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Saturday, February 11th, 2006
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3:11 pm - Help me caption this photo:
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| Tuesday, February 7th, 2006
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7:39 am - An Open Letter to Bubba
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Published on Monday, February 6, 2006 by CommonDreams.org
An Open Letter to Bubba
by Charlie Anderson
[hyperlinks are my own addition]
I’ve seen you around. I’ve seen you driving your gas guzzling SUV with the “Support Our Troops” ribbon on the back. I’ve seen you wearing your pro-war/pro-bush t-shirts as you walk right past me in my Iraq Veterans Against the War t-shirt as if I don’t exist. And I’ve seen you at anti-war rallies and meetings where I often speak, as you wave your American flag and call me a traitor. In this country we have freedom of speech. But you owe me and every other veteran of this war the respect of listening to our experience.
Your magnet says “support our troops,” but what have you done for us? Not a penny of the proceeds go to us, instead they go to sweatshops in China. You say that I am not supporting the troops when I say that they should come home. But I am, because I know that there was no threat to our nation from Saddam Hussein, I know that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction, and I know that we were not welcomed in Iraq as liberators. I know that the Iraq war was not worth fighting. I know, because I fought there. You say I’m confused. But what do you know about Iraq? You’ve never been there.
You have the audacity to claim that by not supporting the president, I don’t support the troops. Yet, the president chose to send over 160,000 of us to Iraq unprepared and without a defined mission. We had no body armor, no vehicle armor, and poor supplies of ammunition. Our families spent thousands of dollars that they did not have to supply us, while President Bush did nothing. In fact he didn’t even scold his Offensive Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, when he told our forward deployed troops, “you go to war with the army you have, not the army you wish you had.” Moreover, the mission was originally about weapons of mass destruction, but there were none. Then it was making Iraq a democracy, but yet the “insurgency” worsens. Now the president has decided that in order to honor those who died for nothing, more must die for nothing.
At present, 2,241 of my brothers and sisters in arms have died. In some way, they may be the lucky ones. Over sixteen thousand others have been wounded in this war, thousands more than planned. The term wounded sounds sterile, bland, and inoffensive. But, in reality, many of them have been so horribly damaged that medical science had to create a new word to describe their wounds: polytrauma. These people would have died in earlier wars, but because of the gallant efforts of brave doctors and medics, they get to live. They get to live with teams of ten or more doctors just trying to get their broken, mangled bodies through another day, as their families look on in horror. They get to live in a physical and emotional hell, not able to recover and not able to voice the pain they feel or the psychological demons they face. All the while suffering with a Veterans Administration under funded by nearly three billion dollars and unable to care for them in the manner they deserve.
So which one of us supports the troops? You, who has never set foot in Iraq and wants to leave my brothers and sisters there until they complete whatever the undefined mission of the week is, or me, the veteran of this war who has seen the carnage of battle, the rampant indifference of my countrymen, and just wants to bring my brothers and sisters home alive and care for them when they get here?
Keep coming to the rallies. Maybe I’ll get through your thick skull eventually. But remember I waved my flag in Baghdad, so you can sit down, shut up, and listen to me.
Charlie Anderson served in Iraq with the Marine Corps’ Second Tank Battalion. He is the Southeast Regional Coordinator of Iraq Veterans Against the War. He can be contacted at iraqvet4peace@yahoo.com
current mood:  tired
current music: Bring the Boys Back Home - Pink Floyd
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6:52 am - Sure, at first it's "ooh" and "aah," but then come the screaming and the running...
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A lost world has been found, and nary a dinosaur or sleestack in sight.
This from the Independent/UK:
Scientists hail discovery of hundreds of new species in remote New Guinea
An astonishing mist-shrouded "lost world" of previously unknown and rare animals and plants high in the mountain rainforests of New Guinea has been uncovered by an international team of scientists.
Among the new species of birds, frogs, butterflies and palms discovered in the expedition through this pristine environment, untouched by man, was the spectacular Berlepsch's six-wired bird of paradise. The scientists are the first outsiders to see it. They could only reach the remote mountainous area by helicopter, which they described it as akin to finding a "Garden of Eden".
In a jungle camp site, surrounded by giant flowers and unknown plants, the researchers watched rare bowerbirds perform elaborate courtship rituals. The surrounding forest was full of strange mammals, such as tree kangaroos and spiny anteaters, which appeared totally unafraid, suggesting no previous contact with humans.
Read the full article here.
current mood:  curious
current music: Lost in a Lost World - Moody Blues
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| Tuesday, January 31st, 2006
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4:42 pm - Tuesday Sundae.
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| Monday, January 30th, 2006
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6:13 am - Find a human.
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Here's an extensive list of various company and governmental telephone lines and what buttons to hit or things to tell their automated answering systems in order to speak to a real, live human.
The categories are:
finance government insurance pharmacy products retail shipping technology telco travel tv/satellite
Handy!
current mood: sleepy
current music: Smurfs Theme Techno Remix
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| Saturday, January 28th, 2006
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8:19 am - Like they do on the Discovery Channel.
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The local time is about 7:20am (CST). I live by Eastern Standard Time, however, because there is little around me here on a somewhat remote mountain at the edge of the Eastern Time Zone worth changing my clocks for. I crawl out of bed at around 5am local time, which puts me in a position to observe something natives around here find wholly unremarkable, but that always captivates me: local wildlife at play.
This morning I saw three fawns at play behind my house. A few moments passed before I noticed the adult deer nearby; while the fawns played at the treeline quite visibly in their whirling dervish, the adults standing clear of the treeline were almost invisible in their stillness. Eventually, the adult deer lost interest in me and went about their business with the trees and their own tails. The fawns stood at about waist height from hoof to ear, while the elder deer were greater in stature, but not much larger around; all the deer were remarkably slender.
With every deer, squirrel, and chipmunk I see around my house I find something remarkable. While I miss living blocks from civilization, I wish everyone could share these experiences.
I fetched my camera this time, but the rechargeable batteries were expended. In place of the photos I would have taken, here's a picture I found on the Net of a fawn similar to the ones I saw.
current mood:  pleased
current music: Voices - Macross Plus
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| Friday, January 27th, 2006
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3:07 pm - I am now above the law.
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Courtesy Agence France Presse via CommonDreams.org:
"The Pentagon acknowledged in a newly declassified document that the US public is increasingly exposed to propaganda disseminated overseas in psychological operations.
"But the document suggests that the Pentagon believes that US law that prohibits exposing the US public to propaganda does not apply to the unintended blowback from such operations.
"'The increasing ability of people in most parts of the globe to access international information sources makes targeting particular audiences more difficult,' said the document."
Wow, that's just great. So if I decide that staying under the speed limit is just too difficult, then I can speed all I want.
Thanks, Pentagon!
current mood:  quixotic
current music: St. Swithin's Day - Billy Bragg
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| Thursday, January 26th, 2006
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2:32 pm - And now for something completely different.
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| Saturday, January 21st, 2006
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8:32 am - Criminal activity is the new black.
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| Friday, January 20th, 2006
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9:25 pm - Technoirwocky
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Friend technoir glommed onto this-- is the term cliché yet?-- meme and I think it's interesting, too.
1. What's the first word that comes to mind when you think of me?
2. Go to http://images.google.com/ and search for that word.
3. Reply to this post with one of the pictures on the first page of results (don't tell me the word).
4. Put this in your own blog so that I can do the same.
Here's what technoir calls to mind, apparently:
current mood:  surprised
current music: Black - Okkervil River
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| Thursday, January 19th, 2006
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9:14 pm - The sound of ideologies clashing
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I heard this on Pandora.com today:
Ideology
Billy Bragg
When one voice rules the nation
Just because they’re on top of the pile
Doesn’t mean their vision is the clearest
The voices of the people
Are falling on deaf ears
Our politicians all become careerists
They must declare their interests
But not their company cars
Is there more to a seat in parliament
Then sitting on your arse
And the best of all this bad bunch
Are shouting to be heard
Above the sound of ideologies clashing
Outside the patient millions
Who put them into power
Expect a little more back for their taxes
Like school books, beds in hospitals
And peace in our bloody time
All they get is old men grinding axes
Who’ve built their private fortunes
On the things they can rely
The courts, the secret handshake
The stock exchange and the old school tie
For God and queen and country
All things they justify
Above the sound of ideologies clashing
God bless the civil service
The nation's saving grace
While we expect democracy
They’re laughing in our face
And although our cries get louder
Their laughter gets louder still
Above the sound of ideologies clashing
current mood: impressed
current music: Tank Park Salute - Billy Bragg
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| Wednesday, January 18th, 2006
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6:44 pm - Holy unintentional pr0n, Batman!
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I thought I'd done an entry on this, but apparently not. So without further ado:
Discuss.
current mood: sleepy
current music: The Chain - Tantric
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| Tuesday, January 17th, 2006
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8:17 pm - Hair today, gone tomorrow.
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The Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists™: Highlighting the Heads of Scientists.
Self-described as "a club for scientists who have, or believe they have, luxuriant flowing hair."
Hair Poem - George Carlin
I'm aware some stare at my hair.
In fact, to be fair,
Some really despair of my hair.
But I don't care,
Cause they're not aware,
Nor are they debonair.
In fact, they're just square.
They see hair down to there,
Say, "Beware" and go off on a tear!
I say, "No fair!"
A head that's bare is really nowhere.
So be like a bear, be fair with your hair!
Show it you care.
Wear it to there.
Or to there.
Or to there, if you dare!
My wife bought some hair at a fair, to use as a spare.
Did I care?
Au contraire!
Spare hair is fair!
In fact, hair can be rare.
Fred Astaire got no hair,
Nor does a chair,
Nor nor a chocolate eclair,
And where is the hair on a pear?
Nowhere, mon frere!
So now that I've shared this affair of the hair,
I'm going to repair to my lair and use Nair, do you care?
current mood:  envious
current music: Perfect Hair - Dangerdoom
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4:38 pm - Won't the real Slim Goodbody please stand up?
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| Sunday, January 15th, 2006
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6:14 pm - She prefers guys who can kiss upside down in the rain.
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I've been playing City of Heroes lately, so this thing I found by Nocturnal-Devil at Deviant Art seems quite topical. Click the comic for a full-size version, suitable for framing.
"Ode to a Superhero," Weird Al Yankovic
Sung to the tune of Billy Joel's "Piano Man."
Poor Peter Parker was pitiful
Couldn't have been any shyer
Mary Jane still wouldn't notice him
Even if his hair was on fire
But then one day he went to that science lab
That mutated spider came down
Oh, and now Peter crawls over everyone's walls
And he's swingin' all over town
La li la, li de da
La la, li le la da dum
Sling us a web, you're the Spider-Man
Sling us a web tonight
'Cause we're all in the mood for a hero now
And there's evildoers to fight
Now Harry the rich kid's a friend of his
Who horns in on Mary Jane
But to his great surprise it seems she prefers guys
Who can kiss upside down in the rain
"With great power comes great responsibility"
That's the catch phrase of old Uncle Ben
If you missed it, don't worry, they'll say the line
Again and again and again
Oh, la la la, di de da
La la, di di da da dom
Now Norman's a billionare scientist
Who never had time for his son
But then something went screw and before you knew he
Was trying to kill everyone
And he's ridin' around on that glider thing
And he's throwin' that weird pumpkin bomb
Yes, he's wearin' that dumb Power Rangers mask
But he's scarier without it on
Sling us a web, you're the Spider-Man
Sling us a web tonight
'Cause you're brave and you're strong and so limber now
But where'd you come up with those tights?
It's a pretty sad day at the funeral
Norman Osborn has bitten the dust
And I heard Harry's said he wants Spider-Man dead
Aw, but his buddy Pete he can trust
Oh, and M.J. is all hot for Peter now
Aw, but Peter, he just shuts her down
Mary Jane, don't you cry, you can give it a try
Again when the sequel comes 'round
Oh, la la la, di de da
La la, di di da da dum
Sling us a web, you're the Spider-Man
Sling us a web tonight
'Cause we all sure could use us a hero now
And we think that you'll do all right.
current music: Ode to a Superhero - Weird Al
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| Friday, January 13th, 2006
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7:09 am - Your prison is walking through this world all alone.
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| Wednesday, January 11th, 2006
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3:53 pm - Speak to Me.
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| Bands // Song Titles | | Choose a band/or artist and answer only in song TITLES by that band:: | Pink Floyd | | Are you female or male:: | In the Flesh? | | Describe yourself:: | Comfortably Numb. | | How do some people feel about you:: | A Saucerful of Secrets. | | How do you feel about yourself:: | Outside the Wall. | | Describe your ex girlfriend/boyfriend:: | Run Like Hell. | | Describe your current girlfriend/boyfriend:: | Nobody Home. | | Describe where you want to be:: | Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun. | | Describe what you want to be:: | Fearless. | | Describe how you live:: | High Hopes. | | Describe how you love:: | Wish You Were Here. | | Share a few words of wisdom:: | Shine On, You Crazy Diamond. | Take this survey | Find more surveys
You've been totally Bzoink*d |
current mood:  busy
current music: "Hey You," Pink Floyd
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| Saturday, January 7th, 2006
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5:00 pm - War: What is it good for?
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PRAYER FOR PEACE (IAN BOYDEN/RALPH DALE) (1967)
Gentle Jesus, bless each bomb
We drop today in Vietnam,
And keep our helicopters safe
From natives they fly low to strafe.
Amen.
Lord of Life, increase our skill
To build up added Overkill,
And let no pacifist decry
The strontium-90 in our sky.
Heavenly Father, we entreat
Let no one sell the Cubans wheat,
And grant us power to chastise
All insubordinate allies.
Holy Spirit, give us grace
To win the guided missile race,
And help our scientists amass
Vast arsenals of germs and gas.
From further dwindling, Lord, preserve
Our ever-shrinking gold reserve,
And we beseech Thee, come what may,
Let overseas investments pay.
The world's most upright Christian land,
We ask these blessings at Thy hand --
Be Thine the glory, Lord on high,
When women weep and children die.
Amen.
Lyrics as reprinted in Gert Raeithel, et. al., Vietnamkrieg und Literatur, Munich, 1972, p. 135
© 1967
current mood:  thoughtful
current music: "All You Fascists," Billy Bragg
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| Friday, January 6th, 2006
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2:33 pm - Moon-lines and apple-pathways
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This has been my favorite poem for... forever.
Morning (Love Sonnet XXVII)
Pablo Neruda
Naked you are simple as one of your hands;
Smooth, earthy, small, transparent, round.
You've moon-lines, apple pathways
Naked you are slender as a naked grain of wheat.
Naked you are blue as a night in Cuba;
You've vines and stars in your hair.
Naked you are spacious and yellow
As summer in a golden church.
Naked you are tiny as one of your nails;
Curved, subtle, rosy, till the day is born
And you withdraw to the underground world.
As if down a long tunnel of clothing and of chores;
Your clear light dims, gets dressed, drops its leaves,
And becomes a naked hand again.
(Translated by W.S. Merwin)
current mood: indescribable
current music: "Valentine," Old 97s
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1:35 pm - She'll never know I could never forget her.
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First thing's first: BEHOLD the finest blonde joke ever conceived.
A couple of days ago, I was laid off. newsedition invited me to join him for Pub Quiz, which was cheery, but on the way over there I was given a speeding ticket. Later, on the way home I was also pulled over for driving North on Broad Street at 40 mph. When I got home, my mailbox belched out my first student loan bill.
But at least my car worked. And on that same day, I met Ter, Sam, and a guy whose name is the only forgettable thing about him; my depressive-panicky thoughts were overpowered by positive beer-and-companionship-related goodness. Further, I was able to breathe and walk around without difficulty, even when propping up someone else, and the moon did not fall from the sky.
Taken in itself, it was a zero-sum day... but the truth of it is that while misfortune often plunders more neurons, good fortune has a longer effective shelf-life. I'm sure to get over my present difficulties, but it's unlikely that I'll get over the nuggets of happiness in that day.
Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac declared,
"But--sing?
Dream, laugh, go lightly, solitary, free,
With eyes that look straight forward--fearless voice!
To cock your beaver just the way you choose,--
For 'yes' or 'no' show fight, or turn a rhyme!
--To work without one thought of gain or fame,
To realize that journey to the moon!
Never to pen a line that has not sprung
Straight from the heart within. Embracing then
Modesty, say to oneself, 'Good my friend,
Be thou content with flowers,--fruit,--nay, leaves,
But pluck them from no garden but thine own!'
And then, if glory come by chance your way,
To pay no tribute unto Caesar, none,
But keep the merit all your own! In short,
Disdaining tendrils of the parasite,
To be content, if neither oak nor elm--
Not to mount high, perchance, but mount alone..."
That's fine for Cyrano, but I'm grateful for the good people in this life.
Thank you all.
current mood: grateful
current music: "Red," Okkervil River
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defenestrati's journal
bouncy
anxious
