The Ad Council recently came out with a television commercial called "Think Before You Post. If you haven't seen it yet (and don't feel like clicking the clink) it's a run of the mill ad aimed at "youth" that once you post your picture anywhere online, it hangs out in cyberspace forever. While this seems like pretty harmless (and potentially beneficial, to kids who don't realize that kind of thing) information - there's a funny little quirk at the end.
At the very end of the video, after our poor girl just can't seem to get all those pictures off the school wall, a "creepy" looking janitor swings by, takes her picture and smiles at the camera. The voiceover reminds the viewer that *anyone* can have your picture.
I'm sure this has the intended effect on some impressionable youth as well as parents, making them nice and scared that the only people who use social networking sites are either sexual predators or their victims. After all, the only thing the largest and most easily accesible information outlet in human history is good for is porn. While that's all fine and good (I could drone on about the culture of fear, but I don't have the time at the moment), I can't help but think about our janitor friend. Are we supposed to believe that the local high school just happened to hire a sexual predator and not figure it out? Am I supposed to believe that by keeping my kids away from myspace that the man pushing the broom won't be able to harm them? Yes, parents should keep better tabs on their kids and yes, kids should pay closer attention to the kinds of things they post online. But seriously, why is it the janitor?
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Smoke 'Em Since They Might Not Be Embargoed Anymore
Man, I miss the cold war.
Fidel Castro, bane of the United States and capitalism for almost 50 years, has finally stepped down. We all knew it would happen sometime. Granted, my grandparents were barely young adults when he came to power - but all regimes come to an end, one way or another. Poor old Fidel is just too sick and tired too keep shaking his fist at capitalist pig dogs. Thankfully, there's no shortage of leaders in this country to keep shaking their fists at the evils of Communism. Though, as of late, our war of hearts and minds has wained. Frankly, we've been a little busy lately - too busy to worry about the likes of Fidel. We've had terrorism to keep us busy, and it's way easier to spot a radical Muslim than a card carrying member of the PLP.
Castro's resignation though, does add another nail into the coffin of an era. A simpler time, where our enemies had funnier accents, poofy hats, and enough nukes to blow up half the world.
A time when the lines between good and evil could also be defined by a clear curtain across Europe. Had Fidel's retirement come perhaps two decades earlier - we would've heard quite a bit about how this was a victory for the US. Unfortunately, all we've gotten is a pretty lukewarm response about how our president doesn't want to see "staged elections." After all, if you're going to stage an election, you damned well better be forking over some cash to the CIA - if you want it done right, at least.
So far, the most interesting thing to come of this ending has been media coverage of Cuba's totalitarian leanings. Because, as we all well know, the United States strongly opposes systems of government that deny civil liberties, jail people without trial, and restrict basic freedoms.
Fidel Castro, bane of the United States and capitalism for almost 50 years, has finally stepped down. We all knew it would happen sometime. Granted, my grandparents were barely young adults when he came to power - but all regimes come to an end, one way or another. Poor old Fidel is just too sick and tired too keep shaking his fist at capitalist pig dogs. Thankfully, there's no shortage of leaders in this country to keep shaking their fists at the evils of Communism. Though, as of late, our war of hearts and minds has wained. Frankly, we've been a little busy lately - too busy to worry about the likes of Fidel. We've had terrorism to keep us busy, and it's way easier to spot a radical Muslim than a card carrying member of the PLP.
Castro's resignation though, does add another nail into the coffin of an era. A simpler time, where our enemies had funnier accents, poofy hats, and enough nukes to blow up half the world.
A time when the lines between good and evil could also be defined by a clear curtain across Europe. Had Fidel's retirement come perhaps two decades earlier - we would've heard quite a bit about how this was a victory for the US. Unfortunately, all we've gotten is a pretty lukewarm response about how our president doesn't want to see "staged elections." After all, if you're going to stage an election, you damned well better be forking over some cash to the CIA - if you want it done right, at least.
So far, the most interesting thing to come of this ending has been media coverage of Cuba's totalitarian leanings. Because, as we all well know, the United States strongly opposes systems of government that deny civil liberties, jail people without trial, and restrict basic freedoms.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Hubris
I was listening to one of the many podcasts I subscribe to today and got thinking. How bad are things, really? The victors naturally write the history and that history gets rewritten by new writers more than every few passing decades. A new authority comes to power and suddenly all of the atrocities of the previous regime are trotted up. A new worldview becomes popular and over time, certain "facts" get disputed, become more disputed, and eventually become laughable. Assuming humanity survives for the next thousand years, can we say that our most sacred scientific or religious beliefs, historical texts, and ideas will be valued? Will our time of progress and historical change be considered another "dark age?" Will our time of environmental disaster, constant warfare, and near global annihilations be considered a rennasance period?
The only time we have might be the present, but we all spend plenty of time considering the past and worrying about the future. The problem we run into however, is when we believe our time is the last time, best time, or most historical time. When we spend more time counting down the last months that our president is in office, we forget that just as many people did it for the last president, the one before that, and all the way back.
We are indeed cursed, to live in interesting times - so long as we believe our times are more interesting, more important, and more historical than any others. The truth is, all times are interesting - we just have a poor memory.
The only time we have might be the present, but we all spend plenty of time considering the past and worrying about the future. The problem we run into however, is when we believe our time is the last time, best time, or most historical time. When we spend more time counting down the last months that our president is in office, we forget that just as many people did it for the last president, the one before that, and all the way back.
We are indeed cursed, to live in interesting times - so long as we believe our times are more interesting, more important, and more historical than any others. The truth is, all times are interesting - we just have a poor memory.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Sometimes Goodbyes Are The Language of Inspiration
Kate and I ended up having a pretty long and intense discussion last night about how it is that creative, talented people, people with force and drive, people who know they want something better out of life - end up stuck in various situations they don't like. How is it that someone who's got so much chutzpah ends up shlocking for the man in a wage slave environment? How is it that people who are dreamers or revolutionaries or just plain good folks who want something better out of the world and out of life end up relegated to a work environment they hate?
I have a million and one theories on this, but part of it ends up being a kind of Shawshank redemption, "put up or shut up" kind of thing. We can spin a web of excuses for why we haven't been working on that novel, planting that rooftop garden, or touring the country - but at the end of the day, plenty of the responsibility ends up on our shoulders. We get comfortable, we get complacent. We end up so busy just trying to get through the day, we forget that there's more to life than just getting through the day.
We should be fucking living.
I've posted this quote at least once before, but I think it bears remembering: "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." (Robert A. Heinlein)
In addition, a human being should be able to wake up every day without the fear that someone is going to keep him or her down. Be it a boss, a co-worker, a friend, a lover, a casual aquaintence, politician, officer of the law, obnoxious co-host of a tv show - you get the idea. If you're waking up hating your job, you should find a new one. If you're waking up hating your city, you should find a new one. If you're waking up wondering how the fuck you got into X situation, you should be planning and executing your escape.
I spent so much time planning my escape from a life of drudgery and mind numbing wage slave work, I buried myself in maps to the door. It's easy to get lost in your own dreams, easy to end up saying "I'm just so exhausted. I don't have the energy or the money to do..." It's harder getting out. Once you're comfortable spending your nights at home watching reruns you can quote in your sleep, emerging once every 3 months to make a drunken fool out of yourself - you forget that it's not normal.
At some point, you have to stop trying and start doing.
Amazing kicks in the ass usually have a spark that sets things off, and this one is no different. I'm quite proud but also sad to say "smell you later" to my good friend Emerson. He's moving onto greener, warmer pastures in L.A. Wish him well. You've been more than a good friend buddy, you've been an inspiration - you've been family. Take care - Chicago's really losing out with your departure. We'll miss you.
I have a million and one theories on this, but part of it ends up being a kind of Shawshank redemption, "put up or shut up" kind of thing. We can spin a web of excuses for why we haven't been working on that novel, planting that rooftop garden, or touring the country - but at the end of the day, plenty of the responsibility ends up on our shoulders. We get comfortable, we get complacent. We end up so busy just trying to get through the day, we forget that there's more to life than just getting through the day.
We should be fucking living.
I've posted this quote at least once before, but I think it bears remembering: "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." (Robert A. Heinlein)
In addition, a human being should be able to wake up every day without the fear that someone is going to keep him or her down. Be it a boss, a co-worker, a friend, a lover, a casual aquaintence, politician, officer of the law, obnoxious co-host of a tv show - you get the idea. If you're waking up hating your job, you should find a new one. If you're waking up hating your city, you should find a new one. If you're waking up wondering how the fuck you got into X situation, you should be planning and executing your escape.
I spent so much time planning my escape from a life of drudgery and mind numbing wage slave work, I buried myself in maps to the door. It's easy to get lost in your own dreams, easy to end up saying "I'm just so exhausted. I don't have the energy or the money to do..." It's harder getting out. Once you're comfortable spending your nights at home watching reruns you can quote in your sleep, emerging once every 3 months to make a drunken fool out of yourself - you forget that it's not normal.
At some point, you have to stop trying and start doing.
Amazing kicks in the ass usually have a spark that sets things off, and this one is no different. I'm quite proud but also sad to say "smell you later" to my good friend Emerson. He's moving onto greener, warmer pastures in L.A. Wish him well. You've been more than a good friend buddy, you've been an inspiration - you've been family. Take care - Chicago's really losing out with your departure. We'll miss you.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Cast The First Stone
I’m sure I mentioned it before, but I have this thing where I just can’t trust the Ron Paul campaign specifically. Granted, I can’t (and won’t) trust any political campaign to fix my problems (or the problems of this country), but something about that man really irks me. While you’re still waiting on my thoughts on Zeitgeist (I haven’t forgotten), check out this lengthy article from TNR on the man.
Regardless of your feelings on the man and what TNR has to say about him (and others), there’s an important subtext to this article that I think directly relates to the typical "debunking" or criticisms of certain movements, particularly ones that are claimed "conspiratorial." Often, theories about government conspiracies - be they related to banks, 9/11, the CFR, and beyond - are put in the same box as bizarre lunatics. Believe that something is up with the Federal Reserve, and somehow you can end up sharing a bunk with people who believe that gays have an international agenda to spread "gayism." Believe that there are unanswered questions regarding 9/11, and soon after you’re having tea with guys in militia uniforms who believe that hollywood Jews were behind it.
People on the fringes often get lumped in with each other, whether they know it or not. While a libertarian and an anarchist can look at each other and see a completely different person, a card carrying democrat or republican might see the same guy sitting there. Generally, that works in reverse too. That’s an important perception that gets lost in rhetoric shouted from one end of the political spectrum to the other. We seem to think that everyone’s beliefs fit into a neat little box. One that we can check on a ballot and say "ah yes, I’m for all of these things and against all of these other things - just like everyone else."
Does Ron Paul have some decent ideas? I’ll bet he does. Does he have a pretty sketchy looking past? You bet. I’m also willing to bet that most other candidates have just as many skeletons in their closets as well.
Regardless of your feelings on the man and what TNR has to say about him (and others), there’s an important subtext to this article that I think directly relates to the typical "debunking" or criticisms of certain movements, particularly ones that are claimed "conspiratorial." Often, theories about government conspiracies - be they related to banks, 9/11, the CFR, and beyond - are put in the same box as bizarre lunatics. Believe that something is up with the Federal Reserve, and somehow you can end up sharing a bunk with people who believe that gays have an international agenda to spread "gayism." Believe that there are unanswered questions regarding 9/11, and soon after you’re having tea with guys in militia uniforms who believe that hollywood Jews were behind it.
People on the fringes often get lumped in with each other, whether they know it or not. While a libertarian and an anarchist can look at each other and see a completely different person, a card carrying democrat or republican might see the same guy sitting there. Generally, that works in reverse too. That’s an important perception that gets lost in rhetoric shouted from one end of the political spectrum to the other. We seem to think that everyone’s beliefs fit into a neat little box. One that we can check on a ballot and say "ah yes, I’m for all of these things and against all of these other things - just like everyone else."
Does Ron Paul have some decent ideas? I’ll bet he does. Does he have a pretty sketchy looking past? You bet. I’m also willing to bet that most other candidates have just as many skeletons in their closets as well.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
While You're Waiting...
Many of you have asked me if I've seen the zeitgeist movie and what my thoughts are on it. I just wanted to let you all know that I finished watching it for the first time earlier this evening. Rather than just conversationally post my thoughts I've decided to organize them into something a little bit more coherant. So, keep your eyes open - I'll have something in the next few days about it.
Right after watching it though - I happened upon this little video. I strongly suggest you take a gander.
Right after watching it though - I happened upon this little video. I strongly suggest you take a gander.
Get 'Em While They're Young
During the 1988 presidential election, I was in middle school. Back then, I did what all good children do during an election - I voted in the mock election for the same guy my parents were voting for. Well, at least, the candidate my mom was voting for. She swayed me by reminding me I went to a Catholic school and good Catholics were voting for Bush the elder because he was pro-life. My dad on the other hand just couldn't sway me for Dukakis. In fact, I don't think anyone could find him warm and fuzzy after that shot in the tank.
Today's parents don't have to worry so much for their kids. There's a book series to the rescue! Littledemocrats.net brings you two volumes - one for mom and one for dad - to help explain to your tots why you prefer an ass to an elephant. Had I seen cute woodland creatures putting out fires or known that squirrels would stop an elephant from crushing me, I might have cast my mock vote for the Massachusetts Miracle. You can show your kids how to become a fair, tolerant, and loving democrat with these easy to read "non-judgmental" books. With any luck, little Bobby and Susie will grow up with all the backbone of a jellyfish.
Read the full story here - at The Fall of Autumn!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
The Politics of Taxes
I was going to do your typical sour grapes post about Christmas, but that's pretty damned cliche' at this point, so I'll spare you the overused complaints.
With that said, the top of my list of complaints had to do with Ron Paul and his damned "revolutionary" canvassers. You know - the ones who run around putting up the signs claiming that the Ron Paul revolution will take place in 2008? The same ones who are putting up homemade looking signs on highways and tagging alleys? While your average political canvassers (not to be confused with Greenpeace kids or whatever other cause people are peddling, but the ones that come around only around presidential elections) do plenty to annoy me, the Ron Paul Peddlers get me extra worked up. Something about their in your face attitude puts me off the same way Larouchies, Worker's Weekly World, and Bob Avakian does.
But I'm not here today to complain about the Ron Paul revolution - I'm still working on the research for that. Today I'm here to complain about taxes, but not in exactly the way you think.
While reading up on his viewpoints so I could better deconstruct Mr. Paul's campaign, I came to the debt and taxes section, which contains the rhetoric one would expect regarding taxes. Too many taxes, too high taxes, government spending=bad, low taxes and low spending=good.
This is the same kind of thing we've heard since well before Bush I's proclemation "no new taxes." Taxes are always too high, according to every politician. But if that's the case, then we should have a large surplus, right? With taxes as "high" as they are, our education system should be top notch, we all should have fabulous health insurance, and that $479,000,000,000+ and rising Iraq war tab should be a sinch, shouldn't it?
None of those things are true, of course. While the US Government pisses away more money than a drunk on the ultimate bender, our schools get worse, public health keeps declining, and we keep having to send our friends overseas body armor. The solution, according to soundbytes of course, is to cut taxes further and decrease spending.
Haven't we been trying that for 20+ years?
The solution to our ever present money crisis isn't as simple as stopping the war, killing the defense budget, or just taxing the rich higer than the average citizen (mind you, all things sound like a pretty good start though). It's bigger than wall street fat cats, oil tycoons, and Dick Cheney's heart problem. The solution is not however, to cut spending and lower taxes. Cutting spending from a conservative point of view just means killing off more social programs and leaving more folks out in the cold. Lowering taxes is nothing more than the equivilant of a $300 refund - just enough cash to fill your gas tank, buy a week's worth of groceries, and hit a movie on Friday night as long as you hold the popcorn.
The lesson? First, don't believe for a second that a tax decrease will solve the budget crisis or cure poverty. If that was the case, we'd all be riding around in solid gold hummers at this point. Second, quit believing that Ron Paul, Barak Obama, any Clinton, Rudy, or whatever political all star is going to stop the ship from sinking. We've all been swallowing those pills for well over a few decades and we're still broke. Third, put a cadre of single mothers, unemployed veterans, and Walmart employees in charge of figuring out the budget. If you can figure out how to get you and your family by on less than $25K a year, (or if that amount of money sounds like alot of money) than you can probably manage how to get many people by on $13487.2 Billion dollars (2006 US GDP).
With that said, the top of my list of complaints had to do with Ron Paul and his damned "revolutionary" canvassers. You know - the ones who run around putting up the signs claiming that the Ron Paul revolution will take place in 2008? The same ones who are putting up homemade looking signs on highways and tagging alleys? While your average political canvassers (not to be confused with Greenpeace kids or whatever other cause people are peddling, but the ones that come around only around presidential elections) do plenty to annoy me, the Ron Paul Peddlers get me extra worked up. Something about their in your face attitude puts me off the same way Larouchies, Worker's Weekly World, and Bob Avakian does.
But I'm not here today to complain about the Ron Paul revolution - I'm still working on the research for that. Today I'm here to complain about taxes, but not in exactly the way you think.
While reading up on his viewpoints so I could better deconstruct Mr. Paul's campaign, I came to the debt and taxes section, which contains the rhetoric one would expect regarding taxes. Too many taxes, too high taxes, government spending=bad, low taxes and low spending=good.
This is the same kind of thing we've heard since well before Bush I's proclemation "no new taxes." Taxes are always too high, according to every politician. But if that's the case, then we should have a large surplus, right? With taxes as "high" as they are, our education system should be top notch, we all should have fabulous health insurance, and that $479,000,000,000+ and rising Iraq war tab should be a sinch, shouldn't it?
None of those things are true, of course. While the US Government pisses away more money than a drunk on the ultimate bender, our schools get worse, public health keeps declining, and we keep having to send our friends overseas body armor. The solution, according to soundbytes of course, is to cut taxes further and decrease spending.
Haven't we been trying that for 20+ years?
The solution to our ever present money crisis isn't as simple as stopping the war, killing the defense budget, or just taxing the rich higer than the average citizen (mind you, all things sound like a pretty good start though). It's bigger than wall street fat cats, oil tycoons, and Dick Cheney's heart problem. The solution is not however, to cut spending and lower taxes. Cutting spending from a conservative point of view just means killing off more social programs and leaving more folks out in the cold. Lowering taxes is nothing more than the equivilant of a $300 refund - just enough cash to fill your gas tank, buy a week's worth of groceries, and hit a movie on Friday night as long as you hold the popcorn.
The lesson? First, don't believe for a second that a tax decrease will solve the budget crisis or cure poverty. If that was the case, we'd all be riding around in solid gold hummers at this point. Second, quit believing that Ron Paul, Barak Obama, any Clinton, Rudy, or whatever political all star is going to stop the ship from sinking. We've all been swallowing those pills for well over a few decades and we're still broke. Third, put a cadre of single mothers, unemployed veterans, and Walmart employees in charge of figuring out the budget. If you can figure out how to get you and your family by on less than $25K a year, (or if that amount of money sounds like alot of money) than you can probably manage how to get many people by on $13487.2 Billion dollars (2006 US GDP).
Monday, September 17, 2007
Ten is not a lonely number after all
1. Dillinger 4 is still the best band ever.
2. The Brokedowns are amazing.
3. You should've gone to that show last night with me.
4. The new Bad Religion and Minus The Bear records are fantastic.
5. Having the internet at home is sweet.
6. This is great:
Thanks Billy.
7. We're finally getting close to being able to have a housewarming party. Hopefully you'll all be there.
8. Summer break is over. Fall of Autumn will now finally have more regular updates. Podcasts, news, reviews, rants, and more.
9. You might be lucky enough to see some new zines from me at the end of the month.
10. I've got one of those last.fm accounts. Now you can see if we're musically compatible and we can show off how cool we are by what obscure stuff we can put on our playlists. Or, we could just listen to some good tunes. It's up to you.
2. The Brokedowns are amazing.
3. You should've gone to that show last night with me.
4. The new Bad Religion and Minus The Bear records are fantastic.
5. Having the internet at home is sweet.
6. This is great:
Thanks Billy.
7. We're finally getting close to being able to have a housewarming party. Hopefully you'll all be there.
8. Summer break is over. Fall of Autumn will now finally have more regular updates. Podcasts, news, reviews, rants, and more.
9. You might be lucky enough to see some new zines from me at the end of the month.
10. I've got one of those last.fm accounts. Now you can see if we're musically compatible and we can show off how cool we are by what obscure stuff we can put on our playlists. Or, we could just listen to some good tunes. It's up to you.
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Career Advice
Seems like there's a never ending stream of folks leaving the White House these days. The latest in the swarm of rats to abandon ship is Bush's third press secretary, former Fox pundit (and probably on his way back to the real limelight) Tony Snow. Switching press secretaries isn't uncommon, and I know I'd need some time away after a stint in giving confounding answers to reporters, not to mention a bout with colon cancer.
Tony however, isn't leaving for any of these reasons. Ari (easily my favorite of Bush's secretaries) and Scott left on the usual "spend more time with family...work in the private sector...will be nice to look back someday and laugh" reasons. Tony though, came right out and said that George and friends just don't pay enough. At this point, I wouldn't know whether or not $168,000 is enough to support a family with three kids, but I do know that plenty of people out there do it for much less.
The idea that six figures just isn't enough in this country aside, I'm just happy to see that the Fed has their priorities straight. No wonder Newscorp has deeper pockets - the Feds are busy enough trying to figure out how scrape up the $13 to $30K to pay the kids who get shot at on a daily basis.
I'm sure Tony will be fine. While cable news has no shortage of pundits, I'm sure having "White House Press Secretary" as your most recent job on your resume does wonders. It's also never too early to think about psuedo writing your autobiography, which is sure to hit the best seller list for at least a week.
Tony however, isn't leaving for any of these reasons. Ari (easily my favorite of Bush's secretaries) and Scott left on the usual "spend more time with family...work in the private sector...will be nice to look back someday and laugh" reasons. Tony though, came right out and said that George and friends just don't pay enough. At this point, I wouldn't know whether or not $168,000 is enough to support a family with three kids, but I do know that plenty of people out there do it for much less.
The idea that six figures just isn't enough in this country aside, I'm just happy to see that the Fed has their priorities straight. No wonder Newscorp has deeper pockets - the Feds are busy enough trying to figure out how scrape up the $13 to $30K to pay the kids who get shot at on a daily basis.
I'm sure Tony will be fine. While cable news has no shortage of pundits, I'm sure having "White House Press Secretary" as your most recent job on your resume does wonders. It's also never too early to think about psuedo writing your autobiography, which is sure to hit the best seller list for at least a week.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Crying Wolf
You're going to die.
Yes, that's right. You're going to die.
If it's not by disease, freak weather, car accidents, drug abuse, terrorists, heart disease, poor diet, or escaped rhinos from the zoo, it'll be something. I've come to terms with the fact that someday, be it tomorrow or in a few decades, I'll depart this Earth and this plane of existence. It's not a pretty thought or a comforting one, but it's an eventuality.
The fear of death though can be the most powerful tool in any propaganda machine's arsenal. I do wonder though, how often does the death card need to be thrown down before it becomes completely meaningless?
Witness this little gem I read from Salon today. Long story short, National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell apparently believes that a congressional debate over the FISA debacle will directly result in the deaths of Americans. Mike was careful to add that it wouldn't only be Americans living in the U.S., but also Americans abroad involved in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
While plenty of people recognize that this statement borders on ludicrousness, I find it more creepy that at this point, I find it normal. I'm used to reading statements from politicians that state if we question or debate government policy, we're "aiding the enemy." I'm used to hearing the phrase "if you're not with us, you're against us." It's normal to hear someone from the right say "well, you should feel lucky that you're even allowed to protest at all."
The powers that be toss out veiled threats of disaster so much that if I were to believe in even a quarter of them, I'd be bunkering down somewhere with enough rations to sustain me for the next century - while letting the feds monitor my bunker camera system 24 hours a day. You never know what you might be saying in your sleep.
And that's the real question - how often can we claim the sky is falling before we fail to notice it?
Yes, that's right. You're going to die.
If it's not by disease, freak weather, car accidents, drug abuse, terrorists, heart disease, poor diet, or escaped rhinos from the zoo, it'll be something. I've come to terms with the fact that someday, be it tomorrow or in a few decades, I'll depart this Earth and this plane of existence. It's not a pretty thought or a comforting one, but it's an eventuality.
The fear of death though can be the most powerful tool in any propaganda machine's arsenal. I do wonder though, how often does the death card need to be thrown down before it becomes completely meaningless?
Witness this little gem I read from Salon today. Long story short, National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell apparently believes that a congressional debate over the FISA debacle will directly result in the deaths of Americans. Mike was careful to add that it wouldn't only be Americans living in the U.S., but also Americans abroad involved in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
While plenty of people recognize that this statement borders on ludicrousness, I find it more creepy that at this point, I find it normal. I'm used to reading statements from politicians that state if we question or debate government policy, we're "aiding the enemy." I'm used to hearing the phrase "if you're not with us, you're against us." It's normal to hear someone from the right say "well, you should feel lucky that you're even allowed to protest at all."
The powers that be toss out veiled threats of disaster so much that if I were to believe in even a quarter of them, I'd be bunkering down somewhere with enough rations to sustain me for the next century - while letting the feds monitor my bunker camera system 24 hours a day. You never know what you might be saying in your sleep.
And that's the real question - how often can we claim the sky is falling before we fail to notice it?
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Eyes on the skies
My good friend Flea responded to my last post regarding the snippet I wrote on the Air and Water show. I was going to just reply to her, but I figure it's well worth reading. You can read her original response here.
Well, like you - I can and I can't. It is a weird thing though. At the same time we're (in the royal "we" sense) reveling in the machinations of war flying overhead, ooing and ahhing over the cool dives they make and neat smoke they spew, someone in the world is probably seeing the same thing, but with real explosives attached to those planes. There are plenty of pregnant women, families, etc around the world who suffer the grim reality of air raids. Hell, while Russia attempts to show off its own air prowess, they're accidentally (or someone's making it up, depending on whom you'd like to believe) launching missiles at Georgia, its former ally. The warhead failed to detonate, but the idea of an unexploded warhead sitting around on some patch of land can be equally as frightening. Cluster bombs are pretty much standard to drop on targets these days and at least five or so countries have significant unexploded bombs lying around patches of land. That however, usually is just written off as "collateral damage," just like most civilian casualties in warfare these days.
Mostly I treat things like the air show as a moderate inconvienience. Hell, there are times where I was walking around looking up and ooing and ahhing myself. Still though, I always have a weird knot in my throat thinking about just what those planes are for, and what the most powerful countries in the world (be they the United States or otherwise) can do with them.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Coffee, Planes, and Med Students, Oh My!
1. Not having the internet at home blows. I've become one of those kids that sit at Starbucks with a laptop. I could sit outside and not have to patronize this ever so popular to trash establishment, but it's either too hot or too cold. Blame Chicago weather, blame HAARP, blame whomever - but I'm stuck drinking crappy overpriced coffee so I can feel like I'm connected to the rest of the world. Sorry kids, but stealing newspapers off my neighbor's front porch and 5 channels off the antenna just isn't good enough.
2. Speaking of the weather - there's nothing like hearing the roar of what should be world war IV (or possibly V, depending on how you look at it) over my head but then realizing it's just the fabulous air and water show. What's better than a display of US military superiority over Lake Michigan? Listening to it over the radio. That's right, just when you thought that nothing could be more boring than listening to a golf game broadcast over WBBM, I stumbled onto commentary on the air and water show while patiently waiting for my 8 minute traffic update. I'm sure this is a regular thing, but still - I guess if I was that interested, I'd be with every other rube on the beach.
3. Thankfully, I've had plenty of time to catch up on reading. Aside from devouring the latest Harry Potter book, I've read The Earth Will Shake, most of Empires of Time, and a handful of zines. Keep your eyes open for more zine reviews and hopefully some commentary on Harry Potter. Naturally, that was probably the best thing I'll read all year.
4. Now that I'm in Chicago's happening UIC/University Village neighborhood, I've gone from listening to random Latin pop music out of car windows to the prattle of frat boys, sorority sisters, and med students. I'm sure this is a fine neighborhood, but I'll take Univision over commentary on how messed up someone's lattee is. Then again, I am sitting in a Starbucks.
5. Finally, in the big wide world of U.S. politics - it seems that the rats are leaving the long sinking ship. Apparently, Rummy left before last year's election. Now, Rove and Hastert are on their way out, followed by a few other Republican senators. What does this mean? Well, nothing really, except that the next election cycle will have a few more contested seats, which in turn means a bit more mud in the eyes of television viewers.
2. Speaking of the weather - there's nothing like hearing the roar of what should be world war IV (or possibly V, depending on how you look at it) over my head but then realizing it's just the fabulous air and water show. What's better than a display of US military superiority over Lake Michigan? Listening to it over the radio. That's right, just when you thought that nothing could be more boring than listening to a golf game broadcast over WBBM, I stumbled onto commentary on the air and water show while patiently waiting for my 8 minute traffic update. I'm sure this is a regular thing, but still - I guess if I was that interested, I'd be with every other rube on the beach.
3. Thankfully, I've had plenty of time to catch up on reading. Aside from devouring the latest Harry Potter book, I've read The Earth Will Shake, most of Empires of Time, and a handful of zines. Keep your eyes open for more zine reviews and hopefully some commentary on Harry Potter. Naturally, that was probably the best thing I'll read all year.
4. Now that I'm in Chicago's happening UIC/University Village neighborhood, I've gone from listening to random Latin pop music out of car windows to the prattle of frat boys, sorority sisters, and med students. I'm sure this is a fine neighborhood, but I'll take Univision over commentary on how messed up someone's lattee is. Then again, I am sitting in a Starbucks.
5. Finally, in the big wide world of U.S. politics - it seems that the rats are leaving the long sinking ship. Apparently, Rummy left before last year's election. Now, Rove and Hastert are on their way out, followed by a few other Republican senators. What does this mean? Well, nothing really, except that the next election cycle will have a few more contested seats, which in turn means a bit more mud in the eyes of television viewers.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
From The Desk of The Great Developer
Anyone interested in drilling to the center of the Earth with me? Let the Russians and Canadians fight over the North Pole. I'm sure Santa and his army of tiny toy making elves can put up a fight long enough to give the Canucks and the Russkies a serious run for their money.
While their busy with that, I recommend we drill down down down, as deep as we can go. There's probably millions of barrels of oil and other sweet nutrients down there being guarded by a handful of mole people. As mole people hate the sun, we just have to make sure the hole we drill is big enough to let some UV rays in. Give 'em a tan until they're willing to give us their oil, then maybe we'll let them keep a piece of their underground layer. We've had our trial run with the "native Americans" and got alot of sweet casinos out of it. Can you imagine what blackjack at thousands of feet below sea level is like?
The only thing we've got to worry about are those pesky environmental terrorists. Seriously guys, you give me a good laugh when I see you hugging trees - but don't you know there's money to be made? We all know global warming is the myth Al Gore invented the internet to perpetuate. I mean, seriously - this planet has been around for 6,000 years now. That's a long time. I think it can handle a little smog, waste dumping, and other such necessary byproducts of progress.
Thankfully, those damned hippies have little experience chaining themselves to things underground or in the arctic. Think a community garden in south central is hard to defend? Just try growing corn hundreds of miles underground. Why don't you guys just stick to working at Whole Foods and whining about some endangered species no one really cares about?
So come one, come all who are interested in the next great wave of resource exploitation. Damn the mole men and those "save the center of the Earth" folks! Let's scoop out what we need and build the biggest damned parking lot the world has ever seen. It'll be a great hub from Walmarts in the U.S. to the sweatshops in China. Think of all the wonderful savings on tariffs! Think of the children - Disneyland Center of the Earth, here I come.
While their busy with that, I recommend we drill down down down, as deep as we can go. There's probably millions of barrels of oil and other sweet nutrients down there being guarded by a handful of mole people. As mole people hate the sun, we just have to make sure the hole we drill is big enough to let some UV rays in. Give 'em a tan until they're willing to give us their oil, then maybe we'll let them keep a piece of their underground layer. We've had our trial run with the "native Americans" and got alot of sweet casinos out of it. Can you imagine what blackjack at thousands of feet below sea level is like?
The only thing we've got to worry about are those pesky environmental terrorists. Seriously guys, you give me a good laugh when I see you hugging trees - but don't you know there's money to be made? We all know global warming is the myth Al Gore invented the internet to perpetuate. I mean, seriously - this planet has been around for 6,000 years now. That's a long time. I think it can handle a little smog, waste dumping, and other such necessary byproducts of progress.
Thankfully, those damned hippies have little experience chaining themselves to things underground or in the arctic. Think a community garden in south central is hard to defend? Just try growing corn hundreds of miles underground. Why don't you guys just stick to working at Whole Foods and whining about some endangered species no one really cares about?
So come one, come all who are interested in the next great wave of resource exploitation. Damn the mole men and those "save the center of the Earth" folks! Let's scoop out what we need and build the biggest damned parking lot the world has ever seen. It'll be a great hub from Walmarts in the U.S. to the sweatshops in China. Think of all the wonderful savings on tariffs! Think of the children - Disneyland Center of the Earth, here I come.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
There's a Shock
I nabbed this from by buddy Will. No surprises here.
Your Inner European is Irish! |
 Sprited and boisterous! You drink everyone under the table. |
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