1.31.2005
1.30.2005
Here is a question... I have been trying to figure this out but have been unable to really find a good answer.
Why does the US sponsor parliamentary-style democracies? In the denazification of Europe, and similar efforts in Japan, parliamtentary governments were set up, with prime ministers, and opposition parties, and the whole thing. Iraq is having the same thing. It seems intuitive to me that the US would propose a style of government closer to its own. I think that they are both democratic in the sense that the people ultimately rule, though the US may more correctly be described as a republic.
Has anybody heard anything about this?
Why does the US sponsor parliamentary-style democracies? In the denazification of Europe, and similar efforts in Japan, parliamtentary governments were set up, with prime ministers, and opposition parties, and the whole thing. Iraq is having the same thing. It seems intuitive to me that the US would propose a style of government closer to its own. I think that they are both democratic in the sense that the people ultimately rule, though the US may more correctly be described as a republic.
Has anybody heard anything about this?
it seems mr. folds will be on air america radio at 9pm cst
illness in my head peaked yesterday and now seems to be crawling away.
right now my cd player is playing "monster in the parasol" by queens of the stone age
from the album Rated R
outside the daylight is fading and the street lights are taking power
illness in my head peaked yesterday and now seems to be crawling away.
right now my cd player is playing "monster in the parasol" by queens of the stone age
from the album Rated R
outside the daylight is fading and the street lights are taking power
1.28.2005
mr. ben will be releasing an album on april 26th as well
While the clip was pretty funny, it didn't provide much in the way of solid information, and exhibited yet another vivid example of a logical fallacy - the Straw Man. By putting an obviously mentally deficient man with a stereotypically strong southern accent who happened to be a Bush supporter on the air, and blasting him to shreds, Mike Malloy drew the conclusion that this man was archetypal for all conservatives, and that, instead of engaging him (or any conservatives) in meaningful discussion, he "sweeps [them] to the curb... [he] lets the trucks run over [then]".
I have said it before... despite assertions to the contrary, very few (almost nobody) on any side of any issue wants discussion or dissent for its own sake. They are looking for consensus.
However, it did prompt me to investigate the commonly proffered claim that there have been 100,000 iraqi deaths. Check out this and this.
While the nice, round 100,000 number does well in the way of shock value, I think that the methods used to reach it are inconclusive and warrant more study before any claims are made.
Personally, looking at the combination of The Lancet and Press sources, it seems that the real number is in the 30 - 40,000 range, with a large fraction of that being actual troops and insurgents.
Not to minimize that number (any number is horrible), but I think it is a far cry from the 100+ thousand that is commonly circulated.
I have said it before... despite assertions to the contrary, very few (almost nobody) on any side of any issue wants discussion or dissent for its own sake. They are looking for consensus.
However, it did prompt me to investigate the commonly proffered claim that there have been 100,000 iraqi deaths. Check out this and this.
While the nice, round 100,000 number does well in the way of shock value, I think that the methods used to reach it are inconclusive and warrant more study before any claims are made.
Personally, looking at the combination of The Lancet and Press sources, it seems that the real number is in the 30 - 40,000 range, with a large fraction of that being actual troops and insurgents.
Not to minimize that number (any number is horrible), but I think it is a far cry from the 100+ thousand that is commonly circulated.
1.27.2005
how do you folks feel about the new brighteyes albums?
1.26.2005
Mr. Oliver Everett will soon be releasing a double album in March called "Blinking Lights and Other Revelations".....thank god that someone like E is still around.
My recommended reading for this week is the story of the new album with some indispensible quotes by uncle E.
here is an excerpt:
Of course, we're talking about an artist who, when asked to give a quote for the dust jacket to Kurt Cobain's posthumously published diaries submitted this quote: "Please don't do this to me after I kill myself." (The publishers opted not to use the quote.)
My recommended reading for this week is the story of the new album with some indispensible quotes by uncle E.
here is an excerpt:
Of course, we're talking about an artist who, when asked to give a quote for the dust jacket to Kurt Cobain's posthumously published diaries submitted this quote: "Please don't do this to me after I kill myself." (The publishers opted not to use the quote.)
1.25.2005
today in music releases
2 bright eyes albums
a lemon jelly album
and a m83 album
i'll see before work what brainerd's best buy has on hand.
2 bright eyes albums
a lemon jelly album
and a m83 album
i'll see before work what brainerd's best buy has on hand.
1.24.2005
the desert calls to me
and it shall name its tempters and temptresses a week from today
rumors pass
some smaller names already known
today this
but i don't know this to be more than a rumor
and it shall name its tempters and temptresses a week from today
rumors pass
some smaller names already known
today this
but i don't know this to be more than a rumor
Referring to US soldiers as "neocon killers" does not incline anyone to sympathize with your sentiments and is NOT cool. I read through the photo montage and articles, and to me, the soldiers were completely justified in their actions. Yes, they killed the parents, which is incredibly sad and unfortunate, but they had no way to know what was going on, and they had at most a couple of seconds to act. They tried waving and hand signals and warning shots before finally shooting at them. What do you expect them to do? What idiot drives like that with a car full of their own kids?
BTW, look at the relatively small expenditures for defense compared to social/welfare programs in your tax pies. Read about how the roman empire declined because it basically became a welfare state. Bread and circuses, it was known as. I think that the stupefaction, state-sponsored laziness and entitlement mentalitiy of our own citizens are as big or bigger threats than terrorism will ever be.
BTW, look at the relatively small expenditures for defense compared to social/welfare programs in your tax pies. Read about how the roman empire declined because it basically became a welfare state. Bread and circuses, it was known as. I think that the stupefaction, state-sponsored laziness and entitlement mentalitiy of our own citizens are as big or bigger threats than terrorism will ever be.
1.20.2005
how will my newly naked face tackle the voyage to work this morning?
the winds from the east (my back), hopefully its not so bad
the winds from the east (my back), hopefully its not so bad
1.19.2005
Well... tax time is approaching. Just quick preview of where the majority of your tax dollars go.
Now let's visit a real world example:
God Bless America!
5 children witness their parents mutilated by U.S. soliders. These children are PERMANENTLY scarred. 5 future terrorists created by my tax dollars. We do this on a daily basis. This is REAL. this is not make believe. We pay our taxes, the money goes into a big pool, and these neocon killers take our money and buy ammunition to murder innocent civilians.
There is something about screaming toddlers covered in blood that makes me proud to be an American.
"FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY? WHY? WHY?"...
Now let's visit a real world example:
God Bless America!
5 children witness their parents mutilated by U.S. soliders. These children are PERMANENTLY scarred. 5 future terrorists created by my tax dollars. We do this on a daily basis. This is REAL. this is not make believe. We pay our taxes, the money goes into a big pool, and these neocon killers take our money and buy ammunition to murder innocent civilians.
There is something about screaming toddlers covered in blood that makes me proud to be an American.
"FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY? WHY? WHY?"...
"sorry mom, i'm 5 years late for tea time" liam lynch
in music news
1.17.2005
it was 38 below 0 this morning
even with no wind
that's pretty cold
even with no wind
that's pretty cold
1.16.2005
victory is on the edge of defeat...
1.15.2005
i'm listening to the unicorns while following the stats of an nfl playoff game between the st.louis rams and the atlanta falcons
may i be the only person in the world doing these two things at once?
the unicorns cd is pleasing to my ear
and the falcons are killing the rams
may i be the only person in the world doing these two things at once?
the unicorns cd is pleasing to my ear
and the falcons are killing the rams
1.13.2005
WE're Back. :)
1.10.2005
***ATTENTION*****I will be getting a new host soon...
1.09.2005
when the cd ends i become aware of the computer buzzing
and the faint sounds of vehicles a few blocks away.
my ears thirst for more music, to blankets these less appealing sounds
and the faint sounds of vehicles a few blocks away.
my ears thirst for more music, to blankets these less appealing sounds
1.06.2005
Ladies and gentlemen. You are about to witness a historic event. Today the electoral college votes will be certified by congress.
If a democratic senator will not stand up and challenge today, it is the END OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN THIS COUNTRY. It will also confirm the end of the Democratic party in my eyes.
/me crosses his fingers
If a democratic senator will not stand up and challenge today, it is the END OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN THIS COUNTRY. It will also confirm the end of the Democratic party in my eyes.
/me crosses his fingers
1.05.2005
anyone going to see modest mouse in february at first ave?
1.03.2005
Westminster is where I just was, and that Poulboro town is less then 30 miles from me. I feel like the crazy jesus man is on my tail.
Alright, Chad, I've finally made my way onto the blog. It was my first day back in classes today. I havent' had a math class in five years. I feel like getting a tattoo of some really beautiful building, so I can look at it and remember why I'm putting myself through this. argh. exhaustion. Oh, hello Jeff, Adam and Adam and Adam, and whoever else. This is Tessa. You may or not remember me. I usually keep to the corners.
after a three and a half day rest, i must return to a world i can not relate to or communicate with. to gather the funds for living
1.02.2005
for some reason men are compelled to go on outings with other men. for days at a time these men might hunt, or fish, or ski. they will go long stretches of time without bathing. lan parties. the closest i will get to manly hunt/fish camaraderie i think. i hunt orcs with my druid and BladeWing Lvl 9 with Helm of Valor!
that is how i spent my new years eve/day/next day....
The Youth for Christ folks in Minot ND didn't have much fun....
"Praise Jesus!... let's slide down this hill on cardboard ... really fast... into those rocks down there! Now kids... be sure to praise Jesus as we plummet to our doom!"
sigh. i'm such a hater!
no. actually stupidity is universal...
that is how i spent my new years eve/day/next day....
The Youth for Christ folks in Minot ND didn't have much fun....
"Praise Jesus!... let's slide down this hill on cardboard ... really fast... into those rocks down there! Now kids... be sure to praise Jesus as we plummet to our doom!"
sigh. i'm such a hater!
no. actually stupidity is universal...
