They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. --Benjamin Franklin
Cost of the War in Iraq
(JavaScript Error)
Retry
 Saturday, July 3, 2004 12:44 a.m.
  • Morally Sound Republicans??
  • What if the known Republican favoring news channel Fox News showed a penis on live TV? Would the FCC do anything about it?
  • It's not like I support Kerry much either.
  • The Supreme Court is going to decide whether or not federal laws regarding medical marijuana are constitutional. Things could get interesting soon.
  • The Metrosexual SuperpowerThe title of this article caught my attention. Actually kind of interesting, if not a little amusing. Registration required. Create an account or E-mail me for a password.
  • All good blog posts need some kind of conspiracy theory.
  • This is an editorial written by a white man. Though there is definite lack of moustache, I must say he looks pretty molesterrific. Anyway, he's just complaining that America is becoming dumber because colleges offer classes such as “Rock Music from 1970 to Present” at the University of Minnesota. If someone wants to spend their college money on what will probably be a fun and interesting class let them. It's their money. If you want to help America become more intelligent, how about focusing on high schools and elementary schools where our tax dollars actually go, instead of trying to control what people buy with their own money. Bitch.
  • There's nothing better to end a blog post than a wholesome, politically charged, parody website
But there's a blank dot!!! What do we do!? Figure it out for yourself, you whiny baby!
Return to top

Slight Changes
 Thursday, July 1, 2004 01:53 a.m.
I just spent about 45 minutes typing a post for this and then lost it all. ARRGGGHH!!! So I changed the layout of this just a little and added a "people" box. If you want to be in the people box e-mail me. You can use the link in that box. Since I don't feel like re-typing everything right now I will leave you with this. Enjoy.
Return to top

Fuck Yourself
 Monday, June 28, 2004 08:45 p.m.
There. FUCK YOURSELF. Some of you may be offended by this, but why? I just thought I would follow the example set forth by our morally sound, family loving, wholesome presidential administration through the words our our Vice President. Thank you Mr. Cheney for being the shining example of family values that your administration focuses on. Thank you for being the epitome of a righteous man. So please, feel free to FUCK YOURSELF.
Return to top

The Steps to Destruction
 Saturday, June 26, 2004 12:01 p.m.
Okay, I read this quote in the opinion page of the Bismarck Tribune around the time of the 2000 election. It was actually printed beforehand if I can remember correctly. At any rate, it caught my eye and intrigued me, so I give it to you today to ponder.
Steps to the End of Democracy

A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largess of the public treasury. From that time on the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the results that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.

The average age of the world's great civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence:

  • from bondage to spiritual faith
  • from spiritual faith to great courage
  • from courage to liberty
  • from liberty to abundance
  • from abundance to selfishness
  • from selfishness to complacency
  • from complacency to apathy
  • from apathy to dependency
  • from dependency back again to bondage
Sir Alex Fraser Tytler

Now who is Sir Alex Fraser Tytler? Some looney doom saying liberal running around in the aftermath of the 2000 election? NO. This man lived in the time frame of the American Revolution. 1742-1813 to be exact. And look at us now. Where are we according to this quote? By my calculations we've gone from complacency to apathy between the time that I first read this four years ago and today. What do you think? I leave you with this one last piece of information as well. Average age of great civilizations: 200 years
Age of United States of America: 228 years>

Return to top

Hold On
 Saturday, June 26, 2004 01:31 a.m.
We went and saw Fahrenheit 9/11 tonight. I thought it was really well put together. There were three stadium theatres showing it at once and all three were sold out. We had to drive an hour from Augusta to Columbia in South Carolina to see the film though. Those of you in Bismarck must drive to Fargo to see it, but it is definitely worth the trip. DO IT. Everyone knew it was going to be decidedly slanted to the left and it was, but someone has to say some of the stuff that Michael Moore is saying. Plus Byron Dorgan was a supporting actor ion the film on numerous occassions and if that isn't enough to get you to see it then I don't know what is.

Now I said I would bring forth everything that's been piling up so here goes:
Firstly, from today there was this article on CNN. Nothing out of the ordinary for the most part, but my favorite part of the article was this:
The Best Part of the Article "There [have] been bombings since then, not because of my response to Iraq. There were bombings in Madrid. There were bombings in Istanbul. There were bombings in Bali. There were killings in Pakistan." Hundreds of people died in those attacks, which targeted Western interests or U.S. allies in the war on terrorism. "I do believe the world is a safer place and becoming a safer place," the president said. "I know that a free Iraq is going to be necessary -- part of changing the world.

So bombings all over the world and thousands of people dead, but don't worry. "The world is becoming a safer place."

That's all I've got for now. It's three AM and I'm tired.
Return to top

I'm Back
 Wednesday, June 23, 2004 06:00 p.m.
I'm back. I don't have time to do a whole new post right now, but soon. I have tons of shit to put on here, well maybe. I don't know how much of it is relevant anymore so we'll see. Later.
Return to top

Don't Read This
 Wednesday, June 9, 2004 09:30 a.m.
Leaving Bismarck today. I have a bunch of crap to put up here, but I haven't felt like it, nor do I now, so you will wait and you will like it, the waiting, not the next post, because the next post might suck. Man, such a waste of blog/internet space. I hate rambling. Okay, so next post will be a plethor'khf;adsjhf;a of stuff. Until then I am going to eat small creatures and children.
Return to top


 Wednesday, June 9, 2004 09:30 a.m.
Leaving Bismarck today. I have a bunch of crap to put up here, but I haven't felt like it, nor do I now, so you will wait and you will like it, the waiting, not the next post, because the next post might suck. Man, such a waste of blog/internet space. I hate rambling. Okay, so next post will be a plethor'khf;adsjhf;a of stuff. Until then I am going to eat small creatures and children.
Return to top

Weeks
 Sunday, May 23, 2004 07:49 p.m.
The movers come tomorrow to pack up my apartment, which sadly will include my computer. Therefore this will be my last post for a while.

My next posting will be from the land of peaches. And snakes. And cockroaches. And hurricanes. And southern drawls.
Return to top

Abu Ghraib
 Wednesday, May 19, 2004 09:43 p.m.
Throughout the whole controversy of the abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib prison, there has been much hub-bub (yeah, I said said hub-bub, even if I'm not sure how to spell it so get over it), and many questions have been asked. But something is wrong here. Out of all the reporters and congressmen and investigators, no-one has asked the big question. The one obvious question, that nobody has yet thought to ask. Why is everybody always giving the thumbs up? (1 2 3 4 5)
Return to top

Gay Day
 Monday, May 17, 2004 02:51 p.m.
May 17th has finally come and what better way to celebrate than some good old gay-lovin'? Today was the first day that homosexual couples were allowed to legally marry in Massachusetts. Of course there were the protesters, but isn't this picture a bit ironic? Nothing better than two men joining together in defense of the sanctity of marriage.
Return to top

Cleaning Day
 Monday, May 10, 2004 05:13 p.m.
There was so much stuff that I hadn't posted yet so I hope your not busy right now...
Return to top

Slaughterhouse Five
 Sunday, May 9, 2004 10:56 a.m.
I just finished reading Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut for the first time. Kurt is definitely one of my favorite authors, and this book, though written about the second world war, is still relevant today. As far as the war goes, it mainly discussed the firebombing of Dresden, Germany, towards the end ofthe war. Everyone today makes a big deal out of how much life was lost in Hiroshima, Japan, due to the atomic bomb, but very few people realize that in the one attack on Dresden, at least 135,000 people were killed, and could be as high as 180,000. Before that, an air raid over Hamburg was conducted in which some 60,000 to 100,000 people died, though most estimates are nearer to 60,000. Hiroshima, after you figure in those that died from radiation poisoning, killed 75,000 to 100,000, maybe upwards of 150,000. Now that's two attacks we conducted that were on scale or larger than the first atomic bomb, and the second one, dropped on Nagasaki, also killed roughly that ammount. But we only hear about the two nuclear bombs. And why is that? Because they were killed with new technology in one devastating blast? If I had to choose one or the other, I'd rather be under the nuke. At least then there's no pain. Instant evaporation. Whereas, in Dresden and Hamburg, you had to endure the burning and roasting of your flesh, and actually watch it happen. As well as watch your loved ones follow the same fate. Anyway, I definitely recommend reading this book if you haven't already. It's a great read, as are most of Vonnegut's books.
Return to top

FCC Petition
 Wednesday, May 5, 2004 09:55 p.m.
You all know that the FCC and US Congress are trying to crack down harder on broadcasting now, even cable a nd satelite TV. Here is a petition to stop the over-regulation by the FCC. Like most internet petitions, it is probably doomed to failure, but please sign it anyway. Our government is moving closer and closer to total control, and yet we just sit back and watch them do it. What ever happened to the days when parents actually took an active interest in what there children were watching on TV? Now they just want the government to do their job as parents. Now, I know parents can't check constantly on what their children are watching, but that is why there are V-chips, etc. Parents can regulate what their children can watch. Why should the rest of America be punished so that a few unsupervised children aren't exposed to what they already get at school every day? I'm not saying that less violence on TV is a bad thing, I just think that if someone wants to watch it, let them. If people don't like what they see they change the channel, the broadcast companies notice a drop in ratings, and if it's significant enough, the show gets cancelled. It's our choice, not the choice of a bunch of 80 year old rich people who are going to be dead soon anyway.
Return to top

The Wit and Wisdom of our Fearless Leader
 Sunday, May 2, 2004 07:55 p.m.
We all know that George Bush is not the best orator this country has ever seen, let alone the world. With that said I present to you, "The Wit and Wisdom of our Fearless Leader." All of these are actual quotes taken from your president.
  • "These people don't have tanks. they don't have ships. They hide in caves. They send suiciders out."
  • "I will swear to not-- to uphold the laws of the land."
  • "My administration has been calling upon all the leaders in the-- in the Middle East to do everything they can to stop the violence, to tell the different parties involved that peace will never happen."
  • When talking to the president of Brazil: "Do you have blacks too?"
  • "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"
  • "It's not Reaganesque to support a tax plan that is Clinton in nature."
  • "I do remain confident in Linda. She'll make a fine labor secretary. from what I've read in the press accounts, she's perfectly qualified."
  • "You teach a child to read and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test."
  • "I think the American people-- I hope the American-- I don't think, let me-- I hope the American people trust me."
  • After the first presidential debate he was asked if he wished he could take back any of his answers. He replied, "I think if you know what you believe, it makes it a lot easier to answer questions. I can't answer your question."
  • "I've coined new words, like, misunderstanding and Hispanically."

Return to top

Just Watch It
 Thursday, April 29, 2004 10:01 a.m.
Awesome Daily Show Clip
Return to top

Tagboard
 Wednesday, April 28, 2004 09:49 p.m.
You may have noticed that the tagboard is gone. I decided to get rid of it because it really was pointless. I will be updating a little more in the near future, so watch for that. Mostly subtle changes, but who knows? Maybe I'll go crazy. Or eat the head of a baby. Or you.
Return to top

Apparent Hopelessness
 Wednesday, April 28, 2004 05:33 p.m.
It makes me sad that everyone is afraid to "throw their vote away" by voting third party or independent. Why should everyone be scared to unite behind someone other than a democrat or a republican? Though it is a little humorous, I can't help but be entrenched in a feeling of lugubriousness when I see a website like www.johnkerryisadouchebagbutimvotingforhimanyway.com. I like Ralph Nader, but so far, I really haven't cared too much for the way his campaign has been run this year. I hate John Kerry as a candidate for president. I hate George Bush even more. Where does this leave me? I can't move to Canada, well not for another three years at least. If I vote for Nader, as sad as it is, my vote probably would be a vote for Bush. If I vote for Kerry, I go against my guns. I wouldn't vote for Bush if someone was holding a gun to my head. No other independents have really stepped forward. Our country is in a very large quagmire, and I don't mean the occupation of Iraq (note: It's not a war. War still has not and will not be declared.) There is so much animosity in the world toward our country, it's harrowing. Disheartening really. And this is coming from someone who grew up as a middle class American. Imagine how children growing up in less fortunate circumstances feel.
Return to top

WTF?
 Tuesday, April 27, 2004 06:33 p.m.
Apparently, Princeton University is going to set a limit on the number of A's the faculty are allowed to give. This is due to an influx in grades recently. So, basically, students expanding themselves and becoming more intelligent is a bad thing. And seriously, Princeton is one of the top colleges in the country. Is it that hard to believe that the 47% of students getting A's, aren't hard working and ambitious. This school only accepts the best of the best.
David Breneman, dean of the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia, has said it may date from the Vietnam War era, when professors were reluctant to flunk students and consign them to the draft.
Right. Vietnam era? I don't really buy that one considering the fact that the school's average GPA has, for the most part, been increasing since 1971. Personally, though I could probably make the cut-offs, I wouldn't really want to attend a college where I know that only 35% of students will be allowed A's. I wouldn't want a B instead of an A just because, though I did as well as other students, the teacher disliked me or I was randomly chosen. If they want a smaller number of A's, they should make the tests harder, and make guess work nearly impossible. Then they'd get a better picture of their students. I think that as long as a student is meeting the requirements needed, he or she should be given the appropriate grade. Quotas should never be involved.
Return to top

Why?
 Friday, April 23, 2004 08:56 p.m.
I'm sure you've all heard that Pat Tillman was killed in Afghanistan yesterday. You know, the guy who walked away from his three million dollar contract to join the Army. Well, woop-dee-doo. Yeah, it's not a good thing that he or any of the servicemembers have died, but all the media coverage of this one guy because he was famous makes me sick. The nightly news did a big story on it and then at the end, threw in that another soldier had died, as kind of a sidenote, without even mentioning the other soldier's name. What makes the loss of his life more important than the loss of anyone else's life? Why is it unnecessary to make a news story on these 707 faces? I find it disturbing, how truly shallow our nation has become.

A related side-note here: I find it extremly disrespectful that George Bush has sent over 700 soldiers to their deaths in Iraq, but has yet to attend a single funeral. I urge you all to sign this petition to George Bush to attend at least one funeral. It's not that much to ask of our Commander in Chief. He owes it to those he has sentenced to death. Please spread the word.
Return to top

Comments
 Wednesday, April 21, 2004 06:29 p.m.
I finally decided to add comments to this, so if you have anything related to individual posts, USE the comments. I'm still going to leave the tag board up for shits and giggles, so you can still use that if you want, though me, Amber and Sandy are the only ones who really use it anyway.
Return to top

Mordechai Vanunu
 Wednesday, April 21, 2004 03:49 p.m.
Most of you probably have not heard of Mordechai Vanunu. Probably because he has been in jail since 1986. In 1976 he was hired as a nuclear technician at the Dimona nuclear powerplant in Israel; he was laid off nine years later in 1985. During the time he worked there, he photographed everything inside that he possibly could. Since he had the highest possible security clearance, he got photos of everything, from the nuclear core to nuclear weapons. In 1986 Vanunu took his photographs with him to London and showed them to a newspaper there. After having physicists determine the authenticity of what it was being shown, London's Sunday Times published the photographs, to the outrage of Israel. Shortly thereafter, Mossad, one of Israel's intelligence agencies and most recognizable, sent a female agent to London. The mission was to seduce him and lure him to Rome. She succeeded and after they arrived, another team of agents kidnapped and drugged him then dragged him to a waiting Israel-bound boat. Until now we only knew of his kidnapping by this famous picture that was snapped as he was being taken to prison. He had written in black ink on the palm of his hand what had happened to him and held it up to the window of the vehicle he was being held in. At his secret trial, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison for "treason and espionage," though some think his actions actually helped Israel. For the first twelve years of his sentence he was held in solitary confinement, and only in 1998 was he taken out of solitary. Today he was finally freed. His release is not without restrictions though. He will not be able to get a passport or leave Israel for 12 months, he is prohibited from entering any foreign embassy building, he must get approval before speaking with any foreigner, he must notify the police 24 hours in advance if wants to go anywhere, and above all else, he will be under 24 hour surveillance. All this because Israel thinks he still has secrets to share and is intent on damaging the country. However, he says he has done what he wanted to, that he has no more secrets, and all he really wants is to "go to the United States and marry a wife."

To this day Israel is the only nuclear power in the world that does not get inspected. It refuses to sign the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, and therefore according to United States law (Look under: U.S. Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy: The Role of Congress) we should be imposing sanctions against them. But we are not, and don't hold your breath waiting for it to happen any time soon.
Return to top
Topic of the Week
Kid's now smoke more marijuana than cigarettes.

It can be argued whether this is a good or bad thing, so do it.
Archives


Links



"Unbiased" Media



People



Pitas.com!