Wikipedia needs money. I've used it many times so I donated. Now they're all set, sweet.#

Rob Lawson writes about American supremacy, the validity of secret searches, and the horrible French.#

Granted, several nations (the former Soviet Union, The Russian Federation, China, Germany, Brazil) supplied Iraq with weapons, however, France took it a step further to undermine America's authority and superpower status.

Moreover, during our "high alert" status, several planes in France were delayed due to suspected terrorists on board. Thankfully, the French government allowed an inspection of the plane and its contents.

But what good is an inspection if terrorists know you're looking out for their whereabouts? OurDepartment of Homeland Security was cheesed off to know our good old pals, The French, probably tipped off several terror suspects on board the Air France plane when they made the inspections public.

Word to the wise, folks: The War on Terror could be defined as a giant covert operation. Tipping off your enemy is a big no-no. The French officials are either ignorant frog-eating snail-licking dunderheads or wickedly execrable on par with the former Soviet Union, depending how you view this issue.

I'm so amazed someone wrote this.

Rob Lawson continues and denounces the ACLU and protecting the rights of minorities.#

Yes, it's true government officials who work in government buildings shouldn't force their religious beliefs on anybody, but why must a teacher make a little boy feel sad, as if he has done something wrong by bringing gift bags to his classmates?

Furthermore, regarding the ACLU: I don't trust an organization who represents and defends child molesters. If you look over my last entry, along with my resources, you will read the ACLU does have an agenda with Christmas and Christians. They want a secular society like Europe — however -- the majority of Americans are Christian and Catholic. We shouldn't exclude the majority because a few whacko anti-Christian/faith/whatever want their needs pandered to.

The Scobleization of Religion...#

Nothing ever gets resolved. Which, is why I'm not gonna go down the "this belief is better than that belief" path. You all are free to believe whatever wacky thing you want.

I could spend all afternoon telling you why I believe what I believe and it wouldn't really add much value to your life. There's a reason that religion and politics aren't supposed to be discussed in polite society.

It's because in both topics most humans don't approach from a "I-wanna-learn" angle, but rather a "I-have-already-done-my-homework-and-now-I'm-gonna-convince-you-why-I'm-right" angle.

Lowell Feld asks if America is drifting towards fascism.#

Not surprisingly, many Americans today are frightened and upset at the direction the country is headed, with some people expressing fears that the country could be drifting towards authoritarianism, single-party rule, or even an American form of fascism. "Wait a minute," you might say, "that's pure hysteria. This country has withstood many crises in its history — the Civil War, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War -- without succumbing to any of those terrible things. There's no way it will now!" And I hope you're right. However, there are those who would caution against such an optimistic conclusion at this point.

[...] Neiwert argues that "mainstream" conservatism and Christian fundamentalism have become strongly allied, almost indistinguishable in many ways. Both, for instance, share a black-and-white worldview — Neiwert calls it a "Manichean dualism" — and a "totalist mindset." According to Niewert, "This has the potential to make them, in many ways, ideal footsoldiers for a kind of Christo-fascism, one which backs theocratic impulses and right-wing extremism with actual political power. In the wake of a severe social disturbance like Sept. 11, this kind of dualism's appeal is potent." Scary stuff, especially when we have a President who talks about the world in Manichean terms — black or white, for us or against us, good or evil, dead or alive -- and has even talked privately in messianic terms about being "chosen by the grace of God to lead" America in the aftermath of 9/11.

[...]

Still feeling optimistic about our country's future? Or, like me, are you starting to get an uneasy feeling that America really might be drifting towards authoritarianism or even some sort of fascism? Either way, the course of action is clear -- we must fight for our country and for our values against those who would take them away from us. We must fight for our way of life, for our Bill of Rights, for our Constitution, and for our system of checks and balances. In the end, if we do not fight to defend the great institutions that protect us — the courts, the Constitution, civil society, what's left of the independent media in this country — they will not survive continued attacks by the authoritarians and Christo-fascists among us. For now, however, there's still time, which we must use wisely. If not, we could find ourselves doing time together at Camp X-Ray.

Static Free on relationships as Internet protocols.#

Ms. Lauren on New Year's resolutions, being a good person, and understanding.#

The lady inside asked me if I was sure I intended to give away the Doc Martens, Gap jeans, and stroller. Yes, I was well aware I could get good money for these items - I just wanted to make someone's day. I remember being at the girl's home as a teen, not having any clothes because my parent's wouldn't give me any until I apologized for my bad behavior. I was bitter - that's another story.

I was digging through a bag of things that had been donated that morning, looking for some new threads that didn't smell, and I ran across three books whose binding was in perfect condition. The books smelled new, felt new. Someone had bought these books for us to read. There was something about that - not being throwaway kids, kids who deserved access to more than throwaway items - that touched me. It was a time in which I thought all hope was lost - I thought that because I had thrown myself away I didn't deserve anything.

Simple acts of kindness, thoughtfulness, are tangible to the recipient.

And this is fantastic:

Anger is an umbrella emotion. It's socially acceptable to be angry, everyone gets angry, anger is everywhere, it's fashionable, it's okay. It's okay to say we are angry when instead we feel disappointed, frustrated, worried, and ashamed. Standing under that umbrella rather than acknowledging what we truly feel denies dialogue of the truth it deserves. It's time to be honest and accept that honesty in turn.

What happens when we give ourselves and our time and money and services and thoughts and ideas and positivity and accept that of others in turn? Good things happen. My "anger" is turning around due to these small gestures.

The Binary Circumstance on Cat-ology.#

It goes on to describe how a mommy cat might teach her kittens to hunt:

The mother usually teaches a kitten how to hunt by first bringing it a dead mouse to eat. Once the kitten gets used to eating it, the mother brings it a mouse that is just barely alive. Eventually, the mother offers it a mouse that has strength enough to run, so that the kitten can chase and hunt it down.

Since my cat has only brought me dead animals, maybe he's trying to teach me how to hunt.

And maybe George and Laura Bush, Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden and all the world leaders who bring us dead bodies are trying to teach us how to hunt. Maybe not much has changed in the millions of years since we were cats.

You were wondering how Bush would come in, huh?

Gina Smith links to Food Addiction.#

In a recent book called "Breaking the Food Seduction," Dr. Neal Barnard of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine contends that certain foods—including chocolate, cheese, red meat and practically anything combining sugar and fat—are just plain addictive.

"These foods will not make you hallucinate or hold up a convenience store," he says. But they do cause the brain to release its own natural opioids. "It's not that you lack willpower," he says. "These foods stimulate the release of chemicals in the brain's pleasure center that keep you hooked."

Bob Wallace on signs and warnings.#

I can rewire an 110-volt electrical outlet without instructions, but my shampoo says, "Wet hair thoroughly. Apply shampoo to scalp and gently massage into hair to work up a rich lather. Rinse completely. Repeat, if necessary." I guess the manufacturers assume I would sit in the bathtub, staring at the shampoo bottle, completely stumped. Do they also think I might blow-dry my hair while sitting in a bathtub full of water? The sign on the hair-dryer warns me I should not do this.

[...]

I could go on forever: THIS IS A NOVEL. START AT PAGE 1 AND READ THROUGH TO THE END. DO NOT READ ENDING FIRST!!!

[...]

I am reminded of a quote by C.S. Lewis: "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."

Brad Edmunds pulls together some quotes about Freedom and comments on them in general.#

A final word about quotes: They're generally useless, unless they comprise an entire syllogism. Otherwise, they're merely assertions. By their pithiness and association with particular famous people, they are useful only in persuading the unintelligent or uninformed. Satan quoted scripture; you can find as many Karl Marx quotes as Ludwig von Mises quotes; and you can find isolated quotes inconsistent with the overall views of those who coined them, such as quotes in support of freedom and commerce from Winston Churchill, the terror bomber; or Thomas Jefferson, who sometimes sounded like a Christian and sometimes bitterly ridiculed scripture in ways most atheists would find shocking.

And some high-lights:

A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine. ~ Thomas Jefferson

It would be an absurdity for jurors to be required to accept the judge's view of the law, against their own opinion, judgment, and conscience. ~ John Adams, not knowing that American judges, beginning in the 20th century, would come to prevent juries from seeing evidence that would exonerate the accused.

Adam Young reports President Bush's visit by Four Ghosts on Christmas Eve.#

The fourth being arrived at 3:00 AM. Mr. Bush described him as riding a pale green horse and believes he was the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Mr. Bush claims he remarked to the specter "Say, you look kinda pale. There's lotsa sun down in Texas." But the specter just gestured towards the horizon. "What's wrong? Say, for a ghost you don't talk much, do you?"

Mr. Bush retold how the ghost revealed visions of the future wars of the War on Terror and the paradise humanity will enter when the wars are completed. "He showed fields and fields of dead bodies — men, women and children — as far as the eye can see. So you know what I learned? We're gonna have victory," the president told his staff, "but only if I win reelection. I got the feeling these spirits know that I am indispensable to the war and the future of the Earth, but the last one didn't say so in so many words. Actually, he didn't really say anything."

Charley Reese warns America not to throw away its liberty.#

The Constitution is a fragile thing. It can protect our liberties only so long as we the people firmly insist that all elected officials obey it. If we allow parts of it to be disregarded, then we invite the disregard of all of it. As all of the wise men in our nation's past have warned, the main threat to our liberty will never be a foreign conqueror but our own apathy coupled with the unbridled ambition of our own politicians.

I wish Americans took their Constitution more seriously. It is not a historical document. It is as binding today on every federal official as it was the day it was ratified. Americans should consider violating the Constitution as being the unforgivable public sin and vote against every single person who does it.

There is everything right with saying to a congressional representative, a senator or a president, "You know, I like you, and I agree with a lot of the things you've done, but you've violated your oath of office, and I can no longer support you." That's putting the Constitution where it belongs, ahead of public-opinion polls, partisan politics or even personal feelings.

Dowingba on the history of Middle-earth.#

It is also hinted around that "evil" things in Tolkien's universe cannot create things, only destroy. This is an interesting concept, and, as the story goes, every time the Valar create something, Morgoth (the one evil Vala) corrupts it to his own uses. He turns Elves and Men (and other things) into Orcs; turns Ents into Trolls, and so forth. It is never explained what is meant when Morgoth "corrupts" something. But we can assume it's something bad.

Although Tolkien would be the first to swiftly deny it, this all seems to be heavily analogous of the Original Sin concept many of our Earthly religions claim. Since Morgoth was vocal in the creation of the world (indeed, he was one of the 15 most powerful voices in its creation), the world has evil at its very core. As the story goes, the 15 Valar created a harmonious tune, and Morgoth corrupted the perfect harmony by singing off-key...or something. It's all very brilliant, really.

I wish real history was so interesting.

James Seng on management and Peter Drucker's principles.#

Particularly interesting in his article:

The central question is not, What can this or that candidate do or not do? It is, rather, What are the strengths each possesses and are these the right strengths for the assignments? Weakness are limitations, which may, of course rule a candidate out but effective executives do not start out by looking at the weaknesses. You cannot build performances on weakness. You can build only on strengths.

So, very often we heard people say "How can he be management? He is vain/arrogant/egotistical/too vocal/too mild/(fill in your blanks)!". What these people fails to understand is everyone have some personal weaknesses but it is the strengths that makes the difference.

But She's A Girl on the Lord of The Rings...#

Evil-doers also have a poor eye for detail. So, you know that someone is wandering about with the ring that—if destroyed—will bring down your evil empire. You also know that said ring can only be destroyed by throwing it in the volcano inside your citadel. [...Spoiler...] And that, my friend, is why good will always triumph over evil. No eye for detail—not even an all-seeing one.

Andrew Bayer on why Bin Laden deserves a fair trial.#

There's been quite the little furor over Dean saying that bin Laden should get a fair trial. Honestly, I can't see any reason to have a problem with that statement, except for purely partisan purposes (hey! alliteration!). I see it as not just a moral imperative (bin Laden committed a crime, so he should be brought to trial with the same rights and privileges as any other criminal in the American courts) but as a source of triumph. What better way to defeat bin Laden than to show him that our system is stronger than anything he can dish out? If he can't survive to see the fall of the US, I'm sure his next choice would be martyrdom - either death in the field or death at the hands of the US government, following a show trial that would not be accepted as legit by his followers. So let's give him a fair trial. Provide him with the best defense, let him make his case. I'm confident that the prosecution can win a guilty verdict. Let's beat him by playing the game OUR way, not his. We're better than him, so let's show it.

Erin Judge is SO redundant.#

I hate watching shit on TV because it's all the same. The more I do comedy, the easier it becomes to predict what people are about to say or what gag will come next. I don't know if that means I'm becoming more marketable or more alienated. Probably both.

But as bored as I get, I still never really spice it up (hotcha!) when it comes to my own obnoxious fucking habits. I guess since years of self-abuse, resolutions, accusations, and threats haven't changed my ways, I'm hoping I'll just decide to stop being so redundant.

Ever wonder how a light gun for a video game works?#

Derek wonders about Beautiful People.#

I know why it happens... the beautiful people make eye candy on TV. But the reality is that they're not all that populous. By and large, the average teenager sits somewhere in the middle.... not terribly popular, but not a social outcast either. They're not the superhottie, but they're not terminally disgusting either.

Why is it, then, that television and movies don't aim more for that demographic? It would seem, to my limited understanding, that you could get better ratings with actors and actresses of merely average looks, playing characters of merely average popularity, because those are the characters that the target audience can identify more with. Sure, some of it is the escapist, living-vicariously-through-the-characters'-eyes type of appeal, but there has to also be some attraction to characters to which the audience can truly relate.

The pictures today from Ryan Overbey at amazing.#

Michael Feldman links to a case of Date Rape, or Xenophobia?#

The day after his arrest, Zedginidze was relieved to see a Harvard representative visit him at jail. But the official issued an ultimatum: Withdraw voluntarily or he would be expelled, he said. He withdrew. Unable to make bail, Zedginidze sat in jail for six weeks. He passed time playing cards with Michael "Mucko" McDermott, who later was convicted of killing eight people in a Wakefield office shooting. When Zedginidze was finally released, he was barred from walking onto Harvard's campus. No longer a student, he lost his visa and became an illegal immigrant. He waited tables in the North End while awaiting trial.

Twenty months and $50,000 in legal fees later, the allegations were tested in court. Edward Wayland, Zedginidze's lawyer, cross-examined the accuser, finding discrepancies between the chain of events she had described the night of the alleged assault to police, and to the grand jury and the jury, Wayland said.

The woman testified that she had only the most distant of relationships with Zedginidze. Wayland produced e-mails that showed the two chatting back and forth, making plans to go out to dinner and talking about it afterwards.

A Middlesex Superior Court jury found Zedginidze not guilty.

Since the verdict, the Middlesex District Attorney's office has declined to comment on the case, and Zedginidze's accuser, who now lives in California, did not respond to several interview requests.

"If this were a public university he'd have every right to sue them for violating his due process rights," said Silverglate.

Joey deVilla inspires hope in a better future and relationships.#

This was a friendly date. I'd asked to kiss her after the Hallowe'en party, but she had to politely decline. She had a boyfriend who went to another university and wanted to maintain the relationship despite the fact that he was all the way over there, I was right here, and probably smarter, more charming, better-looking and Crazy Go Nuts University's best damn DJ, ever. In spite of this, she'd agreed to go out on a getting-to-know-you kind of dinner outing.

I paid for everything and expected nothing but pleasant conversation and a goodbye hug at her door at the end of the evening, which makes me either an old-fashioned gentleman, a complete sucker, or possibly both.

David Weinberger, a fellow vegetarian, writes about vegetarianism!#

Sure, people are suffering, too. But we ought to avoid inflicting unnecessary pain. (Go ahead, try to argue against that one!) I see no reason to think that we escape that moral obligation when it comes to non-human animals. The argument ought to be over what makes pain necessary and exactly what it means to avoid inflicting it. For the past 25 years or so, I've voted with my digestive system that eating factory-farmed meat fails that test. Hell, I wouldn't even eat a Republican.

Happy vegetarian new year to all my sentient animal friends!