Friday, September 17, 2004
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Memos: Fake Contents: ?
If the memos are fraudulent, then why was the Bush campaign silent on the matter for so long? Can it be because Bush wasn't sure if they were fake or not?
The secretary of the alleged author of the memos says that they reflect what he was saying around the office (probably with language a good deal more colorful) about the spoiled rich boys in the Champagne Squadron generally and young George specifically.
The idea of fake documents with geniune contents is a bit head-spinning, but hey.
Meanwhile, the more important question of whether the little weasel deserves your vote remains open. At least, for some people it's still open.
The secretary of the alleged author of the memos says that they reflect what he was saying around the office (probably with language a good deal more colorful) about the spoiled rich boys in the Champagne Squadron generally and young George specifically.
The idea of fake documents with geniune contents is a bit head-spinning, but hey.
Meanwhile, the more important question of whether the little weasel deserves your vote remains open. At least, for some people it's still open.
Monday, September 13, 2004
In It For the Long Haul
The Sunday Corvallis Gazette-Times says that the daily 5:00 PM peace vigil in front of hte Benton County Courthouse is the longest-running in the country, dating back to October 7th, 2001 (the dfay the U.S. invaded Afghanistan).
I have only been present for the event a few times. Usually, I rub people's shoulders as they stand there, rather than hold up a sign myself.
But in any event, I wouldn't have been there back in 2001, because I didn't agree with them about Afghanistan.
Remember, please, it was a whole different war from Iraq. That was a government that really was collaborating closely with al Qaeda. And it didn't help matters that it was a government that made Saddam Hussein's regime look like a bastion of human rights.
Invading Afghanistan was the closest thing we'd had to a just cause for war since Pearl Harbor. I didn't go running around in a "Nuke Kabul" T-shirt, but I also didn't protest the invasion. I stood silent and prayed it would be over quickly.
The first part was blessedly quick. And the rest of the story (ending the small-scale fighting around the country, rebuilding what had been destroyed and building what they had never gotten around to) should have been quick and successful.
Unfortunately, the Administration had other priorities.
Afghanistan was unfinished business, and I might well have supported the overthrow of the Taliban some time in the 1990s (Bill Clinton might have done it, if he hadn't been busy with attacks on him from another corner).
Saddam Hussein, supported and sustained in power for many years by Ronald Reagan and Bush the Elected, was also unfinished business, and I might even have supported some well-constructed scheme to overthrow him and assist the people of Iraq in quickly rebuilding their country. But by 2002, we had other matters that should have been attended to first: rebuilding Afghanistan (you broke it, you bought it), capturing Osama bin Laden, shutting down al Qaeda cells around the world. Instead, Bush sent the military and the CIA haring off into Iraq, and we all know how well that worked out.
I was among those who opposed Mr. Bush's adventure in Iraq, and history has proven us correct. I continue to hope that the consequences of this immense blunder can be dealt with, that a Kerry Administration can clean up the mess Bush is leaving behind, and that some good can be salvaged from it.
I have only been present for the event a few times. Usually, I rub people's shoulders as they stand there, rather than hold up a sign myself.
But in any event, I wouldn't have been there back in 2001, because I didn't agree with them about Afghanistan.
Remember, please, it was a whole different war from Iraq. That was a government that really was collaborating closely with al Qaeda. And it didn't help matters that it was a government that made Saddam Hussein's regime look like a bastion of human rights.
Invading Afghanistan was the closest thing we'd had to a just cause for war since Pearl Harbor. I didn't go running around in a "Nuke Kabul" T-shirt, but I also didn't protest the invasion. I stood silent and prayed it would be over quickly.
The first part was blessedly quick. And the rest of the story (ending the small-scale fighting around the country, rebuilding what had been destroyed and building what they had never gotten around to) should have been quick and successful.
Unfortunately, the Administration had other priorities.
Afghanistan was unfinished business, and I might well have supported the overthrow of the Taliban some time in the 1990s (Bill Clinton might have done it, if he hadn't been busy with attacks on him from another corner).
Saddam Hussein, supported and sustained in power for many years by Ronald Reagan and Bush the Elected, was also unfinished business, and I might even have supported some well-constructed scheme to overthrow him and assist the people of Iraq in quickly rebuilding their country. But by 2002, we had other matters that should have been attended to first: rebuilding Afghanistan (you broke it, you bought it), capturing Osama bin Laden, shutting down al Qaeda cells around the world. Instead, Bush sent the military and the CIA haring off into Iraq, and we all know how well that worked out.
I was among those who opposed Mr. Bush's adventure in Iraq, and history has proven us correct. I continue to hope that the consequences of this immense blunder can be dealt with, that a Kerry Administration can clean up the mess Bush is leaving behind, and that some good can be salvaged from it.
Sunday, September 12, 2004
Andrea Came By
My friend Andrea was in town the other day. I'm so glad.
She was a massage client for years, and became a good friend. It was a bummer when she moved to New Jersey. And then she moved to Germany, and got married . . . !
But recently, her husband came into a small inheritance, and they made a trip to the U.S. She got to see family and friends in various places around the country, she got to show off her husband and baby to everybody, and her husband got to see places he hadn't been before.
We met for lunch, Andrea and Bjorn and little Dominick and John and Kathe. Nearly Normal's is a swell organix restaurant, loaded with hippie charm. Definitely one of the best restaurants in Corvallis.
Afterward, Andrea got a massage. She told me that in Germany she couldn't find the kind of massage common over here, a full hour from head to toe. A physicla therapist will give you fifteen minutes on your legs while working on a particular problem, but that wasn't what she wanted. Well, at least she got one more treatment from me.
And maybe we can set up another one in another three or four years. Who knows . . . .
She was a massage client for years, and became a good friend. It was a bummer when she moved to New Jersey. And then she moved to Germany, and got married . . . !
But recently, her husband came into a small inheritance, and they made a trip to the U.S. She got to see family and friends in various places around the country, she got to show off her husband and baby to everybody, and her husband got to see places he hadn't been before.
We met for lunch, Andrea and Bjorn and little Dominick and John and Kathe. Nearly Normal's is a swell organix restaurant, loaded with hippie charm. Definitely one of the best restaurants in Corvallis.
Afterward, Andrea got a massage. She told me that in Germany she couldn't find the kind of massage common over here, a full hour from head to toe. A physicla therapist will give you fifteen minutes on your legs while working on a particular problem, but that wasn't what she wanted. Well, at least she got one more treatment from me.
And maybe we can set up another one in another three or four years. Who knows . . . .
Saturday, September 11, 2004
A Day to Remember
The day I want to remember is September 11th, 1994, the day that Tesfaye, Asnakech and Mestowet Desta got off that plane at Portland International Airport, to join their new family. By a happy coincidence, September 11th was also the Ethiopian New Year.
Less happy coincidence eventually followed, of course.
Three years ago, I called the girls, Asnakech and Mestowet, at their apartment in Portland and told them that they should not let anybody take away *their* day.
And I still say, we should of course observe the anniversary in appropriate fashion, but we should keep it in perspective in both directions:
1) Don't let the bastards take even one day of the year away from us, to be used solely to remember what they did -- they'd like that too much.
2) Don't leave remembrance and thoughtful action for just one day -- continue to be vigilant against all the wreckers (the terrorists, and the people who would use the fear of terror as an excuse to implement the terrorists' own agenda).
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Love is stronger than hate."\\
Less happy coincidence eventually followed, of course.
Three years ago, I called the girls, Asnakech and Mestowet, at their apartment in Portland and told them that they should not let anybody take away *their* day.
And I still say, we should of course observe the anniversary in appropriate fashion, but we should keep it in perspective in both directions:
1) Don't let the bastards take even one day of the year away from us, to be used solely to remember what they did -- they'd like that too much.
2) Don't leave remembrance and thoughtful action for just one day -- continue to be vigilant against all the wreckers (the terrorists, and the people who would use the fear of terror as an excuse to implement the terrorists' own agenda).
//The Magic Eight-Ball says, "Love is stronger than hate."\\
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
Fair and Balanced
The terribly liberal media have given five times as much coverage (4199 stories vs. 808) to the Swift Boat Republicans as they have to the controversy over Bush's military records.
This in spite of the fact that the boat boys were debunked almost immediately, while serious questions about Bush's activities are still going unanswered.
Yep, that liberal media bias is just terrible.
This in spite of the fact that the boat boys were debunked almost immediately, while serious questions about Bush's activities are still going unanswered.
Yep, that liberal media bias is just terrible.
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
I Heard Al Franken on the Radio This Morning
He wasn't being funny.
He said bluntly, "This administration has blood on its hands."
Basically, what I've been saying all along: that no matter how richly Saddam Hussein deserved to be deposed, invading Iraq while Afghanistan was still in chaos was criminally negligent.
Criminally negligent homicide.
If you are a U.S. citizen, please register to vote and vote for John Kerry.
BECAUSE HE ISN'T BUSH.
He said bluntly, "This administration has blood on its hands."
Basically, what I've been saying all along: that no matter how richly Saddam Hussein deserved to be deposed, invading Iraq while Afghanistan was still in chaos was criminally negligent.
Criminally negligent homicide.
If you are a U.S. citizen, please register to vote and vote for John Kerry.
BECAUSE HE ISN'T BUSH.
Sunday, September 05, 2004
Infertility Bites
I have just discovered a blog, In the Barren Season ( http://www.inthebarrenseason.blogspot.com ), in which a Jewish woman using the name Persephone records her thoughts about her ongoing treatment for infertility. I find its content very interesting.
I have always found the operations of the human reproductive system fascinating, both at the biological end and also the human end. At the end of this month, I embark on the third of three anatomy and physiology courses which are prerequisites to an application to nursing school, and it will be part 3 which will include the reproductive system. I'm looking forward to it.
My wife and I did ourselves endure infertility, which has now responded to treatment, once by PA and three times by TN/TRA (private adoption and transnational/transracial adoption).
Adoption is not 100% effective, and the failures can be every bit as painful as miscarriage or abortion, but it has a better success rate than any other treatment I know of, fewer side effects and (usually) lower costs.
I have always found the operations of the human reproductive system fascinating, both at the biological end and also the human end. At the end of this month, I embark on the third of three anatomy and physiology courses which are prerequisites to an application to nursing school, and it will be part 3 which will include the reproductive system. I'm looking forward to it.
My wife and I did ourselves endure infertility, which has now responded to treatment, once by PA and three times by TN/TRA (private adoption and transnational/transracial adoption).
Adoption is not 100% effective, and the failures can be every bit as painful as miscarriage or abortion, but it has a better success rate than any other treatment I know of, fewer side effects and (usually) lower costs.
Saturday, September 04, 2004
www.us-election.org
I had a swell time voting at www.us-election.org, probably more than I'm going to have in the real election.
us-election.org allows people who are not US citizens to vote in the next American Presidential election and is filled with information about all of the candidates -- and they really do mean ALL the candidates, not just those two Republicrats.
I was going to vote for the one woman running for President, but her platform was just too creepy, a right-wing nightmare. Same for the black guy, who's an orthodox Stalinist. I thought about voting for the Hispanic guy (Socialist Workers Party), but in the end voted for one of the Anglo dudes (Personal Choice Party) out of a nostalgic fondness for his running mate, Marilyn Chambers Taylor.
I know that you may wonder why you should vote in the US election, since your vote will not affect the results. That is true, but it may nevertheless be useful for Americans to understand how we feel about their choices. The choices Americans make affect us all, so even if we have no legal right to participate in their election, they should know how we feel.
The results can be viewed immediately on the site and right up to the election day of November 2. They can be viewed country-by-country as well as region-by-region. All you have to do is go to
http://www.us-election.org
and register your vote. It's easy.
Then, once you have voted, pass the word on to as many of your friends as might be interested. Really, voting with a full slate of candidates is fun, and will make you wish that all of these goofballs were on your ballot, even if that would make the ballot look like a voter's pamphlet, and the voters' pamphlet look like a phone book.
us-election.org allows people who are not US citizens to vote in the next American Presidential election and is filled with information about all of the candidates -- and they really do mean ALL the candidates, not just those two Republicrats.
I was going to vote for the one woman running for President, but her platform was just too creepy, a right-wing nightmare. Same for the black guy, who's an orthodox Stalinist. I thought about voting for the Hispanic guy (Socialist Workers Party), but in the end voted for one of the Anglo dudes (Personal Choice Party) out of a nostalgic fondness for his running mate, Marilyn Chambers Taylor.
I know that you may wonder why you should vote in the US election, since your vote will not affect the results. That is true, but it may nevertheless be useful for Americans to understand how we feel about their choices. The choices Americans make affect us all, so even if we have no legal right to participate in their election, they should know how we feel.
The results can be viewed immediately on the site and right up to the election day of November 2. They can be viewed country-by-country as well as region-by-region. All you have to do is go to
http://www.us-election.org
and register your vote. It's easy.
Then, once you have voted, pass the word on to as many of your friends as might be interested. Really, voting with a full slate of candidates is fun, and will make you wish that all of these goofballs were on your ballot, even if that would make the ballot look like a voter's pamphlet, and the voters' pamphlet look like a phone book.
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Dear Governor Bush
Governor Jeb Bush
PL 05 The Capitol
400 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Governor:
Even here in Oregon, we have heard about how your Department of Law Enforcement is trying to intimidate elderly black voters.
See? The whole world really is watching.
John M. Burt
960 SW Jefferson Avenue
Corvallis, Oregon 97333
PL 05 The Capitol
400 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Governor:
Even here in Oregon, we have heard about how your Department of Law Enforcement is trying to intimidate elderly black voters.
See? The whole world really is watching.
John M. Burt
960 SW Jefferson Avenue
Corvallis, Oregon 97333
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Firepit Lessons
Things I learned, or was due to be reminded of, by the firepit that my son Waldy dug in the back yard so his friends could hang out around it:
** If you just dig a hole in the dirt, the fire will eventually burn away the dirt and sink deeper and deeper into the ground. That's why you should go to the sand and gravel store and buy a bucket of sand.
** Although sand and gravel stores are mainly in business to sell truckloads, they don't mind selling you one measly little bucket, since they can get a dollar for a teensy little scoop of sand.
** People like to sit around a fire, even if it is a warm night and there are bright artificial lights nearby.
** The temptation is great to build up a fire to a really ridiculous size, especially if you aren't paying for the firewood.
** When you hose down the fire for the night, the sand will be hot enough to keep the water boiling merrily for a surprisingly long time.
** Small scraps of firewood can be obtained by just keeping an eye out while you walk around town.
** Sooner or later, somebody will arrive carrying a wooden pallet, fencepost or something else that's obviously not "from a dumpster" like they say.
** A young person who has finally broken free of parental authority has a hard time with the concept that anybody ever has the authority to tell them not to do something -- even the owner of a place where they are a guest, even if the something is actually illegal.
** Sooner or later, you have to tell everybody that the party's over -- for the night, or for the summer.
** If you just dig a hole in the dirt, the fire will eventually burn away the dirt and sink deeper and deeper into the ground. That's why you should go to the sand and gravel store and buy a bucket of sand.
** Although sand and gravel stores are mainly in business to sell truckloads, they don't mind selling you one measly little bucket, since they can get a dollar for a teensy little scoop of sand.
** People like to sit around a fire, even if it is a warm night and there are bright artificial lights nearby.
** The temptation is great to build up a fire to a really ridiculous size, especially if you aren't paying for the firewood.
** When you hose down the fire for the night, the sand will be hot enough to keep the water boiling merrily for a surprisingly long time.
** Small scraps of firewood can be obtained by just keeping an eye out while you walk around town.
** Sooner or later, somebody will arrive carrying a wooden pallet, fencepost or something else that's obviously not "from a dumpster" like they say.
** A young person who has finally broken free of parental authority has a hard time with the concept that anybody ever has the authority to tell them not to do something -- even the owner of a place where they are a guest, even if the something is actually illegal.
** Sooner or later, you have to tell everybody that the party's over -- for the night, or for the summer.
Monday, August 30, 2004
The Party's Over
The other day, Kathe-my-sweetie put up signs on the front door and by the entrance to the back yard, warning that only those of us who actually live here are allowed to walk in unannounced.
It makes me sad, but I knew it was inevitable. Besides, it hasn't been all that uncommon for the kids to do any number of stupid and inconvenient things while we weren't watching.
So, we'll have the house back. That should make for a pleasant change.
It makes me sad, but I knew it was inevitable. Besides, it hasn't been all that uncommon for the kids to do any number of stupid and inconvenient things while we weren't watching.
So, we'll have the house back. That should make for a pleasant change.
Friday, August 27, 2004
Republicans for Not-Bush
I don't think John Kerry appeals to Republicans the way Jimmy Carter did in 1976, but I do think that there are a substantial number of Republicans who loathe George W. Bush the way they did Nixon.
All the ones who take seriously all that talk about limited government and fiscal responsibility, a humbler foreign policy and a distrust of Big Projects like nation-building.
In other words, the ones who actually believed Bush's campaign platform of 2000.
All the ones who take seriously all that talk about limited government and fiscal responsibility, a humbler foreign policy and a distrust of Big Projects like nation-building.
In other words, the ones who actually believed Bush's campaign platform of 2000.
Thursday, August 26, 2004
One More Yahoo Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aortic_stenosis
I created it, like similar groups devoted to the pineal gland and hemochromatosis, just as a convenient format for a presentation in my Anatomy & Physiology class, but now I have a new member who has joined the group looking for information about aortic stenosis, so maybe I should keep the group around for awhile.
In anout ten hours comes the final. Really, I should be doing last-minute studying. I guess that makes this blog a work-avoidance tactic. Yeah, maybe so.
I created it, like similar groups devoted to the pineal gland and hemochromatosis, just as a convenient format for a presentation in my Anatomy & Physiology class, but now I have a new member who has joined the group looking for information about aortic stenosis, so maybe I should keep the group around for awhile.
In anout ten hours comes the final. Really, I should be doing last-minute studying. I guess that makes this blog a work-avoidance tactic. Yeah, maybe so.
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Accusations of Atrocity
Just what kind of black hole is Abu Ghraib?
Every report is worse than the last.
"Almost like torture."
"Meets the legal definition of torture."
"Tortured so badly they died."
"Children tortured."
Children tortured.
And still, the Bushists insist it wasn't all that bad. Not real bad. Not serious bad. Not somebody gets fired bad. Not criminal charges bad. Not vote for Kerry bad.
Jesus W. Christ, Jr.
What does it take?
Every report is worse than the last.
"Almost like torture."
"Meets the legal definition of torture."
"Tortured so badly they died."
"Children tortured."
Children tortured.
And still, the Bushists insist it wasn't all that bad. Not real bad. Not serious bad. Not somebody gets fired bad. Not criminal charges bad. Not vote for Kerry bad.
Jesus W. Christ, Jr.
What does it take?
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Term Ending
Just two more meetings of my Anatomy & Physiology class, and then it will be over.
Just like that, over. All done with.
And then a month off until the third A&P course.
Still no indication of whether any of this work will get me into nurse school.
And why do they make it so hard to get into the nursing program, if there's such a terrible shortage of nurses?
Also in the news: I've been working on my rock garden / mosaic alongside the porch, trying to make the potsherds and marbles look more like a work of art and less like a smallish spill.
I bought a bucket of river rock from a sand and gravel place, or as it's commonly known in this family, a dirt store. I appreciate the dirt seller taking the time to assist me with my measly little one-bucket purchase, when they're really in business to sell truckloads.
I'm sorting the rocks by color, making big patches of red, blue, yellow, &c. Of course, they all look sort of gray when they're dry. Maybe I shoudl oil them, or varnish them, something like that.
Just like that, over. All done with.
And then a month off until the third A&P course.
Still no indication of whether any of this work will get me into nurse school.
And why do they make it so hard to get into the nursing program, if there's such a terrible shortage of nurses?
Also in the news: I've been working on my rock garden / mosaic alongside the porch, trying to make the potsherds and marbles look more like a work of art and less like a smallish spill.
I bought a bucket of river rock from a sand and gravel place, or as it's commonly known in this family, a dirt store. I appreciate the dirt seller taking the time to assist me with my measly little one-bucket purchase, when they're really in business to sell truckloads.
I'm sorting the rocks by color, making big patches of red, blue, yellow, &c. Of course, they all look sort of gray when they're dry. Maybe I shoudl oil them, or varnish them, something like that.
Sunday, August 22, 2004
Dangerous Minds
Does anybody out there know anything about a group called Dangerous Minds?
They came to Corvallis the other night and gave an "educational presentation" in which they essentially told an audience of teenagers that everything bad they'd ever heard about anarchism (violence, thieving, self-indulgence) was true -- yee ha.
It would be good if some real anarchists could try to give the kids a little perspective on this, to explain some of the ethical and moral principles behind anarchism, and show them some of the good that anartchists have done in the world.
At the very least, they need to be told that if all they want out of life is to abuse innocent people and live parasitically off what others produce, corporations and bureaucracies will welcome them with open arms.
They came to Corvallis the other night and gave an "educational presentation" in which they essentially told an audience of teenagers that everything bad they'd ever heard about anarchism (violence, thieving, self-indulgence) was true -- yee ha.
It would be good if some real anarchists could try to give the kids a little perspective on this, to explain some of the ethical and moral principles behind anarchism, and show them some of the good that anartchists have done in the world.
At the very least, they need to be told that if all they want out of life is to abuse innocent people and live parasitically off what others produce, corporations and bureaucracies will welcome them with open arms.
Friday, August 20, 2004
Boob Job
A woman opined to me today that she could never imagine getting breast implants under any circumstances.
I pointed out that some women have profoundly lopsided breasts due to abnormal development, or weird-looking constricted or "tubular" breasts, or have abnormal breasts due to disease or the treatment of disease.
Her reply surpised me at first: "I'd just have them removed. I think I'd look good without breasts."
But you know, I think she would. Better than she'd look with Pamelas, certainly.
I pointed out that some women have profoundly lopsided breasts due to abnormal development, or weird-looking constricted or "tubular" breasts, or have abnormal breasts due to disease or the treatment of disease.
Her reply surpised me at first: "I'd just have them removed. I think I'd look good without breasts."
But you know, I think she would. Better than she'd look with Pamelas, certainly.
An Over-The-Top Thriller
I'm getting the crteepy feeling that the career of Hugo Chavez is a work of fiction, specifically a cheesy, overblown thriller based on the events of Bill Clinton's Presidency.
The author set the story of a leftist head of state beseiged by right-wing elements who will do anything to bring him down in a foreign country in order to make the attacks more direct and destructive (a coup d'etat, a national recall plebiscite).
Not the first time I felt like I was living in a work of fiction.
The author set the story of a leftist head of state beseiged by right-wing elements who will do anything to bring him down in a foreign country in order to make the attacks more direct and destructive (a coup d'etat, a national recall plebiscite).
Not the first time I felt like I was living in a work of fiction.
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