The Fulcrum
Friday, September 19, 2003
George W. - Just Mad
Via Eric at Altercation, this New Republic piece (registration required) by Jonathon Chait, hits the perfect tone and asks all the right questions about aWol and why he is so hated by just about everyone barely left of center. I can't recommend it enough.
Then go over to The Nation and read Eric's outstanding article on the same subject.
The questions are starting to be asked about Bush, his henchmen and his apologists. Are we near the point where the media and the general citizenry can be made to pay attention? I can only hope.
If you read this blog, if you read those two pieces above, don't just sit there. Print them out. Talk about them. Put them up on a bulletin board somewhere. Write your local newspaper. That's democracy at its finest.
Then go over to The Nation and read Eric's outstanding article on the same subject.
The questions are starting to be asked about Bush, his henchmen and his apologists. Are we near the point where the media and the general citizenry can be made to pay attention? I can only hope.
If you read this blog, if you read those two pieces above, don't just sit there. Print them out. Talk about them. Put them up on a bulletin board somewhere. Write your local newspaper. That's democracy at its finest.
The Storm After the Storm
While Isabel wreaked destruction along the mid-Atlantic coast, it was pretty much a washout here in Western NY. The center of rotation - no longer an eye - moved just west of here, but nearly the entire eastern side of the storm was dry. We had some pretty stiff breezes, but no rain. Earlier in the week the weather forecasters were predicting 5" - 15" of rain here. Then it went to 1" - 4". Last night they predicted maybe 1/4".
I was really hoping to have my weekend extended, but given the damage and loss of life so far, I'm glad it fizzled out.
However. It's time for my now habitual - although newly public - after-the-storm rant.
1) Hurricanes, tropical storms, nor'easters perennially affect certain areas. Most of these areas are beautiful, coastal locations where people love to have everything from multi-million dollar mansions to weekend cottages and fishing shacks. A big storm comes along, washes away the houses (of all sizes and values), the government declares a disaster area, insurance companies pay out huge amounts of money, people re-build and the cycle starts over again. Ad nauseum. You'd think that either a) people would learn not to rebuild in storm damage prone areas or b) insurance companies would stop insuring properties in these areas or c) the government would close these areas to development to prevent loss of life, property and tax monies. Never happens.
2) Mandatory evacuations. The majority of people are smart enough to get out of the danger area when the local government - probably already being overly conservative about making it mandatory - issues the evacuation order. But there are always those few morons who will stay. And then call for help when the storm starts to get rough. It was a good start that some local authorities this time told people who ignore the evacuation order to make sure police had their next-of-kin information and to write their names and SSN on their arms in indelible ink. That was to make sure they could be identified when their bodies washed up after the storm. Unfortunately, as there always is, there was footage on ABC news this morning about police and fire rescue crews out in the worst of the storm trying to get to a couple who stayed despite the "mandatory evacuation" and needed help. These people should be left to be swept out to sea and have their bodies eaten by sharks.
3) Power outages happen with every storm - rain, snow, ice. And the utility companies keep stringing up powerlines on poles, near trees, tall signs and other things that could be blown or iced down into the lines or where the lines themselves can be damaged. I've lived in areas where all utilities must be buried. Yes, it's initially more expensive to bury lines. Unless it is well planned it can be more difficult and more expensive to maintain buries lines. But in those areas I've lived with buried lines, I've never had a power outage. Not once. The eventual cost in maintenance and restringing wires, year after year ends up being much more than the cost of installing buried cables. It's amazing. You'll see on TV, after Isabel has passed, utility crews from all over the nation coming in to help re-string the eastern seaboard and other areas hard-hit. Imagine the money that costs...
Okay, enough ranting. Back to your regularly scheduled programming.
Move along, there's nothing to see here...
I was really hoping to have my weekend extended, but given the damage and loss of life so far, I'm glad it fizzled out.
However. It's time for my now habitual - although newly public - after-the-storm rant.
1) Hurricanes, tropical storms, nor'easters perennially affect certain areas. Most of these areas are beautiful, coastal locations where people love to have everything from multi-million dollar mansions to weekend cottages and fishing shacks. A big storm comes along, washes away the houses (of all sizes and values), the government declares a disaster area, insurance companies pay out huge amounts of money, people re-build and the cycle starts over again. Ad nauseum. You'd think that either a) people would learn not to rebuild in storm damage prone areas or b) insurance companies would stop insuring properties in these areas or c) the government would close these areas to development to prevent loss of life, property and tax monies. Never happens.
2) Mandatory evacuations. The majority of people are smart enough to get out of the danger area when the local government - probably already being overly conservative about making it mandatory - issues the evacuation order. But there are always those few morons who will stay. And then call for help when the storm starts to get rough. It was a good start that some local authorities this time told people who ignore the evacuation order to make sure police had their next-of-kin information and to write their names and SSN on their arms in indelible ink. That was to make sure they could be identified when their bodies washed up after the storm. Unfortunately, as there always is, there was footage on ABC news this morning about police and fire rescue crews out in the worst of the storm trying to get to a couple who stayed despite the "mandatory evacuation" and needed help. These people should be left to be swept out to sea and have their bodies eaten by sharks.
3) Power outages happen with every storm - rain, snow, ice. And the utility companies keep stringing up powerlines on poles, near trees, tall signs and other things that could be blown or iced down into the lines or where the lines themselves can be damaged. I've lived in areas where all utilities must be buried. Yes, it's initially more expensive to bury lines. Unless it is well planned it can be more difficult and more expensive to maintain buries lines. But in those areas I've lived with buried lines, I've never had a power outage. Not once. The eventual cost in maintenance and restringing wires, year after year ends up being much more than the cost of installing buried cables. It's amazing. You'll see on TV, after Isabel has passed, utility crews from all over the nation coming in to help re-string the eastern seaboard and other areas hard-hit. Imagine the money that costs...
Okay, enough ranting. Back to your regularly scheduled programming.
Move along, there's nothing to see here...
Thursday, September 18, 2003
Those Who Do Not Learn From History...
Now That's a Powderkeg!
So, the Middle East is pretty screwed up. No arguments there. And people much smarter than me have tried to come up with a solution.
But never, not in the most fevered mind, did a Saudi nuclear arsenal ever make the list.
Despite what the PR flacks hired by the House of Saud have to say about their country and their leaders, or that the latest issue of National Geographic says they are "lurching towards democracy informed by their nomadic past;" this has got to be one of the scariest, most horrific ideas ever.
But never, not in the most fevered mind, did a Saudi nuclear arsenal ever make the list.
Despite what the PR flacks hired by the House of Saud have to say about their country and their leaders, or that the latest issue of National Geographic says they are "lurching towards democracy informed by their nomadic past;" this has got to be one of the scariest, most horrific ideas ever.
Choices, Choices... Follow Up
I said below that I thought Wes Clark was still a bit of a cypher to me. Since he made it official that he's running I've been to several of the web sites that were instrumental in drafting Clark into the race and I've been carefully through his offical site.
I've read the articles, the histories and the biographies. I'm tentatively sold. I knew from his background that he'd have the credibility in military and foreign affairs. What I didn't know were his positions on domestic matters.
Despite my concerns about the political environment of the military and especially the general officer corps, his stated positions are mostly just what a democratic candidate needs to take the nomination - and, I believe - the election.
Now the questions:
1) Can he raise the money he'll need to make a come-from-behind run at the nomination?
2) Can he keep up the fund raising to take him all the way to November?
3) Can he stand the public scrutiny and mud slinging he's sure to attract from both sides?
This is going to get really good.
And really ugly.
I've read the articles, the histories and the biographies. I'm tentatively sold. I knew from his background that he'd have the credibility in military and foreign affairs. What I didn't know were his positions on domestic matters.
Despite my concerns about the political environment of the military and especially the general officer corps, his stated positions are mostly just what a democratic candidate needs to take the nomination - and, I believe - the election.
Now the questions:
1) Can he raise the money he'll need to make a come-from-behind run at the nomination?
2) Can he keep up the fund raising to take him all the way to November?
3) Can he stand the public scrutiny and mud slinging he's sure to attract from both sides?
This is going to get really good.
And really ugly.
Wednesday, September 17, 2003
Kicking Ass II
On the DNC web site there are plenty of opportunities to help the cause.
One I've taken is to become an ePatriot; establishing a small page on the Democrats.org page where you can send interested friends, family or blog readers (hint). The page is simple, with a place to make donations to the DNC and to send me an e-mail saying that you've done so.
See the button above my blogroll? Click on it, and give to the cause!
Boot Bush!
One I've taken is to become an ePatriot; establishing a small page on the Democrats.org page where you can send interested friends, family or blog readers (hint). The page is simple, with a place to make donations to the DNC and to send me an e-mail saying that you've done so.
See the button above my blogroll? Click on it, and give to the cause!
Kicking Ass!
The DNC has a blog up.
I've added it to my blogroll.
Go see. Go sign up. Go support them!
Thanks to Atrios for pointing this out.
I've added it to my blogroll.
Go see. Go sign up. Go support them!
Thanks to Atrios for pointing this out.
Bush was Absent Without Leave (A.W.O.L.)
Maybe this will only be read by me; since, at least by the number of comments, I haven't had too many visitors here yet. But it has to be said. Maybe that also means I have to violate the dictum about things not to discuss in polite conversation: Sex, Religion and Politics.
FACT: George W. Bush was AWOL - and depending on how you read the law, perhaps even a deserter - during his time with the Air National Guard in Texas.
The reason I include the term "deserter" is that this occured during the VietNam War. And although his father's political connections got him a nice, cushy job in an AirNG wing flying aircraft soon to be retired (i.e. not eligible to be deployed to S.E. Asia), he decided to not show up for approximately a year. That year beginning with his refusal to take his annual flight physical (which always includes a blood test for drugs and alcohol.
I won't go into all the details, they are laid out at lots of other web sites and blogs. Just Google Bush AND AWOL and see what you get...
Why is this important? For lots of reasons - one that it should have resulted in him being court martialed and therefore, likely ineligible to hold federal office. Bust most importantly, in the upcoming election aWol, his cronies and their loudmouthed supporters on talk radio will be trying to trump the Resident's foreign policy prowess and military triumphs (not to mention splashing pictures of him swaggering on that aircraft carrier's deck in his borrowed flightsuit) while slinging the worst kind of mud on his opponents' records and military service. This cannot be allowed to stand unopposed.
Somehow, this is a story that has been buried by the SCLM since the 2000 elections. It's time it saw a little daylight.
FACT: George W. Bush was AWOL - and depending on how you read the law, perhaps even a deserter - during his time with the Air National Guard in Texas.
The reason I include the term "deserter" is that this occured during the VietNam War. And although his father's political connections got him a nice, cushy job in an AirNG wing flying aircraft soon to be retired (i.e. not eligible to be deployed to S.E. Asia), he decided to not show up for approximately a year. That year beginning with his refusal to take his annual flight physical (which always includes a blood test for drugs and alcohol.
I won't go into all the details, they are laid out at lots of other web sites and blogs. Just Google Bush AND AWOL and see what you get...
Why is this important? For lots of reasons - one that it should have resulted in him being court martialed and therefore, likely ineligible to hold federal office. Bust most importantly, in the upcoming election aWol, his cronies and their loudmouthed supporters on talk radio will be trying to trump the Resident's foreign policy prowess and military triumphs (not to mention splashing pictures of him swaggering on that aircraft carrier's deck in his borrowed flightsuit) while slinging the worst kind of mud on his opponents' records and military service. This cannot be allowed to stand unopposed.
Somehow, this is a story that has been buried by the SCLM since the 2000 elections. It's time it saw a little daylight.
Tuesday, September 16, 2003
Numinous
What a great word!
Numinous
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin numin-, numen numen
Date: 1647
1 : Supernatural, mysterious
2 : filled with a sense of the presence of divinity
3 : appealing to the higher emotions or to the aesthetic sense
It's that expansive feeling you get when you look up at a night sky on a clear, autumn night and the stars seem to pull you out into the universe. It's the sense of marvel you get when watching a seemingly perfectly engineered spider lying in ambush on her perfectly spun web strung with beads of dew. For me it's the feeling I get flying on a warm summer day.
It's a feeling that believers say that secularists, humanists, atheists, Brights can't have. It's the feeling they tell you can only come from "marvelling at the works of god." The quote I always use to counter that argument is one I remember reading years ago. I think it was Richard Dawkins who said, in reply to someone questioning how he could find beauty in science: "Just because I know how a rainbow is made, doesn't mean I don't find it beautiful."
It's probably mangled in my paraphrasing, but it seems to at least blunt their line of attack.
Anyway, what got me started on that was that tonight is one of those perfectly clear, cool, early fall nights. And out where I live there are few houses or outdoor lights around to block out the sky. The stars are... well I was going to use some tired old cliche about diamonds or something, but it just wouldn't do justice.
Numinous. Go find some!
Numinous
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin numin-, numen numen
Date: 1647
1 : Supernatural, mysterious
2 : filled with a sense of the presence of divinity
3 : appealing to the higher emotions or to the aesthetic sense
It's that expansive feeling you get when you look up at a night sky on a clear, autumn night and the stars seem to pull you out into the universe. It's the sense of marvel you get when watching a seemingly perfectly engineered spider lying in ambush on her perfectly spun web strung with beads of dew. For me it's the feeling I get flying on a warm summer day.
It's a feeling that believers say that secularists, humanists, atheists, Brights can't have. It's the feeling they tell you can only come from "marvelling at the works of god." The quote I always use to counter that argument is one I remember reading years ago. I think it was Richard Dawkins who said, in reply to someone questioning how he could find beauty in science: "Just because I know how a rainbow is made, doesn't mean I don't find it beautiful."
It's probably mangled in my paraphrasing, but it seems to at least blunt their line of attack.
Anyway, what got me started on that was that tonight is one of those perfectly clear, cool, early fall nights. And out where I live there are few houses or outdoor lights around to block out the sky. The stars are... well I was going to use some tired old cliche about diamonds or something, but it just wouldn't do justice.
Numinous. Go find some!
Choices, Choices...
Unlike lots of other democrats, I just hadn't been able to really get fired up about any of the candidates. None of them really sparked any passion in me, despite desperately wanting someone who could beat Bush. Word came today that Wes Clark is going to enter the democratic field and that gives me some hope.
But despite the hype - and the hope - the guy's a cypher. What are his positions on the key questions? There are fragments out there, hints. He looks promising. And as an ex-military officer, I'm excited to see one of "my own" who's not a conservative. But I also know from experience, it's hard to be a liberal in the military, much less to survive the extremely, brutally political climb to general officer and then on to NATO commander. I have to admit I'm a little skeptical.
We'll see what tomorrow brings.
But despite the hype - and the hope - the guy's a cypher. What are his positions on the key questions? There are fragments out there, hints. He looks promising. And as an ex-military officer, I'm excited to see one of "my own" who's not a conservative. But I also know from experience, it's hard to be a liberal in the military, much less to survive the extremely, brutally political climb to general officer and then on to NATO commander. I have to admit I'm a little skeptical.
We'll see what tomorrow brings.
Reason 1, No 2, or Was it 3? We Invaded Iraq
Wasn't promoting human rights one of the reasons Bush gave for invading Iraq? It was right after WMDs, right?
Anyway, in today's New York Times we get this quote from an Iraqi woman - afraid to give her name:
"Under Saddam we could drive, we could walk down the street until two in the morning," a young designer told me as she bounced her 4-year-old daughter on her lap. "Who would have thought the Americans could have made it worse for women? This is liberation?"
The rest of the article is a complete indictment against BushCo's handling of the occupation of Iraq.
We could do so much better.
Anyway, in today's New York Times we get this quote from an Iraqi woman - afraid to give her name:
"Under Saddam we could drive, we could walk down the street until two in the morning," a young designer told me as she bounced her 4-year-old daughter on her lap. "Who would have thought the Americans could have made it worse for women? This is liberation?"
The rest of the article is a complete indictment against BushCo's handling of the occupation of Iraq.
We could do so much better.
Monday, September 15, 2003
I Thought it Was Just Me
Ever since the U.S. economy started it's so-called "jobless recovery I've been wondering "how the hell can it do that?" I mean, I'm no economist, and ever since my one semester of college economics I still think those curves were all done with mirrors and wires.
I kept asking myself, if workers are getting more productive - and they, I mean, we are - but companies keep laying off workers, who's going to be able to afford to buy all that stuff we've so efficiently made? Here in the Rochester, NY area, XEROX, Kodak, Bausch & Lomb, Delco and lots of smaller companies have layed off over 3,000 people over the past year or two.
Anyway, it was bugging me. I must have missed something in that econ course; some magical point on all those damn curves where jobs could disappear, the remaining workers would make more product per hour, and everyone could afford to refinance their house or buy a new one. As usual lately, I had to go to a news source outside the U.S. to get the answer.
This article in the Globe & Mail (Canada's newspaper of record) explains it all. To answer my own question, above: You can't. Not for long.
I kept asking myself, if workers are getting more productive - and they, I mean, we are - but companies keep laying off workers, who's going to be able to afford to buy all that stuff we've so efficiently made? Here in the Rochester, NY area, XEROX, Kodak, Bausch & Lomb, Delco and lots of smaller companies have layed off over 3,000 people over the past year or two.
Anyway, it was bugging me. I must have missed something in that econ course; some magical point on all those damn curves where jobs could disappear, the remaining workers would make more product per hour, and everyone could afford to refinance their house or buy a new one. As usual lately, I had to go to a news source outside the U.S. to get the answer.
This article in the Globe & Mail (Canada's newspaper of record) explains it all. To answer my own question, above: You can't. Not for long.
Why Am I Here?
This is, I hope, one of several posts I'll write to explain who I am and why I'm writing what I write here.
Who is Charles2? The tag line on my blog says some things about me, all of which are true. But that's not all there is. If any of you have followed a link here from my comments on other blogs you at least know some of my thoughts and positions. But how did an ex-Army officer (a West Point graduate, no less) wind up with such liberal views? Damned if I know, really. I've been a closet liberal since high school.
And not just a liberal; I'm also an atheist, a humanist, a skeptic... All brought on by lots of reading and thinking; things that have always been viewed as subversive throughout the centuries.
Not surprisingly, in the military I couldn't really talk a whole lot about my political or personal beliefs; they just didn't fit in with the gung-ho, ultra-conservative military people around me. (Think aWol, Cheney, Wolfowitz, but on steroids.) They were all (mostly) great people, and I lived, laughed and fought beside them gladly. But my ideas just wouldn't have been well received.
And so it is today, working for a very large transnational corporation. The viewpoints are the same, the clothes are just a little more colorful. I needed an outlet.
Then I discovered blogs. The first liberal blog I read was Altercation (see link to the right). Then I noticed Eric's blogroll and started exploring. My small blogroll is just a start and doesn't do justice to the number of blogs I read - although those are my most read. And I thought "hey, I could do that!" But I also know that writing is not as easy as good writers make it seem. So I started reading carefully and began commenting on my favorite blogs. I think the unwritten protocol in blog comments is to ignore the newbie until they are sort of established and have said a few semi-intelligent things. Eventually the regulars started commenting on my comments and I was hooked.
So... here I am. As of today there have only been a couple of comments on my very few posts. But like applause to an actor, it's got me hooked.
I'm not so naive as to think that I've got any regular readers yet. But I'm hoping. I'll keep posting; it's not only good practice for writing, but it's an outlet for my thoughts and rants. Keeps me from yelling at my coworkers. And since I can't really expect to make money doing this, well... I need my job.
I hope that those who discover my blog will take at least a little something away for the effort. And even more, I hope that those who visit will leave a little something as well. I am always willing to listen to reasoned discussion; always willing to learn something new. Oh, and I hope you'll come back!
To Be Continued...
Who is Charles2? The tag line on my blog says some things about me, all of which are true. But that's not all there is. If any of you have followed a link here from my comments on other blogs you at least know some of my thoughts and positions. But how did an ex-Army officer (a West Point graduate, no less) wind up with such liberal views? Damned if I know, really. I've been a closet liberal since high school.
And not just a liberal; I'm also an atheist, a humanist, a skeptic... All brought on by lots of reading and thinking; things that have always been viewed as subversive throughout the centuries.
Not surprisingly, in the military I couldn't really talk a whole lot about my political or personal beliefs; they just didn't fit in with the gung-ho, ultra-conservative military people around me. (Think aWol, Cheney, Wolfowitz, but on steroids.) They were all (mostly) great people, and I lived, laughed and fought beside them gladly. But my ideas just wouldn't have been well received.
And so it is today, working for a very large transnational corporation. The viewpoints are the same, the clothes are just a little more colorful. I needed an outlet.
Then I discovered blogs. The first liberal blog I read was Altercation (see link to the right). Then I noticed Eric's blogroll and started exploring. My small blogroll is just a start and doesn't do justice to the number of blogs I read - although those are my most read. And I thought "hey, I could do that!" But I also know that writing is not as easy as good writers make it seem. So I started reading carefully and began commenting on my favorite blogs. I think the unwritten protocol in blog comments is to ignore the newbie until they are sort of established and have said a few semi-intelligent things. Eventually the regulars started commenting on my comments and I was hooked.
So... here I am. As of today there have only been a couple of comments on my very few posts. But like applause to an actor, it's got me hooked.
I'm not so naive as to think that I've got any regular readers yet. But I'm hoping. I'll keep posting; it's not only good practice for writing, but it's an outlet for my thoughts and rants. Keeps me from yelling at my coworkers. And since I can't really expect to make money doing this, well... I need my job.
I hope that those who discover my blog will take at least a little something away for the effort. And even more, I hope that those who visit will leave a little something as well. I am always willing to listen to reasoned discussion; always willing to learn something new. Oh, and I hope you'll come back!
To Be Continued...
Bush Lies
There's just no other way to say it.
David Corn, via Calpundit:
"the budget for next year boosts funding for elementary and secondary education to $53.1 billion. That's a 26-percent increase since I took office. In other words, we understand that resources need to flow to help solve the problems." [GWB quote to a Nashville elementary school]
A few things were untrue in these remarks. Bush's proposed elementary and secondary education budget for next year is $34.9 billion, not $53.1 billion, according to his own Department of Education.
Now, this is just the latest sheer confabulation from W & Co. But as Kevin at Calpundit notes, this was not an off the cuff remark. It was a prepared speech that must have been vetted "highest levels."
Go forth and spread the word.
David Corn, via Calpundit:
"the budget for next year boosts funding for elementary and secondary education to $53.1 billion. That's a 26-percent increase since I took office. In other words, we understand that resources need to flow to help solve the problems." [GWB quote to a Nashville elementary school]
A few things were untrue in these remarks. Bush's proposed elementary and secondary education budget for next year is $34.9 billion, not $53.1 billion, according to his own Department of Education.
Now, this is just the latest sheer confabulation from W & Co. But as Kevin at Calpundit notes, this was not an off the cuff remark. It was a prepared speech that must have been vetted "highest levels."
Go forth and spread the word.
What's This?
Okay, it was in the weekend Arts section, but check out Frank Rich in the New York Times: Top Gun vs Total Recall.
The first two paragraphs set the perfect tone: "Only in America could a guy who struts in an action-hero's Hollywood costume and barks macho lines from a script pass for a plausible political leader. But if George W. Bush can get away with it, why should Arnold Schwarzenegger be pilloried for the same antics?
At least Mr. Schwarzenegger is a show-biz pro. He never would have signed on for a remake of "Top Gun" without first ensuring that it would have the same happy ending as the original. He never would have allowed himself to look as scared as the abandoned kid in "Home Alone" while begging the nation for cash and patience last Sunday night. He would have dismissed B-movie dialogue like "dead or alive" and "bring 'em on" with a curt "hasta la vista, baby!"
Is the SCLM finally waking up? Who knows. But every article like this just hammers away at their credibility. "Bring 'em on!"
The first two paragraphs set the perfect tone: "Only in America could a guy who struts in an action-hero's Hollywood costume and barks macho lines from a script pass for a plausible political leader. But if George W. Bush can get away with it, why should Arnold Schwarzenegger be pilloried for the same antics?
At least Mr. Schwarzenegger is a show-biz pro. He never would have signed on for a remake of "Top Gun" without first ensuring that it would have the same happy ending as the original. He never would have allowed himself to look as scared as the abandoned kid in "Home Alone" while begging the nation for cash and patience last Sunday night. He would have dismissed B-movie dialogue like "dead or alive" and "bring 'em on" with a curt "hasta la vista, baby!"
Is the SCLM finally waking up? Who knows. But every article like this just hammers away at their credibility. "Bring 'em on!"
Sunday, September 14, 2003
Man in Black Moment
Okay, as I said before, while I remember listening to Johnny Cash as a kid and even have a few mp3s ripped to my iMac, it's not like I'm a huge fan. Anyway, while driving this afternoon, I was listening to the local college alternative station here.
I heard two amazing songs in a row (amazing in and of itself on radio today): the first was "Ring of Fire," a classic Cash song, covered by Social Distortion; followed immediately by the man himself covering... get this... "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails.
It was absolutely outrageous! And both of them were excellent. Somehow it was a fitting tribute. So if you can find either of them somewhere, give them a listen.
I heard two amazing songs in a row (amazing in and of itself on radio today): the first was "Ring of Fire," a classic Cash song, covered by Social Distortion; followed immediately by the man himself covering... get this... "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails.
It was absolutely outrageous! And both of them were excellent. Somehow it was a fitting tribute. So if you can find either of them somewhere, give them a listen.
Lost in the Wilderness
//Update://
So - as you can see in my side-bar - I've added my blog to several directories. Hopefully that will help. But if anyone's reading this, I'd still appreciate any advice you might have on getting word out about my blog. And, if you like my stuff, a link on your site wouldn't hurt either. End grovel. Thanks.
//End Update//
I know I've only been doing this for four or five days, but I don't know if anyone is reading this. I think - in the blogosphere - I need to practice my patience. It's not usually my strong suit.
If anyone comes across this and has some concrete ideas on how to get the word out on my blog, let me know.
Okay, enough self pity...
So - as you can see in my side-bar - I've added my blog to several directories. Hopefully that will help. But if anyone's reading this, I'd still appreciate any advice you might have on getting word out about my blog. And, if you like my stuff, a link on your site wouldn't hurt either. End grovel. Thanks.
//End Update//
I know I've only been doing this for four or five days, but I don't know if anyone is reading this. I think - in the blogosphere - I need to practice my patience. It's not usually my strong suit.
If anyone comes across this and has some concrete ideas on how to get the word out on my blog, let me know.
Okay, enough self pity...
Yes, This Man STILL Has No Shame
//See my post from September 10, below.//
Well, I thought that Patriot Act II was going to be bad. And most anyone else who values their rights probably did too. But I didn't quite realize just how bad W and his cronies would want to make it. From Sunday's New York Times comes more details. The key graph being the following:
"But in a plan announced this week to expand counterterrorism powers, President Bush adopted a very different tack. In a three-point presidential plan that critics are already dubbing Patriot Act II, Mr. Bush is seeking broad new authority to allow federal agents — without the approval of a judge or even a federal prosecutor — to demand private records and compel testimony. "
So, any Bush or Ashcroft fans out there scared yet?
Unfortunately, the real question is "is anybody scared out there yet?" It sure doesn't seem like it.
This has got to be the worst assault on individual rights and freedoms since the suspension of habeus corpus during the civil war. Why arent there more outcries? Where is the SCLM on this?
Is there anyone awake out there?
Well, I thought that Patriot Act II was going to be bad. And most anyone else who values their rights probably did too. But I didn't quite realize just how bad W and his cronies would want to make it. From Sunday's New York Times comes more details. The key graph being the following:
"But in a plan announced this week to expand counterterrorism powers, President Bush adopted a very different tack. In a three-point presidential plan that critics are already dubbing Patriot Act II, Mr. Bush is seeking broad new authority to allow federal agents — without the approval of a judge or even a federal prosecutor — to demand private records and compel testimony. "
So, any Bush or Ashcroft fans out there scared yet?
Unfortunately, the real question is "is anybody scared out there yet?" It sure doesn't seem like it.
This has got to be the worst assault on individual rights and freedoms since the suspension of habeus corpus during the civil war. Why arent there more outcries? Where is the SCLM on this?
Is there anyone awake out there?
