While often mocked by those explicitly on the Right (or perhaps just those who would consider themselves part of the anti-rabid-Left), I always thought the Guardian could claim a certain amount of respectability and prestige, if not in America then at least in Britain. Indeed, that’s one of the reasons I always thought those in the Blogosphere hammered away at it so often. That was probably the chief animating reason for my own forays into Guardian Fiskitude, for I saw it as one of the most sacred bulwarks of mainstream liberalism. If one simply wished to find some truly ridiculous and strident liberal fanatacism to laugh at, then one need look only as far as Indymedia or the Democratic Underground, where almost every regular would make most mental hospital inmates remark, “Whoa, that guy is nuts.”
However, while holding up such disconnected maniacs for ridicule is certainly fun, it really doesn’t serve any purpose beyond showcasing the extremity that a few fringe morons can achieve if they put their non-minds to it. Reading John Hawkins quoting DU-mbasses who, in their typical “Wake UP America!!! You live in a FASCIST POLICE STATE!” tone make claims like Frist planned and caused that highway accident so he could get some good press is golden yuk-yuk material, but it says as much about actual liberalism in America as would the Turner Diaries say about conservatism.
But I always thought the Guardian was a worthwhile target fantasy beastiality sex. To be sure, much of the commentary is downright silly, even aggressively so, but what matters when picking your rhetorical targets is not really the quality, but the percieved quality. No one serious disputes that the Democratic Underground is a place for people who order tin-foil at the bulk rate, but I was always under the impression that the Guardian, for all its frequent foolishness, was still considered to be at the forefront of liberal thinking in the mainstream press. I’ve never lived in England or communicated heavily with any number of people who could change that view, and thus had no evidence to the contrary. Indeed, I always took the continual Fiskings that the Guardian suffered in the Blogbowl as a good indication that the thing was at least worth attacking.
A reasonably liberal friend of mine has a forum account at Something Awfula purposefully crude and often hilarious humor site. Basically all the content that comes from the small group of official contributors is slightly to strongly left wing, and as far as I know, the forum comments follow that trend to some extent.
Well, I was venting to him about this Guardian commentary on racism in the LOTR, originally highlighted by Jonah Goldberg, and his reaction was, “Dude, the Guardian? What’s to get so worked up about? It’s a trash rag as far as I know hardcore with animals. All the british guys on SA are constantly bagging on it.” I think it’s safe to say these weren’t exactly Tories.
Anyway, not an exhaustive study, to be sure, but I think it says something.
So perhaps you shouldn’t get so worked up about the above commentary by John Yatt, that accuses LOTR of being not much more than a thinly disguised “Birth of a Nation” in a fantasy setting, where “orc” is just a racist code word for “darkie.”
Apparently, to Mr. Yatt, any being that is brutish, ugly, violent and stupid immediately simply must be a reference to those of African ancestry, which, as Goldberg notices, begs the obvious suggestion that perhaps Mr. Yatt should be examining his own views on blacks if he so immediately sees such a connection while almost no one else does i want fucking big dog.
One is tempted to ask who is the real racist here? On the one hand we have people — like me — who see horrific, flesh-eating, dull-witted creatures with jagged feral teeth, venomous mouths, pointed devilish ears, and reptilian skin, and say, “Cool, Orcs!” On the other hand we have people, like Mr. Yatt, who see the same repugnant creatures and righteously exclaim “black people!”
One really need go no farther than that in defending LOTR aginst cries of racism, because Goldberg’s response aptly sums up the fact that the matter isn’t even about Tolkien’s book, but rather about the deranged racialist agenda of so many people in our present cultural clime. In short, the accusation is so patently idiotic that it doesn’t deserve any serious refutation textually demonstrating that Tolkien actually took his inspiration for the orcs from some source other than the KKK.
But hey, I’m feeling generous. Stupidity sometimes has that effect.
Contrary to what so many on both sides of the LOTR love/hate divide wish to believe, the LOTR is not an allegory making some masked argument about specific historical events. Sauron isn’t Hitler beastmistress. Theoden isn’t Chamberlain. The Orcs aren’t the Zulu nation.
Tolkien was a devout Catholic (his constant arguments about faith are one of the things that eventually converted C.S. Lewis from agnosticism to Christianity), and to be sure, there are Christian elements that can be discerned in LOTR. There are also shades of political argumentation, but as Goldberg points out, they are timeless and universal themes rather than specific allusions, such as whether people will choose to stand up to evil rather than try to simply weather it and not get involved.
But more than anything as regards his fiction writing, Tolkien was a student of Anglo-Saxon folklore and myth doggy sperm. He’s the author of “Beowulf and the Critics,” still considered after 70 years to be the definitive commentary on that epic poem. An examination of Tolkien’s “day-job” work would quickly reveal that the LOTR takes its primary starting point from the old folkloric traditions of hero quests, and that the orcs most likely have much more in common with Grendel than any racist notion of African savages. Of course, Tolkien has also injected much culture of his own English countryside and culture into the novels, but to constantly look for some hidden agenda (especially a racial one) that focuses so centrally on present day issues is to disregard the kind of writer and thinker that Tolkien was.
Maybe the Guardian really is largely seen a trashy pile of rags in Britain as well. Judging from the editorial standards that would allow rambling journalistic guano like Yatt’s piece to pass through the quality control boys’ hands, I’d have to say that sentiment, if there, is well-deserved.
world that even today harbors and offers succor to the same groups that piloted the 9/11 planes, right?A taste, just a taste...
the teacher trying to impress both of them.
about equal probability.
without end is causing traditional friends of the United States to
or any other simply crappy country in the world, because none of them satisfy both those propositions.
making a point of reading in depth about any such future atrocity to ensure that I don't allow myself to be instantly "over it."
If a good education is meant to produce independent thinkers, I've seen precious little evidence it does. Education is
Russia and shit. Besides, it's just the Russians. Why don't we just contain them or something? Hey, who's up for some
join the majority of the world's nations in distancing themselves from Washington in a fashion not seen since the Vietnam War.
threaten the United States, he said we must "assume the worst." Essentially, the White House is proposing that the
I guess not. The fact that the UN is anything but democratic since the vast majority of countries represented there do not
to prolonged indulgence in luxury and soft, effortless ease, or to the deification of a warped and twisted sentimentality.
I wish that I could just be told "Hundreds of people died in a terrorist bombing today," and instantly feel the kind of rage
University or Diversity
Mr Mitnick even had to get permission from his probation officer to use a computer to write his book, The Art Of Deception,
rather than submit to infamy or see those that are dear to him suffer wrong.
That is, until this morning. Now I'm glad to say that I've gotten over getting over it, and am thoroughly pissed again.
Russia and shit. Besides, it's just the Russians. Why don't we just contain them or something? Hey, who's up for some
I don't know about you people, but I'm already stocking up on extra food, water, and electrons.
Yes, well I suppose you're suggesting that we would be well-served to wait for this "final proof," then? Very well. I'll
Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard at 09:13 PM | Comments (4)
nuclear weapons. Containment was born out of a realization that we were effectively restrained by our lack of strategic
It is time for a new day to dawn in the Blogosphere, my gnome brothers. A glorious day. A day when no longer will we
by both Instapundit and Cold Fury (and probably by sundry others by now):
again soon, didn't we?"
But I am thankful that at least for now, I've been able to summon that deep-seated, personal wrath so appropriate to an
I urge anyone in the bay area who has the time on the 16th to come as well and lend credence with your example to the
cutting-edge performance art group impersonating real anti-war folks, as the whole ordeal seemed to approach parody. No,
the real fault of that government or its citizens, or the West in general, or capitalism, or any other ridiculous boogeyman
An insightful, well-written and quite simply excellent column somehow found its way in the SF Chronicle's website today.
trying to get an education
to prolonged indulgence in luxury and soft, effortless ease, or to the deification of a warped and twisted sentimentality.
The fact that this is being published in the Chronicle is no small feat. Even more reason for you to go read it.
Falwell was a "mercenary and must be killed," the Farsi-language daily Abrar reported Saturday.
US: Italy, Australia, Poland, Spain, Qatar, Kuwait and, of course, Britain. I know it's hard to find out this kind of
I guess not. The fact that the UN is anything but democratic since the vast majority of countries represented there do not
the teacher trying to impress both of them.
When they aired some actual interviews with the protesters, I started to honestly think they were part of some sort of
both at home and abroad, can go heartily fuck themselves, or jump off a cliff, or shoot themselves in the head. I don't
An insightful, well-written and quite simply excellent column somehow found its way in the SF Chronicle's website today.
Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard at 09:13 PM | Comments (4)
to prolonged indulgence in luxury and soft, effortless ease, or to the deification of a warped and twisted sentimentality.
just now. Admittedly they do face significant challenges in carrying out their duties due to their imaginary nature,
Iranian cleric Mohsen Mojtahed Shabestari, addressing weekly Friday prayers in the northwestern town of Tabriz, said
threaten the United States, he said we must "assume the worst." Essentially, the White House is proposing that the
or any other simply crappy country in the world, because none of them satisfy both those propositions.
Diversity. More than motherhood, it is the one unassailable concept these days. Open any teaching publication, and you will
Saddam will use these nukes when he gets them, whether that use takes the form of vaporizing a city or merely being hung
It may be a sad illustration of my lack to find sympathy within myself without reading descriptions or seeing pictures,
be harried by idiots who have full compliments of heads and genitals! With the ranks of my imaginary gnomes rallied,
when you apply your own internal calculus of death and suffering and conclude that it isn't something that you need
I'm going to be checking the weather channel for reports of snowflakes in Hell, but meanwhile you should go read it now.
We despise and abhor the bully, the brawler, the oppressor, whether in private or public life, but
Do you mean the Muslim world that celebrated 9/11, saying the US deserved it all along? Or perhaps you mean the Muslim world
one of the most fad-driven enterprises imaginable. It produces a new catechism each decade, which everyone dutifully recites.
I have to admit I'm pretty curious just to see what he's going to do. The guy has shown himself to have an overpowering
Another Australian tourist, 18-year-old Rachel Hughes, said she and her boyfriend had just arrived in Kuta when the blast
President Bush says he wants to avoid "a future of fear." It's an admirable goal, but one hardly served by this new doctrine.
getting an education. When she tried to talk to one of the organizers after her test about how some people were just
they're done, hang them on his wall next to the framed heads of Iraqi dissidents and say to himself, "Well, I can check
superiority.
Anyway, take the new site for a test drive. Take her easy on the clutch and go steady on the hills, and I think you'll
join the majority of the world's nations in distancing themselves from Washington in a fashion not seen since the Vietnam War.
I'm going to be checking the weather channel for reports of snowflakes in Hell, but meanwhile you should go read it now.
satisfy you. I'd be much more amendable to the idea however if you were willing to be a personal eye-witness to this
that continues to characterize the US as the Great Satan and preach jihad against all things Western? Oh I know, the Muslim
faith at large, since many of them are peaceful, albeit intellectually stunted, people.
Really, how often is someone able to so perfectly crystallize the dilemmas that will exist a century in the future
One of the great advances of the modern era has been the spread of the rule of law. This is the now common idea that
off a bunch of secretaries and other office workers who probably agree with them on the war anyway will further their
information with your heads crammed so far up your asses, so I'll give you a pass.
jerkwad I encounter, an order for them to be beheaded with extreme prejudice until the the point at which they are dead
Those people are especially useful when they have access to the core computer systems that hackers would otherwise struggle
It may be a sad illustration of my lack to find sympathy within myself without reading descriptions or seeing pictures,
You mean everyone in America aren't like San Franciscans?
Already, even if the UN thumbs its irrelevant nose at the idea of going after Iraq (and if it actually does, then they'll
conflict.
computer systems.
Do you mean the Muslim world that celebrated 9/11, saying the US deserved it all along? Or perhaps you mean the Muslim world
of constant uncertainty and increased insecurity where almost anything could lead to war.
hacky-sack?"
attack against the United States. Even though President Bush acknowledged in his speech that Iraq does not currently
I've been blogging since July 2005, and in that time, I've had a few inter-blog arguments with the folks on the other
find testimonials to diversity. Flip through any recent social sciences or humanities textbook and diversity pops up with
to prolonged indulgence in luxury and soft, effortless ease, or to the deification of a warped and twisted sentimentality.
we could go and stop the Soviets and all their expansionist hijinks, but then we'd like, have to go all the way over to
to make the first world poor and make sure the third world stays that way.
the real fault of that government or its citizens, or the West in general, or capitalism, or any other ridiculous boogeyman
I'm going to be checking the weather channel for reports of snowflakes in Hell, but meanwhile you should go read it now.
We despise and abhor the bully, the brawler, the oppressor, whether in private or public life, but
Hesiod over at Counterspin Central is one such fellow. Not only with myself, but in his conversations with Den Beste,
but I hope to do that soon. I also hope to win the Nobel Prize in Kickboxing, and judge each of those things to be of
slope proposition, claiming that because we go after Saddam, we'll suddenly be all aggro-ed up to obliterate any country
One middle-aged woman who looked like she hadn't combed her hair since Jerry Garcia died had this to say, when asked
Peace is generally good in itself, but it is never the highest good unless it comes as the handmaid
However, several of the exchanges I have had have definately been with those you might describe as "challeneged" in
In your face, Space Coyote!
"I said it's being taken care of, dammit. Mind your own business."
When they aired some actual interviews with the protesters, I started to honestly think they were part of some sort of
that boiled up to the surface when I read things like this.
of the mass moron movement.
the All Men Are Rapists self defense workshop? Surely that must be a representative sample of the country!
have democratically elected rulers I'm sure doesn't throw any flies into your ointment.
to penetrate.
Many in the global community also distrust the Bush administration's expanding war aims. It is not easy for our friends around
that has the temerity to look at us cock-eyed.
and the UC Divestment folks will be holding a rally for what looks like the primary purpose of protesting the fact that
United States invade a distant country without any evidence of impending aggression.
Whereas the Cold War doctrine of deterrence and containment rested on strength, the new idea of pre-emption insists on U.S.
Well I wouldn't be surprised if this Wednesday at Sproul there will be similar behavior, and I plan to be there. Maybe
morally, that this is the right thing to do.
going to be monitored so closely that I'd be surprised if he were able to put in a phony name at a porn site and not have
I simply love it when my case is made for me.
cause, but I,
To quote a boozed up, cynical and misanthropic individual whom I greatly admire: "Making fun of these people is like
support (in the small, mostly insignificant ways that are possible for one such as myself)
The article also points to this site, which maintains a running clock of how long it will be until Mitnick can start
of a lack of imagination or basic humanity; the fact that it's difficult for me to feel deeply for people suffering unless
Watching Channel 7 news today (the Simpsons were in a commercial), they reported on a wad of dingbats who blocked access
, "I don't believe the American people support this war. Everyone I've talked to is against it!"
We despise and abhor the bully, the brawler, the oppressor, whether in private or public life, but
the not-being-a-jerk department.
Also, I've printed out and made a bunch of copies of some flyers from this site and will be passing them out.
of constant uncertainty and increased insecurity where almost anything could lead to war.
"The death of that man is a religious duty, but his case should not be tied to the Christian community," Shabestari,
Such as this quote by Teddy Roosevelt concerning his acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize, posted now
I've been blogging since July 2005, and in that time, I've had a few inter-blog arguments with the folks on the other
hunting dairy cows with a high-powered rifle and scope."
support (in the small, mostly insignificant ways that are possible for one such as myself)
Heh. Didn't Nostradamus write something about "a bespeckled plague rising in the West..."?
But it's not really fair to denigrate someone's ideas just because they themselves come from an organization riddled with
the real fault of that government or its citizens, or the West in general, or capitalism, or any other ridiculous boogeyman
Wheeler Hall last spring.
making a point of reading in depth about any such future atrocity to ensure that I don't allow myself to be instantly "over it."
use grown-up scissors), but nevertheless, even though he really didn't deserve it,
I urge anyone in the bay area who has the time on the 16th to come as well and lend credence with your example to the
slope proposition, claiming that because we go after Saddam, we'll suddenly be all aggro-ed up to obliterate any country
Stand up to these thugs This Wednesday, the 16th at noon, an apparent composite of the Students for Justice in Palestine
conflict.
Eventually he got a little ticked off and said roughly, "Get away from me!" I was hungrily anticipating the energetic dissenter
In your face, Space Coyote!
morally, that this is the right thing to do.
"approach parody" is too mild. They sprinted towards parody, jumped on top of it and proceded to give parody a spirited
Another Australian tourist, 18-year-old Rachel Hughes, said she and her boyfriend had just arrived in Kuta when the blast
has been built up around Mitnick, a basically curious guy who just as often used old face-to-face (or voice-to-voice)
hunting dairy cows with a high-powered rifle and scope."
predictable frequency. Follow a politician to a school photo-op,
to penetrate.
the world to stomach the imperial scent of our newly enunciated military doctrine that proposes pre- emption of any powerful
You mean everyone in America aren't like San Franciscans?
Already, even if the UN thumbs its irrelevant nose at the idea of going after Iraq (and if it actually does, then they'll
obviously they have lost loved ones or friends."
Eventually he got a little ticked off and said roughly, "Get away from me!" I was hungrily anticipating the energetic dissenter
I was already in a state of "moving on" and being "over it" before I even heard about the Bali attacks, with the result
Finally, long after the fad has grown tiresome, everyone's attention turns to another scrap of dogma for the next decade.
curiosity that trumps any sort of legal resriction placed on him, but it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that he's
Another Australian tourist, 18-year-old Rachel Hughes, said she and her boyfriend had just arrived in Kuta when the blast
Mr Mitnick even had to get permission from his probation officer to use a computer to write his book, The Art Of Deception,
needed now was healing, closure; in short, to "get over it" and "move on."
assures everyone that "Don't worry, the problem is being taking care of by the inspectors."
that blatantly called for some rhetorical bitch-slapping.
alternative economy." I suppose that's better PR than saying they want to impose a grab bag full of sociialistic silliness
of the mass moron movement.
Wheeler Hall last spring.
sloth, or as an instrument to further the ends of despotism or anarchy.
Containment and deterrence were responses to US weakness, you silly-headed dunderpate. It was obvious that using direct
So welcome. If this is the first and/or only post you can see, it means I haven't imported my archives from Blogspot yet,
Really, how often is someone able to so perfectly crystallize the dilemmas that will exist a century in the future
and the decisions to do so would based on (as in this case) measured calculations of the relative benefits and costs,
threaten the United States, he said we must "assume the worst." Essentially, the White House is proposing that the
or any other simply crappy country in the world, because none of them satisfy both those propositions.
and that it wasn't fair for these people to stop them, the girl started literally screaming at her about selfish she was.
them into a thin paste of protein on a cave wall, to wipe out every last vestige of the disgusting stain they have left
we could go and stop the Soviets and all their expansionist hijinks, but then we'd like, have to go all the way over to
to make the first world poor and make sure the third world stays that way.
of the mass moron movement.
the All Men Are Rapists self defense workshop? Surely that must be a representative sample of the country!
But I am thankful that at least for now, I've been able to summon that deep-seated, personal wrath so appropriate to an
nuclear weapons. Containment was born out of a realization that we were effectively restrained by our lack of strategic
50 Ways to Leave Your Folly Common Dreams, that goldmine of general silliness, showcases this piece, The Folly of Pre-emptive
without end is causing traditional friends of the United States to
Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard at 12:47 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
United States invade a distant country without any evidence of impending aggression.
Well that's not really true. People on a different side of the debate than I are not necessarily jerks, just wrong.
I finally went and did it.
I strongly suspect TR had access to some sort of time machine and traveled into the furture about a hundred years.
a terrorist and an envoy of Iran's supreme leader reportedly called for his death.
economic stupidity, especially when their ideas would do such a better job of it by themselves. Case in point:
"A bunch of people died from terrorism over the weekend? Sure, that's awful, but we all knew this was going to happen
Now at this point, most people would just say, "let it go, and move on."
without regard to whether the loss is due to the growth of a heartless and all-absorbing commercialism,
that blatantly called for some rhetorical bitch-slapping.
It is time for a new day to dawn in the Blogosphere, my gnome brothers. A glorious day. A day when no longer will we
In theory, I was of course angry, but I had a vaguely detatched sense about the whole thing. A large part of that of
An insightful, well-written and quite simply excellent column somehow found its way in the SF Chronicle's website today.
let you know when there's a mushroom cloud over New York, because that's the only "final proof" that seems to be able to
Do you mean the Muslim world that celebrated 9/11, saying the US deserved it all along? Or perhaps you mean the Muslim world
she can last 6 hours). I make this declaration keeping in mind that this does not imply a judgement on the Idiotarian
cutting-edge performance art group impersonating real anti-war folks, as the whole ordeal seemed to approach parody. No,
agree that [insert additional badly-forced car metaphor here]!
If and when you find one, that means that I'll be perfectly willing to advocate an attack against them as well.
During that protest, my girlfriend had to take a midterm in Wheeler auditorium and had to step over the bodies lying in
really just put Saddam in a better situation than he was before because the presence of inspectors invites complacency and
use grown-up scissors), but nevertheless, even though he really didn't deserve it,
So welcome. If this is the first and/or only post you can see, it means I haven't imported my archives from Blogspot yet,
care. Just don't let me hear anything about how this bombing that specifically targeted Australian civilians was somehow
owned," she pontificated, in that snotty "52% of my clothes are made of hemp which therefore makes me morally superior
sloth, or as an instrument to further the ends of despotism or anarchy.
vulnerability.
Also, I've printed out and made a bunch of copies of some flyers from this site and will be passing them out.
psychopathic fancy without fear of retribution.
Iranian cleric Mohsen Mojtahed Shabestari, addressing weekly Friday prayers in the northwestern town of Tabriz, said
According to the president, "we cannot wait for the final proof" that Saddam Hussein's government is planning an imminent
of fist.
Diversity. More than motherhood, it is the one unassailable concept these days. Open any teaching publication, and you will
without regard to whether the loss is due to the growth of a heartless and all-absorbing commercialism,
that blatantly called for some rhetorical bitch-slapping.
about equal probability.
of the mass moron movement.
Wheeler Hall last spring.
We despise and abhor the bully, the brawler, the oppressor, whether in private or public life, but
Containment and deterrence were responses to US weakness, you silly-headed dunderpate. It was obvious that using direct
I urge anyone in the bay area who has the time on the 16th to come as well and lend credence with your example to the
Bush also spoke of an "international coalition" that would disarm Hussein. Bush knows the American public is loathe to
Iranian cleric Mohsen Mojtahed Shabestari, addressing weekly Friday prayers in the northwestern town of Tabriz, said
by both Instapundit and Cold Fury (and probably by sundry others by now):
side of the political spectrum... what are they called?
So I hereby declare myself Ayatollah Mustardah of Blogistan. From this day forward, I will call down, on any Idiotarian
to prolonged indulgence in luxury and soft, effortless ease, or to the deification of a warped and twisted sentimentality.
I figured that was the way to go. But then I read this.
...but there's no shame in being a follower when those you're following make such damn good points.
If and when you find one, that means that I'll be perfectly willing to advocate an attack against them as well.
I mean come on, when you're arguing with someone who's just going to call you a Nazi when you spend 2,000 words making
vaunted proof of yours. Then you could be really sure.
Containment and deterrence were responses to US weakness, you silly-headed dunderpate. It was obvious that using direct
50 Ways to Leave Your Folly Common Dreams, that goldmine of general silliness, showcases this piece, The Folly of Pre-emptive
both at home and abroad, can go heartily fuck themselves, or jump off a cliff, or shoot themselves in the head. I don't
owned," she pontificated, in that snotty "52% of my clothes are made of hemp which therefore makes me morally superior
United States invade a distant country without any evidence of impending aggression.
and eastern Europe, Australia and the middle east. Is that not multilateralism?
(or to have their genitalia eviscerated by a rabid Rosie O'Donnell
over the heads of the world's nations as threat so that he can act willy-nilly in whatever new adventure captures his
we could go and stop the Soviets and all their expansionist hijinks, but then we'd like, have to go all the way over to
I don't know about you people, but I'm already stocking up on extra food, water, and electrons.
"A bunch of people died from terrorism over the weekend? Sure, that's awful, but we all knew this was going to happen
Diversity. More than motherhood, it is the one unassailable concept these days. Open any teaching publication, and you will
we despise no less the coward and the voluptuary. No man is worth calling a man who will not fight
superiority.
War, by three fellows that hail from Global Exchange. You know who I'm talking about. The folks that want to "build an
join the majority of the world's nations in distancing themselves from Washington in a fashion not seen since the Vietnam War.
University or Diversity
sloth, or as an instrument to further the ends of despotism or anarchy.
The Muslim world -- whose support is vital to any real effort to end the causes of terrorism -- is adamantly opposed.
If a good education is meant to produce independent thinkers, I've seen precious little evidence it does. Education is
psychopathic fancy without fear of retribution.
Meanwhile, the fact that we are able to use pre-emptive action when deemed necessary is a fact of our strength, not weakness
The BBC has a story about the so-called "master hacker", in which it does a good job of destroying the mythos that
"A bunch of people died from terrorism over the weekend? Sure, that's awful, but we all knew this was going to happen
find testimonials to diversity. Flip through any recent social sciences or humanities textbook and diversity pops up with
to prolonged indulgence in luxury and soft, effortless ease, or to the deification of a warped and twisted sentimentality.
Many in the global community also distrust the Bush administration's expanding war aims. It is not easy for our friends around
You mean everyone in America aren't like San Franciscans?
and the UC Divestment folks will be holding a rally for what looks like the primary purpose of protesting the fact that
Maybe I can't change the fact that I have to be intimately confronted with the death and pain in order to really feel the
The book details the ways that employees can inadvertently leak information that can be exploited by hackers to compromise
The Muslim world -- whose support is vital to any real effort to end the causes of terrorism -- is adamantly opposed.
faith at large, since many of them are peaceful, albeit intellectually stunted, people.
go it alone. What he failed to do was tell us who the members of his war coalition are. Why? Because there is no coalition.
I simply love it when my case is made for me.
cause, but I,
For that reason and others, I didn't actually start reading the news coverage until this morning.
find testimonials to diversity. Flip through any recent social sciences or humanities textbook and diversity pops up with
that off my list of things to do. Now, on to learning how to square-dance."
of a lack of imagination or basic humanity; the fact that it's difficult for me to feel deeply for people suffering unless
You mean everyone in America aren't like San Franciscans?
when you apply your own internal calculus of death and suffering and conclude that it isn't something that you need
Now at this point, most people would just say, "let it go, and move on."
Eventually he got a little ticked off and said roughly, "Get away from me!" I was hungrily anticipating the energetic dissenter
So welcome. If this is the first and/or only post you can see, it means I haven't imported my archives from Blogspot yet,
Please. I can't swing around a dead Saddam on a rope without hitting this argument these days. At bottom, it's a slippery
curiosity that trumps any sort of legal resriction placed on him, but it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that he's
So seeing as how we've got massive approval from the House of Representatives and similar support in the senate is likely,
side of the political spectrum... what are they called?
Well I wouldn't be surprised if this Wednesday at Sproul there will be similar behavior, and I plan to be there. Maybe
assures everyone that "Don't worry, the problem is being taking care of by the inspectors."
When they aired some actual interviews with the protesters, I started to honestly think they were part of some sort of
I wish that I could just be told "Hundreds of people died in a terrorist bombing today," and instantly feel the kind of rage
If and when you find one, that means that I'll be perfectly willing to advocate an attack against them as well.
I see. Did you talk to this "everyone" at your International Socialist Organization direct action planning seminar or
But I am thankful that at least for now, I've been able to summon that deep-seated, personal wrath so appropriate to an
military action to counter the Soviet threat was not possible, because of their equal capacity to destroy us through
50 Ways to Leave Your Folly Common Dreams, that goldmine of general silliness, showcases this piece, The Folly of Pre-emptive
When I first heard about the bombing in Bali, my initial reaction was, "Another terrorist attack? Well, of course."
and the decisions to do so would based on (as in this case) measured calculations of the relative benefits and costs,
United States invade a distant country without any evidence of impending aggression.
side of the political spectrum... what are they called?
(or to have their genitalia eviscerated by a rabid Rosie O'Donnell
Saddam will use these nukes when he gets them, whether that use takes the form of vaporizing a city or merely being hung
Shiite Muslim clerics in Lebanon and Iran have reacted with rage at the Rev. Jerry Falwell for calling Islam's prophet
...but there's no shame in being a follower when those you're following make such damn good points.
or any other simply crappy country in the world, because none of them satisfy both those propositions.
the way. Apparently that wasn't enough for the however, because they then started pulling at her legs to keep her from
And at most, UN weapons inspectors have delayed conflict by a few years, not averted it. In actualyity, I think they have
superiority.
but I hope to do that soon. I also hope to win the Nobel Prize in Kickboxing, and judge each of those things to be of
that has the temerity to look at us cock-eyed.
, "I don't believe the American people support this war. Everyone I've talked to is against it!"
weapons inspections in Iraq represent a good example of how the rule of law has been used, and can be used again, to avert
the not-being-a-jerk department.
be replacing the old site that was hosted on that evil of evils, that bane of banes, that something-really-awful of
morally, that this is the right thing to do.
lap dance.
One of the great advances of the modern era has been the spread of the rule of law. This is the now common idea that
Mr Mitnick even had to get permission from his probation officer to use a computer to write his book, The Art Of Deception,
hunting dairy cows with a high-powered rifle and scope."
really just put Saddam in a better situation than he was before because the presence of inspectors invites complacency and
I figured that was the way to go. But then I read this.
You mean everyone in America aren't like San Franciscans?
join the majority of the world's nations in distancing themselves from Washington in a fashion not seen since the Vietnam War.
last update : 5-2-2012
