Slaughter In Gaza? Or Operation Save Israel?

Last count there were at least 390 Palestinians dead. 220 of these are suspected members of Hamas, leaving 170 civilians, 60+ of which, according to the UN, are women and children. In addition, nearly 2,000 people have been injured so far in the Gaza conflict. But wait, 4 Israelis are dead. Best not be delving into kill ratios. This is all a part of the massive offensive being launched against the citizens of Gaza by the Israeli Defense Force in response to rocket fire from Hamas, "Operation Cast Lead." Or, as I like to refer to it, "Operation Fish in a Barrel."

While I understand the concept of massive retaliation, I do not understand how the government of Israel can say they are only targeting Hamas members. They point fingers at Hamas and say that all they do is target civilians, whereas the IDF is taking the high road and only targeting the militants. They're not doing a very good job of it as of yet.

A sample of targets:

- Graduation ceremony for young police officers

- A police station

- A mosque

- Student dormitories at a university

Those all seem like pretty standard targets in time of war. Can't have peace officers, religion or education muddling things on the ground.

My question is this: If Israel has US backing militarily, how is it that the Israeli forces are trying to kill a pesky mosquito with a shotgun? Could they not use something known as surgical strikes? The area isn't a large one, 41 km long, 6-12 km wide. It's not like the IDF is attempting to invade Siberia. Where are the commandos we hear so much about? The superior Israeli training should take effect now, not superior technology. Send in some of these troops, take out strongholds effectively, and avoid civilian casualties. Or, continue to bomb the crap out of the entire area thus suspending any possibility that the civilian population of Gaza will ever come to view the Israelis as neighbors, as opposed to their tiny version of the Great Satan.

Alas, the IDF is massing ground forces along the border in order to invade as step three, or is it four, of the "Operation Cast Lead." I doubt those forces will ever move. Israel learned its lesson long ago fighting Hizbollah, large groups of ground forces will inevitably fail against an insurgent opposition. Surprisingly, this lesson is still being learned by many governments, despite historical lessons to the contrary. It seems much more effective to send in elite strike forces to take out these targets. Maybe I'm wrong though. And yes, you've probably been wondering if I recognize that the strip is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. I do, and I understand that it has to be difficult for the IDF to avoid civilian casualties. I just don't think their doing everything they can.

Meanwhile, the people of Gaza are starving, dying from lack of medical care and experiencing a deepening of their hatred for Israel. Everyone knows starving an enemy makes them more placid. It's the same with dogs, you starve them and they become much more calm and relaxed.

Also, does anyone think that this has anything to do with upcoming elections in Israel?

Is this slaughter doing anything other than lending ammunition to those that would like to see Israel destroyed? Ahmadinejad's reaction

Oh, and while we're on the topic, Egypt shouldn't open their borders to the Gazans. This would go against everything Arab countries have practiced over the last sixty years. Let the Palestinians cram into tight places, little food, little medicine, little natural resources. That way the Arab countries have something to hold over Israel's head. Sort of their Sword of Damocles.

Gideon Levy article on pilots

More from Ha'aretz

Peace

It's the Oil Stupid!

I was reading through an article by Jan Oberg on the recent Nobel Prize ceremony for Matti Ahtisaari, and was enjoying the article's counter stance to Ahtisaari's work. I don't necessarily agree with everything he says, but I am a firm believer in looking at all sides to an issue. The article, posted at Serbianna, makes an argument that Ahtisaari was merely a pawn used by the US and NATO to secure Kosovo's independence. Apparently, he views the Balkan as the last vestige of the Cold War. Anyway, the article was interesting to read, and most of the arguments I would make against it are obvious when you read it.

http://www.serbianna.com/columns/oberg/001.shtml

My point is this I guess. He mentions that the only reason we care about Kosovo is the oil pipeline planned for the southern end of the peninsula. That's where he lost me. I know oil is important, I know the control of it is a very corruptive force in the world, this isn't news. However, every time I hear a well-reasoned argument slip into the "everything has to do with oil no matter what" mentality, I lose interest. Oberg is just one of many that undermines my beliefs. The claim that the only reason people are interested in Kosovo is that it somehow involves a pipeline is insulting to people like myself.

Here's an outline of where the suggested pipelines will be.

Note: that southern pipeline doesn't cut anywhere near Kosovo.

You can find maps:

Here

Here

and Here

I am largely interested in, and supportive of, the independence of Kosovo for reasons of my own. The Balkans in general have always intrigued me for their role in European history. They have been very influential, but almost no one in the US understands anything about them. Quiz your average college student on Europe, and you'll probably find out that Europe is made up of Spain, France, Germany and Russia. That's it. It is this ignorance that causes me to learn as much as I can of the region. It's the same reason I study Latin America, or the "Middle East."
But, do I study these regions because I want to be able to pump gas into my Volvo for the foreseeable future? No. I am one of the great number of people pushing for alternative fuels, renewable energy and so forth.

Granted, I doubt Oberg is speaking of me when he's talking about NATO and US action in the Balkans, but he doesn't do a very good job of phrasing it that way. I am as committed as one can be to Kosovo's independence coming from Iowa. It has little to do with oil, it has little to do with my feelings toward Russia, it has nothing to do with anything other than the fact that Kosovo deserves to be independent given it's background and cultural construct.
Feel free to disagree with me, I'm sure I'm off base. Can I just read one article that doesn't spout nonsense about how, "The US only cares about x because of an oil pipeline." Not everything has to do with oil pipelines. Luckily for these people though, oil can be found throughout the world either in a pipeline, the original source, stockpiles or in the tank of a UN truck, so they will never be without this call to arms.

US diplomacy: It's the oil stupid!

Greece is burning

Amnesty International Demands an Impartial Inquiry

Greek PM does his best to hold a ragged nation together

The BBC report on the region, what, it has a lot of links...

There are conflicting reports of incidents leading up to the shooting death of the fifteen year old. The police say it was an accident, a ricochet from a warning shot. They also say they were antagonized by a group of boys into action. Others say that the police officer shot the young man in cold blood, no attempt at a warning. One thing is for sure, now that Amnesty International is on the case, it should be solved in no time.

The reactions of political leaders vary. Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis is attempting a feat more suited to an old Olympian than a distrusted leader. He is offering government loans for the shopkeepers, soft, low interest fifteen year loans. This is only part of the plan of action he has created. At a time of great national upheaval from groups with no real goal or agenda, Karamanlis is promoting a pragmatic, long-run approach to solving this problem.

His opponents are capitalizing on the opportunity in a despicable attempt to oust him from power. Leftist leaders are promoting the actions of these anarchist youths, who, oddly enough, would probably refuse the leftist leaders as government heads...anarchists. These leftist leaders refuse to see that the great tragedy is the loss of life of someone so young. Although he may not have been the brightest bulb, it's a life lost.

In the meantime, amidst the political turmoil, the true heroes continue their task. The firefighters, the rescue workers, and yes, even the police officers. While AI is claiming that police beat two of their workers with batons, most of the officers are only attempting to protect life and property in an unstable nation. The fire crews are out every night, dousing car and building fires. These people are working tirelessly for the betterment of their county.

And to make matters worse, many of the rioters are abusing the sanctuary of university soil to store bombs and other weapons. They become embroiled in running battles with police, then retreat to the safety of university grounds to regroup for their next attack. Meanwhile, the police have no such refuge, for while they respect the laws and traditions of Greece, their enemies are merely abusing them in a vain attempt to bring the laws themselves down.

Union leaders decided to call a strike during this period of duress. Nearly one half of Greece's workforce went on strike, disrupting the nation's economy further. It appears the left is in full swing against the PM's attempt to restore order in this ancient nation. A nation that once served as the foundation for our great republic.

Also, Greece is still in a row with FYROM, or Macedonia, over what it can be called. The strangest international argument I have seen in a while. But one that is culturally significant to both sides. Therefore it should be take seriously I suppose, but given current circumstances...

And to think, this morning I was psyched up about writing on the little Isle of Sark finally abolishing feudalism... Oh well, guess you'll have to look that up on Wikipedia, or check in tomorrow.

Peace.

Teddy-nauts? What next Britain?

In the mid-80s, Britain sidelined all manned missions into space. So what do they do? Send in the teddies!


Okay, so I heard about this the other day on NPR. But I had completely forgotten about it until recently. Apparently, Cambridge students got together with some children to launch teddy bears into space. Of course, this is all an effort to get children excited about science. I imagine the Cambridge students probably got just as big a kick out of this as the little kids though...

The kids, ages 11-12, didn't just lob the teddies into space. They had to design spacesuits for them to protect them from the cold. The tricky little devils used everything from hi-tech foam to old malt containers. They actually got pretty creative for 11 year olds, seriously. And what did we get to do? Drop eggs off a building? Makes us look pretty weak-sauce...

"The outside temperature got down to about -60C but some of the teddy bears were kept as warm as -35C thanks to their spacesuits. Apparently they're all in good health now," Mr Moore told the BBC.

"I really enjoyed launching the teddy bear into space and I also enjoyed designing and building the teddy bear suit," said 12-year-old Kane Robbins.

And yes, I struggled with this because I desperately wanted to write Tediz (thanks a lot Conkers.)

Also in the news:
-Athens erupts in rioting after an incident which a police officer shot a boy after being accosted by a group of teenagers. The PM has declared a state of emergency after days of rioting. News of these events are barely making headlines in US papers, in contrast to the rioting that occurred in France not too long ago, despite eerie similarities.

Ekonomist's view

-Hero dog pulls friend to safety on a Chilean highway. Sadly, the other dog was already dead. This has to be the most heartbreaking story I've seen in a while. I won't provide a link, but this dog was truly heroic, braving traffic to save his friend.

-Another corrupt politician discovered in Illinois... no surprises here.

-Israel looks forward to a hawkish future with appointments in Likud Party. This is great, they totally need a more militant outlook on the world, especially with all of the rhetoric about Iran plotting single-mindedly to destroy Israel.

-More than a thousand officials of the new EU-led mission in Kosovo, EULEX, took over responsibilities from UNMIK early on Tuesday (December 9th). Spokesman Victor Reuter says about 1,400 members of the mission are spreading throughout the province, and in a few months, when the mission becomes fully operational, it will include 1,900 international and 1,100 local staff. About 100 members of EULEX will deploy immediately in the Serb-dominated north.

So, the Balkans are still extremely shaky, even Greece. Israel is going to become more obsessed with Iran. The Brits are sending teddy bears into space. And a dog proves once again that canines are better than us. Interesting newsweek...

Another rant on Israel

http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4146&Itemid=31
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4101&Itemid=31
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4150&Itemid=31

With these three articles, I remembered why I am so concerned with the Israel/Palestine situation. The first point that can be dragged out of these examples is that the UN and the EU recognize that Israel is not existing in accordance with international law. In most circumstances, this would lead to sanctions. We slap sanctions on Cuba just for the hell of it nowadays. But Israel continues to occupy and settle territory that's not Israeli soil and what do we do? Cooperate with them militarily and continue to send them funds.

Ok, so maybe it would be largely impossible to withdraw to the pre-1967 borders. I don't like it, but it might have to be a concession. Given the time that has passed, it just might not be entirely possible. However, the Israeli government could at least attempt to treat their Palestinian neighbors with some semblance of decency. The blockade of the Gaza Strip for example. Letting people starve to death, and letting children die from lack of hospital care, these are actions for the likes of Kim Jong-Il or Saddam Hussein, not a dear friend of the United States like Ehud Barak.

The US needs to take a strong stance on Israel and human rights. Be they the leaders of a coalition, or just a member of a larger community. If we can get Israel back on the right track, it could lead to peaceful relations in the Middle East with a number of countries and groups. We shouldn't advocate the violence of terrorist groups such as Hamas or the PKK, but we should recognize their plights. Why do people turn to violence? Excluding al-Qaida, most "terrorist" organizations have serious political concerns. While their methods normally backfire, it does bring the information to a national stage, which is why it is often used as a last resort.

In the case of the Palestinians, most of them put their trust in Arab states that either they would be able to return to their homeland or incorporate into new ones. Neither of these promises were carried out by their brethren. While many point to this as a sign that we should not pity them, I ask you this: Do you not pity the child of an abusive parent? It's not their fault. They have been so tossed about and abused and neglected, it's no wonder that some of them have turned to violence, especially after the initial treatment at the hands of both Israelis and Arabs. The amount of violence and mistreatment at the hands of the Israelis far outweighs the destruction caused by the Palestinians. We should not condone the violence, but we should seek to end it, or at least give them no cause. If India can do it, Israel can do it. To me, Israel is just taking advantage of a group of individuals they can bully.

I just hope it doesn't end the same way as the US treatment of Native Americans. Israel should not be allowed to carry out military maneuvers in order to protect settlers who are breaking both Israeli and international law. Leave them to their own devices or prevent them from settling there. Stop mistreating innocent Palestinians. Step into line with international law. Or, face the consequences like everyone else. Face sanctions, trade blockades, possibly even direct UN intervention such as is happening in other areas of the world where one group of people is abusing another.

Israel could be a beautiful state. They just have to learn to be better neighbors. And people here in the US need to do more independent research. Basic research. Just look at something other than CNN or Fox every now and then. Get a different perspective. Just because a news network makes lots of money and has fascinating graphics does not make it accurate.

A bit out of the loop

I took a few days off from reading the news for Thanksgiving. When I came back, Pakistan and India are at each other's throats, Bangkok's airport is under siege and Venice is under water.

Hmmm...

I had a little catching up to do. The first thing I looked into was the Mumbai terrorist incidents. Such a sad event looks like it was caused by extremists that have no real connection to the Pakistani government. However, given the complexity of Pakistan's history, some of the terrorists were trained by the Pakistani military or intelligence services. India's government has handled this relatively well, applying pressure on Pakistan to crack down on terrorism within its borders, the US has been pushing them in this direction for a while. Although, if India followed the US-route of attacking within Pakistan's borders sans permission, I doubt it would have the same result. Also, several of India's high-ranking security officials have stepped down in disgrace. Groups in western Pakistan aim for a cease-fire in order to free up Paki troops to secure the border with India. Both sides say they aren't gearing up for a war though. It should be interesting to see how this develops. In the meantime, reasonable people are pointing out that the targets of the attack weren't Indians so much as Westerners.

Thailand, Thailand, Thailand... what are we going to do with you, Thailand? From what I understand, these people who want a change of the democratically elected government took over the airport in Bangkok, armed to the teeth and are now in a stand-off with police? I wonder if the Republicans could rally and take LAX...

What?

Venice is experiencing some pretty crazy floods. The kind that God would have given Noah the heads-up on. Still, it looks about as bad as what we experienced in eastern Iowa this year.
Then, the DJIA drops nearly 680 points amid news that we have been in a recession since last December. OPEC is planning to cut production and try to level out oil prices at between $70-90 a barrel. Where was the idea of a "reasonable price" a year ago? President Bush is criticized for not doing enough about the AIDS epidemic in America as opposed to overseas (even when he does something good, it's not good in the right way.)

And to top it all off? My girlfriend's car door was frozen shut this morning, so she took my Volvo and I drove to work in her Sunfire... That's cool, didn't need my penis anyway...

I miss Thanksgiving. I slept in. I ate a lot. I didn't have to go to work. I was pampered. I come back to Des Moines for snow, cold, bad headlines and the job of lifetime...

Am I getting old?

It's official. I'm an old man. At the age of 24 I have crossed the threshold into geriatrics. True, physically, I am not an elderly citizen yet, but mentally and emotionally.

This realization came to me as I was driving to work today and somebody cut me off. I responded with an angry fist-waving. Normally, in my youth, a middle finger or a raised hand of some sort would have sufficed. Not today though. As I tooled to work in my Volvo listening to Morning edition on NPR minding my space, I shook my fist. Then, with hands at ten and two, I continued on to work, complaining about the damn people these days and their lack of decency.

It's not just driving that gets me. I don't know how many times in the past year I have uttered the phrase, "No one ever shows any respect anymore." Be it at the counter of the grocery store, standing in line for a movie or at work, this phrase should never be uttered by someone younger than 63 years of age. It's true though, no one has any sense of common decency nowadays. It's all about "me me me me" wherever you go. The really sad part is, most of these people really shouldn't have very high opinions of themselves. They're the losers in society. They have no social skills. They are rude, selfish and unconcerned completely for their fellow man. Damn I'm old...

The fact that all I listen to all day at work is talk radio, is proof in itself that I might be gettin' on in years. Ok, so sometimes I'll pop in Thelonious Monk or Billie Holiday, but that does not help my case, does it? I have a hard time even naming what young people listen to nowadays. Other than the great music I used to get from my still young friends back in Iowa City that is. Most of the new stuff I hear in clubs sounds like garbage and is too loud... "Too loud" is another phrase left to old men. "Turn down that racket!" Seriously gettin' old here people.

My idea of a rompin' stompin' good time? At home, in my chair in front of the fireplace, reading a good book, listening to classical music and sipping either a glass of wine or a glass of fine scotch. Note: this is a Saturday night game plan, not a Tuesday. What kind of book am I reading? A history book. Not the newest thriller on the shelves. A book detailing the crimes of the US in Guatemala. Or better yet, the book about the history of the banana. Bananas. Ba-na-na. Come on. Do I watch television? Hell no! That's for young people, with their MTV and VH1. I would much rather curl up and watch an episode of M*A*S*H. I prefer Perry Mason to CSI, seriously, check PM out.

And to top it all off. Guess where my girlfriend and I went for dinner the other night? Baker's Square. It was a Saturday night. Actually, more like, five in the afternoon. I think we made it in time for the early bird special... good lord...

So, I think I am going to listen to some Ratatat, drive fast, drink shitty light beer at some crowded, overly loud bar, wake up at two in the afternoon and try to recapture my youth.

What if...?

Zombies kick serious ass right? So, one of my coworkers and myself have been thinking about what to do if a zombie apocalypse occurred here in downtown Des Moines.




The building we are located in at first seems a bit unreliable. The bottom floor is basically lined with windows that could easily be shattered by mindless hordes. Unless of course the zombies turn out to be really weak sauce like in Dawn of the Dead, where they couldn't break in through the giant glass doors at the front of the mall. This building probably isn't as well constructed, based on what I have figured out about it so far (including when the keypad to the restroom fell off, that was an awkward day.) Anyway, we figure the zombies could at least get into the first floor.

Then what?

We looked around for weapons. Failed miserably at this also. I don't think a wireless keyboard would do enough damage to take down a zommer. Nor would a coffee mug with a sun on it. The coffee might hurt them, I know damn well it hurts me every day. So, we decided we would be defenseless, unless we could figure out how to throw computer monitors...

Worst situation imaginable yes? No.

Upon review, I found many positives about this building. It's the diversity of businesses that helps our case. We have a restaurant next door, I can actually see into it from where I am at. So I was thinking- food supply. While this wouldn't provide us with much food, it would be enough to stave off starvation for a while. Plus, I bet they have all kinds of utensils in the kitchen that could be used to lop off heads. That would be my first stop.

Down the hall is the elevator to the second floor, seriously, just two floors but still an elevator. This has a plus. If we hole up on the second floor, we could send out explorers and the elevator would serve us well. While the people in the elevator might get hosed, it would be simpler to prevent zombie expansion. Only so many zombies can fit in it, so only so many could possibly come back up with it. Yeah?

The best part, upstairs is a freakin doctor's office. Granted, they are otolaryngologists, but they gotta have more than just a first aid kit. So, we could hang out upstairs, eating pasta, using medical supplies to heal any damage, and use the elevator for excursions. The basics are down. This place is more secure than I thought. The best part is this though...

We are right across the street from the capital. I imagine this would be one of the first places the National Guard was sent to secure, so we wouldn't even have to hole up for long. If the Nat'l Guard could deal with zombies that is.

Alright, so my job sucks and we do a lot to avoid depression from boredom. But hey, planning for a zombie apocalypse is one of the most interesting things one can do. It doesn't take much and it allows you to be creative. I suggest everyone try it, especially if you hate your job as much as I do. It's also a little more lighthearted than some of the crap I worry about, like Roma children being slowly killed by lead poisoning in Kosovo, or the like.

Bailout GM??

I've been hearing a lot of talk about this, I was wondering what everyone else thought or had heard about it. Their are people who are suggesting we use bailout money for automakers. Paulson suggested that there is no way he would use the money that way, but what if he did? Would it be a good thing? Ford, GM, Chrysler, they are all struggling, but let's not forget that even automakers like Toyota and Honda are feeling the pinch.

I will use General Motors as the example here. It's the simplest example out there right now. There are two options for GM. Either they can beg and plead for taxpayer money or they can simply declare bankruptcy.

The bailout would probably in the way of about $120 billion for two years. That's just a rough estimate put out there by Jon Blank, a senior industry strategist at Decision Economics. Compare that to what the government has already poured into AIG and it isn't a bad number for two years. It would help keep people in their jobs, from factory workers to parts suppliers. All of these workers keep their jobs and keep buying items from retailers, retailers get to keep more people on and these people are able to buy more groceries and so on. The idea of keeping people employed is a good argument for the bailout, but is it just prolonging the inevitable with GM?
It would be very beneficial in keeping the company afloat, but would not necessarily make it competitive. GM has been failing in that respect for quite some time now. We would need a way to ensure that GM would change its strategy by the time they were turned loose. We should probably turn the bums out that have been driving the company into the dirt. They should be completely cut loose, no benefits packages, no severance pay, don't let them benefit from their failure. It's not the average worker's fault the company is failing, so they shouldn't suffer. If need be, take some money away from the CEOs that have been robbing their companies blind. Would you pay someone millions of dollars to run your company into the ground? Sorry, I got a bit ranty there.

This wouldn't be the first automaker bailout, Chrysler received $1.5 billion in 1979. There are a lot of similarities with Chrysler 1979 and GM 2008. Chrysler was hit hard by the oil boycotts because they had been pumping out large gas-guzzlers... sound familiar? It pushed Chrysler in a good direction, they went with more fuel efficient vehicles and gave us the minivan. It also returned a decent profit for taxpayers in the form of a $2 billion check to the US government, seven years before it was required. Would this happen now with GM? There are those that argue that Chrysler should have been allowed to fail in order to streamline Detroit's auto-industry and make it more efficient. But then we mightn't have minivans...

Option 2 - we let GM declare bankruptcy and see if it could turn itself around given a little bit of time. This would hurt the shareholders and we might see a run away from GM stock if this gets talked about too much. They would buy themselves a buffer, might have to cut some jobs (most would be able to keep their jobs from what I gather), but the company probably won't be able to set itself straight in a few months. They might still fail because the same people would be at the helm, but perhaps it would teach them a lesson. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy might not completely destroy a company, but it's definitely a humbling experience.

Personally, I think we should figure out a way to continue the companies' existence by taking money from all of those who profited by driving the company into the ground and heavily taxing fuel-inefficient vehicles that are unnecessary. That might sound socialist, but letting people make money from failing is sure as hell not capitalism.

Chrysler bailout on NPR- http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96922222

Prof talks about GM- http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96945344

French cars struggle too- http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96917666

GM v. Toyota- http://www.npr.org/news/specials/gmvstoyota/

More links, dealing with Midwest- http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96909271

E-Day 2008

Indeed it is election day, and unlike many young voters, I did not vote early. The plan has been to vote tonight at our designated polling station. My girlfriend and I are going together to cast our ballots. When we discussed who we were voting for, she for Obama, me for McCain, the question of our votes cancelling came up. Why would we even bother leaving the house? If I vote one way and she votes the other, then it's like we didn't vote at all right? Then I brought up the fact that there a lot of other people on the ballot.

This isn't just a presidential election.

No way right? So, I took the time to go over the other candidates that will appear on the ballot with my girlfriend. Granted my view in these cases might be a bit biased. I like Tom Harkin a lot for instance, so I might have endorsed him a little more than his opponent. The point that I made to my girlfriend is that, despite the furor over the presidential campaign, other offices should be considered. I wonder how many people go into the booth vote for president, then just randomly check boxes. I wish I would have thought of this sooner than the day of the election, but what can you do?

Here in Iowa we send five representatives to the House. I currently live in district 3, albeit very damned close to district 4. If you ever want a lesson in gerrymandering, look at your house districts. The race isn't what you would call a close, hard-fought battle, but it bears looking at. Leonard Boswell (D) is the incumbent. He is running against Kim Schmett (R) who is running on a solid background. It's basically a choice between a proven leader and someone who has been tested in other areas. Luckily, neither one of them seem a bad choice. Boswell is 74 though (Schmett is a spritely 55) and this might mean it's time for change. We even have a third party candidate running, Frank Forrestal under the SWP ticket. That's right, a true socialist. None of this Obama-crap. While Forrestal doesn't have much of a chance, he's on there and he's raising issues. And, if people vote by blind guessing after they vote for president, he might stand a chance.

http://www.boswellforcongress.com
http://www.KimSchmett.com
I couldn't find a good website for Forrestal, so feel free to use http://www.dogpile.com/ to look him up.

I also live in State House District 59. This is an interesting race between Chris Hagenow (R) and Jerry Sullivan (D). Again, both candidates have strong backgrounds. Sullivan is a former broker and senior financial service representative at Prinicipal Financial. Hagenow has his law degree from the University of Iowa (Go Hawks!) Sullivan is focusing on bringing new businesses to Iowa, something this state could use. Hagenow focuses on spending issues, something Iowa is generally very pragmatic about.

http://www.chrishagenow.com
http://jerrysullivanforstaterep.org

The State Senate isn't really a contest. Seriously, only the one choice. So, make sure you don't mess that one up on the ballot...

The Race for US Senate, or How Tom Harking Stole My Heart. Tom Harkin (D) is the incumbent, being challenged by Christopher Reed (R). I've grown up watching Harkin do amazing things for Iowa, so my opinion is biased. I have great respect for both candidates and wish Reed the best, as long as he doesn't beat Harkin. He's not really a bad guy, but he's running on the basic Republican platform (note, this is not necessarily what I think of when I think of conservatism). I can't even debate this, Harkin needs to win again, and it looks like he will.

http://www.tomharkin.com
http://www.Christopherreed2008.com

For more news on these guys or to figure out who is running in your district, check out http://www.desmoinesregister.com/section/iowaelection08. Not the best coverage in the world, but it works.

So, learn a little before you vote. Knowing Obama is a pretty speaker and McCain is a creepy old man doesn't make you knowledgeable. Don't just vote a party line. Please don't just vote randomly, that's how we get socialists... If you can't do it for this election, there will be another big one in two years. Just keep your head up and your eyes and ears open.

PS - I might have been upset when I last posted...

Moment to vent

I have discovered of late that there are two types of people on social networking websites. The first I like. They are the mothers who post cookie recipes, that turn out to be amazing. They also discuss topics like, how do I make this casserole better? or good Halloween ideas. That's why I haven't pulled off of the website entirely and gone back to good old fashion dead-tree and postage.

The other kind of person on these sites, the more common of the two I might say, can be dubbed the "ranting douchebag that doesn't lend any credence to the conversation and should probably have just read the post and walked away but thought they would be a douchebag instead." Or, for my typing's sake, db. They don't make any sense. When they leave a post, it's just an angry rant. Or they use highly flawed information. These are the kind of people that made recess suck when you were little. They start fights because they like to fight, not because they enjoy discussing relevant issues.

Which begs the question... DO ANY OF YOU F**KING GROWNUPS LIKE TO HAVE GROWNUP F**KING DISCUSSIONS??? No one on gather.com does. I know that. I have tried to post twice, once about Israel and the Saudi Peace plan, once about the similarities between Kosovo and Ireland. Both times some jackass would enter the discussion with a comment like "I would never compare Ireland and Kosovo, there [sic] two different countries." And I am left to wonder why that is relevant to what I am asking, and are they utterly and completely mental?

Or, the post starts off angry, then I clarify my point. Then the other poster creates kind of an "oh I get it now." Instead of continuing the discussion, the other posters leave because there isn't going to be a fight. Rather than have an intelligent discussion, these people just want to leave posts using idiot phrases and words too big for their little brains to comprehend correctly.

I apologize for the rant, but gather.com sucks for anything but recipes, which it kicks ass for. Get this, I learned how to make peanut butter fudge! NFW right?

The Reality Machine

So, I recently purchased a copy of The Reality Machine by Cliff Burns. It's a signed copy that I got from AbeBooks. If you don't know what that is, you haven't lived. Anyway, the girlfriend is on another one of her travels to a faraway land...called Tipton I think. So, I have time to just relax and read with the cat and a beer.


This book is actually a collection of short stories from Burns. They vary in length from a few paragraphs to a dozen or more pages. It's hard to classify his work. I imagine it could fall into horror, SF, psychological thriller or even poetry for some works. A few of the stories in it are not for the squeamish. All of them are interesting. Burns is an interesting author in many regards though. He seems to have a dislike for the publishing industry. This is apparently why he posts some of his major works online for free. He even has a podcast for the first part of his book available for download. Find out more about Cliff Burns at Beautiful Desolation.

Other than that, I have been reading Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke. I haven't gotten very far yet but the story is very intriguing. I feel like I could draw parallels between the Overlords and the secret society ruling the world. Maybe Clarke felt that way, don't know. I've also got a book, Banana, that serves as my brief book. I read it in ten minute intervals throughout the day. Waiting for something to cook, waiting for the girlfriend to get ready, that kind of thing. Then I still have my Michael Oren book on the US and Middle East throughout history. It's a bit dry and I can only read a chapter or two at a time. I've also been perusing my Polish history selection, reading up on Casimir and Jagiello. Then there is the Louis L'Amour book. It's a memoir of sorts, Education of a Wandering Man. It's really interesting to see his views on education, best received in the real world, not in a school.

And last but not least for my reading list, the GRE study guide! I can't wait to be done with that ordeal. I realized that most of the classes I had taken in college the first time would have counted toward an MA had I been a grad student. I don't know what that means, but I am really excited to get back to studying the real information. Not words like circumlocution. I want to do research and write a book, but no one will fund me, and working where I work now is not a gold mine. If anyone has ideas, hook me up.

Sickened

I don't understand people, never will.

Article on an assault in Pisgat Ze'ev

Jaffa

Today's city that I would like to visit, Jaffa. This one is easier to explain, I read City of Oranges, and it made the city sound amazing. Then I looked into it a little more, and a little more, and soon I really just wanted to visit this city. It definitely makes the top ten places.

One of the reasons is the history of the place. It's been around since at least 7000 B.C.E. That's just as far as we have some sort of record for. That's also about as far back as we have records for in general. So, this city has seen a lot. And history has left its mark on the city.

The city grew in such a way that would make a city-planner's head spin. It developed a street system based on its needs. The housing developed slowly over time. Unlike cities that sprang up in the last hundred or so years which have nice straight, wide boulevards. The architecture is beautiful and it all looks out on the Mediterranean. The clock tower at right was built in 1902 (extremely recent for this city) in honor of Sultan Abdul Hamid II.

This city used to be the site of extreme cultural diversity. It also used to be almost completely at peace with itself. This all changed with the formation of the Zionist movement. Just to cut everyone off, I am not anti-Zionist. The point is, this city lived with a diverse community and neighbors got along with one another be they Jew, Muslim, Christian, pagan or whatever. They would buy coffee and spices from one another. Politics wouldn't play into where one bought bread.

So, like Sofia, I want to get a close up of a city that lost something most struggle to find. Peace amongst its people. The diversity still exists in some of the architecture and the sea is still beautiful, and I would love to see this city the way it was seventy years ago, two hundred years ago, five thousand years ago. But I would settle for today.

Sofia

Just a quick thought...

The city I would most like to visit at some point in my lifetime is Sofia. The source of my desire is unknown even to myself, other than the fact that the city looks absolutely gorgeous. It is the capital of Bulgaria and is one of the oldest cities in Europe, dating back roughly 7000 years.

The history that is encompassed in the architecture alone is awe-inspiring. The cultural mixture looks like it would be perfect for a sight-seer. You have everything all in one convenient spot. For example the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world. Walk around a little more and you'll find the Church of St. George. This is considered the oldest building in Sofia, dating to around 400 A.D.

I think that Sofia would be a wonderful place to visit, even if most college students/graduates that I talk to don't even know it exists. The city set up and diversity would make it an extraordinary destination, despite the reputation Bulgaria has for being a violent stronghold for gangsters.

Go figure...

On one of the other sites I play around on, I started two new groups. The first deals with Latin America. The group welcomes those who study the history, sociology, politics, literature or anything else about the region. It has two members. The site in particular is populated by people who like to think they are better and more educated than everyone else. Still, these people don't care about Latin America. That depresses me a little bit. This region is very intrinsically linked to the United States. All Americans should be more informed about our southern neighbors (or for that matter be able to name any of the countries other than Mexico or Cuba.) A lot of people think it's trendy and cool to go to a nice western European country and then be "cultured" when they come back. At the same time they don't even know the capital of Brazil. It's not Rio de Janeiro by the way, thanks for playing.

The other group I started deals with Eastern Europe and the Balkans. There are interesting stories in these regions. Most of them are much more interesting than Franco-Germanic history. Let's face it, the history of Western Europe goes like this...

Collapse of Roman Empire, Franks united under Charlemagne, Charlemagne dies, France and Germany are doomed to squabble for the rest of time. The End. Oh right, and the rest of Europe tries to stay out of their way, Britain goes so far as to take everything else in the world before becoming involved in European affairs.

Sure, they built neat buildings and painting some decent stuff too, but the people of the Balkans have amazing buildings as well. The region is more multicultural than most people know. Since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, these differences have caused some terrible atrocities. In a lot of areas though exist stories of great humanity. The Jews in Bulgaria during World War Two for example, read Beyond Hitler's Grasp, were saved by their government.

These two regions are rich in history and humanity, and amazing foods. I might continue to post on this topic for a while as it really aggravates me that no one cares unless it involves us in a major way. Like with Kosovo, or migrant workers, or the coffee we drink and how hoity-toity we can get about it.

**deep breath**

Hurray for Midwest Brewers

The results are in for the Great American Beer Festival. Midwest brewers did fairly well all in all. Results. The Midwest Micro Brews website is a gem, but it reminds me that Iowa is lagging behind in the microbrews. The ones we have are great, but compared to Wisconsin or Michigan we are lacking. Still, we can draw on our neighbors to enjoy a variety of beers as this website shows. And they are award winning. Congratulations to all of the brewers.

In other news, soccer fans rejoice! The qualifiers are taking off for the 2010 World Cup. Tomorrow the US squares off against Trinidad & Tobago. Some of my personal favorites include Ecuador and Guatemala. High hopes, high hopes. Sadly, none of these games will be on ESPN. Why? Because ESPN is a mean, hateful organization that doesn't want me to have fun. Or they want to cover the MLB Playoffs, or the NFL regular season, or the fan-base won't get excited until the actual World Cup starts up... in two years...

See, it's not hard to write a post that is completely devoid of all Obamanation and McPain comments.

P.S. This sight rocks Brothers Brick. And how!

Independent and Proud

When I read other people's blog posts, I remember why I am an independent. Stereotypes abound on either side of the aisle about the other. Democrats view all Republicans as either Bible-thumping morons or wealthy white people clinging to their riches. Republicans view Democrats as either lazy bums who want government handouts or completely immoral degenerates who are bringing America down.

The truth is, if you go to either extreme, you can find crazies. No kidding. Extreme liberals are just as crazy as extreme conservatives. When candidates vie for those people it makes it difficult to agree with them. I like to think I'm not a crazy liberal wackjob, or a psycho conservative nut. But then I can't vote for either Obama or McCain. Depending on who you listen to, one side is always loopy.

So, I stand free of political ties. I will vote for who I want this fall. I will vote for the one man I believe can lead us out of this mess and make the world love us again. I will vote for the one man America can trust. I will vote for Tom Brokaw. He's good enough for me.

Stay tuned...

I am now gainfully employed. Hurray, yah, woo... Not that exciting really. The company seems interesting and the people are great, but I haven't had much luck training. And, lo and behold, data analyst is not equivalent to historian. Huh. A coworker did show me an interesting new website. New to me of course. Given my love of science fiction this website is great. It has an archive of old time radio, including original broadcasts of several amazing stories. Bradbury makes an exceptionally good listen with the creepy kid actors. The website is... Calfkiller. Strange name, great archive. It even has the original Shadow series!

Ode to my lost bookstores

I love my new apartment. I love my new location in general. I'm closer to a lot of things that matter to me. Hopefully I like my new job. I dislike the lack of independent booksellers within reach.

The downtown area is lacking. I frequent one of them which is a used bookstore. The people are nice and the cause is good. It is also a decent spot to pick up novels that I have been meaning to read and donate novels I have read and don't feel the need to keep. It lacks some of the more intense historical books I desire. I can forgive them that. The other independent bookstore has a very nice setup, is very cozy and enjoys a wide variety of literature. I even found a signed copy of "Man Killed By Pheasant". It isn't a hard book to find, but it pleased me to find it. This bookstore is lacking in two areas that are very important to me: science fiction and history. These are niche areas, I understand that. The history books I especially understand, they won't sell so they can't carry them. Those two bookstores can be forgiven.

The two large bookstores near my habitation are B & N and Borders. These shall not go softly. B & N lacks an interesting SF section. Have they even heard of Isaac Asimov? Frank Herbert? Doubt it. It's impossible to find classic SF books. The new release of Le Guin's "Left Hand" can be found, because of the recent reprint no doubt. Same thing with Borders. It makes me a little sad. They can have fifteen rows of cookbooks, most being pushed by fools like Emeril, but a row and a half of decent history books is all the space they can spare.

I miss being able to walk down the street and have my choice of used bookstores. Stores that know about good books. Experts on everything from old science fiction to the new Man Booker shortlist. However, I can find all of my favorite books online, usually paying shipping and handling at odd rates. Sometimes the books can only be found in the UK or Australia, also odd.

Maybe I have strange tastes. Still, I think people need to have a decent little bookstore to browse through and real people to talk to about the books on the shelves. Nothing is better for new realms of literature like another human being. It's how I discovered SF books, late night chats with my old roommate. It's how I discovered Max Brooks, hilarious, Sandy Tolan, tragic, and Christopher Moore, odd. Human interaction is key to literature. I can get my books online through Abe or Powell. I can read other people's posts on LibraryThing. I am still left lacking. I need my little bookstore with the interesting owner, the lovable cat and the old houses converted to shelving stations. Oh well, I'm going to go read on my couch and pet my cat and try to become absorbed with something else for a while...

Drugs are Awesome

Americans need to realize something about their southern neighbor. It's not their fault. At least not entirely. American corporations have exploited labor from overseas and to the south for a long time. Lately though, it has become more lucrative for some of our neighbors to create a living on our vices. It is more profitable for them to become involved with the drug trade than it is for them to work in a maquiladora. When corporations pay next to nothing and drugs offer a life of more than subsistence, the choice is clear. The risk will pay off for a few. The benefits of those in the US who abuse drugs such as cocaine and marijuana will pay off for those who exploit addicts. This number is also relatively small. Addicts hurt here financially and they turn to home grown products such as methamphetamine. Suppliers hurt in Mexico and they turn to local communities as consumers. The cycle gets more vicious as it goes on. The only people hurting are those who struggle day to day. The only people who see gains are those who are evil and exploit those people. What is the best way to end this cycle?

Stop using illicit drugs. Use this income to promote pay increases for people who need it. Drive up prices for labor here, drive up prices for labor there. Support the Mexican government in their war on drugs. Don't just support some idealistic "war on drugs" from your couch in comfy suburbia. Stop smoking pot. Stop using coke. Tell the car companies they are failing because of the way they exploit people. Buy a Nissan to piss GM and Ford off. Do every little thing you can. Stop supporting the people who don't need support. CEOs make money. No matter what. They have highly specialized accounts at this point and they don't need money. Stop giving your money to those who spend it on exploiting the vicious cycle that is killing our neighbors.

Everyone should be allowed to live free. Not just suburbia.

Question for the Candidates

I really think I could make a good president. At least as far as foreign issues went I might. I doubt any presidential candidate in the current race could formulate a reasonable response to the Kosovo question. The basic concept formulated by Woodrow Wilson of self-determination (which was flawed during it's implementation in Latin American countries) was a bad idea in retrospect. The partitioning of countries did turn out to be a bad thing for Europe, especially the Balkans. We see now in European countries a turn away from this partitioning in the EU. If they could implement this strategy of political and economic unity in the Balkans, Catalonia, the Basque region, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, etc. they might be able to make something work. So, if an American presidential candidate could answer with a reasonable thought on this question, I would vote for them.