Sunny Friday Boobie

It's a beautiful sunny Friday here, so here's a blue footed boobie.

Solving the Big Problems in Iraq

It's nice to see the Iraqi parliament tackling the important issues facing the Iraqi people:

Iraqi lawmakers are working on a bill to ban imports of toy guns and fireworks

Expect this to lead to a major decrease in violence throughout Iraq. Or not. Who needs toy guns and fireworks when AK-47's are so cheap?

Added: What they really need is an amusement park:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article3802051.ece

You can't make this stuff up.

Hey, Happy Earth Day folks....

....and enjoy this big blue ball while we're on it.

Thought for the Day

I like meeting people, but the feeling isn't always mutual.

The Truth About the Lies

The NY Times is now telling us what has been blitheringly obvious to anyone who has been paying attention: the so called "expert military analysts" are a bunch of paid shills, and their "progress" reports are a pack of lies:

Hidden behind that appearance of objectivity, though, is a Pentagon information apparatus that has used those analysts in a campaign to generate favorable news coverage of the administration’s wartime performance, an examination by The New York Times has found.

The effort, which began with the buildup to the Iraq war and continues to this day, has sought to exploit ideological and military allegiances, and also a powerful financial dynamic: Most of the analysts have ties to military contractors vested in the very war policies they are asked to assess on air.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/washington/20generals.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

I know that this is common knowledge among many of us bloggers who follow the actual news from Iraq, but it's nice to see it in mainstream print. Part of my "blogger frustration" stems from hearing their bullshit repeated throughout the American media, and knowing that most of the public isn't aware that they are being manipulated. Maybe this article will open some eyes.

The occupation of Iraq is unwinnable and untenable in it's very conception, and no amount of spin will change this fact. "Surges" and "awakenings" are purely propaganda. Calling Moqtada al-Sadr "radical" and any resistance groups "insurgents" ignores the simple fact that we will never be able to impose our will upon the people of Iraq. The people of Iraq have a proud, albeit tragic, history, but they know that Iraq didn't attack America and they have no desire to become an American colony. They will resist foreign occupation as they have for millenia, and no amount of military effort will change that basic fact. The only real question is how much blood will be spilled before our occupation ends and we leave.

The "analysts" can take all this bullshit and pack it in flowery wrapping with positive bows, but they still are selling a package of bullshit. Sooner or later the public will stop buying it.

A Fresh Boobie

I've gotten a couple of complaints for having recycled boobies on Friday, so here's a new one. Happy Friday.

We Need More Ruins

(photo taken on the San Juan River by Zymurgian)

For Shaun Mullen, should he stop by.

The Pundit Spin

Because I woke up in someone else's bed, I watched some of the Sunday "bobbleheads" this morning. Left to my own devices I never bother to watch them, but due to a variety of inducements it happened. And it was too early to start drinking.
I saw "meet the press" and "this week" in the company of a die hard Hillary supporter, and there was a lot of room for debate, but I was mostly appalled by the triviality of it all. Apparently Obama's "bitter" comments are the most important statements of the campaign season. St. Sleazy can't tell a Sunni from a Shia, but the pundits love him for his "straight talk." Shrub admits that he endorsed torture, but that was awhile ago so it isn't worth talking about. Nope, the pundits know that Obama's "gaffe" is what really matters. Every word must be properly parsed. After all, we can't have a president who "misspeaks" now, can we? If he sounds "arrogant" or "elitist" that might reflect badly on America.
How the hell did these people end up on TV?

Sunday Funny

Saw this over at badtux the snarky penguin, and thought it should be shared. It's almost sadly funny because it's almost true.

This Weeks Boobie

Leave it to Sweaterman to post something I never even thought of. Happy Friday.

4/11: A Momentous Occasion

"I could never do that," murmured Flounder, wide-eyed.

"Sure you could," Bluto said encouragingly. "Why not?"

"I've never been able to throw up, even when I was sick." Flounder looked very worried.

Bluto threw a comradely arm around his shoulders."Mark my words, Flounder: before you leave the Delta House you'll be booting like a pro."

Well, George W. was supposedly a Delta, although not a member of Delta Tau Chi, the fraternity immortalized in "Animal House". But, since George was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon - and thus a Delta - I'd like to think that the roving band of criminals in the White House and the rest of the Administration would act like the Delta house, who have "booted" all over our country, and would like to belt out a chorus for International "Louie, Louie" Day.

This song, the lyrics of which are quoted below, has an immense history, including a 31-month investigation by the Effa-Bee-Eye, and anyone who has been to college (or who has been even the most slightly hip over the past 20 years, has tried their hand at singing the lyrics - sober or drunk - has heard it). I'm not sure what some folks think about the lyrics, but after all this time, I'm willing to believe it's a song about a lonely sailor trying to get home to see his lady. And the fact that approximately 1500 versions of the song have been recorded kind of skews my mind to the idea that it's not a subversive song out to "destroy the fabric of America."

So, in honor of the day, here's the lyrics, as best they can be compiled (but get a beer or some Purple Jesus punch first):

The Kingsmen (1955)

Louie Louie Lyrics

CHORUS:

Louie Louie, oh no

Me gotta go

Aye-yi-yi-yi, I said

Louie Louie, oh baby

Me gotta go

Fine little girl waits for me

Catch a ship across the sea

Sail that ship about, all alone

Never know if I make it home

CHORUS

Three nights and days I sail the sea

Think of girl, constantly

On that ship, I dream she's there

I smell the rose in her hair.

CHORUS

Okay, let's give it to 'em, right now!

GUITAR SOLO

See Jamaica, the moon above

It won't be long, me see me love

Take her in my arms again

Tell her I'll never leave again

CHORUS

Let's take it on outa here now

Let's go!!

Another Reason to Hate the Yankees

Like many baseball fans, I hate the Yankees. Now they've gone too far:

Yankees recall Gonzalez, start him at SS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)—While the New York Yankees awaited the return of Derek Jeter and news on Jorge Posada’s shoulder, they put Alberto Gonzalez in the starting lineup at shortstop against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night.

Letting the worst attorney general in history start at shortstop? That's just wrong.

*I know that it's a different Alberto Gonzalez, but I found it amusing.

Added: He's playing well. And to think that he's been having a hard time finding a job...

Walking Through the Park....

...and reminiscing....

So, I'm finally back in school, almost 20 years to the day I left.

It's kind of familiar, but still a new experience, as it seems that many new buildings have gone up, everyone's wired, and, of course, I'm sitting in the (new, to me at least) student union typing this post.

Twenty-five years ago, I would've had to go next door to the Engineering building and get in the computer lab to type this up and email it. And, let's face it, pretty much the only folks I could've emailed it to 20 years ago were my fellow professors and students, who I saw every damn day in the lab anyway, and wouldn't have even bothered.

The times they have done changed. Well, except for the pretty girls in jogging shorts running around the mall. Nowadays, I can snap a picture with my phone (I just did), and send it to my old college roommate up in the Pacific Northwest without a single pause of consideration (although I do wonder if his phone gets pictures).

Like I said, times changed. But, at least the Engineering building is still open and I got to sneak in and see my old T.A.'s office, even if I was leading a dog around with me, and we ignored all the "No Pets" signs. Twenty-five years ago, the Engineering, Computer Science, Architecture, and the Main, Science, and Medical Libraries were the only buildings that were open 24/7/365, and I know, because I spent way too many hours than a human being should writing code at 3 a.m. and eating out of vending machines. I guess some good came out of all that (wireless access for one), but it's still nice to get a look of surprise when I pull a mouse out of my bag to plug into the laptop. "Mouse?, they say. Why not use the trackpad?" Hell, people, when I was your age, we had to build our own mouse out of wooden blocks! A-and, we had punch cards, dammit!"

Wow. Gettin' crotchety in my old age. If'n I don't watch myself, I may go out to the mall area and yell at those young'uns to "Git the hell off my lawn!"

There's still a band playing and some activity going on out on the mall, and Old Main is still a nice place to watch the sunshine. And, some Mensa for high schoolers organization in doing science qualifications (sponsored by Raytheon) all over campus are walking by with the strangest looking experiments (it looks as if someone made a windmill with eggshells for the blades).

But, that's all for the travelogue. I'll try post if I get a chance to go to South Tucson for some real food, but otherwise, sometime when I get back to the homestead.

Enjoy the weekend!

St. Sleazy Needs a (Running) Mate

In the dying light of the last days of my old brewery, we still talk politics. Tonight, we had a bit of fun choosing running mates for St. Sleazy McCain. My choice was Charles Barkley, but Ted Nugent won the straw poll. I have to like the person who put Paris Hilton (who?) on the list. So, who should St. Sleazy McCain (running) mate with?

Another Friday Boobie

Sorry that I haven't been posting much lately. I haven't felt like I've had much to say. So here's the Friday boobie. Enjoy!

Why I Shouldn't Complain

My water is fixed, and I really shouldn't complain. A minor inconvenience, but not a disaster. A day without a shower may be less romantic, but it's really nothing. Other folks have had to deal with hurricanes, tornado's, blizzards, and earthquakes. I've spent days in the wilderness, and liked it. Sometimes we bitch about the smallest things. Thanks for the kind comments.

Is This a Prank?

Today started with a morning aggravation. I went to take a shower...no water. I was pretty sure that the bill was paid, so my immediate suspicion was that one of the housemates was celebrating April 1st. No such luck. Looking outside, the city is tearing up a large chunk of the water main. Dear city of Flagstaff: it would be really nice if you would tell us ahead of time before engaging in such projects. And, as April Fool's jokes go, I didn't find this one amusing.

Baseball and Our Shrub

Zymurgian and I watched last night's season opening Nationals-Braves game (OK, the season actually opened in Japan), and were forced to listen to shrub opining in the announcers booth with Jon Miller and Joe Morgan. While it was painful to listen, I really wish that shrub had stuck with baseball instead of going into politics. His intellectual bankruptcy was mostly harmless when he was screwing up the Texas Rangers rather than the whole country. I love baseball, but I'd happily sacrifice my favorite team if it meant that shrub was safely out of the presidents office. We were a lot better off when he was trading away Sammy Sosa than we are now with him trading away our future.

Neckties

Zymurgian and I are talking about neckties. I admit that I know how to tie a windsor. My father was a politician, so I had to wear a necktie. With my father gone, I haven't worn a tie in more than a decade. But I still know how to tie a Windsor. The necktie is no longer used for it's original purpose, which was to be a knapkin. In an earlier time, this was a valuable skill. To wipe your face, and still look good. Can you tie a tie?

Odd Events in Iraq

One of the many problems with taking sides in the Iraqi power struggles is sorting out the loyalties of various groups of Iraqi people. Take this incident:

It appears that Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's ultimatum to Shiite Muslim militiamen to surrender to the Iraqi government might not be working precisely as he had intended.

When nobody had turned up by Friday, Maliki gave members of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr's Mahdi Army militia 10 more days to turn in their weapons and renounce violence.

Instead, about 40 members of the Shiite-dominated Iraqi army and National Police offered to surrender their AK-47s and other weapons this morning to Sadr's representatives in the cleric's east Baghdad stronghold of Sadr City.

One of the police officers told journalists assembled at Sadr's office that he was heeding a call by an Iraqi cleric based in Iran, Ayatollah Fadhil Maliki, to stop fighting fellow Muslims.

"We came here to tell our brothers, the followers of Sadr, that we will not be against you," said the officer, who was dressed in civilian clothes and had his face covered with a scarf and dark sunglasses.

Sadr's representatives refused to take the men's weapons, saying they belong to the government. Instead, the representatives offered the men olive branches and copies of the Koran.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2008/03/iraq-not-quite.html

(my bolds)

Part of the army and police are more loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr than they are to Nouri al-Maliki. This is a problem that American soldiers are stuck in the middle of, thanks to the idiocy of our shrub.