Adventures in Space (Now in English)

Out of town

2006-04-10T10:57:00.000-02:00

I'll be gone for a few weeks and might not have access to a computer, so, it's pretty likely that you won't see any updates for a while.

And yes, I know I promised to update more often before, but you know, I'm busy n' stuff.

Take care

Hate to say I told you so

2006-04-01T22:38:00.000-02:00

Ms. Carroll in a horrible jacket

Ha! I knew it... although you didn't need to be a brain surgeon to have figured it out. Carroll was being coached and forced to make the statements she made in the videos we've all seen over the weekend, as I sarcastically said in yesterday's post:

"Well, she certainly wasn't being coached..."

Now I expect an apology from all those people who got pissed at me for saying it. Come on, all I want is an acknowledgement of your mistake, not to get on your knees and kiss my feet begging for mercy in the presence on my glorious insight and keen intellect. A kind email or comment will be enough.

Look at some of her statements from today:

"During my last night in captivity, my captors forced me to participate in a propaganda video. They told me I would be released if I cooperated. I was living in a threatening environment, under their control, and wanted to go home alive. So I agreed,"

Yeah, I guess that kills the fantasy of all those who wanted to think that everyone fighting in Iraq are noble warriors of peace simply defending themselves from an evil occupation. Truth is, they're bloody, vicious soldiers who will kill at the tip of a hat and would carry out any sort of merciless violence upon anyone they perceived as a threat. This is WAR if you haven't forgotten.

Things that I was forced to say while captive are now being taken by some as an accurate reflection of my personal views. They are not.

At any rate, fearing retribution from my captors, I did not speak freely. Out of fear, I said I wasn't threatened. In fact, I was threatened many times. Also, at least two false statements about me have been widely aired: One - that I refused to travel and cooperate with the U.S. military, and two - that I refused to discuss my captivity with U.S. officials. Again, neither statement is true."

Yep. So, there you go. She was being forced to say those things under threat of death, just like I had said.

Now this brings up the issue of the pro-War, Neo-Con blogs who had oh so kind words like:

"I wish they had just killed you."

"She should be arrested and charged with treason if and when she returns to the US."

What a group of fucking tools. Because she didn't say exactly what they wanted her to say at the moment she was released, she, in their estimation, was guilty of treason and deserving of death.

If anything, THESE people should be put to death for exchanging their freedom for a false sense of security and placing all their trust in a witless, shit of a man.

Supporting fascists is the same as being a fascist. No one has any sympathy for the followers of Hitler or Mussolini, so, do you honestly believe history will have any on you?

Anyways, once she is well adjusted and comfortable, she should write a book about her ordeal. She's writes for a living, so it shouldn't be that big of a stretch for her, plus she could get a huge advance from interested publishers which will make her recuperation oh the so much better.

But I think it will be odd to see her on the talk show circuit speaking about everything that happened to her with John Stewart, Matt Lauer and Bill Maher 8 months from now.

But, I'll probably be reading it...

Sub-Sahara African spammers - the only true heroes of the entire continent

2006-04-01T16:45:00.000-02:00

I know these things are as common as ink and posting one of these scams on your blog is probably the most cliché thing you can write about besides how the girl in Starbucks mixed your order, but, I just had to share this brilliant piece of work I found today in my inbox.

FROM: Gina & Matin.
kindly send you reply to gina_solomon00@yahoo.fr

CONFIDENTIAL
Dearest,

I am Matin solomon the only son of late former director of finance,Chief Williams solomon of Sierra-Leone diamond and mining corporation.
I must confess my agitation is real,and my words is my bond in this proposal.

My late father diverted this fund acquired from the over estimation of price of purchasing raw materials,now he deposited this money with a security company here in Abidjan ,and he attached a strict clause to the deposit .he made the deposit as family valuables, the security company does not know the real content of the deposit made in a metalic box. I am now residing under political assylum with my younger sister Gina who is 17 years old.

Now the war in my country is over with the help of ECOMOG soldiers, the present government of Sierra Leone has revoked the passport of all officers who served under the former regime and now ask countries to expel such person at the same time freeze their account and confiscate their asset, it is on this note that I am contacting you, all I need is your assistance to retrive this box from the security company to your country.

I amwilling to compensate you with 15% of the total money amount, now I am counting on you to help me invest this money in your country,where there is stability of Government, political and economic welfare.All the Money is close to ¨$6m (6mUsd)

Honestly I want you to believe that this transaction is risk free.My late father Chief Williams solomon gave me the original copy of the certificate of deposit issued to him by the security company on the day of deposit,and he called me closer to his bed side before his call to glory(R.I.P)that i should pray to God first, before contacting any foreginer and he warned me strictly that I should avoid african men with their greedy and evil mind since this is the only legacy we are inheriting from him.

Moreso I & Gina my Younger Sister still need to further our Education.We will be counting on you to advice us on suitables Institution & Investments that will be Profitable.

We are expecting to hear from you favourably.

Best regards
Matin & Gina.

tee-hee

Of all the ones I've read, this is probably the best one. I remember the first one I got like it was yesterday. Good times.

But seriously, I absolutly love these things. I wish I got more of them. How about I post one of every one I get?

Jill Carroll update - they let her go!

2006-03-31T12:52:00.000-02:00

Jill Carroll looking less like Anne Hathaway then before ----------------->

heh.... I was wrong. Yes, I admit it, I was wrong.

The insurgents have released American journalist Jill Carroll from captivity Thursday on the street in front of a Sunni Iraqi Islamic Party office.

Before she was let go, they got her to record this little video which I will comment on in a second:

Did you see the whole thing? Be honest now...

Besides Ms. Carroll herself, I had a bit of trouble understanding everything that was being said. Thankfully ABC News has a transcript of the whole thing which I will happily post on my unread blog and highlight parts I find interesting:

Voice in tape: How did the Mujahedeen treat you?

Jill Carroll: They treated me very well. They treated me very well, like a guest. I was given very good food, kept very safe, treated very, very well.

Voice in tape: Did you think the American Army or the CIA would save you in any time?

Carroll: I thought maybe they might. Sometimes I thought that they might come, that they might find me. They might (sic) a way to know where I am and come get me. I did think maybe they might.

Voice: Why didn't they save you?

Carroll: Well, I think the Mujahedeen are very smart and even with all the technology and all the people the American Army has here, they still are better at knowing how to live and work here and more clever, despite all the technology of the American Army, still more clever and better at being here than the American Army, still better at what they do.

Voice: Does this mean anything?

Carroll: I think it makes it very clear, it makes very clear that the Mujahedeen are the ones who will win in the end in this war, I think it makes very clear that even with thousands of troops and airplanes and tanks and guns that that doesn't mean anything here on the ground in Iraq as it shows over time, maybe how many months over time or however (sic) months are left in the occupation that it's pretty clear that the Mujahedeen are the ones that will have the victory left at the end of the day. It shows that no matter no matter what Americans try to say is happening here or try to do with all their weapons, they aren't going to be able to stay here, they're not going to be able to stop the Mujahedeen and that's for sure.

Voice: What will you tell the American people?

Carroll: Well, first of all I want them to be able to understand, I want them to understand the Mujahedeen, truly. There are a lot of lies to come out of the American government, calling the Mujahedeen terrorists and other things and I think it's important that American people hear from me the Mujahedeen are only trying to defend their country. This is only a jihad to stop an illegal and dangerous and deadly occupation so I think it's important that people see the Mujahedeen are people that we've seen in our entire history resisting an occupation trying to fight a foreign force in their land, it's their country and they have a right to fight for their own freedom so I want people to understand that it's not people that like to kill, not people that like violence but people who love their country, people who want to see their country free from an occupation and also I want them to understand that the situation in Iraq in general, how difficult it is here, people don't have electricity, people don't have water, children don't have safe streets to walk in, women and children are always in danger&People are killed left and right on the streets without any reason. People die everyday from the bombings and shootings of the army and all these things. So I think people need to understand in America how difficult life is here for the normal, average Iraqis. That everyday is a matter of survival, life and death for most Iraqis and thousands and thousands and tens of thousands of Iraqis have lost their lives here because of the occupation. I think Americans need to think about that and day to day how difficult life is here, how terrifying it is for most people to live here everyday because of the occupation.

Voice: Do you have a message for Mr. Bush?

Carroll: (Laughs)Yeah, he needs to stop this war. He knows this war is wrong. He knows that it was illegal from the very beginning. He knows that it was built on a mountain of lies and I think he needs to finally admit that to the American people and make the troops go home and he doesn't care about his own people.

He doesn't care about the people here in Iraq, he needs to wake up and the people of America need to wake up and tell that what he's done here is wrong and so hopefully this time he can get the message that this war was wrong and the continuing occupation is wrong adn he could change his policies. He's dangerous for Iraq. He's dangerous for America. He needs to accept that and admit that to people.

Voice: Do you think the Mujahedeen will win against the American Army?

Carroll: Oh definitely. Things are very clear to see even now they're already winning. Everyday there are soldiers killed. Everyday humvees are blown up. Helicopters are shot down from the skies. Everyday, it's very clear that the Mujahedeen have the skills and the ability and the desire and the good reasons to fight that'll make them ensure that they will win.

Voice: What do you feel now that the Mujahedeen are giving you your freedom while there are still women in Abu Ghraib living in very bad (unclear)?

Carroll: Well, I feel guilty honestly. I've been here, treated very well, like a guest. I've been given good food, never, never hurt while those women are in Abu Ghraib. Terrible things are happening to them with the American soldiers are torturing them and other things I don't want, I can't even say, so I feel guilty and I also feels it shows the difference between the Mujahedeen and Americans, the Mujahedeen are merciful and kind that's why I'm free and alive. The American army they aren't […not clear…] I feel guilty and I also feel that it just shows that Mujahedeen are good people, fighting an honorable fight, a good fight while the Americans are here as an occupying force treating the people in a very, very bad way so I can't be happy totally for my freedom, there are people still suffering in prisons and very difficult situations.

Well, she certainly wasn't being coached...

Okay, it certainly IS a possibility that she said all of these things out of her free will (its a possibility because all that she is saying is true)but having guys with guns pointed at you and swords around their belts certainly will make people say what things they don't neccesarly believe.

In a few months when all this is blown over and she is back home with her friends and family where she's had time to think about it all with a clear head, then I'll take her words as true. As it stands now, she's obviously still jittery and nervous from her ordeal (do you blame her) which is demonstrated in this footage from Iraqi TV (click where it says "Jill Carroll describes her life as a hostage").

In it, she seems to stammer, looks antsy and has on her face a confused look, which would all not be traits of a professional, composed journalist like she was.

The right wing blogs have gone apeshit over this. See, if you disagree with the foreign policy or war in Iraq, you're a terrorist and deserve to die (in the name of freedom of course).

Here's some selected excerpts from my favorite anti-Islamic, prejuidice, Neo-Con bullshit spewing assclown Debbie Schlussel's entry on the matter:

"Why are so many people who claim to be patriotic Americans so overjoyed that Jill Carroll was freed, yet hardly a peep when American contractors and others were freed?

Here's a clue for the obviously dimwitted. Why was Jill Carroll freed? Maybe it had something to do with the fact that she HATES AMERICA and our Mid-East policy. And, oh yeah, she HATES ISRAEL, too.

Not that this should have dawned on people when extremist Muslim groups like HAMAS front-group CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) flew all the way to Amman, Jordan to plead for Carroll's safety."

tee-hee

I love that the best the right has to muster to justify their illegal war and occupation of Iraq and it's unilateral support of Israel are complete idiots like Debbie Schchlussel, Ann Coulter and Victor Hanson.

Fucking assholes.

And let's not forget the brilliant commenters on Little Green Football's entry on the story (taken out of order and probably out of context but I don't give a flaming shit).

LSD 3/30/2006 05:36PM PST

Tool ....

Ward Cleaver 3/30/2006 05:42PM PST

She should be taken to Gitmo.

ToxMan 3/30/2006 05:46PM PST

I have never believed she was kidnapped...she is a sympathizer working with them from day 1...

not a tool
not a useful idiot
but, a compatriot

Lazarus 3/30/2006 05:47PM PST

I wish they had just killed you.

Stuck in california 3/30/2006 05:49PM PST

Don't come home, wench.

ibrodsky 3/30/2006 05:52PM PST

She should be arrested and charged with treason if and when she returns to the US.

jrdroll 3/30/2006 05:56PM PST

Nice headscarf Jill. Maybe you should be stoned for showing up without a MALE relative!

code red 21 3/30/2006 06:03PM PST

Maybe her next news assignment will be in Palestine where she will heroically throw herself in front of a Caterpiller tractor.

zombie 3/30/2006 06:13PM PST

UPDATE at 3/30/06 6:01:49 pm:

Here’s the video at bareknucklepolitics.com

I'm watching it right now.

Stunning.

Mind-boggling.

Traitorous.

She is on their side. The kidnapping was a hoax. She's a member of the mujaheddin.

AND THE MEDIA IS COVERING UP THIS FACT!

Why is this info and video only on blogs?

MSM = Quislings.

Jill Carroll = terrorist-supporter.

and etc, etc.

But one thing the Neo-Con facists do have it right on in his translator Allan Enwiya, who was killed when she was abducted.

Enwiya, who was 32, and his wife, Fairuz, had two children - Martin and Mary Ann. Now they are fatherless.

He shouldn't be forgotten or brushed aside. He was murdered for seemingly no reason and his killers are still on the lose.

May Allah grant him peace in the afterlife and protect his children and his family.

Ameen

Anyways, if you want good, reasonable updates on the matter, visit the Christian Science Monitor's website or a close friend of Carrolls named Natasha Tyne's blog (she's pretty cute actually).

I hope she comes home safe and sound while wishing her the greatest of peace on this Earth. I think she's had enough excitement for now.

Kadima wins elections in Israel - somebody wake up Sharon

2006-03-29T10:52:00.000-02:00

Yes, yes, as it was expected, Ariel Sharon's Kadima won the the majority in the elections yesterday with 28 of the possible 120 seats in Parliment. Acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (a guy I've never heard of) speaking to members of Kadima said in his victory speech: "In the coming period we will move to set the final borders of the state of Israel, a Jewish state with a Jewish majority," and "We will try to achieve this in an agreement with the Palestinians. This is our hope and prayer."

But of course, this IS the party founded by Ariel Sharon, so, something tells me the bulldozing and assassinations won't be stopping any time soon.

Anyways, I guess there's some light at the end of the tunnel. I mean, they say they're willing to negotiate, which is a good thing, if only I am a bit skepticle because they haven't actually negotiated with the Palestinians since the mid-ninties when Arafat was in charge.

Somehow the idea of ultra extreme Hamas and "centrist" Kadima(in other words, a balance of murder and socialism.... just like the Republican Party)seems pretty implausible if you ask me. Hamas wants Israel, in their words, "dead" so, I assume it's gonna be kinda hard to negotiate with them.

Now do I like Kadima? No, not really. To be honest with you, I don't like any of the Israeli parties. For that matter, I don't like Hamas either.

I think the people in Palestine were just fed up with the Fatah party and their blatant corruption that they went with the ole standby of religion. Now, I know better.

I'm a secularist, so any "Islamist" party is unlikely to get me excited. Especially because Hamas holds a socialist view of the government and seem to think they are justified in meddling inside people's private lives for whatever reason.

And then they justify their actions with vague hadiths and obscure scholars, claiming anyone who disagrees with them is a puppet of the West or a heretic. See, that's the part I don't like.

I'm pretty much what they would call a "Classical Liberal" in the vein of Jefferson, Locke and Paine so I am as suspicious and misanthropical on this new Hamas led government as I can be.

But why would the Palestinians vote for them? As I mentioned before, I think the people in Palestine are fed up with endless bloviating and babbling that the Fatah has been doing for the past 20 years. Hamas seemed like a fresh start to them, and what with their strategy of calling anyone who opposed them sell-outs, they managed to become the punk rockers of the Palestinian political scene.

And like the punks, they'll wear out people's patience in about 3 years. That or they'll sign to CBS records. Either way is bad.

Right, I've gone off topic. Ermm... where was I? Oh yeah, Kadima, the "centrists" won the elections. Although they don't have a clear majority, they are likely to get at least some support. (graph was stolen from the BBC)

Anyways, only 62.3% of elegible voters turned up to the polls, which means soon enough Israel will turn into the US as far as voter turnout is concerned.

So yeah, this pretty much means more of the same in Israel, and because the politics in Israel affect the rest of the Middle East, and the politics in the Middle East affects the rest of the world, we can expect more of the same kinda stuff that's happening now (that is, car bombs, Islamophobia, assassinations, anti-semitism/anti-Americanism, hostage taking, gas shortage and air strikes... what a wonderful world)

Joe Pesci doesn't like people telling his friends to shove things up their asses

2006-03-28T21:43:00.000-02:00

I saw the movie "Casino" again a few days ago and thought I'd share one of my favorite scenes with you all.

PWNED!!!1!!!

Palestinian Jews = Contradiction?

2006-03-28T19:36:00.000-02:00

Today is the big election day over in Israel. I've got lots to say about that, but for now, I'm gonna write a bit about something somewhat related. Insha Allah I'll write about the elections after they're done... but, on another note, heres something i've had on my mind for a few hours:

What exactly is it that defines a Palestinian? What makes a Palestinian a Palestinian? Are Palestinians a race? Are they a culture? Is it in reference to the speakers of a language or a dialect?

Is the term "Palestinian" in reference to an ethnic tribe that belongs to a particular religion, like the Maronites in Lebanon or the Coptics in Egypt?

Or is it an umbrella term in reference to the citizens of a currently non existent state? But, there never was a "Palestinian State" per say. It was always a province or colony of a greater nation or empire, that being the Caliphate, the Ottoman or the English amongst others, sort of like saying “I’m a Floridian” if you lived in Florida. Back in the Ottoman days, it was more in reference to where you were born and lived, not as much your race or ethnic background, because they didn't think of people in terms of race. But when the empire split, England just called it a colony. They didn't think of the "Palestinians" as a different ethnic group as lets say the Kuwaitis, they just split it that way to better administer the colony.

Is it fair to compare Arabic speaking Palestinians with the citizens of the German speaking nation of Austria? That being a non existing state that was created simply for political reasons. Or is it more like the modern Assyrians, who are an ethnic-religious group that is without a nation state of their own.

Or maybe they're like the medieval Jews...

Can you be a Palestinian Buddhist? Or a Palestinian Christian? There have been people classified as "Palestinian Christians" in the past, such as Dr. George Habash, the founder of Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Does it even matter what religion you are, or is it the race and tribe you belong to? Or is it where you're born?

Can you be a Palestinian if you are of Palestinian parents born in Hungary? Does that make you a Palestinian-Hungarian? Or does it just make you Hungarian?

Or how about if you were of Malaysian parents but were born and raised in Palestine, does that make you a Palestinian, a Malaysian or a Malaysian-Palestinian?

You must be wondering why I am asking these ridiculous questions, aren't you? Here’s the big question I’ve been building up: Can you be a Palestinian Jew or is that an oxy-moron?

I personally think its possible, because I think of a Palestinian as a person who is of an ethnic Palestinian background (that being a mixture of Philistine, Babylonian, Persian, Byzantine and Arab) no matter where they are born or what religion they are, but also a person who is born in the area currently referred to as "Palestine". If your parents were Japanese, but you were born and raised in Palestine, its safe to assume you'd call yourself a Japanese-Palestinian, correct? So, in theory, you could be a Palestinian Muslim, Buddhist, Samaritan, Christian or even, yes, Jew.

This shouldn't be a conflict, but, unfortunately, it is, at least with someone I spoke to today. It was a Palestinian born and raised in America of the Muslim faith whom I told about a group of Jews who live in the Palestinian territories, and have done so since even before the Crusades, but refuse to live in Israel or call themselves Israelis. In essence, Palestinian Jews.

This person informed me that was an oxy-moron, because any Jew living in what was once Palestine is called an "Israeli". But to me, "Israeli" refers to the citizens of the state of Israel, and not a race or religion. Consider all the hardcore, orthodox Jews in the Lower East Side of Manhattan who refuse to move to Israel. If these people don't have Israeli citizenship, refuse to call themselves "Israelis" and were born and raised in the US, does that make them any less American? So, how about if theres been a sizeable Jewish community in Palestine for thousands of years, but when the modern state of Israel was created, they refused to leave, does that make them any less Palestinian?

Any look at them will reveal that they have at least some ethnic and cultural ties to the people of Palestine.

But my friend basically said that "Palestinian" also refers to the religion itself, but, how does that explain the aforementioned Dr. George Habash, who was a Greek Orthodox Christian? He fought for years for Palestinian independence and referred to himself as Palestinian. So, what does that make him?

Of course, my friend had no answer to that and in so many words said that Jews are all Israelis and Israelis are all Jews no matter where they were born or if they had any other ethnicity in their blood.

Conspiracy theories aside, there actually ARE non Jews in Israel. At the end of 2003, of Israel's 6.7 million people, 76.7% were Jewish (by religion), 15.8% were Muslim, 2.1% were Christian, 1.6% were Druze and everyone else was "unclassified" (atheists, agnostics, Buddhists, etc.).

So, if these 15.8% of Muslims are Israeli citizens, live in Israel and even serve in the Israeli armed forces, does that make them non Israelis?

Under this person’s logic: yes, because Israelis can only be Jews and Jews can only be Israelis. There are no exceptions and no other way around. "Israeli", "Israeli", "Israeli".

Is this foolish? Yes... especially considering that these page I linked this person was about Palestinian Jews who were against the state of Israel (in other words, the Palestinian's allies) and refused to call themselves "Israelis".

Basically, this person I know was being, and you must excuse me if you read this, a bigot and an elitist. They’re making being Palestinian some sort of elite privilege obtainable only by virtue of faith and not of thousands of years of peaceful co-existence, intermixing and cultural exchange.

They suffered and even fought side by side against invaders and helped their neighbours when they could for as long as the Palestinian Muslims have been in the place we call Palestine and seeking to erase their history and their contributions because of an ugly political situation by Zionist Jews from Europe is shameful and requires a great deal of reflection and rethinking by your part friend.

I think they’ve earned the privilege by now, don’t you think?

ETA waves white flag - but I've been busy. So sue me...

2006-03-28T17:39:00.000-02:00

Hi children. Long time no see...

Sorry about my delay in the writing, but I had a combination of things to do and sickness, so, I left the ole' blogging on the backseat. I know this isn't the first time it’s happened, but hopefully it'll be the last in a while.

Anyways, lots has happened so, lets get started with the biggest piece of news that I missed out on: Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, otherwise known as ETA, disarming.

Now, the ETA for those of you out of the loop, is a Basque separatist group that was/is active in Spain and a bit in France, with the intent of separating the Basque territories from Spain and the small area considerd Basque that is part of France. The European Union, Spain and the US all have designated them as "terrorists".

And what is Basque Country you may ask? It depends who you ask. There are those who see it as nothing more then a region of greater empires who simply forgot to impose their language on them and others who see it as a tribe or ethnic group with it's own language and culture. Personally, I see it as the latter but I'll leave the rest up to you. Its difficult to pinpoint who they are or where they came from, but the assumption is that the Basques are an Ibero-Celtic group that somehow survived the Roman conquest of Iberia and although were under Roman rule, were able to retain their language and customs for all that time. Then after the Visgoths came along, they were able to defend themselves well enough as to avoid falling under their rule. So basically, whenever the fuck they got to where they are now, they haven't budged since then. In fact, its said that the Basques have resided in a single region of Europe longer than any other ethnic group since, well, pre-historical records.

Anyways, in the Middle Ages it was called the Kingdom of Navarre, which was then annexed to Aragon, which later merged with Castille to form the Spanish Empire which is now called the Kingdom of Spain and basically the Basques want out. Its a long and complicated history, which every young person in Latin America has to endure when in Secondary school, so, I'll save you the other stuff to read on your own discretion. For now, I'll just talk about the modern history.

The Basque separatist movement started mostly in the XIXth century (alongside every other fucking separatist movement)by guys like Sabino Arana (a staunch, ultra Catholic conservative) who were pissed at the stuff the fuckers over in Madrid were up to. So, they funded the Eusko Alderdi Jeltzalea (EAJ) or National Basque Party with the intent of creating a separate Republic from Spain.

For the most part they were pretty much ignored in the national scene but after the coup in 1936, they sided with the Republicans (which is interesting considering how the Republicans were mostly Socialist while the Basques were mostly conservative. I guess they all agreed that the Republic was much better then having to live under facist, authoritarian Gen. Franco who was also a friend of Hitler)

No, this guy isnt Basque. It's Francisco Franco, the most un-Basque person of all time. I tried finding a picture of him with Hitler (which exist) but none were in very good quality so I decided to put this one up. You like?

As we all know, the Republicans lost and Spain fell under the harsh hand of El Generalisimo Francisco Franco. Franco thought that the whole national identity and seperatism that the Basques had been talking about was treason and government subversion, so he went and actually banned the Basque language and told the Basques to forget anything and everything about their history or culture.

Needless to say, the Basques got pissed. And when tribes get pissed, thats when the fun starts.
Thats when the ETA comes into the picture. They formed in 1953 as a student discussion group at the University of Deusto in Bilbao but as most people back then, quickly adopted Marxism and took up guns against the establishment.

At that time, pretty much every country in the free world gave em a pass because no one really liked Franco, who pretty much dodged the bullet when he decided not to join his fascist friends Hitler and Mussolini in the Second World War, so the whole free world didn't mind the idea much a group of kids blowing up cars and shooting some fascist assholes. Sure they were commies, but back then, who wasn't?

But in 75, the old fucker kicked the bucket, and Spain moved back to being a democracy... err... actually a monarchy, but with certain democratic privileges. They were offered amnesty if they laid down their weapons, but they told the new SpanishRepublic to go fuck itself and continued with sporadic attacks in the 70s, 80s and 90s and were in fact close allies with the IRA over in Ireland. Celts stick together I guess...

ETA declared a unilateral ceasefire on September 18, 1998, and began negotiations with Spain's government. They talked for a while, but they went back to their old habits of killing cops and bombing cars in 2000 after they accused the Spanish government of being "inflexible", which is arguably true. Spain wasn't willing to let them out of the great Kingdom no matter what the Basques thought of it, so they went back to what the knew best: armed struggle.

Now, this is around the time I started getting interested in this. I myself am of Catalonian stock, so I can sympathize with their movement, although I don't sympathize with their desire of a socialist state. Thats really what prevented me from ever supporting them 100%. Frankly I think they should have focused more on general Basque liberation with no clear socio-economic ideology, that way bring more conservative minded folk into the struggle, and after liberation was achieved, they could let the people choice who's policy they preferred.

But, theres one big issue that the press seems to be forgetting while reporting on this so called "terrorist" organization. Over the past 35 years, they've only killed 817 people. Don't believe me? Look at it right here. I'm not gonna say I wish they had killed more people, but the Crips gang kills more people in Compton in one year then these guys killed 35. I'd hardly call them some ultra effective, paramilitary group with numbers like that.

So anyways, after 9-11 and the Madrid train bombings, most people in Europe and in Spain stopped liking these one time darlings of the Franco era. The number of recruits dropped and they stopped finding sources of funding. So that whole speech saying stuff like "ending the conflict, here and now, is possible. This is the desire and the will of Eta" is bullshit. They know they can't carry anymore large scale attacks so they're basically waving the white flag in hopes the Spanish gov. will not prosecute them (which would have been inevitable).

Boo! The ETA during their farewell speech

Alas, so ends the story of the ETA. You and your ineffective, wussy attacks will be missed. Now, who will Zapatero blame when his bullshit economic policies fail? The Americans? The Islamists? The Catholic church? Who will be their new scapegoat?

I for one would suggest blaming the Socialists, what with their "social justice" programs, high taxing, intervention in private businesses and apathy towards fighting illegal immigration, which is making thousands upon thousands of Spaniards lose their jobs to cheap labourers from Latin America and Africa. Spain's gonna be in real bad shape in a few years and the Zapatero government is gonna really regret celebrating the ETA ceasefire.

Nippon beats Cuba

2006-03-21T09:16:00.000-02:00

Yep, Japan beat Cuba 10-6 last night in the World Baseball Classic finals. And you know what? I actually watched the game (I'm serious), but Lord, what a dull match. I was pratically falling asleep during the game. Japan and Cuba aren't exactly two teams that are very entertaining to watch which is in deep contrast to the Dominican Republic which was full of sluggers and showboats, which you could argue was what led to their defeat.

While I was watching it, I couldnt help but wonder how THESE two teams could have gotten this far. It seems absolutly amazing to me that these teams managed to advance over Dominican Republic, Venezuela and the US.

Either way, it was okay I guess. I would have perferred if Cuba won, just so a Latin team could be the champions but I suppose Japan was the better. Congratulations you long haired fruits ;)

¡Por Puerto Rico!

2006-03-20T20:02:00.000-02:00

Shameful. Outrageous. Despicable. The absolute culmination of American hypocrisy. That's how I feel about the Supreme Court turning down an appeal today that sought to open U.S. presidential elections to voters in Puerto Rico. I feel disgusted.

Here's what the bastard son of a whore the Bush administration sent to argue their case had to say: "No territory has ever participated in any of the 54 presidential elections conducted over more than two centuries of American history"

You son of a bitch.

This is beyond disgraceful, odious and wicked. How the so called "greatest democracy on Earth" can deny the rights to vote and have helf self governorship to 4 million of it's residents screams of hypocrisy, especially in light of the Bush administration's crusading for "democracy" (read: puppet)in the Middle East. How these Neo-Con assholes can say they want democracy yet support tyrannical, un-democratic regimes like the Musharaff government in Pakistan and support stripping the basic right of democracy to the citizens of Puerto Rico is beyond me.

Worst yet is how the media seems to have buried this story. I dare any of you to try to find anything besides the links I've given you. Look at the front page of your newspaper: is it there? Turn on the 24 hour news stations: are they talking about it? Look at any of the other blogs out there: nothing. Fuck, put on one of the gazillion talk radio stations and tell me if any of them have even dedicated a single sentence to it.

The United States and the Bush administration are running an evil, fascist regime. Yes, I said it. And this is coming from a person who sees Pinochet as a personal hero. Anyone who thinks their freedom and their liberty isnt being crushed is either stupid, retarded or benefiting from the loss of freedom.

Where's the international outrage? Sure we'll have Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro commenting on it soon enough. Ironic considering these two are hardly what you'd call democratic themselves. But how about the rest of the world's democracies? Where is their outrage? Or the UN's? Goes to show you how the international community is nothing more then a bunch of spineless assholes.

I hate the world. I hate that nobody cares. It makes me so angry. Fucking plebes. Mindless sheep. Brainless zombies.

Someone should do something. Someone should certainly do something. Especially in Puerto Rico. This is the final straw. They should go to the streets and ask for democracy. Scratch that. DEMAND democracy. I, an anarcho-capitalist libertarian stand behind them. As should all people who support freedom in this world. ¡Libertad para Puerto Rico!

Dominican Republic loses to Cuba 3-1

2006-03-19T10:38:00.000-02:00

And I couldn't care less. But I admit that I am not a sports fan or particularly patriotic anyways (apparently not caring about baseball is unpatriotic in the eyes of many Dominicans).

Now everyone else in the country is in national mourning. I'm serious. Walk on the streets of Santo Domingo and you'll see everyone stone faced and with a grim expression. It always amazes me how people could get so worked up over something so insignificant like a baseball game, but be thoroughly apathetic towards a vote in the Senate or a modification in the Constitution.

But, I suppose I shouldn't be comparing these things to one another. Politics by it's own definition is boring and almost incomprehensible (thats government for you)while a sports game is in the eyes of most people exciting and fun.

Not for me though.

Although, I gotta say, I think I perfer Cuba having won. See, this is how the Dominican Republic works: if their favorite team or player wins they literally won't shut up about it for weeks. They'll "celebrate" all through the night with their crappy, loud music doing their stupid savage dances and binge drinking. You wouldn't be able to sleep all night. Then, they'll criticise or attack you for choosing not to participate in their dumb festivities.

Now if they lose, they won't even mention it. They'll stay completly quiet. In fact, I dare anyone to go up to the plebes and suggest "It doesn't matter. They played a good game". He'll end up in a body bag.

I'm not sure how it is in Cuba though. I'd assume similarly, especially considering how Comrade Fidel is a rabid baseball fan.

Anyways, Japan beat Korea, so, they'll playing against Cuba on Monday. It'll be the final kids, so, I assume it'll be an intersting game (for people who actually care).

At the end of the day, I was able to get some sleep last night, so, I'm happy. Now uninterested folks like me in Havana... that's another story.

Tammy Nyp / Nyp Tammy

2006-03-15T15:30:00.000-02:00

The infamous young Tammy Nyp and her "stud"

Tammy Nyp Nyp Tammy Video Sextape Movie Hot Singapore Sex Lame Fuck

I am uploading this file because I am appalled at the idea of someone making money off of this. My friends in Malaysia are telling me that people are actually selling this thing in DVD shops in every corner. What a load of crap.

Hopefully by my uploading this for free, it'll prevent some other assholes from buying it from some sleazebag.

This is the true story of the internet's latest victim. This incident began when a cheerleader student from Nanyang Polytechnic, only known as Tammy (otherwise known as Tammy Nyp or Nyp Tammy), apparently had her handphone stolen by a rival, and a 10-minute video in her handphone involving oral sex and intercourse with her boyfriend was uploaded on the Internet.

Rumors circulated a bit after that she had killed herself. That wasn't true (thankfully). But nevertheless, this shows the dangers of modern technology and how it can be used to invade our privacy.

Sure, she recorded it herself (which was a mistake) but she certainly doesn't deserve this kind of punishment. But let this serve as lesson to all: Don't record yourself having sex. No way, no how. Just don't do it. Otherwise, you might end up like Tammy here.

Anyways, here it is. Just promise me you won't pay anyone for a cheap DVD copy, mm-kay?

It deserved worse

2006-03-14T16:19:00.000-02:00

I’ve been disabled for a few days, but now I’m back in tip top shape to write endlessly in my blog that no one reads. I know this is “old news” to most of you out there, but considering how most blogs aren’t even touching this, I guess I’ll be the designated messenger today.

A monster has died this past week. It died on Saturday of a heart attack in it’s prison cell near it’s war crimes tribunal in Hague, Netherlands.

Al-Jazeera reports that a Dutch toxicologist named Donald Uges suggested that it may have taken an unprescribed drug to worsen his health so it could be released from jail and get medical attention in Russia, where it wife and son live in exile.

Pathetic.

This creature is not a man. As far as I’m concerned it never was. I remember as a child reading about the Bosnian conflict, not understanding all of the details. I also remember as a teenager, when trouble in Kosovo broke out and watching in awe the images coming out of the Balkans of piles of dead bodies and starving refugees in concentration camps.

Reading about watching the conflict, I could never understand how this man could go free after all that he had done. The massacres. The rape camps. The genocide.
All of the evidence, testimony and witnesses to his crimes meant nothing in his trial. They’ve had him since 2001, yet they could never convict the bastard. The international community should be ashamed.

Justice was not done. This piece of shit never was convicted or executed for his crimes. He died a coward’s death. He deserved far worse.

But this is only the beginning. The others in this cabal are still on the loose. It’s unlikely they’ll be caught and tried either.

Why do I even bother?

I’ll write some more later. I’m in no good mood now.

The monster is dead...

2006-03-11T22:14:00.000-02:00

Yes, I've known for many hours that he's been dead, but alas, my impairment is not allowing me to see properly and therefore I won't be able to write a proper update for a few days.

But I think you all know how I feel.

For now, all I will say is I wish he had been tried and executed by the war crimes tribunal instead of have had a relatively peaceful death in his sleep.

But, Allah knows best...

Joy Division

2006-03-10T18:53:00.000-02:00

My favorite band in the world: Joy Division

Enjoy

My eyes are burning!

2006-03-10T11:27:00.000-02:00

I won't be able to update for a while... until then, read a paper or something...

North Korea launches some missles and American press doesn't give a shit

2006-03-08T17:35:00.000-02:00

So, I was watching CNN today, and they haven't seemed to have stopped talking about Christopher Reeve's widow dieing. Now okay, it's a shame and all that she died, but shouldn't they dedicate more time to stories that actually impact the rest of us?

I mean, this Dana Reeve woman wasn't even famous. She's just the widow of the guy who played Superman. That's it.

Like, take this story from the Kyodo News Agency which reports that North Korea launched two surface-to-air missiles near the country's border with China on Wednesday, but no one seems certain if it was a mistake or a just a test.

As usual, the North Koreans aren't saying shit and China's too busy plotting world domination to give a shit about some worthless scuds falling on the edge of their border.

Sure, CNNs got it on their website, but I watched the channel for an hour while I was having lunch and they didn't even mention it on the air.

Is this a big deal? Maybe not. But, aren't you more interested in knowing what psycho, trigger happy North Korea is doing instead of some unknown lady dieing of cancer.

I mean, seriously. Somone's gotta do something about the press in America.

Quick hits

2006-03-08T10:32:00.000-02:00

Slow news day (again). Updating just for updating's sake

Iran: US may feel "pain" if Security Council acts

Get ready Iran. The invasion begins tommorow.

But then again, you're Shia. You guys are just itching to get killed.

EU seeks ways to fund Palestinians despite Hamas

"The question is whether we want to provoke a crisis and the financial collapse of the Authority now in the hope that it will discredit Hamas, or whether we want to give them a grace period to act responsibly in government and let them make their own mistakes," one EU expert said.

Exactly random EU expert dude. Anyways, lets see how Hamas will handle picking up garbage and trying to fix the economy. My guess: They can't do any worse then Fatah.

Book Says Barry Bonds Used Steroids

So I guess that explains the acne, the bad temper and the baby eating

US, Dominicans make impressive starts at World Baseball Classic

Great. I'll never hear the end of this...

So, thats pretty much it. Nothing of value to talk about. If we're lucky, someone will put a bomb in the American embassy in Belize or something. If we're LUCKY

Barça wins!

2006-03-08T01:08:00.000-02:00

But Ronaldinho looks like a fairy

I mean, look at him:

...

Anyways, Barça beat Chelsea

I'd be more excited if I were involved in the post-game orgies that are going on in Barcelona as we speak. But of course, I'm stuck here sans slutty, drunk Catalunian whores willing to fuck anyone out of sheer joy (the perfect kind of women)

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Token prejuidice post

2006-03-07T20:38:00.000-02:00

Prejudice. I think most sane people can agree that it is something we as humanity can do without. History has taught us that most of the world’s conflicts could have easily been avoided if we all sat in a room together and politely discussed everything like calm, reasonable adults.

Except those damn Mexicans. You can put them in any room but they won’t stop being stupid, smelly, lazy spic slobs (that was sarcasm).

Now, why the hell am I talking about prejudice? Because a film about prejudice won Best Film on Sunday at the Academy Awards, that’s why. I have yet to see the movie, but I’ve read enough about it (complete with spoilers and transcripts of dialogue) to know exactly what kind of message it’s trying to convey.

It’s funny. I can’t count the amount of times I’ve been told “You Dominicans” or “You Yanks/Americans” do this or that, or how “You Muslims” or you “Ay-rabs” think this or that way. Funnier still because I was told these things by supposed progressive liberals.

Now, I will admit, I myself hold prejudice. But unlike what the talking heads like to tell us, I understand that prejudice is an important part of our social conditioning. Like it or not, since we were children we were taught how superior we were to someone else, be it Republicans, Blacks, Christians, Jews or people from New Jersey.

How many times have you been told how much better your university was over those “pricks” in Georgia Tech or those “fags” in New York State? Or that your family was so much cleaner and nicer then the Browns down the block? Or how your political party is full of smarter and better people then those other guys?

Face it. You (whoever you may be) are prejudice. As a child, I was taught about the evils of capitalism and those who hold personal freedom over collective group think. Of course, today I am a Libertarian, which is the complete opposite of everything I was taught but I have to admit to you, as a child I really believed in these things. I was taught to hate people like Ronald Reagan and Joaquin Balaguer for their emphasis on personal responsibility and not “doing their obligation” of helping those who were less fortunate.

To this day, my father and I scuffle over fiscal and economic issues. At the moment, he seems to have swerved MORE to the left, openly supporting assholes like Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales instead of the Kennedy/Clinton liberal I remember him as.

But we both hate Bush. That’s a given.

See: there I go again. Hating all Neo-Cons like Bush because I think they’re spineless, socialist fuck faced pieces of shit for their so called “war on terror”, their submission to the government over issues of personal freedom and their complete mishandling of the economy.

One thing I always found hilarious was with my European friends and acquaintances over me being an American/Yank (never mind that I am the complete opposite of a yank: a Confederate). For whatever reason, Europe seems to have become a socialist paradise, producing a whole generation’s worth of neo-socialists who seem to all despise America.

Which is okay. You may have many reasons to not like the American government for whatever reason, especially in these turbulent times of fake wars and color based alert systems.

One thing I take offence in how most of the Europeans I’ve met and debated issues with seem to all a “holier then thou”, smug, arrogant air to their arguments. Many of them seem to be so obsessed with the idea that people in America are obsessed with race, that they become prejudice of us for being prejudice. Never mind that most of us aren’t, but whenever I spoke to them, they came off as gaining no factual information from real life interaction with actual people or statistical studies, but rather from entertainment mediums such as television and movies. I always asked them to prove to me that Americans in general were racist, and they’d point out things like the “poetry” of Tupac Shakur or movies by Spike Lee.

Heh, right bozos…

Like, there was this guy I knew from France. We once debated the issue of guns and gun control after watching that utter sacks of lies and propaganda “Bowling for Columbine”. He was using Michael Moore’s argument of how crime would not exist if it wasn’t for poverty and that criminals wouldn’t have access to guns if there were stricter laws on gun control in America.

Three questions to ask a smug liberal when debating the bullshit that is gun control: 1) If poverty was the only cause of crime, why is it that in countries with much more poverty like Nepal have such lower crime rates? 2) Why is it that in communities that loosen restrictions on gun control burglaries and murders actually LOWER then when gun laws are stronger? 3) Why has crime raised ten fold in the past 20 years in Western European countries like England, Spain and France if they have some of the strictest gun laws in the World?

His (and I’d assume most non intelligent liberal’s response) and my comments underneath:

1) People in Nepal are more civilized and less prone to violence then people in the West.

Riiiiight.. so what you’re saying is that poor blacks are more prone to violence then even poorer Desis? Good one friend

2) They lower because all the criminals are shot when they try to commit a crime.

That is, when they attack one of their would be victims, they are subdued by a vigilant populace. Of course, people like him don’t believe that victims should fight back, but rather put themselves at the mercy of bloodthirsty, dangerous criminals.

3) The only reason crime has gone up in Western Europe is because people from the third world Muslim countries are immigrating there and they don’t understand the rules and morality of the West.

So you accuse AMERICANS of being prejudice? Look at yourself asshole.

The point is, this person was an idiot. They had no semi-intelligent besides the usual anti-American banter of supposed prejudice of my part and racism (never mind I never grouped a race of people or religious community together; but he on the other hand did.

Or any time a different (this time Belgium) liberal who goes on and on to me about their hatred of America and how prejudiced and evil we are and I were talking about something and I brought up the word “Germanic” (as in, related to the peoples, language and culture of the ancient German tribes of the classical age). This person who claimed to me how the Belgium school system was much SO better then the American one (which I agree with, just not in her case) and how Europeans were so much better then Americans thought I was being stupid and confusing the word “Germanic” with the word “German”. Of course, I explained to her the exact definition of the word and even went as far as to prove it to her with an encyclopaedia and dictionary.

Her response? I had no authority to talk about Germany because I had never been there and that I was just stupid and an idiot (her method was talking to an invisible third: “This guy is SOOOO stupid”, “What an idiot”, etc.)

Ad homonyms and lack of an education aside, this proves one important issue: that of arrogance. I tried to drop the issue many a times, but this person kept insisting with her insults and questioning of my intelligence. Now, you gotta wonder about any system that lets people like her pass any grade, eh? But again, this was a one sided argument: I knew I was right. It wasn’t arrogance, it was just the truth.

I had nothing to prove to her. I knew I was right and that she was just being an uniformed buffoon (I actually read books, unlike her). There’s an old saying about how arguing with stupid people is like winning the Special Olympics: At the end, you’re still a retard. Debates are supposed to be intelligent, informed discussions between people with differing views. There’s no point in debating if Georgia is a country or that most of Iceland is green to a person who doesn’t know. No matter what you say or what they say, its not a debate. If you’re right, you don’t have to prove anything. If you choose to humour them, its just to educate them NOT to debate anything (which would imply a difference of views or opinions).

Anyways, because of her arrogance and how she had been taught since she was a child how we Americans are all stupid mules and how continental Europeans are the greatest, most superior people on Earth, she choose the route of insults and name calling.

The best part is she still thinks she won (if there really can be any winners here). I am just a stupid American with no authority on Germany because I’ve never been there. Now I bet she’ll go back to her native land and tell everyone how she beat those dumb Americans on stuff everyone in Europe knows (that being that “Germanic” was never a word). Pity on the world for letting the stupid rule…

I’m not trying to imply that all Europeans or Liberals think a certain way (or are as stupid as those two fuckers were) but certainly, the whole leftist, “criminals are just victims” and “guns are evil” and “Europeans are so much better and smarter then Americans” crowd really, really has to make better arguments if they hope to win debates with people with brains like myself (although any educated European would know about the word Germanic).

And take my experience in urban America. All my life I’ve heard about how the white man does nothing but oppress people of color by holding them down and trying to break any sense of self confidence or pride they may have.

But then, I actually went, lived and worked in a mostly poor, black area.

I was constantly harassed, lampooned, teased, threatened and called things like “Ay-rab”, “Camel fucker”, “Chico”, “Sand Nigga”, “Cracker” (because I was articulate and spoke big, incomprehensible words like “responsibility” and “deviant”) amongst many, many other things.

There goes the whole “people of color all stand together against the evils of the white man”.

Interesting note: I live in the American South; the supposed bedrock of racism and prejudice in America. Yet not once have I been mocked, teased or insulted for my race or religion in the suburban, white areas. Food for thought, eh?

The point I’m making and have always tried to make is prejudice is much more common then we think, even amongst those who claim to be on the moral high horse and keep “open minds” about everyone and thing.

It’s if we learn to kill those thoughts of prejudice and bias when we meet someone who breaks the mould of what our predisposed minds tell us that really, truly matters.

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Natalie Portman rap

2006-03-07T05:26:00.000-02:00

Didnt see SNL on Saturday, but wish I did...

Oh Natalie... you are one hot Zionist. I'd so pick up her dry cleaning for her.

Token Oscar post...

2006-03-06T13:06:00.000-02:00

What about the Oscars? Don't care, Didn't watch it, don't plan on watching it.

Apparently some movie about white people being evil and racist won the Best Picture award. Suprising, isn't it?

All I keep hearing is how John Stewart kept the crowd in silence with his one liners and jabs at the Democratic party, which of course don't do well in liberal Hollywood. See, in the eyes of liberals, if its a joke about Dubya, regardless of if it's funny or not, as long as it makes the President come off as stupid, it's hilarious. Anything about Democrats has to be in praise of or you'll get the cold shoulder like what happened to Stewart. Anyways, *shrugs* I strongly doubt this will affect his career, so, again, don't care.

One thing I found interesting was that a song called "It's hard out here for a Pimp" won Best Song.

.......................

I hate the Academy.

Yes!

On to the fashion. Rachel Weisz and Reese Witherspoon looked spectacular. Ziyi Zhang looks gorgeous. Too bad she isn't Japanese. I sorta liked Keira Knightley's dress, but for some reason I can't give it my complete blessing. It's.... missing something...

NO!

Michelle William 's looked horrible. As did Charlize Theron (look at that bow). Maggie Gyllenhaal looks high.

Where am I?

Naomi Watts looks like she found her dress in the dumpster, and Salma Hayek looks like she raided Jenna Jameson's wardrobe (I'd still bang her though).

Anyways, again... don't care. Just making filler really. The one movie I wanted to win was Walk the Line, and I'm glad Reese won an award for her acting.

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

I hope Finland invades Sweden soon...

2006-03-06T12:33:00.000-02:00

Yes, I do. It would give me something to talk about. As it is, the news is dominated by the UAE Port deal "Scandal" (read: anti Arab prejuidice and total disregard for the free market) and AT&T taking over Bell South. That's it.

Sure, this may be big news for other blogs out there, but to be honest with you, neither of these stories interest me too much. Look at Breitbart. Theres nothing! Wheres the war, genocide, tyranny and massacres? Whats a boy gotta do to get something to blog about? Go outside every once in a while and get a life? Puh-lease. I rather get a handjob by a tranny.

Do I support the idea of a foreign goverment with so called "links to terrorism" operating American ports? I don't care. I really, really don't. It makes absolutly no difference if some Limey fucks operate them over some Bedouin jokes. None whatsoever.

The UAE is hardly a fundamentalist kingdom or society. They're businessmen. Nothing more, nothing less. Their only interest in the world is making money, not destroying Israel or hurting the West for it's freedom or any other nonsense the people against the port deal are claiming.

In fact, consider all the brothels and pubs in Dubai. Would a fundamentalist state like Taliban controlled Afghanistan have had some of the world's most infamous hos? No. Dubai does.

And last I checked, the UAE was an ally of the US in this so called war on terror. So, this is what America does with it's allies? Heh, no wonder they're so hated...

Anyways, unless war breaks out in Romania or the President of Chile gets shot or something, i'm not gonna have anything to write about for weeks. Stupid slow news days...

Oh, there is ONE thing. Barça's got a game against Chelsea on Tuesday. Should be an interesting match.

Don't ride the rocket. Let's hope it explodes or something. Then we'll have actual news to talk about.

"Have you heard?" by Zain Bhikha

2006-03-01T03:18:00.000-02:00

Nicely done video:

...

Clinton wants interns

2006-02-27T17:20:00.000-02:00

Twenty-Five unpaid undergraduates, graduates, professional students or recent graduates with strong interest in crucial issues of our day.

I can go on and on about this, but I won't. I won't fall for the usual right wing blog games. Buuuuuut...

Successful applicants will get "hands-on experience".

...

'nuff said

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Je m'ennuie

2006-02-25T21:27:00.000-02:00

I'm bored.

Dont believe me? Look at what I've been doing:

You're Virginia!

Part of the old school, you like both historical sites and crazy
amusement parks. You like saying the word Commonwealth but couldn't really explain the
concept or how it applies to your life. You like five-sided shapes, five-cent pieces,
and possibly anything else having to do with the number five. Every now and then, you
discard chaff from yourself that you just don't feel you need. And since you've been
wondering... yes, there is a Santa Claus.

Take the State Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

This was one that determined what State I was.

They say I am Virginia, which is fine by me for various reasons including: its the birthplace Thomas Jefferson and Robert E. Lee; it was an active member of Confederacy and housed it's Capitol; it's considerd the birthplace of Southern culture and most if not all its inhabitants have Southern accents; and it isn't a liberal elistist, piece of shit blue state.

And then there's this one, that determines what University you are:

You're the University of the South!

While you're somewhat small and even removed from the fray,
you claim to speak for a large number of people. This representative effort
has backfired in recent years, as the group you try to speak for suffers a
diminished reputation. Nonetheless, you're an excellent writer and have
been writing just about your entire life. If you were a named streetcar,
you would go by Desire.

Take the University Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Again, another reference to the South. Plus, a Liberal Arts school to boot.

Could it be a sign?

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Chechen seperatist are more in tune with Mid-East politics then so called "Middle Eastern Experts" in the media

2006-02-25T20:58:00.000-02:00

Interesting read over at Kavkaz Center regarding the Hamas victory in Palestine. Here's some excerpts:

Hamas insists it has a right to resist Israel as long as there is occupation, but so does Fatah. Abbas, who often backs this right, is trying to convince the Palestinians not to exercise it. He is demanding his people to engage in non-violent resistance, although he has done absolutely nothing to back or even define this valiant non-violent struggle of the Palestinians, who desperately try to save their lands from the Israeli bulldozers.

Moreover, Hamas has observed an informal truce with Israel for more than a year, while many Fatah splinter groups didn’t, despite Abbas’ efforts to persuade them to do so. The strange thing is that while Hamas is neither carrying out anti-Israeli attacks nor threatening to do so, it still is blamed. On the other hand, Israel, which continues to kill Palestinian civilians and carry out targeted killings on a daily basis, is not being pressured to renounce violence and end its aggression and occupation.

Very true.

For years, a massive propaganda, led by Israel, has been trying to place all the burden and the blame on the Palestinians. Now, this force wants to punish the occupied, while the occupier is free to commit more crimes and pay no cost. It is time for those who backed this failed approach to abandon their bankrupt and counterproductive policies.

According to an article on The Jordan Times, Israel now is trying to convince the world, as it did years ago with the PLO, that it has no partner to negotiate with, insisting that it won’t negotiate with anyone who denies its “right to exist”. If this is the case, why did Israel refuse for the past five years to negotiate with a Fatah-led government? "The election of Hamas candidates cannot adversely affect genuine peace talks, since such talks have been non-existent for over five years," Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter wrote in the Washington Post.

When former Minister for Information of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Movladi Udugov, who just so happens to be wanted under terrorism charges in the CIS and Turkey and Jimmy Carter are the only people who seem to get it right, then you know that the mainstream print media is pretty fucked up.

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Arroyo hundida

2006-02-24T02:09:00.000-02:00

Psssst... I am made of ham

A failed coup in the Philippines against the bitch President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo happened this week, the anniversary of the "People Power" movement that toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

I won't comment too much on the political implications or historical backstory or whats happening in the Philippines right now. But it isn't because of lack of knowledge mindyou, in fact, I have been interested in the Philipines for years now after I read a book on Benigno Aquino some years back and know all the major players pretty well. Its just, its 12 am here and I'm lazy.

Anyways, it really surprises me how these guys could have managed to actually fail this coup. Beyond the fact that this bitch committed voter fraud in the past elections, is universally hated in her country by the people and the top military echelons and is one corrupt bitch, no one in the international community seems to like her either (besides the American Neo Cons of course. But these are the same people who once supported Saddam Hussein).

I know a thing or two about the military. In fact, once upon a time I considered working for the CIA as a data analyst specializing in Latin America. After I converted to Libertarianism that all changed (thank God) but trust me, I know how to organize a coup. These guys botched it.

Considering how hated she is, they should have moved people onto the streets to demand her blood. That in conjunction with an organized take over of the Presidential Palace, military installations, the Congress and Senate would have sent that bitch packing.

But somehow these guys managed to do none of that. All they did was blow up some little bombs that managed to kill no one important.

Losers.

Anyways, I guess she now has beaten Hugo Chavez after successfully surviving two badly planned coups instead of his one. She should feel all proud.

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

How could things have gotten any worst? Oh, the destruction of a Shia holy site

2006-02-24T01:33:00.000-02:00

*sigh*

Some days the world just seems bleak to me. I wake up after only 4 hours of sleep only to find my coffee cold or that we ran out of waffles. I go to use the loo and find my reliable disappointment looking back at me in the bathroom mirror. I turn on my computer and it starts making strange noises which is it's own personal way of telling me its sick.

And then, theres the having to cope with the fact that Iraq is doomed. Its literally finished. The nation we once knew as Iraq will cease to exist in only a few years.

Why the pessimistic outlook? Simple: A civil war between Sunnis and Shias is about to begin. Unfortunately, this will split the nation in half: one side Shia and the other Sunni.

I suppose it was inevitable. I just wish it didn't have to turn out this way. Thousands upon thousands will die in a conflict closely resembling the war in my homeland of Lebanon. Over what? Over some stupid asswipes deciding it is acceptable to destroy the Al Askari Mosque to provoke the Shia into civil war.For those out there unfamiliar with the Al Askari Mosque (otherwise known as the Golden Mosque)is a mosque/mausoleum for two important Shia Imams: Ali al-Hadi and his son Hassan al-Askari (descendents of the Prophet *SAW*).

I am not a Shia. I never was and never will be. But I respect their right to believe whatever they wish and designate whatever person or place they want as Holy. The people behind the attack do not. They are religious fanatics who want to form an intolerant and facist version of the ancient Caliphate to please their own egos and personal sense of importance.

I would like to stress that these guys are hardly following the rules of the ancient Caliphate or Sunnah but rather using their own twisted Wahhabi view of "The end justifies the means".

Fuckers.

Anyways, yeah, I'm depressed now (more so then often). I hold Sunnis in a special place, but I dont want to see any more deaths on either side of the spectrum whether they be Sunni or Shia.

I'll talk about this more in the future. I write this a day late cos I couldn't bare to have to type this out yesterday. If you believe in God, prayer for a peaceful resolution to this.

Somehow, I doubt my prayers will be answered.

Don't ride the rocket kids. Pray for peace instead

Hi. My name is Greenland. Now buzz off!

2006-02-23T00:09:00.000-02:00

So I took a dumb online quiz today, which through a series of questions determines what country of the world you are. And it told me:

You're Greenland!

While many people think you're a warmish person, you're
actually really cold and forbidding. In fact, you're downright frigid, and you
demand that people be tough if they're going to hang out with you. Despite
this rocky personality, you still yearn for more independence than you have, and
respect is hard to get even though you have a hard time just surviving day to day.
Of all the pastries in the world, you could live without any more
danishes.

Take the Country Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid

Greenland? Well, I guess it could be worst. At least i'm not North Korea.

But then again, I'm still Greenland. The most exciting thing bound to happen in my life is that a sheep seperates from the herd and I have to chase it down a hill. Woo-pee. Maybe I'm better of living in a totalitarian, undemocratic, collective society that holds a dead man as it's "Eternal President" and his wacko son with a stupid haircut as it's current "Great Leader".

At least its never boring

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Palestinian Brewer

2006-02-22T17:51:00.000-02:00

Interesting story from AFP

Apparently theres people in the Mid East with a taste for brewskees.

Like any good entrepreneur, Palestinian beermaker Nadim Khoury knew that adaptation would be key to his brewery's survival under a government led by the Islamists of Hamas.

So anticipating the hardliners' rise to power in January's general election, Khoury decided to develop a new product -- a non-alcoholic microbrew brandished with a label that coordinates perfectly with Hamas's trademark color.

"I figured why not have a green label so it will match?" said Khoury, who runs the Taybeh Brewing Company, the only brewery in the Palestinian territories. "All customers will notice the green for the Hamas flag."

The alcohol-free version of Taybeh beer, with a label inscribed only in Arabic and whose name means "delicious," is to be released this summer and will target the "local market," he said.

Me? I dont drink beer alcoholic or non. Beyond the fact that I dont drink, why would I want to consume anything that looks and smells like urine? For that matter, why would anyone?

But, I am a heartless capitalist, and I'm glad to see someone making a good living in Palestine, even if I strongly disagree with his product itself.

"Every time we sell a bottle of beer it goes toward building the state of Palestine," said Khoury.

Khoury says his first name Nadim means "your friend who sits at the bar with you, your drinking buddy," and his chief product is Taybeh Golden beer, though he also makes a light version and a dark beer.

The Taybeh brews are concocted from four natural ingredients -- malted barley, hops, yeast and pure spring water. Each bottle sells for around one dollar.

The gentle, amber-colored Taybeh Golden is sold in parts of Israel, the West Bank, Britain and Germany.

However, among secular Muslims in the area who do drink alcohol, not all are devoted fans of its mellow taste.

"It's okay. It's good," shrugged one Arab-Israeli taxi driver in Jerusalem, who admitted he hadn't drunk any Taybeh in at least two years.

A waiter at a bar in occupied East Jerusalem said: "I prefer Irish whiskey. Jameson."

Hamas leaders, who now dominate parliament, have not made clear whether or not they will seek to impose conservative sharia law which would impose a wider ban on alcohol.

Khoury remains optimistic.

"I think they (Hamas) are very smart, very educated. I believe they will think twice before they do anything to hurt our business."

I'm not so sure about that friend. Just keep with the non alcoholic stuff. Anything else will prolly get your brewery burned down.

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

"Jihadists" in Toledo

2006-02-22T17:03:00.000-02:00

This man has an awesome beard

So, I presume everyone's heard about the Feds capturing a so called "terrorist cell" in Toledo, Ohio over the Weekend. Now, the obvious question would be "If they were going to carry out an attack, why the hell would they choose freaking Toledo?"

But see, they arent planning an attack in the US itself, but rather were supposebly going to go to Iraq to carry them out. Ermm... okay... I guess that makes sense then. But it still doesn't explain why two Jordanians and a Lebanese would plot out their master plan in Toledo instead of their places back home.

Here's some excerpts from the Toledo Blade report:

The men, including a University of Toledo computer and engineering student, planned to wage “holy war” using skills learned via the Internet, officials said, and they intended to enter Iraq under the guise of doing business related to a Reynolds Road used-car lot that one of them owned.

A-ha! So that's how they plan on carrying out their evil plans. Remember folks, if the man is Arab and has a beard, he's a terrorist. Even if he is a used car salesman. Its a fact... just ask the US gov.

Plus, a Computer and Engineering student! They're using Freedom's tools and technology to attack us. Sneaky bastards. New rule: Muslims can't have computers.

We can't trust anyone who doesn't use a computer for downloading and viewing porn. It just ain't right.

According to the government, the men became versed in terror attacks through videos and “jihadist” Web sites and sought to acquire powerful explosives.

Does Little Green Footballs count as jihadist? Sure, they arent like Muslim radicals or anything, but they sure spew hate and prejuidice more then any of the other so called "Islamist" sites I see (and mindyou, I read Kavkaz Center)

"Clearly these folks had the motivation and they demonstrated they had the means,”

They had a motive? So, you're admitting that attacks on US personal in Iraq is justified Mr Attorney General?

The arrests also marked the second time in three days that Toledo-area Arabs and Muslims were roiled by terrorist allegations

They wouldnt be roiled if they werent terrorists, would they? I mean seriously, it only makes sense to look into a community of immigrant, upper middle class, college educated Muslims. Sure most have college degrees, big houses and nice cars, but that doesnt stop them from being a people hellbent on evil. They hate freedom! Look at them, with their beards! Anti-American liberty haters.

On Sunday, the U.S. Treasury Department shuttered a West Toledo charity, KindHearts, and froze its assets amid allegations that it was funneling money to terrorist organizations in the Middle East.

You just know any organization called KindHearts is evil. No spaces between words is a clear sign of malice and hatred towards America and it's people. REAL Americans name their charities using proper English. If not, how do you think something like D.A.R.E. could exist?

"I hope the law will take its course, find the guilty ones, and throw them out. But don’t sweep us all with one broom,” said John Shousher, a leader in the Arab Muslim community.

Hey Durka Shash or whatever your camel riding name is, if you dont like the American system of prosecuting whole communities of people with little or no evidence beyond hearsay, go back to where ever you came from. That's what freedom is all about friend.

Authorities said they uncovered the plot with the help of a man who came to them 18 months ago. Code-named “the Trainer” in the indictment, he had been approached by Mr. El-Hindi to provide security and bodyguard training to the group.

The Trainer? That's like the gayest name for a snitch ever. Might as well call yourself "Bodybuilding ass pirate".

Beginning in November, 2004, Mr. Amawi and Mr. El-Hindi began to research how to assemble suicide bomb vests and “improvised explosive devices” or IEDs, which Iraqi insurgents have used to attack American soldiers and decimate public confidence in the war.

The men downloaded information about weapons training from a “secure jihadist Web site,” watched instructional videotapes, and practiced shooting at target ranges. Each of the men allegedly offered his unique services to the cause, the indictment indicates.

Mr. El-Hindi met with an accountant in Dearborn, Mich., to form a nonprofit organization that would collect grants for “tax education services” and use the proceeds to finance jihadist activities. The indictment says the men also worked on the plot at Mr. El-Hindi’s home on Mayo Street.

About a year ago, Mr. El-Hindi allegedly proposed showing “training recruits in Chicago” some of their “jihad training materials.”

Mr. Mazloum said that “he could use his business, buying and selling automobiles, as a cover for traveling in and out of Iraq.” State records show Mr. Mazloum registered two car dealerships — City Auto Sales on North Reynolds, south of Bancroft Street, and Ram Auto Sales on Monroe Street, west of Douglas Road.

So, they got training from the internet and were planning on using the skills in Iraq? Wouldnt it make more sense to have learned face to face in Iraq then shady videos from KaZaa?

And he's using his car dealership as a front. I guess the idea that they could actually be selling cars seems to have gone right pass the gov.'s heads.

"Last April, authorities allege that Mr. Amawi sought to obtain chemical explosives, code-named “pillows,” for a “brother” living in the Middle East. He handed the Trainer a paper napkin containing the relevant information."

he he he... pillows.

"Mr. Gonzales declined to answer whether the investigation was helped by warrantless surveillance, saying it relied on methods that would not jeopardize the investigation. Mr. Morford and Gregory White, Mr. Morford’s boss as U.S. attorney in Cleveland, both talked about using “traditional” investigative techniques."

This of course just means "snitches" but okay, whatever. NSA wiretaps dont seem to be "saving lives" like the Neo Cons claim, but again, no one seems to be as outraged over them as me.

Now, dont get me wrong folks. I'm not trying to imply that they're innocent or guilty or that attacks on the US servicemen in Iraq is right or wrong. But I am absoluty appaled at how many commentators and bloggers seem to have already found guilt without a reasonable doubt with these folk.

Let them have their day in court. Then we can see the true nature of the US's so called "War on terror": Shady evidence by backroom informants and prejuidice based on race and religion.

“I think America is safer today,” U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said during a Washington press conference.

It is Mr. Attorney General, it is... we're gonna lock all them terrorists up, one used car salesman, engineer and computer student at a time.

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Peanut boy has plenty to say

2006-02-22T15:21:00.000-02:00

Ex President Jimmy Carter considers using Peanut Butter to achieve peace in the Middle East

It's been 4 days since I last updated, which should as evidence to you all that I am in fact very, very lazy.

Anyways, lets get on to the news, shall we?

Ex President Jimmy Carter is telling it as it is again regarding the Israeli-Palestinian situation, but this time in an Op-Ed piece in Monday's Washington Post. Here's some of what he said:

During this time of fluidity in the formation of the new government, it is important that Israel and the United States play positive roles. Any tacit or formal collusion between the two powers to disrupt the process by punishing the Palestinian people could be counterproductive and have devastating consequences.

You got that right Peanut man.

Unfortunately, these steps are already underway and are well known throughout the Palestinian territories and the world. Israel moved yesterday to withhold funds (about $50 million per month) that the Palestinians earn from customs and tax revenue. Perhaps a greater aggravation by the Israelis is their decision to hinder movement of elected Hamas Palestinian Legislative Council members through any of more than a hundred Israeli checkpoints around and throughout the Palestinian territories.

Another productive move by the "Only Democracy in the Middle East", wouldnt you say?

Knowing that Hamas would inherit a bankrupt government, U.S. officials have announced that all funding for the new government will be withheld, including what is needed to pay salaries for schoolteachers, nurses, social workers, police and maintenance personnel.

Defenders of Freedom my ass.

This common commitment to eviscerate the government of elected Hamas officials by punishing private citizens may accomplish this narrow purpose, but the likely results will be to alienate the already oppressed and innocent Palestinians, to incite violence, and to increase the domestic influence and international esteem of Hamas. It will certainly not be an inducement to Hamas or other militants to moderate their policies.

For a backwoods, Pseudo-Socialist farmer from Georgia, he sure knows what he's talking about (that wasnt sarcasm)

The election of Hamas candidates cannot adversely affect genuine peace talks, since such talks have been nonexistent for over five years.

Boo-yah! Take that Neo-Con fucks!

It was under this umbrella and not the Palestinian Authority that Arafat negotiated with Israeli leaders to conclude the Oslo peace agreement. Abbas has sought peace talks with Israel since his election a year ago, and there is nothing to prevent direct talks with him, even if Hamas does not soon take the ultimately inevitable steps of renouncing violence and recognizing Israel's right to exist.

Well, I'm no fan of the Oslo agreements, but, point taken Mr. Carter.

So, you all must be wondering why an Anarcho-Libertarian, right wing asscrack like me would be so in favor of using American tax dollars to fund governments the other side of the world. For the most part, I am incredibly against it, but in the case of Palestine, it's a different issue entirely.

See, once upon a time there was a country called Palestine which was populated by a people called the "Palestinians". They lived happy, productive lives with their neighbors and friends. Heck, there were even Christian and Jewish minorities in the mix, and they all lived in harmony and peace with one another. But then some people in Europe claimed that they were entitled to the land, so they kicked the poor Palestinians out.

"But, wasn't the UN created to prevent things like foreign invaders physically removing people from their homes?" Well little one, it was. But alas, I suppose money and a false sense of entitlement go a long way (especially if you have lot and lots of one of those things) so they basically told the Palestinians to go fuck themselves.

Now, if these people the Palestinians hadn't been kicked out of their homes so long ago, they wouldnt need foreign aid. They'd be self dependent. But, after taking people's land and slaughtering them if they voiced opposition, its pretty difficult to get the wheels moving to start a new gov. and create jobs and the like for said people. Palestinian's industry and jobs were destroyed along with their savings and homes, thus creating the huge nests of refugees and poverty you see today.

Because of the inaction of the so called "defenders of democracy" they have an obligation to pay up to the new Palestinian authority. I'm not fan of taxing, but in the case, we just gotta. If they had stopped this from ever happening, Palestine would be a self sufficent, prospering nation right now.

And yes, I am well aware that the Palestinian Authority is hardly what you would call "effective", "competant" or "honest". During the Arafat days millions upon millions were pocketed and sent to Swiss bank accounts by people who were meant to protect and defend the interests of the Palestinian people, but instead betrayed them for Bentleys and orgies with European socialist chicks.

Maybe that'll all change with Hamas. I have no idea if it will or it won't. I hope it will, but I've learned not to keep my hopes up with anyone nowadays. Secularist or Religious, Socialist or Capitalist, there seems to be no good guys who genuinly want to help their people. They want to control them, and that my friends is not the kind of "freedom" I want.

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

I wonder if they have dental?

2006-02-18T01:44:00.000-02:00

Lookie at whats making the rounds on the blogosphere today: an actual collection of Al Qaeda documents, memos, application forms and even an employment contract found during the so called Global War on Terror. The West Point website has it for your reading pleasure.

Of course, they have no desire to make Al Qaeda membership more accessible or anything. They’ve decided to release the documents in hopes of providing an analysis of al-Qaeda’s organizational vulnerabilities. Basically, they’re trying to fuck up their bureaucracy.

And if there’s anyone in the world that knows about bureaucracies, it’s the United States government.

I of course won’t be reading the entire report. I have bigger fish to fry (the conquering of Feudal China) but, I have read analysis of the analysis so that pretty much makes me an all around expert on the subject. I’ll write a cover story for the Times tomorrow. *big ups to the right wing neo-cons at Austin-Bay for doing all the hard work for me ;)*

Anyways, on with the good stuff:

Okay, first up it’s the by laws summary.

Al-Qa’ida must be prepared to wage jihad anywhere in the world, and not to be distracted by relief and aid operations. Al-Qa’ida must have no relation to the world of idols and secular and nationalist movements. Relations with non-jihadi Islamic groups should be respectful, but dedicated to pointing out their shortcomings and try to gain their support for jihad.

Lengthy job description is posted for the position of emir, his deputy, and other positions on the council. Of special interest is the position of the Executive Council Chairman who serves as a chief financial officer. His duties include control over bank accounts, expenditures, and budgeting. Salaries are paid according to a fix schedule.

Policies are described for additional salary based on family size
(married man receives 6,500 rupees with 700 rupees for each additional wife.)
Provision is made for cost of living adjustments.

The document outlines medical, loan, furniture , vacation, disability, and severance benefits.

The more I read this stuff the more this all reminds me of something a corporation could have typed up. Must be the echoes of Saudi business tycoons in the background. You’ve the board members, CEO and stock holders on top calling the shots from the high rise penthouse, followed by middle managers who boss the tech guys (whether they be bomb makers, hackers, chemists or pilots) and the actual foot soldiers (suicide bombers, gunmen, hijackers, etc.)

Not even the Jihadis can deny the greatness of the Western corporate system.

Now, here’s their statement of purpose (although I already knew all this):

A religious group of the nation of Mohammad (God’s blessing and peace be upon him) whose faith is the faith of the believers in Sunna (profit teachings) and Jama’ah (consensus), are adopting Jihad as a method for change so that the‘Word of God’ becomes supreme, and they (the group) are working to provoke Jihad, prepare for it, and exercise it by whatever means possible.

The prophet said “There are those of my nation who are victorious and will stay victorious till the day they face their fate and die” narrated by(Al-Bukhari252/4). And the Prophet also said: “There is still a group of my nation fightingfor justice victorious over their enemy until the last of them fights the Antichrist”narrated by Abu Daud (The book of Jihad, Chapter 4)

Here’s my favourite part: the Health benefits

3- Medical Benefits

A- All (Al-Qa’eda) members can visit the medical
staff and obtain medicine freeof charge

Followed by Vacation (hey, fighting the infidels and the wicked west is stressful. They need vacations too).

8- Vacations:

A- For those who work in Peshawar, they are entitled for Fridays, the two holyfeasts (TC: Al-Adha [during the pilgrimage month] & Al-Fatr [following the endof the month of Ramadan]), and a one month annual leave to be enjoyed at theend of the eleventh month of work, as well sick leave not to exceed 15 daysannually.

B- Those working in camps and in the frontlines:Married: Enjoys a 7 day monthly vacation. Single: Enjoys a 5 day monthly vacationThis in addition to the annual and sick leaves mentioned in the above paragraph.*Page 11 of 19C- If the vacation exceeds what is allowed, then, the relative salary will bewithheld (prorated) except if those in responsible positions (in order of hierarchy)approve a holiday extension.

Not exactly Norway, but still pretty good…

Apparently Al Qaeda’s Decision Executive Branch is tasked with the whole torture bit:

Second: Decision Execution Branch (issued from the Security Committee):This branch is divided into the following sections:

A- Investigations

B- Imprisonment &amp; amp; torture

C- Coordination & relations: This section is responsible for coordination with security entities outside the organization after approval from the leadership Emirate).

D- Documents.

Look at one part called “Political Speculation”, which basically where the organization stands politically with other well known countries and organizations.

The author concurs with his correspondent in stating a low opinion of the Taliban. The Taliban has a “mentality based on fabrications, wrongdoing, beating around the bush and running away from reality.” The destruction of the Buddhas is judged insignificant in comparison to the desire of some Taliban to gain respectability by taking a seat in the United Nations.

The author disagrees concerning Iranian leadership of the Islamic movement. He asks: “How can it fulfill the leadership role when it is incapable of guiding the Islamic insurgency?” He encourages Iran to attack Israel, and speculates that the U.S. is planning to attack Iran to protect Israel.

The final paragraph expresses a change in tone with admiration expressed for the Taliban for destroying the Buddhas and protecting Osama bin Laden…

A sample graf from “Political Speculation.” Note the disdain for Buddhist idols and even Iran.

Yet Iran should prove its merit to the Muslim generation by attacking Israel, which was created by America. However, this is not suitable for these serious times with so many international infidels making plans. My suspicion is that the greatest achievement of the international infidels at this time is the crazy gyrations of Islamic groups that threaten their very existence to their roots. Whirling around like the Sufi doctrine movement,backward and fanatical, it lacks a clearly-defined doctrine and has taken from the world those who are loyal and honest.

Also, its legal basis is shaky.Isn’t a movement like this the hope of the Islamic nation, the objective of revolutionary youth and the protector of Jihad as long as the Nation is accustomed to its protector and its thief…? (TC:Arabic saying.)I think the next stage is directing a strong blow at Iran to protect Israel from its missiles.The waiting heroes will be found in the staunch Taliban movement… why not? It did show legendary heroism in protecting Osama bin Laden and in destroying the Buddha idols (this heroism didn’t cost America anything but some of Mr. Buddha’s stones).

The synopsis of Al Qaeda’s “Letter of Threat to Americans”:

A letter from Abu ‘Abdullah Al-Kuwaiti outlining the next attack against the Americans, and issuing a statement to the Americans to let them know of their fighters’ readiness to kill hundreds of thousands with their nuclear and biological arsenal. The second letter is dated 10 November 2001 from Abu Yousef Al-Qannas to Khallad Al-Kuwaiti informing him that he is moving north by orders of the Sheikh (Osama bin Laden), and that he will join him in a week’s time.

Key Themes: Abu ‘Abdullah Al-Kuwaiti’s undated letter is addressed to the American people. He writes that he is announcing publicly the next attacks against the Americans, and that groups in America and Europe, which are “above suspicion,” have been given the green light to move. He also writes that there is no animosity between “us” and the Americans; the war is only between “us” and the Jews. By interfering in their countries, the Americans have brought this on themselves.

He goes on that they have nuclear and biological weapons with which they will will “hundreds of thousands” of people that they don’t otherwise wish to fight. He states that the billions of American dollars spent thus far have succeeded in killing less than ten “martyrs.” The next few pages list varied locations in Afghanistan, a series of names, a packing list of personal items, and an admonition to fast and pray during Ramadan.

Swell guys, eh? Giving the soldiers a break for Ramadan and all.

The second letter, dated 10 Nov 2001, is by Abu Yousef Al-Qannas to Khallad Al-Kuwaiti. Al-Qannas writes that he is heading north by orders of the Sheikh (Osama bin Laden). He also notes that Khallad Al-Kuwaiti must meet with the Sheikh first.

A third letter is included at the end from Salman Yahya Hasan Mohammed Al-Rabi’I to Furqan Al-Tajiki professing his undying love. This is not of apparent consequence.

Here’s what they’ve got to say on the WMDs:

If the American people are ready to die as we are ready to die, then our combat groups along with our military, nuclear, and biological equipment will kill hundreds of thousands of people we don’t wish to fight.

B- If you are ready to die as we are ready to die, the thousand present here in Afghanistan equals hundreds of thousands of Americans. I am pleased to inform you that the billions you spent fighting us so far have resulted in killing a small number of us. We consider them martyrs and they did not exceed (10) martyrs.

We warn you that our war against you has not ended, but its effects will increase. Isn’t it time to end American arrogance and begin listening to your people before you experience more devastating disasters?

Al Qaeda is well organized and commited. No one can say they’re dense or savages or anything like that. Maybe not as effective as they may have been in the past, but they still know whats up. They understand information warfare. They are prepared to fight a multi-generational war which is exactly what they should be doing.

But yeah, seriously, this all looks a lot like a corporate training manual. Take out the jihad, planning attacks and all the references to God and you’ve got yourself the first set of documents they give you when you start working at Enron.

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Today its KFC, tommorow it will be Burger King! When will the madness end?!

2006-02-14T17:35:00.000-02:00

Okay, so, students in Islamabad stormed the city's diplomatic enclave and attacked Western businesses on Tuesday. Beyond the actualy attacking bit, I can understand their anger, frustration and desire to take their fight to the streets. But of all the things they could burn down (like a building the US supporting government is in) why Kentucky Fried Chicken?

Seriously

Beyond that Kentucky Fried Chicken is an American company and not Danish, I wonder what these poor sods wish to accomplish. Firstly, they're thrasing a local franchise owner's buisness, which means their hurting a fellow Muslim and hardly scratching the upper lip of the corporate fatcats in the West. Secondly, what the heck does KFC have to do with American foreign policy? Sure, the guy in charge was a Colonel, but not of any actual army. All the man ever did was dress up like Mark Twain and fry some birds (Kentucky style) not kil anyone or make policy.

Not even Ronald McDonald was safe *sheds tear*

Okay, I'll admit it, I'm a Vegan, so I'm really not shedding a tear for anyone. But the truth is, I think this was out of line. A KFC and a McDonalds? WTF dudes?

Plus, KFC makes some damn good biscuits.

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Al Gore is still alive?

2006-02-13T01:28:00.000-02:00

So, Al Gore has come out of dirty, wooden shack with rags on the floor and a bucket for "fresh water" to give a speech to the mostly Saudi audience at the Jeddah Economic Forum that (taken from the AP report)and heres what he had to say: "the U.S. government committed "terrible abuses" against Arabs after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and that most Americans did not support such treatment."

W-wait... is this the same tree hugging, stick in the ass, uncharismatic joke that was Vice President from 1992 to 2000? The same man that couldn't manage to beat Bush back in 2000? Is it really? Stuff like this makes me doubt that it is:

"Arabs had been "indiscriminately rounded up" and held in "unforgivable" conditions. The former vice president said the Bush administration was playing into al-Qaida's hands by routinely blocking Saudi visa applications."

Heh

Gore told the largely Saudi audience, many of them educated at U.S. universities, that Arabs in the United States had been "indiscriminately rounded up, often on minor charges of overstaying a visa or not having a green card in proper order, and held in conditions that were just unforgivable."

"Unfortunately there have been terrible abuses and it's wrong," Gore said. "I do want you to know that it does not represent the desires or wishes or feelings of the majority of the citizens of my country."

He's also been critical of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan in the past.

Reading through this I can't help but wonder why he didn't mention these views in the ACTUAL elections, you know, when it actually mattered!

Sure, he could just be pandering to the mostly Arab Muslim crowd which I wouldn't hold past Al Gore or any Democrat for that matter. He could easily be pulling an Arafat and say one thing to one group and another to a different group (for the uninformed: Arafat would say things like "Death to Israel" and "We will not rest until Israel is destroyed" in Arabic when his audience was Palestinian but say things like "We want peace" and "Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in understand" in English when speaking to Western media. He was slick like that.)

But then there's the slight chance he might be serious and honestly say what he means. But this of course would actually requiere a spine, which no one in America seems to have today.

Now, anyone who knows anything about me or this humble blog knows im no fan of the modern Democrat party. I don't like them on crime, I don't like them on taxing, I don't like them on spending and I certainly don't like them on idiotic issues like affirmative action or "hate crimes"(and their perpetual inaction in regards to moronic drug laws)but with some Democrat bigwigs like Carter and Gore saying it how it is, I may not hate them as much now.

But I'll still hate them. That will never change.

This talk may sway some weaker minded people of my faith, but I certainly won't be buying it. Although I think Carter and Gore may be sincere I know for a fact that the rest of the DNC is just trying to win up the Muslim vote (which 78% of voted Republican in 2000)because they can't win any elections any other way.

The thing about Democrats is, they never win elections by saying what they intend to do. They only win by criticising the people in power (see Bush vs. Kerry 04). The reason being that the Democratic party; the one time great party of Jefferson, Jackson and Davis; has been hijacked by far left asswipes who are more concerned with heavy taxing, spending, abortions, affirmative action and gay marriage then protecting our freedom. Asswipes.

Therefore, I could never vote for these assholes. Not in a million years. Why? Because I know they're all lieing. Sure, I know the Republicans are assholes (damn do I know that) but at least they're honest. They don't say one thing and do the other. They're greedy, corrupt assholes and they're proud of it! Now Democrats are sneaky. Its pretty much impossible for a Democrat to give a straight answer to anything (unless of course the polls indicate that something would win them points). They could care less about, you know, normal middle class, working Americans (what most people are). They're more concerned with pleasing the labour unions, special interest groups and far left loonies then actually making lives of average Americans any better.

One of these days I'll talk about this more, but please, fellow Muslims out there, don't fall for this shit. It's all garbage. These people don't want to help or protect you. They don't even like you or your religion. They'd rather you became like them: smug, socialist, non-denominational asswipes who let themselves be used and abused by the worst of the worst.

Vote Libertarian! XD

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

How would they have gotten a shoebox with a bomb past security?

2006-02-09T16:23:00.000-02:00

Hi again invisible, non existing reader. Its me, ZZ, your unfriendly, far away Anorak wearing train spotter here to simply and give slanted analysis to the news of the day. I presume you've heard about that big speech President Bush gave today regarding the twarted terrorist attacks against the US.

Here's what they he disclosed:

In 2002 the United States and its allies thwarted a plot to use bombs hidden in shoes to breach the cockpit door of an airplane and fly it into the tallest building in Los Angeles

Its likely he meant the US Bank Tower (otherwise known as the Libery Tower)which would be the tallest building west of the Missisipi. Apparently Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the operational mastermind of the September 11 attacks, had already begun the operational plans for this attack which involved a bomb inside of a shoe box in October 2001. The word on the wire is he was inspired from a scene in that crap Will Smith movie "Independence Day".

Mohammed was captured in Pakistan in March 2003 and has since been held at an undisclosed location. In his speech, Bush praised the efforts of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf (the most hated man in Pakistan) in fighting terrorism.

One part worth noting from the speech is this:

"Rather than use Arab hijackers as he had on September 11, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed sought out young men from Southeast Asia whom he believed would not arouse as much suspicion," Bush said.

Just like I had said previously, Al Qaeda was very, very unlikely to have used Arab males again for the attack and would probably find a group of people from the huge pool of devout Muslims of different races (including black, asian and caucasion). If this isnt evidence enough to stop idiots from harrassing Arabs, I dont know what is.

"Their plot was derailed in early 2002 when a Southeast Asian nation arrested a key al Qaeda operative," he said.

Interesting how this announcement comes at the same time as the Senate hearings regarding the NSA wiretaps. Could this be politically motivated to get people's minds off the whole "losing their rights" issue? Hell yeah! But, to be fair, its well played and timed, so, to this I give Karl Rove a strong "Touché".

So, what does this all mean? It means that Al Qaeda sucks is what it means. This guys got caught in a fucking Muslim country for God's sake (Sources say either Malaysia or Indonesia). If they really couldnt keep this quiet or get the mostly Muslim officials and Cops off their backs by either bribes or sympathy to their cause, they clowns obviously dont know what they're doing. 9/11 seems more and more like a terrible mistake by the US officials then a victory by the guys in Al Qaeda. Just a case of good luck and right place, right time.

Its funny how Bush admits that the top Al Qaeda guy that was caught wasnt even in the US, so, his little wiretaps on the American public wouldnt have stopped it at all. This is all a fucking rouge designed to keep the people scared enough to lose their freedoms for "protection".

Fucking plebes.

Either way, im too angry to keep typing now. I'll comment some more on this later.

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Moi ? Voix ? Vous êtes fou

2006-02-07T22:21:00.000-02:00

So, elections in Haiti have come and gone and I for one feel about as apathetic about it as I always have.

See, i've got nothing personal against Hatians (or anyone for that matter) but I'm not going to try and act like I care when I really, really don't. But, today is a slow newsday so ermm....

Accusations of fraud and long delays designed to keep the poor masses from voting abound, and considering that this IS Haiti, it's certainly a possibility. I'm not going to give some detailed history of Haiti or try to give some liberal bullshit about how we shouldnt expect everything to be roses and kittens from a country and a people who've lived in opression for so long.

Truth is, Haiti sucks. Always has, always will. Don't believe me? Look at any detailed history book and you'll see what. Haiti, a country of 7,527,817, is the least-developed country in the Western Hemisphere and one of the poorest in the world (Only beaten by East Timor and some African countries). Social and economic indicators show Haiti falling behind other low-income developing countries (particularly in the hemisphere) since the 1980s. With a GDP of $10.6 billion (thats $1,400 per head for those of you keeping score)Haiti now ranks 153rd of 177 countries in the UN’s Human Development Index, and that should make all the Jean-Claudes there mighty proud.

And do any of you know how much of the population can read in Haiti? 52.9%. Compare that to Mexico which has a literacy rate of 92.2%. How about AIDS, hmm? Have those happy Hatians been able to control that? NO! Roughly 250,000 people in Haiti have AIDs which represents 6.1% of its total population. 6.1%! Now, compare that to Canada which has 56,000 of its population of 32,805,041 infected with AIDs (0.3%). Looks like someone's been squandering all that money you liberal spending fuckers gave em, eh?

Now, think about that for a second... in a country about 80 times bigger and with 5 times it's population, there still manages to be more people infected with AIDs in Haiti then in Canada.

...

Beyond all those social problems, there's the issue of Creole. For those of you who don't know, Creole is according to Wikipedia a well-defined and stable language that originated from a non-trivial combination of two or more languages, typically with many distinctive features that are not inherited from either parent. All creole languages evolved from pidgins, usually those that have become the native language of some community.

In Haiti's case, its a creole of French. I, your humble Cosmonaut, speak French. Hatians have what is possibly the ugliest French in the entire globe. Its absolutly dreadfull. It sounds like the sounds a walrus makes when its getting peanuts thrown at it by angry monkeys.

Lets compare the two, shall we?

If I wished to say "That is not good" in French I would say "Ce n'est pas bon". Now, in Hatian Creole I'd say "C'est caca" which literally means "Its caca". Now, we Americans use the expresion "Thats shit" or "Thats a piece of shit" very often, but when we say it, it is mostly seen as immature or rude.

With Hatian Creole "caca" means bad. Period. That is the formal way of saying bad in Haiti. Not substandard, inferior, dreadful atrocious, awful or any other way we say it in the English language, but caca. So Haiti is one of those countries where you can use the word caca on a daily basis and no would look at you like you're a retard.

Anyways, I'm moving besides the point: We're talking Hatian elections here! Tis a time for celebration! We should be taking out our AK-47s, making some human sacrifices with the blood of Albinos, raping some curvy young girls and eating rice with cinnamon by now, not talking about statistics or demographics.

Now, what do i think about the roster? Sub-Par. Here's my rundown of the major players:

Rene Garcia Preval: Aristide's bitch. Is probably going to win. After a few months in power, some strongman is gonna topple him (as always happens).

Pros: When he was President back in 1996-2001, there was relative peace (or as peaceful as Haiti can be).

Cons: Is a student of Aristide and a member Fanmi Lavalas so expect more of the same kind of garbage we saw from the chimères but this time with better UN guns.

Marc Louis Bazin: Ex finance minister under Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier. Well liked in economic circles (he spent spent 18 years at the World Bank) and the Bush administration. Smart, articulate, well educated, about as charismatic as a doorknob. Doesn't have popular support, but has lots of money and friends in high places. Can probably bribe his way to power. Has the support of the whites and mulattos (Haiti's upper class) but not the regular folks in the slums. Would probably be repressive (but isnt everyone in Haiti?).

Pros: Good with money and foreign relations. Can probably bring Haiti back on it's feet (if thats possible).

Cons: Only the white folk like 'em. In Haiti, that means no one. Would probably be as repressive as the Duvaliers but at least there was cash to be made back then...

Evans Paul: Fucking Comedian. Gonna lose but is gonna not shut about it for a long time about the so called "lack of democracy" and "transparency". Will eventually be killed by the chimères to shut him up.

Pros: A newcomer and someone not of the establishment, which is what Haiti really, really needs. Okay, that isnt really true. He got Aristide into office way back when but got fired. Now, he's running against his bitch Preval. Is a dramatist which could mean he has a flair for the dramatic.

Cons: Is a fucking comedian and Sobaka describes him as "handsome". The people over at Sobaka are obviously blind. That makes him lose points in my mind. Plus, he doesnt have a deathsquad of his own (for now) which means he's the lamest politician in the history of fucking Haiti.

Guy Philippe: Lawyer, former army lieutenant, former police chief and ladies man. Oh, and he's also the one behind that coup that knocked Aristide out of power in '04. Has all the ex Army crazies behind him. Not gonna win, but is gonna go back to the mountains and regroup once he loses, so, we're gonna see the same shit again in a few months.

Pros: With his own private army behind him plus the ole' regular army, there wouldn't be a civil war. And....ermm... umm.... he'd bring white girls from other countries for him and his officers to fuck.

Cons: Warlord, Militarist, Facist. Oh, and he was trained by the Americans back in the olden days. So ermm... yeah, he's an asshole. But Haiti being what it is, he's immensly popular. Fucking Hatians drive me crazy...

Should we care about the outcome? Not really. I mean, its not like it could get any worse so, what can I say? Let democracy take it's course. Its not like Haiti produces oil or anything, so, the average American won't be terribly affected by this. Dominicans are keeping a close eye though. Bad news in Haiti means mass migrations to their side of the island, which means more hungry people and less jobs. Plus, Philippe has openly defied and attacked the Dominican President Leonel Ferndandez in the past. So, this could easily escalate into a war.

Will I be fighting? Like hell im gonna die for fucking Dominican Republic.

So, what do I recomend the people of Haiti vote for? Annexation back to France.

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Hatian elections - who needs democracy when you have deathsquads?

2006-02-07T12:05:00.000-02:00

Elections in Haiti usually go hand in hand with violence, civil uproar and deathsquads - lets see if things will be any different with UN peacekeepers there.

I'll keep you updated.

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Cops are full of Shiite

2006-02-06T23:30:00.000-02:00

Atleast in Iraq they are.

Ha! Why doesn't any of this suprise me?

Iraqi forces now control swaths of territory in at least 13 cities, including the heavily Sunni cities of Baquba and Falluja. But the overwhelming majority of Iraq's soldiers and special police forces are Shiites, partly because Americans disbanded Iraq's Sunni-led army and the Shiite-led government built up its own paramilitary forces.

Now the very Shiites who have often been targets of the Sunni-backed insurgency are being deployed to wipe it out. They are using tough tactics and restoring some order. But they are also provoking enduring bitterness among Iraq's Sunnis, which risks fueling the insurgency.

Sectarian violence at its finest...

"Our town is safer for certain people," said Abu Ali, a Sunni who owns a cosmetics shop in Salman Pak. "Only the Sunnis are afraid. I swear by God they are afraid."

Hey, liberty and freedom take time! If we're lucky, we might just have another Lebanon on our hands (yay!).

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Israelis hate freedom...

2006-02-06T23:26:00.000-02:00

Israeli soldiers eating limbs of babies and drinking the blood of widows - in other words, doing things the only democracy in the middle east the rest of the world seems to not oppose would do

Ha! What a group of fuckers!

Look at what the acting prime minister of Israel Ehud Olmert had to say on Monday:

Israel will continue to cooperate with the Palestinian Authority and its interim government so long as Hamas is not represented there

Pft! What a group of sleazy, young cunts.

As long as it doesn't contain a Hamas government, we will speak and cooperate

Israelis feeling unhappy with democracy? So, who exactly are the ones who hate freedom, eh?

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

I like this Aziz Duwaik guy...

2006-02-06T22:48:00.000-02:00

So, there was more protests, skirmishes and violence over the weekend in relation to those drawings. I've already spoken about this inprevious posts, so, I won't dwell on them, but, here's an interesting interview with newly elected Palestinian Aziz Duwaik, who won a seat in Parliment with Hamas, over on Al-Jazeera.

Here's some excerpts:

Aljazeera.net: Why have Palestinians been so strongly protesting against the Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad?

Duwaik: These cartoons have been insulting to our religion and injurious to our feelings. They were meant to insult, provoke and offend Muslims. And they have succeeded. I call on the government of Denmark and the people of Denmark and the rest of Europe to stop insulting other people in the guise of press freedom.

We respect press freedom, but ridiculing and besmirching our religious symbols is not press freedom. There is a conspicuous malicious intent here, and people's right not to be insulted and offended overrides a Danish newspaper's right to insult the prophet of Islam. Besides, we are living in a global village now, and we should respect each other.

Good stuff, wouldn't you say?

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Some people...

2006-02-03T19:37:00.000-02:00

Straight off one of the many protests in London:

Not exactly into the whole reading books and thinking things through, are we brother?

*rolls eyes*

Beyond the fact that the guy is just an ignorant fool, he's probably going to be on the cover of every newspaper tommorow morning, with an article commenting on the "ignorance", "backward-ness" and "freedom-hating" of Muslims worldwide.

I hate to say it but, had to be the black guy...

Remember to ride the rockets kiddos!

Boycott smugness!

2006-02-03T13:59:00.000-02:00

So, the fallout of those stupid cartoons continues around the world.

Since the controversy started, they've been reprinted in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain and Hungary. The European papers are doing it as an expression of free speech and freedom of press. This wont be winning them any fans in the Mid East of course, but, they dont seem too concerned about it.

As expected, lots and lots of people are still mad and are, well, taking action:

300 Indonesian Muslims went on a rampage in the lobby of a building housing the Danish embassy in Jakarta on Friday.

In Palestinian territories, gunmen seized and later released a German, and a hand grenade was thrown into the compound of the French Cultural Centre in the Gaza Strip.

There's been protests in Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Palestine, Indonesia and elsewhere.

Today is Friday, so expect to see more protests from Muslims around the world after Friday prayers. This isnt going to go away for a good while folks, so, brace yourselves.

This one is a bit concerning to me:

Iraqi Christians said they feared a new wave of attacks by Muslims, driven by anger over the images.

Wait a second boys! Hold your horses. Any Muslim who goes out and attacks Christians in the Mid East and elsewhere over these drawings is beyond retarded. For one thing, these people have nothing to do with it. Secondly, the paper who drew those images aren't Christians at all. They're atheist secular progressives.

It makes more sense to burn down the local chapter of the Communist party then the attack innocent Christians. But of course, it hasnt happened yet, so, unless it actually happens, we should give the angry protestors the benefit of the doubt.

If you're all wondering if I'll be out protesting? Nah... no point. For one thing, I don't live in Denmark and hardly have contact with anything Danish to begin with, so, its irrelevant for me to go out to the streets with torches and banners damning anyone. Now, as I said before, I AM offended, but I just don't see the point in making this issue any worst then it already is.

You know, the media and the blogs are trying to spin this isnt some anti-Islamic story. Something about the inherit evils of extremism or Islam in general.

What a load of crap...

THIS is offensive. THIS is blasphemous. And THIS will drive people over the edge.

Jyllands-Posten should really, really be proud of itself. Its done the unthinkable: Its gotten the Muslim extremists and moderates to actually agree on something: the West hates us and wants nothing but to offend and insult us. It sees us as barberous savages, clinging to a time long gone and will constantly barrage us with offensive and disgusting material just to get a rise out of us.

And they say only Muslims are trying to force feed their ideology down people's throats. Apparently smug atheists are too...

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Valley of the Wolves - Iraq

2006-02-02T21:35:00.000-02:00

New Turkish flick with an estimated budget of 10 Million (making it the most expensive Turkish movie ever made) set to open in Turkey on Friday called "Valley of the Wolves - Iraq" (gotta love Turkish movie titles).

Basically, the movie starts off based on a true event which happened like this: On July 4, 2003, in Sulaymaniyah, northern Iraq, troops from the U.S. Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade raided and ransacked a Turkish special forces office, threw hoods over the heads of 11 Turkish special forces officers, and held them in custody for more than two days.

The Americans said they had been looking for Iraqi insurgents and unwittingly rounded up the Turks because they were not in uniform. Still, the incident damaged Turkish-U.S. relations and hurt Turkish national pride. Turks traditionally idolize their soldiers; most enthusiastically send their sons off for mandatory military service (Unless their name is Tarkan).

Beyond that its all fictional, with your usual action scenes involving attractive people shooting sneering baddies. The cool thing is this time, the sneering baddies aren't the ones who look like me this time! Heck, in this alternative universe, I'm like, totally the good guy! Does that mean I get the hot Turkish chicks?

Anyways, here's a short description of one of the movie's early scenes:

American soldiers in Iraq crash a wedding and pump a little boy full of lead in front of his mother.

They kill dozens of innocent people with random machine gun fire, shoot the groom in the head, and drag those left alive to Abu Ghraib prison where a Jewish doctor cuts out their organs, which he sells to rich people in New York, London and Tel Aviv.

Some Conservatives (AKA Neo-Cons) are calling it anti-American propoganda and "vile trash"...

So, who wants to go watch it with me?! XD

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

I so gotta move to Japan...

2006-02-02T18:05:00.000-02:00

Lookie, Lookie here...

"Hirohito Shibuya, a 57-year-old unemployed fortune teller, already openly lives with 10 other women in his Tokyo home."

This guy is a player:

He did admit living with a harem, telling public broadcaster NHK: "Yes, we have a polygamous setup in my house."

Of course he gets all the chicks! He's Kojack!

But seriously, if a guy who looks like him and is unemployed can score ten chicks at once... I'm so moving to Japan.

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Danish dicks

2006-02-02T17:28:00.000-02:00

Living in the sunlight,
loving in the moonlight
Having a wonderful time!

Okay, so, I’m aware that image to my left and the accompanying text will be deeply offensive to many, many people because I am making light of the holocaust, an issue that by even raising the question as to if it happened or not could land me in jail in countries throughout Western Europe like Germany, France, Austria, Belgium and Switzerland.

If this weren’t a blog made by a poor space cadet in the American south, but instead an editorial piece in a nationally distributed newspaper, there would be outrage. I’d be scorned by the media, stoned by politicians, lynched by the public at large and forced to pay fines from lawsuits for “discrimination” and “insensitivity” to various Jewish and Holocaust survivor groups.

Funny how everyone seems outraged at the outrage over the Muhammad (PBUH) drawings that were printed in that Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten by Muslims around the world. Do I smell hypocrisy? (Interestingly it smells like Danish pastry)

Anyways, as you all must now by now, in Islam it is forbidden to depict Muhammad (PBUH), because of a measure to prevent idolatry. A counter-argument I keep seeing is that theres been illustrations of him throughout history. What these people don’t seem to realise is that these depictions are all of Western or Shia origin both of whom don't have a problem with it, not Sunni, who in fact do.

Now, even though I am personally offended by said portraits, I have no desire to censor or imprison anyone for having done it. Free speech is made to protect people who say things you don’t want to hear, not things we necessarily like or agree with. At the same time, I think people shouldn’t be surprised when so many of the world’s Muslims getting so upset (The point could be made that these clowns just wanted attention ala Salmon Rushdie, but I think you can come up with your own views reader).

Now, do I think the boycott of Danish products is a good idea? Not necessarily. Denmark is a sovereign nation where freedom of press and expression are an important part of their society. Censorship by the government or the Queen would go against everything the Danes stand for, so boycotting the country as whole for not punishing the assholes who ran it is unfair in my estimation (that, plus I love Danish cookies).

But I do think its hypocritical how Western society will go to such lengths to protect us from any denial or mockery of the Holocaust yet allow the Prophet (PBUH) of 1/5th of the World’s population be mocked in that manner.

Now, consider I made a piece depicting blacks as gorillas or Jews as money hungry beasts with fangs and horns, would there be outrage not only from their communities but the public at large? Of course there would be. How is this any different? Why are Muslims the only ones outraged? Shouldnt it be universal?

I’ll tell you the hypocrisy in this world…. Its something to behold.

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Carter on Hamas

2006-02-02T12:08:00.000-02:00

I just had to write about this...

Jimmy "Inflation" Carter was on Larry King last night and here's what he had to say about the recent Hamas victory:

"If you sponsor an election or promote democracy and freedom around the world, then when people make their own decision about their leaders, I think that all the governments should recognize that administration and let them form their government

If there are prohibitions -- like, for instance, in the United States, against giving any money to a government that is controlled by Hamas -- then the United States could channel the same amount of money to the Palestinian people through the United Nations, through the refugee fund, through UNICEF, things of that kind"

Carter expressed hope that "the people of Palestine -- who already suffer ... under Israeli occupation -- will not suffer because they are deprived of a right to pay their school teachers, policemen, welfare workers, health workers and provide food for people."

...

This puts me in a tough position. On one hand I despise his domestic, economic and even social policies (sweater wearing peanut eating fucker) but on the other I like his stance on foreign policy.

You could certainly point any which way about former President Carter or the Democrats in general and still make some pretty valid points, but I as a Libertarian find it next to impossible to publicy support any party that proudly has members like Ted Kennedy (big government, Chappaquiddick asshole), Al Sharpton (Tawana Brawley, affirmative action loving fucker) and Janet Reno (Waco Lesbian).

At one point I think im gonna write something on how the Democrats are trying to use American Muslims for votes, even though the Democratic party of today is based solely on taxes, abortion, gays and race peddling (which I actually did but never posted because I thought it was too controversial - self censorship at its finest.) but for now, I guess I'll keep my mouth shut.

Rock on Carter (It hurt me so much to say that)

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Palestine elections

2006-02-01T17:15:00.000-02:00

Okay, I’ve been busy. I’m updating though, so, get off my balls already.

So, I’m pretty sure you’ve all heard about the recent elections in Palestine. Democracy there was in full force with 1,073,000 Palestinians voting, a turnout of 77 percent of registered voters. This is truly a triumph for those who wish for freedom and democracy throughout the Middle East.

Except, the Palestinians voted for the guys they least wanted to see in power, so, they’re pretty much all pissed off about it…

See, that’s the problem with the US’s foreign policy. It’s still basing its policy on the idea that people around the world are like the citizens of Dayton, Ohio just with different skin tones and funny clothes.

Take the so called “Cedar Revolution” with 200,000 people in the land of my forefathers after Hariri’s assassination by Syrian agents last year. All the cable news outlets were going wild; the pundits and bloggers were having a field day. They were saying things like “This is a new beginning for the Middle East” and comparing this to the Rose and Orange Revolutions.

Interesting how they all failed to mention the counter-protest Hezbollah mounted with 500,000 people which was pro-Syrian (some even say it was 1.5 million) See, the people in the so called “Cedar Revolution” were Lebanon’s Westernized Maronites (look at those photos. Yep, Muslim girls just love to wear tops with straps and their shoulders, chest and back showing), the ones who called in Israel during the Civil war (AKA Traitors). Even though they’re ethnically equal to the rest of Lebanon, they’re Christians (notice how none of the guys had beards or the girls had headscarves?) and more inclined towards the West (notably France).

They wanted Syria out, even though most of the population (Which is Shia) wanted them in. Not for peaceful, Democratic reasons mindyou, but so they could take control of the country and Westernize it. Now, you can make several points for or against the Syrian occupation (And for the most part they'd be valid), but trying to somehow make these people into noble heroes of democracy is just bullshit. For one thing, they’re the (wealthier because of their contacts with the West) minority. And secondly, they’ve based their entire Ideology on mother fucking Fascist Francisco Franco’s Phalange party (their official name is Kataeb, but they based their ideology on the Phalanges and sometimes even refer to themselves as such) Yeah, martyrs of democracy indeed.

Now, how is this similar to Palestine? For several reasons, notably how the Western media is reacting and spinning it. They keep showing us Iraqis with purple ink on their fingers, angry protesters against the government and Palestinians dancing in the streets for peace.

This is all bullshit. Iraqis are voting mostly in sectarian lines so the Pro-Iran Shia clerics are jumping with joy, those protesters are all followers of far right Christian warlords (Might as well have Pat Roberts as their leader) and the Palestinians in democratic elections are gonna vote for the party that gives them food, hospitals n’ education no matter if they call for the death of Israel (Which most Palestinians want anyways)

Fatah was corrupt from the head down (what do you expect by a group started by Socialists in the 60s headed by Yasser Arafat?) and in the eyes of most Palestinians they were ineffective, greedy and to put it lightly, in bed with the enemy.

Considering all the Palestinian people have gone through, is it REALLY that farfetched to assume they would vote for the fire and brimstone hardliners? All these bloggers and pundits who were waiting for the first images of smiling Palestinians with thumbs up and “I love US” banners after President Bush had done SOOO much for democracy in the region were, well… pretty upset. Now, they’re venting their anger on the Palestinians themselves (so much for democracy) calling them backwards, violent and ignorant (Sort of like Kentucky then).

Like I said before, Hamas was mostly an opposition party. They were funded by some wealthy philanthropists in the Gulf states and although theyre mostly known in the west for their suicide bombings and armed wing, within the territories themselves they’re mostly known for their charitable work (similar to Hezbollah, which actually has its own channel).

So, the Fatah folks (the ones who are friendly to the West) are pretty damned pissed right now. Sure, they’ve been squandering funds and bullying the people around, but, they feel that they still should be the ones in power. They were so pissed, they all resigned from the new government and are calling for the resignation of Abbas (apparently hes destroyed the unity and vision of Master Arafat).

Now that democracy has taken its course, the West is threatening to cut funding towards Palestine. Of course, this wont be creating any resentment or blood oaths of vengeance, now will it? I mean, its not like a group that was previously known for its violent and threatening rhetoric will start to show any anger towards the West because of the sanctions and funding cuts, will it?

Hamas isn’t going to change its views. That’s a given. Theyre far right Islamic fundamentalists who despise anything Israeli and will continue to call for its destruction as long as Israel exists. Now, why would the average peace loving Palestinian support a group like that? I could cite Newton’s law of inertia which states that unless acted upon by an unbalanced force, an object will maintain a constant velocity (IE: If Israel’s policies weren’t as destructive and oppressive, they would have never have been pushed to that extreme) but I guess I’ll leave it up to you reader to determine why.

Either way, here’s what Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh had to say:

"We call on you to understand the priorities of our Palestinian people at this stage and continue the spiritual and financial support in order to push the region toward stability rather than pressure and tension,

We confirm to you this income will be used to pay the salaries of (government) employees and fund daily running costs and infrastructure. You can confirm this through a mechanism that can be agreed upon."

So, he still wants the money but hes not willing to back down on his prior statements. I’ll give him that he’s an honourable dude who doesn’t back down on his words, but you gotta question how good this is for the country itself.

Mao once said: “Lose land and save people, land can be retaken. Lose people to save land, people and land both lost.”

I think this applies pretty well to this situation as well.

This is my message to Hamas: You’re no longer a private group funding schools, giving out food and occasionally planting a few bombs in crowded streets. You’re the ones in charge. It isn’t as easy as you guys thought, eh? Sure, as an outsider it seemed like they were just cutting ribbons and shaking hands with infidels, but the truth is running a government is more complex then that.

You should be focusing on a long term peace plan and building an infrastructure. That’s the only way you’re gonna start creating jobs and bringing foreign investment back into your land. I know you’re mad, I mean, its hard not to be, but you gotta make comprises. Make your state strong and your people wealthy and in 30-40 years you can provoke Israel into attacking and justify a full invasion. By the point you’ll have the guns and population necessary to give a fight and what with Israel’s destructive birth-rate, they’ll have no chance.

I know what you’re thinking. Im talking like a politician. But guess what? Now, you’re one whether you like it or not! You gotta make compromises. Screaming about death and destruction is not the way to build a State. You gotta put the world on your side and that means shaking hands with your enemies and smiling for the camera.

Trust me, my plan would work. You have to start thinking like Machiavelli, not let your boiling blood do it for you.

What do I mean by all this? Play the game. That’s what this all is, a big game of Monopoly where you are basically supposed to bullshit your adversary enough to leave him bankrupt. Sure, its gonna take some time, but isn’t it true that the end justifies the means?

Well, that’s my two cents. I know certain people out there are gonna call me whatever for being so un-passionate and thinking like a Westener. But those are the people who get killed early in the story (Look at the Shias – they’re more into dying then winning, and that’s done them no good). Me? I’m into winning the game, not losing it before I can even begin.

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

A Conservative victory, eh?

2006-01-24T13:17:00.000-02:00

Way back in the 2000 and 2004 Presidential elections over in the US, there was a common consensus in the eyes of many Americans: they had been robbed. They felt that Dubya and his Neo-Con cronies had bribed and cheated their way into office and they weren't happy about it.

Amongst those unhappy were the far left Socialists. Now, I can sympatize with those unhappy about Bush winning (I know I was) but the Socialists werent just unhappy or angry, they were outraged (besides just the war - they want Maoism)! If half of them werent pacifist hippies, they would have started a riot and broken small buisnesses windows (the big chains have security to avoid that from happening). You'd think the world was ending (which again, I can sympatize with)

A common cry then was "I can't take this anymore! I'm moving to Canada!". In fact, the New York times reported that immigration to Canada from America actually tripled and that the Canadian government's immigration Web site reported an increase in inquiries from the United States to about 115,000 a day from 20,000.

But now with the Conservative victory in Canada, I guess they're all going to be moving to Havana (or as of recently Caracas).

Now I'll be honest with you kittens, I havent really followed Canada's political situation since, well, ever... but last night's Conservative victory has made pay a bit more attention to it (until I found something else to rant incesasintly about) , but, the jury is still out on this Stephen Harper guy.

Heres a little quote from the New York Times article on his victory last night:

"Mr. Harper, 46, is a free-market economist"

Woohoo! I think i am begining to like this maple syrup lover!

"who expressed strong support for Washington at the time of the American-led invasion of Iraq"

*rips down the poster of Stephen Harper he had just put up and lights it on fire* Damn it! I knew it was too good to be true... is it too much to ask for a fiscally conservative civil Libertarian who opposes the War in Iraq? Apparently, it is...

Ah, well... I guess theres a light at the end of the tunnel:

"Mr. Harper did not emphasize his closeness to the Bush administration during the campaign, and there was no indication that Canadians had suddenly embraced American foreign policy. Mr. Harper pointedly promised not to send Canadian troops to Iraq, and said he would be a tough bargainer in trade talks with the United States."

Okay, okay... fair enough. I'll tatch him down as "moderate" on the war, just like I did with Mohammed VI of Morocco. You know, the guy who sent 2000 monkeys to difuse land mines in Iraq. Anyways, he couldn't send troops to Iraq even if he wanted to. He's the new Prime Minister of Canada for God's sake. All the big, tough guys already have lucrative careers in the NHL and everyone else is too wimpy (half of the population is of French descent) to fight in any wars anyways. So there, I guess I can let this slide. But, there is this:

"he did promise $5 billion in new military spending, which would go to forming a new airborne battalion and buying large transport aircraft to airlift troops and supplies during world crises."

Heh! Okay, I'll let that slide too. Every country needs to have military spending, you know, to defend and protect it (its the only thing taxes are justified for). It's aboot time people started takin' Canada seriously, eh? I mean, always teasing them aboot their accents, lack of a military, having funny words like serviette, and their love of hockey and maple syrup. It ain't cool, eh?

So maybe those $5 Billion will serve em well (they'll be able to buy the Canadian Air Force's Hockey team shiny new hockey sticks).

But honestly, can we REALLY trust a country where every murder is reported? Also, they know how to pronounce and spell "Saskatchewan" which makes me equally suspicious of them.

"In domestic affairs, Mr. Harper promised to provide allowances to families with children under age 6 to help with child care, to introduce mandatory prison sentences for serious drug trafficking and gun crimes, and to reduce the national sales tax"

*gasp* Hard drug laws? Oh man, another thing to hold against the fucker. Drug laws are about as dumb and useless as a pair of pants in a nudist colony. But I will admit that "reducing the national sales tax" I like.

So anyways, I think we have enough disagreements for us not be involved in a healthy butt sex relationship but ultimately, I think he's a good guy, but no Michael Badnarik.

After four consecutive Liberal national election victories in the past 13 years, Canada has become a pseudo-Socialist load of crap, and I doubt the Conservatives will be able to do much of anything, especially considering they've got 125 districts to 102 for the Liberals, which is pretty short of a majority.

Anyways, if Canada became a more fiscal and social Libertarian society... I might move up there. Low crime rate, good economy and pleasant vistas (as opposed to the urban ghetto-fication thats happening all over America). As long as they dont fuck with my money, my rights or my kids, its all cool.

Plus, it snows for most of the year. How cool is that?!

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Muslim Confederate?

2006-01-24T06:00:00.000-02:00

Whenever people visit this little blog of mine, they ask me "What do you mean you're a Confederate?", referring to the top of the page where I say "Anarcho-Libertarian. Muslim. Confederate. Yes, we exist..." (which on top of that says "Adventures in Space" in Russian btw).

It doesn't make much sense to most people that I refer to myself as a Confederate even though: a) I'm not exactly white b) I'm Muslim c) I am not a Neo-Nazi or KKK member.

Okay, you see friends, to me, being a Confederate has nothing to do with slavery, bigotry or racism. It has to do with rebellion. The Confederate States of America was formed because of the over-reaching federal government under Lincoln. They succeded because their State's rights were being stepped all over by some jokers in Washington DC.

Heres a brief history: The Confederate States were formed on February 4, 1861, by six Southern states (South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana) after confirmation of the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States. Jefferson Davis was selected as its first President the next day.

On April 12 South Carolina troops fired upon the Federal troops stationed at Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina until the troops surrendered. Following the Battle of Fort Sumter, Lincoln called for all remaining states in the Union to send troops to recapture Sumter and other forts, defend the capital, and preserve the Union. Most Northerners believed that a quick victory for the Union would crush the nascent rebellion, and so Lincoln only called for volunteers for 90 days. This resulted in four more states voting to secede: Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina joined the Confederacy for a total of 11. Once Virginia seceded, the Confederate capital was moved from Montgomery, Alabama to Richmond, Virginia thus commencing the American civil war.

The Civil war (or war of Northern Aggresion as its called down here in the South) was defensive in nature; where young men were defending their homeland from from fanatical Unionists who were willing to kill anyone in their sights if they did the unthinkable (that being declare their constitutional rights and not listen to the Federal gov.) And before anyone says that the Southerners were the true fanatics for defending the institution of slavery, let me inform you that the average young man who fought in the Confederate army was hardly wealthy enough to own a slave at all, so, slavery being legal or not was irrelevant to them. Again, they were defending their individual and State's rights, not because they were racist or bigots like they like to tell you in (bias) American History class.

"And how about the KKK?" Pft! Firstly, the KKK was hardly connected to the actual Confederate Government, but rather only came into existance after the war ended during reconstruction. And the original Ku Klax Klan which existed 1866 wasnt doing all the things we typically associate with the KKK today (like cross burning, which came after the new Klan of the 1920s) but rather was the terrorist wing of the Democratic party (yes, the so called Liberal party of today). They were out intimidating (basically bullying) carpet baggers (as in, Northern Republicans who came down to the South) and Freedmen (Freed slaves) to not vote Republican legislation or Republican politicians in office.

In response to this, President Ulysses S. Grant signed Butler's legislation, the Ku Klux Klan Act, which was used, along with the 1870 Force Act, to enforce the civil rights provisions of the constitution. Under the Klan Act, federal troops were used rather than state militias, and Klansmen were prosecuted in federal court, where juries were often predominantly black (jury of your peers, eh?). These kangaroo courts were more like the Jerry Springer show then an actual courtroom, where false and inaccurate evidence was used to indict anyone the Republican leadership didnt like (which usually meant outspoken Democrats). These men were accused of things as diverse as sodomy, to terrorism to conspiracy against the all blacks around the world.

In 1882, long after the end of the first Klan, the Supreme Court ruled in United States vs. Harris that the Klan Act was partially unconstitutional, saying that Congress's power under the fourteenth amendment did not extend to private conspiracies. Ha! What a load of crap. So, does this include the Continental Congress, the Minutemen and the Boston Tea Party? *rolls eyes*

So, 80 years pass... and a little movie called "The Birth of a Nation" is released, mythologizing and glorifying the first Klan. That and the books "The Clansman" and "The Leopard's Spots", both by Thomas Dixon caused a resurgence in the Klan in the United States. But this Klan wasn’t the Democrat lovin' Klan of yesteryear, but rather a Prohibition supporting, Republican, anti-Semitic/Catholic Xenophobic one.

Beyond the obvious difference (they were Republicans, which pretty much made them stop being Confederates) the feel and philosophy was just plain different. No longer did it exist solely in the American south, but also the Mid West and the even New England (how's that for ironic?). This was during the Depression (and prohibition) and was more of a social club for unemployed, Protestant Republicans who hadn’t drunk in about 10 years and was angry because they thought European Catholics were taking their jobs. Thats where the new Klan we all know and love was born and quite frankly its completely different from the one that existed during Reconstruction.

Anyways, theres the issue of me not being white. Heh, what makes you lot think you had to be white to be a citizen of the Confederacy? Native Americans, Creoles and Hispanics all filled their ranks and pledged allegiance to the ole' Rebel Flag. See, Hispanics were the main population in places like Texas and Florida (both Confederate states) and damn hell supported the Confederacy more then they ever did the Yankees. Native Americans (who mostly lived in Southern territory then) served as scouts within the army, and lets not forget, those massacres of the Indian Wars happened AFTER the civil war by Yankees, not Confederates.

So what does all this have to do with me calling myself a Confederate? Besides me living in the South, what really, really gets me excited with the Confederacy was the focus on State and Individual rights in their constitution. They understood the dangers of the Federal gov. having too much power and were willing to fight (and die) to protect their rights (unlike modern Americans, who get their rights stepped on a daily basis but complacently ignore it).

And what about me supporting slavers? Its interesting to note that two of the greatest Generals of the Confederate Army, Gen. Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson were both against slavery. If the South had won, Gen. Lee could easily have become President after Jefferson Davis and gradually removed slavery by unilateral negotiations and state elections NOT proclamations like a certain pompous blowhard from Illinois. Again, the war had everything to do with State and Individual rights, not slavery like the victorious North likes to tell everyone.

By the way, the only reason slavery doesn't exist today isn't because of some sort of humanitarian or philosophical reasons, but because an industrial age economy doesnt benefit from slavery in the long-run.

I'll put it in simple economics: See, modern industries create products at mass to sell to the public at large. No slavery means more people in the workforce being paid, hence, a larger number of consumers. If they were slaves, they wouldnt have any money to spend, but rather their masters would decide what he wishes to spend on each individual slave (which usually means the bare minimum). If the consumer base is larger and they have their own money to spend, massive industrial corporations will be able to market products to them all in mass as opposed to the bare minimums master gave out.

Because the Northern Seaboard was mostly industrial and not agricultural like the South, the early Republicans (who just so happened to be the industrial tycoons) knew in a few generations, the freed slaves would be buying up all the useless shit they had to sell to them instead of the mass purchases of the less expensive stuff the master would have bought, hence making them richer.

So basically, it was about money, not some sort of compassion on slaves or black people in general. Mindyou, most people then didnt even consider them human. The Republicans just saw them as a statistic to make money off of, and were willing to spend the lives of 800,000 men to accomplish it.

Fuckers.

Thats why things like the new documentary film C.S.A. (Confederate States of America) make my blood boil. Sure, its really more of a mockumentary, but still, its distorting the truth about what the South was REALLY about.

Firstly, in the trailer they've got the Rebel Flag on the White House. First of all, the Confederacy was a seperatist movement, not a coup or anything of that nature. They had no interest in taking over the bulk of the United States. It was the other way around. Get your facts straight.

In fact, when Gen. Lee make an excursion into Union territory, he had hundreds of thousands deserters. Not because they doubted his ability as a commander or didn't respect him, but they claimed they had enlisted to defend their rights and homes, not fight in Union territory.

They’ve got their typical Hollywood cookie cutter liberal stance that the entire war was started because of bigoted rednecks who wanted to keep working blacks to the bone because they’re all evil and white and have evil, ugly looking faces and blah and blah.

Like one scene featuring a device called "The Shackle" sold to fortify your hold over your slaves ("Perfect for children!").

Ho Ho Ho! Its funny, cos its about white people being racist. I can hardly contain myself…

What do I think about this little Spike Lee joint? It looks like shit to me but alas, it will probably be another “indie” hit, winning tons of awards and maybe even a few prizes over at Sundance. Man, this makes me wish I still wanted to be a filmmaker and make an actual good film about the Southern cause and the people who fought it (Which is what I thought Cold Mountain would be, but alas, was disappointed again – as usual)

Hollywood sucks and so do you!

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Touchy girls...

2006-01-24T01:00:00.000-02:00

Wow, people are awfully touchy when it comes to abortion. You'd think after 33 years of delicious, pain free abortions on demand, people in this continent would stop being so sensitive with images of a dead baby with "That tickles" written on the side of it.

Obviously I did it sarcastically, so come on girls, get off my balls already.

You know, its funny. In American and Europe the abortion issue is a woman's issue. Women are the one who push for it because it’s their bodies and they want to be able to make choices in this country without men or society telling them what to do. They don't want to go back to the days of backdoor abortions with wire hangers or blows to the stomach with a baseball bat.

Yet growing up in Latin America, as a pro-choicer I was a victim of harassment, insults and accusations of things like "baby hater" and "murderer" not by the establishment or male chauvinistic who feared and hated abortions for religious or purely sexist reasons, but by women.

Why is it that Latin women seem to hate abortion so much? I have no idea. They are the ones who seem to be pushing the hardest to block legislation allowing abortions in Latin America, not men or the church.

Since I put up that photo before, alot of my female latin acquaintances have gone literally apeshit, calling me everything from insensitive to sadistic. I dont mind being told any of those things (I probably am that or more) but their tones were awfully angry and they screamed at me *hides in corner*

They said I was somehow supporting abortion with that and demanded I take it down. Firstly, how am I supporting anything? Im not taking pictures, im just using google and writing stuff on it with a paintbrush. If you dont like it, Im sorry... honestly, I am, but dont tell me its something you havent seen before. I've passed by abortion rallys a few times and that is pretty tame by most standards. These kinds of images are intended to shock, but in my case they've left me pretty much jaded. Nothing shocks me anymore, from beheadings to suicides to yes, even dead babies (Im SUCH a monster, arent I?)

Anyways, I wont take it down ladies. Your pleads for mercy have fallen on deaf ears... I am just THAT insensitive...

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Fair and balanced media...

2006-01-23T15:31:00.000-02:00

Front page of Dominican newspaper

So, I was reading the Dominican paper (I do it occasionally) and guess who I see on the front page? Mr Coca himself Evo Morales! Well, he was sworn in as President yesterday and his pur-ty face seems to be on the cover of every paper in every country in the world...

... except America.

I've checked all the major American papers: the New York Times, the LA Times, the Washington Post , the Wall Street Journal, the Miami Herald and the Chicago Sun Times and guess what, all of them seem to have buried it behind stories on some stupid Football game (who the fuck are the Seahawks?).

Now, this is what gets to me. The Mainstream media seems to think all Americans are stupid and have no clue about anywhere outside of the US. Now, if they, the media elites, didnt bury stories like this behind Russia's idiotic accusations about Britain or fucking Andy Roddick, how the fuck do they expect the average Joe on the street to know anything about it?

"Oh but they wont buy the paper if they see a story they're not interested in on the front page?" BULLSHIT! People buy papers regardless and the talk radio and TV pundits will yabber about it for hours. The print media, the most respected and high calibre news outlet it country has to step up it's game. Thats why more and more people are getting their news fix on blogs like this one, because the papers keep condescending and treating their audience like fools.

Evo Morales (A guy I hate) being sworn in as President of Bolivia is big deal. Besides being like, the first Native American (funny thing is the Spanish press keeps referring to him as "Indio" or Indian) President (who is also a socialist) in the world his and the recent election of Michelle Bachelet, a fellow Socialist, is pointing towards the big turn to the left Latin America has been taking in the past 10 years. The "People's" Republic of China has been flirting with Latin American leaders as of late, possibly indicating future colonialism by the fuckers over at Beijing. Sad thing is, the Latin plebes are fucking letting it happen! And people wonder why the hell I got out of there...

Although im no fan of American Imperialism and the US putting itself in other country's internal affairs, but the idea of mother fucking Communist, 20 million dead, China is not very pleasant to me either. This is a big fucking deal, and the American media is just ignoring it...

When the execution of dissenters and the imprisonment of members of the press and opposition start, will the media begin to report on it? Oh wait, they completely ignored fucking Hugo Chavez and his anti-democratic policies. If anything, they've made him out to be some sort of hero and crusader for the poor. What a load of shit...

And hey, check this out: Chavez, Morales and Castro (yes, THAT Castro. He has still been in power, no matter that the American public stopped caring about him in the 60s)have decided to make a triangular coalition in between Havana, Caracas and La Paz called "The Axis of Good" (a play on the axis of evil Bush talked about). *rolls eyes* Next thing we know North Korea is going to sell them nukes for fucking rice (they need em over there) and we'll have "Soviet Union II - Spicy Latin style" just with their trigger fingers being a bit itchier.

Now, have any of you over in America heard about this? No. Why? Because the media doesnt want to report it. These are old school Soviet style, anti Democratic Commies who would want nothing but destroy any trace of capitalism where they can find it. Plus, they've got the support of big time land expanders like China and oil and food to trade for nukes with North Korea. And yet, no one seems to give a shit in America while people like me (freedom lovers who live in Latin America) have to take their idiotic rhetoric as representative of our respective nations.

Freedom is gonna disappear from Latin America faster then you can say ¡Oyele holmes! and the average American cant even find Bolivia on a map. Good times, good times….

Well, the only good thing out of all this is now Coca leaves are gonna be up for grabs in Bolivia. Might as well go down there and develop a coke addiction in which I sell all my belongings and savings only to end up on the streets of La Paz sucking dick for arepas (or whatever the hell they eat there). Beats starving to death like North Korea...

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Happy Birthday to you Roe v. Wade. May all your dreams of death and destruction come true...

2006-01-23T14:06:00.000-02:00

So, Roe v. Wade turns 33 today, which basically means Pro-Choice (abortion lovers) and Pro-Life (freedom haters) have taken to the streets to chant slogans, sing songs and show pictures of dead fetuses for all to see. Regardless of the images I have all over this post, I'd like you all to know I am actually pro-choice. My problem with Roe v. Wade isnt that it allows abortion, its that its a federal mandate and doesnt allow State's to choice on their own, which of course goes against everything this nation was founded on.

This year the Pro-Abortion crowd are getting all uppity because of the possibility of Samuel Alito, who by all indications seems to support State's rights in this matter, could become the next Supreme Court justice. This means they're saying things like Alito is "anti-choice" and a "right wing fanatic". The fact that he's pissing these Starbucks latté drinkers off makes me like him more actually.
Now, as i said before, I am actually supporting Judge Alito for the Supreme Court. My litmus test isnt on abortion, it's State's rights and individual freedom, and by all appearances he does place individual rights high in his agenda.

Now, if Judge Alito WERE to be confirmed (its likely he will be) this isnt to say abortion will be eradicated and all the "progress" made will be erased. Justice Roberts and Judge Alito both seem to agree that Roe v. Wade is the law of the land and that theres no point in trying to re-write it. So basically, the possibility of it coming before the Supreme Court again are slim to none...

And even if it did, who cares?! It wont ban abortions, it would just leave it up to the State's. People tend to forget that abortion was legal in certain states before Roe, and that it will likely never disappear from places like California, Massachusetts, Vermont or New York (which is where these people live anyways). The federal government dont NOT have (or ever has had) the constitutional power to apply its will upon States which dont want them (Read "The rise and fall of the Confederacy" by Jefferson Davis if you want proof). The fact that ultra-conservative places like Alabama, Utah and West Virginia have to abide by laws passed by a few left wing zealots the other side of the country is not only un-Constitutional, its Un-American.

The early American patriots revolted because they raised the taxes on their breakfast drink, and it wasn't even coffee. They were big on State's rights (unlike modern liberals) and they're probably turning in their American flag wrapped graves just about now.

Anyways, I for one would like to see more emphasis placed on State's rights, but im not limited to just abortion. Legalizing drugs and gay marriage (and polygamy) are ALSO a State's right, and no decision by some pencil necks in Washington should be able to change that.

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Poor girl....

2006-01-22T23:03:00.000-02:00

She looks kinda like Anne Hathaway too...

I've been getting some flack from some friends of mine regarding my surgical or passionless (as in no fire and brimstone) writings regarding the different conflicts in the Mid-East.

This is bullshit of course. My religion and creed don’t dictate that in any way I have to be a mouthpiece from this or that side, in fact, debate and self examination within the community is encouraged. Unfortunately too many people are used to the same line of thought by the same type of people spewing the same talking points. My purpose is to foment debate and thought, not confirm anyone's political agenda, no matter if they're Bush loving rednecks or mountain dwelling Afghans.

Take Iraq. I have made some comments where I stand aside as a casual observer and not as a partisan pundit. I don’t take sides here. I just tell it how is.

Look at the Jill Carroll situation. I can’t find any way to somehow spin this story. Ive been talking with some people, and have been shocked by the little sympathy this girl is getting (by the way, this isn’t Muslims in general or anything. Its mostly young men who have been polarized to an extreme by the Neo-Cons foreign policy who talk the tough talk. I understand where they're coming from, but I still dont have to agree with them on everything). She's an American of 28 years of age, working as a freelance journalist. She's fluent in Arabic and even wears a hijab and jilbab when wandering the streets of Iraq.

She was on assignment for the Christian Science Monitor (which isnt Christian by the way) to interview Adnan al Dulaimi, a prominent Sunni politician in Iraq and leader of the Iraqi People's Conference.

Carroll, along with an interpreter and driver, travelled to the Adel district of Baghdad and were ambushed by armed gunmen, who killed her interpreter Allan Enwiya, 32. Carroll's driver, who managed to escape, said in a story posted on the Monitor's website, that gunmen jumped in front of the car, pulled him from it, and drove off with their two captives all within 15 seconds.

So, I think we've all seen the silent tape of Ms. Carroll on Al-Jazeera by this point. The group, calling themselves Brigades of Vengeance, are demanding all female prisoners in Iraq be released.

Now, I can understand an insurgent group attacking an American convoy or attacking an Iraqi Police Station. Honestly, I do. They're fighting a guerrilla war against a perceived occupier. Said occupation forces and any of the locals who co-operate with them are targets for the insurgency, because this is the kind of war they're waging.

Kidnapping female journalists is not only wrong, but stupid. Its counter-productive. Guerrilla insurgency battles are not only waged in the mountains, jungles and street corners, but in the minds of the public at large. Mass media is a tool they can exploit to their advantage in more ways then one.

Take Vietnam for example. Did you know how many engagements the North Vietnamese Army and Vietcong won? Zero. Not one. For every American or South Vietnamese Army soldier who died, there was about 10 charlies dead. That war was not one by little people in pajamas, is was won by daily images of drafted, low morale GIs with their guts coming out of them permanently plastered on TV screens and people like Cronkite declaring the war unwinnable.

The truth is the American army in a military stand point performed brilliantly, winning every engagement and flushing out the little guys with AKs every chance they got. Problem was, they lost the propaganda war. They couldn’t win the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people because they werent sitting in the mud with them like the Vietcong were. They couldn’t put a human face on themselves. They just came off as an angry, short tempered, mean American who shot people for apparently no reason (which tends to not look very human).

Anyways, this is not good for the Iraqi insurgents. It makes them come off as criminals and if anything, just angers Americans more which in turn can justify more military presence in your homeland. Like I said before, stick to car bombs and IEDs. American public hates casualties and little by little you’re wearing them down.

So anyways, taking journalists is the wrong step to take. Its bad press. Press core sticks together and they will obviously show anyone who does harm to fellow journalists as evil, baby eaters.

Guerrilla wars are won by the manipulating the media to your advantage, not killing members of it. Guerilla wars like Vietnam or Soviet invaded Afghanistan lost hundreds of thousands of people, but they won at the end of the day. Why? Cos the guys in charge knew how to use the world press to their advantage! By the way, im pretty sure that poor girl is gonna die. There’s no way the Americans are gonna cave in to their demands (“we don’t negotiate with terrorists”).

So, how can I, a casual observer be somehow supportive of this particular group of guys? They know their demands wont be met and they kidnapped an innocent journalist anyways. They knew they were going to end up killing her, so, why her of all people? All I can say is, shame on you random insurgent… shame on you.

The blood of an innocent person is on your hands, and that isn’t going to win you any points in heaven boys.

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

He likes the sound of his voice...

2006-01-19T15:23:00.000-02:00

Oh Mandy well, you came and you gave without taking, but I sent you away. Oh, Mandy well...

A new Bin Laden tape you say?! Threatening America?! Preposterous! Absurd! Unthinkable!

Well kiddos, a man reported to be Bin Laden has just released an audio tape on Qatar based news station Al-Jazeera, where amongst other things he states al-Qaida is making preparations for attacks in the United States but offering a truce to rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan.

Now, I’ve been watching some on the cable news analysis by experts, and they keep using the word “surrender” waaay too often. Firstly, this is a rouse. He has no intention to “rebuild” Iraq or Afghanistan (with what means could he?) and he isn’t naïve enough to think that either President Bush or the American public will suddenly pull out cos he asked politely.

This is just a formality. This is just a way to keep public perception in the Muslim world on his side by saying that “We gave them a chance, but they just didn’t listen”. Muslims are generally speaking a touchy bunch. They place stuff like “honour” and “rules of engagement” high up and there would be a significant backlash against the global Islamic Theocratic movement if he didn’t play by the old time rules.

One thing I find interesting is this line: The voice on the tape said "heightened security measures in the United States are not the reason there have been no attacks there since the Sept. 11, 2001, suicide hijackings."

Instead, the reason is "because there are operations that need preparations, and you will see them," he said.

Ha! So whenever those friendly airport security folks make me take my shoes off, pat me down and grab my genitals it’s been for nothing? All those NSA wiretappings and surveillance on Mosques and Islamic charities was just a waste of time and tax payer money? The whole losing our civil liberties with things like the Patriot Act wasn’t going to save us? Well, I for one am shocked….

Whoda thunk all these measures would prove ineffective in fighting terrorists…? erm.. I dunno, ME!!!!!!! I’ve been saying this for years now but nooooo, no one listens to little Z_Z.

Terrorist attacks take time and effort. You’ve got to recruit people, raise funds and carry out discreet operations without raising any suspicion. Months of careful planning are needed if you don’t want a botched operation which could point the authorities back to you thus ending your swashbuckling life of international fame, global jihad and hot chick harem orgies in the mountains of Central Asia.

Now that we’re on the subject, I know nobody reads this, but seriously, could we stop harassing the Arabs now? I mean honestly, do you REALLY think that quiet medical student from Egypt who lives next door is a suicide bomber? And if the happy bunch in al-Qaeda has any sense, they’d use any other of the 1/5^th of the World’s population to carry out attacks, like Caucasians from Central Asia and Europe, Blacks from Sub-Saharan Africa (and even the US and Western Europe) or Orientals from East Asia. In this post unconditional support of Israel/Iraq-war World it can’t be terribly difficult to find some overzealous Muslims who are willing to die for Allah in these places. Attacking and harassing Arabs or people with beards is just plain stupid and it won’t prevent an attack. If anything, you’re just reinforcing these people’s dislike of the West by your ignorance, so please, stop it… its annoying.

And btw, suicide bombs aren’t going to happen anytime soon in America. It’s pretty much ineffective here because a lone bomber with a bomb strapped on him in a bus will probably only kill about 13 out of the 299,598,000 people in America. To say the least, it will do little to nothing to Americans besides step up security and make carrying out the major attacks that much more difficult.

Here’s another little gem from Usama: “Based on what I have said, it is better not to fight the Muslims on their land," he said. "We do not mind offering you a truce that is fair and long-term. ... So we can build Iraq and Afghanistan ... there is no shame in this solution because it prevents wasting of billions of dollars ... to merchants of war.”

*rolls eyes* Right. Like I said, he knows the Bush administration wouldn’t just cut and run from Iraq cos he asked nicely. And what does he mean that its better not to fight the Muslims on their land? Do you mean those endless deserts with no cover and perfect for air strikes? Yeah, that marvellous, oil rich land of yours is the best battle field for the Americans you fucker. The last thing Americans want it an actual street battle in an American or Allied city where they actually would care about killing innocent civilians or destroying property. So, unless you have a few thousand tanks and planes left over from the Afghan war and unless you are willing to invade Brussels, any open battle’s gonna be a cake walk for the US.

Stick with the unconventional warfare staples like Improvised Explosive Devices, suicide bombers and convey ambushes and you’ll do just fine. Remember, you ARE fighting a guerrilla war here and don’t have the benefit of vast resources, logistics or armoured vehicles at your disposal. Keep on doing what you’re doing in Iraq, which is slowly but steadily killing off America GIs one by one (American public hates casualties) and they’ll pull out in a few years. I know, not the speed you’d like, but you’re friends in the Gulf states should have spent more on Defence instead of cocaine induced orgies with Swedish girls and new BMWs with spinning rims. If so, Mid East would states would have a huge full and ready army for your little jihad campaign.

Anyways, they haven’t confirmed if the tapes even from Usama at all, so, this could all just be a huge waste of time. I for one think the man must be dead from either a) American air strikes (they’re good at those) b) lack of treatment for his kidney problems or c) earthquake in the Afghani-Pakistan tribal areas.

One or any of those things piled on top of each other could mean the end for the ole’ Bert look-alike.

All I know is I want security to stop stinking their hands down my pants when I pass through the airport. Although I can’t say I complain about the genital groping, the pats and blown kisses are kinda creepy.

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Bush n' Alito - a Love Story

2006-01-19T01:18:00.001-02:00

Did you all miss me? I’ve been a bit on the outs, so, I haven’t had a chance to properly update until now. Now, I know this is a bit late, but, before I have a chance to explain myself, I in fact support the nomination for Judge Samuel Alito for Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

I bet you weren’t expecting that, were you? I mean, I’ve made it pretty clear that I’m no Bush fan so one would assume that I would reject any nomination he made. But the truth is, his choice as of that of the now Chief Justice John Roberts will possibly be the only good things to come out of these 8 Dubya years.

I’m not going to go through and comment on every single one of the outcomes of his trial, because you’re gonna find a more thorough and informative text on it in the million or so other blogs out there. I’m really just going to comment on the issues I like him for.

Firstly, the whole hoopla about his roots and his father being an immigrant from Italy is just a waste of time to me. Am I really one of the few people who doesn’t care about these sort of things? I could care less if the guy is a son of a sodomizing Korean cowboy from Kentucky, as long as he is fair minded, is qualified, doesn’t legislate from the bench and writes clear judicial opinions. His being of a working class ethnic background makes as much sense as talking about his shoe size, because if there’s anything we’ve learned from Justices like Scalia and Thomas is that being ethnic or raised poor means shit when you’re on the bench.

Now, lets look at his qualifications: He’s a Princeton grad with over 28 years of judicial experience. He’s argued twelve cases before the Supreme Court for the federal government during his tenure as assistant to the Solicitor General. He was nominated by George Bush senior in 1990 to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Alito was rated by the American Bar Association as “Well Qualified” at the time of his nomination. He was confirmed by unanimous, bipartisan consent in the Senate.

As adjunct professor at Seton Hall University School of Law, Alito has taught courses in Constitutional Law and an original course on terrorism and civil liberties. In 1995, Judge Alito was presented with that law school’s Saint Thomas Moore Medal, "in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of law."

He has been described by his colleagues as “a studious, diligent, scholarly judge with a first-rate mind and a deadpan sense of humor, a neutral arbiter who does not let personal beliefs affect his legal judgments”

On anyone else, this would be perfect. But this is a Republican nominee, which means he’s the devil incarnate in the eyes of too much of America’s populace.

Teddy (blowhard) Kennedy brought up that Judge Alito wrote in an application some years ago that he was a member of the conservative Concerned Alumni of Princeton, a group described in the media (and by some Senators) as a racist, sexist group that did not want women or minorities to attend the University. The truth is a bit more complex then that of course. First, beyond that one line in a resume, there’s no evidence he was even part of that group at all. Also, the organization was formed in 1972 in protest of the University's commitment to coeducation and admission of students to the Ivy League school under a race-based affirmative action program. That’s hardly saying that they don’t want minorities or women in the school, but rather that Affirmative Action based on race or genre is both unfair and hurtful to the study body and academia in general. The fact that people like Laura Ingraham and Dinesh D’Souza were both members (a woman and minority respectively) shows what their true intent was. But of course, any criticism made in this country of the holy scriptures of Affirmative Action are considered racist nowadays by the media and left (or is that one in the same?) so, yeah, we might as well call them KKKs and lynch ‘em for *gasp* fostering debate. Blasphemous!

If you’d all like a nice read on the subject by a fellow minority, I suggest you check this out. Good read from a guy in the know…

Secondly, there’s the issue that will either make or break his nomination: abortion. There are those who are hoping he will be the deciding vote on overturning Roe v. Wade (unlikely) which of course has got the pro-choicers and feminists all worked up. Now, i’m Pro-Choice. Honestly, I am. People always think its weird how an admitted right wing Muslim radical like me would support abortion, but, I feel a woman has a right to choose what she wishes to do with her body.

Between you, me and the walls, I actually wish abortions were practiced more often in the lower class slums where the inbred, fatherless, uneducated futures of America run around then college grad suburbia. If anything, abortions are killing out our best and brightest while the worst humanity has to offer keeps churning out babies a million a minute.

Anyways, I do support abortion, but, i’m no fan of Roe v. Wade because it took away the fundamental American virtue of States rights. The argument for lack of a better word was lame and I wish it were retried simply for it can be left up to the State’s (as it should be). This abortion lovers won’t stop abortions in your beloved west and east coasts, but only strengthen your position by showing that people in your respective States just love abortions (they’re yummy and they tickle) and can’t wait enough time to have ‘em.

Truth is, the abortion issue is very unlikely to turn up anytime this century, and both Roberts and Alito have made it clear, Roe v. Wade is the law of the land and shouldn’t be overturned. I guess you pro-lifers out there will keep have to bomb and shoot up abortion clinics if you want to get your message across.

From what I heard from the hearings, Judge Alito supports the American ideals of limited government and little to no government intervention of your private affairs, which kicks absolute ass. Nothing makes me jump for joy more then big government socialists getting pounded in the ass by the greatness that is the American Constitution, which assures me that I am protected from fuck faces like your selves.

.But then there’s the issue of executive power and illicit wire tapping. Democrats brought up the issue (ironically they’re usually the ones trying to do these sorts of things) and as I pointed out in an earlier post, wire tapping or giving more power to Bozo Bush is a big no- no. Same with the ineffective drug laws which continue to stand in these United States for whatever reason. As a committed Libertarian, its hard for me to support a guy who was once involved in prosecuting drug crimes and may condone wire tapping. These are two big issues for me and this where my only scepticism in Alito boy stand.

I mean, we ARE talking about a Bush nominee here. Even though I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt, its unlikely Bush will nominate anyone who isn’t a fierce supporter of the “war on terror” and his insane (and criminal) methods.

One curious little thing I found on him was the in 1971 in a student conference he led called "The Boundaries of Privacy in American Society” he called for “supported curbs on domestic intelligence gathering, called for the legalization of sodomy, and urged for an end to discrimination against homosexuals in hiring by employers.”

I always chuckle when I hear about anti-sodomy laws that still existed as far as the 80s and 90s. I mean, seriously, how did the authorities expect to charge and prosecute them? Were they simply going to knock down the door during a steamy, man on man sex party guns blazing demanding he “put his hands off of the other man’s body”? I for one encourage any form of civil disobedience against sodomy laws if you happen to live in a place where it is outlawed. Don’t like dudes? No problem! Sodomy can be practiced on ladies too ;)

Anyways, as you can see, I like the guy. I do. I am a bit concerned about his views on drugs and wire tapping, but, for the most part, I like him. I assume there will be an endless debate over in the Senate with a few filibusters here and there, but, I think in the end, the guy’s gonna be confirmed on the basis of his merits alone. Consider Justice Ginsberg, a far left ideologue communist ACLU advisor gets confirmed unanimously and this guy doesn’t? Pft! The folks over in the Beltway aren’t THAT partisan and out of the mainstream…. Or are they?

And if you're expecting me to comment on Alito's wife crying, heres why I gotta say. Anyone gloating is an idiot. Simple as that. I've heard everything from she was faking it to she deserved to cry for being a peckerwood crack bitch. The people who said that... they should die.

Remember to ride the Rocket kiddos!

Personal bullshit

2006-01-09T20:10:00.000-02:00

Its not incredibly often you'll find me writing about anything remotely personal on this little unread blog of mine. I really only started this as a way to amuse myself and pass the time by writing what I was thinking about in that given moment. Today is a special day because this little post will be buried under the big, important post which will happen sometime later today (first day of Alito confirmation hearing).

If you can, id like you to read this with an open mind and with many glasses of patience. Its going to be a long ride from here on...

Anyways, as I mentioned in my profile I stutter. I wasnt born a stutterer mindyou, in fact, I recall as a child speaking with perfect fluency and rhythm. I was shy, sure, but I didnt have any obvious traits that held me back in life.

Stuttering, experts say, can either be caused by any of these three elements: genetics, childhood development or neurophysiology. Its quite easy to make excuses about everything bad that happens to us, especially when we have the innermost feeling that we may be the cause and we just dont want anyone to know.

Genetics: to my knowledge no one in my family has a stutter of any sort.

Neurophysiology: Considering i havent done a neuroimaging in my lifetime, I have no way to determine if this is the cause.

Which leads us to childhood development....

As I mentioned before, as a child I never stuttered. I spoke normally to what I can recall. I never had problems with people not understanding me, in fact, my mother tells me I was quite talkative as a child. Its a long story, and ill be starting from the beginning of it all...

When I moved back to the Dominican Republic when I was 11 after staying most of my life in the US, my parents put me in a posh bi-lingual school. Having lived so long in the Suburbs of South Florida in the Public school system, you would be accurate to assume it was a great culture clash at such a young age.

For the first time, I was expected to wear a uniform, tuck my shirt in, pray in school (no matter how absurd that seemed to me at the time), refer to my teachers as Sir and Mam and rise whenever someone walked into a room and bow (im not even kidding).

My time in said posh private hellhole was marked by one teacher: Agueda erm.. something. She was an old lady in her 60s and acted like a character straight out of a Dickens novel. She was stern, humourless and always in a foul mood and for whatever reason, thought it was acceptable to unleash her anger on small children with talk downs and beatings with a ruler. And, to my great luck, she was my math teachers-

Although I was very good at math (even more so then my classmates) she had great disdain for me because I have the tendency to be a bit sloppy on my work sheet in math while im solving a problem. That, and I didnt like using pens or write in cursive unless I had to. After one incident I dont care to recall and she said some rather unpleasant things to me, I yelled back at her "¡Vete a la mierda vieja, fea estupida!" (translation: Go fuck yourself you stupid ugly old hag)

After that, I was kicked out of the lovely bi-lingual school. If anything, this proves I wasnt particularly shy or introverted back then, doesn’t it? My father (old school as he is) decided out of punishment to put me in a school in the ghetto, mostly black area of the city, as a means to show me about respect.

When I arrived, I was seen as fresh meat by the inbred, undereducated, worthless, parentless scum that roamed those halls. Apparently they took out on me the lack of hugs their mothers didn’t give them as toddlers. Why was I singled out? I was white, came from the upper class and lived in the US for a long time, so I was bi-lingual. Also, I do actually have a speech impediment, but its not noticeable in English but only in Spanish. I can't pronounce the Latin "R" (burrito for me sounds more like bu-heeto). My father and many of his siblings have the same problem, but since they lived in their upper classes and weren’t subjected to the plebes, they hardly got any heat for it.

Anyways, it was around this time that I developed a stutter. Everyday was hell for me. I could defend myself against anyone one on one, but life being what it is, I was attacked by all sides by small cliques who wanted nothing but to destroy me for my economic and ethnic background. They called me stupid because I couldn’t pronounce R, gay because I was too shy to talk to girls and accused me of having AIDs because I was so thin (I was thin back then believe it or not). Never mind that I was better read, had a 160 IQ and was much more studious then any of them, because of my refusal to make presentations (Dominican teacher's way of slacking off for the day), I was accused of being dense by my incompetent teachers (also black and of poor backgrounds).

After 3 years of begging, I was finally released from that sewer with those worthless scum by my uncaring father. My reward for all this? A lifelong battle with stuttering, chronic shyness, mumbling, massive depression, al lifetime worth of scars from self mutilation and frequent anxiety attacks when in public.

Now, all of you (as in, no one) must be wondering why I have decided to write about something so personal in what is clearly intended as a political punditry blog? Its a release for me... a way to express my frustration at the world and its endless ignorance.

I recently watched a movie called "Corpse Bride" which inspired me to reread the children's classic "Alice in the Wonderland". After reading it, I went online to read the biography of its author Lewis Carroll (also a stutterer). Apparently, the inspiration for his book came after a Reverend Robinson Duckworth and Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Carroll's real name) rowed in a boat up the River Thames the reverends three charming little girls of which included one named Alice.

Now, Dodgson, although an educated man, was well known for his "hesitance" as he put it except around the company of children. I myself find that my stuttering comes and goes based on certain situations.

*I seem to stammer stronger and more frequently when standing then sitting

*I frequently stammer around people when i first meet them (great for first impressions, eh?)

*I never stammer when alone or with my beloved 4 year old niece.

*I stammer frequently on the phone but not as often in person.

*I stammer more in public places like a mall then in private, even if said public place I am only speaking to one person and in the private with a group.

*I hardly never stammer when angry or frustrated, but always do when happy (Not often) or excited.

*I dont drink or do drugs, but when i did in the past, my stammer would suddenly disappear.

*I stammer frequently around people I am either attracted to (such as my darling F) or fearful of (such as my father). But the same can be said about people I feel "comfortable" with such as my mother or my best friend, so, I’m not sure how well this applies.

*I sometimes snap before I speak and use frequent hand gestures. I guess its my own personal form of sign language.

Even though I stammer, you'll hardly ever seen me repeating syllables or words (dd-ddont ss-ssay that, etc.) but rather, I have long pauses where I make an Ahhhhhh sound which is usually followed by a muffled or mumble of whatever I wanted to say and the inescapable repetition after the "AHHH?!" and "HUH?" by whoever I was saying it to.

One common misconception about stammering is that it has to do with breathing or speaking fastly. Wrong (at least in my case). It doesnt matter if I take deep breaths between words or speak at a snail's pace, I find comfort level, reaction to past stammering incidents and the general personality of the person im talking to the be the biggest factor, not speed or any other nonsense grandma may have told you.

I mumble because im ashamed. My being a sutterer shames me. I feel horrible and every syllable of every word is a struggle for me. Its difficult for me to say anything, and harrassment, teasing and lack of understanding (in the feelings sense, not the literal sense) make me feel awful. As I mentioned before, I am a self mutilator (read cutter) and on many occassions have stuck needles, knives and have even considerd cutting off my lips and tongue. Physical pain and torture to reflect the emotional pain I feel insides. I have feelings (believe it or not) and someone mocking me while im still in the room because they think id be too dense to comprehend it (no matter the 160 IQ I have like I mentioned before) hurts me in ways most people would never understand.

Anyways, im an adult now. Done with the teens, into the tweens. College age as they say. But, I still face discrimination and hurtfull comments on a daily basis, especially from F, the person I currently have strong feelings for.

This person, who i am both attracted to and speak often on the phone with does nothing but put me down, tease and insult me. I take it without a response, but, I wonder if F can hear the razor cutting my skin when F does it? Oh well, I shouldnt complain. Im not one to make excuses for myself. I am a worthless piece of scum who cant even speak correctly to the person he loves. Am I fit for this World? Should I continue to burden the Earth with my presence? I dont know, but, until I gain the courage to step into the other side, I will have to continue taking it.

Anyways, im sorry. Like I said, this was more for me then for anything else.

Sharon dies, Netanyahu rises...

2006-01-05T03:06:00.000-02:00

How the world turns, eh?

Okay, Ariel Sharon suffered a massive stroke on Wednesday. Sharon who is 77 was taken by ambulance Wednesday night from his home in the Negev Desert, in southern Israel, to Jerusalem's Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital after complaining of chest pain and weakness, according to his senior adviser, Ra'anan Gissen.

The doctors diagnosed a cerebral hemorrhage, or bleeding of a blood vessel in Sharon's brain, and he was taken into surgery to repair the rupture. The operation is going on as we speak, but there have been reports of colleagues and cabinet members of Sharon coming out of the hospital with grim faces.

This is the second stroke Sharon has gotten in less than a month. After the first stroke, on December 18, the prime minister was placed on blood-thinning medication, which can be associated with an increased risk of brain hemorrhage.

Ariel Sharon for the un-initiated was the founder of the Likud party (Conservative), and previously served for over thirty years in the Israeli Defense Forces, rising to the rank of Major General, and achieving fame within Israel and abroad for his actions in the 1967 Six Day War, the 1973 Yom Kippur War and the 1981 invasion of Lebanon, which happened during his watch as Defense minister, where the Sabra and Shatila massacre took place, in which between 460 and 3,500 (maybe more) Palestinian civilians in the refugee camps were killed.

So anyways, anyone who knows anything about me or this blog should know I’m no Sharon fan. I think he's a war criminal and a genocidal maniac who should be put on trial and executed by a guillotine in a public square. But at the same time, I found it immature and frankly, stupid, the gleeful reactions of many around the world to his sudden health problems.

Like him or not, no (sane) person can try to connect his stroke with some sort of punishment by God or anything of that nature. The man is 77 and was born with a hole in his heart. Not to mention he’s like 900 lbs (he's always looked like Pac-Man to me). He was bound to die sooner or later and like the million bastards who have come before him (and will surely come after) he will die in peace on his bed, surrounded by friends, family and the undying love from his people.

Reading about this in the paper and watching it on TV, I cant stop from getting this aching pain in my belly. Its not him dieing thats got me like this, its the way he is dieing -it isn’t enough for me. I feel robbed. This man is a brutal murderer and as I said before should be put on trial and have his crimes shown to the world. Perhaps its a bit naive and idealistic of me, but that’s truly what he deserves.

I’m not saying I’m happy or sad about his death, because frankly I think its irrelevant if the man lives or dies. Israel is a lost cause and will probably only last a generation more until it will succumb because of its low birth-rate, secular progressive population which doesn’t give much of a hoot about their "homeland" and will eventually move away to the West plus lets not forget the constant barrage of suicide bombers and mortar attacks by their friendly neighbours causing unlimited amounts of damage of property and loss of life.

Israel will not end with a great battle or a treaty signed in a mountain retreat like those bad movies we've all seen a million times but will quietly disappear when its entire population moves away to continental Europe or the US and Arab muslims move in, all of whom will become citizens and through their votes simply erase it off the map. Nothing spectacular about that ending, but that’s the most realistic possibility we've got going for us...

Of course there will be people out there who will cry victory and do their usual "shoot in the air, dance on the streets" celebrations and I suppose in a way they did win. I mean, they all fucked more and didn’t use protection like the Israelis do.

Before I get any death threats, I’m not trying to minimize those fighting for Palestine and its people. I’m just saying that it isn’t a battle that’s won this war, its unprotected sex and no trips to France for a weekend to get an abortion on demand. The birth-rate in Israel is horrible and Israel is constantly trying to get people into their country (which explains them bringing the Falashas, those black Jews from Ethiopia). Palestine on the other hand is filling to the brim with babies. Having babies is almost like a hobby there and well, thats whats winning the war for them at the moment, so I guess they do have some reason be proud.

Anyways, like I said: birth-rate will win the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, not some great battle involving tanks, planes and battleships like we'd all like to see. The Arab states have tried in at least 2 occasions to attack Israel and have failed miserably. They can make excuses all they want about the US and Europe, but, face it guys: you lost.

Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean they should give up and submit to their Israeli overlords. It just leaves out any hope of any chance of some great battle occurring cos its not.

So, back to Sharon. Everyone’s jabbering about how there’s gonna be a big issue with Kadima (His new centrist oriented party) and the next elections. Looks like without Sharon, Kadima doesnt stand a chance in the elections and his old friends at Likud have nominated Benjamin Netanyahu, a hardcore asshole with war on his mind and what may be a free pass the governor’s mansion.

Now, we all know Israel's gonna die in about 50 years, but that doesnt mean I want a prick like Netanyahu in charge who will do nothing but kill a few thousand more innocents before Israel implodes within itself.

Maybe I'll talk about him another time, but for now, trust me... he's shit and the world would be better off without him. Sharons no good, but this guy (believe it or not) is worse.

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Citizens with Cameras

2006-01-03T13:53:00.000-02:00

Okay, so, the St Louis chapter of the ACLU being the little gems they are, says it plans to hand residents of the city's poor, mostly black north side with video cameras to record officers' handling of the public, whom they state "often mistreat and unfairly targets blacks".

So, passing out cameras seems fine, right? I mean, citizens armed with cameras recording police at the time of an arrest will keep the officers in check and act as a deterrent to police abuse. Does anyone else see a problem with this?

Now okay, im all for citizen's rights as the next man (Hell, even more so then the average next man) but handing out cameras to citizens for private surveillance seems almost like they trying to find abuse instead of report on it. Sure, video recording serve as good evidence of Police Abuse, but what we all know from the Rodney King episode, they can be tampered with and manipulated to seem like something they are not.

Plus, Police have enough problems as to have people in rough neighborhoods pull big blocky and black things out of their bags to point at them with. Also, how can we be certain these guys running at police whenever they're making a bust wont interfere with the arrest?

Now, what Im really curious about is who they plan on passing the cameras to, and what will the criterias be to be elegible for said device. If they pass it to 40 people at random, who's to say that 20 will just end up recording Amateur porn movies involving piss fetishes.

The Police department's response has pretty much been to shrug at it, which is what the appropiate answer is. In fact, Sgt. Kevin Ahlbrand, president of the St. Louis Police Officers Association, said: "We don't expect any negative reports to come out of videotaping. Our members are under the assumption that in today's society, they should assume that any time they're in public, they may be being videotaped."

ACLU's response? "It's not like we needed their clearance." (Classy guys arent they?)

In conclusion, it seems like a waste of time but alas, Cops are gonna have to deal with it. Race peddling groups like this will always exist and as long as they dont put the officers at jepordy, im fine with it.

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Lunar Years and Dancing Santas

2006-01-01T23:09:00.001-02:00

I suppose it would be appropriate of me to mention something about the New Year and end with some profound and moving speech about how time is endless and infinite but we should still aspire to make every year on this Earth better then the last.

But the truth is, New Year is shite to me. I care about as much about New Year's celebrations as I do pimples on my arse. Plus, I don't follow the Solar Year, I follow the Lunar Year, so, I still have about 31 days left in the year. In fact, in my calendar its still only 1426 (Im serious) which means Constantinople should be falling to the Turks in my lifetime.

See me, i'm a douche. I'll admit to that. Whenever someone has called or visited me saying "Happy New Year" I went on to explain to them what I mentioned before about following the Lunar Year and such instead of graciously accepting their (bullshit) wishes. So yeah, I usually get the same puzzled looks from people who had no idea that there was a lunar and a solar year. Yeah, college degrees go a long way people...

Anyways, I despise these celebrations for many, many reasons. Firstly because its one of those times were its considered socially acceptable to be drunk in public, play loud, lousy music and shoot annoying fireworks into the air. That and Independence Day... and Labour Day.... and Veteran's Day... lets not forget Memorial and Columbus Day... yeah, now that I think about it, people will pretty much find any excuse to get drunk, play bad music and shoot things into the air, dont they?

In fact, I havent stopped hearing the small explosions and smelling the smell of something burning since November... fucking NOVEMBER. I live next to about 300 kids who all apparently pitch in to buy fireworks every day. The sad thing is that I'll have to continue listening to this bullshit for about 30 more days I reckon.

Plus, the annoying lights in front of people's houses annoy me too... not because of the lights themselves, I'm okay with that, its when people get stupid figures to put the lights around like a bush or a deer or something. Also, I live in the tropics yet all the people on my block have powdery, white snow over the lawns. Yeah, I dont think theyre fooling any one..

Also theres those annoying things that talk and move like this stupid dancing Santa across my street. Whenever I pass by the go to the Bakery or get the paper that bullshit smirking dancing Santa does an annoying little Jig for me and yells "HO HO HO! MERRRRRY Christmas!" God I wish I could shoot that thing with a shotgun...

Anyways yeah, I guess im just venting. I predict another lousy year of disappointments, shattered dreams and broken promises, so, I take it out on stupid neighbours and customs. But, I wonder how they'd all react if I started lighting some shit up on Eid?

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos

Not another one of these...

2005-12-30T18:26:00.000-02:00

Another day, another Latin American country falling to the spread of radical socialism. This time, its Bolivia (Which just so happens to be where El Che got caught and killed) that has elected a new prick to ruin their economy.

Now, don’t go off thinking I’m the chickenhawk Pro-"America ruling the world" sort. Cos really, I'm not. State's rights and rejection of any Federal intervention is one thing, but im certainly not the next Bush. However, this doesn't mean I will be happy over another Hugo Chavez in Latin America. Especially because as we've seen with Chavez, these types of leaders tend to export the radical views on to the rest of the world.

Most people would assume an anti-Bush radical like myself would be happy a fellow radical would be elected in the continent of my forefathers. Problem is, he's the wrong kind of radical. I'm an Anarcho-Libertarian, he's a Socialist. Most people like to put us in the same group, something both of us take offence to.

I've lived in Latin America, so, I know exactly how all of this works. An incompetent administration mishandles the economy and surrounds himself with corrupt individuals, thus leaving too many peasant families out on the street. A socialist crusader comes down from the hills and manages to win the support of the plebes and intellectuals. Next, come the heavy taxing, the loss of freedom of press, the lynch mobs and the "re-education" of dissenters.

To add to all this, now not only Venezuela, Argentina and Brazil will be blocking the Free Trade bill, but Bolivia too! O_O Free trade, contrary to what all those protestors in Argentina led you to believe BENEFITS Latin America, because it loosens restrictions in commerce, which in turn employs the population.

Now, these angry little commies are going to crush anything the US proposes (Just cos its coming from the US), seize all private assets and control the media, just like they did back in Venezuela.

This is going to be a great New Year o_O

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

1984 in 2006?

2005-12-30T16:09:00.000-02:00

At least as far as I'm concerned....

This is just what I need. News that the Neo-Cons over in Washington have been allowing secret eavesdropping program on suspected "terrorists" without a warrant as long as one party is outside of the US.

Now, some people will say "But Z_Z, the Federal Government needs these tools to fight terrorists who wish nothing more then to harm us! LOLZ!!" It amazes me how people can honestly say that with a straight face and look at me like I’m one of those paranoid guys in the subways who think that Martians are sending him messages through his French fries when I tell them that we shouldn't let aside our civil liberties for the sake of "the war on terror".

Trust me, if a terrorist attack is going to happen, it’s not going to be thwarted by tapping into MY phone or sticking camera in the girls locker (great as that may be). “But if you aren’t a terrorist you have nothing to fear!! LOLZ!!” Bullshit. We all have something to fear because this is a blatant disregard to the constitution and once that wall is broken down, that’s when the flood comes in…

Although its true that the Feds are telling us that its only for suspected terrorists, what’s stopping them from expanding to everyone from political leftists planning protests in the WTO to just plain ole' small government radicals such as myself? I mean, they didnt ask permission to do it the first time, why would do if they plan on expanding it? Loss of privacy affects all of us, and anytime any government exceeds its power to obtain something its a recipe for disaster.

Now, Attorney General Gonzalez is telling everyone that it was "within the legal authority" of the President, but that’s just garbage.

This is blatant government expansion under the guise of "war on terror". People don't seem to understand (or care) that they are slowly losing their rights. First its our privacy, then our right to speak out against said government or its policies, then they take our right to bare arms thus culminating their vicious plans of a defenseless populace at the mercy of our wise overlords in the Beltway.

Now, this is what REALLY gets to me... the fact that these people, the guys calling the shots, dare call themselves conservatives.

Besides ruining our economy, increasing spending and illegally invading other countries without motivation or an exit plan, they've managed to chalk another anti-conservative point: loss of civil liberties.

Now, in all fairness, there will be a Senate Hearing for the NSA and there’s some grumbling coming from both the left and the right, but the truth is, these assclowns wouldn’t stop it even if they wanted to.

Problem is, the Conservative movement has been hijacked by Neo-Conservatives: Big Government jackasses that reward their corporate friends and put their so called "morality" on the forefront of the national agenda while claiming they're on the right because theyre against abortion and gun control. People like me are called "Paleo-Conservatives" and "Libertarians" but the truth is WE are true conservatives, not assholes like Cheney or Rumsfield who should now legally change their names to Stalin and Dzerzhinsky .

Barry Goldwater and Thomas Jefferson must be rolling in their graves right about now...

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!

Farris of Mesopotamia

2005-12-30T14:56:00.000-02:00

Farris Hassan is a 16 year old junior at Pine Crest School in Florida of Iraqi descent who decided to out-Lawrence Lawrence and travel to

Iraq

for an assignment on international topics for which he was assigned to write an editorial about.

I strongly doubt that his teachers thought he’d go as far as he did, but it certainly shows commitment and a full set of cojones to pull this kind of a stunt off. I remember when I was in High School getting an assignment on the Spanish constitution and getting all worked up cos the assholes at the embassy wouldn’t give me a copy of said document (cheap bastards) for my presentation.

Now, lots of the blogs and News Outlets have gone apeshit over this kid, mostly because he presents the insurgency in a bad light with quotes like this:

Those terrorists are not human but pure evil. For their goals to be thwarted, decent individuals must answer justice's call for help.

The fact alone that he’s using “terrorist” instead of “insurgent” proves some bit of partisanship on his part. Sure, the insurgency has its faults (Lord knows there is plenty of that) but I don’t think it’s accurate to portray them simply as terrorists instead of what they really are: an insurgent guerrilla militia fighting a perceived occupation (real or not) by a foreign power. I don’t think anyone, even those who support military action in Iraq can deny that that’s who these people are. Quite frankly, even those who refuse to believe that they're anything more then simple terrorists have to aknowledge that any attack on the scale that these guys pull it off on has to have some deal of support from the local populace.

If they were haters of freedom and evil, throat cutting thugs, how can they pull of things liked IEDs without killing any civilian by-standers? Before anyone mentions all those attacks on Shias mindyou that those are delibarate provocations by the Sunni theocratic insurgents in hopes of starting a civil war with the Shia leadership. Odd as it may seem to try and get someone to attack you, it would create a huge power vacume in the region that could lead the way to exactly what these guys want, which is a Sunni Theocracy in Iraq. As it stands now, the Shia leadership has done little because they know a civil war isn't in their best interests. Over 60% of Iraq is Shia and they can achieve all the power they want with general, democratic elections.

Labels like guerrilla, militia, insurgent, rebel, etc are fair describitions and those I could handle; terrorist is just plain simplistic and sounds terribly like the “black and white” or “good versus evil” rhetoric we hear from Bush and his boys in the Pentagon.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to justify what the insurgents have been doing. I am merely accurately labling them what they really are (Something too many people do terribly wrong).

Back to Farris: Would it be cynical of my part to assume he wouldn’t get the kind of praise and press he’s getting now if it wasn’t for comments such as those he made on the "evil terrorists"? I mean, how many other young college age kids have gone off to Iraq and written extensively on their experiences there only to get ignored by the Mainstream Media and public at large. Sure, his age and the circumstances surrounding his adventure are something to take notice of, but the kind of idolization he’s getting is something to behold.

Now, reading all the news reports and his own accounts on the issue, I couldn’t stop but think “Did he really have to go all the way to Iraq to write this?” I mean, everything he’s said up to now he could have easily have been “discovered” with a bit of research and not a life threatening trip in the Middle East.

Okay, I don’t want to come off sounding like I’m putting the kid down, cos, the truth is, I admire the little prick. Its just, I can't stop thinking "Was all of this really necessary?" Like when the asswipes at the Spanish Embassy refused to give me a copy because I wasn’t a Spanish citizen I just went online, printed it out and stapled it together. Sure, his assignment was different to mine, but that doesn’t justify me having to have gone to Madrid or anything. I dunno... maybe it all seems a bit too much for me... I for one feel perfectly fine cynically reporting from my Space Station here in the American South.

Remember to ride the rocket kiddos!