New Rule
- It Ain't Over Until AFTER the Fat Lady Sings
Never be the last person on line for the bus, if it's just behind a fat lady. I don't mean that in any derogatory way, but the lady in front of me this morning was very large, and apparently the driver didn't see me in the doorway behind her; so he shut the door (on me!) and started driving away. Not the best feeling to be wedged in the doors of a moving vehicle. Luckily he heard me go "hey!" and stopped within a couple seconds. Left me a bit rattled...and pissed off for a few minutes.
- posted by dearsirsam @ 9:59 AM (1) comments

 
My Comments on GW Bush's June 28, 2005 Speech
"The troops here and across the world are fighting a global war on terror. The war reached our shores on September the 11th, 2001. The terrorists who attacked us -- and the terrorists we face -- murder in the name of a totalitarian ideology that hates freedom, rejects tolerance, and despises all dissent. Their aim is to remake the Middle East in their own grim image of tyranny and oppression -- by toppling governments, by driving us out of the region, and by exporting terror." - Okay, this speech was supposed to be about Iraq...so you're going to tie in 9/11...again?
"The terrorists believe that free societies are essentially corrupt and decadent, and with a few hard blows they can force us to retreat. They are mistaken. After September the 11th, I made a commitment to the American people: This nation will not wait to be attacked again. We will defend our freedom. We will take the fight to the enemy." - Well, yes, again, I do agree that the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 should be fought with...but again...isn't this supposed to be about Iraq?
"Iraq is the latest battlefield in this war. Many terrorists who kill innocent men, women, and children on the streets of Baghdad are followers of the same murderous ideology that took the lives of our citizens in New York, in Washington, and Pennsylvania." - Oh, okay, I see, now we get to Iraq. But I didn't think the terrorists were attacking Iraqis...at least, until we invaded Iraq.
"Our mission in Iraq is clear. We're hunting down the terrorists. We're helping Iraqis build a free nation that is an ally in the war on terror. We're advancing freedom in the broader Middle East. We are removing a source of violence and instability, and laying the foundation of peace for our children and our grandchildren." - Wait, what happened to WMDs? Wasn't that our mission in Iraq?
"Some of the violence you see in Iraq is being carried out by ruthless killers who are converging on Iraq to fight the advance of peace and freedom. Our military reports that we have killed or captured hundreds of foreign fighters in Iraq who have come from Saudi Arabia and Syria, Iran, Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, Libya and others." - Again, would they even be there if we hadn't invaded? Wouldn't they all have gone to Afghanistan? Where we could have fought the war on terror on one front, more effectively?
"Some wonder whether Iraq is a central front in the war on terror. Among the terrorists, there is no debate. Hear the words of Osama Bin Laden: "This Third World War is raging" in Iraq. "The whole world is watching this war." " - Oh yes, must tie in 9/11 again.
"We see the nature of the enemy in terrorists who behead civilian hostages and broadcast their atrocities for the world to see." - As opposed to the US...here we don't let anyone see the torture, the abuse, or the caskets coming home.
"Whatever our differences in the past, the world understands that success in Iraq is critical to the security of our nations. As German Chancellor Gerhard Schr der said at the White House yesterday, "There can be no question a stable and democratic Iraq is in the vested interest of not just Germany, but also Europe."" - Really? He said that? Well, he's just "the Old Europe" anyways. I do think the key word there is stable...and there's certainly no stability in Iraq right now.
"To complete the mission, we will prevent al Qaeda and other foreign terrorists from turning Iraq into what Afghanistan was under the Taliban, a safe haven from which they could launch attacks on America and our friends. And the best way to complete the mission is to help Iraqis build a free nation that can govern itself, sustain itself, and defend itself." - Hmmm, yeah, Afghanistan...remember that place? Shouldn't we have focused more on THAT problem? Doesn't seem to me that he should be using past tense for what Afghanistan was under the Taliban.
"Some contend that we should set a deadline for withdrawing U.S. forces. Let me explain why that would be a serious mistake. Setting an artificial timetable would send the wrong message to the Iraqis, who need to know that America will not leave before the job is done. It would send the wrong message to our troops, who need to know that we are serious about completing the mission they are risking their lives to achieve. And it would send the wrong message to the enemy, who would know that all they have to do is to wait us out....If our commanders on the ground say we need more troops, I will send them. But our commanders tell me they have the number of troops they need to do their job. Sending more Americans would undermine our strategy of encouraging Iraqis to take the lead in this fight. And sending more Americans would suggest that we intend to stay forever, when we are, in fact, working for the day when Iraq can defend itself and we can leave." - I do agree that you can't just cut and run at this point. But all of this just seems to prove how inadequately prepared the Administration was for dealing with the aftermath of the attack on Iraq.
"As Iraqis make progress toward a free society, the effects are being felt beyond Iraq's borders. Before our coalition liberated Iraq, Libya was secretly pursuing nuclear weapons. Today the leader of Libya has given up his chemical and nuclear weapons programs. Across the broader Middle East, people are claiming their freedom. In the last few months, we've witnessed elections in the Palestinian Territories and Lebanon. These elections are inspiring democratic reformers in places like Egypt and Saudi Arabia." - Aren't the Palestinians using the same tactics (suicide-bombers, car bombs, etc.) as the insurgents? Why aren't we attacking them too? And Saudi Arabia, wasn't that where 15 of the 19 hijackers from 9/11 came from?
"We're fighting against men with blind hatred -- and armed with lethal weapons -- who are capable of any atrocity. They wear no uniform; they respect no laws of warfare or morality. They take innocent lives to create chaos for the cameras. They are trying to shake our will in Iraq, just as they tried to shake our will on September the 11th, 2001. They will fail. The terrorists do not understand America." - And Bush does not understand the terrorists. And the FBI prefers to hire analysts who have leadership skills, but don't need knowledge of the cultural issues.
"And we fight today because terrorists want to attack our country and kill our citizens, and Iraq is where they are making their stand. So we'll fight them there, we'll fight them across the world, and we will stay in the fight until the fight is won. " - I'll just throw this word out there again...Afghanistan.
"To the soldiers in this hall, and our servicemen and women across the globe: I thank you for your courage under fire and your service to our nation. I thank our military families -- the burden of war falls especially hard on you. In this war, we have lost good men and women who left our shores to defend freedom and did not live to make the journey home." - Shame on you George. This war in Iraq had nothing to do with freedom and you know it. You won't even honor their memory with televised coverage of their journeys home.
"I thank those of you who have re-enlisted in an hour when your country needs you." - Ahem, back door draft.
"And to those watching tonight who are considering a military career, there is no higher calling than service in our Armed Forces." - Ahem, shameless recruitment plug. Haven't you figured out that fewer and fewer Americans want to be part of your dirty war?
"After September the 11th, 2001, I told the American people that the road ahead would be difficult, and that we would prevail. Well, it has been difficult -- and we are prevailing. Our enemies are brutal, but they are no match for the United States of America, and they are no match for the men and women of the United States military. " - One last mention of 9/11. The road would have been difficult, but at least a straight one, had we focused on Afghanistan, the Taliban, the Saudi connection, rather than go off-course into Iraq.
---Personally, his speech strengthens my conviction that he is unequal to the task of leading this country. His ignorance of facts, stubborness, and fantasy based policy all make me believe his entire Administration should be kicked out of office. Shame on all of them.
- posted by dearsirsam @ 12:44 PM (1) comments

 
Congressional Research Reports
An interesting Web site, OpenCRS, has reports from Congressional Research Service, and is trying to get more of them available to the public. For those of you (probably Americans) into our political scene
- posted by dearsirsam @ 1:01 PM (0) comments

 
Concentration test for men
My brother emailed this to me. I have to say, it is a very good one, I've never done worse on a "shell game" type of test.

The beach
Now that the summer weather is finally upon NY, I was able to get to the beach both days this past weekend, with my brothers. I went to Robert Moses State Park, I do think it's much nicer than Jones Beach: not as crowded, not as loud, and not so much trash in the sand. I just wish the waves would break a little farther out, would love to get some bodysurfing in. Though right now the water's too cold anyway, jumped in for 2 seconds yesterday, and that only after working up a sweat throwing the frisbee. (Oh, and got my brother to realize the fun in playing frisbee near girls. I did a couple of those "oops, did I just throw the frisbee a little too high and force you to run near that cute girl?...oops, sorry!" throws)
- posted by dearsirsam @ 1:12 PM (1) comments

 
Things to be happy about
- I went and saw Hugh Masekela last night in Prospect Park. Always a good show. I went alone, none of the people I emailed could make it, I'm not sure if that makes me lame or them lame.
- Hot weather this weekend, hope to get in at least 1 beach day.
- My vegetables are finally growing.

Things to be not quite so happy about
- The Supreme Court's decision re state's rights to take people's property for private development. I can't believe I side with Clarence Thomas on this one!
- The numbers of soldiers killed in Iraq keeps going up. And the administration still refuses to admit it's screwed everything up.
- The legislature trying to ban flag burning YET again. I say that if they're going to ban flag burning, they should be forced to televise every homecoming of a flag-draped casket from Iraq.
- posted by dearsirsam @ 2:30 PM (2) comments

 
Opera in the Park
I went to see opera in Central Park last night. It's one of those fun things you do in the summer in NYC, I like these outdoor events: usually free, usually casual, usually a lot of people, and usually some nice picnicking and wine drinking. I went with my brother Robert and his friend Jennifer, but we were surrounded by other people too. It was Puccini's Tosca, not that we paid much attention, most of the people around us were most content with listening while they ate, drank and chatted.
I find it kind of cool that I heard a) Australian accent in front of us b) German accent behind us c) French spoken next to us d) I met a Swedish woman while waiting for Rob by the subway and e) on the subway home I heard Spanish, and more French accents.
Summertime movies in Bryant Park start next week...Hugh Masakela plays in Prospect Park next week...Philharmonic in Central Park is next month.... Sweet.

Kruger Cam
I know I've posted a link to Volcano Cam (observing Mt. Helens), but here's Kruger Cam at a water hole in Kruger Nat'l Park...updates every 30 seconds...maybe you can see some critters.
- posted by dearsirsam @ 1:37 PM (1) comments

 
Hiking
Hey, one of my favorite hiking places gets named to Citysearch's top 10 list! Henry Coe State Park, down below Silicon Valley, was definitely a personal favorite of mine when I lived in SF. My friend Jackie and I went at least a few times, along with various friends. Gorgeous scenery. Great wildflowers in the Springtime. Wild turkeys. Pretty little rivers. A hidden gem, we rarely saw any other people on the hikes we did.

Why am I not surprised?
A White House lawyer who used to work for the American Petroleum Institute was watering down the language in reports about global warming. See this
This coming out the same week that the National Academy of Sciences issues a statement urging the G8 nations to recognize the threat of climate change.

Evolution vs Creationism
An interesting little quote from The Ancestor's Tale (I'm almost done) regarding the 'Argument from Design' sums up for me the nonsense of the creationist crowd: "I have less kindly called it the 'Argument from Personal Incredulity' because it always has the form: 'I personally cannot imagine a natural sequence of events whereby X could have come about. Therefore it must have come about by supernatural means.' Time and again scientists have retorted that if you make this argument, it says less about nature than about the poverty of your imagination."

My favorite Martians
I still think that NASA's Mars rovers are one of the most interesting news stories in years.
- posted by dearsirsam @ 1:07 PM (1) comments

 
One of the negative aspects of living below the flight path for international flights at JFK: occasionally, unwanted visitors drop in. (This is the next town over from where I live...)
- posted by dearsirsam @ 3:50 PM (1) comments

 
Updates from yesterday's post

I did read an article this morning which says the number of parricides (children killing parents) hasn't gone up significantly since some study done in the '70s. Maybe it's just making the news now more?

I was glad to read that the author of "The Ancestor's Tale" doesn't understand some of the science he discusses (it's other people's studies). Makes me feel a bit better for not understanding a lot of it myself. I suppose I can't blame it all on one high school teacher, so it's either "Damn Mrs. Duffy" or "Damn her AND Chemistry" for turning me off studying science.

Composting
Here's one link on how to compost: http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/horticulture/g810.htm
And here's a site that shows some of the little critters involved
- posted by dearsirsam @ 12:54 PM (1) comments