Mixed-up Marxism

The other day (I believe it was Sunday) Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was giving a speech in San Francisco at a democrat fundraiser to some wealthy people. She said something to the effect of "We're going to have to take away from you [the wealthy] to make life better for the greater public." (I'm sorry I don't have the exact quote). I've been thinking about this quote and the underlying philosophy that goes along with it and I must say that I'm quite disturbed by what I'm discovering.



Undoubtedly the concept that Sen. Clinton is espousing is the communist/marxist idea that if we make all people equal then life will be better for everyone. The difference between Sen. Clinton (and most democrats) and Marxist philosophy is that in Marxist model it is the lower working classes (the proletariat) that revolt and bring down the upper class (the bourgeois). In the Clinton/democrat model it is the rich that bring down the rich in order to make life better for everyone. Undoubtedly there are inherent problems in both models - hence why marxism/communism has been proved as a failed system in practice - but the democrat model has a few underlying problems that causes it to fail before it even begins.



In the democrat model the wealthy have to agree to become un-wealthy, to be taxed or give up their money and prestige willingly. From studies of human nature we know that very few people are willing to give up power once they have it. Yet the democrats - many of whom happen to be very rich - believe that this human characteristic is reversible, if only by force of law. The confusing part is that many democrats that are not politicians actively agree with this philosophy. My question is why are people willing to believe this philosophy that goes against human nature? In thinking about it I believe that I've found an answer to this question. The truth of the matter is that the democrats are not asking for the rich to give up power or even most of their money, they are instead telling the rich (and everyone else) where to spend their money. The heart of the issue is not that everyone should be equal, which is the spin the democrats love to put on it, but that the people with power should decide who gets what money and in which way. It is the idea that because they are in power they have a better idea of how we should spend our money and thus by tax law they are forcing us to do so. It is not about relinquishing power and making everyone equal, it's about sustaining power so that nobody can get up from where they are. Maybe my premises are off base, but it seems that while the democrats are out there trying to sound compassionate, they are really selfish about who can be one of them.

Stealth Surfer: The ultimate in internet privacy

Whenever I talk about internet security, my mother responds "I never send anything on e-mail that couldn't be shouted from the rooftops. Actually, if someone were trying to spy on me, they'd get real bored, real fast." Maybe so for many of us, but we still wonder who might be snooping about, and who might try to steal credit card info or passwords when we are using a work computer or a public terminal. Well, the Gadgeteer has up a review for a new product called "Stealth Surfer" which aims to solve the problem. The device looks like a USB key drive, but when plugged into any PC (with Windows 98 or better) or Mac with a USB port, it provides a special version of Netscape Navigator which saves all of your browser files, including cache, web pages, passwords, etc. onto the internal memory of the device itself. Then when you are done, pull out the device and you can take all of your info with you, leaving nothing on the host computer. No muss, no fuss. It even provides password protection of all data on the device, for Windows users.



Very cool, and something worth considering for any paranoid surfer. Especially if you travel a lot, or wind up using a lot of different computers. (And of course, the other use for this is to carry your bookmarks with you wherever you go, never having to reload them onto each new computer!)



CORRECTION: I just recieved my StealthSurfer and Macs are not supported for the stealth functions. It will work, however, just fine as a USB key drive on a Mac. Sigh. Well, guess it just gets used on the work Windoze machine.

VP Intrigues!

It is always a popular sport in Washington this time of year in the Presidential election cycle to start guessing who will appear on the ticket beside the well-established presidential candidates. President Bush has already said more than once that Vice President Cheney will be running with him. (And the bumper stickers on sale on his website seem to reflect this.) But several public missteps by Cheney have renewed speculation that he may choose to step down as VP for 2004. Now, the Drudge Report is claiming that Washington Insiders are betting on Hillary Clinton as Mr. Kerry's running mate in 2004, after John McCain turned down Kerry's non-offer for a bipartisan ticket. This is sure to renew calls for Cheney to step down in favor of a more magnetic personality, or at least someone who can bring new votes to the ticket.



If Senator Clinton is indeed the choice (something I highly doubt), then my attention is drawn to a little-reported news item that we mentioned here earlier this week. Democratic Senator Zell Miller is scheduled to speak at the Republican Convention in August 2004. What if he is being held in the background as a possible contender for a Bush bipartisan ticket? Bush/Miller would certainly be interesting, and would provide some rationale for democrats to reconsider voting for Bush. And it would be closer in core values to President Bush than some of the Liberal Republicans whose names have been floated to replace the vice president, like Rudy Guiliani.



Count this among those "Things that make you go, 'Hmmmm...'"

Those Fun Critics

An interesting review-by-review listing of what each critic had to say about the Passion and about Fahrenheit 9/11. Some of them are not that particularly profound but a couple really offer insight into the double standard in the media. Take note especially of the bottom five or six, I think they're the most obvious. Why do film critics still have a job? I can't remember the last time I agreed with one.

The Odd Politics of Our Time

There is a really good piece about the paradox we are living through when a conservative president undertakes a liberal policy like nation building and the liberals take a conservative stance to try to stop him, arguing against government intervention. I think the writer gets into the brain of Bush better than most have tried.

Happy AMAZING SPIDER-MAN Day!

Well, the critics are going ga-ga over the new SPIDER-MAN 2 movie. ""Spider-Man 2" is the best superhero movie since the modern genre was launched with "Superman" (1978)" proclaims Roger Ebert in a four-star review. Proving that the profession critics love it. "SPIDER-MAN 2 is alive and breathing." raves Harry Knowles on Ain't It Cool News. Proving that the internet geeks love it. "I always feel sort of guilty proclaiming a big blockbuster movie as one of the best of the year, but Spider-Man 2 earns that." proclaims a Slashdot.Org reviewer. Proving that even websites that nornmally don't cover movies love this film and can not ignore it.



I am still a little worried that some may be disappointed by the HUGE build-up to this film. How can any film live up to these kinds of reviews (though the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy proved it is possible.) But for now, I am just psyched to go out and see it. I am seeing it this Saturday morning with my family. (Oh, the pain of the long wait!) I suggest our readers go out and reserve their tickets early!



*Again, parents and the weak-hearted should be aware that both AICN and Slashdot run comment sections which may contain unmoderated comments which may contain profanity.

If you doubted Senator Clinton's politics....

From this article.

"Many of you are well enough off that ... the tax cuts may have helped you," Sen. Clinton said. "We're saying that for America to get back on track, we're probably going to cut that short and not give it to you. We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good."

Sigh. Does this really need commentary? Who knows where "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs," came from? Mrs. Clinton, you need to take some spin lessons from a recent author.

No, Virginia, There is No Draft

FactCheck.Org is calling attention to a misleading e-mail that has been making the rounds of the internet, which claims that the Bush Administration is quietly passing legislation which would reinstate the Draft "as soon as June 15, 2005." This e-mail is false. And has no connection to reality. The only bills of this type going thru Congress at this time are sponsored by Democrats, are not supported by Bush, and have no chance of passing. FactCheck.Org does its usual excellent job tearing apart the falsehoods.

One bill is HR 163 , whose principle sponsor is Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel of New York. It has 14 co-sponsors, all of them Democrats in a Congress controlled by Republicans. The bill was dead on arrival: it sits in a House subcommittee with no hearings or votes scheduled and no action expected...The identical Senate bill, S. 89 , introduced by Democratic Sen. Ernest Hollings, and also was DOA. Not one other senator has co-sponsored it. It also sits in committee with no action scheduled or expected...The scare story also gets it wrong when it claims the budget for the Selective Service is being increased by $28 million in 2004. In fact, the Selective Service System's budget is flat...Military experts say a draft doesn't make sense. Numerous news accounts have quoted military experts as saying a draft would cause more problems for the military than it would solve.

Is this another internet hoax, like the old one that claims to give you $100 if you forward along an e-mail to all of your friends? Is it an election year tactic to sway undecided voters away from Bush at all costs? Is it something Michael Moore whipped up while on a 36 hour twinkie bender? Who knows. Just be aware it is false if it comes your way, and be sure to tell your friends as well!

Another Reason to Avoid IE

Microsoft Internet Explorer is again being targetted by a new exploit that is targetting bank websites and the like. It appears - on first glance - to be GIF (i.e. image) file. But when processed by Internet Explorer, the file actually turns out to be two executable files which infect IE with a "Browser Helper Object" (BHO) which integrates itself into the browser. Once infected, the BHO captures all passwords before they are encrypted by SSL. This means if you are infected, even secure (marked with a padlock) sites are not secure.



Once again, Apple Macintosh and Linux users are not vulnerable at all. Windows users are only vulnerable if they use IE as their browser of choice. Please consider installing an alternate browser until the current storm of exploits is resolved by a Microsoft patch.

New Poll

There is a new poll up, credit to Nomad for this week's poll. Please look below the links and take a second to vote! I promise it's painless.



The final tally of the last vote was: Bush - 7 votes, Kerry - 2 votes, Not Voting - 1 vote (that's kinda ironic when you think about it), and Nader - 0 votes.

Bush Bites Back

As was posted here recently, Frog Man has criticized Bush for speaking on behalf of Turkey in at attempt to get that country into the EU. Today, Bush repeated that call and delivered a slap in the face to the French elitist at the same time.



It continues to amaze me how America has fought several wars over the past decade for the sake of Muslims, defends Muslim countries, and tries to bring Muslim-murdering tyrants down to protect devout Muslims...and we're still the bad guys? To quote Homer, "the bees are on the what now?"

EU Watch

A new President and maybe a new attitude. I won't hold my breath, Germany and France have a strangle-hold on much of the EU. But it's good to hear someone step up who actually believes that the world will be a better place if we work with each other instead of against.

Frog Watch

The Frog Man is at it again, this time chastising President Bush for remarks that he made supporting Turkey's admittance into the EU. Frog Man said,

“If President Bush really said that in the way that I read, then not only did he go too far, but he went into territory that isn’t his,” Chirac said of a remark Bush made over the weekend. It is not his purpose and his goal to give any advice to the EU, and in this area it was a bit as if I were to tell Americans how they should handle their relationship with Mexico."

Or maybe it would be a bit like France stabbing the US in the back at the UN and then doing everything in their power to undermine the war in Iraq because their corrupt government was making money off of Saddam? No? Sorry, Bush's involvement in the Turkey issue wouldn't be half as bad as one of our "allies" doing that.

12 Weeks & Walking Already?

We on the pro-life side of the aisle are always flabbergasted when opponents on the other side claim that a baby is simply not a unique being until it is expelled from the mother's womb. The "only a ball of tissue" argument has always been the pro-abortion movement's weakest argument. Well, now there is more evidence that the mental life of a fetus begins long before birth. A London doctor is releasing a new study including movies based on cutting-edge sonogram techniques to show complex behavior in the womb as early as 12 weeks, including walking, stetching, and leaping even before the mother can feel movement.



What do you think? Is this a baby or "only a ball of tissue"?

Genocide in Sudan: Finally Some Action

Fox News is reporting that the U.S.A. is finally taking some preliminary steps toward stopping the genocide going on in the Sudan. Current steps are basically diplomatic and seem woefully inadequate, but at least something is being done. For those not familiar with the situation, the people in the Darfur province are being hunted and persecuted by private miliaitas, sometimes with the tacit approval of the Sudanese government and sometimes with the outright funding of the government. These militias are looking to drive the native black-skinned peoples to extinction, so that the arab-descended majority in the country can seize control of the land, which contains vast oil deposits which could radically change the impoverished country's economic standing in the world. (As a bit of trivia, the NBA player Manute Bol is a member of one of the Southern tribes being persecuted.)



We need to be writing the White House and our congressmen to urge further action on this issue. Genocide is among the worst crimes possible in history, and we can not let this happen in our time!

Apple Fanatics Unite: MacOS X 10.4

Psssst. Apple put on a preview for the next version of MacOS X today, called "Tiger." Mmmm.... Tiger.....

Is Abortion Bringing Liberalism to Extinction?

There is a fascinating piece in the Wall Street Journal's Opinion Journal section today which analyzes what effect abortion may have had on politics in the last few election cycles. Simplifying quite a bit, the author essentially argues that more children of liberal (and Democratic) parents have been aborted than conservative (and Republican) parents, and that this may be having a decisive effect on the political persuation of America. He notes that President Bush won Florida in 200 by "537 votes[, but] if the 260,962 Missing Voters of Florida had been present to vote, Al Gore would have won by 45,366 votes." I have been noticing for some time that conservative families tend to be larger than liberal ones, and that there are few childless conservative couples while it is not uncommon among liberal couples. If these trends continue, will the Democratic party drive itself to extinction, given enough time?



It makes you wonder.

The Culture Wars

Another story of stupidity. Now the Army is refusing to be involved with a project that sends medals to families of fallen soldiers because of a Bible verse included on. Will this ever end? Is there some point at which people will realize how stupid it is to allow this crusade to rid America of any religious symbolism to continue?

Moore Interview

Moore proves again why he is an idiot. The guy has so completely bought into the idea that he is a victim of the "mean" press. I think Michael needs a big hug.

Human Nature

I was visiting my fiance this weekend and saw a great example of human nature at work. Louisville has been doing work on I-65 ever since I moved to Kentucky back in 2001 and the traffic gets caught up as the two lanes are forced very close to each other. The plan is to have four lanes each direction but in the meantime, we've had to suffer with more like one and a half lanes. But this weekend that changed, a significant part of the road was now open and the sight was beautiful. However, NO ONE drove in the two new lanes. Instead, we all stayed in the two lanes that we were used to, even though it meant going much slower than was needed. It was the oddest thing, two wide open lanes and no one would use them.



I guess this reflects our ability to be conditioned. After years of having only those two skinny lanes, we don't take advantage of all the room we now have simply because we're used to where we are. I also felt like perhaps I would be breaking a rule if I were to get out into the other lane, no one else was going out so maybe I just didn't know something important. I suspect that this same question kept many others out of the new lanes.



Let's not let ourselves be conditioned to the point where we unintentionally hold ourselves back for fear of doing something different. I had a professor in college who liked to say, "We like to color outside the lines." Sometimes, that makes a more interesting piece of art. Drive in the lanes you've been given and don't worry about what others might think.

One Big Step on the Long Road

The new interim Iraqi government was installed today, ahead of schedule. Bremer and Senor are already back in the US with control handed over. I know that this will not stop everything that is going on over in Iraq, but this is a great move forward and a reason to be optimistic. The new PM hardly seems like a slouch and with Iraqi forces in place, he's promised to take the war to the insurgents in a way that we couldn't for fear of hurting our reputation even more.

Fahrenheit 9/11 makes $21.8 Million in its first weekend

Fahrenheit 9/11, Michael Moore's newest screed, has earned over $21.8 million dollars in its first weekend. This means that in its first week, it has earned more than Moore's last film, Bowling for Columbine, made in its entire theatrical run. Not really a big shock to me - the word of mouth on this film has been everywhere. The word of mouth has been OUTRAGED, but still people seem to feel the need to see it in order to be able to talk about it at the watercooler on Monday. I still predict a HUGE fall in its earnings for next weekend, and not just because it will be Spider-Man 2's openning. But people will be chattering about how depressing the whole thing is.

CERT recommends anything but Microsoft Internet Explorer

CERT (U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team) - an organization that exists to coordinate responses to virus and worm attacks - has taken the extraordinary step of recommending all users STOP using Microsoft Internet Explorer for the present time. For those who may have missed the earlier article, the "Scob" virus is out there on popular websites which takes advantage of a known flaw in Microsoft's browser to infect any Windows PC browing these websites with Internet Explorer. No patch is available to close the hole, and virus scanners are desperately trying to make updates to protect their own customers in light of Microsoft's unwillingness to do so themselves. Only Windows PC are vulnerable, but this virus is designed to steal data (possibly including customer credit cards.



If you want to try an alternate browser, consider Mozilla, Mozilla Firefox (Mozilla's faster but less secure browser), Netscape, or Opera.

Bipartisanship? Democrat to Speak at GOP Convention

CNN is reporting that Democratic Senator Zell Miller will be speaking at the Republican Convention in August. I am tempted to cite this as evidence that Bush really can be a "uniter rather than a divider", but Senator Miller has been a staunch defender of President Bush against his party for some time. He has even established a Democrats for Bush organization and website. And perhaps most importantly, he is retiring at the end of his current term. So apparently, bipartisanship is only really possible if the person pursuing it has nothing to lose.

Some days terms limits seem like the only way to put a cap on the vitriol.

It's Not Easy Being Green

Apparently, Ralph Nader has not been chosen by the Green Party for their endorsement. This is not shocking, since the Green Party was not chosen by Ralph Nader for his presidential run. It seems there has been a true parting of ways. Still, this cuts away some of the leprechans who could have served as a base for Mr. Nader and decreased his chance of being embarrassed in the polls come November.

Is Terrorist "Reality TV" Needed?

With the current glut of "Reality TV" out there, it comes as somewhat of a shock to hear someone calling for more reality on television. But Neil Cavuto's Sunday column calls upon Network TV to do so by going ahead and showing the American people the beheadings and other unholy acts they are using to blackmail the West. Up to now, networks have been blurring video, blacking out video, or using creative editting so that children may be spared and the FCC won't be tempted to levy fines. He argues these sights are necesary to remind us of the level of evil we are dealing with.

Nothing rouses a nation's anger in a war more than when we see the victims of a war -- our victims, our friends and our countrymen. They did not have to die. But they did. Why should we gloss over the fact that they did? I think it cheapens their sacrifice when we try to sanitize their loss. There's no nice way to say someone was beheaded and butchered. There's only one way to talk about it, and that's to show it. I want us to get angry, outraged, furious and incensed because this is evil in its purest and simplest form. We must see it for what it is, not cover it up for what it is not.

I am not sure I want kids seeing the inhumanity of Al-Qaeda on the evening news - they are traumatized enough by the real inhumanity we can not avoid, like the ruins of the Twin Towers. Still, I wonder whether Michael Moore would be making as much money, if people were reminded a little more often of who we are really fighting against.

"Scob" Virus: More Evidence Alternative Browsers Are A Good Thing

For those who may not have heard, there is a new virus (technically a worm) out on the web attacking Windows users surfing with Internet Explorer. The virus, nicknamed 'Scob', uses two known vulnerabilities in the current version of Internet Explorer and IIS. The attackers are infecting popular banking and commerce websites, which then infect anyone who visits using IE running on a Windows computer. Despite repeated pleadings from antivirus advocates, Microsoft has yet to release a patch and antivirus companies are having a tough time adding protection within their own software. Infections are not widespead at this point - nothing compared to Sasser - but there is no way to know if/when you have been infected. It appears the Russian Mob may be using this as a staging point for a massive spam attack.



It is recommended that if you surf the web this weekend, use a use an alternative browser. (Mozilla's new FireFox browser can automatically import all of your existing passwords, favorites, etc. so you do not have to worry about recreating your current web experience.) As of now, non-Windows machines (i.e. Macs, Linux boxes, etc.) are not vulnerable.



In case you were wondering why Alternative Browsers and Alternative Operating Systems are a good thing, when Microsoft rules the world, this it the reason. One supplier means a unified set of vulnerabilities. Many suppliers means there is always a way to avoid being hit.

Spider-Man Goes to India?

According to this site, Spider-Man (the comic, not the movie) is being re-released in India with a whole new origin story that remakes Peter Parker into "Pavitr Prabhakar", a local Indian youth who gains Spider Powers. The new super hero will use the original mask, but a new India-ized costume and will not be directly related to the Marval Comics universe. Wow, and I thought it was strange when they started outsourcing jobs to India.



(I also have to wonder if giving Spider-Man bare hands makes sense. Doesn't that mean they can trace his fingerprints pretty easily?)

Quick Where's the Mouth Soap?!

According to this story on My Way News Vice President Cheney, in an argument with Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy spat out the "F-word" on the floor of the Senate. While the Senate was not in session, and thus the explitive was thus not in violation of the rules, it is being recieved with shock and horror by many Senators.



Look, there are two reasons to post this "almost-non-story" here. (1) It shows that when someone in Bush's cabinet messes up, they need to be held accountable. (2) It shows up the kind of pressure the Bush administration is under. I know most readers out there are thinking something to the effect of, "So what? We know for a fact that word was used daily in the Clinton White House, and is probably one of the most common words in use in the closed-door offices of Washington." But this is actually something that needs to be looked at acknowledged. It not only was said in the chambers of the Senate, but by the Vice President of the United States. This is an act of disrespect for the Senate, for the Vice Presidency, and for our government. Frankly, I never thought any of the anti-Cheney arguments (drag on the Bush ticket, Haliburton links, etc.) ever held water. But if Mr. Cheney refuses to apologize for this, it is a sign of a character flaw which deserves at least a reprimand, and possibly much more. Everyone has a slip of the tongue now and again. "[B]ut no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." James 3:8 NIV But every slip should be followed by an apology. Especially for the man one heartbeat away fromthe presidency.



While hardly an impeachable offense, it is an offense and should be taken seriously by the president, the vice president, and the White House staff.

Another Moore Review

There is another review here. Another left-winger with common sense enough to see how dangerous Moore's view of America and the world is.

If Larry King Made Sense

Most of us will probably remember Larry King's old habit of making random statements back in the USA Today days (by that, I mean when people actually read the USA Today.) I never really cared for his bits nearly as much as I liked Norm Mcdonald's imitation of him.



But I found a similar commentary that I thought made some pretty valid observations. It's sort of like taking King's style and actually making a lot of good points using it. Take, for example:

Of all the theories that persist despite tons of hard evidence against them, the champion is the theory of "overpopulation." The evidence was against it in Malthus' time and has been for two centuries since then. The next time someone tries to sell overpopulation hysteria, ask them to name just one country that had a higher standard of living when its population was half of what it is today.

Or,

I have always been offended by the song that says, "Everything is beautiful in its own way." If everything is beautiful, then the word "beautiful" has no meaning. If everything were purple, there would be no word "purple" in the language because it would not distinguish one thing from another.

You get the point, take a minute to check it out.

NEW FEATURE: I Gots To Have Me Stories!

Just a short post to draw folks attention to the new section in the Links to the right. Creative Writing is a new section where Ward and I may be posting our own writing efforts, or those of our friends, which may never make their way to your bookshelf but which we find fun or entertaining. Check them out - the first is a novella set in the Star Wars universe called "Stirrings of Darkness and Light".

Now Everyone Is Allergic to Cats

It is guaranteed to happen. Some poor, defenseless parent will be taking their kids to see Spider-Man 2 when they will become incensed at the long lines for the next showing and start to wonder, "Isn't there an alternative to sittying in the dark with 1000 sweaty overhyped comic book freaks?" Then they will look down the line and notice that Catwoman is playing in another theater down the row, with no line at all in front of it. The hapless parent will think, "Hey, that is another comic book movie. I'll bet the kids would be equally happy seeing that one, and that way I do not have to squeeze myself between two pimply-faced losers when trying to find a seat!" Let me say this just once: DON'T DO IT. You'll regret it far more than you can imagine.



Ain't It Cool News has a review up of the movie and it is fairly reflective of shorter reviews elsewhere. i.e. HORRIBLE. It appears that some movie makers have completely forgotten the lessons of the Spider-Man and X-Men franchise, and have decided instead to build a movie based on the methods of Hulk and the last few Batman features. i.e. Ignore the source material, cast a hot actor in the lead role(s), and be as over-the-top as possible. This film appears to be the worst comic book movie to hit theaters since Batman & Robin, and that was the film which singlehandedly ended the Batman franchise and doomed Warner Brothers to an eternity of lackluster films.



Fair Warning: AICN's review has a few words that some folks would consider inappropriate, and they have a talkback system which is unmoderated and thus always contains a lot of profanity. Parents and sensitive eyes beware.

Gore: No Connection Between Japan and Germany! I mean... Al-Qaeda and Iraq!

Former Vice President Al Gore gave a speech today in which he attacked President Bush for alleged claims of an Al-Qaida/Iraq connection. Citing many of the Founding Fathers of the USA, he attempted to prove that President Bush and his administration are attempting to overthrow democracy like Julius Caeser did back in the times of the Roman Emperor. He claims that no credible evidence of any connection.

In the fall of 2002, the President told the country "You can't distinguish between al-Qaeda and Saddam" and that the "true threat facing our country is an al Qaeda-type network trained and armed by Saddam." At the same time, Vice President Cheney was repeating his claim that "there is overwhelming evidence there was a connection between al Qaeda and the Iraqi government."... By the Spring, Secretary of State Powell was in front of the United Nations claiming a "sinister nexus between Iraq and the al-Qaeda terrorist network."...But after the invasion, no ties were found...The Bush administration's objective of establishing U.S. domination over any potential adversary led to the hubristic, tragic miscalculation of the Iraq war, a painful adventure marked by one disaster after another based on one mistaken assumption after another...

While I have to give Gore credit for managing to find a way to work the vocabulary word hubristic into a sentence, the rest of his argument simply does not hold water. Even setting aside the evidence that Ward has mentioned below showing that there were connections between Iraq and Al-Qaeda, though admittedly not directly about 9/11, the argument is absurd. Let us apply it to the case of World War II. After Pearl Harbor, the U.S.A. had been attacked by Japan. Other than a paper treaty which Japan showed no tendency to honor, there was no direct link between Japan and Germany. There is even evidence that Hitlet was incensed when he learned of the attack. (My understanding is he wanted to either leave us alone until Europe was mopped up, or recruit Mexico to attack us instead.) Yet, after declaring War on Japan, we immediately jumped into WW2 and attacked Germany as well. Why?! There was no direct connection concerning the attack on Pearl Harbor?!



The fact is, in the case of WW2, once Japan had attacked us, we were in the war and an attack from Germany - or support for the Japanese from Germany - was inevitable. We had been drawn into a war against our will, but once in the war we had to fight to win and that meant fighting all three powers with the same goals: fascist domination. Al-Qaeda and Sadaam's regime had a similar common goal: humiliation of the West - especially the USA, destruction of Israel, and Islamic domination. (Osama Bin Laden wants fundamentalist domination, Sadaam wants secular islamist domination - close enough.) Once we were at war with one, we have to fight to win and that means war with both. Given time, Sadaam's forces would have used the opportunity presented by 9/11 either to directly attack the U.S. or its allies, or to supply our enemies with whatever weapons he had available.,



Don't get me wrong, I am very nervous about the Doctrine of Preemption. But Mr. Gore's argument is just silly and completely misses the point.

Far Left Implosion

It appears that the far left is in dire straits. Especially since Richard Clarke has come out with a statement that directly contradicts one of Michael Moore's most powerful points in his newest attempt at entertainment. Clarke has released a statement that is not only a rejection of his sworn testimony before the 9/11 commission, but also refutes Moore's claim that President Bush was pushing for the Bin Laden family to get a quick leave from America after the 9/11 attacks. It turns out now that Bush had nothing to do with it. Even the mainstream press isn't letting Moore off with a free pass with this project, and it's about time.

Super Baby

At least it's natural even if it is a mutation. The poor kid will probably never have a normal life, science will want him too badly. Kinda strange that the Germans created the super human on accident.

The Singhsons

You've got to check this out. I think I see a real business opportunity for Matt Groening.

Movie Prices

This will come as no surprise to anyone who watches movies or even goes to a mall on occasion, but movie ticket prices are on the rise the world over. I enjoy the movies. The experience of the dark theater, the big screen, great sound.



I like it all and I pay for it. But we all know that the multiple claims from the movie industry (piracy is running the price up, more effects cost more money, etc) are excuses. The real reason movie prices keep going up is because stars keep getting paid more and more for doing less and less. Ten years ago, you could count on one hand the number of actors making over $10 million a movie. Now, you would need your fingers, toes, and a friend or two. Seriously, when Keanu Reeves is getting $20+ million a movie, you know Hollywood has collectively fallen off its rocker.



If companies want better turn out, then let them make better movies and offer more reasonable salaries. The money paid to the cast of even an average movie in Hollywood right now could feed third-world countries for months. Instead, it all goes to a couple of people. Don't misunderstand, I'm not arguing against capitalism. But how about a little perspective?



And the most shocking fact in the article is that American movies average just over $6. Where are those theaters? I'd love to find one.

Having a Bad Day?

Whenever you think you might be having a really crappy day, just take a look at this poor guy. It puts things in perspective...unless you're also unlucky enough to have a ten inch gash torn into your body by a rampaging beast. Then I guess I've got nothing for you. Sorry.

COOL RESOURCE THURSDAY: The Teaching Company

After college, when one enters the "real world" of business, it is amazing how sometimes you feel like learning has stopped for all time. Stuck in a job where you repeat the same (skilled) action over and over again, you begin to long for the days of yore where it seemed like every day you learned something new, sometimes in classes, sometimes back in the dorm chatting with your buddies. But between a 45 minute commute, an 8+ hour day, and evening commitments with family or at church, who has time to take classes? Everyone does.



The Teaching Company is a site dedicated to the idea that learning never ends, and that learning can take place anywhere: home, in the car, in your office, walking down the street. All you need is a Walkman, Discman, MP3 player, VCR, or DVD player and you can be back at school anytime, anywhere They offer college level courses (and a few high school catch-up courses) in many different disciplines. Want to learn about Physics? No problem. Want to learn about Beethoven? Can do! Want to learn more about Islam in light of 9/11? Easy as pie. Courses are offered in audio on tape or CD, and in video lectures on DVD and VHS.



This resource has been invaluable to me. My 45 minute drive to work can be excessively numbing, and being dedicated to certain projects for months on end can bore one unto tears. But I have bought a number of CDs and tapes of their courses, and have enjoyed each one on the way to work, and occasionally while at work if I am in a waiting mode. Quick Tip: But from their ON SALE section. Normal course costs can be quite high (because of the need to fully compensate the teachers) but the sale items - up to 70% off - are much more reasonable.

French Filmmaker on F911: J'Aussi (Me too!)

A French filmmaker is trying to piggy-back on the success of Michael Moore's soon-to-be-released film Fahrenheit 9/11, with his own anti-Bush screed: "Le Monde Selon Bush" (The World According to Bush). This one, however, appears to make no pretense at being funny and is not shy about calling our President "clueless." In other words, it is Michael Moore without any humor, showmanship, or production values.



Is it just me or is Fahrenheit 9/11 turning into the ultimate political Rorschach Test? Partisans from the left walk out saying "How can anyone believe that man?!" (meaning President Bush). Partisans from the right walk out saying "How can anyone believe that man?!" (meaning Michael Moore). Movie critics are trending about 50/50, but even his best friends in the movie biz admit that the film is silly in parts (not in the good way) and/or incoherent in its argument. Centrists seem to be walking out trying to see if there is any reason left to vote: one side seems moronic and the other side seems cruel (it is random which side the centrist assigns to each response).



My bet? F911 winds up with the largest grossing documentary of all time in its first week, then drops off to almost nothing. I'm betting word of mouth will be generally negative, and no one outside of D.C. will be walking out of this feeling good. Left will be angry at Bush, Right will be angry at Moore, and Center will just be depressed.

How to do Digital Download RIGHT

Apple Computer is reporting that the iTunes Music Store was open in Europe it sold 800,000 songs. The press release is here. As music companies continually try to add more and more restrictive copy protection to their CDs, to combat the free file traders (or should that be "traitors"? ), it is amazing that they refuse to see that internet sales of songs are working when they are done right. Offer the customer a decent selection, at a decent price, sell by the song, and offer a sense of community. Then the customer will beat a path to your door.



Problem is, the whole music industry is currently based on the idea of one good song selling many albums. From records to tapes to CDs, most of the business is a gamble where they throw out as many artists as possible (quality optional) and pray that the fees they can extract from the sales of one hit will pay for everything else. This is a lot harder when a one-song-wonder comes out and folks pay $0.99 for a song, instead of $16.99+ for an entire album. The music industry knows this, but does not want to change. The movie industry gets this, which is why when DVDs came out they changed their business model. Now we see a movie in the theater for the full effect, then buy it for ourselves for the special features. New business model, new profits. Everyone wins.



Then again, maybe I just want you to support Apple so my investment in their stock will keep going up!

How Southern Iraq Was Won

The Washington Post has a great story about the operation against Sadr and his militia. The article is well worth the few minutes it will take to read. I hope the rest of the army pays attention, we could make serious progress in Iraq if this model is put to use elsewhere.

An Apology

The Muslim world has been demanding an apology for the prison abuse scandal, well there's one here. But somehow, I don't think it's exactly what they might be looking for.

Digital Music and Copyrights

It will come as not surprise to anyone who has been reading the site for the past week or two that Nomad and I are both big on protecting the right to download, rip, and burn music that has been legally bought. Thankfully, there is a group working on lobbying legislators to stop caving in to the absurd demands of the music industry. If we don't stand up for the rights then we'll soon find ourselves without any.



In many ways, it seems small and even trivial but this whole debate highlights the entire idea of what it means to live in a free and open society. You cannot claim to be free if every action you do puts you at risk for being spied on and having your home invaded. And this is exactly the tactic that the industry is resorting to. If people in the music industry want to crack down on illegal downloads then I have an idea. How about this, LOWER YOUR PRICES! Maybe then you would find sales increasing instead of plummeting and people would be more willing to buy a product. Let's face it, there is a lot of crappy music out there and I'm not willing to buy an entire CD if there are only two or three good songs on it. So, downloading and paying for the ones I like is a reasonable arrangement for me. But if the industry demands that I buy the entire album, you better believe I'll tell them where to put their mediocre product.

Finding a Backbone

There are some really discouraging poll numbers out. They're not discouraging because Bush is slipping but because it reflects a growing lack of will among the American population. The public was at best 50/50 when the war started but that number had really climbed over the initial months. Now, less than half think that Iraq is worth the cost.



Some will certainly blame this on Bush's lack of leadership and he deserves some of the blame, but Americans should not need that in order to remain positive about the idea of re-inventing the Middle East in a peaceful manner. We shouldn't need the President holding our hands in order to be able to see the good. But we seem to have gotten used to being baby-fed our information and we no longer think for ourselves. Yes, we have made mistakes, but the change in Iraq has happened faster than anyone could reasonably expect. In a year and a half, we have re-invented a whole nation. That's incredible and we should not feel like we are failing because we're not.

A Feminist on Affirmative Action

A good read here is part story, part editorial. It captures some of the inherent problems behind what started as a well-meaning process. It also recounts the decline in Affirmative Action is the past year, an interesting social turn. Maybe people are realizing that the best way for us to get over our racial differences is to stop acting like we have so many racial differences.

Cameras to be Forbidden in the NYC Subways?

One of the most common photographs taken by tourists while in New York City is not the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building, but rather of the family braving that most-feared-and-most-beloved mathod of transportation: the subway. ("See, ma! I really did sit next to come guy with a clothespin through his nose!") Well, now according to Photo.Net there is a proposal underway to ban all amatuer photography from ths subways (and busses). While this is being done under the aegis of antiterrorism, the author rightly notes that this only has the virtue of stopping photographers using things that look like cameras. Camera-phones, mini-digicams, and those cameras easily hidden in common objects are not likely to be noticed by any enforcement authority. Thus, all cameras are banned... except for the kind that a terrorist is most likely to actually use to avoid drawing attention to his/herself. Does this really make sense?

What'd He Say? Clearing Up Wardisms

If you are like me, when Ward used the word "fisking" today in one of his posts, you had no idea what he was talking about. Checks of online dictionaries or the Google "Define:" function provide no clue. But at least one site has the "formal definition."

fisking: n.



[blogosphere; very common] A point-by-point refutation of a blog entry or (especially) news story. A really stylish fisking is witty, logical, sarcastic and ruthlessly factual; flaming or handwaving is considered poor form. Named after Robert Fisk, a British journalist who was a frequent (and deserving) early target of such treatment.

Well, now we know. And knowing is half the battle. Or something like that.

Sullivan on Clinton

Andrew Sullivan has a great piece up at TNR fisking the soft pitch Clinton interview with Dan Rather. He makes some really good points and reminds me why this country should feel disgraced when we remember Bill Clinton, despite some of his more notable achievements. They don't outweigh the dishonorable manner that President Clinton behaved in office.

Slate Tears Moore a New One

Slate, hardly a bastion of conservative thought, has fisked Michael Moore. Please read the article, there is so much ammunition against this liar and all the clueless people who are going to go watch it and think it's truth.

Parents Decry Even Wimpy School Discipline

In Milford, CT, West Shore Middle School and Simon Lake School have instituted a new "Make Your Day" policy for school discipline. According to a letter posted on their website, the key idea is (1) keep rules simple, and (2) separate children who are being disruptive to the learning process. If a child is disruptive, they may be sent to sit down apart from the class, stand up apart from the class, stand up facing the wall away from the class, see the principle, or call their parents - in ascending order of severity. Seems pretty mild, right? Well, parents are objecting to even this mild form of school discipline!

"I talked to parents on Field Day. They say that their child was brought to tears," Anderson said. "A survey came back from Simon Lake parents. Some of the things brought up on it are inhumane."

Anderson said she is concerned by how students are sometimes made to walk toward a classroom wall and touch it with their noses.

"They have been taught to face away from the group. The children gravitate toward the wall," she said.

I have had friends and family work in the school systems in my area, and I am continually flabbergasted by the measures parents take to frustrate any attempts to discipline children. Furious calls are placed to the superintendant if a child is placed on detention or suspension, parents will not see teachers without a lawyer present, and the burden is always on the teacher to prove a particular child was bad, even if every previous teacher the child has ever had agreed. It seems to me that the solution to poor public schools may not be with the teachers. It may be with a movement to revolutionize the attitude of the parents.

Outlawing Competition Between Nations

Joel Mowbray has a piece on Townhall.Com today about a curious bit of European doublethink. According to the piece, the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), based in Paris, is calling upon nations with relatively low tax rates (like the U.S.A.) to raise taxes in order to avoid competing with high-tax nations (like France). Their premise seems to be that it is unfair to be so competitive in the global marketplace, when French politicians have to keep taxes high in order to pay for their massive social programs.

The Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which receives some $50 million annually from U.S. taxpayers, has for six years pushed for eliminating what it calls “harmful tax competition”—which can be best described as any policy that undermines the ability of welfare states like France, Belgium, and Germany to maintain extraordinarily high tax rates...The stated goal of this project is to stamp out so-called “tax havens”—jurisdictions that have appealing tax and privacy laws, and thus attract investment capital and business from high-tax regions, primarily European welfare states. The OECD even has a blacklist, and has threatened these jurisdictions with financial protectionism.

Amazing. Apparently, we are paying tax-payer money to an organization which only exists to demand that the U.S. confiscate more tax-payer money. Then again, that is pretty much what Congress seems to be, some days. Sigh.

X-Box 2 Not On Speaking Terms with Its Younger Brother

While politically I can be called a "moderate," I am fiercely partisan when it comes to my choice of gaming systems. In the interest of full disclosure, let me say I am a fan of the Playstation and Playstation 2 and am rabidly against Microsoft's X-Box system. However, I do have some experience with X-Box, since my brother is more of an "equal opportunity player" than I am and owns one of the black and green monstrosities. He likes it quite a bit, and has pronounced it superior to the PS2 on a number of levels. Well, Microsoft is looking to get the jump on Sony the next time around by releasing the X-Box 2 (also known as X-Box Next) in 2005. (Playstation 3 is due in 2006.) However, it will not be compatible with the original X-Box in hardware or gaming software. Those of you who invested in current X-Box games will have to keep around your old consoles if you want to play Halo again.

GamesIndustry.biz has now learned that Microsoft does not plan to provide any backwards compatibility in the next-generation Xenon platform - and indeed, that senior executives at the company don't believe backwards compatibility to be an important feature for consoles....According to a source close to the project, internal Microsoft figures suggest that only 10 per cent of PlayStation 2 purchasers were interested in the console's ability to play titles developed for the original PlayStation...However, a report into the videogames industry published today by Wedbrush Morgan Securities senior vice president Michael Pachter disagrees with this conclusion - arguing that failing to provide backward compatibility could have the effect of alienating Microsoft's existing Xbox installed base.

Gotta love it. Sony's Playstation 2 was backwards compatible with the Playstation, and company executives are on record saying the PS3 will be conmpatible with the PS2. Microsoft, instead of modelling its business on Sony who came out of nowhere to put Sega's consoles out of business with the Playstation and then took over the market with the Playstation 2, is modelling itself on Nintendo - a company clinging to the fringes of gaming with stock characters like Zelda and Mario. But, as usual, Microsoft's motto is not "Where do you want to go today," but "You'll go where we tell you to, and like it!" Well, time for me to return to surfing the web on my Apple Macintosh.

Moore and Plagiarism

Ray Bradbury isn't happy about Michael Moore's obvious rip off of his Fahrenheit 451 work. Turns out, it took Mike six months to even return Bradbury's call. I guess he was too busy undermining our country to deal with intellectual property rights issues.

The Missing Link

It's getting almost as hard to follow D.C. as it is to follow who's sleeping with who on a soap opera. Now members of the 9/11 commission are saying that there might actually be material pointing to a link between Al Qaeda and Saddam loyalists. The commission has baggered the administration about its rush to war but now the commission appears to have been in such a rush to judgment that they couldn't even be bothered to wait until all the evidence came in. Hmmm....



Of course, the administration never said that there was a link between Iraq and 9/11. That is a lie made up by far left groups like MoveOn.org to make Bush look like a liar (apparently it's okay to lie if your opposed to the President.) The administration did say that there were links between Saddam's regime and Al Qaeda, a proposal that appears to be gaining strength with every new fact that comes out.

Smoking Bans

Now that smoking bans are becoming popular (led by my home state) there is a growing controversy over the federal and state government's authority to ban smoking in public buildings. An opinion here says that the government is out of bounds by passing laws prohibiting smoking because it is a personal decision.



Let me start by saying that anyone who wants to smoke should have that right, it is a free country and it is a personal decision. However, the argument that claims that it is the right of Americans to smoke in a public building is flawed from the beginning. We have many laws prohibiting various acts in public buildings. You can't have sex in a public building, for example. But no one acts like that is an infringement on their rights. And so in the same way, saying that someone cannot smoke in a public building is not a violation of rights. No one is saying that smokers can't smoke. By all means, smoke your lungs into a black, bloody ooze all you want. But when you smoke in a public place, it is no longer a personal issue, it becomes a public issue because it affects those around you.



Our country was founded on the principles of freedom, everyone takes that at face value. But our founding fathers understood that freedom was bankrupt and meaningless without responsibility equal to that freedom. Yes, you have the freedom to smoke. But you have the responsibility to be considerate of others who might have allergies or other health problems. Our entire system of representation is based on the idea that you allow as many rights to a group as possible without infringing on the well being of another group. And the smoking bans now crossing our country are a perfect example of this process at work. If you want to smoke, no problem. Just take it outside and smoke all you want. This isn't a violation of rights, and to claim that it is belittles true violations everywhere. In short, let's get over our fragile egos and learn to share our space in ways that are conducive to all.

Returning to Work; Returning to Dilbert

Well, today is the day I return to work after a period on disability for a herniated disk which required surgery. So it seems eminently appropriate to post today's Dilbert which is strangely familiar to anyone who has working in "business casual dress" workplaces.



Well, wish me luck and please be praying I can survive my first day back!

N-Gage QD or "Less Embarassing Mobile Gaming"

Nokia'a N-Gage system sold so poorly, one has to wonder if anyone out there has actually seen them in use outside of the kiosks in every Electronics Boutique store. For those not in the know, it is a mobile phone with built-in software to make it act like a portable game system a la the Game Boy Advance. The original had added features like a built-in radio, MP3 player, and allowed wireless link-ups for gaming. However, it also had several critical errors in its design including a requirement that you speak into the side of it when using it as a phone, leaving others around you assuming you were using a magic taco. And of course, the biggest design flaw was that you had to remove the back and take out the battery in order to switch games! (i.e. If you were not quick enough, your address book and settings might be lost while switching from Red Faction to Sonic the Hedgehog.) Recently, however, Nokia released an update called the N-Gage QD. Here is the first review I have seen of the new system.

The N-Gage QD has all the useful features of the original model (with a touch of skimping on the mp3 playback, USB port and the radio, resulting in a marginally lower price) yet is noticeably smaller, a better shape, and, thank god, a much more user-friendly device all round, the cartridge slot - or the 'hot swap' as Nokia call it - now located apart from the battery compartment, which means no more opening-up-the-whole-thing-and-taking-out-the-battery milarky: QD lets you just slide the little sim-like cartridges into the slot on the bottom edge of the phone, and access immediate game play, simple as that. And, joy of joys, the ear-piece is on the front! No longer shall the Nokia owning mobile gamer have to slink away to a darkened corner before answering his phone to avoid the notoriously embarrassing 'you're speaking into a taco in public' scenario...But ah, alas, the screen. At 176 x 208 pixels, it's still the same size as its predecessor, and...while it's a decent enough size, one can't quite get over the feeling that it's the wrong way around.

Eh. I am still waiting for the PSP (Playstation Portable) before I upgrade from my current GBA SP. Plus, Nokia was the phone of choice for Cingular Wireless in our area, whose coverage is... shall we say... less than stellar around my usual hang-outs.

Starting an Ice Age at Home for under $400

I don't know how many of you know it, but we are surrounded by very strange people. Some of them actually do not care what food tastes like. Some (*cough* Ward *cough*) simple appreciate food for the satisfied feeling after a meal. Others, appreciate the cooking but don't ever care to eat it. And then there are those like my mother for whom the taste of the food is a distant second to its temperature. She even likes to quote a Bible verse to justify it, "So, because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold–I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:16) She refuses to drink cool coffee or warm soda, though she will accept COLD coffee or HOT soda. This has always seemed quite strange to me, but apparently she is not alone. The Gadgeteer has a new review up for a portable ice maker, designed to sit in the kitchen and ensure there is always enough cold-stuff around to make anyone's teeth ache.

According to the catalog, the portable ice maker could be set on a counter top and it would produce up to 30 pounds of ice within a 24 hour period, freezing 12 cubes in a choice of three sizes every six to eight minutes. Up to two and a half pounds of ice could be stored in the insulated compartment, and I would be able to control the quality of the water used to make the ice. I had to give it a try...The first strike against it is that it is noisy...The second strike is, of course, it's price...The good news is that if you enjoy ice in your drinks and you want the convenience of having your own maker - this one does the job admirably.

At $349 to $399, depending on where you look, this one will probably not be on my Christmas list for Mom this year. But if prices keep dropping on ice machines the way they have been on DVD players, who knows? Maybe next year I'll be able to get something decent for $40 that'll keep Mom in her own personal Ice Age for as long as she might wish.

DRM Weekend: Beastie Boys, Too

Security Focus is reporting that the newest Beastie Boys album is another shot in the DRM Wars across the bows of innocent CD collectors. The lovely extra wrinkly in this particular bedsheet is that the CD automatically installs DRM software onto the users computer, when inserted, without asking permission! This allegedly attacks both Windows and MacOS computers.

It seems that Capitol Records has some sort of new copy protection system, that automatically, silently, installs "helpful" copy protection software on MacOS and Windows as soon as you insert the CD into default systems. I'm not sure exactly what it does yet, but I am sure regreting actually purchasing said media now...They include some sort of uninstaller buried on there for Windows, but I see no such thing for MacOS...

This kind of behavior is inexcusable and equivilent to having some technology that you bring into your house automatically change all the locks. Who knows what kind of back doors could be added to your computer, or what kind of "phone home" apps could be installed to allow a record company to gather info on you? And what is to stop a hacker from discretely adding his/her own malicious code to such apps? I am sure the record companies will claim no such software exists now, but it is only a matter of time once you start down this slippery slope. And many users are quite peeved about this. Buyers beware... or buy thru the iTunes Music Store, where you at least know about any copy protections, up-front.

Clinton Autobiography Skidding Downhill?

Wow, after a glowing "5 stars" review from Dan Rather, most of the other reviews of Bill Clinton's book "MY LIFE" are not glowing, and may be trending towards "a waste of time." Consider this New York Times review, "sloppy, self-indulgent and often eye-crossingly dull — the sound of one man prattling away, not for the reader, but for himself and some distant recording angel of history." There are many others out there and the majority are not good. Any of our readers out there who have bought and read this tome? Personally, I am not planning to dedicate my time to it.

REVIEW: Around the World in 80 Days

Well, I went today with the family to see the new Jackie Chan film AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS. Previously, you may recall that we posted an article indicating the film was not exactly cleaning up, and it appears on track to continue that disappointment for Disney. Then again, when I am looking to see a film, I am not asking myself whether it is a financial success, but rather whether it looks like a good film. Is 80 DAYS worth the price of admission? Well, I would give it a qualified "Yes."



The film is based on the same premise as previous adaptations and the original H.G. Wells book. Phineas Fogg, a precise English gentleman, sets off to travel around the world in 80 days - spurred on by a wager - assisted by his French manservant, Passepartout. However, just as the horrible Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves has little to do with the original story, so this movie uses only the basic outline of the story to serve as a spare framework to showcase Jackie Chan. In this version, Fogg has gone from being simply an English gentleman (a social class Verne was looking to parody in the original) to being an eccentric inventor of hairbrained machines. He has scared off his last loyal valet, and is delighted when Jackie Chan falls out of a tree to apply for the position. Jackie Chan, having recently stolen a jade buddha from the Royal Bank of England, uses Fogg's need to provide him with a cover story and place to hide in plain sight. He then engineers the wager that sends Fogg off on his whirlwind adventure, and not-so-coinicidentally gets him back to his village in China by the fastest route available to 19th century technology.



Besides this, the movie has what you expect from a Jackie Chan film (and this film is far more Chan than Wells in its sensibilities): wacky chase scenes, bumbling villains, lots of martial arts, silly sight gags, and a straight man who speaks well when Jackie Chan's accent would normally get in the way. (No outtakes, though, which has previously been a requirement in Chan's films. These are sorely missed.) The movie is 2 hours long, but moves along very quickly for all of that, making it feel more and more like you are watching a highlight film rather than a complete story. Still, the film leaves you with a smile on your face, and precious little mental stimulation, aside from the irony of the role Arnold Schartzenegger chose to play in his all-too-brief cameo in the film.



If you are a die-hard fan of the book "Around the World in 80 Days" then avoid this film at all costs. The 1989 TV adaptation available on DVD, starring Pierce Brosnan, is a far more faithful adaption. (Though even there, many liberties were taken, and the final product was 4 hours long.) But if you are a Jackie Chan fan, this film will not disappoint (except, again, in the lack of outtakes). Chan returns here to what made him famous - spectacular and unlikely battles that teeter between action and comedy. There are few to no special effects regarding Chan, which is how God intended it, and stands in contrast to his last few films. The supporting cast is amusing, the cameos hilarious, and the ending suitably Hollywood. Frankly, I am surprised at the lack of money this film is making, as it is far better than many other choices this weekend, and much better than the average fare in other seasons.

Digital Encoding II

I was at Best Buy and I decided to look at the Velvet Revolver CD mentioned in a previous post. Sure enough, a sticker on the case tells you that there is special encoding and gives you this site for questions. Reading over the site is unbelievable. I can't believe that these people are getting away with. You have to connect to the internet and let your computer download certain "data keys" to unlock your CD. Worse yet, Apple iPod is not supported and the site actually blames Apple for the problem because they don't use Windows encoding. They have the audacity to put up a link to Apple and encouraging readers to email Apple and tell them how displeased they are.



So BMG goes along with this ridiculous encoding idea and has the nerve to tell people to be mad at Apple? I really hope that people don't just sit by and take this. It's completely unacceptable. There are any number of legitimate ways to ensure that music isn't stolen, requiring people to let you pry into their hardware should never be one.

Conservatives, Check Your Brain at the Door?

While the stupidity rampant in the far left has been a constant source of consternation for me of late (in case you somehow missed that), I have to confess that the conservatives are really starting to grind on my nerves almost as much. Clearly, I could never support Kerry for any number of reasons and so I will vote for the President as the alternative because I actually do think things could be worse. But when are the Republicans going to stop this "circle the wagons" mentality and lose the dishonesty that is plaguing them right now? Yes, the Dems are blood thirsty and downright dishonest this year but that doesn't mean that the other party should do the same. President Bush and his administration have made serious errors that have cost our country. Sometimes that happens, we make mistakes. We are human after all. But this administration's failure to even recognize mistakes, let alone do anything to correct them, is a surefire way to lose this election. We want a President who is sure of himself, maybe a little cocky, but not one who is arrogant and condescending. Regardless, Republicans keep making excuses for the errors. How about they just apologize and say "We were wrong, sorry." That would be novel.



But I have found an honest conservative voice out there and a recent post on his site gives me hope that there might be a chance for the true conservative movement yet. It's a truly great piece of writing and I could not agree more. Here's the conclusion:

I don't know, folks. I just think that this cult-like devotion to one man or one party is disturbing, no matter what side of the political fence you find yourself standing. You can't be a conservative and have express misgivings about the Bush presidency? You can't be a Bush voter unless you support every single thing this president does? You can't call yourself a Republican unless you can fully check off every single item in the party's agenda?



No way. I'm a free-thinking American. Criticize me how you want, stop reading the blog if you like. But I'm not going to be bullied by anyone, whether they come from the left or the right. And to be honest, I expected better from right-thinking people.

Wouldn't it be nice if our politicians were that honest just once? I hardly buy into the "all politicians are evil and self serving" or "the other guys are baby eaters" arguments. I tend to think that anyone who runs for office does it because they have at least an inkling of concern for this country and they want to serve it in the way they think best. But when we've gotten to the point when our political leaders can't even be human any more, doesn't something have to change? And as the movement that champions reason and respect and independence, shouldn't the conservative (and I mean that in purest, libertarian way) movement be promoting a better way?

Is the Intafada over?

Charles Krauthammer has a piece today where he posits that the Palestinian intifada is over and the Palestinians lost. He notes that at the height of the uprising, there were 9 suicide bombings killing 85 people in a single month, yet Israelis have kept their economy running (young Israelis made a point of returning to discoes, pizza parlors, and bus stops hours after the bombings) and their spirits up, despite unrelenting assaults. In the meantime, we have been so preoccupied with the War in Iraq, that we have failed to notice that there have been 0 bombings in the last three months! (How did we miss that?! Remember when it seemed like every morning we woke to new pictures of blood somewhere in Israel?) He proposes two reasons for the change in political tides.

First, Israel targeted terrorist leaders -- attacks so hypocritically denounced by Westerners who, at the same time, cheer the hunt for, and demand the head of, Osama bin Laden. The top echelon of Hamas and other terror groups has been either arrested, killed, or driven underground...Second, the fence. Only about a quarter of the separation fence has been built, but its effect is unmistakable. The northern part is already complete, and attacks into northern Israel have dwindled to almost nothing...This success does not just save innocent lives. It changes the strategic equation of the whole conflict.

I am still skeptical that the Intafada is truly ended. Terrorism is all about seizing upon propitious opportunities to use the media to spread news of spectacular events. Right now, the rest of the world is focussed on Iraq and the uprising there, so any suicide bombings in Israel barely rate a small article on page 2. Arafat wants headlines, not footnotes. The real test will be to see if suicide bombings remain down when the Iraqi situation stabilizes and the Palestinians again have a chance at the world stage.

Our Newest (and Most Effective) Ally

It's hard to imagine anyone would have taken you seriously if you had told us a few years ago that Pakistan would soon become friendly with America. You would have been laughed at if you had postulated that we'd actually count them among our "loyal" allies. But 9/11 has changed many things in our world and now Pakistan is turning out to be an ally eager to please. They brought an end to another terrorist today.



Don't get me wrong, Pakistan has serious issues that we need to discuss before we formalize our relationship with them, nuclear weapons and relations with India being primary. But you have to give them credit, they are really jumping into the war on terror. Can you imagine if the French or Germans were half as eager to see the war succeed? We might have broken Al Qaeda completely by now. Of course, those aforementioned countries don't want us to succeed so they're not going to help. I wonder if the administration is getting any ideas about who we can invade the next time around...hint hint Frog Man.

EU Watch

Ah...all is wonderful in the sunny land of Europe. Or maybe not. The Frog Man is at it again. This time he's taking on Blair. I wonder how long it will be before Michael Moore is offered citizenship in France?

Is "80 DAYS" Another Nail in Eisner's Coffin?

Don't know how many of our loyal readers have been following the civil war at Disney over Michael Eisner's leadership, but Fox 411 claims that there is more bad news for the embattled CEO. AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS may be another lemon for Disney. The article does not review the movie at all (though Ebert really liked it) but notes that it has taken in almost no cash, considering it is a major family film starring Jackie Chan (a major family film star) If this is true (at the moment, any profit reports are just projections and estimates) and the film does not bounce back over the weekend, it may well be one more straw on the camel's back. It makes one wonder how long Eisner can remain at Disney when when Walt Disney's own relatives want him out.

Their big new $100 million-plus movie, "Around the World in 80 Days," opened on Wednesday to very little interest. Its take was about $1.5 million on over 2,700 screens...According to boxofficemojo.com, the negatively-reviewed movie starring Jackie Chan had a $540 per screen average. That translates into about 50 people per theater..."80 Days" finished at No. 7 on Wednesday. "Harry Potter," "Shrek 2" and "Garfield: The Movie" were the top three movies that night, and that's not a good thing since "80 Days" is being pegged as a family film. All of those others are family films, too, which means that over the weekend, families will likely be ignoring "80 Days" or viewing it as a fourth choic

My own guess is that Mr. Eisner will be ousted if and when Pixar announces they would only return to the Disney fold under new management. The House of Mouse wants a piece of the movie magic and money-making-machine that is Pixar, and no sane shareholder would let the CEO stand in the way of that kind of stock boost.

Mod-Blog is Now Searchable!

At the very bottom of the page, you will notice a new Google search box. If you choose Mod-Blog and search, you can find any keywords to help in looking for older posts you might be searching for. The link will only take you to the archive page that the article is on, but that's still better than having to search through months of archives. Enjoy!

Digital Protection or Incompetence?

Reviewers at Amazon are going berserk over the release of Contraband, the new release by Velvet Revolver. Apparently, the CD won't play in PC's unless the user is connected to the internet. Early word seems to indicate that Macs run the disc without problem.



So is this just a monumental programming error or is it an attempt at digital rights protection? The music industry has gone way too far in recent years but if this is really a case of intentional encoding, this ought to go all the way to the Supreme Court. If the industry is actually trying to say that when you buy a CD you no longer have control of when and how to listen to it, then they are just as rotten as the pirates stealing music. And they are destroying not only intellectual but personal property rights at the same time. I hope that this is some kind of strange mistake, but I have a feeling it's not.

Tucker Carlson Interview

One of my favorite conservatives took part in an online forum recently to discuss his new PBS program and politics in general. He gives me hope that there are still honest conservatives out there somewhere. Can we put some up for political office? Maybe Tucker should consider a run.

Russia and Pre-War Intelligence

So was Russia the country who's identity the administration could not share last year? Or is this a completely different bit of information. Either way, it reflects again how the ENTIRE WORLD knew that Saddam and Iraq posed a threat to security even if no one will admit it anymore because it might make the US look a little better.

Fifth Sparrow: Meditations from a Friend

So what is the good of having a BLog if you can't provide some free advertising for a friend? Conrad Gempf, the brother of my mother's best friend, is the author of the amusing and profound book JESUS ASKED, which is a meditation on the various kinds of questions Jesus asks in the gospels and what they tell us about Him and about theology in general (highly recommended), and is a professor at the London School of Theology. Well, he now has a weekly column called Fifth Sparrow ( from Luke 12:6) which is definitely worth a read.



Check it out, and let us know what you think. I predict you'll find his thinking profound and his way of phrasing things to will make you laugh more often than you'd expect.

Moore and Hezbollah, Sittin' In a Tree...

If the old saying "You are known by the company you keep" is true, then Michael Moore may be in trouble for his upcoming film Fahrenheit 9/11. The Guardian is reporting that the terrorist group Hezbollah has offered to help Moore with the film. You have to reassess your priorities when you are opposed by every sponsor of the War on Terror, and endorsed by a terrorist organization responsible for the murder of innocents.

Meanwhile, in the United Arab Emirates, the film is being offered the kind of support it doesn't need. According to Screen International, the UAE-based distributor Front Row Entertainment has been contacted by organisations related to the Hezbollah in Lebanon with offers of help. All in all, Tony Blair must be relieved that Moore is not going to make a film about him; Moore rebuffed the rumour in a message on his website headlined: "Sorry to scare you, Tony. Michael Moore was just kidding."

Now, to be fair, this same argument could be applied to Mel Gibson's THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, which was embraced by the Arab world (and several terrorist Arabs specifically) for its percieved criticism of the Jews. And I would reject that those endorsements indicate the film or filmmaker is in any way bad. Still, it is fun to tweak Mr. Moore from time to time. ;-)

The Tool Award

I've decided to start handing out awards. Everyone else is doing it. The nominations are usually lame and the winners rarely deserving in most awards shows, but I promise that not only will all my candidates be true quality considerations but the winner will truly be worthy of being remembered forever in history as a massive tool.



The first ever Tool award goes to a man whom most of you will know of well. He played football, experiencing a successful career playing with the Bills from 1969-77 as a running back. He sure could run! It's funny that he later found himself riding from the police in an SUV when he probably could have outrun them on foot! But I digress...This man also co-stared in some very funny Naked Gun movies and built a following in family based entertainment.



Few knew that during this time, this person was beating his wife repeatedly. Even more shocking is that the police were called out eight times for domestic disturbance calls dealing with this man abusing his wife and the first seven times, he was left alone because it was "just a family matter." No, it would take the murder of his wife and her "friend" to finally get the police to take this violence seriously. Of course, when they did finally take action, this nominee hired the most prolific, race-baiting, racists he could find and made sure that EVERYONE knew that he was being singled out because of a vast conspiracy within the LAPD. By subterfuge, lies, manipulations, race-baiting, and out right force of will, our candidate was able to get off of charges of murder despite overwhelming evidence that should have had him fried shortly thereafter.



But our brave nominee's fight was not yet over, for more mean white racists wanted to slander his good name. Shockingly, the jury in the civil case voted unanimously to convict our candidate of double murder. Luckily for him, and all of his adoring fans, he couldn't serve jail time in this case, so he lost some of that hard earned money instead. Years passed and it seemed that our worthy candidate had slipped out of our consciousness. But it appears that he feels his noble work is not yet done. Our fearless nominee recently showed up to speak with recently remodeled android, Greta Van Susteren. And what message did our brave nominee bring back from his absence? He's angry. He's angry at his wife who he murd...oopps sorry...Who someone else murdered. Wink wink, nudge nudge. He's angry at the family of the fellow that he murd...That someone murdered. He says that they're looking for money. Of course, there is no chance whatsoever that they're looking for justice. The family is actually a member of the great white plot to frame our courageous recipient. When robo-Greta asked him about the anniversary of his "beloved" wife's death? He says that he and the kids were out at dinner and one of his children thought they should toast to their mom. He decided to go along with it just so he could pretend to care. What is left to be said? What more can I say to make my point of just how worthy tonight's noble winner is? I think I'll let someone else speak for a moment:

Only he, found responsible for the murders in an exhaustive and thorough civil trial, could mock these deaths, the loved ones of the victims and the legal system a decade later. His lack of any shame or contrition, his inability to show any grace, bereavement, or comportment after all this time has proven to be more of a conviction than any judgment that could have been levied against him by a criminal jury.

And for that, I award OJ Simpson Mod-Blog's first ever Tool award! Congratulations Mr. Simpson, by being a calloused, horrible example of what it means to be a husband, a lover, a father, and a human being, you are an example to tools the world over!

Ann Says it Best

You have to take most of what Ann Coulter says with a block of salt, but her column up today is dead on target. There's a link to her site over to the right with the rest of them, but here is a good quote concerning how much of a "uniting force" Reagan was (that's the liberals current favorite claim):

Here is how Reagan "reached out" to Democrats:



Reagan on abortion: "We cannot survive as a free nation when some men decide that others are not fit to live and should be abandoned to abortion or infanticide."



Reagan on gay rights: "Society has always regarded marital love as a sacred expression of the bond between a man and a woman. It is the means by which families are created and society itself is extended into the future. In the Judeo-Christian tradition it is the means by which husband and wife participate with God in the creation of a new human life. It is for these reasons, among others, that our society has always sought to protect this unique relationship. In part the erosion of these values has given way to a celebration of forms of expression most reject. We will resist the efforts of some to obtain government endorsement of homosexuality."



Reagan on government programs to feed the "hungry": "We were told four years ago that 17 million people went to bed hungry each night. Well, that was probably true. They were all on a diet."



Would that more Republicans would "reach out" to Democrats the way Reagan did!

Rather you love him or hate him, Reagan can't be painted with any brush tainted with even a little liberal paint. The guy was the model for right-wing conservatism and it's really funny to see the press scramble now to try to re-create his legacy in their own image. Hopefully, the forces of truth will win this battle so that history will see Reagan as he truly was, for better and worse.

COOL RESOURCE THURSDAY: BabelFish.Altavista.Com

Douglas Adams, genius writer of HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO THE GALAXY in book form, on the radio, and on TV, was faced with the same problem which faces all sci fi writers at some point, who bring aliens into the mix: how do we get them talking with humans? Well, rather than try to go a serious route, he invented the BABEL FISH - a tiny organism which is placed inside the ear and automatically translated any language into the one that the wearer knew. Well, a few years back Altavista.Com (still the second best search site on the net, next to Google) decided to bring their own version of the Babel Fish to the Web, with Babelfish.Altavista.Com This little wonder will translate between any number of languages, and will either let you type in the text yourself (directly or via an onscreen "world keyboard" if you need to use Greek or Cyrillic characters) or submit a whole website and let it translate the whole page for you.







The Babel Fish (often referred to as simply "The Fish" by folks in the know) is invaluable for seaching thru the non-English portions of the web. It opens up corners of the internet that previously were only available to the multilingual, and ensures that no obscure movie rumor is safe from your eyes. It is also useful for communicating with bilingual friends, and/or adding a little extra-english dialogue to stories or scripts. Just keep in mind that The Fish is not completely intelligent and looks at words and not context. It is possible to fool it, so always check the translation with a real person before presenting it in your PhD paper, or similarly important application.

A Major Step in Iraq

Sadr has agreed to call it quits on the revolt. Apparently he decided that a political career had more potential than the grave awaiting him if he kept up the attacks. Of course, this won't stop the fighting and terror in Iraq, but it is a big step and certainly a victory for the US. This is needed good news, especially as the situation in Fallujah looks to be worsening again.

The Final Star Wars

This op-ed doesn't have any new, top secret information in it so to speak. But there is one interesting claim, the author thinks the third prequel will actually redeem the previous two. I remain unconvinced, but hopeful.

Reagan and Bush

So, I've made no secret that I'm not President Bush's biggest fan. Reagan, on the other hand, I wish dearly that I could have met. If there is one man that proves that principle alone can get you somewhere, I believe that man was Ronald Reagan. It's been interesting in the last two weeks to hear how suddenly popular President Reagan was. After all, for the last two decades he's been a favorite punching bag of the liberals who uniformly dispise him and often call him the worst President in American history (they must have forgotten that Jimmy Carter was President for four years, but then so did most of the rest of the country.) It's good to see that once you die, you actually become more popular, my guess is that this happens becuase you can no longer confound liberals with that pesky thing known as the truth. They are free to re-write your legacy since they seem to control history currently. So it's interesting to consider what liberals said about Reagan while he was in office. I found this at National Review and I just took the whole thing. I hope no one over there minds (not that they read this site anyway...) It's a political quiz of twenty quotes from various media outlets. Try to guess which was said about Reagan and which was said about President Bush:



20 Quotes: Is it Reagan or W.?



1)“European discomfort with the President, however, goes beyond the political differences that preceded and will outlast his presidency. It has, as well, a personal basis. He appears to Europeans to be ill equipped for the responsibility that he bears, a kind of cowboy figure, bellicose, ignorant, with a simplistic view of the world…



2)“[The President] came to Europe to persuade people that he is not the shallow, nuclear cowboy of certain unkind assessments. Said [a] White House spokesman … on the eve of departure, ‘Some in Europe do not know or understand him.’ But now that the president has been among them… Europeans may think they got him right the first time.”



3)“For many Europeans… America has become paranoid… [which has] led them to take their distance from us… Mutual recrimination becomes political action. Both sides of the Atlantic, writes … an editor of the influential Hamburg weekly Die Zeit, are ‘losing interest in each other.’ … The estrangement has not come naturally. The communality of heritage and beliefs between the United States and Europe is old and powerful and has withstood frequent vicissitudes. However, an accumulation of events and developments has built up enough discord to threaten the most solid of foundations.”



4)“The anti-American theme, a popular subject for campaigning politicians, is aimed mostly at U.S. policy and the [U.S.] administration. This country is pictured as a French David standing up to an American Goliath. [The French foreign minister] warned during the … controversy: ‘There is a progressive divorce between Washington and Europe …. The U.S. seems totally indifferent to our problems.’”



5)“In a day of protests across Western Europe, hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated against the [American policy]… The protest organizers said about 1.2 million people took part in the demonstrations…. Hundreds of thousands jammed central London in what was said to be the largest protest of its kind in British history. In Rome, an estimated 350,000 marchers paraded through the center of the city.”



6) “Europe Sees U.S. Foreign Policy As Out Of Control” – Los Angeles Times headline



7) “Speaking to members of the American Stock Exchange, [Senator Edward] Kennedy said, ‘Our present course is taking the United States toward unilateral intervention … toward a war, whether we want it or not, whether we like it or not, (that) will inevitably involve American forces in combat. But surely, an American invasion… would plunge us into the most unwanted, unnecessary and unjustified war in our history,’ Kennedy said…. Kennedy said Congress must propose ‘an alternative policy with a real prospect of success.’ ‘So, as a first step, we must call off the dogs of war,’ he said.”



8)“[W]e have a President who is obsessed by the subject. [Nicaragua for Ronald Reagan – or Iraq for George W. Bush] is his Moby Dick. Like a political Ahab, he pursues it beyond reason, beyond humanity, beyond safety. In his frustration, he spews out rage and hate, fear and falsehood.”



9) “[The President] has substituted a mindless militarism for a foreign policy… frightening our friends… Already, the cost of [the President’s] policies is devastating to our country in economic strength, in diplomatic influence, in national security, in moral stature.”



10) “‘This has been a foreign policy without a guiding star,’ said… a former official in Republican administrations… ‘It has been the most ideological administration of U.S foreign relations I've seen and the least conceptual, in terms of a clear vision of what the world ought to be like and what we would do to get there.’”



11)“The tangible achievements of his first term have been relatively modest. His economic program, in the judgment of many experts, has succeeded almost in spite of itself – and the current recovery is built on record deficits that will burden the nation for a generation. His foreign policy has lacked coherence…”



12) “Unilateral intervention by a truculent and trigger-happy Uncle Sam might delight some U.S. citizens – frustrated by events, eager for easy answers – but elsewhere… it would only serve to reaffirm the worst fears…”



13) “The United States has a myopic, ideological foreign policy that really isn't a policy at all, but a collection of maneuvers produced by prejudice and instinct. The men responsible for American diplomacy, it seems, often fail to grasp they have put us into grave trouble around the world…. [The President] has angered and undermined his closest ally in Europe, [the British Prime Minister], and he has aggravated the gravest problem facing the United States, a problem symbolized by the largest protest demonstrations in Europe since World War II...”



14)“To win that vote [congressional vote to authorize support for its foreign policy goals], the Administration is now reduced to McCarthyite tactics: the insinuation that foes of its … policy are … stooges or worse. Can Congress be whipped by these tactics into a policy of such moral, military and political degradation?”



15)“When a politician claims that God favors his programs, alarm bells should ring… If there is anything that should be illegitimate in the American system, it is such use of sectarian religiosity to sell a political program. And this was done not by some fringe figure, but by the President of the United States.”



16)“What is the world to think when the greatest of powers is led by a man who applies to the most difficult human problem a simplistic theology – one in fact rejected by most theologians?... What must the leaders of Western Europe think of such a speech? … The exaggeration and the simplicities are there not only in the rhetoric but in the process by which he makes decisions.”



17)“Perhaps even more dangerous, [the President’s] smug view, if further inculcated in Americans, will preclude self-examination, humility, a willingness to concede error. Are we so clearly a God-directed, chosen people that we have no need to question our virtue, or the evil of our rivals? If [the President] really thinks so, he has shaken off the strongest restraints on human conduct – doubt and fear.”



18) "[Pollster Lou Harris] believes that [the President] is polarizing the country more than any president since Franklin D. Roosevelt and that, when such strong political polarization occurs, it tends to lead to a greater voter turnout. That would benefit the Democrats…"



19) "'[The President] has been a divider, not a uniter… The American people will reject four more years of danger, four more years of pain,’ [a leading congressional Democrat] said."



20) "[One state Democratic chairman] said: '[The President] has a lot of problems. The less he does, the better he does; the more he does, the worse he does. He keeps polarizing the voters, and the Republican Party is not big enough to allow that. An incumbent President must unite the country, not divide it. It’s unbelievably bad strategy on their part.'"



Don't scroll down until you're ready for the answers!

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The answer? They're all about Ronald Reagan:

1) Michael Mandelbaum, Foreign Affairs, ”America and the World 1985”

2) Mary McGrory, Washington Post, June 10, 1982

3) New York Times, May 9, 1982

4) US News & World Report, December 20, 1982

5) James M. Markham, New York Times, October 23, 1983

6)Los Angeles Times headline, December 4, 1986

7) United Press International, June 11, 1985

8) Anthony Lewis, New York Times, March 24, 1986

9) John B. Oakes, former senior editor, New York Times, November 1, 1981

10) Don Oberdorfer, Washington Post, November 20, 1983

11) Tom Morganthau, Newsweek, August 27, 1984

12) Editorial, Los Angeles Times, August 7, 1985

13) Robert Kaiser, Washington Post, October 30, 1983

14) John B. Oakes, New York Times, March 7, 1986

15) Anthony Lewis, New York Times, March 10, 1983

16) Anthony Lewis, New York Times, March 10, 1983

17) Tom Wicker, New York Times, March 15, 1983

18) Haynes Johnson, Washington Post, January 29, 1984

19) The Associated Press, January 30, 1984

20) Dom Bonafede, The National Journal, May 5, 1984



Now, I'm sure no one reading this site is especially shocked by this. But keep this in mind when you hear about the current debate and Bush's policies. In a small way, this helps me to like President Bush just a little more. It also reminds me that some things never change.