Reflections after two weeks of blogging

I've been at this for two weeks and I continue to learn and be amazed. Despite torrential rains that flooded my garage and a wicked bash across my head from helping my neighbour bail out his flooded basement I have managed to post every day, sometimes twice a day. My readership has increased dramatically. I'm getting crawled by Google. I've, by myself, made some pretty dramatic changes to my blog foramattting. I have received a few comments. I'm slowly honing a style and voice for my blog. All in all this has been a good experience and I am certain that iI will continue to pester you for some time to come. BTW, Happy New Year!

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Elizabeth Taylor is breathing easy, for now.

The latest death trio is Artie Shaw, Susan Sontag and Jerry Orbach. Rest in peace gentle folk.

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The U.S. is Stingy

Conservatives are going apeshit that a U.N. official called the United States 'stingy.' How dare that horrible institution dare to call the mighty United States stingy. We give more money than any country in the world. We gave out $2.4 billion in 2004 to humanitarian needs. We are morally superior.

Of course the conservatives ignore that we actually are ranked dead last in 2003 when you break down the donations per capita. They also fail to acknowledge that Bush has consistently reneged on pledged monies totaling hundreds of millions of dollars to humanitarian organizations both domestic and international.

The problem is that 3,000 people died on 9/11. We have spent $300 BILLION going after a country that had nothing to do with all those senseless American deaths. At least 120,000 people died in the Tsunami and we are sending a paltry $35 MILLION to the 12 countries that suffered more than 40 TIMES THE LOSS OF LIFE (80,000 as of press time). Terrorists be damned, we need to do more, immediately.

Bush's pending, ugh, Inaugural has a budget of $45 million. Sonni Efron of the LA Times href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-generous31dec31.story"target=_blank>uncovered U.S. government foreign aid in 2002 worked out to 13 cents per American a day. Private donations from U.S. citizens amounted to 5 cents per person a day. In contrast, 16 other countries, governments gave more. And in three other countries — Switzerland, Ireland and Norway — private citizens gave more. Who is the big Kahuna of of giving? The Norwegian government gave $1.02 per citizen a day while private giving came to 24 cents a day. FYI, the U.N. official who called the U.S. stingy was Norwegian.

All over the planet people think of us as a big bully. The glory days of WWII, where we truly helped save the planet from destruction, are long gone. Sure we wiped out the Soviet Union in the 80's, but at a horrible cost in the form of puppet regimes , multiple wars and wars by proxy all over the globe. We run roughshod over sovereign nations and people. We have no interest in democracy, we are only interested in making money and raping natural resources.

Here is a prime opportunity to regain some respect and the COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATIVES are worried about their taxes.

[Update 1/2/05 - Added link to Bush press conference to confirm numbers]

[Updated 12/31/04 - Changed 2003 ranking from 16th to dead last based on OECD stats and added the 2002 figures based on LA Times article]

[Sadly Updated 12/30/04 10pm PST - The death total went from 80,000 to 120,000)

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Stay tuned BitTorrent fans, same BitTorrent time, same BitTorrent channel

The MPAA, under the steely gaze of Dan Glickman, has gone after the latest P2P copyright nightmare, BitTorrent

For those of you that don't know about Bittorrent it is the latest scourge of honest and fair-dealing copyright holders everywhere. Bram Cohen's evil tool has wreaked untold losses on the movie and music industries and in all fairness lots of kiddies are downloading movies and music by the DVD-R ton. I don't know if the numbers really add-up to Seventeen, but stealing is wrong. And it hurts people. Not just CEO's. Real people.

But I think that the entertainment industry could really benefit from the P2P experience if it would think for a minute. Here is my five point, multi-billion dollar plan to save the music, movie and television industries from P2P by embracing P2P.

1) Recognize that on-demand is the future of entertainment and news delivery. The internet has shown unequivocally that people want immediate gratification. They will no longer wait until 8pm for must see TV. They would rather Tivo the programs and watch them at their convenience. People can't wait for their favorite song to play on the radio. They just turn on their iPod or download it from LimeWire. Now people want to see movies before they are released in their market. Many entertainment companies are experimenting but there is no focus on wholesale change of the industry.

2) Determine the best technology. There are many technologies available. Most rely on a client/server architecture. Big expensive media servers stored in some sort of central facility and client boxes attached to the network. However the problem is one of bandwidth not servers and clients. It's easy to set up a technology test that plays to strengths. It is quite another to make technology work in a less than ideal situation. The technology needs to work with what's available today in the real world. If you can make it work today, you can make money. P2P clears all of the hurdles. In particular BitTorrent is a brilliant way of optimizing the handling of media in a multi-nodular network. Rather than investing in a large physical plant and countless big iron boxes you use the existing IP based network with low cost boxes that have the BitTorrent API in firmware. Pick a standardized container for your content. MPEG 4 has very strong DRM solutions. Build a good backend for ease of finding product. Establish a lenient licensing package (think iTunes music store pricing not Movielink). Voila, you just built a new distribution system for the entertainment industry.

3) Determine the optimum revenue streams. Who makes money in an on-demand universe. The Content, Service and Equipment providers. Position your company as one and you can make money. But long term which is the best bet? Equipment providers, like Cisco, make tons of money initially. What happens after everyone is set up? The money dries up and the product becomes a commodity. Content Providers can potentially make billions of dollars. If they have a hit. How many flops do you have to produce before you have a Friends, a Star Wars or a U2. I think the key is to control the pipes themselves. You have a large infrastructure investment. But then you sit back and count the pennies roll in in perpetuity.

4) Determine the Power position. As the controller of the pipes you have the ability to control what is put into the network. As such, you dictate the terms. 'Nuff said?

5) Sit back and collect the moola. The combined entertainment industries need to create and invest in this network. Much like Ma Bell paid to wire the country for phone service or the electricity companies worked together to power the nation. They need to do this to insure the protection of their valuable media assets AND to create new markets and opportunities. An unspoken truth of such a system is that it lowers the barrier to entry for content creators. In this amazing world where an entire movie, song or television show can be created on an off-the-shelf computer there are new filmmakers, musicians and TV producers that are going to emerge. And unlike the creatives of the 20th century, they will get unprecedented opportunities for exposure.

Well, that's what I've been sitting on for many years. Anybody have Bram Cohen's phone number?

P.S. I know that BT is terrifying in it's ease of use and ability to overcome obstacles but it is nothing compared to IRC. IRC is just rotten with stuff and it's lightning fast. All the serious pirates I know don't bother with BT or any of the other P2P protocols.

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Nuke that Filibuster!

Isn't it enough they control all three branches of government, the majority of Governorships and the fourth estate? Now they want to strip the Democrats of the last remaining vestige of balance of power. The filibuster. Nick Anderson of the LA Times writes...

Senate Republican leaders, bolstered by the party's Nov. 2 victories, are weighing a move to deny Democrats the right to filibuster judicial nominees indefinitely in the coming Congress.

Tom DeLay is a bastard. Plain and simple. He fights to win and doesn't care about what he tramples to get there. First, he breaks a bunch of campaign finance laws. Then he tries to bribe a fellow Republican Congressman. Then he re-districts unfairly in Texas. Then he changes the rules about leading while under indictment and now he does trying to kill the time-honored filibuster... I'm getting really tired of their unfair and probably illegal tactics. I think that it is a matter of time until these guys get what's due.

I hope the few dems that that are still in congress make the most of blocking these GOP assholes. Republicans may be the majority, but not by much. We can stop them from getting anything done. Make them really work for it. The U.S. Congress can learn something from the California legislature which is dealing with Governor Arnold's attempts to re-rig the system.

That's all I have to say on this matter.

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Stick and Move

Surprise, surprise. Army Historian Cites Lack of Postwar Plan

“There was no Phase IV plan” for occupying Iraq after the combat phase, writes Maj. Isaiah Wilson III, who served as an official historian of the campaign and later as a war planner in Iraq. While a variety of government offices had considered the possible situations that would follow a U.S. victory, Wilson writes, no one produced an actual document laying out a strategy to consolidate the victory after major combat operations ended.

“While there may have been 'plans' at the national level, and even within various agencies within the war zone, none of these 'plans' operationalized the problem beyond regime collapse” -- that is, laid out how U.S. forces would be moved and structured, Wilson writes in an essay that has been delivered at several academic conferences but not published. “There was no adequate operational plan for stability operations and support operations.”

Having grown up in the midwest and playing football you learn a thing or two about offense and defense. In order to win you have to score with offense. It's rare to score a defensive touchdown and it almost never wins the game. So a relatively successful strategy is to get the ball within scoring range as fast and as often as possible. This is usually achieved through a passing game. Get your 'backs upfield and let the ball fly.

The training the 'backs receive is to 'stick and move.' in other words stop the forward momentum of the defensive players by hitting them hard enough to halt their progress but then side-step and continue up the field. The defensive player has to make a decision, do I hit back or do I continue down field to sack the Quarterback. In that split-second the offensive back jukes the play is either successful or it's busted. If the defense manages to stop the offensive 'backs and sack the QB it often results in a game changing moment. But the odds are usually in the favor of the offense.

Karl Rove, Donald Rumsfeld and the Neo-Cons all seem to adopt a 'stick and move' approach to political gamesmanship.

The 2000 and 2004 Rove-controlled elections were marked by GOP attacks that lasted for only a single news cycle. By the time the DNC responded the next attack was already being leveled. The same thing is true for GOP 'wins.' The White House would trot out Tom Ridge for a national security update. The next day John Asscroft would update the public on some court case. The next day Rummy would hold a conference saying how well things were going in Iraq. Stick and move. Don't give your opponent time to respond.

The Iraq invasion was swift and decisive because our troops didn't stop to regroup. Supply lines were stretched dangerously thin resulting in U.S. P.O.W.s. But our tank groups were ordered to rush into Baghdad. Before the invasion began Rumsfeld determined that speed and timing were of the essence. Declaring victory wasn't a reality as much as it was part of the strategy. The story on the 6pm news had to be the completely superior, overwhelming, U.S. capabilities were no match for the Iraqi army. Rummy even made sure that we had news cameras in all the forward groups. Rah rah sis boom bah. Stick and move.

Stick and move can also be used defensively. Bush originally claimed that Iraq was a threat to our national security and possessed weapons of mass destruction. Iraq had the bomb. Iraq could attack the U.S. in 45 minutes with remotely operated vehicles. Iraq had chemical and biological weapons that they wouldn't hesitate to use against soldiers or civillians. Colin Powell told the U.N. that a single vial of Anthrax could kill thousands and that Iraq had stockpiles of the disease. Unfortunately for the administration, the utter lack of discovery following the invasion and occupation of Iraq left Bush looking for excuses so he claimed that Iraq had WMD programs. After multiple U.N. Weapons Inspectors closed that door Bush followed up by claiming that Hussein had intentions of starting WMD programs. Even Bush recognized this was a non-starter so he turned the message into liberation of the Iraqi people from a brutal dictator that they despised. Of course this is also failing the sniff test and Bush is stuck. I can hardly wait to see Dubya's next move. This may be a game-changing moment for the Dems if they can get their act together.

Of course the whole Iraq invasion was just the first stop in the overall stick and move Wolfowitz strategy. True Neo-Con followers always knew that Iraq was just a stepping-stone to getting the Middle-East under control. After Iraq we'll move on to the next stop. Iran anyone?

So to read that there was never, ever, a postwar Iraq plan isn't surprising. After all, when you knock the defenseman on his ass, you move. You don't stop to help pick him up. You just move.

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Forget Ohio, Baghdad is the new Florida

Isn't it enough for the Bushies to do their best to swing election(s) here at home?

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's election body rejected a suggestion in Washington it adjust the results of next month's vote to benefit the Sunni minority if low turnout in Sunni areas means Shi'ites win an exaggerated majority in the new assembly.

Speaking of “unacceptable” interference, Electoral Commission spokesman Farid Ayar said: “Who wins, wins. That is the way it is. That is the way it will be in the election.”

U.S. diplomats in Baghdad, at pains to keep their role in the election discreet, declined comment on a New York Times report from Washington which said Sunnis might be granted extra seats if the community's vote was judged to have been too low.

U.S. officials have expressed concern that if the ballot on Jan. 30 fails to reflect Iraq's sectarian and ethnic mix due to violence and boycotts in Sunni areas, then the assembly will lack legitimacy. But any attempt to fix the proportion of seats going to the main groups in advance could have the same effect.

“The Americans are expressing their views and those aren't always the same as the Commission's,” Ayar told Reuters.

How can a democratic country like the united States of America, for 'national security purposes' trying to spread democracy throughout the world, even contemplate the idea of rigging a democratic vote? Isn't it bad enough that we invaded and occupied a sovereign nation under false pretenses? Do we really have to further oppress the Iraqi citizenry with continuing suppression of true democracy?

When will the Neo-Cons learn that Machiavelli was only correct when dealing with an intractable situation. A scenario that cannot be resolved through the established channels. The ends justify the means only under certain circumstances. A completely quarantined Saddam Hussein did not meet that criteria.

I have said before that the middle-East needs to be brought into the 21st Century. The Human Rights abuses have to stop. There must be equality for all. Religious extremism must be tempered with rationality and respect for other religions and peoples. Poverty rates must rapidly and dramatically decrease to reasonable levels.

Democracy may be the best tool to acheive these goals. It may not. But I am certain that you can't force democracy on a people. If you do you must be willing to accept the consequences. Sadly, for U.S. foreign policy, the Neo-Cons want to have it both ways.

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Merry Christmas!

I'm taking the day off. Sort of...We're going to the Laker game (Shaq v. Kobe) and then out for Chinese food. What about you?

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Xmas Eve

I completely prefer Xmas Eve to Xmas day. I don't know why. Maybe because the anticipation is coming to frenzied finish? Maybe because as a child we always opened gifts on Xmas Eve? Maybe because you can really enjoy the eve and then you get the day to relax and recover.

In any case, Xmas Eve rocks!

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Reflections after a week of blogging

After blogging for the past week I realize that I have learned a ton of stuff of about technology and myself.

First off, there are many different blogging systems available. I have only tried Blogger and I am more than satisfied with the results. I wish that I could break up my entries by filtered category (i.e. all the tech columns could be accessed in one click). But other than that limitation I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience to date.

There are multiple methods of adding entries to my blog, I can just go to Blogger.com from a browser, I can email the entries to a special address, I can SMS messages from my phone and most recently I discovered Ecto. Ecto appears to be a great tool and I am going to pay for this shareware.

There are thousands (millions?) of blogs out there. Most are not very good and seem to be pointless. Most are not updated regularly if at all. I already know that I don't plan on being one of those bloggers. I have been looking for a way to regularly vent and this is a perfect solution.

Blogging is the new journalism. I don't mean that you should ignore the old gray lady and only read Buzz Machine. I also am not going to imply that bloggers are even close to the literary quality or maintain the strict standards of even the most junior journalist. But, think about it for a minute. What does the word journal mean? Someone who keeps a journal is someone who takes regular, if not daily, notes. A journalist is someone who regularly writes about events. The first journalists, the kind that our Founding Fathers fought to protect, were about telling the world about what was happening in the world. Several of them were in fact publishers. The FF thought the best weapon against tyranny was an informed public.

In that light, blogging is merely a digital expression of the broad sheet.

To me, blogging has opened a new world. I have spent my life avoiding writing. Even though I have a talent for the written word I never pursued it as a career option. I'm sure that was a mistake. I'm not sure I can make anything of it now but blogging has opened the door for me and with some time and practice I may be able to take this somewhere.

Besides, it's cathartic.

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In your face fund raising!

Backfire: Turning Pickets Into Pledges is a brilliant example of Progressives fighting back against the repressive Christian Conservatives who are trying to stop women from taking advantage of their reproductive rights. Anti-Choice groups target Abortionists and Planned Parenthood clinics. To these religious freaks birth control is the same thing as abortion.

The plan is simple. Get supporters to pledge a small amount for every Protester that shows up outside the clinic. The daily tally is posted for all to see. The money raised is used for outreach and other community programs on the Planned Parenthood agenda.

Get it? If you protest you are handing money to the clinic and programs you are protesting. It's sure brilliance. It is a lose/lose scenario for the Anti-Choice creeps.

What I really love about this story is not just the in-your-face approach but the way the table has been turned. Why play the Anti-Choice game? Who let them make the rules?

These Planned Parenthood clinics have made a fundamental change in strategy and I think that it is very healthy for the organization. I think that Progressives everywhere can learn from PP.

I believe that a major problem with the Kerry/Edwards campaign was a failure to grab the field. Karl Rove was brilliant at setting the agenda and tone for the entire election, not just the GOP campaign. Kerry was constantly on defense and you can't score a touchdown without an offense.

Kudos to Planned Parenthood and to my Democratic colleagues...start taking notes.

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Road Warrior Travel Tips

If you are reading this blog you probably know me personally. If you know me personally you have probably asked me a technical question or asked for a recommendation at some point. If you haven't, you eventually will. And I enjoy answering your questions.

As we travel this road together I will regularly drop some tech tips...just to shake things up a bit. I mean, really, how much can I gripe about Bush and still keep your interest. So here are a few of my favorite road warrior tips.

Both my wife and I are serious road warriors with extensive international and domestic travel experience. We have had all sorts of internet connection methods from hooking up to a cellphone to searching in vain for an open WiFi network. The only method that is reliable and works worldwide is the tried and true dial up connection.

For that reason we maintain a minimal AOL account. It costs $4.95 a month and is limited to just 5 hours of connectivity but it ALWAYS works everywhere we go. Five hours is just enough time to log in and grab email and do some casual web surfing while we're traveling. There have only been a few times we have gone over 5 hours and those were extended trips. You don't need to really use AOL to benefit from their worldwide network. I just get connected and then use my normal email
program and web browser.

Since many hotels, especially in foreign countries, have limited electrical options I have had to become adept at avoiding a tangle of cables around the power outlets. Between my laptop, cell phone, digital camera, iPod and Sleep Apnea gear it can be a real mess of cables.

The key my tip is to never leave home without a laptop travel power adaptor. I use an IGO adaptor. It comes with all the cables and plugs I need to get my PowerBook juiced anywhere. I also carry a USB cable for my cell phone and the firewire iPod cable. That way I can charge directly from the PowerBook and I don't need to carry multiple power bricks or worry about not having enough outlets and adaptors. I just plug in the PowerBook and daisy chain the other devices off the firewire and usb ports.

I also carry a portable CF card reader so I can easily download any pictures I take while traveling. It's a little extra something to carry but using a USB cable hooked up directly to the camera really eats the cameras batteries.

For my final travel tip I find that for 80% of my needs my Treo 600 outfitted with Sprint's vision plan and SnapperMail email application is more than adequate. I always bring my laptop but unless I have work to do or want to watch a DVD, I just load my laptop into my checked luggage. No hassles at the security queues, one less thing to lug around while waiting and less baggage to put into the overhead bins. I
can check my email, plan my schedule, listen to MP3s and even play games on my phone. It syncs up perfectly with my Mac and is indispensable. I can't recommend the Treo highly enough.

Hope these tips help!

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Apocalypse today...

IFC has been showing the 'Apocalypse Now Redux' Director's cut (not to be confused with the 5 1/2 hour 'workprint version' which is on my wishlist. I have watched this movie several times and am still in awe.

The movie's pace and plotting is masterful. As we, the viewer, follow the boat down the river we are brought deeper into Kurtz's, and the war's, insanity. Each stopping point is decidedly more bizarre than the last. Carmine Coppola's score, especially the disturbing carnival music at the last outpost, is a study in perfection. Hollywood's current crop of music men, Randy Newman and Danny Elfman, could learn a thing or two about not upstaging the movie. It's no surprise that Francis Ford Coppola had a breakdown during production and is still trying to perfect the movie.

Many people argue that there are better Vietnam movies but for my money there are only three that are worth their salt, Full Metal Jacket, Deer Hunter and Apocalypse Now, with the latter being the best.

FMJ is brilliant in the first act but falls apart and victim to cliches after boot camp. I'm really sad to say that about Kubrick but after a recent viewing I was less than impressed by the overall film. If the intensity of boot camp were maintained throughout the film it would have held up better.

The Deer Hunter isn't a war film but it is about Vietnam. Cimino leans towards excess (evidenced later in his career) but the strength of the performances and the story make this a classic. I don't think the depiction of the war's effects on a small town have ever been shown in any other movie (maybe you can jog my memory?). Although it is a great movie the tendency towards melodrama takes it down a few pegs.

Apocalypse Now is as fresh today as 25 years ago. The characters, story, plot points, art direction, cinematography, performances and direction are still unparalleled in a Vietnam film and may be the greatest war movie of all time. The insanity, confusion, hypocrisy, terror, fear, camaraderie and bravado of war have never been depicted with as much passion and compassion. Coppola doesn't indict the Vietnam War. He is merely telling a story. Because the movie doesn't get weighed down in politics and pontificating it soars above the rest of the pack.

Vietnam film trivia...R. Lee Ermey is in both Apocalypse Now and Full Metal Jacket. He is famous as the Drill Sergeant in FMJ but he had a small, uncredited, roll in AP as Eagle Thrust Seven helicopter pilot. He can be seen in the 'Flight of the Valkyrie' sequence.

This wouldn't be a blog without a little Bush bashing so...on such a horrible day when Iraqi patriots, er, insurgents, mortar a chow tent in Mosul killing 20 G.I.s I think it's important to look back at the horrors of the Vietnam War. There are still many lessons to be learned from the polarizing geo-politics of that era. I highly recommend Apocalypse Now to the crazy brave who are gung ho about Iraq. Some reminders of the insanity of a badly planned and morally pointless war could rattle some sense into the Bushie hawks.

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The Donald

The Donald, not Trump but Rumsfeld, has apparently stepped in it...again.

The stink is over his use of an autopen, a signature replication machine, to sign the letters of condolence to the families of soldiers slain by the Iraqi freedom fighters, er, insurgents.

Now many of you may suspect that I, like most Progressives, have an intense dislike of Rummy. But that simply isn't true. I think he has made some monumental mistakes but I believe that he is a good man. A good man with a sense of humor, which is more that I can say of some of my Progressive counterparts.

The Bush/Cheney/Wolfowitz Iraq policy and the reasoning behind the decision to invade a sovereign nation are completely reprehensible. But that does not mean that the ultimate goal or democratization of the middle-east is a bad idea or a less-than-worthy goal (although I don't agree with that particular theory...Democracy has to be desired by the public, not thrust upon them). It also does not mean that Rumsfeld is the person responsible for the debacle in Iraq and since Bush is distancing himself from Rummy by calling him the 'architect' of the Iraq invasion and occupation I am fairly confident Rumsfeld had nothing to do with the real decision making.

We, the general public, do not know the inner workings of the Bush administration. It's quite possible that Rummy vociferously argued for more initial troops but was over-ruled by Cheney or the Joint Chiefs. It's possible that Rummy wanted to focus on Afghanistan but was waylaid to Iraq by Karl Rove who was looking for an easy win before the election. Rummy may have wanted U.N. participation but was out-shouted by conservative U.N. haters in the adminstration.

One of my political idols, James Carville, has been calling for Rummy's head for a few years. The Ragin' Cajun thinks that the man on top, Rummy, needs to take the blame for the Iraq mess. Generally I agree with that sentiment but not in this case.

The middle-east is full of nasty dictators and brutal tyrants. They rule under the guise of Islam. But nowhere is it written that muslims can't live under a democratically elected, albeit Muslim, government. Having to answer to the people in a democracy is the best way to insure that government works for the people, at least that's what I'm told. Maybe someone should tell that to the Bushies.

Many would argue that the United States should keep out of the affairs of other countries. A very isolationist stance that is contrary to our nation's best interests. Others would argue that the Iraq invasion is about oil. I'm not arguing with that point but I don't see the relevance. Wars are always fought over resources and money. The American revolution was as much about economic self-interest as political freedom from England. The U.S. didn't enter WWII because of the Holocaust. We did it to protect foreign markets for our exports. Korea and Vietnam were about stopping Communism, an economic policy contrary to U.S. interests.

But back to the matter at hand. I think that Rummy has many questions to answer, but using an autopen isn't important. Attacking Bush by proxy is a mistake that Democratic flacks like Paul Begala (whom I respect) continually make. Bush is an easy target. You just need to call him on it. Watch the Daily Show. They seem to have no problem pulling back the curtain on the Bush administration. I can think of at least a dozen Daily Show bits that should have been turned into national ads during the election.

There must be dozens of reasons to call for Presidential impeachment proceedings. How about sending the country to war under false pretenses? How about lying under oath? Somewhere he must have told a whopper before Congress. What about some kind of political cover-up or bad financial dealings? For crying out loud, the guy bankrupted two companies and traded Sammy Sosa. We should at least sic an independant prosecutor on his ass.

Bush is a puppet. Bush is a hypocrite. Bush is a liar. Call him on it. But going after the Donald is just a waste of time. Rummy was just doing the job he was asked to do by the, ugh, President of the United States.

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On the seventh day...

Sundays are delightful. A full day of rest and relaxation before
having to return to work.

Regardless of the weather you can just spend the morning lounging about
the house. Reading the paper, drinking coffee, eating a bagel with
schmear. On a sunny day you can spend the afternoon barbecuing and
conversing with friends. On a rainy day you can read a book or play
some backgammon with a loved one. In the evening you get to laugh at
Arrested Development and Boston Legal.

That's why Sunday is my favorite day, for now.

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Why Now?

In the short lifespan of this blog I have already started receiving questions as to why I am undertaking this endeavor. Simply answered, I've run out of people that will let me rant.

But, my inquisitor points out, I have never shied away from spouting off unceasingly. Yes, that is true, but as I get older and wiser I realize it would be sad if I were to reach middle age and people would fail to hear me as a result of pure exhaustion.

Speaking of exhaustion, my interlocutor continues, haven't I run out of stuff to prattle on about? How could I with Bush still in office, Microsoft at 90% marketshare, The Amazing Race on the air, my PlayStation constantly abuzz with new games, censorship and the silencing of dissent at record levels, corporate greed forsaking profits over people, J.Lo on her third marriage and counting, Tivo still solvent, Apple on a roll...well you get the idea.

Now here's an idea, my interrogator injects, I should use the internet to piss people off everywhere instead of just my little slice of Silverlake.

I heartily agree, that's why I started it in the first place. I have been a master at aggravating people for at least 30 years. Why stop now? And with the power of the blog I can go anywhere...Worldwide Hans!

So I bid adieu to my examiner and say hello to you, my faithful reader.

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William Donahue is a Douche Bag

William Donahue, of the arch-conservative Christian League and a frequent guest on CNN, Fox News and MSNBC, is an anti-semitic douche Bag. Someone needed to say it. Glad to be of service.

Donahue went on television and basically accused the Jews of killing Christ, again. According to Donahue 'Secular Jews,' synonymous with Liberals, are the reason that we say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas and the 'Secular Jews' won't stop there. 'Secular Jews' will only stop when they abolish all religion from America.

Donahue is obviously a deeply troubled, and immensely illogical, man. He is also, apparently, unaware of the plethora of non-Christian holidays in the thirty days surrounding Christmas. Muslims celebrate Ramadan, Jews celebrate Chanukkah, Buddhists celebrate Shakyamuni Buddha's miracles and African-Americans have Kwanzaa. Some Christian sects don't celebrate Christmas for some biblical reason that I don't care about. Heck, Thanksgiving is within 30 days of Christmas.

We wish people Happy Holidays because you can never be sure what they may be celebrating. But Donahue thinks it's a 'Secular Jew' and Liberal plot against Christians. Don't believe me, here are the facts.

On the MSNBC show 'Scarborough Country' Donahue said the following "Who really cares what Hollywood thinks? All these hacks come out there. Hollywood is controlled by secular Jews who hate Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular. It�??s not a secret, OK? And I�??m not afraid to say it. Hollywood likes anal sex. They like to see the public square without nativity scenes. I like families. I like children. They like abortions. I believe in traditional values and restraint. They believe in libertinism. We have nothing in common. But you know what? The culture war has been ongoing for a long time. Their side has lost. You have got secular Jews. You have got embittered ex-Catholics, including a lot of ex-Catholic priests who hate the Catholic Church, wacko Protestants in the same group, and these people are in the margins.." You can read the entire disgusting transcript here

Hollywood isn't run by anal sex loving Jews. It's run by mega-corporations like GE, Disney, Time Warner and Rupert Murdoch. I have worked for three of those companies and one them fucked me in the ass...but I don't think that's the same thing as anal sex. Mickey didn't even offer a reach-a-round.

This is much larger than some blowhard like Donahue claiming Jews and Liberals are trying to stop Christians from celebrating Christmas. Christmas is just a picard. The real issue is about getting Christ into the mainstream - In schools, on television, in movies, books, music etc. Here are a few examples:

* The spread of not-so 'Intelligent Design' is being pushed as a scientific alternative to Evolution

* Christians are screaming for Mel Gibson's 'The Passion' to be nominated for an Oscar. Not based on it's merits but because there is a chance of Michael Moore being nominated for F911

* Cries for 'decency' in broadcasting because Justin gaped at Janet's boob, a strategically clothed Desperate Housewife approached a football player and Bachelors/Bachelorettes carousing with strippers. Is it just a coincidence that all three incidents involved mixed-race couples? And the poster boy for FCC fines, Howard Stern, is a Jew. Or half-Jew as he would point out.

* Gay marriage as an election issue and constitutional amendment.

* Cries for religious advertising on television. CBS was besieged by groups wanting an ad for a specific church to air.

This bothers me on many levels. It's not necessarily bad that evangelicals want to promote their faith, I think it's bad anytime one group tries to label another group as bad or evil. Now some groups are evil and bad...Al Qaeda, Neo-Fascists, the Bush Administration. But to claim that 'secular Jews' hate Christianity and 'like abortion' is just patently false and inflammatory. Jews can't even agree on the spelling of Chanukkah let alone across-the-board hatred of Christians and abortions for everyone.

Why would Donahue even go there? Simply, it's about money and power. If the evangelicals can get a mobswell of fresh blood in the pews then their coffers get fatter and their influence grows.

Here's how they are achieving their goals. Anger, hatred and blood-thirst are some of the motivating factors behind the current move to the conservative right. People are pissed off at the 'sand-niggers' and the voters want revenge. The GOP has successfully wrapped itself in the flag and as the party behind a strong military - which is completely contrary to history (Just thirty years ago Republican vice-presidential nominee Bob Dole pejoratively referred to both world wars and Vietnam as "Democrat wars.").

In times of turmoil, religion provides solace. When dealing with uncertainty and fear people put their faith in God. There is a reason why church attendance declined after the cold war ended. With so much anxiety from the faceless terrorists people have to put faith in the Almighty. From a contrarian point of view there is also a rare opportunity to increase market share as the Catholic Church is reeling from the Priest sex scandals that are bankrupting parishes nationwide.

The economy is not improving. People are making less and working harder. There are more people out of work today than in 2000. Interest rates are rising, squeezing mortgage and credit card payments. Eviction, repo and foreclosure rates are skyrocketing. Most people are barely living paycheck to paycheck.

Combine those emotions, anger, fear and anxiety, and you have a potent motivator. In times of trouble People are drawn to a powerful and loving yet fiery, angry, vengeful God. Just ask Bin Laden about this technique.

The problem for the Christian Right is that Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz et al are so incompetent that it's hard to keep the fear factor peaked at frenzy. We can't find Bin Laden, Iraq is a quagmire, North Korea and Iran have the bomb and we're in bed with Saudi Arabia and Syria. In order for the plan to work there needs to be an enemy. So we have moved the target from Bin Laden to Hussein to Homosexuals to the Jews who are interchangeable with Liberals.

With a great Muslim boogeyman running around, liberal fag Jews trying to get married and ban the Bible, Priests buggering our children and evil Liberal Democrats trying to take grab guns there are plenty of 'bad guys' to choose from...honestly an embarrassment of riches for the Christian Right.

So, in order to line his own pocket and increase his base, William Donahue faith-baits and stokes the flames of anti-semitism. That's why he's a douche bag. You can also add Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Robert Schiller and any of these other evangelical motherfcukers that use racism as a tool.

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Tax cuts for everyone!

Today, Bush wrote off the Iraqi National debt of $4.1 billion (BBC ). Apparently the Bushies think tax cuts will stimulate the Iraqi economy. Sadly, Iraq still owes a combined $80 billion to other countries so there is little chance of an economic recovery.

What makes this so infuriating is that at the start of the Iraq debacle Paul Wolfowitz told Congress "We are dealing with a country that can really finance its own reconstruction and relatively soon." The plan was for oil sales to pay for everything. Wolfie wasn't the only one
trumpeting the relative in-expense of invading and occupying a sovereign nation. You can read more here courtesy of U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL).

The oil is still in Iraq, why not just wait until someone pumps it out of the ground? Or is Bush finally trying to earn some goodwill with Bono?

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I must be psychic...I just re-read my August 16, 2002 predictions for George
W. Bush. Eerily prescient.

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This is a test to see if an sms will work as a blog tool. If you can read this message it works.

Blogging rules!

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Testing from my phone...

I'm appreciating the whole blogger.com setup. I'm emailing this from
my phone. Next time I'm sitting around with a few minutes to spare I
can dash off a quick blog entry.

Cool.

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It's 45 days later and I'm still upset with the election and the direction of the country. Part of me needs a 12 Step program to get past my political addiction. Another part wants to hit the bottle...hard.

I am powerless to stop the conservative tide. The only way to restore my sanity is to give in to a higher power. Karl Rove, you are my master.

I turn control of my life to you and put faith in your ability to determine the best path for me, the country and the world.

I now realize that my desire to make the world a better place was just a big lie. If I look deep inside myself I know that raping the environment; trodding on the poor and disadvantaged; great big tax cuts; destroying social security; favoring evangelical christianity over all others; invading Iraq under false pretenses while ignoring the real threats of Al Qaeda, North Korea and Iran; silencing political dissent and wrapping yourself in the flag is the best way to lead the free world.

Enough.

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