don't know what turnips are and have never had them before. We'll see tomorrow. A natural pairing for such a meal would be Irish stout, but all I have on hand is Boulevard's Dry Stout, which is a reasonably nice brew but a overly thin lightweight compared to some of the better, heartier Irish/English ones (Guinness Extra and anything by Samuel Smith or Young's). The Boulevard is designed for American lager drinkers who don't like a thicker, wine-like mouthfeel...they want thin, crisp, and bubbly. Oh I could go on for you-don't-want-to-know-how-long but the pretentious meter just turned yellow (high alert, as yet uncritical) so I'd better shut up.
All in all, what a week for Republicans. Something to savour no doubt, but no time to slack off or get comfortable. To liberals, I'm sure your dismay is profound and painful, as long as your denial isn't insanely deep-rooted. I'd caution you, for your sake, against bitterly labelling Americans as idiots. You only show yourself the idiot, and manifest what liberals have believed all along, that Americans are dumb sheep that don't what is best for them, and it takes the guiding hand of a liberal government to run their lives for them. If you haven't sunk to that depressing level, then we'll see you on the field of ideas...the rematch will come soon enough!
One other note...Ann Coulter wrote a scathing criticism of Karl Rove this week that I found thoroughly unwarranted. She claimed in the wake of our victory that it should have been a much broader win but for Karl Rove. She wanted the campaign to focus on gay marriage and social conservatism instead of terrorism, and that that would have made our victory even larger. Bullca-ca. As one who enjoys reading her columns and agrees most of the time, this was a slipup in my opinion. The whole crux of the conservative view on gay marriage is that it is not a federal government issue. It is not a crucial issue to the country. Sure, in light of strong support for gay marriage bans across the country, it looks like a winning political issue, but those bans that were passed were state bans. It is a state level issue...irrelevant to the Presidency. Most people don't care about gay marriage like they care about terrorism. So Ann Coulter, you're usually pretty on target, but this week, well, maybe you had celebrated a bit too much and weren't thinking quite straight. It's happened before, when I disagreed strongly with my favorite columnist, Charles Krauthammer. So far Jonah Goldberg hasn't triggered an angry disagreement from me yet, though. Good job, Jonah.
OK, I'm getting terribly ranty and this is too long.
Have a good night ladies and gents.
02 November 2004
"Let us to it pell-mell, if not to heaven, then hand in hand to hell" - Shakepeare's Richard III
And so the beginning of the end arrives, this political cycle winds to its climax. My lovely wife and I spent the morning standing in line at a local church to cast our ballots. Not surprisingly (given election board incompetence) our names weren't in the book, so we thought we might not get to vote. They got it straightened out with a phone call, but I was about ready to scream "Voter suppression!!! Get me Jesse Jackson!!!" Thankfully I didn't have to resort to that. On a side issue, there is a somewhat funny, somewhat poignant comparison to be made...our names were blotted out and not found in the Book of Voting, and we were nearly cast out into outer darkness. Alright, not quite appropriate analogy.
But this is it, my friends, the final poll, the one that counts. My stomach sinks with that eager feeling of anxiety before the start of an important contest. Oh well, my ballot is cast, my voice was heard. Let the people (no, not the lawyers) make their decision. Want a UN lapdog whose campaign talking points are parroted by the number one terrorist in the world? Well, it's your choice, America. I hope you make the right one.
Rush had an interesting point. Osama Bin Laden once attacked us with jetliners, and now, all he can do is attack us with a tape. This is what he has been reduced to. I'm by no means saying he is no longer a threat or that we can breathe easier, but look at it...we've been promised over the past three years countless attacks on our soil by the terrorists, and we've kept them so much on the run that in three years they haven't pulled off even one. All he can do is issue threats via Al-Jazeera. He is on the run, an insipid coward fleeing for his life into dirty little mudpits just like Uncle Saddam. Stand and fight, you worthless worm. We'll get him, and his dishonoured corpse will be welcomed into eternity where the 72 virgins he is expecting will be nowhere to be found.
This is a side issue, but I've been thinking about AIDS. We are spending more on AIDS research than on research of heart disease, which kills vastly larger amounts of people. It is an easily preventable disease. We could eradicate it permanently if people would modify their behavior. Sure, there are innocent victims of AIDS, the children who contract it from their parents, and the odd blood transfusion victim, but those are far less common. Most people get it from promiscuity. So here's my solution. Take the billions upon billions we are spending on AIDS research, and use it to have mandatory screenings of all adults every year or two. Then, criminalize the knowing transmission of AIDS. You'll have mandatory screenings for AIDS, so ignorance will be no excuse. You could have a contract to fill out and sign for a partner to give consent if you have AIDS, but if you have been tested positive for HIV, and you sleep with someone without them having signed a release form of some kind, you should be guilty of a felony, in my opinion. We need to stop the SPREAD of AIDS. Get at the source. The problem is, the Left doesn't want to give up a promiscuous lifestyle, so it insists we spend billions upon billions in search of a cure, so we can all get back to the business of "free love" and whatnot. You think AIDS is a problem? Well, then, keep your pants on and most likely you won't be at risk. They used to require STD screenings as a prerequisite for a marriage license. It isn't a bad idea...it would promote the public health. It's admittedly not sensitive and could be very cruel, but certainly less cruel than the transmission of such an STD to an innocent person without their knowledge.
What a tangent. Anyway, vote for Bush today. If you are registered to vote and support Bush, and you don't get out and vote today, then I jes' might haffa come open up a can a' whoop-ass on you. Get out the vote! Man, sloganeering is fun, I should become a Democrat...
And so the beginning of the end arrives, this political cycle winds to its climax. My lovely wife and I spent the morning standing in line at a local church to cast our ballots. Not surprisingly (given election board incompetence) our names weren't in the book, so we thought we might not get to vote. They got it straightened out with a phone call, but I was about ready to scream "Voter suppression!!! Get me Jesse Jackson!!!" Thankfully I didn't have to resort to that. On a side issue, there is a somewhat funny, somewhat poignant comparison to be made...our names were blotted out and not found in the Book of Voting, and we were nearly cast out into outer darkness. Alright, not quite appropriate analogy.
But this is it, my friends, the final poll, the one that counts. My stomach sinks with that eager feeling of anxiety before the start of an important contest. Oh well, my ballot is cast, my voice was heard. Let the people (no, not the lawyers) make their decision. Want a UN lapdog whose campaign talking points are parroted by the number one terrorist in the world? Well, it's your choice, America. I hope you make the right one.
Rush had an interesting point. Osama Bin Laden once attacked us with jetliners, and now, all he can do is attack us with a tape. This is what he has been reduced to. I'm by no means saying he is no longer a threat or that we can breathe easier, but look at it...we've been promised over the past three years countless attacks on our soil by the terrorists, and we've kept them so much on the run that in three years they haven't pulled off even one. All he can do is issue threats via Al-Jazeera. He is on the run, an insipid coward fleeing for his life into dirty little mudpits just like Uncle Saddam. Stand and fight, you worthless worm. We'll get him, and his dishonoured corpse will be welcomed into eternity where the 72 virgins he is expecting will be nowhere to be found.
This is a side issue, but I've been thinking about AIDS. We are spending more on AIDS research than on research of heart disease, which kills vastly larger amounts of people. It is an easily preventable disease. We could eradicate it permanently if people would modify their behavior. Sure, there are innocent victims of AIDS, the children who contract it from their parents, and the odd blood transfusion victim, but those are far less common. Most people get it from promiscuity. So here's my solution. Take the billions upon billions we are spending on AIDS research, and use it to have mandatory screenings of all adults every year or two. Then, criminalize the knowing transmission of AIDS. You'll have mandatory screenings for AIDS, so ignorance will be no excuse. You could have a contract to fill out and sign for a partner to give consent if you have AIDS, but if you have been tested positive for HIV, and you sleep with someone without them having signed a release form of some kind, you should be guilty of a felony, in my opinion. We need to stop the SPREAD of AIDS. Get at the source. The problem is, the Left doesn't want to give up a promiscuous lifestyle, so it insists we spend billions upon billions in search of a cure, so we can all get back to the business of "free love" and whatnot. You think AIDS is a problem? Well, then, keep your pants on and most likely you won't be at risk. They used to require STD screenings as a prerequisite for a marriage license. It isn't a bad idea...it would promote the public health. It's admittedly not sensitive and could be very cruel, but certainly less cruel than the transmission of such an STD to an innocent person without their knowledge.
What a tangent. Anyway, vote for Bush today. If you are registered to vote and support Bush, and you don't get out and vote today, then I jes' might haffa come open up a can a' whoop-ass on you. Get out the vote! Man, sloganeering is fun, I should become a Democrat...
31 October 2004
Here is my unsolicited poll analysis.
I'm using the poll averages of RealClearPolitics.com. Essentially they just maintain averages of all of the latest polls, so I'm not just picking and drawing from whatever poll I like.
Right now they maintain a listing of all states that are considered (by an average of state polls) as Solidly Bush, Leaning Bush, Solidly Kerry, or Leaning Kerry. There are eight other states that are currently considered tossups. Counting just the states that are considered solidly for or leaning to either candidate, Bush has 232 electoral votes and Kerry has 190 electoral votes. 270 votes are required to win.
Next, I looked at the state poll averages of the "tossup" states, and went ahead and counted them. They may yet be considered "too close to call" and they are indeed volatile, but I counted them regardless depending on who the polls have them favoring.
Bush gets an additional 34 electoral votes, and Kerry gets caught up with 62, putting them at Bush 266 and Kerry 252.
Ohio is averaged with a tie for its 20 electoral votes. Therefore, in the extremely unlikely event that the polls carry over accurately to the only poll that counts on Tuesday, it all hinges on who takes Ohio. In that scenario whoever won Ohio would take the presidency.
I'm using the poll averages of RealClearPolitics.com. Essentially they just maintain averages of all of the latest polls, so I'm not just picking and drawing from whatever poll I like.
Right now they maintain a listing of all states that are considered (by an average of state polls) as Solidly Bush, Leaning Bush, Solidly Kerry, or Leaning Kerry. There are eight other states that are currently considered tossups. Counting just the states that are considered solidly for or leaning to either candidate, Bush has 232 electoral votes and Kerry has 190 electoral votes. 270 votes are required to win.
Next, I looked at the state poll averages of the "tossup" states, and went ahead and counted them. They may yet be considered "too close to call" and they are indeed volatile, but I counted them regardless depending on who the polls have them favoring.
Bush gets an additional 34 electoral votes, and Kerry gets caught up with 62, putting them at Bush 266 and Kerry 252.
Ohio is averaged with a tie for its 20 electoral votes. Therefore, in the extremely unlikely event that the polls carry over accurately to the only poll that counts on Tuesday, it all hinges on who takes Ohio. In that scenario whoever won Ohio would take the presidency.
29 October 2004
I'm sorry to be so silly in such proximity to the most momentous election of my lifetime, but I can't help it. All this morning I've had the Python sketch "Biggles Dictates A Letter" running through my brain and I can't keep from laughing. Graham Chapman is a bleeding genius. To tell the truth, they all were, but this was one of Chapman's best, in an insane, silly way. He always seemed to have a knack for poncy, uppity sorts. They all could do that well, but, for example, Cleese excelled in the very straightlaced, annoyed, and rigid types, Palin was EXCELLENT as both the dirty minded lowlife and the timid, spineless accountant sort, Idle was a great slimy nightclub host among other things, and Terry Jones was unparalleled as the nasty old woman. Although Chapman was also immensely good at loopy, brainless pepperpots. And Terry Gilliam, he was more of an animator than an actor-Python, but I've always liked his Viking character ("this is my only line!"). But without further ado...
The sketch:
(Cut to stock film of First World War fighter planes in a dog-fight. Heroic war music.)
Voice Over: The Adventures of Biggles. Part one - Biggles dictates a letter.
(Mix through to Biggles and secretary in an office.)
Biggles: Miss Bladder, take a letter.
Secretary: Yes, Senor Biggles.
Biggles: Don't call me senor! I'm not a Spanish person. You must call me Mr Biggles, or Group Captain Biggles, or Mary Biggles if I'm dressed as my wife, but never senor.
Secretary: Sorry.
Biggles: I've never even been to Spain.
Secretary: You went to Ibiza last year.
Biggles: That's still not grounds for calling me senor, or Don Beeg-les for that matter. Right, Dear King Haakon...
Secretary: Of Norway, is that?
Biggles: Just put down what I say.
Secretary: Do I put that down?
Biggles: Of course you don't put that down.
Secretary: Well what about that?
Biggles: Look. (she types) Don't put that down. Just put down - wait a mo - wait a too. (puts on antlers) Now, when I've got these antlers on - when I've got these antlers on I am dictating and when I take them off (takes them off) I am not dictating.
Secretary: (types) I am not dictating.
Biggles: What? (she types; puts the antlers on) Read that back.
Secretary: Dear King Haakon, I am not dictating what?
Biggles: No, no, no, you loopy brothel inmate.
Secretary: I've had enough of this. I am not a courtesan. (moves round to front of the desk, sits on it and crosses her legs provocatively)
Biggles: Oh, oh, 'courtesan', oh aren't we grand. Harlot's not good enough for us eh? Paramour, concubine, fille de joie. That's what we are not. Well listen to me my fine fellow, you are a bit of tail, that's what you are.
Secretary: I am not, you demented fictional character.
Biggles: Algy says you are. He says you're no better than you should be.
Secretary: And how would he know?
Biggles: And just what do you mean by that? Are you calling my old fictional comrade-in-arms a fairy?
Secretary: Fairy! Poof's not good enough for Algy, is it. He's got to be a bleedin' fairy. Mincing old RAF queen. (sits at the desk)
Biggles: (into the intercom) Algy, I have to see you.
Algy: Right ho. (he enters) What ho everyone.
Biggles: Are you gay?
Algy: I should bally well say so, old fruit.
Biggles: Ugh! (he shoots him) Dear King Haakon ... oh ... (takes the antlers off) Dear King Haakon. (the secretary types) Just a line to thank you for the eels. Mary thought they were really scrummy, comma, so did I full stop. I've just heard that Algy was a poof, exclamation mark. What would Captain W. E. Johns have said, question mark. Sorry to mench, but if you've finished with the lawn-edger could you pop it in the post. Love Biggles, Algy deceased and Ginger. Ginger! (puts the antlers on)
Secretary: What?
Biggles: Rhyming slang - ginger beer.
Secretary: Oh.
Biggles: (into the intercom) Ginger.
Ginger: Hello, sweetie.
Biggles: I have to see you.
(The door opens, Ginger enters as a terrible poof in camp flying gear, sequins, eye make-up, silver stars on his cheeks.)
Ginger: Yes, Biggles?
Biggles: Are you a poof
Ginger: (camp outrage) I should say not.
Biggles: Thank God for that. Good lad. (Ginger exits) Stout fellow, salt of the earth, backbone of England. Funny, he looks like a poof. (takes off the antlers) Dear Princess Margaret.
(Pantomime Princess Margaret enters from cupboard.)
Margaret: Hello.
Biggles: Get back in the cupboard you pantomimetic royal person. (she goes)
(Quick cut to a loony.)
Loony: Lemon curry?
(Cut back to Biggles.)
Biggles: Dear real Princess Margaret, thank you for the eels, full stop. They were absolutely delicious and unmistakably regal, full stop. Sorry to mench but if you've finished with the hairdryer could you pop it in the post. Yours fictionally Biggles, Oh, PS see you at the Saxe-Coburgs' canasta evening. (puts the antlers on) That should puzzle her.
Secretary: (sexily) Si Sefior Biggles.
Biggles: Silence, naughty lady of the night!
(Bring up heroic music and mix through to stock film of fighter planes in dog-fight.)
The sketch:
(Cut to stock film of First World War fighter planes in a dog-fight. Heroic war music.)
Voice Over: The Adventures of Biggles. Part one - Biggles dictates a letter.
(Mix through to Biggles and secretary in an office.)
Biggles: Miss Bladder, take a letter.
Secretary: Yes, Senor Biggles.
Biggles: Don't call me senor! I'm not a Spanish person. You must call me Mr Biggles, or Group Captain Biggles, or Mary Biggles if I'm dressed as my wife, but never senor.
Secretary: Sorry.
Biggles: I've never even been to Spain.
Secretary: You went to Ibiza last year.
Biggles: That's still not grounds for calling me senor, or Don Beeg-les for that matter. Right, Dear King Haakon...
Secretary: Of Norway, is that?
Biggles: Just put down what I say.
Secretary: Do I put that down?
Biggles: Of course you don't put that down.
Secretary: Well what about that?
Biggles: Look. (she types) Don't put that down. Just put down - wait a mo - wait a too. (puts on antlers) Now, when I've got these antlers on - when I've got these antlers on I am dictating and when I take them off (takes them off) I am not dictating.
Secretary: (types) I am not dictating.
Biggles: What? (she types; puts the antlers on) Read that back.
Secretary: Dear King Haakon, I am not dictating what?
Biggles: No, no, no, you loopy brothel inmate.
Secretary: I've had enough of this. I am not a courtesan. (moves round to front of the desk, sits on it and crosses her legs provocatively)
Biggles: Oh, oh, 'courtesan', oh aren't we grand. Harlot's not good enough for us eh? Paramour, concubine, fille de joie. That's what we are not. Well listen to me my fine fellow, you are a bit of tail, that's what you are.
Secretary: I am not, you demented fictional character.
Biggles: Algy says you are. He says you're no better than you should be.
Secretary: And how would he know?
Biggles: And just what do you mean by that? Are you calling my old fictional comrade-in-arms a fairy?
Secretary: Fairy! Poof's not good enough for Algy, is it. He's got to be a bleedin' fairy. Mincing old RAF queen. (sits at the desk)
Biggles: (into the intercom) Algy, I have to see you.
Algy: Right ho. (he enters) What ho everyone.
Biggles: Are you gay?
Algy: I should bally well say so, old fruit.
Biggles: Ugh! (he shoots him) Dear King Haakon ... oh ... (takes the antlers off) Dear King Haakon. (the secretary types) Just a line to thank you for the eels. Mary thought they were really scrummy, comma, so did I full stop. I've just heard that Algy was a poof, exclamation mark. What would Captain W. E. Johns have said, question mark. Sorry to mench, but if you've finished with the lawn-edger could you pop it in the post. Love Biggles, Algy deceased and Ginger. Ginger! (puts the antlers on)
Secretary: What?
Biggles: Rhyming slang - ginger beer.
Secretary: Oh.
Biggles: (into the intercom) Ginger.
Ginger: Hello, sweetie.
Biggles: I have to see you.
(The door opens, Ginger enters as a terrible poof in camp flying gear, sequins, eye make-up, silver stars on his cheeks.)
Ginger: Yes, Biggles?
Biggles: Are you a poof
Ginger: (camp outrage) I should say not.
Biggles: Thank God for that. Good lad. (Ginger exits) Stout fellow, salt of the earth, backbone of England. Funny, he looks like a poof. (takes off the antlers) Dear Princess Margaret.
(Pantomime Princess Margaret enters from cupboard.)
Margaret: Hello.
Biggles: Get back in the cupboard you pantomimetic royal person. (she goes)
(Quick cut to a loony.)
Loony: Lemon curry?
(Cut back to Biggles.)
Biggles: Dear real Princess Margaret, thank you for the eels, full stop. They were absolutely delicious and unmistakably regal, full stop. Sorry to mench but if you've finished with the hairdryer could you pop it in the post. Yours fictionally Biggles, Oh, PS see you at the Saxe-Coburgs' canasta evening. (puts the antlers on) That should puzzle her.
Secretary: (sexily) Si Sefior Biggles.
Biggles: Silence, naughty lady of the night!
(Bring up heroic music and mix through to stock film of fighter planes in dog-fight.)
25 October 2004
Queen Edwards Promises Rioting If Bush Wins
Wow, if this isn't great. Elizabeth Edwards, responding to a Pennsylvania supporter voicing concerns about the occurence of post-election riots, said "not if we win." What a telling admission. So, if Kerry wins, no violence will ensue, but if Bush wins, look out for rioting! Liz Edwards will be leading the charge, setting fire to urban centers and hurling bricks! What a horrid thing for her to say...an implicit threat of violence on one hand (a vote for Bush is a vote for rioting), and an admission of the difference between Republicans and Democrats on the other. Do Republicans riot when we lose? No...that's a fundamental difference. We don't glorify angry hate speech of protestors. We don't view vitriolic slogan-shouting to be a worthwhile use of free speech. The Democrats have Al Sharpton, a bigoted hatemonger who has stirred up a few riots in his day, and we have mild-mannered George Will. I mean, look at the differences...I'd say we handle anger a little bit better than most of our liberal counterparts. Newsflash, nutjobs: the Sixties are over. The self-righteousness of the average modern protestor is quite a turn-off. There is an arrogance there, as if the protestor has something so much more worthwhile to say than anyone else, that they must go to Washington to preach their message on the steps of the Capitol. I write my political thoughts on this blog, which goes mostly unread admittedly, but I don't go out on the streets and chant at people. People are welcome to read my humble musings here, but I would never choose to force them onto people. That is the difference. It's the in-your-face, I-am-woman-hear-me-roar, sixties mentality. The self-assured arrogance of the protestors makes me want to vomit in a style reminiscent of "Team America". Actually it seems a perverse mingling of the sixties mindset with the punkrock mindset...flower power without the love. Very hateful people out there. I can respect passion and zeal, but channel it, and use it for good, not for hatred, violence, and bitter division. You want to talk about Bush not being a uniter? Lord knows he tried (all sorts of Democrat issues like education and health care), but the far left of this country has spat in his face every time.
But back to Bets Edwards...wow, what a quote! No riots, I promise, if we win. But if we lose, there will be hell to pay! WE'LL RAZE THIS CITY TO THE GROUND!!!
The Democrats have long claimed to be the loving compassionate party. Today they are a far cry from that! I've never seen such vitriol and spite fueling an election. I'm no Kerry fan, but I'm not about to start firebombing the metropolis if he wins.
Wow, if this isn't great. Elizabeth Edwards, responding to a Pennsylvania supporter voicing concerns about the occurence of post-election riots, said "not if we win." What a telling admission. So, if Kerry wins, no violence will ensue, but if Bush wins, look out for rioting! Liz Edwards will be leading the charge, setting fire to urban centers and hurling bricks! What a horrid thing for her to say...an implicit threat of violence on one hand (a vote for Bush is a vote for rioting), and an admission of the difference between Republicans and Democrats on the other. Do Republicans riot when we lose? No...that's a fundamental difference. We don't glorify angry hate speech of protestors. We don't view vitriolic slogan-shouting to be a worthwhile use of free speech. The Democrats have Al Sharpton, a bigoted hatemonger who has stirred up a few riots in his day, and we have mild-mannered George Will. I mean, look at the differences...I'd say we handle anger a little bit better than most of our liberal counterparts. Newsflash, nutjobs: the Sixties are over. The self-righteousness of the average modern protestor is quite a turn-off. There is an arrogance there, as if the protestor has something so much more worthwhile to say than anyone else, that they must go to Washington to preach their message on the steps of the Capitol. I write my political thoughts on this blog, which goes mostly unread admittedly, but I don't go out on the streets and chant at people. People are welcome to read my humble musings here, but I would never choose to force them onto people. That is the difference. It's the in-your-face, I-am-woman-hear-me-roar, sixties mentality. The self-assured arrogance of the protestors makes me want to vomit in a style reminiscent of "Team America". Actually it seems a perverse mingling of the sixties mindset with the punkrock mindset...flower power without the love. Very hateful people out there. I can respect passion and zeal, but channel it, and use it for good, not for hatred, violence, and bitter division. You want to talk about Bush not being a uniter? Lord knows he tried (all sorts of Democrat issues like education and health care), but the far left of this country has spat in his face every time.
But back to Bets Edwards...wow, what a quote! No riots, I promise, if we win. But if we lose, there will be hell to pay! WE'LL RAZE THIS CITY TO THE GROUND!!!
The Democrats have long claimed to be the loving compassionate party. Today they are a far cry from that! I've never seen such vitriol and spite fueling an election. I'm no Kerry fan, but I'm not about to start firebombing the metropolis if he wins.
18 October 2004
Guten Morgen, Damen und Herren.
My mood jumps a bit back and forth watching the election news over the past few months...I was riding quite high after the post-convention Bushie-Bounce, and then after the first debate when Our Fearless Leader was acting a bit pissy and impatient (and polls subsequently evened out) I was a bit morose with the thought of a possible defeat. And now, as Bush widens his lead (visit http://www.realclearpolitics.com for an up-to-date average of the major polls and an electoral college map) I'm feeling reassured. It all boils down to the immense unpredictability of elections, though...the only poll that matters is on November 2nd. But we will see.
I find it enormously amusing that my friend and fellow patriot Andrew Talbert has achieved one of his goals over the past week...making the first contact with his future wife, Barbara Bush. While he confessed to me that email addresses and phone numbers were not exchanged as yet, he insists that this is only the first stage, and I must give him time. I saw the pictures of them together yesterday they had taken...they do make a fine couple. Good luck Andres, you have your work cut out for you. Have a care not to get your legs broken by the Secret Service. Well, in all seriousness, I laugh, but I have also long learned not to underestimate future President Talbert. A genuine good luck, Sir, as you will need every ounce of the training you recieved from me in all manners of suaveness and charm.
Vlad Putin has essentially endorsed Bushie for reelection. Tony Blair I would wonder about, but I bet he would too, but for his decidedly liberal base that no doubt yearns for The Nuanced One. Now, I can see Kofi Annan, Jacque Chirac, the Iranian mullahs, and Kim Jong Il aching for a Kerry victory, but as far as our real allies go, they don't want someone who intends to leave them high and dry. Bush is doggedly loyal and resolute, and that sort of consistency is probably much valued by our true allies. With Kerry, there couldn't be a sense of trust, because you never quite know for sure what he means or intends to do. For example, consider his statement as follows, just after the capture of Saddam:
"Those who doubted whether Iraq or the world would be better off without Saddam Hussein and those who believe today that we are not safer with his capture don't have the judgment to be president or the credibility to be elected president."
Kerry has gone and contradicted himself on this time and time again, over these past few months. He is an opportunist, not an idealist, and that means what he says is calculated, not founded on a core belief. Howard Dean, psychopathic nutjob though he may be, was at least this sort of idealist who said what he believed. Likewise, Nader. But Kerry? Give me a break...he's a gigolo for rich widows, and that personality has carried over to the political spectrum.
My mood jumps a bit back and forth watching the election news over the past few months...I was riding quite high after the post-convention Bushie-Bounce, and then after the first debate when Our Fearless Leader was acting a bit pissy and impatient (and polls subsequently evened out) I was a bit morose with the thought of a possible defeat. And now, as Bush widens his lead (visit http://www.realclearpolitics.com for an up-to-date average of the major polls and an electoral college map) I'm feeling reassured. It all boils down to the immense unpredictability of elections, though...the only poll that matters is on November 2nd. But we will see.
I find it enormously amusing that my friend and fellow patriot Andrew Talbert has achieved one of his goals over the past week...making the first contact with his future wife, Barbara Bush. While he confessed to me that email addresses and phone numbers were not exchanged as yet, he insists that this is only the first stage, and I must give him time. I saw the pictures of them together yesterday they had taken...they do make a fine couple. Good luck Andres, you have your work cut out for you. Have a care not to get your legs broken by the Secret Service. Well, in all seriousness, I laugh, but I have also long learned not to underestimate future President Talbert. A genuine good luck, Sir, as you will need every ounce of the training you recieved from me in all manners of suaveness and charm.
Vlad Putin has essentially endorsed Bushie for reelection. Tony Blair I would wonder about, but I bet he would too, but for his decidedly liberal base that no doubt yearns for The Nuanced One. Now, I can see Kofi Annan, Jacque Chirac, the Iranian mullahs, and Kim Jong Il aching for a Kerry victory, but as far as our real allies go, they don't want someone who intends to leave them high and dry. Bush is doggedly loyal and resolute, and that sort of consistency is probably much valued by our true allies. With Kerry, there couldn't be a sense of trust, because you never quite know for sure what he means or intends to do. For example, consider his statement as follows, just after the capture of Saddam:
"Those who doubted whether Iraq or the world would be better off without Saddam Hussein and those who believe today that we are not safer with his capture don't have the judgment to be president or the credibility to be elected president."
Kerry has gone and contradicted himself on this time and time again, over these past few months. He is an opportunist, not an idealist, and that means what he says is calculated, not founded on a core belief. Howard Dean, psychopathic nutjob though he may be, was at least this sort of idealist who said what he believed. Likewise, Nader. But Kerry? Give me a break...he's a gigolo for rich widows, and that personality has carried over to the political spectrum.
10 October 2004
Hats off to Trey Parker and Matt Stone.
I saw a sneak preview of their Team America movie, to be released this coming weekend. What can I say, I've not laughed at a movie so much in quite some time. Wonderful, absolutely immature, and a rare crack at the sacred cows of the celebrity world. Sure to piss off some people in high places in Hollywood, undoubtedly. I would say this movie cracks its way into my top ten comedy films of all time, definately. And as another caveat...those with tender sensibilities or an aversion to the traditional violence, profanity, and sex of standard issue action movies, you'll want to avoid this one too. It does a good job of being offensive in every way possible. And antiwar liberals might come away a bit offended too by the general message of the film. Sean Penn already dashed off a bitter memo to the creators, who no doubt savoured getting that reaction. Anyway, it is nothing short of brilliant as a parody of cheesy action films, and pays a good deal of homage to its Thunderbirds roots...unfortunately few people in my age bracket ever saw much of the original Thunderbirds, which no doubt makes it funnier for me. The music is hilarious and well done, and the cinematography...wow...it should win something for that alone. And Kim Jong Il, he was absolutely divine. "How you rike that, HANS BRIX!!!" And of course, "I'm So Ronery".
I saw a sneak preview of their Team America movie, to be released this coming weekend. What can I say, I've not laughed at a movie so much in quite some time. Wonderful, absolutely immature, and a rare crack at the sacred cows of the celebrity world. Sure to piss off some people in high places in Hollywood, undoubtedly. I would say this movie cracks its way into my top ten comedy films of all time, definately. And as another caveat...those with tender sensibilities or an aversion to the traditional violence, profanity, and sex of standard issue action movies, you'll want to avoid this one too. It does a good job of being offensive in every way possible. And antiwar liberals might come away a bit offended too by the general message of the film. Sean Penn already dashed off a bitter memo to the creators, who no doubt savoured getting that reaction. Anyway, it is nothing short of brilliant as a parody of cheesy action films, and pays a good deal of homage to its Thunderbirds roots...unfortunately few people in my age bracket ever saw much of the original Thunderbirds, which no doubt makes it funnier for me. The music is hilarious and well done, and the cinematography...wow...it should win something for that alone. And Kim Jong Il, he was absolutely divine. "How you rike that, HANS BRIX!!!" And of course, "I'm So Ronery".
08 October 2004
07 October 2004
Hands up, all you who watched the Veep-Debate...
I thought so.
Of course the liberal networks did their darndest to propogate the idea that it was a draw (I daresay we conservatives value honesty a bit higher, in light of our response to Thursday's debate), but for anyone actually paying attention, Edwards got paddled. He got taken out to the woodshed, my friends, and was sent home squalling. Probably won't be sitting down for a while.
Coulter said it best:
"Here's what the vigilant viewer of Tuesday night's debate would have learned: You should vote for the Kerry-Edwards ticket because John Edwards' old man used to learn math off of the TV. Dear Diary: Went to a vice presidential debate Tuesday night and an 'Oprah' show broke out."
Cheney was in fine form. I felt an enormous sense of respect for his approach to the gay marriage amendment. He had little to say...out of loyalty. I admit I believe this is a states' rights issue...but Great Gravy I don't want to get into that right now, I'm far too whimsical. Or am I far too burdened with the weight of the world? Oh well, either way, I'm not going to needlessly wax on about federalism today.
I thought so.
Of course the liberal networks did their darndest to propogate the idea that it was a draw (I daresay we conservatives value honesty a bit higher, in light of our response to Thursday's debate), but for anyone actually paying attention, Edwards got paddled. He got taken out to the woodshed, my friends, and was sent home squalling. Probably won't be sitting down for a while.
Coulter said it best:
"Here's what the vigilant viewer of Tuesday night's debate would have learned: You should vote for the Kerry-Edwards ticket because John Edwards' old man used to learn math off of the TV. Dear Diary: Went to a vice presidential debate Tuesday night and an 'Oprah' show broke out."
Cheney was in fine form. I felt an enormous sense of respect for his approach to the gay marriage amendment. He had little to say...out of loyalty. I admit I believe this is a states' rights issue...but Great Gravy I don't want to get into that right now, I'm far too whimsical. Or am I far too burdened with the weight of the world? Oh well, either way, I'm not going to needlessly wax on about federalism today.
05 October 2004
Hmmm...after reading a shocked reviewer's musings on "Team America"...well, let me just say it may be a lot worse than the mild but humorous trailers make it out to be! Being a fan of the hilarious yet outlandishly profane South Park movie, I'll probably still enjoy it (curse my jaded ears!) but I don't think I'm going to go and recommend it to one and all! These are the same guys who brought us Terrance and Phillip's spirited chorus of "Shut Your ******* Face, Uncle ******", the love triangle between Satan, Saddam Hussein, and that Chris guy, and the episode where Cartman dons a speedo for a NAMBLA conference. I mean, this is sick stuff...so caveat emptor.
But Kim Jong Il singing "I'm So Ronery"? I can't miss that.
Anyway, on with political tidings...the depressed Left finally did get a shot in the arm. Kerry and his minions are crowing with joyful fervor because, basically, Kerry didn't say "umm" as much. Here is Bush's problem. Most still side with Bush on the substance of the debate...nobody wants for us to have to submit to the UN's "global test" in order to defend ourselves, except the fringe lefties. However, in "style" Kerry won. Bush was unacceptably irritable, and probably tired from a long day of travel and duties. He spent the day with hurricane survivors...you and I would be worn out too, emotionally if not physically. The problem is people who care about substance have already made up their mind. The people who are still out there calling themselves "undecided" are the morons and ignoramuses who don't deserve the right to cast a vote, in my wild and ranty opinion. And they don't care about the substance, they care about who looks better, who speaks with more articulation, and who has the best "impression" on them. Not what they say, but how they say it. That is why debates are all about style and not about substance, because the only people who could be swayed by them are the imbeciles who fancy themselves to be great independent thinkers, when all they are is daft "useful idiots" floating along bereft of any core philosophy of government, susceptible to any pandering tossed their way in exchange for a vote.
But tonight, things might go differently. Certainly no undecideds really care about the veep debate, but political buffs definately are geared up for this one. Edwards is the trial lawyer, the Lionel Hutz of the Left. Prepare for the "George Bush runs over innocent puppies with a wheat harvester for fun" argument. Cheney on the other hand is entirely capable and coherent, a very bright man. As I have oft said, Edwards is the yapping shih'tzu to Cheney's bull mastiff. Edwards thinks he can run circles around Cheney, but Cheney has that slow, patient power and command of the situation. A great matchup to be sure.
Who is this Edwards guy anyway? What a used car salesman, his phoney plastic smile annoys the hell out of me. You want this guy, a junior Senator with no other experience outside of trumped-up lawsuits, to be vice-president? A single bullet or aneurism away from leading the most powerful country in the world? What industrial solvents have you been inhaling???!!!
But Kim Jong Il singing "I'm So Ronery"? I can't miss that.
Anyway, on with political tidings...the depressed Left finally did get a shot in the arm. Kerry and his minions are crowing with joyful fervor because, basically, Kerry didn't say "umm" as much. Here is Bush's problem. Most still side with Bush on the substance of the debate...nobody wants for us to have to submit to the UN's "global test" in order to defend ourselves, except the fringe lefties. However, in "style" Kerry won. Bush was unacceptably irritable, and probably tired from a long day of travel and duties. He spent the day with hurricane survivors...you and I would be worn out too, emotionally if not physically. The problem is people who care about substance have already made up their mind. The people who are still out there calling themselves "undecided" are the morons and ignoramuses who don't deserve the right to cast a vote, in my wild and ranty opinion. And they don't care about the substance, they care about who looks better, who speaks with more articulation, and who has the best "impression" on them. Not what they say, but how they say it. That is why debates are all about style and not about substance, because the only people who could be swayed by them are the imbeciles who fancy themselves to be great independent thinkers, when all they are is daft "useful idiots" floating along bereft of any core philosophy of government, susceptible to any pandering tossed their way in exchange for a vote.
But tonight, things might go differently. Certainly no undecideds really care about the veep debate, but political buffs definately are geared up for this one. Edwards is the trial lawyer, the Lionel Hutz of the Left. Prepare for the "George Bush runs over innocent puppies with a wheat harvester for fun" argument. Cheney on the other hand is entirely capable and coherent, a very bright man. As I have oft said, Edwards is the yapping shih'tzu to Cheney's bull mastiff. Edwards thinks he can run circles around Cheney, but Cheney has that slow, patient power and command of the situation. A great matchup to be sure.
Who is this Edwards guy anyway? What a used car salesman, his phoney plastic smile annoys the hell out of me. You want this guy, a junior Senator with no other experience outside of trumped-up lawsuits, to be vice-president? A single bullet or aneurism away from leading the most powerful country in the world? What industrial solvents have you been inhaling???!!!
01 October 2004
During the early months of World War II, when many felt the nation's war machine was running on empty and anxiety hovered over the land of the free, Life magazine published a cover photograph of a Japanese officer with a scimitar raised to behead a kneeling American flier with a cut that was no less gruesome for its swiftness. The photograph haunted the nation for weeks. There was sadness and anger, but no rebukes of FDR, no cries of despair, no mocking of American soldiers that they were fighting "the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time." The cruelty of the savagery enraged the grown-ups and fortified the fury that redoubled determination to win the war. We must determine again to show our enemies just who we can be, and passing a "global test" of approval be damned. -Wes Pruden
28 September 2004
As a deeply devoted "South Parkateer" and a longtime fan of the original "Thunderbirds" series, I must say I wait with bated breath for the launch of "Team America: World Police":
http://www.teamamericamovie.com/
Who better than Matt Stone and Trey Parker to simultaneously humanize and immortalize brutal despots? First Saddam Hussein...who made his most notable performance in "South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut". Now, the eminently lovable and idiosyncratic Kim Jong Il, better known as "that little pot-bellied dictator from North Korea", will be forever sealed in our minds as a small wooden puppet. From the snippets I've seen...I'm going to love this movie. Hopefully they stay within the bounds of at least some semblance of taste, but what can I even hope for from these guys? Probably not that.
For all the popularity of emo crap and 80's rehash poprock on the local scene, I feel sometimes like heading back to my roots. Listening to Chicago Transit Authority and Led Zeppelin II seem to confirm it. That's the kind of music I was born to play. I am, after all, my father's son.
Oh man, I am going to need a bigger amp.
http://www.teamamericamovie.com/
Who better than Matt Stone and Trey Parker to simultaneously humanize and immortalize brutal despots? First Saddam Hussein...who made his most notable performance in "South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut". Now, the eminently lovable and idiosyncratic Kim Jong Il, better known as "that little pot-bellied dictator from North Korea", will be forever sealed in our minds as a small wooden puppet. From the snippets I've seen...I'm going to love this movie. Hopefully they stay within the bounds of at least some semblance of taste, but what can I even hope for from these guys? Probably not that.
For all the popularity of emo crap and 80's rehash poprock on the local scene, I feel sometimes like heading back to my roots. Listening to Chicago Transit Authority and Led Zeppelin II seem to confirm it. That's the kind of music I was born to play. I am, after all, my father's son.
Oh man, I am going to need a bigger amp.
27 September 2004
"I am now and have been for years a firm advocate of developing a system to limit the people who can vote in this country. We need to find a way to restrict the number of people who can vote. If we don't weed out the chaff soon it may well be too late. Don't give me that 'democracy' nonsense. In spite of what you hear from your government school teacher, your leftist college professor, or that smiling talking head on television, we are not a democracy. Never were. Weren't supposed to be. You won't find the word 'democracy' in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States or in any constitution of any of the 50 States. There's a reason for that. Our Founding Fathers hated the idea of democracy. They knew that a government of majority rule would dissolve into a tyranny of plunder and chaos. In anticipation of yet another knee-jerk response to my proposal that we limit voting, let me remind you that there is absolutely no constitutional guarantee of your right to vote in any federal election. Do some reading. It isn't there. A latte to the person who can find anything in our Constitution that sounds remotely like 'each citizen shall have the right to vote in a federal election.' Happy hunting." -Neal Boortz
23 September 2004
Hats Off To Jocelyn Elders
The loopy dingbat Surgeon General of the early Clinton years, I had all but forgotten Ms. Elders. This morning I stumbled across a portion of tape I had made probably some ten years ago of some of her more batty remarks. This woman was a true comedienne, she was talented...along the lines of Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf (individuals who claim to be serious, but are so insanely funny it is hard to believe that they are). Imagine a cross between a zestful inner-city preacher and Nurse Diesel from Mel Brooks' High Anxiety, and that's the ever beloved Jocelyn Elders. I can't even describe the things she said...it would not do her justice. It was the way she spoke, her diction. You were fantabulous, Jocelyn, we remain your devoted fans whereever you are.
The loopy dingbat Surgeon General of the early Clinton years, I had all but forgotten Ms. Elders. This morning I stumbled across a portion of tape I had made probably some ten years ago of some of her more batty remarks. This woman was a true comedienne, she was talented...along the lines of Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf (individuals who claim to be serious, but are so insanely funny it is hard to believe that they are). Imagine a cross between a zestful inner-city preacher and Nurse Diesel from Mel Brooks' High Anxiety, and that's the ever beloved Jocelyn Elders. I can't even describe the things she said...it would not do her justice. It was the way she spoke, her diction. You were fantabulous, Jocelyn, we remain your devoted fans whereever you are.
21 September 2004
Oh, how the Mighty have fallen, my friends. CBS sends in its bomb-defusing squad a good long week after Rathergate detonated. It's too late, guys, sorry. You've nixed your credibility...so long, you self-important dinosaurs of the previous journalism age. Long live the dynamic, populist power of the blogosphere.
I'm thinking tentatvely of actually getting involved locally...I've been to many local GOP leadership meetings at the behest of future President Talbert, but I'm pondering attending a UMKC College Republicans meeting. Not that I'm ever on campus anymore, but hey, why not, I am a student after all.
And yes...though I've not mentioned it before, I finally purchased my car. It is a beauty, a stunning emerald green 2001 Mazda Miata LS, leather interior, tan ragtop, 6-speed transmission, Bose sound system, optional rear spoiler...it is my baby. I love it more than I thought I could love a car. Which isn't all that much admittedly (no, I'm not auto-obsessed), but still, I do think it is about as awesome as a car in my price range could be. Ohhh that suspension, crisp, rigid, and responsive...the car fits like a glove, and responds with an almost telepathic sensitivity as we carve through the serpentine roads, the crisp September air rushing past and the lusty growl of the engine...music to my ears. Did I mention it is beautiful? Anyway, for all who have not experienced the luxury that is a roadster, Miatas are highly recommended. Zoom-zoom.
I should be in marketing, really. I want a car that is "powerful like a gorilla, yet soft and yielding like a Nerf ball". Oh, Homer, what have I become?
And yes...this makes the idea of a baby grand seem distant and unreachable. Ehh, VSTi's are ridiculously cheaper, more flexible, and generally better-sounding too. They just lack the romance...no strings vibrating, none of that subtle interplay and sympathetic resonation. But who cares. Rather, who cares enough to warrant the price. Not me, at least, not at this point.
Almost finished with Coulter's book...it is a masterpiece, gents, and don't you forget it. Buy it or procure a copy from your local library, I must insist. As a young man (if only in a literal sense) I am amazed to think of what we have been taught about Joe McCarthy. It's the ultimate payback of the comsymp liberals he exposed...a true revisionist hitjob. I daresay, not even comsymps...actual Soviet agents paid by the Kremlin.
I'm thinking tentatvely of actually getting involved locally...I've been to many local GOP leadership meetings at the behest of future President Talbert, but I'm pondering attending a UMKC College Republicans meeting. Not that I'm ever on campus anymore, but hey, why not, I am a student after all.
And yes...though I've not mentioned it before, I finally purchased my car. It is a beauty, a stunning emerald green 2001 Mazda Miata LS, leather interior, tan ragtop, 6-speed transmission, Bose sound system, optional rear spoiler...it is my baby. I love it more than I thought I could love a car. Which isn't all that much admittedly (no, I'm not auto-obsessed), but still, I do think it is about as awesome as a car in my price range could be. Ohhh that suspension, crisp, rigid, and responsive...the car fits like a glove, and responds with an almost telepathic sensitivity as we carve through the serpentine roads, the crisp September air rushing past and the lusty growl of the engine...music to my ears. Did I mention it is beautiful? Anyway, for all who have not experienced the luxury that is a roadster, Miatas are highly recommended. Zoom-zoom.
I should be in marketing, really. I want a car that is "powerful like a gorilla, yet soft and yielding like a Nerf ball". Oh, Homer, what have I become?
And yes...this makes the idea of a baby grand seem distant and unreachable. Ehh, VSTi's are ridiculously cheaper, more flexible, and generally better-sounding too. They just lack the romance...no strings vibrating, none of that subtle interplay and sympathetic resonation. But who cares. Rather, who cares enough to warrant the price. Not me, at least, not at this point.
Almost finished with Coulter's book...it is a masterpiece, gents, and don't you forget it. Buy it or procure a copy from your local library, I must insist. As a young man (if only in a literal sense) I am amazed to think of what we have been taught about Joe McCarthy. It's the ultimate payback of the comsymp liberals he exposed...a true revisionist hitjob. I daresay, not even comsymps...actual Soviet agents paid by the Kremlin.
15 September 2004
Ladies and Gents,
Here is my reasoning why we should be even more optimistic than the polls suggest. The key issue is not what the American people think in general, it is who is going to actually vote, and what they think. The Republicans of this country are riding high after a fiery convention, and are extremely optimistic, and they love their guy. The Democrats are demoralised, and are united much less in support of Kerry, whom they generally dislike, than in hatred for Bush. Few Democrats want to go to the polls this year because they love John Kerry, because he's their guy. They view this election as a bitter contest between Bush and Anybody-But-Bush. Hate for Bush will prove to be much less motivating for people to head to the polls than support for a candidate. Look at it this way...Demos are kind of depressed about this election, because they don't particularly like either choice. Would you rather go to the polls to choose between a candidate you really liked and one you didn't, or two candidates you disliked, albeit one more than the other? Republicans are excited to cast a vote for George Bush. There's excitement there. Democrats...at least those Democrats who have been paying attention...see their candidate and are quietly remorseful of their choice. Everyone knows Kerry is a schmuck...we expect that of politicians anyway, so its no big surprise, but you KNOW they are longing for the days of the charming, engaging schmuck...but soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Bill Clinton is the sun! Dream on, Demos.
Reading Coulter's book "Treason". Excellent book I must say, three cheers for Whittaker Chambers and Joe McCarthy. The book is a resounding success of truth in the face of liberal revisionism.
Here is my reasoning why we should be even more optimistic than the polls suggest. The key issue is not what the American people think in general, it is who is going to actually vote, and what they think. The Republicans of this country are riding high after a fiery convention, and are extremely optimistic, and they love their guy. The Democrats are demoralised, and are united much less in support of Kerry, whom they generally dislike, than in hatred for Bush. Few Democrats want to go to the polls this year because they love John Kerry, because he's their guy. They view this election as a bitter contest between Bush and Anybody-But-Bush. Hate for Bush will prove to be much less motivating for people to head to the polls than support for a candidate. Look at it this way...Demos are kind of depressed about this election, because they don't particularly like either choice. Would you rather go to the polls to choose between a candidate you really liked and one you didn't, or two candidates you disliked, albeit one more than the other? Republicans are excited to cast a vote for George Bush. There's excitement there. Democrats...at least those Democrats who have been paying attention...see their candidate and are quietly remorseful of their choice. Everyone knows Kerry is a schmuck...we expect that of politicians anyway, so its no big surprise, but you KNOW they are longing for the days of the charming, engaging schmuck...but soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Bill Clinton is the sun! Dream on, Demos.
Reading Coulter's book "Treason". Excellent book I must say, three cheers for Whittaker Chambers and Joe McCarthy. The book is a resounding success of truth in the face of liberal revisionism.
14 September 2004
Ohh, I am giddy as a schoolboy today, mis amigos, at the unfolding absurdity going on at CBS News. Death knells for the Kerry campaign if the spaghetti hits the fan. And it just might.
I hope you all have been watching this unfurl, because it is mesmerizing, a tooth-and-nail fight between the Old Media and the New Media. The Old Media, vanguarded by Dan "Stinkypants" Rather (his college nickname) and CBS, has been caught by the throat, yet refuses to yield. Cheers for the bloggers who blew the whistle, brilliant analysis. My favorite part of all this, though, is the conjecture of the source. Many believe the source of the forgeries is the Kerry campaign. If this is confirmed, goodbye John-John, you will join the ranks of Mondale and Dukakis. The crazier conjecture, put forth by reporters undoubtedly clinging to hope, is that KARL ROVE (!!!) created these and fed them to the DNC. Its just crazy enough to be brilliant, and I would be almost pleased to know we have such clever if absolutely insane people on our team, but give me a break! The idea was good for a laugh in any case. Rove must also be behind Sept 11th!!! And AIDS!!!
Anyway, if we wrestle the source of these forgeries out of CBS, which is a tough job, and it is a Kerry or DNC affiliate...then I can drink my celebratory Hine Triomphe now instead of election night, because its officially over. I really wouldn't mind seeing the polls jump up another 10 points for Bush. We're really quite close to Nov 2! Less than two months, folks. Kerry's modern day PCF 94 is shot full of holes and he looks to be going down with the ship.
In other news, I played my Fender Jazz Bass the other day, I've had it loaned out and I've missed it. Ooooweee baby you set my soul on FIRE...that's why I know you are my only desire... Sorry, it was just so groove-tastic, my friends, that I had to interject some Stevie Wonder. Something about a Jazz Bass, the grooves just pour out. Smooth, sophisticated, rich. Oh yes, I can dig it. Man, Eustace is filtering over here or something. But seriously, playing bass is an enriching experience. Even when playing the most soulless, linguine-spined, whiteboy music...you can commandeer the groove, put some motion into it. Yes, I love the bass...
I hope you all have been watching this unfurl, because it is mesmerizing, a tooth-and-nail fight between the Old Media and the New Media. The Old Media, vanguarded by Dan "Stinkypants" Rather (his college nickname) and CBS, has been caught by the throat, yet refuses to yield. Cheers for the bloggers who blew the whistle, brilliant analysis. My favorite part of all this, though, is the conjecture of the source. Many believe the source of the forgeries is the Kerry campaign. If this is confirmed, goodbye John-John, you will join the ranks of Mondale and Dukakis. The crazier conjecture, put forth by reporters undoubtedly clinging to hope, is that KARL ROVE (!!!) created these and fed them to the DNC. Its just crazy enough to be brilliant, and I would be almost pleased to know we have such clever if absolutely insane people on our team, but give me a break! The idea was good for a laugh in any case. Rove must also be behind Sept 11th!!! And AIDS!!!
Anyway, if we wrestle the source of these forgeries out of CBS, which is a tough job, and it is a Kerry or DNC affiliate...then I can drink my celebratory Hine Triomphe now instead of election night, because its officially over. I really wouldn't mind seeing the polls jump up another 10 points for Bush. We're really quite close to Nov 2! Less than two months, folks. Kerry's modern day PCF 94 is shot full of holes and he looks to be going down with the ship.
In other news, I played my Fender Jazz Bass the other day, I've had it loaned out and I've missed it. Ooooweee baby you set my soul on FIRE...that's why I know you are my only desire... Sorry, it was just so groove-tastic, my friends, that I had to interject some Stevie Wonder. Something about a Jazz Bass, the grooves just pour out. Smooth, sophisticated, rich. Oh yes, I can dig it. Man, Eustace is filtering over here or something. But seriously, playing bass is an enriching experience. Even when playing the most soulless, linguine-spined, whiteboy music...you can commandeer the groove, put some motion into it. Yes, I love the bass...
09 September 2004
The Great Bear Awakens
I'm somewhat surprised at myself for leaving this topic untouched...the Beslan hostage crisis. I find it stunning that our media will refer to these cowardly dogs unfit for staining the blades of our bayonets with their rancid, pale, venemous blood as "Chechan rebels", just as the murderous, hate-filled terrorists in Iraq are now known as "militants". Wow, that first bit was good, Michael Savage would be proud. These vermin who would shoot a young, innocent child in the back like an animal... Well, suffice to say that I am excited and grateful to hear that the Russian government has not lapsed into the fearful and ineffective tactic of concessions. These are people who don't care about political correctness or how nice people in the world think their country is...they care about killing the bastards who did this and those that would do it again. Thank goodness we now have an ally, perhaps an ally we've not always been too chummy with (that's for sure), but at least another country united in our resolve to fight this doctrine of Islamic facism and terrorism, and vanquish it and its murderous adherents from the face of the Earth. I must confess, I am thrilled to see a resolved Russia now ready to fight terrorism, infinitely moreso than had France or Germany done such an about-face. Those two countries are irrelevant, and they haven't had a serious military in almost 60 years, unless you count our boys stationed over there to protect them from the now-defunct Red Army. So piss on France and Germany (you didn't think I could get any more elegant in my word selection, did you?). Besides with the current demographic trends, France may be a hardline Islamist state in 20 years!
The Russians bitterly remember the tooth-and-nail fighting in Afghanistan...perhaps they will put their experience to good use. There are certainly a lot of ex-Soviet "-stans" over there that could use a little policing and watching over. The Russians certainly aren't as averse to harshness and sacrifice as the average soft-bellied American is. Seeing Russian troops fighting alongside American troops would be quite a sight, admittedly! Last time that happened they had Berlin between them.
I'm somewhat surprised at myself for leaving this topic untouched...the Beslan hostage crisis. I find it stunning that our media will refer to these cowardly dogs unfit for staining the blades of our bayonets with their rancid, pale, venemous blood as "Chechan rebels", just as the murderous, hate-filled terrorists in Iraq are now known as "militants". Wow, that first bit was good, Michael Savage would be proud. These vermin who would shoot a young, innocent child in the back like an animal... Well, suffice to say that I am excited and grateful to hear that the Russian government has not lapsed into the fearful and ineffective tactic of concessions. These are people who don't care about political correctness or how nice people in the world think their country is...they care about killing the bastards who did this and those that would do it again. Thank goodness we now have an ally, perhaps an ally we've not always been too chummy with (that's for sure), but at least another country united in our resolve to fight this doctrine of Islamic facism and terrorism, and vanquish it and its murderous adherents from the face of the Earth. I must confess, I am thrilled to see a resolved Russia now ready to fight terrorism, infinitely moreso than had France or Germany done such an about-face. Those two countries are irrelevant, and they haven't had a serious military in almost 60 years, unless you count our boys stationed over there to protect them from the now-defunct Red Army. So piss on France and Germany (you didn't think I could get any more elegant in my word selection, did you?). Besides with the current demographic trends, France may be a hardline Islamist state in 20 years!
The Russians bitterly remember the tooth-and-nail fighting in Afghanistan...perhaps they will put their experience to good use. There are certainly a lot of ex-Soviet "-stans" over there that could use a little policing and watching over. The Russians certainly aren't as averse to harshness and sacrifice as the average soft-bellied American is. Seeing Russian troops fighting alongside American troops would be quite a sight, admittedly! Last time that happened they had Berlin between them.
07 September 2004
Simple, plain Clarence...I do love thee so, that I shall shortly send thy soul to heaven...if heaven will take the present at our hands...
Pardon me, the Bard has these rantings (or in the words of a certain Dane, "Words, words, words!") bouncing around me head.
No longwinded rants today, nor any great insights...just a simple note of gratitude for the President's recent political comeback. I'd like to also mention that my "schadenfreude" as previously mentioned is not something I experience concerning all Democrats...only the extremely hostile and hateful variety who have been hurling screed after venemous screed at Bush since the 2000 elections. To those more moderate and reasonable Democrats (Zell Miller?) I offer this consolation, though it may seem no consolation indeed at this time. Perhaps as time waxes onward and the eye of history looks back unclouded by the heady times we are all caught up in, we will see perhaps that we were better off with Bush at the helm...beyond political reasonings and party doctrine, but simply just for the sake of our country. Perhaps not, though. Time will judge more wisely than any editorialist or commentator could. Above the political fray and the power struggles there is a fundamental question: how do we protect Americans from Islamic radicals around the world, bent on killing every one of us whatever it takes? I hope pick the right choice, because seriously folks...God forbid that it would take a mushroom cloud over Kansas City (or any other city) to get us to take this war seriously. Just taking that as an example...my wife and I would be vaporized, along with the majority of our friends and family. Millions, possibly billions dead. You have to accept this as a possible threat...they have the will to do it and are working damn hard to achieve the means to do it. If you live in denial of the threat of nuclear terrorism you will never be able to fight it and prevent it. And then there is Kerry's stumping mantra of "jobs, jobs, jobs"? Could you pick a more irrelevant campaign issue???
There are those who would accuse me, and others who raise topics such as these, of "fear-mongering." Just as they would have accused a pre-9/11 whistleblower of the same thing. You bet your sorry ass it's fear-mongering...it wouldn't hurt to foster a little concern among a sedate and comfortable people, who are fast lapsing into denial concerning terrorism, as the painful reality of 9/11 fades into a more distant memory. How much better that they would wake up a little and that fear would motivate them to take precautions concerning our security, than to have an unprecedented slaughter of our people (via a suitcase nuke, a virus strain, whatever) be required to jar us into action.
Pardon me, the Bard has these rantings (or in the words of a certain Dane, "Words, words, words!") bouncing around me head.
No longwinded rants today, nor any great insights...just a simple note of gratitude for the President's recent political comeback. I'd like to also mention that my "schadenfreude" as previously mentioned is not something I experience concerning all Democrats...only the extremely hostile and hateful variety who have been hurling screed after venemous screed at Bush since the 2000 elections. To those more moderate and reasonable Democrats (Zell Miller?) I offer this consolation, though it may seem no consolation indeed at this time. Perhaps as time waxes onward and the eye of history looks back unclouded by the heady times we are all caught up in, we will see perhaps that we were better off with Bush at the helm...beyond political reasonings and party doctrine, but simply just for the sake of our country. Perhaps not, though. Time will judge more wisely than any editorialist or commentator could. Above the political fray and the power struggles there is a fundamental question: how do we protect Americans from Islamic radicals around the world, bent on killing every one of us whatever it takes? I hope pick the right choice, because seriously folks...God forbid that it would take a mushroom cloud over Kansas City (or any other city) to get us to take this war seriously. Just taking that as an example...my wife and I would be vaporized, along with the majority of our friends and family. Millions, possibly billions dead. You have to accept this as a possible threat...they have the will to do it and are working damn hard to achieve the means to do it. If you live in denial of the threat of nuclear terrorism you will never be able to fight it and prevent it. And then there is Kerry's stumping mantra of "jobs, jobs, jobs"? Could you pick a more irrelevant campaign issue???
There are those who would accuse me, and others who raise topics such as these, of "fear-mongering." Just as they would have accused a pre-9/11 whistleblower of the same thing. You bet your sorry ass it's fear-mongering...it wouldn't hurt to foster a little concern among a sedate and comfortable people, who are fast lapsing into denial concerning terrorism, as the painful reality of 9/11 fades into a more distant memory. How much better that they would wake up a little and that fear would motivate them to take precautions concerning our security, than to have an unprecedented slaughter of our people (via a suitcase nuke, a virus strain, whatever) be required to jar us into action.
05 September 2004
Ahhh...the late night, tired, emotional, and flaccidly verbose post. The staple of the Blogworld.
I'm listening to some absolutely wonderful music right now. The music from Yes's late 70s albums, in particular, "Relayer" and "Going For The One". While I have traditionally favoured their early and mid 70s material, this is rich and delightful stuff. It offers so much to the refined musical palate...one could listen to this a thousand times and still "get something" from it. I've been on a Yes sabbatical you might say for some time, having been enraptured by the funky-fine groovistifications of Steely Dan, but tonight I sit and rediscover the rapturous beauty and stunning virtues of their music.
What I wouldn't give to create this sort of music. This has been a distant dream of mine for years, and played a big role in the breakup of my high school/early college rock band. The other chaps had a desire to strike commercial success of some kind (so out come the horn sections and ska music...just kidding, wasn't that long ago), while I had a vision to create something much bigger and worthy, the fans be damned! Well, not quite that bad, but you get the idea.
I realise that a vast minority of people would ever agree with me on this music. I also grant that music is an entirely subjective subject, and I've shed some of my elitist mentalities. However, I do recognise a pattern I've noticed. There are some things in life that require more effort to get into, to start to enjoy. Most people are turned off by that and go for the instantly accessible. However in my experience many of these things reward the patient person much more deeply. In the case of Yes music, yes, your pop/metal/emo stuff is easy to follow and keeps songs in bite-size lengths...but they aren't the sort of music that you are going to listen to carefully, almost breathlessly, with earphones, and enjoy intensely while focusing entirely on the music. Likewise, Tolkien's literature isn't exactly an easy read. The Hobbit goes down easily, admittedly, but when you get to The Silmarillion, you have to put effort into it...literally study it. I can say from experience it is entirely worth it. Another quite unrelated example is in distilled spirits...most Americans do not have interest past those cloying candied alcoholic sodas that are mislabelled as "wine coolers", piss-yellow and thin American swill beer, and basic California table wines. It takes a bit of effort to move from these easy-to-drink yet frightfully boring beverages to something like cognac, calvados, or a fine Scotch dram. I suppose I have moved a great distance into pretentious sod territory when I have reached the point where my enjoyment in merely enjoying the nose, or aromas, of such fine spirits equals that of drinking them, but that's my own issue, I suppose!
Yes, I grant you, in retrospect, I sound like a pretentious snob, and perhaps the world wouldn't be better off with more folks sharing my tastes. But as I listen to the softly echoing refrains of "Soon" from The Gates of Delirium (also off of Relayer) I think, it is a shame no one else I know could enjoy this the way I do. True, it is just music, but it reaches quite deep, and I'd love to see others experience this...and love it as I do. Alas, not a likely fate...I should be content to enjoy this undiscovered (by my generation) gem of the music world by myself.
I'm listening to some absolutely wonderful music right now. The music from Yes's late 70s albums, in particular, "Relayer" and "Going For The One". While I have traditionally favoured their early and mid 70s material, this is rich and delightful stuff. It offers so much to the refined musical palate...one could listen to this a thousand times and still "get something" from it. I've been on a Yes sabbatical you might say for some time, having been enraptured by the funky-fine groovistifications of Steely Dan, but tonight I sit and rediscover the rapturous beauty and stunning virtues of their music.
What I wouldn't give to create this sort of music. This has been a distant dream of mine for years, and played a big role in the breakup of my high school/early college rock band. The other chaps had a desire to strike commercial success of some kind (so out come the horn sections and ska music...just kidding, wasn't that long ago), while I had a vision to create something much bigger and worthy, the fans be damned! Well, not quite that bad, but you get the idea.
I realise that a vast minority of people would ever agree with me on this music. I also grant that music is an entirely subjective subject, and I've shed some of my elitist mentalities. However, I do recognise a pattern I've noticed. There are some things in life that require more effort to get into, to start to enjoy. Most people are turned off by that and go for the instantly accessible. However in my experience many of these things reward the patient person much more deeply. In the case of Yes music, yes, your pop/metal/emo stuff is easy to follow and keeps songs in bite-size lengths...but they aren't the sort of music that you are going to listen to carefully, almost breathlessly, with earphones, and enjoy intensely while focusing entirely on the music. Likewise, Tolkien's literature isn't exactly an easy read. The Hobbit goes down easily, admittedly, but when you get to The Silmarillion, you have to put effort into it...literally study it. I can say from experience it is entirely worth it. Another quite unrelated example is in distilled spirits...most Americans do not have interest past those cloying candied alcoholic sodas that are mislabelled as "wine coolers", piss-yellow and thin American swill beer, and basic California table wines. It takes a bit of effort to move from these easy-to-drink yet frightfully boring beverages to something like cognac, calvados, or a fine Scotch dram. I suppose I have moved a great distance into pretentious sod territory when I have reached the point where my enjoyment in merely enjoying the nose, or aromas, of such fine spirits equals that of drinking them, but that's my own issue, I suppose!
Yes, I grant you, in retrospect, I sound like a pretentious snob, and perhaps the world wouldn't be better off with more folks sharing my tastes. But as I listen to the softly echoing refrains of "Soon" from The Gates of Delirium (also off of Relayer) I think, it is a shame no one else I know could enjoy this the way I do. True, it is just music, but it reaches quite deep, and I'd love to see others experience this...and love it as I do. Alas, not a likely fate...I should be content to enjoy this undiscovered (by my generation) gem of the music world by myself.
03 September 2004
And So It Begins.
http://www.time.com/time/press_releases/article/0,8599,692562,00.html
Bush opens a double-digit lead on Kerry...we felt this coming in the air, and its quite a nice bounce for Bushie in these times when the undecided block is relatively miniscule. Ahh, as the race was once called (by Zogby) "Kerry's to lose" now it is Bush's to lose. He can only lose now by fouling something up dramatically. Not a time to celebrate victory...we'll save that for the evening of November 2nd. But Bush is up, and Kerry is down...and doesn't exactly look like he's got much ammo left to hurl at the incumbent. That's the problem...the ammo is spent, and Bush just waited in his political foxhole...he survived the onslaught of political and personal attacks levelled at him, and that's the key...by not getting into a tit-for-tat exchange with Kerry he seems to be excelling and getting into gear as we approach the last two months of the campaign. We are eight weeks out, my friends...that's still a lot of time but we are picking up steam at just the right moment. Forgive me for this moment of schadenfreude, but seeing the hate-filled libs faced with an uncontestable and resounding reelection of Dubya, and all of the anguish and trauma that will certainly subject them to, brings a bit of a guilty grin to my face. We will see in November what the American people really think, and if all continues to go well, the Democrats will have to face the torturous reality that they do not represent the common man in America.
When Brian Boitano travelled through time to the year 3010, he fought the evil robot king and saved the human race again...ahhh, pearls of wisdom from Matt Stone and Trey Parker.
http://www.time.com/time/press_releases/article/0,8599,692562,00.html
Bush opens a double-digit lead on Kerry...we felt this coming in the air, and its quite a nice bounce for Bushie in these times when the undecided block is relatively miniscule. Ahh, as the race was once called (by Zogby) "Kerry's to lose" now it is Bush's to lose. He can only lose now by fouling something up dramatically. Not a time to celebrate victory...we'll save that for the evening of November 2nd. But Bush is up, and Kerry is down...and doesn't exactly look like he's got much ammo left to hurl at the incumbent. That's the problem...the ammo is spent, and Bush just waited in his political foxhole...he survived the onslaught of political and personal attacks levelled at him, and that's the key...by not getting into a tit-for-tat exchange with Kerry he seems to be excelling and getting into gear as we approach the last two months of the campaign. We are eight weeks out, my friends...that's still a lot of time but we are picking up steam at just the right moment. Forgive me for this moment of schadenfreude, but seeing the hate-filled libs faced with an uncontestable and resounding reelection of Dubya, and all of the anguish and trauma that will certainly subject them to, brings a bit of a guilty grin to my face. We will see in November what the American people really think, and if all continues to go well, the Democrats will have to face the torturous reality that they do not represent the common man in America.
When Brian Boitano travelled through time to the year 3010, he fought the evil robot king and saved the human race again...ahhh, pearls of wisdom from Matt Stone and Trey Parker.
31 August 2004
Another boredom post. Politics of late has not exactly become of less interest or importance to me, but my exhortations to the masses have seemed of lesser consequence, definately. Thus I wistfully relenquish my mandate of shedding glorious truth-revealing light upon the fallacious doctrines of Leftism, thus exposing its evils unto the sprawling proletariat of this great nation.
Words such as "forsooth" do not get used often enough. Curséd public education!
Looks like the Swift Boat Vets have done their duty...ironically, they are once again putting themselves in harm's way (at least, in the crosshairs of a litigious and extremely hostile liberal establishment) to keep our country safe (by preventing a certain pseudo-Frenchie from causing the United States to lose the war against militant Islam).
OK, so I did revert to politics. Sue me. Yeah, John Edwards, sue me, you pansy ambulance-chasing swine. How in the world did a living, breathing Lionel Hutz clone get nominated by a major political party to the second highest office of our country?
What Would Brian Boitano Do? He'd make a plan and he'd follow through...that's what Brian Boitano would do.
I'm feeling a smattering of Eustace welling up within me. It may be time to take a trip...to Funkytown.
Words such as "forsooth" do not get used often enough. Curséd public education!
Looks like the Swift Boat Vets have done their duty...ironically, they are once again putting themselves in harm's way (at least, in the crosshairs of a litigious and extremely hostile liberal establishment) to keep our country safe (by preventing a certain pseudo-Frenchie from causing the United States to lose the war against militant Islam).
OK, so I did revert to politics. Sue me. Yeah, John Edwards, sue me, you pansy ambulance-chasing swine. How in the world did a living, breathing Lionel Hutz clone get nominated by a major political party to the second highest office of our country?
What Would Brian Boitano Do? He'd make a plan and he'd follow through...that's what Brian Boitano would do.
I'm feeling a smattering of Eustace welling up within me. It may be time to take a trip...to Funkytown.
17 August 2004
Hello Friends, Compatriots, Foreign Adversaries, etc.
Sheer, unadulterated boredom prompted this post...I reluctantly admit that I have no white hot bolts of truth, searing themselves into your collective consciousness, to offer you today.
Hmm, again I wonder where I am going musically. Some days the thought of grabbing my bass (or guitar) and reentering the heady, high voltage arena of rock and roll sounds promising and worthwhile. Some days, I think that perhaps the best place for my music is reflecting off the walls of my living room as I sit on the couch. Ehh, we'll see...I don't even have any offers or opportunities right now, so its a moot point.
I'm getting old...really old. Not physically, but more of a mindset. I've got the technical skill, dexterity, and musicality to do quite well on the local rock scene (not much arrogance there contrary to its first impression...with today's music styles and Kansas City's local scene, it just doesn't take much!), but doing that, even with a successful and popular local group, just doesn't offer the excitement that it once may have. To be honest, I'd rather sit at the baby grand in my living room (no, its not there yet, give me a few years or a few thousand bucks) sipping a glass of Hine cognac and playing some classic jazz standards...Georgia On My Mind, Misty, It Never Entered My Mind...
Grand pianos are vastly superior to upright pianos. I mean, grand pianos say, jazz...nightclub...Ellington...etc. Upright pianos conjure up images of Aunt Bee calling everyone around the piano after dinner to sing from the hymnal. [Sideshow Bob-esque shudder] I remember a particular Steinway at UMKC...it was one of those pianos on which you could do no wrong. You could play the strangest chords, 11ths, inversions, weird chords of all varieties...and it would sound glorious no matter how complex the chord was. My old upright at home...as nice as it was (quite a resonant tone), it would just sound "off" with those funky chords. Somebody needs to give me $50K to buy that piano!
Sheer, unadulterated boredom prompted this post...I reluctantly admit that I have no white hot bolts of truth, searing themselves into your collective consciousness, to offer you today.
Hmm, again I wonder where I am going musically. Some days the thought of grabbing my bass (or guitar) and reentering the heady, high voltage arena of rock and roll sounds promising and worthwhile. Some days, I think that perhaps the best place for my music is reflecting off the walls of my living room as I sit on the couch. Ehh, we'll see...I don't even have any offers or opportunities right now, so its a moot point.
I'm getting old...really old. Not physically, but more of a mindset. I've got the technical skill, dexterity, and musicality to do quite well on the local rock scene (not much arrogance there contrary to its first impression...with today's music styles and Kansas City's local scene, it just doesn't take much!), but doing that, even with a successful and popular local group, just doesn't offer the excitement that it once may have. To be honest, I'd rather sit at the baby grand in my living room (no, its not there yet, give me a few years or a few thousand bucks) sipping a glass of Hine cognac and playing some classic jazz standards...Georgia On My Mind, Misty, It Never Entered My Mind...
Grand pianos are vastly superior to upright pianos. I mean, grand pianos say, jazz...nightclub...Ellington...etc. Upright pianos conjure up images of Aunt Bee calling everyone around the piano after dinner to sing from the hymnal. [Sideshow Bob-esque shudder] I remember a particular Steinway at UMKC...it was one of those pianos on which you could do no wrong. You could play the strangest chords, 11ths, inversions, weird chords of all varieties...and it would sound glorious no matter how complex the chord was. My old upright at home...as nice as it was (quite a resonant tone), it would just sound "off" with those funky chords. Somebody needs to give me $50K to buy that piano!
28 July 2004
Some Blazingly Obvious Observations for the Pseudo-Intelligentsia
OK, this is for Michael Moore, who just can't seem to get his gargantuan head around this concept:
To misstate: To speak an untruth.
To lie: To knowingly speak an untruth.
It has been clearly substantiated that the President was given plenty of intel and a firm assurance from George Tenet (a Clinton appointee, I might mention) of WMDs in Iraq. Whether Dubya committed a misstatement has yet to be fully proven or disproven, but to say that he has lied is ludicrous. If President Bush is a liar on these counts...what does that make Senator Kerry, who saw the same evidence as the President, and voted likewise to wage war on Iraq?
OK, this is for Michael Moore, who just can't seem to get his gargantuan head around this concept:
To misstate: To speak an untruth.
To lie: To knowingly speak an untruth.
It has been clearly substantiated that the President was given plenty of intel and a firm assurance from George Tenet (a Clinton appointee, I might mention) of WMDs in Iraq. Whether Dubya committed a misstatement has yet to be fully proven or disproven, but to say that he has lied is ludicrous. If President Bush is a liar on these counts...what does that make Senator Kerry, who saw the same evidence as the President, and voted likewise to wage war on Iraq?
20 July 2004
A couple wondrously insightful quotes from my dear Mr. Goldberg:
'I despise youth politics. I do not consider "the youth" to be members in the Coalition of the Oppressed. "Youth Rights" is a concept best thought of as a sponge for the lugubrious rage of a handful of precocious teens and twenty-somethings who cannot find a more coherent vessel for their agenda. People involved in "youth politics" whine incessantly about how unfair it is that they are subjected to "stereotypes," and yet the whole enterprise of youth politics is premised on the cliché that young people are somehow united politically. The terms "Generation X" and "Generation Y" were little more than secular astrology. The only thing that unites young people politically, as a general rule, is that they are — by definition — at the bottom of the learning curve and, consequently, they try to power their way uphill with passion instead of wisdom. As Oscar Wilde observed, "In America, the young are always ready to give those who are older than themselves the full benefits of their inexperience."'
***
"Liberals believe that youth has a moral authority independent of the substance of its arguments. Youth politics is a variant of identity politics which imbues in young people an authority they did not purchase with work or with insight — just as liberalism does with gender, race, infirmity, etc."
'I despise youth politics. I do not consider "the youth" to be members in the Coalition of the Oppressed. "Youth Rights" is a concept best thought of as a sponge for the lugubrious rage of a handful of precocious teens and twenty-somethings who cannot find a more coherent vessel for their agenda. People involved in "youth politics" whine incessantly about how unfair it is that they are subjected to "stereotypes," and yet the whole enterprise of youth politics is premised on the cliché that young people are somehow united politically. The terms "Generation X" and "Generation Y" were little more than secular astrology. The only thing that unites young people politically, as a general rule, is that they are — by definition — at the bottom of the learning curve and, consequently, they try to power their way uphill with passion instead of wisdom. As Oscar Wilde observed, "In America, the young are always ready to give those who are older than themselves the full benefits of their inexperience."'
***
"Liberals believe that youth has a moral authority independent of the substance of its arguments. Youth politics is a variant of identity politics which imbues in young people an authority they did not purchase with work or with insight — just as liberalism does with gender, race, infirmity, etc."
07 July 2004
"Edwards' 'Two Americas' speech, which earned him so much popularity among the Democratic base and which in turn bought him the nod from Kerry, does not mention terrorism at all. It was a crowd-pleasing speech for a party that wanted the whole issue of foreign policy just to go away. In fact, both Kerry and Edwards constantly appeal to the nostalgia of voters - 'let America be America again' is Kerry's motto - for an imagined time when there were no serious challenges in the world, be it the 1990s or John Edward's childhood." - Jonah Goldberg
01 July 2004
30 June 2004
"Contemplate the mangled bodies of your countrymen, and then say, 'What should be the reward of such sacrifices?' ... If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen!" - Samuel Adams
G'day friends and fellow conspirators...
I'm going to break from my usual form of Drudge-swiped news links, pundit quotes, and angry politi-rants. Lately I've been much surprised by a burgeoning excess of songwriting creativity. A pleasant surprise! I've written more in a month than I've written in two years, easily. Quite nice...its all rubbish mind you, but it feels nice to create again. Predominantly acoustic songs...and (great googleplex gadfly!) since my San Fran-bound amigo Sr. Dan Reneau and I haven't worked together for a while, I'm stuck with vocals. I feel God has gifted me in many diverse areas, and I'd have to say that singing is decidedly not one of them. Oh well...no need to fear...odds are against any of you (who?) ever being subjected to the music, anyway. It's refreshing to be writing again, anyway.
I feel some remorse that I didn't use a different lead in line...I've always been fond of Michael Savage's (either its his or he adopted it) line "HELLOOOOOO INFIDELS!"...
I'm going to break from my usual form of Drudge-swiped news links, pundit quotes, and angry politi-rants. Lately I've been much surprised by a burgeoning excess of songwriting creativity. A pleasant surprise! I've written more in a month than I've written in two years, easily. Quite nice...its all rubbish mind you, but it feels nice to create again. Predominantly acoustic songs...and (great googleplex gadfly!) since my San Fran-bound amigo Sr. Dan Reneau and I haven't worked together for a while, I'm stuck with vocals. I feel God has gifted me in many diverse areas, and I'd have to say that singing is decidedly not one of them. Oh well...no need to fear...odds are against any of you (who?) ever being subjected to the music, anyway. It's refreshing to be writing again, anyway.
I feel some remorse that I didn't use a different lead in line...I've always been fond of Michael Savage's (either its his or he adopted it) line "HELLOOOOOO INFIDELS!"...
24 June 2004
18 June 2004
Good News for Israel...great Krauthammer column as usual. Also, nice quote:
For twenty years, whenever Richard Nixon appeared in public, the media never missed an opportunity to state that this was “the disgraced former president.” Now, despite actually having been impeached, Mr. Clinton is portrayed prancing with the celebrity and cachet of a movie star. As the cameras flash and the film rolls, leading newsmen jockey for position to kiss his ring. “Disgraced,” “shamed,” and “discredited” are words never uttered. - Jason Fodeman
For twenty years, whenever Richard Nixon appeared in public, the media never missed an opportunity to state that this was “the disgraced former president.” Now, despite actually having been impeached, Mr. Clinton is portrayed prancing with the celebrity and cachet of a movie star. As the cameras flash and the film rolls, leading newsmen jockey for position to kiss his ring. “Disgraced,” “shamed,” and “discredited” are words never uttered. - Jason Fodeman
11 June 2004
Krauthammer on Reagan Revisionism
Coulter, likewise...see her 6-10-04 column.
One thing I've been pondering is the meaning of liberalism. It is a horrendous misnomer. Liberty is the last thing the "liberals" desire. Liberals seek more regulation, more state power, more control over people, more government power in every aspect of our lives. True liberals seek a smaller laissez-faire government that values freedom and individual rights. Ha...what a contradiction in terms! What we call "liberals" today we might as well call Soviets. Eh, comrade?
Coulter, likewise...see her 6-10-04 column.
One thing I've been pondering is the meaning of liberalism. It is a horrendous misnomer. Liberty is the last thing the "liberals" desire. Liberals seek more regulation, more state power, more control over people, more government power in every aspect of our lives. True liberals seek a smaller laissez-faire government that values freedom and individual rights. Ha...what a contradiction in terms! What we call "liberals" today we might as well call Soviets. Eh, comrade?
10 June 2004
Georgia, Georgia,
The whole day through
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind
I'm say Georgia
Georgia
A song of you
Comes as sweet and clear
As moonlight through the pines
Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams I see
The road leads back to you
I said Georgia,
Ooh Georgia, no peace I find
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind
Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams I see
The road leads back to you
Georgia,
Georgia,
No peace, no peace I find
Just this old, sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind
I said just an old sweet song,
Keeps Georgia on my mind.
Farewell to Ray Charles...
The whole day through
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind
I'm say Georgia
Georgia
A song of you
Comes as sweet and clear
As moonlight through the pines
Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams I see
The road leads back to you
I said Georgia,
Ooh Georgia, no peace I find
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind
Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams I see
The road leads back to you
Georgia,
Georgia,
No peace, no peace I find
Just this old, sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind
I said just an old sweet song,
Keeps Georgia on my mind.
Farewell to Ray Charles...
01 June 2004
Oh frabjous day! Callooh, Callay!
We have COMMENTS now. Feel free to remark freely upon my musings with the utmost liberty. Bear in mind that if you are profane or obscene, I may delete your post. If you are inherently annoying to me, I may delete your post. If you live in Guam, I will most likely delete your post. But other than that, as Eustace would say, let your funky ponderings flow freely like boxed wine.
Just noticed the strange coincidence, with the celebratory words above and the title of this blog. Oh, Mr. Carroll, forgive this pitiable addict of word-thievery!
We have COMMENTS now. Feel free to remark freely upon my musings with the utmost liberty. Bear in mind that if you are profane or obscene, I may delete your post. If you are inherently annoying to me, I may delete your post. If you live in Guam, I will most likely delete your post. But other than that, as Eustace would say, let your funky ponderings flow freely like boxed wine.
Just noticed the strange coincidence, with the celebratory words above and the title of this blog. Oh, Mr. Carroll, forgive this pitiable addict of word-thievery!
30 May 2004
Something on Memorial Day to think about.
Christ came down from heaven, where he had everything, and all power. He humbled himself and gave his own life to give us freedom from sin. When we look at our history, consider the soldiers who likewise gave up so much to bring freedom to others. Our Minutemen died to found our free country and give us freedom. Our soldiers stained the fields of the South with their blood to bring freedom to the enslaved. The French were liberated not once, but twice. Men unthreatened by fascism and living comfortably in the US gave up their comfort and their lives to bring freedom and peace to others. Likewise, in this war against militant Islam, men are leaving the most prosperous nation on Earth...even the most humble American soldier has given up a lifestyle of what the world would see as luxury and affluence. They go to fight and die in a strange land for people who sometimes are grateful, and sometimes are not. The price of freedom is exacted in blood, sadly, and we would do well to be grateful. As a speaker at my church noted recently, it is not the media moguls and news anchors who give us freedom of the press, nor the anti-war activists who give us freedom of assembly, nor the "courageous" dissenting Hollywood elites who give us freedom of speech. It is the soldier...the one who goes and gives his life, literally or metaphorically, to serve and protect our nation, our people. All this without a voice, without reporters licking their boots for a soundbyte, without a great deal of individual care or concern for them. They do it because it is right and it is their duty. Let us respect, honour, and pray for them.
As a irreverent sidenote my friends, I just saw the crime rate statistics for Chicago in 2002. 648 murders!!! IT'S A QUAGMIRE!!! GET US OUT OF CHICAGO MR. BUSH!!! WHAT IS OUR EXIT STRATEGY??? WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE DON'T HAVE ONE??!!
Christ came down from heaven, where he had everything, and all power. He humbled himself and gave his own life to give us freedom from sin. When we look at our history, consider the soldiers who likewise gave up so much to bring freedom to others. Our Minutemen died to found our free country and give us freedom. Our soldiers stained the fields of the South with their blood to bring freedom to the enslaved. The French were liberated not once, but twice. Men unthreatened by fascism and living comfortably in the US gave up their comfort and their lives to bring freedom and peace to others. Likewise, in this war against militant Islam, men are leaving the most prosperous nation on Earth...even the most humble American soldier has given up a lifestyle of what the world would see as luxury and affluence. They go to fight and die in a strange land for people who sometimes are grateful, and sometimes are not. The price of freedom is exacted in blood, sadly, and we would do well to be grateful. As a speaker at my church noted recently, it is not the media moguls and news anchors who give us freedom of the press, nor the anti-war activists who give us freedom of assembly, nor the "courageous" dissenting Hollywood elites who give us freedom of speech. It is the soldier...the one who goes and gives his life, literally or metaphorically, to serve and protect our nation, our people. All this without a voice, without reporters licking their boots for a soundbyte, without a great deal of individual care or concern for them. They do it because it is right and it is their duty. Let us respect, honour, and pray for them.
As a irreverent sidenote my friends, I just saw the crime rate statistics for Chicago in 2002. 648 murders!!! IT'S A QUAGMIRE!!! GET US OUT OF CHICAGO MR. BUSH!!! WHAT IS OUR EXIT STRATEGY??? WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE DON'T HAVE ONE??!!
26 May 2004
"In late August 1864, the Democratic National Convention, to much cheering, pronounced Lincoln's war 'a failure.' On Sept. 4, Gen. Sherman telegraphed that 'Atlanta is ours, and fairly won.' On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, Lincoln won 55 percent of the votes." -Tony Blankley
Great article by Mr. Blankley...nice comparison of Lincoln and Bush. God willing this might be the case...onward to victory! I for one see many comparisons to be made to an unpopular war from 140 years ago...one that could have been much more easily referred to as a "quagmire".
Great article by Mr. Blankley...nice comparison of Lincoln and Bush. God willing this might be the case...onward to victory! I for one see many comparisons to be made to an unpopular war from 140 years ago...one that could have been much more easily referred to as a "quagmire".
24 May 2004
Liberal Compassion
Showing his true colours...a haughty, arrogant, condescending, rich Massachusetts lib. What a pansy...he loses it on a street, whereas Bush was out on a 17 mile mountain bike path. Big difference. Of course, I don't bike at all, so, oh well!
As a side note, its a shame that a few degenerate miscreants who somehow managed to get into our uniforms cast this unsightly and dishonest image of American soldiers...and also, its quite a shame that the brunt of this has been inappropriately laid on the shoulders of a courageous, noble man with an impeccable record of serving his country. Even for those who don't buy into the Leftmedia's lies, Donald Rumsfeld is too closely identified with these hideous travesties to line up for 2008...but then again, he never was the type. Condi 2008? vs Hillary???
As for the abuse scandals, I have always been halfway on this. Part of me knows these abuses are nothing to cry over. Scaring, shaming, or even mildly beating captured Jihadis is fine with me. These are men hellbent on our collective death, and to save lives we might have to rough them up a bit. I understand the soldiers desire for revenge. Many of these men probably shot or shot at American soldiers. They see their comrades dying in the streets...all of this while we try to establish peace and restore their country with historically rare altruism...and there are few words of thanks, only sniper bullets, bombs, demonstrations, and hatred. I understand their desires to hurt these men.
However, the perversions, especially between soldiers and the gleeful and undisciplined revelry in such things, should be fiercely punished. Drag these reprobates into the street and execute them...show the world that American blood is not so rich in value that we would not spill it ourselves for the cause of justice.
Showing his true colours...a haughty, arrogant, condescending, rich Massachusetts lib. What a pansy...he loses it on a street, whereas Bush was out on a 17 mile mountain bike path. Big difference. Of course, I don't bike at all, so, oh well!
As a side note, its a shame that a few degenerate miscreants who somehow managed to get into our uniforms cast this unsightly and dishonest image of American soldiers...and also, its quite a shame that the brunt of this has been inappropriately laid on the shoulders of a courageous, noble man with an impeccable record of serving his country. Even for those who don't buy into the Leftmedia's lies, Donald Rumsfeld is too closely identified with these hideous travesties to line up for 2008...but then again, he never was the type. Condi 2008? vs Hillary???
As for the abuse scandals, I have always been halfway on this. Part of me knows these abuses are nothing to cry over. Scaring, shaming, or even mildly beating captured Jihadis is fine with me. These are men hellbent on our collective death, and to save lives we might have to rough them up a bit. I understand the soldiers desire for revenge. Many of these men probably shot or shot at American soldiers. They see their comrades dying in the streets...all of this while we try to establish peace and restore their country with historically rare altruism...and there are few words of thanks, only sniper bullets, bombs, demonstrations, and hatred. I understand their desires to hurt these men.
However, the perversions, especially between soldiers and the gleeful and undisciplined revelry in such things, should be fiercely punished. Drag these reprobates into the street and execute them...show the world that American blood is not so rich in value that we would not spill it ourselves for the cause of justice.
21 May 2004
HOORAY FOR BILL COSBY!
Wow...a little common sense. Rev. Jackson and Mr. Mfume are probably in a tizzy about this...
Wow...a little common sense. Rev. Jackson and Mr. Mfume are probably in a tizzy about this...
Sweet Jiminy Crockett!
READ THIS.
Good grief, a tax that I agree with???!!! It makes perfect sense as he explains it. Either Krauthammer is just a brilliant wordsmith who can sweet-talk an old hardcore conservative into anything, or this is a really good idea (something I'd rarely say about a tax increase!).
Seriously, this is very highly recommended reading. Especially this bit, my friends:
"The low oil prices of the '80s and '90s gave us an epidemic of gas-guzzling tanks on wheels. Americans have every right to shop for groceries in vehicles built for hunting elephants, but then they should stop whining about the inevitable oil price crunch that follows. Especially when they drive their SUVs to environmental rallies to prohibit drilling in the largest untapped oilfield in North America because of an exquisite sensitivity for the mating habits of Arctic caribou."
READ THIS.
Good grief, a tax that I agree with???!!! It makes perfect sense as he explains it. Either Krauthammer is just a brilliant wordsmith who can sweet-talk an old hardcore conservative into anything, or this is a really good idea (something I'd rarely say about a tax increase!).
Seriously, this is very highly recommended reading. Especially this bit, my friends:
"The low oil prices of the '80s and '90s gave us an epidemic of gas-guzzling tanks on wheels. Americans have every right to shop for groceries in vehicles built for hunting elephants, but then they should stop whining about the inevitable oil price crunch that follows. Especially when they drive their SUVs to environmental rallies to prohibit drilling in the largest untapped oilfield in North America because of an exquisite sensitivity for the mating habits of Arctic caribou."
18 May 2004
The Truth Hurts
A painfully insightful article about the failures of Bush. Now, come on, my liberal amigos...you can't say we don't criticize our own. With all his faults he's still miles ahead of Kerry in terms of exactly how safe our country will be with him as president, but its unpleasant to note how he has fallen short...primarily, in government spending.
A painfully insightful article about the failures of Bush. Now, come on, my liberal amigos...you can't say we don't criticize our own. With all his faults he's still miles ahead of Kerry in terms of exactly how safe our country will be with him as president, but its unpleasant to note how he has fallen short...primarily, in government spending.
17 May 2004
Could It Be?
Could this be the first insurgent attack on US troops that the media is reluctant to show???!!! Hmmm...an artillery shell packed with a nerve agent used in an attempt to bomb a US convoy. Well, Ted Kennedy, there's your answer...a bona fide weapon of mass destruction. You're lucky it didn't end up in your office mail; although no intelligent jihadi would dare bomb such a valuable ally. Besides, he's working on becoming a casualty of chemical warfare anyway; as far as vodka goes he's our very own weapon of mass consumption. Badump-bump ching.
I leave you with the wisdom of Thomas Sowell:
"No one in World War II demanded that President Roosevelt present them with a timetable for the end of the war, much less for when our military occupation would end in Europe. Nor did anyone demand to know how much the war would cost in dollars and cents. But the maturity to think beyond the moment has apparently become far more scarce today than it was in the days of the greatest generation. Will future historians call us the childish generation? How much today's childishness will cost this country in the long run only the future will tell - and it may tell in blood."
Could this be the first insurgent attack on US troops that the media is reluctant to show???!!! Hmmm...an artillery shell packed with a nerve agent used in an attempt to bomb a US convoy. Well, Ted Kennedy, there's your answer...a bona fide weapon of mass destruction. You're lucky it didn't end up in your office mail; although no intelligent jihadi would dare bomb such a valuable ally. Besides, he's working on becoming a casualty of chemical warfare anyway; as far as vodka goes he's our very own weapon of mass consumption. Badump-bump ching.
I leave you with the wisdom of Thomas Sowell:
"No one in World War II demanded that President Roosevelt present them with a timetable for the end of the war, much less for when our military occupation would end in Europe. Nor did anyone demand to know how much the war would cost in dollars and cents. But the maturity to think beyond the moment has apparently become far more scarce today than it was in the days of the greatest generation. Will future historians call us the childish generation? How much today's childishness will cost this country in the long run only the future will tell - and it may tell in blood."
14 May 2004
One more post for today, my friends. Read an article detailing some of the exploits of a few of the miscreants at Abu Ghraib (no, not the inmates, the miscreants guarding them).
Swift military justice is what we need here...a swift court-martial and a firing squad. Make it public that we are not afraid to shed our own blood, that we do not view our blood as exclusively sacred. Years ago, it was taken for granted that men were hung for simply running away from battle. Nowadays we have perversion and violence in our ranks that will cost us dearly in lives; let us not be unduly concerned about "fair trials". These are military men and women. They are subject to a different code of honour, and different justice. Let them pay for their criminal behaviour with their own blood. How else could we hope to gain any respect from even the moderate Moslems?
String these bastards up in the streets, let our people know what we will and will not tolerate, and let their people know we are a nation of integrity who deals with its own problems.
Such negativity is really in need of an emoticon or something. :D :D :D :D :D
Swift military justice is what we need here...a swift court-martial and a firing squad. Make it public that we are not afraid to shed our own blood, that we do not view our blood as exclusively sacred. Years ago, it was taken for granted that men were hung for simply running away from battle. Nowadays we have perversion and violence in our ranks that will cost us dearly in lives; let us not be unduly concerned about "fair trials". These are military men and women. They are subject to a different code of honour, and different justice. Let them pay for their criminal behaviour with their own blood. How else could we hope to gain any respect from even the moderate Moslems?
String these bastards up in the streets, let our people know what we will and will not tolerate, and let their people know we are a nation of integrity who deals with its own problems.
Such negativity is really in need of an emoticon or something. :D :D :D :D :D
Condi Makes a Good Point
Jihadis the modern-day Klansmen? An interesting proposition, and one the Lefties, who have long tried to paint themselves as the polar opposites of sheet-wearing cretins (somewhat at odds with history, given a traditional opposition to civil rights in the Democratic Party)(also consider the man and the party behind the Emancipation Proclamation), will not readily accept. The Left is attempting to paint the Jihadis as someone we must understand, tolerate, and make peace with, and for God's sake, not offend! In the words of a rather coarse foreign exchange student friend of mine, "joda la calle arabe!"
Dr. Rice is absurdly qualified, a prime example of someone getting where they are by merit. The liberals should love her, a self-made minority woman who has achieved more than most anyone in spite of fierce challenges. But they hate her, they call her a liar and a slut, they reserve their coarsest derision for such a woman...because of what she represents...that skin colour in and of itself means nothing. Its just circumstance.
Jihadis the modern-day Klansmen? An interesting proposition, and one the Lefties, who have long tried to paint themselves as the polar opposites of sheet-wearing cretins (somewhat at odds with history, given a traditional opposition to civil rights in the Democratic Party)(also consider the man and the party behind the Emancipation Proclamation), will not readily accept. The Left is attempting to paint the Jihadis as someone we must understand, tolerate, and make peace with, and for God's sake, not offend! In the words of a rather coarse foreign exchange student friend of mine, "joda la calle arabe!"
Dr. Rice is absurdly qualified, a prime example of someone getting where they are by merit. The liberals should love her, a self-made minority woman who has achieved more than most anyone in spite of fierce challenges. But they hate her, they call her a liar and a slut, they reserve their coarsest derision for such a woman...because of what she represents...that skin colour in and of itself means nothing. Its just circumstance.
Krauthammer Nails It
Another brilliant analysis of the situation. As ludicrous as it sounds hearing people compare this war to Vietnam, from one perspective they are right. Like few other wars, our war against militant Islam is tempered by a subversive domestic culture seeking to hamper our efforts and counteract victory at every turn. I've heard it said that we were winning Vietnam, having never lost a major battle, but that the war was lost on the home front, where John Kerry was the field marshall! Perhaps again?
We just need to stay the course and win this war. For the sake of Americans, for the sake of the vast, peaceful majority of Moslems, for the world.
Phew, I'm glad to put that last post off the "front page". What tripe.
Another brilliant analysis of the situation. As ludicrous as it sounds hearing people compare this war to Vietnam, from one perspective they are right. Like few other wars, our war against militant Islam is tempered by a subversive domestic culture seeking to hamper our efforts and counteract victory at every turn. I've heard it said that we were winning Vietnam, having never lost a major battle, but that the war was lost on the home front, where John Kerry was the field marshall! Perhaps again?
We just need to stay the course and win this war. For the sake of Americans, for the sake of the vast, peaceful majority of Moslems, for the world.
Phew, I'm glad to put that last post off the "front page". What tripe.
13 May 2004
Endless Reams of Bad Prose
I pause to reflect on this blog's subtitle, lifted from Camille Paglia's sweeping indictment of the weblogging scene. What amazing arrogance we bloggers have, to think that we can shirk the disciplines and standards of conventional writing and spew out our thoughts in jumbled, unedited text with no thought of self-restraint, or of even retaining the interest of the reader! The sad fact is that there are far more avid bloggers than avid blog readers. Granted, my blogs and some others flirt with self-mockery, realizing and even celebrating the ludicrous self-importance of blogging, but at its core, it's a pathetic venture, a public exposé on a massive scale of what would previously be confined to our diaries and journals. Of course, to be fair, I am much like a person writing about his disgust at corporate embezzlement using stationary from his office...as I say, this is yet another chapter of Neufeldian Bad Prose.
I find blogging to be the ideal compromise for me; lacking the discipline to commit myself to the construction and writing of columns, I confine my less organised thoughts here where perhaps someday I will be able to gather them together into more professional pieces of writing. Also, blogging is a wonderful thing for my wife, as I tend to spend a bit less time ranting to her about the latest political news, when I've already ranted to you!
But in the end I know that little to no material posted here is original, and few thoughts I put forward are unique, new, or exceptional...this is a haven for a muddled rehash of thoughts, and I can offer little else. But in the end, the purpose is still entirely selfish...it documents my ideas and thoughts like a journal, nothing else. Any readers who wander on here are most MOST welcome, but my goal is not to enlighten the masses.
A great example of what I'm talking about? I hate these few paragraphs, I think its terrible, longwinded writing. Do I delete it? Nooooo. Do I even edit it? Not at all. Rubbish, I tell you, all RUBBISH!!!
One of these days I'll just go completely stream-of-consciousness on you all and then we'll see...
I pause to reflect on this blog's subtitle, lifted from Camille Paglia's sweeping indictment of the weblogging scene. What amazing arrogance we bloggers have, to think that we can shirk the disciplines and standards of conventional writing and spew out our thoughts in jumbled, unedited text with no thought of self-restraint, or of even retaining the interest of the reader! The sad fact is that there are far more avid bloggers than avid blog readers. Granted, my blogs and some others flirt with self-mockery, realizing and even celebrating the ludicrous self-importance of blogging, but at its core, it's a pathetic venture, a public exposé on a massive scale of what would previously be confined to our diaries and journals. Of course, to be fair, I am much like a person writing about his disgust at corporate embezzlement using stationary from his office...as I say, this is yet another chapter of Neufeldian Bad Prose.
I find blogging to be the ideal compromise for me; lacking the discipline to commit myself to the construction and writing of columns, I confine my less organised thoughts here where perhaps someday I will be able to gather them together into more professional pieces of writing. Also, blogging is a wonderful thing for my wife, as I tend to spend a bit less time ranting to her about the latest political news, when I've already ranted to you!
But in the end I know that little to no material posted here is original, and few thoughts I put forward are unique, new, or exceptional...this is a haven for a muddled rehash of thoughts, and I can offer little else. But in the end, the purpose is still entirely selfish...it documents my ideas and thoughts like a journal, nothing else. Any readers who wander on here are most MOST welcome, but my goal is not to enlighten the masses.
A great example of what I'm talking about? I hate these few paragraphs, I think its terrible, longwinded writing. Do I delete it? Nooooo. Do I even edit it? Not at all. Rubbish, I tell you, all RUBBISH!!!
One of these days I'll just go completely stream-of-consciousness on you all and then we'll see...
11 May 2004
On Hate Speech
A very simple thought for all of you today. One of the most beloved of all rights (interestingly enough, especially to liberals) is our Freedom of Speech listed in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
I propose to you, that this protects all speech. Annoying speech. Angry speech. Dissident speech. Boring speech. And yes...hate speech. Hatred is value-based...it is the estimation of value, a mere thought. Just as we cannot mandate love, we cannot outlaw hate. Governments and societies are leaning this way these days, and the world inches towards the classic Orwellian nightmare. So just as liberals trumpet their right of free speech to justify criticism of America and denunciation of Bush as Hitler Incarnate, they must accept the hate speech of others as well. It is no crime. It could be unwise in our estimation, but the espousal of thoughts and opinions is entirely within the liberty of any American, regardless of what those thoughts or opinions may be.
I will take this to its extreme to provoke some reflection. Racism...not racism in policy or practice, but purely the inner sentiment and opinions of racism...is constitutionally protected, lawful, and within the rights of all of us as Americans. I greedily await your well-thought out responses to this seemingly horrendous statement!
A very simple thought for all of you today. One of the most beloved of all rights (interestingly enough, especially to liberals) is our Freedom of Speech listed in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
I propose to you, that this protects all speech. Annoying speech. Angry speech. Dissident speech. Boring speech. And yes...hate speech. Hatred is value-based...it is the estimation of value, a mere thought. Just as we cannot mandate love, we cannot outlaw hate. Governments and societies are leaning this way these days, and the world inches towards the classic Orwellian nightmare. So just as liberals trumpet their right of free speech to justify criticism of America and denunciation of Bush as Hitler Incarnate, they must accept the hate speech of others as well. It is no crime. It could be unwise in our estimation, but the espousal of thoughts and opinions is entirely within the liberty of any American, regardless of what those thoughts or opinions may be.
I will take this to its extreme to provoke some reflection. Racism...not racism in policy or practice, but purely the inner sentiment and opinions of racism...is constitutionally protected, lawful, and within the rights of all of us as Americans. I greedily await your well-thought out responses to this seemingly horrendous statement!
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