hello goodbye hello goodbye

Happy Halloween!



Melissa as Velma. Kennedy as a honey bee.

Feels like a Monday...

100 Facts and One Opinion (via Dan)

With my previous Moby post, I'm not trying to suggest that people are "better" because of their service record. As for myself, I plan to have a "did not serve" next to my name too. However, I find it somewhat hypocritical for politicians to send kids off to fight their war-- when they themselves have never experienced such trials. Maybe they'd be less "hawk-ish", if they experienced it first hand or if they had to send their own children to war?

Moby Journal (via John)
10/26/2004

Service Records:

Democrats
* Richard Gephardt: Air National Guard, 1965-71.
* David Bonior: Staff Sgt., Air Force 1968-72.
* Tom Daschle: 1st Lt., Air Force SAC 1969-72.
* Al Gore: enlisted Aug. 1969; sent to Vietnam Jan. 1971 as an army journalist in 20th Engineer Brigade.
* Bob Kerrey: Lt. j.g. Navy 1966-69; Medal of Honor, Vietnam.
* Daniel Inouye: Army 1943-47; Medal of Honor, WWII.
* John Kerry: Lt., Navy 1966-70; Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat V, Purple Hearts.
* Charles Rangel: Staff Sgt., Army 1948-52; Bronze Star, Korea.
* Max Cleland: Captain, Army 1965-68; Silver Star & Bronze Star, Vietnam.
* Ted Kennedy: Army, 1951-53.
* Tom Harkin: Lt., Navy, 1962-67; Naval Reserve, 1968-74.
* Jack Reed: Army Ranger, 1971-1979; Captain, Army Reserve 1979-91.
* Fritz Hollings: Army officer in WWII; Bronze Star and seven campaign ribbons.
* Leonard Boswell: Lt. Col., Army 1956-76; Vietnam, DFCs, Bronze Stars, and Soldier's Medal.
* Pete Peterson: Air Force Captain, POW. Purple Heart, Silver Star and Legion of Merit.
* Mike Thompson: Staff sergeant, 173rd Airborne, Purple Heart.
* Bill McBride: Candidate for Fla. Governor. Marine in Vietnam; Bronze Star with Combat V.
* Gray Davis: Army Captain in Vietnam, Bronze Star.
* Pete Stark: Air Force 1955-57
* Chuck Robb: Vietnam
* Howell Heflin: Silver Star
* George McGovern: Silver Star & DFC during WWII.
* Bill Clinton: Did not serve. Student deferments. Entered draft but received #311.
* Jimmy Carter: Seven years in the Navy.
* Walter Mondale: Army 1951-1953
* John Glenn: WWII and Korea; six DFCs and Air Medal with 18 Clusters.
* Tom Lantos: Served in Hungarian underground in WWII. Saved by Raoul Wallenberg.

Republicans
* Dick Cheney: did not serve. Several deferments, the last by marriage.
* Dennis Hastert: did not serve.
* Tom Delay: did not serve.
* Roy Blunt: did not serve.
* Bill Frist: did not serve.
* Mitch McConnell: did not serve.
* Rick Santorum: did not serve.
* Trent Lott: did not serve.
* John Ashcroft: did not serve. Seven deferments to teach business.
* Jeb Bush: did not serve.
* Karl Rove: did not serve.
* Saxby Chambliss: did not serve. "Bad knee." - The man who attacked Max Cleland's patriotism.
* Paul Wolfowitz: did not serve.
* Vin Weber: did not serve.
* Richard Perle: did not serve.
* Douglas Feith: did not serve.
* Eliot Abrams: did not serve
* Richard Shelby: did not serve.
* Jon! Kyl: did not serve.
* Tim Hutchison: did not serve.
* Christopher Cox: did not serve.
* Newt Gingrich: did not serve.
* Don Rumsfeld: served in Navy (1954-57) as flight instructor.
* George W. Bush: failed to complete his six-year National Guard; got assigned to Alabama so he could campaign for family friend running for U.S. Senate; failed to show up for required medical exam, disappeared from duty.
* Ronald Reagan: due to poor eyesight, served in a non-combat role making movies.
* B-1 Bob Dornan: Consciously enlisted after fighting was over in Korea.
* Phil Gramm: did not serve.
* John McCain: Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross.
* Dana Rohrabacher: did not serve.
* John M. McHugh: did not serve.
* JC Watts: did not serve.
* Jack Kemp: did not serve. "Knee problem," although continued in NFL for 8 years.
* Dan Quayle: Journalism unit of the Indiana National Guard.
* Rudy Giuliani: did not serve.
* George Pataki: did not serve.
* Spencer Abraham: did not serve.
* John Engler: did not serve.
* Lindsey Graham: National Guard lawyer.
* Arnold Schwarzenegger: AWOL from Austrian army base.

Pundits & Preachers
* Sean Hannity: did not serve.
* Rush Limbaugh: did not serve
* Bill O'Reilly: did not serve.
* Michael Savage: did not serve.
* George Will: did not serve.
* Chris Matthews: did not serve.

Thanks Ben! (http://homepage.mac.com/duffyb/nobush/Menu129.html)

I voted today. Driving to the community center, there were hundreds of political yard signs along both sides of the street. I don't know why, it kind of felt like a parade. Standing the approved 100 feet from the polling place, people were handing out propagnda for and against the Cowboys stadium proposal.

The place was packed! For early voting, it looked like election day.

This was my first time to vote using the electronic ballot. Honestly, I thought the electronic ballot was more confusing than the traditional paper ballot I've used in previous elections. When you showed your voter registration, you signed the book and they gave you a receipt with a special access code. You punched in the code before voting. The cool thing was you could review, go back, and change any mistakes you made. So I'm 100% confident my votes were done correctly, but I can't say the same for the people to the left and right of me.

Paper vs. electronic. McLuhan would have a field day with this topic. We are moving deeper into an electronic culture. But for me, I still enjoy the tangible quality of paper. With paper, it feels like I "really voted". Whereas, by electronically sending my data to some main processor, it vanishes into thin air. I want my vote to have weight, even if it is light as paper. There's a sense of the collective papers creating a mass of public sentiment. My electronic vote weighs nothing-- an unfortunate reminder of an unfortunate reality. Did my vote really matter? Will it have an effect on anything?

Some girls were playing chess in my classroom during lunch. I heard one of them say:

"Checkmate... bitch."

I've added a blog to my Antihero Comics site **CLICK HERE NOW** (again). I've consider consolidating my blogs, but I'm not sure. It's a little comforting to have separate lives/blogs for my comics stuff. However, if I blog-merge, maybe it will bring some more regular visitors to my Antihero site? Alas, I don't know yet.

It's "Red Ribbon Week" at our school, an annual anti-drug campaign. Each day is a special anti-drug dress-up day. Today is dress up as a super hero (and no, I didn't)-- aka "Beat drugs" day. Tomorrow is crazy hair day-- aka "Do your hair, not drugs." And Thursday is dress up as a nerd day-- um... hold on... let me think about this for a second... uh... because... uh... nerds don't do drugs? Oh geez, who came up with this?

Last night, I got a call from someone asking for a "Pastor David Hopkins". We received a similar call a few days previous. At that time, Melissa answered it and said I wasn't home, because it was obviously some solicitor. On this occasion, I answered.

"This is he, but I'm not a pastor."
"You're not."
"No, I'm not."

And then she began this whole pre-written slop about how important this year's election is. Blah, blah, blah. I'm doing a poll. Blah, blah, blah. Special recorded message from Newt Gingrich. Would you like to listen?

"Sure." (What the hell?)

So, I listen. Afterwards, the girl (she had to be younger than me) asks if the election were held today, who would I vote for-- Bush, Kerry, or Nader?

"John Kerry."
"I'm glad to hear that."

Really? Once again, what the hell? From there, she immediately moves into another pre-written message-- completely anti-Kerry rhetoric. Standard fear based motivation... if-you-vote-for-Kerry, the-terrorists-have-already-won crap.

From there, she asks if I would be willing to donate to some Republican group to support Bush. Specifically, she asked for a minimum $75 donation. And one final time, what the hell?!

"Um, no." Click. I hang up the phone.

My question is what organization or group that knows me as "Pastor David Hopkins" (because there are a few) put me on the call list for some political action group?!?

Now that pisses me off! If I were a smarter person, I'd start asking her how she got my number, what's the name of the group, etc. etc. But honestly, *Desperate Housewives* was on a 8, and I really like that show. I just wanted to microwave some corny dogs and watch TV. In hindsight, I probably could've had fun raising hell.

Either way, I'm on some list. I'm sure I'll get another call. And next time anyone asks for "Pastor David Hopkins" I'll have a pre-written statement ready for them. :)

Pastor David Hopkins does not endorse the unethical and un-Christlike policies and practices of George W. Bush, nor will he ever support anyone within that administration through vote, money, or putting up with listening to your bullshit. Pastor David Hopkins is also equally offended that some Christian group would give his phone number to a political organization. Pastor David Hopkins is confused. Pastor David Hopkins thought the Bush administration and the Religious Right were opposed to sodomy? Because clearly they're ----ing each other.

Pastor David Hopkins approves this message.

Happy Monday everyone. Eight more days? Geez. The analysis is ridiculous (here and here, for starters). A close poll could mean good news for Kerry with the popular vote. However, I'm still worried that the electoral vote is in Bush's favor. Who knows? Call me paranoid. I'm kind of depressed about the whole process.

Bill Clinton lied. It involved an intern in the work place. Highly unprofessional. Any CEO in a similar situation could lose their job. He got impeached for lying under oath. He apologized for his actions on national TV.

Bush lied. It involved misleading an entire nation into war. Absolutely reprehensible and sickening. Any person in a similar situation would be a criminal of the highest level, but he's considered a hero by many. No apologies, not one, for his deceptions.

Does anybody see the double standard here? Am I alone?

Kennedy - today	Me - twenty five years ago

Kinda creepy, isn't it?

While shooting reference photos for a script I'm writing...

For some reason, blogger lost my post about Melissa's friend Matt. You can visit her blog for more info. Please keep Matt's family and friends in your prayers.

Jon Stewart rocks Crossfire. (If you're having trouble viewing it, you can also see it here.) It is definately worth watching.

"How are old are you?"
"35"
"And you're wearing a bowtie."

Classic.

And Stewart's response afterwards on the Daily Show.

Enjoy the Draft

How dark can satire be? This really pushes the limits. It's great.

However, the quotes (and the reality of it) are a bit more disturbing:

“The draft --­ which will include both boys and girls this time around ­-- is a no-brainer in '05 and '06." - Col. David Hackworth (ret.), Military.com, 10/4/04

"I made it very plain. We will not have an all-volunteer army." - George W. Bush, 10/16/04

“We may need a bigger army." - Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Time, 12/21/03

"Re-electing Bush might very well lead to a draft in the near future." - Minnesota Daily (U. of Minn.), 9/23/04

"If we continue the way we're going, there's simply no way we can get by without a draft." - The Capital Times, 10/15/04

"The government is taking the first steps toward a targeted military draft of Americans with special skills in computers and foreign languages." - Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 3/13/04

"Because of the President's military adventurism, our Armed Forces are under enormous pressure. The only place to go for more troops is a draft." - Howard Dean quoted in Myrtle Beach Sun News, 9/22/04

"We're dodging the draft issue," Newsweek, 10/4/04

"Despite vote, draft a definite possibility," The Capital Times , 10/15/04

"US Has Contingency Plans for a Draft of Medical Workers," New York Times, 10/19/04

"Selective Service eyes women's draft," Seattle Post-Intelligencer , 5/1/04

"Feeling the Draft," New York Times, 10/19/04

"Army recruiters miss target for enlistees in latest month," Wall Street Journal, 10/20/04
Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) talks about the Bush draft (video).

"Nobody wants a draft, but what if we need one?", Los Angeles Times, 10/13/04

"Assurances aside, some feel a draft," Christian Science Monitor, 10/15/04

"Military draft may be imminent," Daily Mississippian (U. of Miss.), 5/26/04

"Drafting Princeton," Daily Princetonian , 5/12/04

Afraid to sound smart

I get really self-conscious when I post on message boards, especially comic book message boards. I realize on the internet we have a greater possibility to control how people view us. So yes, I'm obsessed with "image". It's a fine balance. I want to sound witty and intelligent. However, I don't want to come across as pretenious or academic.

Here's a recent edit I made on the Oni Press message boards.

The Original:

I thought the book "Scandalous" was rather topical, even though it was about McCarthyism in Hollywood. Also, Brian Wood's Demo #7: "One Shot, Don't Miss" was an amazing critique on the military's recruiting practices. The essay alone was worth the cover price.

The Revised:

I thought the book "Scandalous" was rather topical, even though it was about McCarthyism in Hollywood. Also, Brian Wood's Demo #7: "One Shot, Don't Miss" was awesome. The essay alone was worth the cover price.

Note the difference? :)

Bye little red sedan. (via Melissa, 10/19/04)

This Sunday, I'm interviewing Derek Kirk Kim for Fanboy Radio. For those who don't know, I host and produce a monthly "indie show" for Fanboy Radio. You can listen to these episodes online here. It costs 75 cents through bitpass, and you should already have bitpass. If you don't, I'd recommend it-- there's a lot of cool (and cheap) stuff available. Helps to support indie artists.

Derek Kirk Kim is incredibly talented. I really enjoy his book Same Difference and Other Stories.

Here's a comic strip he did on his blog--

Revolt in Iraq (via dan)

As Oprah Slaps Bush, with 30 states poised to smack down women's rights again, the one true savior emerges by Mark Morford, SF Gate Columnist

I'd end up just quoting the entire article. Read it for yourself. Whether you're pro-choice or pro-life, when Oprah gets involved... step back.

Hello, Monday. Just 14 days, 14 hours, and 18 minutes until the election. However, you can also vote early!

Here's some rather frightening reading material...

A Presidential Thought Deficit
This column from The American Prospect was written by Todd Gitlin.

Replaying his phrases (“hard work,” “30 countries,” “he voted to increase taxes 98 times”), Bush revealed that what he suffers from is not a speaking deficiency but a thinking deficiency. When confronted by pesky facts and annoying objections, Bush can only repeat the ready-made phrases lodged in his mind. His face reverts to the startled look of a bully unfamiliar with counterarguments. During his nearly four years in power, Bush has shielded himself from contrary opinion. Uncongenial media amount to a “filter.” Objectivity reaches him directly through his employees, “the most objective sources I have … people on my staff who tell me what's happening in the world.”

About Bush’s deep, unruffled incuriousness we have the words of former Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill, who told reporter Ron Suskind (as quoted in Suskind’s invaluable book The Price of Loyalty): “O’Neill had been made to understand by various colleagues in the White House that the President should not be expected to read reports. In his personal experience, the President didn’t even appear to have read the short memos he sent over. That made it especially troubling that Bush did not ask any questions … .”

O’Neill served with Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, each of whom, O’Neill says, expected to hear advisers hash out alternatives from which he could pick and choose. O’Neill expected the same from Bush. Funny thing, though: Bush showed no interest in contrary opinions. Bush was not, in other words, disposed to reason himself toward conclusions. He trusted his gut. He ruled.

Republican Dirty Tricks by Max Blumenthal, AlterNet.

Republican operative Nathan Sproul's company is under investigation for allegedly destroying voter registration forms signed by Democrats. Now comes new evidence about Sproul's connections to the Bush-Cheney campaign...

AlterNet has learned that Sproul, the former Arizona Republican Party and Christian Coalition director, has cozy ties to a group of consultants working on the Bush/Cheney campaign. According to a Democratic source well-placed in Arizona political circles, Sproul's firm, Sproul and Associates, operates next door to the office of Gordon C. James Public Relations (GCJPR) in Phoenix, a Republican PR company which is coordinating various Bush/Cheney campaign events nationwide and has provided PR services for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. Last spring, one of GCJPR's executives, who is an advisory board member of Bush's re-election campaign, served as the chair of a ballot campaign Sproul was quarterbacking, while, according to the source, Sproul collaborated with a GCJPR employee who is a White House consultant on a scheme to get independent candidate Ralph Nader on the Arizona ballot. In both instances, Sproul's company, Voter Outreach of America, was involved in gathering signatures.

Without a Doubt by Ron Suskind (originally printed in the New York Times)

Forty democratic senators were gathered for a lunch in March just off the Senate floor. I was there as a guest speaker. Joe Biden was telling a story, a story about the president. "I was in the Oval Office a few months after we swept into Baghdad," he began, "and I was telling the president of my many concerns" - concerns about growing problems winning the peace, the explosive mix of Shiite and Sunni, the disbanding of the Iraqi Army and problems securing the oil fields. Bush, Biden recalled, just looked at him, unflappably sure that the United States was on the right course and that all was well. "'Mr. President,' I finally said, 'How can you be so sure when you know you don't know the facts?"'

Biden said that Bush stood up and put his hand on the senator's shoulder. "My instincts," he said. "My instincts."

Biden paused and shook his head, recalling it all as the room grew quiet. "I said,
'Mr. President, your instincts aren't good enough!"'

Republican groups file a criminal complaint against Michael Moore for distributing clean underwear and ramen noodles to potential voters.

Here's a thought. Pollsters can't survey cell phone-only users. (Thanks John for the link.)

A growing number of people rely solely on cell phones to make and take calls, putting them out of reach of polling organizations trying to get a fix on the American electorate.

Many cell-only users are young and mobile, a demographic that often doesn't vote. That makes survey researchers confident their polling, which excludes cell phone numbers, reflects the opinions of those likely to have an impact on Election Day. Still, with reports of unprecedented voter registration, many young voters could be flying under the pollsters' radar.

Comics are Big Business. Meet the Little Guy. (NY Times)

As I was wheeling Kennedy around the neighborhood in her stroller, I was thinking about how happy my life has been with Melissa and Kennedy.

For Melissa and me, we don't have "our song"... we have a soundtrack. And as we share life together, more songs get added to the play list.

1. Co-pilot by Letters to Cleo
2. Glory of Love (cover) by New Found Glory
3. All I Want is You by U2
4. Catch You by the Get-Up Kids
5. The Luckiest by Ben Folds
6. God Only Knows by the Beach Boys

I probably forgeting some songs, but this is a good list.

Congratulations Derek! I'm excited for you.
* the coolest wedding invitation *

-During last night's debate-

Kerry said:

Well, two leading national news networks have both said the president's characterization of my health-care plan is incorrect. One called it fiction. The other called it untrue.

Bush's response?

In all due respect, I'm not so sure it's credible to quote leading news organizations about -- oh, nevermind.

Um... yeah... good one, Mr. President. Your eloquence astounds me. Please manage our country. Pretty please?

Last night's debate was such crap.

When Bush addressed the job crisis, his solution was completely ignorant of the situation. His brilliant plan? If we just educate people more, they'll get jobs. So Mr. Bush, are you telling me that Joe Bluecollar who has worked his entire life in a factory, who lost his job from corporate down-sizing in order to save a CEO's million dollar bonus, just needs to go to school? That's bull. He wants his job back, and he does it well. Bush operates on a white-collar prejudice that educated people have jobs, uneducated people don't. There are experienced, capable, and qualified people without college degrees ready to work. Conversely, there are several young adults with college degrees, still living with their parents, working minimum wage jobs.

Down-sizing is a problem. Corporations show no loyalty to their workers anymore. They down-size to save the profit. They fail to see long term benefits of taking a few hits and holding on to their workforce.

When the Baby Boomers retire, the job market is going to bust wide open. Generation X will shoulder the workforce. However, many "educated" Gen X'ers are still stuck paying off college loans and credit card bills... they haven't had the opportunity to settle down. Will we be ready for this post-Boomer job market? Nope. Education. According to Bush, that'll solve everything.

Which speaking of...

Bush: You know, there's a lot of talk about how to keep the economy growing. We talk about fiscal matters. But perhaps the best way to keep jobs here in America and to keep this economy growing is to make sure our education system works.

I went to Washington to solve problems. And I saw a problem in the public education system in America. They were just shuffling too many kids through the system, year after year, grade after grade, without learning the basics.

And so we said: Let's raise the standards. We're spending more money, but let's raise the standards and measure early and solve problems now, before it's too late.

No, education is how to help the person who's lost a job. Education is how to make sure we've got a workforce that's productive and competitive.

Got four more years, I've got more to do to continue to raise standards, to continue to reward teachers and school districts that are working, to emphasize math and science in the classrooms, to continue to expand Pell Grants to make sure that people have an opportunity to start their career with a college diploma.

This is also crap. Terms like "raise standards" become code-phrases for "burden teachers with more federally-mandated procedures that slow down the entire classroom process". We already have the state trying to fix everything. We have our school district trying to fix everything. We don't need another govermental agency keeping us "accountable". I have to do so much crap-- it's amazing we ever get to teach beyond the required curriculum. Here's my thought. Hire good teachers. Let them teach.

It also sucks that Kerry supports the same education plan Bush does. In fact, he just wants to give it more money. Please, keep your politics out of my attempts to educate students. All this money the federal government sends isn't free. The state is in charge of public education. Help them do their job, but don't do it for them.

Every other morning, I meet with one Chinese student in the library. I tutor her so she can pass the government-mandated TAKS test. She must pass in order to graduate. However, she's only been in this country a short time and her English is very weak. I've been trying hard, but I don't know if she's going to pull through it. Which is unfortunate, give her another year or two and she'd ace it. No doubt in my mind.

Because it's Monday--
George W. Bush, Jr. - The Dark Side

I particularly like the quotes section. (What the hell are you saying?)

"Well, it's an unimaginable honor to be the president during the Fourth of July of this country. It means what these words say, for starters. The great inalienable rights of our country. We're blessed with such values in America. And I--it's--I'm a proud man to be the nation based upon such wonderful values."--Visiting the Jefferson Memorial, Washington, D.C., July 2, 2001

"We spent a lot of time talking about Africa, as we should. Africa is a nation that suffers from incredible disease."--After meeting with the leaders of the European Union, Gothenburg, Sweden, June 14, 2001

"One of the interesting initiatives we've taken in Washington, D.C., is we've got these vampire-busting devices. A vampire is a—a cell deal you can plug in the wall to charge your cell phone."—Denver, CO. Aug. 14, 2001

"I am mindful not only of preserving executive powers for myself, but for predecessors as well."—Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 2001

"Redefining the role of the United States from enablers to keep the peace to enablers to keep the peace from peacekeepers is going to be an assignment."—Interview with the New York Times, Jan. 14, 2001 (Thanks to Rachael Contorer.)

"They misunderestimated me."—Bentonville, Ark., Nov. 6, 2000

"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family."—Greater Nashua, N.H., Chamber of Commerce, Jan. 27, 2000

"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."-Saginaw, Mich., Sept. 29, 2000

"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"-Florence, S.C., Jan. 11, 2000

"I understand small business growth. I was one."-New York Daily News, Feb. 19, 2000

In Memorium: Christopher Reeve

I think he would have made it.

http://www.bushwatch.com/

I cannot begin to tell you how sad this makes me.

Sorry, no ironic or witty statements right now.

Concerning Derrida's life, I will say (excuse me... "write") this:

Jacques Derrida, when he was young, didn’t want to be the head of a movement called “deconstructionism.” He wanted to be a soccer player.

Sleep well precious life.

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." - Theodore Roosevelt

Family politics (via Shanna, 10/01/04, 6:41PM)

i've come a long way in four years; last election i lied to my family when they pressured me: you did vote for bush?....

i've stopped lying, or bothering to answer when my family pushes me like this -- they don't really want to know what i think, care not about my convictions. they just want me to agree with them.

What's this?

The chess club meets in my room during lunch. Yes, they fit the stereotype-- intelligent, awkward, and easily bewildered. I've had numerous complaints from my 4th period class about the smell in my room after lunch. I've broken up a few fights over a game. Occasionally, cocky bleached-blonde Hollister kids peer in, and use their wit, "Ooooh... chess club, huh, huh".

Yeah, it sucks to be out-of-place.

Two pretty girls who, ever so often, come in to play a quiet game and then leave-- came today. The boys didn't notice. They were in their own games. The girls started placing birthday invitations next to EVERY KID in the room. Completely syncronized, the boys stopped playing chess, turned to look at their invitation, picked it up, and just kept staring at it. One of the boys broke the silence, "What's this?" A girl responsed, "Um... it's an invitation to our party. We want you to come." Another boy asked again, "What's this?" The girls looked a little confused, "It's... a... party." The boys all nodded, acknowledging some degree of understanding. Huh.

With that, the girls smiled and left. And the boys resumed their games... a little happier than before.

(via Common Dreams)

From: Joseph Cherwinski
Sent: Saturday July 3 2004 8.33pm
Subject: "Fahrenheit 9/11"

I am a soldier in the United States army. I was in Iraq with the Fourth Infantry Division.

I was guarding some Iraqi workers one day. Their task was to fill sandbags for our base. The temperature was at least 120. I had to sit there with full gear on and monitor them. I was sitting and drinking water, and I could barely tolerate the heat, so I directed the workers to go to the shade and sit and drink water. I let them rest for about 20 minutes. Then a staff sergeant told me that they didn't need a break, and that they were to fill sandbags until the cows come home. He told the Iraqis to go back to work.

After 30 minutes, I let them have a break again, thus disobeying orders. If these were soldiers working, in this heat, those soldiers would be bound to a 10-minute work, 50-minute rest cycle, to prevent heat casualties. Again the staff sergeant came and sent the Iraqis back to work and told me I could sit in the shade. I told him no, I had to be out there with them so that when I started to need water, then they would definitely need water. He told me that wasn't necessary, and that they live here, and that they are used to it.

After he left, I put the Iraqis back into the shade. I could tell that some were very dehydrated; most of them were thin enough to be on an international food aid commercial. I would not treat my fellow soldiers in this manner, so I did not treat the Iraqi workers this way either.

This went on for eight months while I was in Iraq, and going through it told me that we were not there for their freedom, we were not there for WMD. We had no idea what we were fighting for anymore.

I demand to be freed (via dan)

Dear Representative Joe Barton -- 6th District, Texas,

My wife Melissa and I finished watching Fahrenheit 9/11 (the film by Michael Moore). I think we both had two primary reactions to the injustices being openly committed by the wealthy and elite powers within our federal government-- anger and sadness.

We cried over the lives of children, mothers, and fathers needlessly lost in Iraq. We cried for the soldiers who have been enticed with promises of a G.I. bill and a steady job with benefits to fight and die in a war against Iraq, a country that never attacked America. We cried for the families of soldiers who only want to see their son or daughter return home safely.

We are angry at the countless number of citizens who know the truth about this war and still support it. We are angry with the Bush administration that knowingly and purposefully targeted Iraq, months before 9/11 ever happened. We are angry that they have not conducted this war with intelligence or foresight. They have not supported or protected our troops adequately. We have moved against innocent people. We have made enemies with a future generation of terrorists. A generation who will not understand the flimsy arguments of an inarticulate President. This President, who ignored the warnings about an Al-Queada attack against the United States, who misdirected his war on terrorism, who ignored the threats within Saudi Arabia, who waited two months before moving against Osama Bin Laden, who has blindly supported Israel bulldosing the homes of Palestinians, is not going to "win the hearts and minds" of people in Iraq.

Melissa, at one point, was so angry she threw something at the television when Donald Rumsfeld was on.

Why is everyone so afraid to agree with Michael Moore? Are we actually afraid some F.B.I. department, in the name of the Patriot Act, is going to search us out on the internet and put our names on a list? If we've reached that level, doesn't that mean something? When did we become so afraid to speak out against injustice? When did we become so timid that we removed our voice from the democratic process? This President's legacy will be fear. If anything, he knows how to make the public afraid.

Shame on those people who support the policies of an administration that has endangered our country for years to come, placing our soldiers (family and friends) in harm's way without a clear exit strategy, lacking any sensitivity to the innocent Iraqi people who would be most affected by our miliary occupation.

I believe in United States of America. I am proud to have a U.S. Representative who will listen to his constituency. Republican or Democrat, I will stand by a person who acts with integrity and intelligence. However, any elected official who supports the Patriot Act and the foreign policies of the Bush administration will not get my vote, despite whatever his positions are on the other issues.

Thank you for your time, and I appreciate your willingness to listen to my position. I look forward to any response you may have.

Sincerely,

David Hopkins
husband and father
English teacher
Arlington, Texas

Abe Lincoln from Clone High

You are 38% geek

You are a geek liaison, which means you go both ways. You can hang out with normal people or you can hang out with geeks which means you often have geeks as friends and/or have a job where you have to mediate between geeks and normal people. This is an important role and one of which you should be proud. In fact, you can make a good deal of money as a translator. Normal: Tell our geek we need him to work this weekend. You [to Geek]: We need more than that, Scotty. You'll have to stay until you can squeeze more outta them engines! Geek [to You]: I'm givin' her all she's got, Captain, but we need more dilithium crystals! You [to Normal]: He wants to know if he gets overtime.

Take the Polygeek Quiz at Thudfactor.com

The Daily Show-- Iraq, Al-Qaeda, secret Santas? (quicktime video)

thanks Josh & Kristen for the link

Available on DVD tomorrow

Kerry wins first debate (the polls)

Happy Monday... the debate edition...

"Both candidates now are trying to lower expectations for how they'll do on the debates. For example, Kerry tried to lower expectations for himself by saying Bush has never lost a debate and that he is a formidable opponent. Then Bush lowered expectations for himself when he said, 'Hey, what does "formable" mean?'" --Jay Leno

"A lot of people underestimate President Bush when it comes to a debate. He's pretty good at it. You know back in college he was able to argue both sides of that 'Taste great, less filling' debate." --Jay Leno

"Before the debate, Bush is concerned about the lectern, he's worried about the room temperature and the lighting. Kerry is making the mistake of worrying about the issues." --David Letterman

"Of course you know, President Bush has been taking a couple days off this week to prepare for the debates. In fact, he's having a microchip implanted in his ear. This will allow Dick Cheney to speak to him directly. 'It's pronounced 'Fallujah' 'Abu Ghraib.'" --Jay Leno

"The debate deal for three debates almost fell apart because John Kerry did not want a light to flash when his time was almost up. And George Bush didn't want a light to flash because he's easily distracted." --Jay Leno

"Everyone is talking about the debate ground rules. Kerry wants his podium to be tall enough so he can rest his hands. And President Bush wants it to be wide enough to hide Dick Cheney." --Conan O'Brien

"It looks like President Bush and John Kerry have agreed on three debates. Kerry wanted more but Bush said no; he thought three was a good even number." --Jay Leno

"Democrats are saying that President Bush is refusing to take part in a town hall debate with John Kerry because Bush is worried about the questions the audience will ask him. After hearing this, the president said, 'That's ridiculous. I'm not worried about the questions, I'm worried about the answers." --Conan O'Brien

Kausar and Emily, thank you so much for dinner. It was great. We loved hanging out with you, talking politics, life, and listening to airplanes fly overhead.

Also, now, we have a few more family pics for the blog... :)

A funny online conversation (via beeow)

Steven: Everyone loves puppies...but I think Emily is taking the puppy love to an extreme...or maybe Bee-ow is. Why so many puppies?

Brock: Emily loves puppies this much. David wrote her that way, I'm just depicting her according to his vision.

Steven: Well I better not joke about eating puppies in front of her...she would kill me.

Brock: She's a comic book character.

Steven: Your point?