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12.30.2006
12.25.2006
A man on TV just a minute ago expressed frustration that UPS management did not ask its drivers to work on Christmas and Christmas Eve so that others might have a brighter Christmas. Several retail stores are urging their customers to get up early tomorrow to get an early start on the post-Christmas shopping. Friday afternoon it took me nearly an hour to make what would otherwise be a fifteen minute drive, all because of the crush of shoppers making their way across icy streets to the stores to buy more gifts. Walking across the parking lot at work last week I heard a man yelling obscenities out his car window at another driver that had pulled in front of him in line. Even in the midst of Wednesday's blizzard, while most of the employees were wondering how they were going to get home, people still continued to show up and shop. | 12.07.2006
The right way.... Does this camera take videos as well as pictures? The wrong way.... So these cameras just take still pictures.... You see... one is a statement -- not a question. And I while realize that many of you have a difficult time asking a question, as it might seem as if you don't actually know everything... you really should just... GET OVER YOURSELF! Being able to communicate effectively is an important skill. In fact, I can say with utter confidence, having worked with the general public for quite a while, that being able to communicate what you want and need will make your life better. As important as communication is to a leading a productive and fruitful life we still leave the majority of training for this skill in the hands of children's parents, many of whom never learned to communicate as well. In my job as a retail salesmen I have met people who made the act of interaction so painful that I just simply walked away. I have also met people that were so adept at human interaction that I knew exactly what they wanted, I was pleased to help them and I knew that in the course of our interaction that what I said would be understood and responded to accordingly. ...and while I'm on the subject: Let's talk about EXPECTATIONS. If I walk into a ice cream place and demand that they make me a sirloin steak, medium rare, with a side a fries, I will be disappointed, for they will be unable to meet my needs. However, if I walk into a steakhouse with the same needs I will be pleased. There is no need for me to get mad when the ice cream place cannot produce a sit-down steak dinner. Its not them... its me. I've known people (thankfully none of my own friends) who lead tortured lives because they are constantly disappointed when they cannot get what they want when they want it. Align your expectations with reality and know how to communicate with others -- you'll be better off, trust me. | 11.15.2006
I consider myself a fairly decent photographer. I like to take pictures, I've thought about "seeing" and I've practiced looking at the world in new and unique ways. And if you get nothing more out of photography than that I think you will be well served. Too many people get locked into seeing things in only one way. Too often we only turn on our sense of wonderment and observation when we go to places where we feel its permissible. Recently I found myself sitting in a room full of people learning about cameras and photography as part of my work training. Each person there was taking pictures and many of them were turning out pretty good. So good in fact that I started to feel that my photography was just average among the group. There's nothing inherently bad about average but it made me question my feelings of specialness and uniqueness. The question arises: If I'm not special in some way what sets me apart from others? What makes me, amongst all these other people worthy of any special attention? What makes me worthy of the love of another, especially one so special? That's a tough question to answer and its hard for me to accept that simply being me is enough to warrant the love and attention of another. It drives many of us to seek to quantify our own self-worth. If we could only achieve certain milestones of worth we can feel worthy - possibly even more so than anyone else. | 11.04.2006
This morning I got out of bed just like normal. I have the day off, so I slept in a little. Knowing that I need to take the dogs out for their morning walk, I dress, put their leashes on and head out to the little trail by the house. As I walked down the trail I notice its unusually quiet - especially for the Saturday. The highway, C-470, is usually pretty loud as streams of cars go rushing past in both directions. This morning there was not a single car going east or west. As I walked nearer I start to hear a loud roar, as if some very large vehicle were heading my way. I was still down in the gully area so I headed to the top of the hill where the walking trail runs alongside the highway. There I see a string of cars that included a limousine, several white vans, various police and sheriff cars and an emergency vehicle. I can only assume it was the presidential motorcade passing by. The President is in town according to the NYTimes. I just happened to be taking the dogs on a walk as it passed by. Yeah, exciting, I know... | 10.26.2006
Rumsfeld: America's wars always have had critics, but the difference in this war is the prevalence of the media, Secretary Rumsfeld said. Terrorists recognize the influence the media has, so they use their own media committees to determine how best to manipulate the American public through the media, he said. Read that as: "The terrorist want you think that I am wrong, and so, if you think I am wrong you are letting the terrorists win." Now, we can all play that game if we want -- attributing motivations to the terrorists, but we can all rest assured that the goal of terrorism remains the same as always; to use fear to affect political change, and in that regard we can all see that it has worked, but not in the way that Rumsfeld sees it. He seems to suggest that taking a more reasoned approach to terrorism -- one that doesn't go blundering around invading non-related countries, or changing our basic rights to allow torture, or breeding a constant state of fear in the citizens -- is playing right into the terrorists hands. I disagree. I tend to think that changing our way of life, running off all half-cocked with our military in some vain attempt to show that we "ain't afraid to kick ass" and promoting a general fear (for political benefit) is a surefire way of makinf sure that terrorism will continue to be effective. | 10.24.2006
Mccain's Iraq plan revolves around a fantasy There are tons of people who "support" the war or "support" the troops. But there are limited numbers of people that seem willing to "support" this war enough to stick their own necks out. So it all seems to boil down to a fairy-tale wherein politicians push the idea that simply "supporting" or "believing" in something will make it work. I've seen this happen in the movies but it always involves a young kid concentrating so hard that his forehead between his eyes gets all furrowed. Then suddenly the magic lion, or whatever, comes back to life, or the army of warriors comes stampeding over the hill... Its all a variation on the "good will triumph over evil if we just all believe in ourselves" storyline, and I'm starting to wonder just how pernicious this whole fantasy is. It slides in right alongside the common religious line that says that "we will win because god is on our side". The problem is not, as it might seem, that we are trying to accomplish a goal with the wrong tools. It is, rather, that there are people who don't believe. | 10.02.2006
I'm a little angry these days. And I'm going to talk a little about my personal life, which I am usually hesitant to do. I like to think that I can make decisions based on what I feel are my best interests. I like to think that this, among a few other things, makes living in America a good thing. That despite the pressure from other people I have a right to do what I feel is best for myself. I am angry because many other people feel that I should not be able to do this -- make choices they disagree with. They feel that they alone should determine what other people should do with their lives. But you know, while I respect that other people will make different choices with their lives and I respect that I have to learn to live with variety in how other people live. I get very upset when a very vocal majority of people who choose to live their lives in a prescribed way want to take choices away from me. Have a mentioned that this makes me angry? This, more than anything drives my politics. I want freedom. I want that freedom for myself without taking it away from others. That, I feel makes me a liberal, versus a conservative. A conservative wants people to only have a freedom to choose from choices they decide are "right" and "moral". Screw you. I have chosen to have a relationship that falls outside of the "norms" of society. My girlfriend and I live together. We are not married, and though we are committed to each other and live together as a couple we both find the idea of traditional marriage a little disturbing. E finds the language of ownership involved in traditional marriage repugnant. She doesn't feel like that idea represents her and who she is as an independent person -- who doesn't need caring for, or a man to define who she is as a person. All of this is implied in a traditional marriage. I agree with her and I would not want this for either of us. But there are few options available for us as a couple that people find acceptable. We face the prospect of making some people very sad, confused and even possibly, angry. We'll probably even disappoint some of our family when they might expect us to do things in a more traditional way. But what I think makes me the most angry is that we are going to face opposition from people that have no personal, financial, or legal interest in what we do with our personal lives. Part of me gets very confused when I try to understand how my choices affects them. How are the choices I make in my life -- choices that I firmly believe are right for me -- any of their business? I have come to believe that love is a choice. I cannot force another to love me and stay with me. I have to earn that right be being a person they want to spend their lives with. In many ways I think some people view marriage as a way to take that choice away from another. They feel that by locking another into a marriage they can force that other person to stay with them without having to keep that love. I know this isn't the way everyone sees marriage, but I think that some see it this way. And while I don't mind people that choose to live their lives in a way that I wouldn't want for myself I don't presume to tell them how to live. If only they would feel the same way.... I get angry when some people feel like they have the sanction of society to judge others and how they live. I get angry when I feel that these people will use their own moralizing to take opportunity away from me or my partner. "You don't conform, so we will punish you!" Its never conscious, and most people when pressed will never say that they wish to punish people for not being like them, but it happens. Anyone that has ever tried to be anything outside the "normal" will be nodding their heads. Its never explicit. Its always subtle and vicious. I completely understand. Its a self protection mechanism. My choices makes their lives seem less concrete. For some reason, knowing that there are other choices makes people feel very threatened. I have a hard time understanding why people feel so compelled to force people to conform to their own ideas of what is "right". I have a hard time understanding why I should be punished for making decisions for myself as an adult. In some part I hope this helps explain why I am so against this blatent trend of conservatism that is infecting our political system. I hope this explains why I am against groups like Focus on the Family who seem to make other people's personal lives a matter of their utmost business. Go away, leave me alone! | 10.01.2006
Of course it almost goes without saying -- A Republican in a scandal. Mr. Foley quit Congress after he was confronted with evidence that he had sent sexually explicit electronic messages to former teenage House pages The GOP has become the home of political opportunists. Republicanism, cloaked in the faux morality of self righteousness, has become a haven for corrupt people looking for a place to hide. A bit like the Catholic Church I suppose. | 9.29.2006
Republican Trent Lott. WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush barely mentioned the war in Iraq when he met with Republican senators behind closed doors in the Capitol Thursday morning and was not asked about the course of the war, Sen. Trent Lott, R-Mississippi, said. I'm sure all the people in the "real world" with kids, spouses and parents fighting in Iraq aren't "obsessed" with Iraq either. Its the war that went wrong and now the leaders would just rather that we forgot that its even happening. That Lott even assumes to speak for people in the real world should make us all smirk or chortle just a little bit. Lott went on to say he has difficulty understanding the motivations behind the violence in Iraq. This from a man whose party promoted the invasion of Iraq by pushing the fear of middle eastern people after 9-11? A man whose party demonizes everyone that disagrees with them? A man whose party is trying to win the next election by making immigration an issue with white suburban voters? A man whose party is winning points with homophobes by pushing an anti-gay amendment to the constitution? A man whose party is using religious faith as a political wedge? He doesn't understand tribal tensions and how people use them for political gain? You've got to be kidding me! That's like a fish that doesn't understand water. "It's hard for Americans, all of us, including me, to understand what's wrong with these people," he said. "Why do they kill people of other religions because of religion? Why do they hate the Israelis and despise their right to exist? Why do they hate each other? Why do Sunnis kill Shiites? How do they tell the difference? They all look the same to me." Of course Trent Lott isn't stupid and neither are the rest of us. But for those of you that really don't get it, here's a quick rundown... Why do they kill people of other religions because of religion? Because each side is convinced that they are the only ones anointed by God to be "right", thus, the other side must be wrong. The ethnocentrism nurtured by religious faith convinces people that not only is it good to kill others, but that its what God would want. Why do they hate the Israelis and despise their right to exist? Initially it was because the state of Israel was created by mandate and the Arabs in the area didn't like the idea that the Jews were moving back in. Nowadays its become a cause; a reason to push a radical agenda and consolidate political power in the region by creating a common enemy. Why do they hate the Israelis and despise their right to exist? Actually they don't think that the state of Israel has a right to exist, as it is an artificial creation (as are all states) and is resting atop where other people believe they have a historical right to live. I'm sure that most people in the region would be perfectly happy to have the people of Israel relocate somewhere else - hence, they can exist, just somewhere else. Why do they hate each other? Why do Sunnis kill Shiites? How do they tell the difference? They all look the same to me. Humans hate other humans for all sorts of reasons, but the main reason is because "they aren't like us". People always use scapegoats to deflect the blame away from themselves. Its always someone else that is the problem. Additionally, in some parts of the world they lack the fundamental liberal institutions that are essential to promote tolerance and peace. And do I even have to comment on the line that "They all look the same to me."? Nah, I don't think so. | 9.25.2006
Gotta say that I wasn't always a big fan of President Clinton's economic policies while he was in office, but today he is my hero for speaking truth to power on Fox News. As to why the news media gives a pass to Bush and the Republicans, there are easy answers: 1) Because they have the backing of some powerful and wealthy corporate backers that want to keep Republicans in power to ensure friendly policies, and 2) because the Republicans have done a good job of shaping the public discourse in their own terms. This shifting of the debate to the right has involved hiring hundreds of talking heads all over the country to fill people's head full of nonsense and to create the impression that the Republicans are the cool kids and its best not to be seen with those Democratic losers over there. This, in spite of the fact that time after time after time the "losers" turn out to be right, smarter, more honest and more competant, and the cool kids are a bunch of lying assholes who are just looking out for themselves and the people that pay their bills. This administration has been a disaster and the president is an entitled rich kid who lets greedy idealoges tell him what to think. However, they have convinced the news media that pointing out this fact would not only endanger the country, but put the media in league with our enemies. Of course, this is ridiculous. | 9.24.2006
"Hi I'm an obnoxious Mac Owner" "And I'm some guy that bought a cheap PC from Dell for about a third of the price" "I get a sense of superiority from owning an expensive computer." "I just needed a computer to send some emails and do homework." "I can edit photos, create movies, and play music..." "I can too." "I'm fun and hip..." "I play more games..." | 9.16.2006
The pope makes remarks about the prophet mohammad and the muslims get upset? When I heard this I thought it seemed a little absurd considering that the Pope represents a church that claims to be the one and only truth of the divine. I find this claim offensive in and of itself. But I expect religious people to routinely go off on how superior they are because of their unique position of being in personal contact with god. Its not unusual... ... and of course people are very touchy about their religions. | 9.11.2006
Just a few days ago we passed a national holiday in remembrance of the great strides the working class has made in this country. Many of us noticed the day simply because it marked another holiday in which there were promised to be "magnificent savings!". For this Labor Day, I worked. Sure, I made time and a half because of federal laws, but I worked nonetheless. The most powerful institutions in this country, the corporations that run it, are more than happy for many of us to forget that the struggle of the working class has been a battle against their power. So its not simply about a day. They would like us to forget that much of what we have gained as working people in America has been earned through conflict with the rich and powerful. Today is September 11th, and I have to wonder just how long it will take before the significance of this day will succumb to the cult of consumerism. After all, we have learned (or we should have learned) that nothing is sacred in the eyes of the marketplace. I suspect that a generation or two will have to pass before people look upon this day as yet another occasion to head to the malls and spend money. After all, we've stripped much of the sacred nature from all our other holidays. And lest you think a day like 9-11 could never been used for such crass purposes, I simply have to turn your attention to the various Memorial Day sales each year. Memorial Day - a day of remembrance, has been mostly forgotten expect by those who still remember why we should observe a day for the fallen. More and more I find that the only thing that Americans seem to stand for is the acquisition of wealth and power. For that goal we will be willing to strip any and all meaning from our culture, to believe whatever lies might serve that end and follow whomever promises to lead us to our goals. | 8.28.2006
About seven months ago I moved from my longtime home of Tulsa, Oklahoma to Denver, Colorado. More specifically, I moved to a place called Highlands Ranch, a suburb of Denver. On the exterior I think most people would describe it as nice, maybe even pleasant. There are lots of shopping centers, access to grocery stores, walking trails and with the help of a few highways I can go to concerts downtown or head to the mountains for some nice scenery. How I came to live in this suburban environment was through a choice I made to be with my girlfriend who had moved here last August to go to school. She moved to this area to satisfy some very practical considerations. She was looking to live somewhere affordable that wasn't a total dump and her parents wanted her to live somewhere that seemed safe. But I'm not a big fan of the suburbs, in particular I'm not all that thrilled to be surrounded by your typical upscale suburban types. I have a hard time understanding people that seem to not only desire, but relish, an environment that I consider quite stale and boring. I have a hard time understanding people that are driven by what I see as a combination of fear and materialism. I have lots of questions for which I have only the beginnings of answers. My basic assumption, that people are mostly rational about the choices they make in their lives, leads me to believe that there are good valid answers my questions of why and how. | 8.23.2006
DDTS.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object) Whatever you do, Don't Download This Song - you'll burn in hell before too long. | 8.19.2006
So, three things: 1) It occured to me the other day that the concept of personal property leads directly to the neccesity of war. Why else would one group try to kill another. And even in the case of ethnic, or religious wars there is still the underlying result of the winner gaining from the conflict. 2) I saw on This Modern World that there is a poll that says that most Americans are more familiar with pop culural knowledge than there are with either scientific, historical or political knowledge. Which should surprise nobody, considering the amount of time, effort and money that goes into making sure that people have a very specific and targeted kind of information. I don't think the issue was ever whether people could learn, but rather what is important for them to learn. Having general knowledge is actually quite bothersome for the business world which sometimes like to use ignorance to guide public opinion. I know from my sales experience in a retail situation that people often come to me with bad information, but are sure that they know what is important to know. I have to be very careful not to tell them that they are wrong, but rather to suggest that there are other things to consider as well. I've long thought that the main problem that we have in funding for public education is in convincing the people with the money and the power that it is in their best interests to have people become educated in non-product specific ways. Frankly, from there point of view, I can see why they would want people stupid and ignorant, especially when it comes to politics. 3) I go back and forth on whether modern society is interesting or bland. Because on one hand I try to take a historical perspective on American culture as a whole, and I can see how it might look fascinating from a distance. But sometimes while I'm in the middle of it day to day it seems to void of purpose. In particular I get frustrated that we don't seem to care about our immediate cultural environment. We allow places to becomes replications of every other place. We all seem content to let our surroundings become just another collection of strip malls and chain stores. No place seems to have a feeling of place. It all feels so very familiar no matter where you go. So here in Denver, compared to Tulsa - though the scenery in the distance might change, what I see in front of me is the same - Wendy's, Home Depot, Hobby Lobby, Starbucks, etc... Its all units of sameness with which we build our cities. | 8.12.2006
Paris Hilton bitten by pet kinkajou - Yahoo! News: "She also felt well enough to continue promotions for her highly anticipated debut album 'Paris,' set for release Aug. 22." I guess my favorite part of the objective reporting of this story includes the phrase "highly anticipated debut album". Hmmm...I hope Paris sends the AP a nice "Thanks for the free publicity!!" card. I suppose reading it in the "news" makes it so. Shoot.. I didn't even know she had an album out! | 8.11.2006
Orcinus Great post up at Orcinus - Referencing High Social Dominance Orientation: High-SDO people are drawn to power, and will seek it ruthlessly and relentlessly, regardless of the consequences to others. Many cultures (including ours, up until a few decades ago) have found these people so dangerous that they've evolved counterweights and backstops that conspire to either keep them away from the levers of power, or mitigate the damage they can do (and I'll discuss some of those in the last installment). However, modern America seems to have lost all vestiges of this awareness. Now, we celebrate our most powerful social dominants, pay them obscene salaries, turn them into media stars, and hand over the keys to the empire to them almost gratefully. They have free rein to pursue their ambitions unchecked, with no cultural brakes on their rapacity. They will do whatever they can get away with; and we'll not only let them, but often cheer them on. I find this personally frustrating because the business world not only seems designed to cater to these SDO types, I've actually been subjected to manager pep talks encouraging such behaviors. I sit there and I hear people telling us that deviant behavior is what they look for in a good employee. I call it deviant because in other situations these actions would result in dysfunctional relationships: bullying people, seeking confrontation. I've realized long ago that what most people consider success is simply meeting the demands of the social environment. If the social environment rewards deviant behavior then we will reward those that express those particular traits. In today's corporate world there is a heavy demand for people that lack a social conscience and can rationalize destructive behaviors simply to gain more material comfort. There is this mistaken belief that everyone can work towards their own selfish ends and the best results will come from that. This is a ludicris notion. While this might lead towards creating riches for many it will ultimately lead towards a society without conscience. Individuals have no reason to take responsibility when there is no need. As someone who has a certain amount of pride in the efforts I have put towards creating greater self awareness and developing a social awareness I find this trend in the opposite direction very depressing. I quite often feel that I have moved in a direction that has made me a better person but has also made fitting into the corporate world very difficult. I don't think I'm the only one that feels this way. I think we just find ways to cope on a daily basis. Maybe its time to stop coping and realize what's going on? | 8.10.2006
GOP.com | Republican National Committee :: Home Jeez, I can't stand the RNC. If you look at their website, its nothing more than picking on people. They lump people together, smear them with their hateful rhetoric and hope that their money will keep people afraid. I would laugh it off but there are people that take these people seriously. Just look at their front page. They lump Markos, Dean, Murtha, Lamont and Michael Moore together into some sort of cult of defeat. As if wanting to bail out on Bush's misguided empire-building fiasco in Iraq is a BAD IDEA? I like freedom as much as the next guy, maybe even (I like to think) a little more, being a bit off kilter as a person. And I see Bush as an imbecile that hasn't formed a cohesive plan other than pushing a machismo image of the United States around the world. Its an objective fact that Iraq has failed at what Bush predicted. Its an objective fact that we are losing what respect we have in the world. Its an objective fact that Bush is an idiot. These facts are what the GOP are trying to cover up with their smears. Don't be fooled. | 8.08.2006
Hi, my name is Bruce, and I am an introvert. I find being out amongst large numbers of people very tedious. Its been getting worse as I've gotten older - especially my tolerance for teenagers. Adults aren't much better. But suffice it to say that if you want to be involved with anything social there are going to be large numbers of people there as well. This is an inevitable by-product of the market's tendency to amass large numbers of people together for the sake of selling them products. Sometimes I find myself going to an event only to find that it is nothing more than a string of shops hawking their wares. Its not so much a social event as it is theme shopping. I'm not a fan of weekends - especially Saturdays. Its then that all the people who have been trapped at work all week feel like they should be out "doing" things. They crowd the streets, they form lines wherever they go, and most annoying, they always seem surprised that there are so many people around creating such stress and chaos. Its a byproduct of synchonization and I realize that. From industrialization onward we've all been moving in the same patterns as everyone else. Predictability is good for the market, but I still feel like I'm being herded. This past weekend has been a busy one. I've been doing - out amongst people. My girlfriend and I have been to the Colorado Renaissance Festival, The Scottish Festival and a Death Cab for Cutie concert all in the span of two days - Saturday and Sunday. Its been great getting to spend time with her and its been nice being out of the house in different environs. But its also been a bit of an overdose of the "general public" as well. I think I get tired of the constant demand for money. It seems that all things are now designed for that one reason. So much so that in the course of a single day you find people asking you for money time and time again. Its tiring. Nothing ever seems to be done for the simple sake of creating culture. Culture has become a byproduct of the need to extract money from people. So it becomes that you are excluded from the culture when you have little money. Its better just to stay home. | 8.03.2006
For the record: I've never been a big fan of Joe Lieberman - even back in the day when he was Gore's running mate. With the upcoming Democratic primary becoming a pet issue for the big blogs I just wanted to put my two cents into the pot. I've never liked moralizers. That is what Joe Lieberman is to me - man who holds himself up as a judge of what is good and moral. That pisses me off. We're a free country and every person has a right to express his opinion about what is good and bad but it irks me when politicians try to legislate their own morality. Whenever I listen to someone go on and on about what people should do I think it sounds unamerican. That's why I never liked religion all that much. It assumes that I am too stupid to know what is best for myself. One of the central ideas that led to the representative democracy we have now is that people have the ability to decide what is best for themselves without the help of "authorities". Yes, of course the war is a big issue. But it only goes to show that either Lieberman lacked the judgment to see a folly in the making, or lacked the spine to speak up about it. Neither makes him look like a good man to re-elect into office. Its so sad that only filthy rich people even stand a chance of challenging an incumbent, and I'm none too happy about that fact. It doesn't seem like we're offered very good choices when it comes to who to vote for. | 7.30.2006
BBC NEWS | Business | US votes for higher minimum wage Now, I don't actually expect that we will see any progress on the raising of the minimum wage anytime soon. The house bill is nothing more than a way to either get the estate taxes repealed/lowered or to look good on working class issues. But we have to ask, will the world come crashing down and small businesses all over the country fold if we raise the minimum wage? Not likely. I say this because there was no such crash the last time we raised the minimum wage - or the time before that - or the time before that - or the time before that. This, despite the dire warnings that such things would in fact, absolutely, positively happen - each and every time. What I reject is the idea that people have to be threatened with death, poverty, starvation, etc. in order to ensure that they will work - that we need to create an environment of desperation on order to make sure that people will continue to work crappy jobs at poverty wages. Is work only valuable as a means of survival? Would people work even if they didn't have to? Yes. People do it all the time. When you examine this position - that people must be forced to work, you start to realize that most of the mindset relies on forcing people to do things. Its a form of violent coercion that hardly befits our current self-image as a civilized society. As a person that values individual liberty, for myself as well as others, I see this as very contradictory in our championing of "freedom" - that we would create a society in which many people feel like most life decisions are being made for them. In modern America's institutional framework most people seek wealth for the freedom that it provides. Inversely, poverty is still a form of slavery. So while we've made slavery in its more obvious forms illegal (under protest, I might add) we've created institutional forms of bondage in its stead. If this idea, that only fear can keep people under control, seems familiar, its because it is modeled after the more fundamentalist forms of Christianity in our culture. We shouldn't be too surprised if people want to create a government in God's image - dangling eternal damnation over you for your own good. So while I've rejected the idea that there is no morality without fear of hell, I also reject the idea that people will not work if we do not threaten them with their lives. Work should be a path to life, liberty and happiness. If it is not then we have failed in that mission set forth to us. | 7.29.2006
It bothers me that everything has to happen on a Saturday or Sunday to accommodate people that have traditional working hours. This, despite the fact that more and more people are moving into the service economy and working hours that don't neatly fit into the 9-5 mon-fri workday. In fact, were it not for this class of people working these hours it would not be possible for weekend warriors to "do" all those things they want to "get done" on the weekends. I wonder if that thought ever crosses their mind? Thus it is that when you work in the service world you watch so much of the events going on around you go by as you work. Having the world conform to your work schedule is a form of privilege. It seems that the longer you take for granted that things will happen when they are convenient to you the more likely you are to not notice how this effects other people. At some point you cease to notice that many, if not all the institutions in society are working for you and not against you. Today on Oprah, she expressed surprise at just how hard it is for people working for low wages to get by in America. She was astonished to learn of all the extra obstacles that these working poor people have to deal with on a daily basis. Nothing is ever as simple as it is when you have money and freedom of movement. Its all too easy to assume that the world in which one lives in is the same for other people as well. When you do this it makes it easy to assume that they should be able to reach the same levels of material comfort and security as you. | 7.27.2006
It disturbs me that I can't reorient information in real life like I can on my computer. So that when I go to the video store and I can't figure out which category a movie might be located in I could just reorient the store into alphabetical order. So that when I go to the liquor store I could change the layout from "geography" to "style" so that the stouts might be all in one place for easy decision making. I get used to being in control of information. I want to be able to manipulate information all the time so that I don't have to deal with organizational schemes that don't make sense to me. Wouldn't it be nice if the grocery store had a search function? That all you would have to do is ask for what you needed and all the matching products would be moved to your location, with like products stacked behind in order of relevance? I think so. But real life data is not like virtual data. Such that we can't just rearrange our locations to suit our needs better. I might move my home to a location that better matches my transportation needs? I might arrange shops and services in a way that makes them more efficient for me to use? People who are unsatisfied with their governments could reorganize into like-minded groups? data. | 7.25.2006
7.15.2006
Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger says he nearly died: "'If you don't wear a seat belt every time you ride in the car should I label you as a person who doesn't wear a seat belt?' Ben Roethlisberger asked. " umm.. yeah. | 7.09.2006
Well, that was an interesting final! I was pulling for Italy from the beginning and was quite upset when the French player took a dive in the box and France went ahead 1-0. After Italy tied it up it became a much more interesting game and the Italian side looked quite worn out through the second half. It was a mistake to pull Henry and Ribery out with penalty kicks looking like a real possibility. Then when Zidane decided to headbutt Materazzi and got thrown out, France was left with too few great kickers to go into the shootout. I guess someday soon we'll find out what Matterazzi said that made Zidane so mad. | 7.03.2006
Wow, been busy watching the World Cup and hosting my gf's sister for a few weeks. I'm sad that Brazil lost to France. I would have loved to see a good match up with the host country Germany. But for me, Brazil never seemed to come alive like I thought they should. France has been building up momentum as they've crawled out of the round of sixteen into the semifinals. The next couple of matches should be entertaining, and I think I might just start pulling for France to win. After all, they did knock off TWO of my teams this time - Brazil and Spain. Oh, and my digital camera has died. Luckily, I should be able to get it fixed for free. Its just a matter of me taking it in to get it sent off. So no new pictures for now. I've bottled the beer that's been sitting in the spare room. The concoction so far seems to bear a strong resemblance to good beer. We'll see in the coming weeks how the bottling went. | 6.16.2006
Crooks and Liars This video of Congressman Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia shows what happens when you reduce the political debate down to a few hot button issues like taxes and gays. While we reject politicians like Gore or being "too smart" we elect a man like Westmoreland who can't even name the Ten Commandments despite insisting that without them we would slip into moral oblivion. (via Streak's Blog) | 6.14.2006
Britney Spears going to Namibia to give birth: Mr. Lauer did ask Ms. Spears why she had chosen Namibia for the birth of her child. d'oh! | 6.12.2006
ok, I've been busy -- hanging out with the cute girl, making my own beer, reading about homebrewing, working, and watching the World Cup. A couple of observations: The new Miller Genuine Draft commercials that claim that their beer is "All Grown Up" is ridiculous. First, because it suggests that there is a beer you should drink when you're young. And second, because if you know anything about good beer you know that any commercial, mass produced, American beer is nearly indistinguishable from any other commercial, mass produced, American beer. Back when I was very young (below the legal age) I tried a slurp of my brother's Budweiser and I thought it was nasty swill. I maintained this opinion for years, up until my mid twenties. Then, I started trying out different varieties and learned that beer CAN taste good. Nearly anything other than Coors, Budweiser, Miller, Michelob etc... will do. I can watch every single game of the World Cup, for free, in spanish. But if I want to watch, or listen to them in English I will have to pay for that privilege. So today, when the USA national team was facing the Czech Republic I could not watch the game unless I were paying for cable TV. This strikes me as stupid considering the potential market that the networks are losing because of their second class treatment of the most watched sport in the world. Do they really think that showing soaps is a better decision that building an audience? At the very least they should be showing the best game of the day during prime time. I've come to realize that by belonging to a certain demographic that is supposed to have money I will be expected to pay for anything and everything. So I watched the game on Univision and picked up an internet streaming version of ESPN2's coverage for the english commentary. | 5.31.2006
I dislike telephones. It bothers me that a phone might ring at any time. It bothers me that I never know what the person I might be calling is doing. I never know if I am interrupting someone or not. Working in a retail environment I dislike that the person on the phone seems to assume that the world in the store should stop for x number of minutes while they sit in the comfort of their own home and ask a thousand questions. Meanwhile, people who got off their butts and trekked through traffic are standing around waiting. ... and if you say "Well, then don't answer the phone!" I can only say that I find phones useful in the case of emergencies, and at work, I am required to answer the phone whenever it is ringing. But you see, when a phone rings it does not let you now whether that call is an emergency or not. When I hear a phone ringing in the other room I can't tell if that call is dire or frivolous. With the proliferation of cell phones and the many people that feel obligated to use them because they have them, there are more and more frivolous calls than ever. | 5.29.2006
Today being Memorial day, as well as my Birthday, we hear politicians talking their silly little heads off about people dying for the sake of liberty and freedom, and me, I can't help but think that its rarely about such things. It might be from time to time. I don't discount the notion that occasionally a threat might come along. I just think that the majority of the time the reasons we fight wars are to advance the interests of the elites. Take this so-called War on Terror. In my opinion, it is nothing more than a blanket excuse to advance our interests in the Middle East (or world) and to redistribute large sums of money to well connected corporate interests. Its because of these reasons that we have a POSITIVE opinion on war. Here in America, people that speak negatively of war are considered unpatriotic. We see war, and the deaths of poor people in the service of the rich as a good thing. So for that reason its NOT considered in poor taste for the president to push the continuation of the debacle in Iraq in this time where we recognize the people who have died at the hands of something we should all struggle to avoid. I tend to view war as a negative thing. But here in America I get the strange sense that there are some who view it as an opportunity. Its seen as a chance to use our greatest asset yet again: violence. During the runup to the Iraq invasion I couldn't help but notice that many of the people pushing for the war seemed to view it as "this generation's war". As if every son or daughter is now expected to engage in a conflict against others. It has become a tradition in our society. That is a not a good thing. So that when another few years rolls around we will be expected to send yet another batch of people out to die for some "cause", whether it be justified or not. We've long past gone beyond the point where we see war as the last resort. It has moved up the list. We now prefer the death of war to any other option. We take it lightly and as a consequence I think we take the people who are maimed, killed and injured in war lightly as well. We no longer see people that have served in conflict as special and worth anything. Because we now view war as just another inevitablity, we now see people that have suffered because of war as just another by-product of our society. War has become beneficial. It has served us well in the past. It has given us new lands to inhabit, new resources to use, and it has given us greater standing in the world. Its a bargain in the eyes of the rich that they only need to pay a little lip service to the notion of "service to country" every once in a while. Frankly, I think a pat on the back is a pittance compared to putting one's life in jeopardy, and compared to what the rich get out of war, its a joke. | 5.25.2006
Things that are happening: Not too much. Been playing around with Reason, a program that lets me interface my music keyboard (an old Akai AX-80) with my laptop so that I can generate and sequence sound. So far my main reason for working with such programs has been to take songs that I've written on guitar and input them into the computer via PowerTab, then I export them as midi files and to play them with either Reason or Orion. At this point I can also add a drum track as well since I have no acoustic drums to work with. I've been trying to get back into the habit of taking pictures with my cameras (a Nikon N80 and a Nikon N70). I still lack a good DSLR, but will take donations of any of the currently available Nikons. Apparently all the recently graduating kids around here are all heading to Europe. I can just imagine that its filling up with Americans like some kind of theme park. Its almost as if its a pilgrimage that we must all take when we are young. I noticed the same phenomenon when I was working in Highland Park, Texas. For the record, I haven't been to Europe myself but I would lie to see it someday. I would like to think that I could avoid the usual American tourist stereotype as well. I don't know... Last night I had a dream that I was living in Mexico and I was having a hard time ordering a vegetarian taco at a restaurant. I eventually succeeded in getting a vegetarian taco but it came with a side of fried pork. My Spanish is not so good at all and I've been thinking about working on that recently, especially considering my plans to watch the World Cup on Spanish language television. If you watch the World Cup in Spanish its free. You pay for the privilege of watching it in English. I'm hoping that I can find an online radio station that will broadcast the games live. I had hope when I found out that XM Radio was going to broadcast the World Cup games via their service, only to learn that they exclude such content from their monthly online content. I may try out the BBC as well. | 5.17.2006
Today I spent the day cleaning. I cleaned the bathroom, and yes, that means the toilet. Yuck is the operative word for that filthy slab of porcelain. If I were rich, the temptation would be strong to get anyone else to do that task for me. I might be inclined to offload that smelly job to just about anyone at nearly any cost. I might, however find it quite nice to discover that instead of emptying out my wallet for the privilege of getting someone else to do it for me, I would instead find some desperate person willing to do it at bargain basement prices. I might say a little prayer: "Thank God for the desperate poor people of the world, may God make them poor and willing to work for crumbs forever!!!" I might even find religion, of the variety that helps me re-align my thinking. I might even start to see the world in a whole new light, especially considering that I might also get my car cleaned for a few bucks as well, I might get a meal delivered to my door for a buck or two. The world might seem like a paradise of people willing to do just about anything for a few measly dollars. I might like that. I doubt I would ever clean my own toilet again. But then I might start thinking. I don't like cleaning toilets, and I doubt anyone else really likes it either. And not only is that person cleaning my toilet, they are probably cleaning their own as well. I've inflicted that nasty task on someone twice! I might even start to feel bad -- guilty. That is, unless I could construct a convenient rationale for why it is right and even necessary for other people to clean my toilet for me. I might even start to think the natural order of things deems that I never have to perform a task I dislike ever again. The universe has seen fit to make sure that as I go about my day entertaining myself that the mess I leave behind me gets cleaned up so that I never need to see it. I might even be dreadfully frightened at the idea that this order might be disrupted. | 5.16.2006
5.15.2006
WorldNetDaily: Against a fence: "If it took the Germans less than four years to rid themselves of 6 million Jews, many of whom spoke German and were fully integrated into German society, it couldn't possibly take more than eight years to deport 12 million illegal aliens, many of whom don't speak English and are not integrated into American society." My rather outspoken right-wing coworker who was amused that most people found his anti-immigration T-Shirt to be offensive didn't quite understand that most people make a strong connection between anti-illegals and anti-brown people. Having lived in a culture where I was mostly surrounded by white people I can say that many are great people, smart, industrious and caring. I can also say that there are a few too many for my liking that are stark raving loonies. As representation of the entire race though I would say that the number of crazy white people is about equal to the percentage of crazy black, brown or yellow people. Its not a racial thing: craziness. Take Michael Savage for instance: SAVAGE: What will it take to wake you up to the fact that you are being erased from the future of America? And why are you being erased? If you're a person of European descent, why do they want your child to be a minority in America? And when your little girl is a minority in America, what will happen to her? Tell me what will happen to her? Do you think that the minorities, when they take over the country, will be quite as benevolent and as enlightened as the European-Americans are today? Or do you sense that just perhaps, just maybe, they will not bring the learnings of the Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights, to their new power? The assumption that there is something about Europeans that makes them more capable is basically white supremacy. We all know where that leads. Its not about legal or illegal at that point; its about us and them, brown and white. And an avowed white supremacist: Jared Taylor “Blacks and whites are different,” Taylor wrote in a recent article on Hurricane Katrina. “When blacks are left entirely to their own devices, Western Civilization—any kind of civilization—disappears.” It all seems to center around the issue of tribal superiority. If you've read any of my writing before, you know that I believe in the power of tribalism in politics, be it religious, racial, ethnic, or class. I find most tribal politics to be extremely harmful. I feel that people should band together for practical reasons that transcend mere religious, racial or ethnic bonds. In truth I find the greater human tribe to be overriding of everything else. We should act in our own interests as a planet. I think most people feel that the emotional wind behind the immigration debate comes from misplaced tribal conflict and that if we were to ever solve the "problem" as defined by some, then we would just move onto a new "problem". Read more at Hullabaloo. | 5.10.2006
Things I've learned so far: Living in Denver. 1) It doesn't rain here much, at least so far. 2) It might snow, still -- in May! 3) There's a new city every couple of miles, its possible to be in two at one time. 4) The "Colorado Lifestyle" involves running, biking, and spandex. 5) That the suburbs here look like the suburbs there. I'm sure there is still more to learn. Stay tuned. | 5.07.2006
Man, some days I wish I was a right winger. Then I could just call people crazy, or moonbats, or lunatics, or freaks or whatever in response to any criticism of my views. Maybe then I could spend less time actually trying to tell people what my ideas are instead of being asked to defend straw-liberal arguments put forth by the right wing talk shows. Its tempting to call people names (especially stupid), and I honestly can't remember if I've ever resorted to outright namecalling on this blog. I would like to think that I've tried to address issues. Ray McGovern questions Rumsfeld on his previous, well documented assertion that the United States knew where the WMDs were before the war. SEC. RUMSFELD: Not at all. If you think -- let me take that, both pieces -- the area in the south and the west and the north that coalition forces control is substantial. It happens not to be the area where weapons of mass destruction were dispersed. We know where they are. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat. ... and for this act he gets called a "radical leftist, Jew-hating creep" by the fount of name calling at Little Green Footballs (no link - look it up). At the same time, no time is spent actually addressing the issue. Did Rumsfeld say that he knew where the weapons were, and why did he do so? Rumsfeld himself avoids the question. Instead we spend more time spinning our wheels defending people against the name callers. In a discussion with a co-worker I was informed that we had indeed found links between Saddam and Al Qaeda. I was unaware that merely travelling through a country qualified as valid cooperation? Go figure. I've come to realize that there is just a fundamentnal difference in the way I see the world and the way others see it. Watch "Everything is Illuminated". It made me laugh. | Just for fun I was reading through the contributions list of a few billionaires. I know we hear alot about George Soros and the millions he gives to the Democratic causes. But little is heard about the Republican funders. Is it just because we assume that the Republicans have the big wallets bankrolling all their campaigns and its nothing of interest. Or is it that the Conservative backed funds use all their money to convince us that they're the victims. A look at the numbers shows us that in 2003-2004 Soros gave about 2.5 million to Moveon. But at about the same time, just a little later, Boone Pickens gave a total of about 5.5 million to the Swift Boaters and the Progress for America Fund (a conservative group). Alice Walton of the Wal-Mart fortune also gave about 2.6 million to the Progress for America Fund. Richard Devos, Amway founder also gave about 2 million to Progress for America. Quick math shows that Soros was outspent by his billionaire brethren by about a 4 to 1 margin. Of course all we hear about is how Soros is bankrolling the liberals. | 5.04.2006
So Not Funny: "Why are you wasting my time with Colbert, I hear you ask. Because he is representative of what too often passes for political courage, not to mention wit, in this country. His defenders -- and they are all over the blogosphere -- will tell you he spoke truth to power. This is a tired phrase, as we all know, but when it was fresh and meaningful it suggested repercussions, consequences -- maybe even death in some countries. When you spoke truth to power you took the distinct chance that power would smite you, toss you into a dungeon or -- if you're at work -- take away your office." This is funny. The assumption is that you're not taking any risk unless its a risk of being tossed in a dungeon. This is ironic considering the attacks on Colbert following his performance. Of course I thought his routine was hilarious and quite necessary. Too few people have gotten the chance to bring issues directly to people in power. Our press is hesitant to risk their careers bringing up the unpleasant facts about this president and his performance as the "Decider". I not sure if Richard Cohen, the author of the piece quoted above was channelling Good Morning Vietnam when he wrote this piece but witness the similarities: Cohen: I am a funny guy. This is well known in certain circles, which is why, even back in elementary school, I was sometimes asked by the teacher to "say something funny" -- as if the deed could be done on demand. This, anyway, is my standing for stating that Stephen Colbert was not funny at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. Good Morning Vietnam: (warning: popups galore!) I understand you're pretty funny as a deejay, and... well, comedy is a kind of hobby of mine. Well-- Well, actually, it's a little more than just a hobby. Reader's Digest is considering publishing two of my jokes. But let's leave you with funny. Donald Rumsfeld deny his own words by ducking behind the troops (yet again!) Now that's funny Mr. Cohen. (via eschaton) | I notice that sometimes when I am trying to have a discussion about some political matter that the person that I am talking to is bringing up lots of points about subjects that are only remotely related to what we are talking about. These points seem to be pre-packaged hot button issues presented in a way to create maximum emotional appeal. I find that this sort of prepared stories are the bread and butter of political punidits and talk show hosts. They create an emotional response in people. Listeners find themselves thinking "That's not right" or "That's not fair". I'm sure we could all come up with thousands of examples of things that are not fair. So it was that in the midst of a discussion about the immigration rights protests going on in town that I was treated to a rant about how people from Mexico can come here, kill someone and run back across the border without being prosecuted. And while I found this to be a disturbing fact, I could not help but think that it would be absurd for people to think that most immigrants are coming to this country to commit thrill crimes, especially considering the dangers involved with crossing the border. So while these stories might be good fodder for your run of the mill watercooler talk, they serve little purpose in helping anyone really understand the issues at hand. I realize that most of the crap we hear coming from "opinion" sources are designed to create an emotional response as opposed to actually informing us. During a discussion about the war in Iraq I mentioned that I thought it was a bad idea based on misleading information and that history would bear out the wrongheadedness of this war. To which I was treated to a statement about how we had discovered evidence about Saddam's relationship to Al Qaeda. I said that we didn't attack Iraq ro make the U.S. any safer and the other person shot off that "Its not about oil!!" Of course I think that anyone with a brain would realize that oil played some part in the reason why we invaded Iraq. I think that there was a laundry list of strategic reasons why some people thought it would be a good idea to put the country of Iraq under out direct, or indirect control. Oil was one of those reasons, and to claim that we invaded Iraq to steal their oil is in some way missing the point, and in another way, making it more to the point. | 4.30.2006
CNN.com - Senators to push for $100 gas rebate checks - Apr 27, 2006: "'Our plan would give taxpayers a hundred dollar gas tax holiday rebate check to help ease the pain that they're feeling at the pump,' Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist announced Thursday." The Outstanding Public Debt as of 01 May 2006 at 03:03:52 AM GMT is: $ 8,371,021,715,751.79 | 4.27.2006
Guardian Unlimited Film | News | Tears and reflection at 9/11 film premiere: "United 93, by the British director Paul Greengrass, opened the Tribeca Film Festival, and the evening began like any other premiere, with a red-carpet procession of celebrities - including Robert De Niro, Steve Buscemi and Gabriel Byrne - and attendant TV cameras and gawking passersby. I'm uncomfortable with the idea that we can fictionalize history for the sake of "healing", or to feed an emotional need. I think that the tendency would be to cater to the narrative of least resistence. What happened on that plane is mostly speculation with little bits of evidence to lead to some assumptions. But the truth of the matter is that we have no witness to the actually event, to what happened, who did what, who said what. The film is a documentary-style re-creation of what Mr Greengrass calls a "believable truth" about what might have happened on the plane and in air-traffic control centres - from the moment a controller hears the first indications of the hijacks to when the Flight 93 passengers storm the cockpit and try to seize control. Its too early to deal with the events of 9-11 in this way. While its true that almost five years have past, we are still in the midst of the political fallout of that day. We are still using that event to guide our decision as a nation. There is no way that we could take an objective look at the tragedy of that day. There are too many forces pushing us to draw the right conclusions. There is a halo of political correctness that keeps us from thinking clearly about 9-11. Its what led us into the war in Iraq, where we were unable to question the emotionally driven narrative that "something needed to be done", even if it was completely unrelated. "This movie puts a face on the enemy and demonstrates accurately the extent to which the enemy will go to destroy us," David Beamer, the father of passenger Todd Beamer, told the Guardian before the premiere. Like I said, narrative. | 4.25.2006
I never really though that right-of-way rules were all that hard to understand. But I might have to reconsider that assumption based on the amount of evidence to the contrary. And... Every day, at about the same time, we get a recorded message on our machine that requests that we call someone about a matter of business. The machine that robo-calls this message out every day repeats the message twice so that we hear the last bit on the answering machine. We do not know this person for whom the message was intended and because we have a new phone number we can safely assume that this message is not for us. The safe assumption might be that after several months of leaving robo-messages on an answering machine, this person, who is so anxious to talk to someone else, might actually try calling in person to find out why they never get called back. Or we might assume that we live in a world full of stupidity and that some computer somewhere is programmed to call every day and it will continue to do so until the same stupid people that told it to do so, decide it can stop. It reminds of the time I got a new number and Blockbuster video would call every few weeks to remind someone I've never heard of to return their videos. I explained to the person making the calls that I did not know this person, I had never heard of them and there was no way that I would be able to tell them to return their videos. But, as we have learned, once stupidity is set in motion, it can only be stopped by an equal and opposite act of rational thinking, which, last I checked, was in short supply. So it was that I would get a call from Blockbuster every couple of weeks. | 4.17.2006
Orcinus: "Listening to the reconquista theories, I am taken back, back, back -- back to those halcyon days when conspiracy theories were the entire raison d'etre of the far right of America's conservative movement. Which is to say, every day of the past half-century. Neiwert goes on to talk about a few of the historical scapegoats of the right. It seems to me that there always seems to be just another group of boogeyman lurking in the shadows to lay their hands on some pretty white girl flesh, and to take all our money. Paranoia. - Jews - Communists - Athiests - Japanese - Muslims - Blacks - Feminists - The ACLU - Bill Clinton - The New World Order ...and evolution. (I saw this in Michael Shermer's - Why People Believe Weird Things. "This monkey mythology of Darwin is the cause of permissiveness, promiscuity, pills, prophylactics, perversions, pregnancies, abortions, pornography, pollution, poisioning, and proliferation of crimes of all types." But if you listen to the right wing hate mongers these past few weeks you would think that all these problems came from illegil immigrants. But, in fact, all these "problems" have existed for much longer than that. They existed back in the days when people from parts of Europe where the scapegoats as well. It existed even back in the days when it was just a bunch of white europeans killing each other for sport. But hey, whats not to like about a good scapegroup? It keeps the blood boiling and it keeps you from realizing the real problem stems from the fact that we're human, and human beings are a flawed animal. | cbs4denver.com - Free Wi-Fi Becomes Available On 16th St. Mall: "The downtown Wi-Fi network is accessible along 16th St. pedestrian mall and around Skyline Park which runs along Arapahoe from 15th St. to 18th St." I wonder if this will be allowed since its seen as a commercial venture, as opposed to government trying to give needy people free access to the internet. After Katrina ravaged the Big Easy six months ago, Greg Meffert, the city’s chief information officer, got downtown businesses back online by opening the city’s wireless mesh network—originally deployed to link surveillance cameras—to anyone who needed it. For free. But, if the government offers service to people as a way to make their city safer, or in case of emergencies, that service will get in the way of big telecommunications companies that wish to sell that service. “The vendors, the BellSouths of this world, are not only going to force us back, making our existing Wi-Fi illegal, but also they want to close a loophole for emergencies so that we would not do this again,” said Mr. Meffert. I'm still a little unclear how this doesn't effect any service that the government provides? How can business veto what would be the will of the people? If we vote to use our tax dollars to provide a universal service to everyone then can that we shut down as well? | 4.13.2006
Media Matters - Cavuto guest Hoenig: If Moussaoui is not executed, stock market will suffer I consider the Media Matters website a comedy site, only because it takes the most hilarious spew coming from the right wing and distills it to the point where we don't have to wade through a newscycle of stupidity just to catch the gems. Take this example: On the issue of whether Moussaoui is put to death and the impact that will have on the market. HOENIG: I think if -- well, he should be put to death. To be honest, I'm surprised we're giving him the courtesy of the trial, Neil. If I had my way, you'd bring him out back, put a bullet in his head, and toss him in the dumpster. This is an evil monster, and I just don't see how society can prosper or the economy can prosper, if this guy lives. First off... a right to fair trail and fair sentencing is a right. To deny anyone a right is to say that that right is conditional. That's a pretty slippery path to be headed down. That's why we should stick to our principles and not let the knuckle-draggers run the country. Second... Rights trump the market. When we start to say that we should make concessions on the way things ought to be done because doing otherwise might have a negative effect on the stock market then we essentially give our souls over to the stock market. To an extent I think we've done that already. I hear this man's statement as it was intended, as a threat. We should do what the market (i.e. this little man) demands or else face its wrath. Too often I think little men with god complexes see the military, the church, the media, the federal government or the stock market as an extension of their own egos, talking about them as if they are part of their own selves. Historically, white men with money could rely on these institutions to do their bidding. But people get uppity and want to be part of the society in which they live. So the white men with money (or would have had money in the old days) get spooked and... poof, we get conservatism. Remember kiddies! The stock market is an all knowing, all powerful entity that will smite thee if thou should anger it. To which I say "Greeeaaat!!! Like we needed another one of THOSE!!" | 4.12.2006
Bush Says He Declassified Pre-War Intel - Yahoo! News: "You're not supposed to talk about classified information, and so I declassified the document" umm, yeah. I don't like to tell secrets, so I make them unsecrets first. Then its ok. | 4.10.2006
People in the rich parts of the country where housing prices have skyrocketed are having troubles finding people to serve as volunteer firefighters and who will work relatively low wage jobs, like teachers in their communities. Homes Too Rich for Firefighters Who Save Them - New York Times: "'All these people have heart attacks, strokes and fires at the same rate as everybody else, but they don't volunteer at the same rate,' said Jay Leon, the mayor of Ardsley." This amuses me. Because we are having this debate about immigration where right wing yahoos on the radio are advocating murder on the borders and at the same time we're seeing the downsides of white flight. The mega-rich suburbanites who have fled out of the cities to be away from the undesirables are now realizing that they can't get labor to come out to their enclaves without providing them with affordable housing and transportation. "But, but... then we'll have to live next to 'them'!" "Waitaminit - Nobody remembered to bring an inexaustible labor force of ROBOTS???" So, the other day I watched an episode of Oprah (and I swear I don't normally watch her show!) where she was amazed at the levels of poverty located just a few miles outside of a major city like Chicago. She seemed oblivious to the fact that the same rules, the same distorted priorities that were making her obscenely rich were also at play in keeping these people extremely poor. I recognize that she's trying to become more aware, but at the same time I have to wonder if the extremely wealthy, who are making money through the shuffling of paperwork, real estate ponzi schemes and the exploitation of cheap labor here and abroad realize how isolated they have become. | 4.09.2006
 We all live by our own "code", a set of rules that we feel all normal people should abide by. For instance, some of us would never think about jumping in front of a single mom with three screaming kids at the grocery store when a new lane opens up, others wouldn't have a problem with that. And I guess that I find it amusing when people lean over to me and point out a "unforgivable" sin just committed by another that I hadn't even noticed. Its hard to live by other people's rules, especially when they are unknown. And I find that I stand behind both sides of the fence in this matter. Like today for instance, I was taking the dogs out for a walk in the middle of the day. We go down a trail outside of the apartment complex that leads through a grassy gulley. I keep the dogs on leashes because I know that I am likely to come across runners, bicyclists and other dog walkers. Having the dogs on leashes makes these encounters more managable. Plus, while I know that our dogs would never bite or harm another person or animal I cannot gaurantee this, and other people have no way of knowing how our dogs will react. As the dogs and I walk out through the gate I look down the trail and I see a guy that has his dog off a leash, in fact, a leash does not seem to be at his disposal at all, and I realize that if I were to take the dogs down there I would be facing a situation that I have little control over. I have no idea whether his dog will react friendly or not to the presence of other dogs. I could just naturally assume that his dog is friendly by assuming that the owner would not let a dangerous dog run around unleashed. But, and here's the kicker; I have a hard time trusting other people's judgement. Because you see we all have different standards of what we consider "acceptable" behavior and those standards are wide ranging. We have little way of knowing what a stranger might consider acceptable, and its folly to assume that everyone shares your same feelings about issues and situations. Sometimes, how well we get along with people in everyday interactions in our most personal relationships can depend on how well we can understand people that are different than us, or how well can can find people that share the same set of "rules". Behaviors that I might find rude or abusive may be overlooked as normal by another. On the other hand, I may do things that others consider beyond the pale. Its always suprising to learn that you've unknowingly stepped beyond someone's limits of good behavior. How much of our decision to like or dislike a person can be based on how much that person conforms to our own standards of behavior? 
| 4.06.2006
Andrew Jackson's Fifth Annual Message :: Tracking Westward Expansion; the Trail of Tears: "It is to be hoped that those portions of two of the Southern tribes, which in that event will present the only remaining difficulties, will realize the necessity of emigration, and will speedily resort to it. My original convictions upon this subject have been confirmed by the course of events for several years, and experience is every day adding to their strength. That those tribes can not exist surrounded by our settlements and in continual contact with our citizens is certain. They have neither the intelligence, the industry, the moral habits, nor the desire of improvement which are essential to any favorable change in their condition. Established in the midst of another and a superior race, and without appreciating the causes of their inferiority or seeking to control them, they must necessarily yield to the force of circumstances and ere long disappear." Emphasis mine. Its always the same presumption, that when a culture fails to subscribe to "our way of life" they are deemed inferior for not choosing to live the way we do and can thus be dismissed and conquered. Its inevitable that the requirements that are given are impossible to meet. I suspect the immigration bills coming out of our government will be much like the treaties made with the indigenous peoples. It will be a way to control them, make rules for them to comply with, raise the bar ever higher and declare defeat for them when they fail. Thus we will be "empowered" by our own superiority to take stronger matters. | 4.05.2006
Just yesterday I got a chance to see a new 10 dollar bill for the first time. I think it might be the ugliest of the new bills, with the "stained" orange on the back and the mysterious oval on the back left side. Its fascinating... | While I think that self-improvement, on the whole, is a laudable goal for all people, I fear that we would never agree on what would constitute "improvement". These days I see so many task oriented people, who, in my opinion, confuse micromanaging their lives with real control. While I can see how filling one's days with small tasks might feel empowering, I can't help but get past the fact that many of us spend so much of our lives turning the trivial into the vital. | 3.27.2006
Growing up in Oklahoma, Wyoming seemed like such a long ways away. So it was with some surprise that while driving up to Fort Collins on Saturday to visit the New Belgium Brewery I noticed that it was only another 30-40 miles to get to Cheyenne. "Isn't that in Wyoming?" I thought... Never been there. I've been to: Oklahoma Texas Alabama Georgia Mississippi Lousiana Florida Tennesee New Mexico Arizona California Kansas Missouri Arkansas and.. Colorado But never Wyoming. So, now I've been. To Cheyenne at least. It was dark. With a little luck I will get a chance to make it to Yellowstone National Park this summer. Its been a goal of mine for many years. I hear its beautiful. I want to get a chance to see it for myself. Maybe while I'm in the area I'll get to visit Idaho and...wow... Montana. | 3.24.2006
MSN Money - Financial Times Business News: US pension bill allows big cut in contributions: "Employers will be able to slash their contributions to underfunded pension schemes by tens of billions of dollars over the next five years under proposed legislation before Congress that was expected to have the opposite effect." I guess sometimes I try to imagine that I live in a different world wherein the article above would be considered outrageous instead of perfectly acceptable, where congress, instead of acting in the best interests of their wealthy friends decides to act in the interests of the working people of America. I find it hard to imagine that world, because I've never lived in that world. I look around and see lots of wealth handed out to shareholders. At the same time we read about how the federal government is having to borrow money from worker's retirement funds until they can get their debt limit raised and how congress is wanting to lend a helping hand to companies that are struggling to pay into their pensions. Meanwhile...: The U.S., also thrived, adding 69 new billionaires. The U.S. is now home to an astonishing 341 billionaires, just shy of half the world's billionaire population. Strong stock markets fueled much of this growth: Since the end of January 2003, the S&P 500 is up 38%, and the Nasdaq has gained 56%. How is this not class warfare? The Bush administration is preparing a budget request that would freeze most spending on agriculture, veterans and science, slash or eliminate dozens of federal programs, and force more costs, from Medicaid to housing, onto state and local governments, according to congressional aides and lawmakers. and... war on veterans? Veterans programs are also expected to be pinched, with flat funding, higher deductibles and co-payments for health care and a squeeze on benefit eligibility, aides said. Wise people said that putting republicans in charge would result in huge tax cuts that would lead to deficit spending that would lead to cuts in spending for the poor, middle class, elderly and veterans. They were right. We got what we asked for. Bush is president of the United Shareholders of America. The rest of us...? Too bad. (via eschaton) | 3.21.2006
 So, I work with this young republican type kid. He might be gone in a few months to intern in D.C. - an opportunity he got through a connection. It got me wondering - if I had to sum up republicanism, as it stands today, in just a few words, what would I say? I might say that: "Republicanism is a reactionary political orientation which appeals to a fear of change to maintain those institutions that bestow privilege." It is, essentially, from my point of view, a reactionary political force that attacks anything and anyone that seeks to change the current social, economic and political institutions that currently provide privilege to a relatively small minority of people. It gains and maintains its support by appealing to a general fear of others and change to convince those people that are not directly benefitting from this system to vote republican. So while it might not be explicitly racist, it does appeal to a general fear of hispanics and blacks as a threat to the dominant role of white culture in America. This xenophobia extends to other religions, other sexual orientations and any other point of view that might be considered critical of the status quo. In some material I've read even criticism of republicans/the president is considered dangerous. I can see the appeal. If I were convinced that I would benefit from supporting the current system I might be tempted defend it, that is, if I didn't have a sense of fairness and compassion. I might even start to create elaborate rationales for promoting inequality in the name of righteousness.
| 3.18.2006
 We had a nice day out, went to Red Rocks. It started snowing a bit and that made it very beautiful as well. I look forward to going and seeing a concert there soon. | 3.16.2006
 I used to be pretty reserved when it came to confronting Bush Republicans in real life. But these days I feel less inclined to be so nice. I mean, sheesh, its such an easier thing to do now than it was a few years ago when they could count on people's paranoia to at least give their reactionary idealogy some play. But now, there's a nice clean record to refer to. The tired ol' republican game of blaming the democrats for everything seems, well, absurd (more absurd?) now that they've held all three branches of government for a fairly decent chunk of time. The republican political apparatus, while very effective at winning elections and driving debates, cannot govern worth a hoot. The problem, from my point of view, is that competant people are being shut out of the game by both parties. The republicans are deliberately trying to forsake practical solutions in its bid to become the party of the idealogically blinded, while the democrats are acutely aware that they will never be allowed to govern unless they appease the corporate money-givers. The democrats will find this hard to do if they ever try to fix what is so horribly wrong with our foreign and domestic policy, namely that we are driven by corporate special interests to pursue bad long term policy decisions. Hence the republican's winning strategy, to pander to people's fear, bigotry and sense of tribal superiority while giving the powerful what they want. I feel I shouldn't have to mention that this is ultimately really really bad for us as a nation.
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