Rant 'n' Rave Asylum

It's not the Big Three, It's Capitalism

2008-12-15T09:41:00.000-08:00

Picture this not entirely absurd scenario; Washington bails out the big 3 auto makers giving them the money they need to stay open and keep producing cars. No one is really buying these cars, thus the reason they're in this hole in the first place (Market share of American auto manufacturers has been steadily decreasing for decades). The manufacturers keep pumping out cars because they have the money and doing this is how the workers get paid. The cars pile up on lots. Ultimately, time and energy is wasted, materials and resources used up, and nothing of any use has been produced.

This is the end result of all capitalism. Capitalism inevitably leads away from utility, as the system puts more emphasis on the dollar, which should only ever have been symbolic of its ability to transfer to real wealth, that is material goods, then on the actual material produced and the benefit it may have for society. Rather than producing what society really needs (an efficient, high-speed, non-polluting transportation system) it produces what attracts more symbolic little pieces of paper (or more often today, symbolic little electronic bits in an accounting system).

On the reality front, it isn't about making cars, it's about providing the ability for people to get from where they are to where they want to be in a timely manner. On the capitalist front, it's about how much money you can earn for share holders. These goals are increasingly divergent.

Look at how the recent economic downturn has affected recycling. Recycling is in major decline because it is no longer "cost effective". What does cost effectiveness matter if your world can not support you, and you die? Recycling isn't just done because it's cost effective, that's just why it gets done in a capitalist society. Recycling should be done because it minimizes waste and allows us to reuse materials that, while sometimes abundant, are none the less finite, and because in many cases the amount of energy used in recycling is less than in extracting raw ore and refining it.

In a capitalist society you can't do things for long if they don't make money. If it came down to saving our species and losing money or dieing off and making money, we'd die and leave enormous bank accounts behind.
From this perspective, what is the real importance of a dollar? What is the real importance of living?

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the current problems are apocalyptic in any way. They're not. Our economy will recover this time. People out of work will work again and the world will go on. This is neither the end of our society nor the end of capitalism, but capitalism is incompatible with sustainability. For all the talk recently about sustainable energy, none of the companies with the resources to act, or the government agencies with the authority understand what sustainable means, nor do they want to.
It would mean a few too many rich and important people would have to give up their power and the great difference in wealth between themselves and everyone else.

And for the record, sustainability does not require poverty or the end of technology. It depends on technology and can create a society in which all people have access to the resources and means of production to have material wealth equal to that of today's moderately rich.
This isn't a utopian dream. It is well within the realm of technological possibility, based solely on the technology available today. It is mathematics and engineering and that is all.

What Your Attention Span Did Today

2008-11-18T12:21:00.000-08:00

Ok, so the government posting thing was a bust, mainly because I got extremely bored reading about what congress was doing. Some of it is important, no doubt, and more was amusing, but most was meaningless chaff about naming buildings and blah blah blah.
I did learn a lesson, however. Hide your nefarious deeds in immense amounts of legalese and bury them within the depths of excessively verbose prose on topics that would put a crack head into a coma and no one will be able to withstand the boredom to get to the real stuff.
Maybe I should discuss physics. There are real humans known to be interested in that stuff.

What Your Government Did Today #7

2008-09-17T09:40:00.000-07:00

1) A whole bunch of stuff was scheduled for debate, meaning the committees want the whole Senate to consider it and they will get to it when the majority leadership decides to get to it. Such topics include national trail system, water quality, environmental effects on children, land exchange, historic site boundaries, A second bill to add the same two rivers (reported in issue #3) to the national wild and scenic rivers system, aging water infrastructure, wilderness designation, establish a commemorative trail connecting sites related in some way to women's rights (Go Hilary), initiate a theme study to find sites to commemorate the Cold War,

2) (HR-5893) A bill to reautherize the preservation of sound recordings and films by the Library of Congress passed the Senate and awaits the president's signature.

3) The Senate passed a resolution congratulating Latvia for it's 90th anniversary of its declaration of Independence.

4) House Budget Report of HR-6899:Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection act
The actual act also passed the House and awaits Senate approval.

5)Shigeru Yamada, Esther Karinge, Kumi Iizuka-Barcena and Corina de Chalup Turcinovic were granted permanent Resident status.

What Your Government Did Today #6

2008-09-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

1) File of cost estimate of 20.6 Billion dollars to fund NASA for 2009

2) (S-3489) Hilary Clinton (D-NY) Introduced a bill requiring the EPA to conduct a study on black carbon emissions.

3) Senate introduced a resolution declaring September 27, 2008 Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Day.

4) (S-2135) Child Soldier accountability act (previously mentioned in issue #1) has passed the House.

5) Hilary Clinton (D-NY) Introduced a concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress on the need for a national AIDS strategy

6) (S-2332) A bill to promote transparency in the adoption of new rules by the FCC in regards to new media ownership and recommendations on how to create representation of women and minorities in ownership of broadcast media.

7) (HR-5167) A bill to terminate the authority of the President to waive certain provisions in the National Defense Authorization act, in regards to Iraq.
--Basically what this really means is that the President can no longer declare immunity for the Iraqi government for claims by possible victims of torture or terrorism if it is in the interest of national security (national security wouldn't be an excuse to offer immunity any longer), or if it promotes the reconstruction of Iraq or Iraq continues to be a partner with the U.S. in combating terrorism.

What Your Government Did Today #5

2008-09-13T09:40:00.000-07:00

1) File of request for cost estimate for extending the E-Verify program (allows employers to do checks on potential employees through social security and department of homeland security) by 5 years (scheduled to end in November 2008)
--This is all congress will do for the next 3 days. I'll assume there's a weekend in here as I have no concept of time.

What Your Government Did Today #4

2008-09-12T09:40:00.000-07:00

1) Charles Schumere (D-NY) introduced a bill to temporarily increase tax credit on new qualified hybrid school buses
--Should increase number of hybrid buses, Congress is on a role lately. If they keep this up I may start thinking they're effective.

2) Hillary Clinton (D-NY) introduced a bill requiring Congress to present a plan to establish an oil trust to the government of Iraq
--In other words, to prove we're not going to steal all their oil.

3) Bill mentioned in issue #1 extending State Department powers, passed the Senate

4) A bill to establish a commission to investigate circumstances around the relocation, internment etc. of Latin Americans of Japanese decent from 1941 to 1948 and to suggest appropriate remedies etc.
--So, 60 years later we're going to "appropriately remedy" having deported and arrested people of Japanese decent. How do you remedy having taken someones freedom away 60 years ago? You can bribe them, it doesn't exactly make up for it.

5) A bill to force the director of FEMA to account for the storage (at tax-payer cost) of a huge surplus of manufactured housing (trailers), originally introduced in November of 2007 is finally scheduled for initial debate.
--So we paid for an additional 10 months of storage while waiting for Congress to agree to have a committee meet about whether or not it should be written into a formal bill which they can then vote on whether or not to take before Congress for a vote. Super bureaucratic powers...DELAY!

What Your Government Did Today #3

2008-09-11T09:40:00.000-07:00

1) Charles Schumer (D-NY) introduced a bill to maintain funding to ensure hospitals can continue operating nursing and allied health care worker education programs.
--I have no comments, we need more nurses, so anything that helps that along is good.

2) Charles Schumer (D-NY) introduced a bill to ensure an impartial forum for claims brought by U.S. Citizens against incorporated Railroads for possible involvement in transportation to Nazi concentration camps.
--Yes we're still working on this 63 years later. Amazing watching bureaucracy work.

3) Hilary Clinton (D - NY) introduced a bill "expressing the sense of Congress" about sexual assault and rape in the military. This is mostly to get the attention of the rest of Congress on the issue, which to summarize is that around 10,000 service women are sexually assaulted or raped each year, of which, less than 200 cases are ever referred to courts marshal (Around 2,000 are officially reported and action can be taken on them). So something like 9,800 sexual assaults occur each year that go unpunished.

4) A bill addressing transfer of Naval vessels to foreign agents is scheduled for debate

5) File of cost estimate of banning export of mercury.

6) Bill to allow veterans living in rural areas (presumably without reasonable access to a VA hospital) to receive medical care at VAs cost from another provider. Passed the House, awaiting consideration in the Senate.
--All our veterans should be taken care of, so this sounds like a good idea to me.

7) Bill to add two rivers in Vermont to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers system passed the House.

8)Bill to prevent Tobacco smuggling and enable the collection of tobacco taxes passed the House.
--Apparently taxes are becoming so high on this, people are finding it more cost effective to smuggle tobacco into the country than pay $7+ for a pack of cigarettes.

What Your Government Did Today #2

2008-09-10T18:38:00.000-07:00

1) Provide for equitable compensation to the Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation for the use of tribal land for the production of hydropower by the Grand Coulee Dam, and for other purposes. The government decided it would be nice enough to provide what it feels is "equitable" compensation to the Spokane Indians for using their land for producing hydropower. Notice no mention of asking them first. Because really, the land belongs to the government and their just squatting on it. That's why they were forced onto the reservation in the first place, couldn't respect the governments ownership of the land here.

2) Recognized the historical significance of the USS Constellation. You heard it here folks, our government decides what's historically significant. It won't be long before they're writing history. Turns out Orwell was only off by a few decades.

3) Express the sense that the emergency communications provided by the Red Cross are a vital resource. Yes this means they didn't do anything at all except to say "we feel emergency communication is important." Not even know, just feel.

What Your Government Did Today #1

2008-09-10T17:41:00.000-07:00

This is a new series that will be published intermittently to inform you lowly people what your government is spending its time doing.

1) Extend certain powers of the state department by 1 year including International Broadcasting Bureau personal services contracting pilot program under which U.S. citizens or aliens are hired as personal services contractors, without regard to Civil Service and classification laws.

2) Designate the week of September 14-20 polycystic kidney disease awareness week. No you don't get the week off.

3) Designate the US courthouse located at 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York, as the "Theodore Roosevelt United States Courthouse". I'm sure Theo's proud to have gotten some of Congress's time.

4) Prohibited the use or recruitment of child soldiers. Wasn't this already illegal? The Senate and House passed different versions so they have to work out the differences before it can go to the president to be signed or vetoed. So if you want to recruit or use child soldiers, now's the time! Remember, US law is not ex post facto!

past week:
5) killing civilians:
US Government responsible for death of 1 woman, 4 security officers while on duty patrolling and Dr Abdul Salam al-Shimari, Head of Internal Disease Dept at Baquba General Hospital (Iraq)

UK Government responsible for death of a man in his own home.

Messiah part 2

2007-01-11T10:42:00.000-08:00

Messianic Prophecy number 2:
The Messiah will be a descendant of Abraham and through him everyone on earth will be blessed.
We're going to deal with the second part first, as that comes first in the bible.
"Through him everyone will be blessed."

Genesis 12:3
"I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

This is actually addressed to Abraham, and nowhere does it say that in turn people will be blessed through his descendants. Now maybe we can say it is in a way through him, as people are supposedly blessed by believing in Jesus, and it is supposed that Jesus is descended from Abraham. Since this prophecy is combined, we'll assume this is the case, that the blessing is added only in so far as Jesus is a descendant of Abraham.

"All people on earth will be blessed through you."
First, all people on earth will most certainly not be blessed through Jesus. Ignoring the fact that the majority of humans do not accept him as savior and therefore are not "blessed through him"
can we really say people murdered during the inquisition, in the name of Jesus, were really "blessed by Him?" I think not. I happen to believe that "all people on earth" includes EVERYONE. That's not interpretation, that's linguistic definition.

The other part of this prophecy is from Genesis 18:18
"Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him."

Notice this says nothing at all about the Messiah being his descendant, only that all nations will be blessed through Abraham. So how is this even considered a messianic prophecy?

Now, the supposed fulfillment is from Acts 3:25-26
"And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.' When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."

Chapter 3 shows a miracle performed by Peter and John after the crucifixion of Jesus. They give a speech in response to the amazement of the crowd. Before this line, they mention a prophecy that there will be a prophet like Moses who comes to the people, they do NOT mention a savior, though they then make it clear they look at Jesus as being a savior who has come to lead them from their wicked ways.

The biggest problem comes from the fact that Jesus is not, in fact, a descendant of Abraham. Two of the gospels give a lineage, one from Abraham, one from Adam which goes down to Joseph, husband of Mary mother of Jesus. Joseph may have been a descendant of Abraham. Jesus was NOT Joseph's son. Anyone who knows the story of the nativity knows that Mary supposedly became pregnant by the divine act of God, making Jesus the son of God and the son of Mary, but at no time did Joseph play a biological role. Jesus therefore is NOT a descendant of Abraham unless it is through Mary, and nowhere is any argument ever made or any evidence (even a genealogy) given to lead us to believe Mary was a descendant of Abraham. Given that the Jews had a very patriarchal society, descendancy would be tracked only through the male line. This means that Jesus could not possible fulfill this "prophecy" of all people being blessed through Abraham. And if Abraham must be the ancestor of the messiah, Jesus can not be the messiah.

Messiah part 1

2007-01-09T19:49:00.000-08:00

Ok, I'm irritated. I originally wrote this post on Jan 9th and for some reason...it's gone. Just gone.
I KNOW it was saved and viewable for at least a couple days (I checked). So what happened to it? No idea. So here I am spending more time redoing it.

Basically the idea was that there are problems with many if not all the so called messianic prophecies that point to Jesus being the messiah. I'm using the list at Clarifying Christianity: http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/m_prophecies.shtml

The first is a "prophecy" stating that the savior would be a descendant of eve:
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

My argument is basically that a clear reading of this has nothing at all to do with a messiah and merely portrays future enmity not the position of a savior. I also think that anyone at any time in history could write about future enmity between humans and snakes and there would be a ridiculously high probability that they'd be right. Snakes and humans only rarely get along.

See Messiah part 2 about why Jesus isn't really a descendant of Eve anyway, and thus why this completely fails.

The supposed fulfillment of this prophecy is in Galatians 4:4
"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,"
Anyone else have trouble seeing how this even relates?
Reading the rest of the chapter reveals that it's talking about how a child is like a slave, owned by his parents, and that God sent his son to redeem those under the law (Jews only) that they may have their inheritance (heaven) as sons rather than slaves.
So the fulfillment doesn't even relate to the supposed prophecy which doesn't even sound like a prophecy in the first place.

Eugenics

2007-01-05T11:06:00.000-08:00

"American society does not do what it should to help severely disabled children and their families."
--Arthur Caplan, MSNBC

My question is why should it? What responsibility does society bear to those who should never reproduce?
I'm firmly of the opinion that if someone has a genetic disorder that can be passed on they should not in any way be aided that might lead to them reproducing and passing on the disorder. All we'll end up doing is creating a human race in which the disorder is ubiquitous. We now have the power to directly influence our evolution through breeding, because we understand how it works and because we as a society have finally accepted that humans are in fact subject to the same laws as the rest of nature.
Animals that are selectively bred can be made stronger or weaker. Some show animals, for instance are uselessly weak and have disorders because they've been selectively inbred for "attractive" traits. While the risk do to far less interference is less in humans, having society cater to the diseased and weak does nothing for the human race as a whole and it's future survivability, while catering to an individual. Society can not cater to an individual over the entirety of our species.

People complain that this is eugenics. Yes it is. We're not breeding out race, or committing genocide. Diversity is GOOD for survival. What is bad is encouraging the survival of known defects and weaknesses that are easily defined.

For example there is a rare genetic disorder that causes a disease called harlequinism, in which the person's skin remains dry, cracks and invites infection. They also produce new skin cells at a rate around 15 times normal, requiring excessively high calorie requirements and non-stop moisturizing treatments to keep from dying from the disease.
Treating these people so that they can live decent lives is fine.
However one family insists that their two daughters, who have the full disease and will pass the genes on to any offspring, should have families of their own. Let them adopt. Why should children be cursed before birth with a disease that not only means a painful, difficult existence, but that they if they in turn have children, will weaken the human genetic code and potentially our species as a whole and it's ability to survive future catastrophe, just so they can fulfill their selfish desire to have their own children.

I don't think there is anything wrong with putting the long-term survival of humanity over all else. While the above is a rare disease, there are many others that are more widespread, and for which people are only now surviving at all because of advances in medical science. While giving them life is one thing, allowing them to essentially spread fatal diseases could in the long term, cause permanent problems for humanity. What if a disaster struck keeping people from getting to moisturizer after a large portion of the population was living with this disease? They would all die of infection within weeks.
Those that live with it know the danger, for instance one of the girls is partially blind because the hardening of her skin on her eyelids caused damage to her eyes. This is not something to risk passing on.

The idea that we can't or shouldn't do what we can to improve the survivability of humanity through careful consideration is a ridiculous and out dated notion based on the idea that humans are somehow different from other animals in such a way that it is "wrong".

Evolution is a FACT and it is possible for both strengths and weaknesses to evolve. Usually, weaknesses disappear, because the bearers die. Now, humans with such weaknesses do not die. They pass on their genes. This is a danger, even if it is a minor one at this time. Refusing to acknowledge it because of unfounded beliefs is insane.
The one ray of hope, however, is in the growing field of genetics where scientists just may be able to manipulate and improve or replace defective genes in humans. I think that alternative means which are less dangerous, like those with known genetic disorders voluntarily choosing not to pass on their defective genetic code, would be much safer, as the consequences of manipulating genes is not yet fully known.

****
Note: The link in the comment below is a bit graphic, so take that into consideration before you watch it. It shows a baby who was born with the disease I mention above, Harlequinism. It shows how bad the disease can be.

Just a way of saying...

2006-09-29T19:11:00.000-07:00

I hate what I have become to escape what I hated being.
He wants to be me and that scares him.
I scar myself you see
makes me glad that I am me
I hate therefore I am
Pseudo-morals work real well on the talk shows for the weak
But your selective judgements and good-guy badges don't mean a fuck to me
Good is the thing that you favor
My afternoon's remote control daydream milk and genocide
What I make is what I am, I can't be forever
A friend of the Devil is a friend of mine
I hate the hater, I'd rape the raper, I am the animal who will not be himself
Hey victim, you're the one who put the stick in my hand
I don't need to choose a side
"Love everybody" is destroying the value of
When you get to heaven you will wish you're in hell, when will you realize, you're already here?
The time has come it is quite clear, our antichrist is almost here
Went to god just to see, and I was looking at me
Saw heaven and hell were lies, when I'm god everyone dies
The boy that you loved is the man that you fear
We were neurophobic and perfect the day that we lost our souls
Maybe we weren't so human but if we cry we will rust
And I was a hand grenade that never stopped exploding
you were automatic and as hollow as the "o" in god
God is just a statistic
Raised to be stupid, taught to be nothing at all
Don't let them know how far you go
oh look you're just like a vcr, put something in to know just who you are
We'll never say goodbye
The only thing smiling are you dolls that I made, but you are all plastic and so are your brains
I'm not a slave to a god that doesn't exist, and I'm not a slave to a world that doesn't give a shit
I never really hated a one true god, but the God of the people I hated
we have no future, heaven wasn't made for me
Some children died the other day. We fed machines and then we prayed
Puked up and down in morbid faith you should have seen the ratings that day
we sing the death song kids because we've got no future
we write our prayers on a little bomb, kiss it on the face and send it to god
If you die when noone's watching, your ratings drop and your forgotten
but if you die on the TV then you're a martyr and a lamb of god
If god was alive he'd hate you anyway
You said I tasted famous so I drew you a heart
but now I'm not an artist I'm a fucking work of art

The grass isn't greener on the other side, we set it on fire.

Should Anyone Care?

2006-09-21T09:52:00.000-07:00

One article I found interesting recently was on the lack of effect teaching people about diseases, such as AIDS and how to prevent being infected is.
Don't misunderstand, this approach does indeed help SOME people. There are millions of others however who choose to simply ignore what they are told.
Now I understand why doctors, wanting to do what they can to cure diseases without much further though, would go on to try to find other ways to deal with the disease, and they should, even if only for those who actually care about their health.
Personally though, I think anyone that has the knowledge to keep themselves healthy and disease free and then ignores it, deserves whatever they get. If you KNOW unprotected sex might get you infected and you have unprotected sex with multiple partners (who don't know whether they're infected and so can't tell you) if you then get infected, too damn bad. Your own stupidity is all you can blame for it. People that stupid should be left to die, improving the gene pool for the next generation.
Then again people who actively care for their health, who make intelligent decisions and get infected anyway through whatever means, should be entirely cared for, and again doctors should do what they can.

Why should anyone care about the health of a person who does not even care about their own health enough to ACT on their knowledge? Scientists, doctors and engineers (not to mention lawyers and politicians) spend too much time trying to protect people from themselves. If you're stupid enough to endanger yourself in direct opposition to the knowledge that was given to you, I don't see why anyone should waste their time keeping you safe and healthy.

People need to take responsibility for themselves first and stop expecting the government or anyone else to do everything for them.

On the sheer lack of update

2006-09-17T16:55:00.000-07:00

I know I have four blogs and haven't been updating any of them much lately. For those of you who absolutely MUST read my posts, this is actually good news and I HAVE been writing, just not here (and no you can't read it yet).
Most of my creative effort has been going into three projects, and thus no creativity to spew forth here.
One's the first book in the Borg Dreams series. You can see some related posts here, though you'll have to look back in the archive for them. There are three or four.
It looks like it's going to be a short novel, maybe 6 chapters in all and I'm aiming for around 100 pages. It's currently in outline form, soon to be rough draft and it's coming along nicely.
Number two is my band. We're working hard towards actually releasing an album (for those of you who have been following us for the past few years now) and the songs are also coming along well.
As for project 3 the writing is progressing well, and I'll post about it when we have some sort of schedule as to when things will be done. Until at least one of these are done I most likely won't be posting too regularly, but I'll try as always.

You better buy my book when it comes out. And my album. And don't forget the merch.

Extinction is Natural

2006-09-08T12:38:00.000-07:00

One more example of why panda's should be left to extinction: apparent lack of ability to avoid crushing their own newborns, among the very few still in existence.
Panda's remaining: ~1,900, less then 2,000 to go and the world is rid of one more dying species!

Jesus the shepherd, Show Us the Way

2006-08-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

a very high ku

Every shepherd ultimately leads his flock to slaughter.
Beware, Jesus, like a shepherd, is keeping you, his flock, safe....until he can eat you.
Watch out! Jesus will eat you!
WWJE? (what would jesus eat)? YOU!
Christians = food for Jesus.
Every shepherd ultimately leads his flock to slaughter.
Heaven is a way to make us feel good about this.

Face It, You're Inferior

2006-07-31T13:36:00.000-07:00

I'm tired of all this PC bull.

Some things just are better then others and maybe denying reality will make someone feel better, but too damn bad. Part of life is how you face and accept reality. If you can only feel ok with yourself by denying reality exists, you failed at life. Go kill yourself.

If I say Michael Jordan is better then you at basket ball, in fact, that you flat out suck at basket ball, and you are offended, too damn bad. He's better. You suck. So do I as a matter of fact. Feel offended that He's better then you? Tough. It's not discrimination to tell the truth.

Marriage between a man and a woman is better then between homosexuals. Marriage exists first for the creation and raising of children. Those in a gay relationship have to accept...straight people have the requisite anatomy to fulfill this role. You do not. Get over it. You may say that you can still have children, but you can't without outside intervention. No amount of imagination or denial will suddenly make you have the right body parts for procreation. And it wouldn't matter anyway... if you DID you wouldn't be a gay couple anymore. Feel discriminated against? Tough, it doesn't change your anatomy. Heterosexuality is better then homosexuality, just like Michael Jordan is better then you at basketball. Doesn't make you a bad person. Doesn't mean you can't play a pickup game with your friends. But he's an NBA all star and you never will be. A married couple can have their own kids without help. You can't.

A smart person is better then a retard. Just is. This isn't discrimination, it isn't saying they're bad or anything like that. It's just reality. A smart person may be a bad person and a retard a good person. Smart is still better then retarded.

Men (in general) are stronger then women (in general). This is just a fact. It doesn't mean men are entirely better. It just means they're stronger. Strong is better then weak. Don't like it? Tough. It's better.

Women are more social. They're more capable (in general) of forming inter-social bonds and this is a vital role for the existance of a good society. It's just better. Men don't like it? tough. It's better.

I can go on... and maybe later I will.
I post on my own schedule. Don't like it? Tough. My schedule's better.

Once More From the Top

2006-07-30T10:49:00.000-07:00

I'm also getting tired of hearing that doing the right thing, or upholding the law is just too difficult so we have to give in.
There was a time when people were willing to fight for what is right, even if the fight is futile.

Free Press part 3

2006-07-30T10:19:00.000-07:00

Maybe all americans should be watching this.

Free Press?

2006-07-30T09:38:00.000-07:00

"There is no such thing, at this date of the world's history, in America, as an independent press. You know it and I know it… The business of the Journalist is to destroy truth; To lie outright; To pervert; To vilify; To fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread. You know it and I know it and what folly is this toasting an independent press? We are the tools and vassals for rich men behind the scenes. We are the jumping jacks, they pull the strings and we dance. Our talents, our possibilities and or lives are all the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes."
--- John Swinton, former Chief of Staff, The New York Times (1953)

Just to comment, if you look back at any of the earlier newscasts of the Israeli/Lebanon war, whenever Israelis were killed, the U.S. news reported how many PEOPLE were killed. When there were deaths in Lebanon the same press reported on BUILDINGS destroyed and PLACES hit, but never mentioned any dead people, despite HUNDREDS being killed in Lebanon for every Israeli death. Those dying were not Hezbollah, who Israel is supposedly after. They are innocent civilians who were unfortunate enough to live in the path of an Israeli (U.S. made) bomb.

I should also point out that the initial (correct) reports all showed that the 2 Israeli soldiers this whole thing is about were kidnapped while patrolling INSIDE LEBANON. The media quickly turned it around to say they came into Israel to kidnap the soldiers.

Also who knows about Israeli intelligence? Like their mission to arrest Adolf Eichman who was hiding in South America under a different name so that noone could find him...They found him and brought him to Israel for trial. Or how about the aftermath of the Munich bombing... in which Israeli Intelligence hunted down the responsible people and assassinated them THROUGHOUT EUROPE. They killed people in foreign nations, against all existing law, and got away with it. Granted they were criminals...but it is up to the nation in which the criminal is residing to act, not any random country who wants to slip in...
None the less, considering the ability and success of Mossad in the past, does anyone believe they could not have had a successful covert mission to rescue the two soldiers without all this innocent blood shed?

So far I have not heard ONE GOOD REASON why any Labanese or Hezbollah operative would kidnap an Israeli soldier or what they could possibly gain.

Then there's the fact that Israel bombed a UN outpost...FOURTEEN TIMES when all evidence shows they were informed BEFORE THE FIRST ATTACK that the outpost was there, that they were again informed by the U.N. that the outpost was under fire from THEIR FORCES, that the outpost was CLEARLY MARKED with UN colors and symbols and was flying a UN flag.

Then Israel bombs 2 RED CROSS AMBULANCES CLEARLY MARKED WITH BIG RED CROSSES, in which was a Lebanese family, including CHILDREN.

Israel told the Lebanese people to LEAVE and GET OUT OF HARMS WAY.... then proceded to bomb ROADS AND BRIDGES keeping anyone from escaping, then attacked civilians who were TRYING TO FLEE NORTH...30% of which were CHILDREN.

to date about 350 civilians have been killed and 800,000 have been forced from their homes to flee the conflict.

see some pictures at this blog from a Lebanese citizen. (beware, it is graphic)

When Governments Fail

2006-07-27T10:49:00.000-07:00

oil companies (especially Exxon/Mobil) report record earnings.
Then they raise prices amid reports of supply and processing problems and increased demand.
They again report record earnings, the second highest of any company in American history.

So...the truth is consumers of oil products are getting flat screwed.

The government does not protect consumers. Our government does not work for us.
Democracy, right or wrong, is meant to do the will of the people.
The people pay increasing rates for gas, while the companies make record profits.
The people want gay marriage banned, while congress steps aside.
The people want the mexican border secured, while congress offers amnesty.
The people want an end to war, while the government persues new foes.
The people want free speach, without being spied on, the government spies, without warrant and says it's wrong to complain about it.

The American people are often divided, but on some things the vast majority agree...
on these things it is time to realize, the government is in violation of constitutional law.
the government no longer fulfills it's role of carrying out the will of the people.

Homemaker to Maid

2006-07-25T12:10:00.000-07:00

I find it decidedly ironic that after trying so long to have their own careers and not spend their lives as housewives, cooking, cleaning etc...
Some girls are finding themselves offering those very services in exchange for a reduction in rent, or for a roommate to cover more of the bill.

Then there are "home-share" programs pairing up elderly people with renters who either help with the bills, or offer services for the room, such as cooking, cleaning or transportation...
another role typically done by the family...
and wouldn't you know it people are finding it... needed!

so these people are going right back to the traditional family...without the family.

In fiction as in Life

2006-07-20T12:57:00.000-07:00

"If anything is possible, then nothing is interesting."
-H.G. Wells

Hot Air From Mexico

2006-07-17T07:17:00.000-07:00

"A large high pressure area centered over much of the mountain states and extending into the Midwest was pumping hot air from Mexico across the desert Southwest and into the Midwest, said Rob Handel, a weather service meteorologist in Chicago."

Mexico really must be a shitty country. Even the air is jumping the border.

think

2006-07-14T06:58:00.000-07:00

You must do the things you think you cannot do.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Persuit of Convenience

2006-07-13T11:27:00.000-07:00

Anyone else find it decidedly convenient for the Bush administration and those pushing for war with Iran that suddenly all the existing problems, the "insurgency" in Iraq, the Hezbollah kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers and the "collision course" between the U.S. and Iran all involve Iran?

And really I'm tired of hearing about Iran. They have the recognized right, under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty to which they are party, to enrich uranium and/or plutonium for use in generating electricity. Yet the U.S., Russia and other nations continue to insist Iran surrender this right because it is one of many necassary steps to develope nuclear weapons. It's like saying you can't have wood because you might make gun stocks out of it.

One reason nuclear weapons are not more prolific is that they are quite difficult to build. They require a level of precision most nations can not accomplish. Not only must the fuel (uranium) be concentrated much further even then that for fuel for nuclear reactors(reactors require enrichment to around 2-3% U235, weapons use 85+% enriched U235), but it must be formed into the proper shape and have a primary charge with the right force arranged to detonate in a perfectly uniform manner all at once. In fact it was getting the primary charge to detonate effectively that was the biggest hinderence to even the U.S. nuclear project. If the fuel is not handled just right, the weapon just doesn't work. There are plenty of ways we can prevent then from getting and using nuclear weapons without worrying if they have energy-grade fissile material.

Add to this the fact that all this must be done entirely by mathematical calculation. You can't just put some together and see if it works. First, the materials are very expensive. Second, if you succeed nuclear tests are detectible by satallite (above ground and under-sea tests) or by seismagraphs (underground) and believe me the U.S. is listening. One verifiable test and the world would be at war over it.
Therefore, you have no real tests, and no certainty on their part that the weapon they made even works. The calculations are complex and there are few enough who understand nuclear physics, nuclear engineering, pyrotechnics and ballistics well enough to make a practical working weapon.
If you want to worry about nukes there's a whole list of nations who've got 'em already.
(U.S.A. United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, India, Pakistan)
countries that most likely have them, but have not publicly demonstrated it.
(Israel, North Korea)

Iran may after all be trying to make nuclear weapons. Most of the info comes from the CIA, and frankly, considering their inflated reports of WMD's many based on false sources with vested interest in a war against Iraq, how much can we really continue to trust them?

Much better evidence exists against Israel, who has a known nuclear test reactor that they claim is for non-weapons related research....only no data has ever been released and no scientific papers have ever been published from this facility.
Even in the U.S. top secret labs, scientists do studies that are regularly published in scientific journals, as they're doing legitimate research to increase human understanding of the universe.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are believed to have secret programs to try and develop weapons. It's interesting that we don't as a nation, practice our own beliefs. One of the most important rights we keep requires solid evidence before someone can be punished for a crime, yet there are those who'd go to war again, killing thousands, with no evidence of any wrong doing.

Let's face it Iraq was a bad idea. Iran would be far far worse.

happy planet

2006-07-12T10:57:00.000-07:00

yeah another drive by aging hippies to make people believe they should live in grass huts and eat cow dung...
the new study claiming to show "level of happiness" in the many nations of our globe weighs standard of living against environmental impact. Therefore countries, like the U.S. who's standard of living is not only better then nearly anywhere else on earth, but better then ever before in history, actually rates very low because of environmental impacts.
Sorry I'd rather live in America than Vanuatu. They're happier because their industry is underdeveloped?
somehow I think the results fail to capture the subjectivity of the topic inherant in their claims.
I think most Americans agree, happiness is a big house, a big mac and a big gut getting sucked out by a big plastic surgeon in the big state of texas.
ok maybe not but it sounded good.
mmm big mac.

oh and if Mexico rates higher then the U.S. why are all the Mexicans trying to get in here?
I don't see any Americans running for the border.

DHS protecting what matters

2006-07-12T10:46:00.000-07:00

Among the things our Department of Homeland Security deems worthy of interest as "critical infrastructure or key resources" which are potential terrorist targets are:
a petting zoo
and insect farm
bourbon festival
bean festival
a kangaroo center

things not on their list:
Times Square
the Empire State building
the Brooklyn Bridge
the Statue of Liberty

Yup these are the people we trust to protect our asses.
America, Fuck yeah!

Returning the government cheese

2006-07-08T16:53:00.000-07:00

The key to the revolution is not to blow up the pentagon, but to fill it with cottage cheese.

Some things just piss me off

2006-07-05T07:43:00.000-07:00

A guy's mental capacity is a mile wide and an inch deep. His interests are varied, but dominated by trivia...

Maybe I should start acting like this.

Save the Animals. Eat a Vegetarian.

2006-07-03T09:31:00.000-07:00

here's something that not many vegetarians know (or care to acknowledge): every year millions of animals are killed by wheat and soy bean combines during harvesting season...

Sponsor a vegitarian...
for every animal they don't eat, eat 3.
In this way we'll negate everything they try to do.

Maddox rules. Click the link over on the side there.
Go ahead and do it now.

mmm mmm crap

2006-07-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

If you were a soup, you'd be campbell's thick and chunky.

Beholden

2006-07-03T07:08:00.000-07:00

Behold, for I am holding a basketball.

A Second Attempt

2006-06-30T11:53:00.000-07:00

Ok today let's really be patriotic (we are approaching the 4th after all)
This post is therefore and ode to the one thing I love about this country above all else. The one thing that just isn't matched anywhere else on earth. The one thing, above all else, that has benefited from America's multicultural heritage.

FOOD.

Whether it's German (bratwurst, frankfurters, hamburgers, spetzle, sauerbrotten), Irish (corned beef, potatoes, cabbage, soda bread, shepherds pie), Italian (pasta (only grandma's will do), pizza, antipasto, cannoli), Greek (gyros, psito, souvlakia, octopodi), Polish (kielbasa, pierogies, golabki), Japanese (sushi, onagiri, domburi), Chinese (lychee granita, chow mein, fried rice, steamed dumplings), Jewish (bagels, blintzes), Mexican (tamales, burritos, chilaquiles, tacos), Indian (chutney, raitas, curry), French (salade niçoise, fête de framboises, delice de pommard) or even...
authentic American (cheese steaks, buffalo wings, apple pie).

Noone can deny one of the greatest joys of our nation is the variety and availability of the largest range and styles of food in the world, since after all we have available to us nearly every food eaten anywhere on the planet. Americans take a unique joy in experimenting and trying new dishes. Where would we be without Irish pubs, French coffee houses, Italian restaurants, Chinese kitches, Japanese sushi bars, tropical night clubs, bagel shops and delis, German butchers and good old American diners. No doubt these things are being exported around the world now, but no place does it quite like the U.S.A.

Add to this the ability to now get nearly any of it delivered right to your door (depending where you live anyway), and you have access to nearly every culture on earth from your doorstep.

In this yumminess, we are truly blessed.
Though there are plenty of places I'd love to visit,
I'd want to live nowhere else.

This was going to be patriotic....

2006-06-28T18:43:00.000-07:00

How many nations on earth
would have had the restraint
if they had American military power
to refrain after 9/11
from just bombing the shit out of all their enemies
wiping them off the planet

Despite its many mistakes
America, the most powerful nation ever to exist in the history of mankind
rather than seeking to destroy
it still donates more money, food, supplies, manpower, experience and education to other nations than any nation in history
What country can say it has some of the richest people on the planet, who rather then keeping their wealth for their families, have donated the majority of their money to charitable causes
and still America is hated
partly because we are what every nation wants to be
rich, powerful and free
partly because we don't actually need to ask for permission from any other nation to do much of anything
partly because even after they hate us
we say "fuck you then" and go on
doing what we do
giving what we give
and never stopping once to say maybe we should stop giving away so much.

but then I remember it's not that the world hates us...
its that about 1/4 of the world is Muslim
add to that huge numbers of every other faith around the world...
all of whom hate Israel and Jews in general

and remember that fully 1/3 of America's generosity goes right to Israel.

Even though they may (at least Afghanistan) deserve it
the enemies of Israel are now one by one falling to America's sword.
Nations that share their religion with one in four people on this planet

Then you get to facts that remained hidden for very long...
Like the NY Times articles that were among the most important in building a drive to war with Iraq....
Which were written by a Jewish journalist, Judith Miller (leading some to suspect Israeli influence) who originally refused to reveal her sources...who turned out to be..
Ahmed Chalabi
who's he?
He's the new oil minister for the Iraqi government.
So...
The current oil minister of Iraq
was a main source of information that led to war in Iraq (putting him in power)
reported by a questionable journalist
(also known for compromising the identity of an undercover CIA agent)

The rest of the world certainly does not appreciate this.

"Probably the only members of Congress who even suspect the full total of U.S. funds received by Israel each year are the privileged few committee members who actually mark it up. And almost all members of the concerned committees are Jewish, have taken huge campaign donations orchestrated by Israel's Washington, DC lobby, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), or both. These congressional committee members are paid to act, not talk. So they do and they don't." - Richard H. Curtiss, Washington Report