April 2006 Archives

In a daring and bold move to proove that they can take a stand on SOMETHING, the Chicago City Council has banned the sale or use of foie gras in restaurants. The law passed 49-0. That's amazing.

The rationale is that it's cruel to the ducks to be force-fed the way they are to get foie gras, and while I do feel bad for the ducks, I think it's beyond silly to just outright the stuff altogether. There's plenty of food practices that I don't agree with: veal, stone crabs, foie gras, but I do think it's better to let the market handle it. Plenty of restaurants have in years refused to serve the stuff and I think that people would decline to eat it if more of them knew where it came from.

But does the government of Chicago really have nothing better to do than outlaw controversial foods and put up large invasive cameras?

I've talked about animals attacking before. This one is no laughing matter. It's scary as hell.

So I predicted the Idol Bottom three would be:

1. Paris Bennett
2. Eliott Yamin
3. Kellie Pickler

I said I thought Katherine did better than the judges said, and they lead the show with an apology to Katherine because after watching the playback they thought they were too harsh on her. I feel good that I nailed it.

And the loser was:

Here's my quick recap of American Idol last night:

1. Katherine McPhee - Did great, at least I thought she was better than what the judges had to say. Safe
2. Elliott Yamin - Last night was the first time in the competition he gave me chills. I thought he was more confident than ever before and he was good. Still...he's in the bottom three.
3. Kellie Pickler - What a disaster. Not the right song for her at all and she was all over the place. Poor girl, you know I love you, but you're gone.
4. Paris Bennett - She always sings well enough, but I never feel like she connects when she does. I think Simon was right when he said she's a singing wind-up doll. Bottom three.
5. Taylor Hicks - Man was good, but the song was a little boring, which is too bad. Still, he's safe.
6. Chris Daughtry - Surprised with a bottom three visit last week, he was better this week, but I personally found it boring. My wife, on the other hand, would like to have his children. He's safe this week.

Last year, Hummer presented that mess of a commercial with the giant killer robot and the mutant monster lizard giving birth to an H3. What a piece of advertising garbage that was. This is a real SUV commercial.

Under the guise of protecting the children (what us libertarians call the "WON'T SOMEBODY THINK OF TEH CHILDREN" effect), Alberto Gonzalez is seeking to get a law passed which would require ISPs to record ever customer's internet history and hold the ISPs accountable if they don't take a harder stance against child pornography.

These laws are never ever ever about child pornography. Wrapped up in the flag of saving the innocents, law enforcement officials use the laws they pass in so many other ways, railroading suspects, mining for data on people to prosecute, etc. The thing is that they'd never get this type of law passed by claiming it's an anti-terror law because enough people would cry out, so they do it this way instead so if you're against this bill, you're in favor of letting child molestors go free. Which is a pile of horseshit, but that's what people will say.

More children are hurt and killed by aspirin every year than those that are approached or hurt by molestors. Where's the global campaign against aspirin? Furthermore, the statistic 1 in 5 children are solicited is an empty one. Every time I log in on Yahoo Messenger, I am "solicited" by an IM Bot. Same with AIM. That doesn't mean it's a paedophile. But they certainly count those. I'm sure there are other inflated numbers in there, such as when the Dept. of Justice claimed a wildly huge number of children killed by gunfire every year EVEN THOUGH they were counting 18 - 19 year olds, and children killed by police in the comission of a crime.

Oh well...welcome comrades to your new police state.

I think it's going to be a bleak Christmas this year. Looking ahead in the economy, I think that the higher and higher cost of oil and gas is going to suck some life out of our economy. In March, leading economic indicators sank sharply. Inflation (without energy costs included) remained stagnant, but the Fed continues to raise interest rates, which keeps raising the cost of borrowing money, which will make it harder to businesses that have thought about expanding to do so.

I also think that in some areas jobless claims are going to rise, and the price of everything will start to climb as transportation costs continue to inch upward.

Not only that, but Hugo Chavez in Venezuela keeps rattling sabres and claiming that we are planning to invade him and unrest continues in Nigeria, which will make oil investors even more nervous, causing them to buy more to hold in reserve, which will again push up the cost of gasoline at the pump.

One of the only bright spots is that some refinery capacity in the Gulf is coming back on line, which should ease some of the demand pressure we're under.

I guess I'm just cranky and tired, but I keep thinking that in the US, this is going to make for a more unmerry Christmas in 7 months.

I wanted to say that I think it's fabulous that Terrell Owens made the move to go to Dallas this year. I wouldn't normally say anything nice about the Cowboys, as I'm a Redskins fan, but I'm going to enjoy watching Dallas implode completely around the shithead antics T.O. will do down in Texas.

Living in Philadelphia I've had plenty of opportunities on my TV to see what T.O. was up to ("We have word he's just pulled into the stadium.", "We have word he's just picked his nose and flicked the booger.") and everyone else's responses to him. All of the times that T.O. has had something bad to say about Donovan McNabb, all of those times he's talked trash, McNabb has just let it go and acted like a gentleman. He knows his business and acts like it's business.

That's not Drew Bledsoe. If you get in his face he'll get in yours. Same with Bill Parcells, and same with Jerry Jones. You have four extra-big personalities and T.O.'s going to try to push people around. And when he does, he's going to get in trouble with the coaching staff. And when he gets in trouble with the coaching staff, T.O. gets sullen and sulks and acts like a three-year-old. So Parcells will be sending him to his room a lot.

Sure, yes, fine, he's got something to prove, but his swagger is going to get the better of him. So will his agent. So will his wounded pride when Bledsoe throws the ball to Terry Glenn instead of him.

So rather than be a threat, I think T.O.'s presence in Dallas is a good thing...for Redskins and Giants fans.

It was recently revealed through secret documentation at Comedy Central that Mr. Colbert's continued rants on bears, highlighting them as the greatest threat against America, comes from a very dark place. You see, through his rapier wit and dry delivery style, Colbert is working us over so that we think there is no threat from bears. Oh no, we think it is only some ludicrous joke that he has dreamt up. But while we laugh, the bears are organizing, and like Howard Campbell Jr. in Mother Night, Colbert acts as one of our leading anti-bear voices while all along...he's really working for them.

Why else would he vilify bears in one breath, and then idolize Bill O'Reilly with the name "Poppa Bear" in the other. You thought you had us fooled, didn't you Stephen? But we're on to you. That's right big guy!

You're officially on notice Mr. Colbert...or should I say: Mr. Cole-bear

This morning, in Nigeria, rebels from the Niger River Delta exploded a car bomb near a military barracks, killing two soldiers. While that might not sound like a lot of casualties, it's because the bomb was exploded as a message to the Nigerian government that if they didn't "do something" for the people living in the Niger River Delta in regards to the oil companies, they'd start bombing for real.

This is worrisome not only because it means that these guys are taking notes from the larger playbook of terrorists and will probably kill a lot of people to try and gain their vague political goals, but also because the oil company's willingness to further explore the Delta for crude oil sources will evaporate, leaving the world with less reserves. All of this means not only higher gas prices at the pump, but higher prices all the way up the price chain.

One consequence of climbing gas prices I haven't heard discussed yet is the possibility that it will begin to be cheaper to make stuff at home again than it is to make it overseas, ship across an entire ocean, and then drive to the stores. Has anyone else heard mention of this yet? Anyone have any figures because right now I'm talking out of my butt.

MSNBC is running a story on a big shakeup at the Whitehouse. Wow, that's great guys. Here's a thought though: "Shuffling the cards you're playing with doesn't make a shitty hand any less shitty." Or, to put it more succinctly: "You can't polish a turd".

Whatever. I guess in Bush's head, swapping one turd with another equals progress. That's why he keeps yammering about progress in Iraq.

(AP Newswire) - April 19, 2006 - Amid reports that Katie Holmes has given birth to a little girl named Suri, people around the world are reporting that Scientologists are moving en masse into Scientology Centers carrying "all of their worldly belongings".

A source close to John Travolta stated that he has completed work on a series of rocketships which will carry the entire body of Scientologists into space. What will happen then is a secret guarded closely by the Church of Scientology.

Doctors and nurses, speaking on condition of anonymity have confirmed that Katie Holmes did indeed give birth to a mostly whole L. Ron Hubbard, and that reports it was a girl are an attempt by the couple to delay the press until they too have flown into space.

A friend posted a screed against President Bush claiming it's all his fault that gas prices are high. I know you are all aware I'm no fan of Bush, I think he's one of the worst presidents we've ever had, period. But Tom's post was purposely inflammatory and degrading, and some of my other friends took the bait.

Attempting to insert some logic and reasoning and facts into the flame war, I posted this comment:

Well truth be told, there are several reasons why gas is so high, not just because of Bush. Sure, Bush isn't doing much to correct the issue, but as a libertarian, I'm not so sure it's the government's responsibility to tell an industry how to operate, even an essential one like oil.

Issues that Bush has zero control over that are affecting the cost of oil:

* A huge increase in demand from China and India where the economy is exploding. These are also the cause for a skyrocketing price in steel (another reason why the cost of new construction in the US is going up).

* Civil unrest in the oil-producing countries in Africa are cutting off those sources of supply. Oil workers in Africa are constantly getting kidnapped and pipelines bombed.

* Lack of refining capabilities in the US hampers the flow of crude pumped out in the Gulf of Mexico and other regions, and produces an inflation in price of oil. The problem is that not many people want a refinery in their backyard and most states these days fear a refinery would become a terrorist target so they block new construction. The one serious effort to build a new one in the Arizona desert on an old military base is stalled because apparently even coyote and vultures suffer from the NIMBY attitude.

* OPEC are a bunch of shitheads. They obviously like the high prices and like having the US by the short hairs and so they're not increasing production. Economics clearly states that a limited supply inflates prices. Until their last meeting they were slowing production.

* Buying by traders. Traders the world over are bidding for oil reserves they feel are coming to an end, so their bidding drives up the price of oil.

Now, given the high price of oil, yes, hybrids are becoming more popular. Toyota just announced they're going to make more hybrid models available. Oil exploration is on the rise, and the pumping and refining of once unprofitable types of oil (shale and sand oil) is also increasing. Canada has, in terms of sand oil, the largest untapped oil reserves in the world. Biggest ever seen.

It's a mixed picture, and while it does suck to have to drop $2.77 a gallon right now, I'm taking the long view, and so should you. It's convenient to blame Bush (trust me, I blame him for a lot. I'm not fan of his. I voted for Badnarik) but he's not the only reason we're in this mess.

I figured it was even and balanced and fair. Silly Mo! No, Tom instead replied that he supports free speech and abhors censorship, but it's his blog, and he doesn't have to display it. True enough. But what's the point in claiming you believe in free speech and support it if you're going to censor everyone that doesn't agree with you? He's content to hide behind his blog and holler at people, but when they get mad and holler back he mutes them. It's hypocrisy in the highest order and it sticks in my craw; as a writer, as a libertarian, as a thinking man. Society is always served better when people have full and free speech. I know that doesn't mean that you have to support someone's right to yell on your lawn at 3am, or to piss on your shrubs. I understand that someone's right to free speech ends at someone else's driveway, but seriously, a website has such a low cost of ownership, and it costs me almost nothing if someone replies to something I wrote, so I'm not going to sweat it if they write an entire dissertation on my blog. Cool! Being involved in that discussion will probably make me a better person, and maybe even some other people too.

That's why I've always had a policy of allowing every legitimate comment to go through. I do remove the "spam comments" but that's because I don't authorize people to advertise on my site without giving me some sort of cut, and they don't. So I consider that a separate matter. But if someone reads something I wrote and wants to call me an asshole, they can, and I'll publish it. Maybe they'll make me think of something I hadn't before. Maybe they'll help me come to a new conclusion about something that's been bothering me. Maybe I'll continue the discussion with them, and I'll help them learn something.

So Tom, stop being a hypocrite, open your mind and open your blogs to comments. Either you support free speech and mean it, or...you're the asshole.

I am crushed with depression today. I usually have a few of these days when the weather gets nice that my whole soul deflates. I sag from the shoulders down and I find it hard to look people in the eye. I'm listless and I don't want to eat or worse yet I want to eat my way through a mountain of food. I find one sad song that fits my mood and just play it over and over again.

I know why I am depressed today: I am beat up from house hunting and securing the financing and the worrying over every little detail of the move and finding my children a preschool and the million of other nits that are flying around my head.

I really just want to stare out the window for a few hours. Better yet, I want to be outside on some old bench in a forgotten garden out of cellphone reach and away from life for the afternoon.

I have very little to be depressed about. My children are beautiful, they're bright and vibrant and funny and loving and snuggling. I'm exercising every night and losing weight. My wife and I sit on the couch together at nights after the kids are asleep and the windows are open letting in the night air. She always smells so good and her warm body against mine while we sit and watch TV is the real home I seek at night. We laugh and talk and tease each other in the stillness. Sometimes we go to bed early and just relax in the silence.

I know anyone can be depressed over nothing in particular, only depressed because of chemical imbalances in my brain or neurons misfiring or lack of sunlight or lack of sleep or lack of some external stimulus, or even too much stress, and it's probably the dawning conclusion of the house buying that's finally unleased all of this stress into my body so that my shoulders ache and my neck is tight and pinched...but I know I have nothing to really be depressed about. And yet I am. I should be excited to finally hear the news, and I'm torn up inside instead.

Tonight I'll have the final word on our offer to buy our new house. I'll pull into the parking lot at home and the kids will run screaming across the lawn towards me and I'll be hammered with hugs and kisses and then everything will be okay again.

(AP Newswire) - April 17, 2006 - On condition of anonymity, a technician at the hospital working with Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes revealed that ultrasounds taken a few weeks ago revealed that Katie Holmes is not actually carrying a baby, but L. Ron Hubbard himself.

"We were all surprised because we expected a baby, but there was this wrinkled old man in there with a typewriter. He was banging away at it."

When asked if Ms. Holmes knows she's carrying the thought-to-be-deceased controversial author and founder of Scientology in her womb, the technician was emphatic: "No! Tom told her she had to wear a blindfold and ear plugs during the ultrasound to block out 'negativity'. He then threatened to kill us and feed us to his children if we told anyone what we saw."

"So why did you come forward?"

"Honestly, I'm a god-fearing person, and this just has me scared and worried. Tom Cruise got on the phone when he saw it and called all his scientology buddies and started laughing maniacally. I haven't been to work since. I've just been down at the church praying."

Further efforts to corroborate this fantastic tale have not been succesful.

I just got around to watching the Shay's Rebellion episode of "10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America" (Link) from the History Channel.

It was a good episode. I give the producer credit for using animation instead of the typical small-scale 10 or 15 person reenactments that they typically use. I tend to get annoyed when watching the History Channel and I see what is supposed to battle but it looks like a small skirmish. I hope they go with more of this style of shows in the future to mix up the presentation.

I think that the subject matter was a good choice as well. Shay's Rebellion, an act of men in Western Massachusetts in the that period of time when we were ruled by the Articles of Confederation, discussed how a group of poor farmers and family men rose up to protest the seizing of land by courts and the jailing of debtors in debtors prisons. I think that the History Channel gave a fair presentation of the issues and was surprisingly forgiving of the rebellion against the government of the time. I typically find that large channels mock those who oppose the government and want to portray them as dangerous men or wrong-headed idealogues. This was neither.

The downsides were I think that it felt like it ran a little long. It seemed like they couldn't quite figure out how to make the material fill a whole hour, so they stretched it out and repeated themselves a few times. Perhaps if they were pressed for filler, they could have discussed the Johnathan Fries Rebellion, which was another early American rebellion, this time over taxes, occurring during the presidency of John Adams. Also, while I did enjoy the use of animation as something different, once in a while it felt like I was back in high school watching a movie in history class. Maybe that's what they wanted.

I say 4 out of 5 stars.

More about Shay's Rebellion can be found here.

A famous letter Thomas Jefferson wrote about Shays Rebellion can be read here.

Happy Easter everyone! I hope you have a good one.

A student at University of Georgia was running across campus dressed as a ninja. Just college silliness? Not according to the ATF, who were on campus for "Project Safe Neighborhoods", whatever the hell that means. They drew guns on the guy and held him in "investigative detention" until they realized that he wasn't a threat to anyone. Hate to run across the ATF on Halloween. "THE ZOMBIES, NINJAS, AND PIRATES ARE EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" *blam* *blam* *blam* (Link)

Massachusetts lawmakers are applauding themselves for having taken huge steps to solve the health insurance problem by a new package of laws they've created. They tout the fact that there will be no new taxes to fund the program as it's greatest feature. They are keeping quieter on the part that states that all people above a certain level are required...yes required to buy their own health insurance if they don't already have it or pay the state in fines. That sounds like a tax to me. What if people don't want health insurance? (Link)

Reason has a great article on how dogs are often an unnecessary victim in the war on drugs. (Link)

I don't know what it is about me and Mondays, but we just do not mesh. It takes me forever to get started on a Monday. I cannot seem to get my ass and head moving the same direction. Oh Juan Valdez, Patron Saint of cups of Joe, please rescue me.

Salon has a great article about Ralph Reed and his connections to Jack Abramhoff. The relationship between the two is amazing. While Abramhoff was working to kill legislation that would threaten his Indian Casino clients in the State House, he'd send money to Reed and ask him to rile up conservative churches in the area as a two-pronged attack.

Are these the good conservative Christian values we keep hearing about? Back in the 80's people on the right professed shock that people like Swaggart and Baker, et al were fleecing their telecongregations out of millions so they could live like kings. Now we've got the former head of the Christian Coalition wielding his influence to support crooked back-room deals brokered by the head rat himself. It's always these pricks who shout the loudest about the morals of others who are most afraid of what's living in their own closet.

It appears that Bush's statement "The Ownership Society" meant the right of the highest bidders to openly corrupt and own the political process to protect their interests.

Anyway, here's the article.

So I said Taylor, Elliot, and Mandisa would be in the bottom three tonight, and I called two out of three. And the person going home was... <SPOILERS BELOW>

So I'm thinking about American Idol and I was surprised that some people did as well as they did. I didn't think that Ace was going to do well, and Elliot did better than I thought. Taylor was not good at all, which pains me to say, because I love the man. His last three performances have been lacking, and I felt that he was phoning this one in. Mandisa tried to do a hybrid of gospel and country that didn't work for me, which is a shame because she is also one of my favorites.

VoteForTheWorst is asking everyone to vote for Kellie Pickler, which is a shock to me. I don't think she's the worst by far. I'm really torn now on who's the worst on the show...but I'll throw out my guesses for the bottom three:

1. Taylor
2. Mandisa
3. Elliot

with Elliot going home.

The wife thinks it will be:

1. Katherine
2. Elliot
3. Ace

with Elliot going home.

And both the wife and I are a little disturbed by how much our own comments at home are syncing up with Simon. It feels dirty.

I excerpted this from a book I've started working on. I like it and I wanted to share it.