10 Easy Steps to Fascism in America.
Kinda scary. There certainly are stepping blocks in place for a horrible Über-State. Not that it will necessarily wind up in that place. Terrifying to think about, though. What I'm not looking forward too is when the prominent activists, journalists and whatnot all disappear.
Luckily, the checks and balances are not all destroyed. There are still steps to be taken and actions against the general rotten state of affairs.
Constant Vigilance, after all, is the price of democracy. Not a sacrifice of liberties. Not a random and volatile war for capital gain.
Uh, to arms? Not literally, of course, but it'd be pretty excellent if The People started standing up for Themselves, myself included.
In an unrelated note, sometimes I'm filled with pride for some of my students and disgust for some of the others. I have one girl, for instance, who printed out a bunch of signs with the Homo-Rainbow (phrase stolen from Ween) and the declaration "These are the colors of America. I support bi and gay people." She and her friends are wearing them around school today.
That's awesome. I'm all for standing for people. And student activism!
Of course, I walked into the bathroom earlier and someone had taped it up in the urinal. That is disgusting. Intolerance, as cool as it seems, is not cool at all. It's stupid, narrow-minded bullshit. I'm preaching to the choir here, probably, but it is most definitely a putrid practice. And a couple of kids were joking about how they were going to dispose of the signs. What the best way would be.
"I'm going to rip this up and stomp on it."
"I'm going to take it home and set it on fire."
Equally as gross.
26.4.07
23.4.07
18.4.07
Violence
It has been a gross couple of days.
Lou Dobbs has said some smart things about the Virginia Tech Massacre. You can find them here. I'll summarize here though if you don't want to read that article.
The VTech killings are an absolute travesty. Even though there have been 250 school shootings in the past 80 years, the biggest killers in colleges are alcohol and suicide. Binge Drinking, say officials, also leads to the majority of the Rape cases reported on campuses. And then there's the violence that is not sensational, the individual murders, beat-downs and robberies.
Then we get incidents where the very next day 157 are killed in explosions in Baghdad. It doesn't get nearly the coverage the VTech killings did. It's half a world a way. But it's a more solvable situation than what happened in Blacksburg. That kid was an anomaly. A tragic anomaly. These blasts in Baghdad are part of a statement of terror and a direct reaction to the political turmoil that has been caused largely by the US-led "intervention." These people by and large just want the United States out.
And on the same day, we are treated to ridiculous shit like this where Secret Service Agents aren't competent enough to use their own firearms. The NRA and gun lobbyists are worried that the Virgina Tech Bloodbath is going to be "bogarted" for the anti-gun cause. They should be more worried about this story. Both stories, of course, argue similar points, but the Gun Accident where trained Secret Service Agents wind up injuring each other unintentionally speaks stronger than the kid who goes batshit and takes out 32 of his peers. There is no stopping the latter from committing some act of violence but there is plenty we can do about the accidents.
Anyway. It's been a gross couple of days.
Lou Dobbs has said some smart things about the Virginia Tech Massacre. You can find them here. I'll summarize here though if you don't want to read that article.
The VTech killings are an absolute travesty. Even though there have been 250 school shootings in the past 80 years, the biggest killers in colleges are alcohol and suicide. Binge Drinking, say officials, also leads to the majority of the Rape cases reported on campuses. And then there's the violence that is not sensational, the individual murders, beat-downs and robberies.
Then we get incidents where the very next day 157 are killed in explosions in Baghdad. It doesn't get nearly the coverage the VTech killings did. It's half a world a way. But it's a more solvable situation than what happened in Blacksburg. That kid was an anomaly. A tragic anomaly. These blasts in Baghdad are part of a statement of terror and a direct reaction to the political turmoil that has been caused largely by the US-led "intervention." These people by and large just want the United States out.
And on the same day, we are treated to ridiculous shit like this where Secret Service Agents aren't competent enough to use their own firearms. The NRA and gun lobbyists are worried that the Virgina Tech Bloodbath is going to be "bogarted" for the anti-gun cause. They should be more worried about this story. Both stories, of course, argue similar points, but the Gun Accident where trained Secret Service Agents wind up injuring each other unintentionally speaks stronger than the kid who goes batshit and takes out 32 of his peers. There is no stopping the latter from committing some act of violence but there is plenty we can do about the accidents.
Anyway. It's been a gross couple of days.
Battle of the Browsers
I recently switched back to Safari because Firefox was sapping my computer and making her crash more than was needed. Safari's not perfect, but it's better.
Stuff like this, however, makes me want to switch back.
Curses!
Also, I'm sure this was my most engaging post as of yet.
EDIT: That link is clearly the wrong one. I'm going to leave it, though, because it amuses me.
Stuff like this, however, makes me want to switch back.
Curses!
Also, I'm sure this was my most engaging post as of yet.
EDIT: That link is clearly the wrong one. I'm going to leave it, though, because it amuses me.
17.4.07
Terrible
Here's something bound to enrage or at least dissapoint y'all.
Fox news has hijacked Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s death for ridiculing the left. Ugly, ugly stuff.
Man, it's a shame Vonnegut was a humanist who believed in the power of the general people and not the power of a few, cracked and greedy political leaders.
Fox news has hijacked Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s death for ridiculing the left. Ugly, ugly stuff.
Man, it's a shame Vonnegut was a humanist who believed in the power of the general people and not the power of a few, cracked and greedy political leaders.
Web 2.0
I wasn't named Time's Person of the Year for nothing.
So here I am, joining Technorati as well as Digg and Twitter in one day. This is what happens, folks, when school is cancelled.
Anyway, the major reason for this post (third today!) is that I need to post this link.
Enjoy
So here I am, joining Technorati as well as Digg and Twitter in one day. This is what happens, folks, when school is cancelled.
Anyway, the major reason for this post (third today!) is that I need to post this link.
Enjoy
As predicted
I joined Twitter. You can check out my posts (as I know you're all chomping at the bit to) here.
I think because food plays an important part of my life AND I've just posted my first post about drinking coffee, I'm going to try to work in eating on every post.
Also, I was thinking - and I need your opinions on this, dear readers (a simple comment will suffice) - should I try and take up all 140 characters with every post?
Krister, out
I think because food plays an important part of my life AND I've just posted my first post about drinking coffee, I'm going to try to work in eating on every post.
Also, I was thinking - and I need your opinions on this, dear readers (a simple comment will suffice) - should I try and take up all 140 characters with every post?
Krister, out
Twitterlee-Dee
All right, if you have not heard of it there exists these days an interesting micro-blog site called Twitter. You have 140 characters to post about whatever. Usually it winds up being posts about what that person happens to be doing. If you were consistent about it, at the end of your life you might have an interesting, stacatto autobiography.
But what is perhaps more fascinating is Twittervision. On Twittervision you get a globe and the latest Twitter posts pop up from the geographic locations they were made. It's incredible. The majority of the posts are from the United States, with Europe and it's myriad languages, Mexico and Spanish and the rest of the world following behind. I've only seen one post from Japan and one post from the South Pacific apart from that. I was alerted to the existence of Twittervision by an article that suggested "a savvy journalist might watch Twittervision to look for interviews on current crises."
If I had my way, I'd have a projector running Twittervision against a wall in my house 24/7.
Anyway, I expect this blog will be updated momentarily with news of my joining Twitter and a link to my feed.
But what is perhaps more fascinating is Twittervision. On Twittervision you get a globe and the latest Twitter posts pop up from the geographic locations they were made. It's incredible. The majority of the posts are from the United States, with Europe and it's myriad languages, Mexico and Spanish and the rest of the world following behind. I've only seen one post from Japan and one post from the South Pacific apart from that. I was alerted to the existence of Twittervision by an article that suggested "a savvy journalist might watch Twittervision to look for interviews on current crises."
If I had my way, I'd have a projector running Twittervision against a wall in my house 24/7.
Anyway, I expect this blog will be updated momentarily with news of my joining Twitter and a link to my feed.
11.4.07
I had no idea...
Huh! 86 years of misleading people!
Vomitoria were no place for vomiting, it would seem.
Take THAT 7th grade Latin teacher. Sorta. She barely taught us Latin.
Anyway, interesting to note!
Vomitoria were no place for vomiting, it would seem.
Take THAT 7th grade Latin teacher. Sorta. She barely taught us Latin.
Anyway, interesting to note!
 clipped from dictionary.reference.comMain Entry:
Part of Speech:
Definition:
Etymology:
Usage:
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10.4.07
Haha, what?
This is pretty great. It's a livejournal post!
Oh man, it's great, though.
So is dinner. But you know what isn't? Grading. And unfortunately I'm about to trade the former for the latter.
LAME.
Also Even llamas do it
Oh man, it's great, though.
So is dinner. But you know what isn't? Grading. And unfortunately I'm about to trade the former for the latter.
LAME.
Also Even llamas do it
9.4.07
The Modern Age
I feel like this service is extremely important in the world of Web 2.0.
Free Education on the Internet
The fact that such a service is available tickles me to my very core. Charging people to take a hold of their own education is the goal of the education system as a whole, I think. Or at least it should be. Unfortunately, such a simple mission is one of the hardest to achieve.
The ready access of cheap (free!) information available for everyone to use as needed, to update and to modify and to contribute their own expertise is one of the greatest contributions folks have made for the advancement of humanity. And it is a practice that goes back to the dawn of humans. From people simply asking how to hunt or make bread, to libraries to the internet the availability of information seems to be one of the most important aspects of a free society.
Anyway, I think it's cool.
Also, this Scientist, Richard Lindzen, almost makes an interesting point about Global Warming here. And then he's full of shit. There might not be an ideal temperature for the planet, but there is most certainly an ideal temperature for humans.
Also, people have been complaining about the upcoming regulations that will be made on Carbon Dioxide as a greenhouse gas. Arguing that since it is a naturally occurring substance, one that we ourselves release with every exhalation, it is illogical to regulate it. On that ground, it would be just as illogical to regulate marijuana, food or any just about any other drug. The fact of the matter is that there are any number of "naturally occurring" chemicals, compounds and whatnot that we produce in unnaturally large quantities. Carbon Dioxide is just one of them. Plutonium is another. I don't think it's a bad idea to regulate these chemicals. They're dangerous.
And people running around with free reign on releasing these chemicals amplify that danger to a great degree.
Free Education on the Internet
The fact that such a service is available tickles me to my very core. Charging people to take a hold of their own education is the goal of the education system as a whole, I think. Or at least it should be. Unfortunately, such a simple mission is one of the hardest to achieve.
The ready access of cheap (free!) information available for everyone to use as needed, to update and to modify and to contribute their own expertise is one of the greatest contributions folks have made for the advancement of humanity. And it is a practice that goes back to the dawn of humans. From people simply asking how to hunt or make bread, to libraries to the internet the availability of information seems to be one of the most important aspects of a free society.
Anyway, I think it's cool.
Also, this Scientist, Richard Lindzen, almost makes an interesting point about Global Warming here. And then he's full of shit. There might not be an ideal temperature for the planet, but there is most certainly an ideal temperature for humans.
Also, people have been complaining about the upcoming regulations that will be made on Carbon Dioxide as a greenhouse gas. Arguing that since it is a naturally occurring substance, one that we ourselves release with every exhalation, it is illogical to regulate it. On that ground, it would be just as illogical to regulate marijuana, food or any just about any other drug. The fact of the matter is that there are any number of "naturally occurring" chemicals, compounds and whatnot that we produce in unnaturally large quantities. Carbon Dioxide is just one of them. Plutonium is another. I don't think it's a bad idea to regulate these chemicals. They're dangerous.
And people running around with free reign on releasing these chemicals amplify that danger to a great degree.
7.4.07
I believe
I believe in peace in Iraq. I believe that means withdrawing the troops. There is no peace in violence.
I believe in peace in Iraq. I believe that means letting Iraqis find their way. There is no peace is forcing a system on people.
I believe I signed up for this blog thing. One Million Blogs for Peace. I believe that means I support peace. Well, that doesn't mean it. But it represents my belief in it.
I believe in peace in Iraq. I believe that means letting Iraqis find their way. There is no peace is forcing a system on people.
I believe I signed up for this blog thing. One Million Blogs for Peace. I believe that means I support peace. Well, that doesn't mean it. But it represents my belief in it.
6.4.07
Stay Classy, America
[2021 EDIT. I AM ASHAMED BY THIS POST. I WAS YOUNG AND DUMB AND TOOK JOY IN HARMFUL LANGUAGE AND ATTITUDES].
A little solidarity, please
So, the amusing fact of google's ability to map the drive from the U.S. to certain European cities is balanced that it apparently can't figure out how to cross the Pacific. As if some little switch in the machine was saying, "Swim across the Pacific? Ridiculous!"
I have swum the Atlantic, incidentally, and made the trip in record time because a big ol' Gulper Eel led the way, eating everything in my path.
I have swum the Atlantic, incidentally, and made the trip in record time because a big ol' Gulper Eel led the way, eating everything in my path.
5.4.07
The Reaping
Anyone else think the trailers for The Reaping are hilarious?
The movie looks like it's going to be utter trash that pretends to be deep and religiously philosophical while cashing in on cheap scares. But the funniest part for me is toward the end when the screen flashes "What hath God wrought?" And that title card is immediately followed by "Hillary Swank."
God hath wrought Hillary Swank.
Also worth noting (or nothing) is the fact that "What hath God wrought?" is the first message sent via telegraph by Samuel Morse. That happened May, 24th 1844.
The movie looks like it's going to be utter trash that pretends to be deep and religiously philosophical while cashing in on cheap scares. But the funniest part for me is toward the end when the screen flashes "What hath God wrought?" And that title card is immediately followed by "Hillary Swank."
God hath wrought Hillary Swank.
Also worth noting (or nothing) is the fact that "What hath God wrought?" is the first message sent via telegraph by Samuel Morse. That happened May, 24th 1844.
Shit IN luck
Pretty god damn lucky if you ask me. Choice between death/mutilation and being covered in 9 inches of crap isn't a choice at all. I'm fairly certain we all have showers of some sort.
clipped from news.sky.com
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Backup
In reference to that allegation about the U.S. supporting a Pakistani terrorist group, I offer this source, an ABC News Blog.
And it is significantly worse than the image I had painted briefly last entry. Not only is it a terrorist group, it's a fucking Al-Qaeda terrorist group. This kind of report needs more coverage.
And it is significantly worse than the image I had painted briefly last entry. Not only is it a terrorist group, it's a fucking Al-Qaeda terrorist group. This kind of report needs more coverage.
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