Summer Reading List (Preliminary)
1. The Age of Sacred Terror
2. The Handmaid's Tale
3. The Revolt of the Masses
4.The Future of an Illusion
5. War is a Force that Gives us Meaning.
Sunday, May 11, 2003
Friday, May 9, 2003
RIP John Lacey, Upper Darby Class of 2000(my graduating class)
he was murdered for six dollars, what a fucking shame.
he was murdered for six dollars, what a fucking shame.
Thursday, May 8, 2003
UN SIMULATION
Over the last week, my International Organizations Class has been conducting a security council simulation. Our question, obviously, was the Iraq Question (2nd Resolution)...
Well, to say the least, it was great fun! I, along with two others (who were equally great) was Russia, and to make a long story short, Russia won (and the US got tricked...lol)
I'll post a full report on this later.
Over the last week, my International Organizations Class has been conducting a security council simulation. Our question, obviously, was the Iraq Question (2nd Resolution)...
Well, to say the least, it was great fun! I, along with two others (who were equally great) was Russia, and to make a long story short, Russia won (and the US got tricked...lol)
I'll post a full report on this later.
Oh my...Al Qaeda has been busy...
I've said for some time that the return time on Al Qaeda attacks has been 18-24 months... and I'm not the only one. If they strike, it'll be this year.
Here's to hoping our excellent intelligence service, and the excellent intelligence services abroad, are listening.
I've said for some time that the return time on Al Qaeda attacks has been 18-24 months... and I'm not the only one. If they strike, it'll be this year.
Here's to hoping our excellent intelligence service, and the excellent intelligence services abroad, are listening.
Salam Pax Survived!
PREDICTION:
Conservatives will note how overjoyed he is with the liberation (he seems indifferent).
Liberals will note how he's enraged with the liberation (again, he seems indifferent).
Steven Den Beste will say he's a fake, and the French are hoaxing the world.
PREDICTION:
Conservatives will note how overjoyed he is with the liberation (he seems indifferent).
Liberals will note how he's enraged with the liberation (again, he seems indifferent).
Steven Den Beste will say he's a fake, and the French are hoaxing the world.
Tuesday, May 6, 2003
9/11 COMMISSION WATCH
I really shouldn't have to do this. This should come without saying.
Just let the commission do its work, jeez!
I really shouldn't have to do this. This should come without saying.
Just let the commission do its work, jeez!
Monday, May 5, 2003
George Paine is on fire today. You'd better go read if you haven't already.
Take your blood pressure pills beforehand.
Take your blood pressure pills beforehand.
Saturday, May 3, 2003
UPDATE TO 9/11 Commission Watch
The Anger Spreads.
Bush can make me pretty angry. But nothing makes me see red more than then his continued obstruction of the 9/11 Commission. Whatever bullshit reason you can think of, if you want to defend him, I don't really want to hear it. The White House is bullsh*tting on the backs of 3,000 DEAD AMERICANS. They're obstructing the investigation into their deaths. They're showing they don't give a flying you-know-what. I'm sure that's not ethical. I wouldn't be surprised if it's illegal too.
How loud do we have to scream? Seriously, because I'm so fucking sick of people looking at me like I'm a tin-foil cap loony-tunes loon when I talk about this. And seriously, if you're not angry about the government's obstruction, then that country music guy with that God-awful song is right. You have forgotten.
The Anger Spreads.
Bush can make me pretty angry. But nothing makes me see red more than then his continued obstruction of the 9/11 Commission. Whatever bullshit reason you can think of, if you want to defend him, I don't really want to hear it. The White House is bullsh*tting on the backs of 3,000 DEAD AMERICANS. They're obstructing the investigation into their deaths. They're showing they don't give a flying you-know-what. I'm sure that's not ethical. I wouldn't be surprised if it's illegal too.
How loud do we have to scream? Seriously, because I'm so fucking sick of people looking at me like I'm a tin-foil cap loony-tunes loon when I talk about this. And seriously, if you're not angry about the government's obstruction, then that country music guy with that God-awful song is right. You have forgotten.
Friday, May 2, 2003
This week's Snapper Rant.
oh heck, so you dont have to go through that annoying registration process, here it is:
===================================================================================================
Recent events have made me wonder about the Right's so-called claim to "moral clarity."
The Bush Administration is planning on kicking off their re-election campaign for the coveted second term during the 2004 Republican Convention, to be held in New York City. That's fine, right? Conventions are a place for political showboating, campaigning, and power. The Democrats will be doing it as well at their convention in 2004. You might be asking, "Terry Pinder! What's the big deal? Give the guy a break!"
Well, the Republican Convention, held in New York City, will begin on September 2, 2004. The Convention will close out with the three-year anniversary of the day the entire world changed for the worst: 9/11. Simply put, the Bush Administration is going to begin their re-election campaign in earnest using the death and horror of that day to win one over on their opponents.
Cynical, because the last three years have seen record deficits, two costly nation-building projects, cuts in social programs such as benefits to our Veterans who fought for the freedom of this great land, unemployment, recession, underemployment, and a gradual and disturbing roll-back of civil liberties in the name of "freedom". Is using 9/11 as a political tool "moral clarity?" I'm just a tad confused, because I don't think it is.If it is, then "moral clarity" leaves much to be desired.
Of course, the Bush Administration's "moral clarity" consistently blocked and thwarted the efforts of members of Congress to form an independent commission to investigate exactly what went wrong on 9/11. Then, the Bush Administration's "moral clarity" manipulated the commission for political means by making it partisan. Kissinger's appointment was some good "moral clarity." Thankfully, he had the decency to resign for conflicting interests. Then, the Bush Administration's "moral clarity" ordered that the commission have barely a year to finish its work. Common sense, and maybe some respect for the dead, would think that the government would go to all possible lengths, overturn all possible stones, fire all possible incompetents, and bring all possible terrorists to justice by giving the commission as wide and independent a latitude as possible. Eh, well. I guess "moral clarity" obviously doesn't include common sense. What on God's green Earth was I thinking?
Of course, the "moral clarity" extends to Pennsylvania's own Rick Santorum. Third most powerful person in the United States Senate. Junior Senator from the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, founded by the tolerant Quaker William Penn. Rick Santorum, in the last few days, has proved that his moral clarity means the Supreme Court, and therefore the federal government has the right to regulate acts between consenting adults. This is in response to the Supreme Court's recent hearing on a Texas law that bans same-sex, well acts.
Santorum's moral clarity extends out from there, he's said publically that Darwin was basically wrong (which science has proven that Santorum and his ilk have been and always will be wrong), he's blamed the Catholic Church (of with he's apart of) scandals on liberals, and basically said that the scandals themselves were consensual. Moral clarity, Ricky S? If that's moral clarity, I'm disturbed. The state has no right to interfere with the privacy rights of American citizens, which Santorum bascially endorses. What two consenting adults of either gender with either or the same gender do in the privacy of their own residence is none of the government's business. I think Ricky S. "doth protest too much."
I think the Right's claim to "moral clarity" leaves much to be desired. Try "moral bankrupt" on for size. I think the shoe fits and in the end, the American people can give these guys the boot.
===============================================================================
oh heck, so you dont have to go through that annoying registration process, here it is:
===================================================================================================
Recent events have made me wonder about the Right's so-called claim to "moral clarity."
The Bush Administration is planning on kicking off their re-election campaign for the coveted second term during the 2004 Republican Convention, to be held in New York City. That's fine, right? Conventions are a place for political showboating, campaigning, and power. The Democrats will be doing it as well at their convention in 2004. You might be asking, "Terry Pinder! What's the big deal? Give the guy a break!"
Well, the Republican Convention, held in New York City, will begin on September 2, 2004. The Convention will close out with the three-year anniversary of the day the entire world changed for the worst: 9/11. Simply put, the Bush Administration is going to begin their re-election campaign in earnest using the death and horror of that day to win one over on their opponents.
Cynical, because the last three years have seen record deficits, two costly nation-building projects, cuts in social programs such as benefits to our Veterans who fought for the freedom of this great land, unemployment, recession, underemployment, and a gradual and disturbing roll-back of civil liberties in the name of "freedom". Is using 9/11 as a political tool "moral clarity?" I'm just a tad confused, because I don't think it is.If it is, then "moral clarity" leaves much to be desired.
Of course, the Bush Administration's "moral clarity" consistently blocked and thwarted the efforts of members of Congress to form an independent commission to investigate exactly what went wrong on 9/11. Then, the Bush Administration's "moral clarity" manipulated the commission for political means by making it partisan. Kissinger's appointment was some good "moral clarity." Thankfully, he had the decency to resign for conflicting interests. Then, the Bush Administration's "moral clarity" ordered that the commission have barely a year to finish its work. Common sense, and maybe some respect for the dead, would think that the government would go to all possible lengths, overturn all possible stones, fire all possible incompetents, and bring all possible terrorists to justice by giving the commission as wide and independent a latitude as possible. Eh, well. I guess "moral clarity" obviously doesn't include common sense. What on God's green Earth was I thinking?
Of course, the "moral clarity" extends to Pennsylvania's own Rick Santorum. Third most powerful person in the United States Senate. Junior Senator from the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, founded by the tolerant Quaker William Penn. Rick Santorum, in the last few days, has proved that his moral clarity means the Supreme Court, and therefore the federal government has the right to regulate acts between consenting adults. This is in response to the Supreme Court's recent hearing on a Texas law that bans same-sex, well acts.
Santorum's moral clarity extends out from there, he's said publically that Darwin was basically wrong (which science has proven that Santorum and his ilk have been and always will be wrong), he's blamed the Catholic Church (of with he's apart of) scandals on liberals, and basically said that the scandals themselves were consensual. Moral clarity, Ricky S? If that's moral clarity, I'm disturbed. The state has no right to interfere with the privacy rights of American citizens, which Santorum bascially endorses. What two consenting adults of either gender with either or the same gender do in the privacy of their own residence is none of the government's business. I think Ricky S. "doth protest too much."
I think the Right's claim to "moral clarity" leaves much to be desired. Try "moral bankrupt" on for size. I think the shoe fits and in the end, the American people can give these guys the boot.
===============================================================================
DELIVER THESE PEOPLE...
Click the picture.
Via Testify.
by the way, if you do the algebra, that's the functional equivilent of nearly seventeen million Americans. Congo's population is 55 Million.
by the way, that diamond jewelry you buy may be funding a child soldier to add to this horrific death toll.
and the west looks on.
and the Congressional Black Caucus is silent, as are major black churches and NGOs. Shameful.
Click the picture.
Via Testify.
by the way, if you do the algebra, that's the functional equivilent of nearly seventeen million Americans. Congo's population is 55 Million.
by the way, that diamond jewelry you buy may be funding a child soldier to add to this horrific death toll.
and the west looks on.
and the Congressional Black Caucus is silent, as are major black churches and NGOs. Shameful.
Thursday, May 1, 2003
9/11 Commission Watch
The White House is attempting, actually, fighting, to keep a terror report related to September 11 secret, MSNBC is reporting.
Is this "moral clarity?"
UPDATE(and a big big BIG hat tip to Maru):
The Justice Department will be reviewing all documents that the commission receives, UPI is reporting.
Think about that for a moment, and then you can conclude whatever you want. I've made my conclusion, and it's blunt.
We're never going to know. Ever. Common sense would think that the governement would overturn all possible stones, fire all possible incompetents, investigate all possible leads (when are we going to hear about the put options?), bring all possible conspirators to justice, and investigate the deaths of 3000 people with as independent and wide a latitude as possible. That's common sense. I'm starting to think that the White House, which almost from DAY ONE has fought to kill this commission and is currently fighting to undermine the very commission that could keep us safe, has absolutely no common sense. But day in and day out ,we're constantly reminded that to question them is unpatriotic. Day in and day out we're reminded that we are at war. Day in and day out we're told "to shut up, the adults are in charge."
I get the feeling the White House hasn't a clue as to what it is doing on this. And that is frightening.
Again I must ask: "This is Moral Clarity?"
The White House is attempting, actually, fighting, to keep a terror report related to September 11 secret, MSNBC is reporting.
Is this "moral clarity?"
UPDATE(and a big big BIG hat tip to Maru):
The Justice Department will be reviewing all documents that the commission receives, UPI is reporting.
Think about that for a moment, and then you can conclude whatever you want. I've made my conclusion, and it's blunt.
We're never going to know. Ever. Common sense would think that the governement would overturn all possible stones, fire all possible incompetents, investigate all possible leads (when are we going to hear about the put options?), bring all possible conspirators to justice, and investigate the deaths of 3000 people with as independent and wide a latitude as possible. That's common sense. I'm starting to think that the White House, which almost from DAY ONE has fought to kill this commission and is currently fighting to undermine the very commission that could keep us safe, has absolutely no common sense. But day in and day out ,we're constantly reminded that to question them is unpatriotic. Day in and day out we're reminded that we are at war. Day in and day out we're told "to shut up, the adults are in charge."
I get the feeling the White House hasn't a clue as to what it is doing on this. And that is frightening.
Again I must ask: "This is Moral Clarity?"
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