Damn, Glenn Reynolds already listed his vacation reading. (Do great minds think alike?[Now you're being facetious -IC. Ummm...yeah...]) So I guess I'll just tell you my reading.
Bag of Bones, by Stephen King. This is a supernatural mystery with some love story elements. (The back cover didn't lie that much.)
A Division of the Spoils, by Paul Scott. Go to Google and search "Raj Quartet".
What you wanted a link? Move those lazy fingers and type it in! Or copy click Google in favorites and paste. The web is your undercooked oyster...
Thursday, June 26, 2003
One year ago on this day, June 26th, the first post in what would not become known as "The Internet's Biggest Mistake," and did become known as Meanderings of a Post-Modern Present-Day Wit, and somewhere between 100 and 500 random people read it, most in search of a summary of John Grisham's book, Skipping Christmas.
But I the one known to you only as "NF" did persist and in the next week or so will bring you the finest fruits of my labor, and will send out a message that...
...what the hell, here's the first two posts.
10:12 PM, June 27, 2002
Today I give a post relevant to current events. Based on recent events involving the Pledge of Allegiance, God, and the 9th Circuit Court (if this becomes a book title I want a share of the royalties), a critique of a well-known writing piece:
I pledge allegiance to the flag
The flag? What about the Constitution!?!
And to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God,
Some argue that given economic and racial boundaries it is actually several nations. I will not say much about the god part here, as you have likely heard too much already. I will say that the phrasing implies that God favor the U.S., and the mainstream religious right believes that God only held biblical Israel as the Promised Land, contrary to what the Rev. Jerry Falwell said.
Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
A) The nation has divided once, and B) ask a civil libertarian about liberty and justice for all.
"What's hidden in an empty box?" -Zen saying
NF
9:51 PM, June 26, 2002
This is a first post, so you may expect some sort of, I don't know, impressive meanderings, but I say no, offer up some bit of wisdom and put a sock in it, that's the way to go. Here goes a meandering:
Who is behind the terrorism in Israel? How deep is Arafat's involvement? What is the purpose behind the timing of suicide attacks with attempts to restart negotiations?
I think Arafat was responsible mostly for the first wave of terrorism, in an effort to bring Barak back to the table with whatever it was exactly that Arafat wanted. A land for peace deal, which Arafat may have thought Barak would take to save his position in the government (Arafat would have). Then Hamas began to get involved. Arafat's goal is a Palestinian state at whatever cost. Hamas' official goal is the same, just more so. Their actual goal is the complete destruction of Israel, and their manifesto even says that they oppose negotiations with Israel. Hamas has done everything possible todestroy the peace process, coordinating suicide bombings whenever the peace process could start again. The first condition of any agreement should be the dismantling of Hamas and other terrorist organizations, otherwise they could take over once Arafat (or who ever replaces him) has built up a respectable military. Hamas and Arafat are in a power struggle right now. The outcome will determine how much of a chance a lasting peace has. Israel should take note of this.
"As the blind lead the blind, so shall the unenlightened lead the unenlightened. They know the way don't they?"
NF
So that's it. In my opinion, not bad. I think the part about Hamas is even prescient to a degree. And the Supreme Court would do well to take note of my deconstruction of the Pledge of Allegiance. Of course that's just my opinion.
P.S. I will be gone on vacation for the next week, so I might or might not do more posts. Rest assured though, all that has been promised will be delivered eventually. I'll even list my unfinished business, the "Part Two"s I haven't written yet. Until then, I leave you, the reader to guess what my vacation reading is. (Hint: The author of one of each of the two are Stephen King and Paul Scott, who I have read extensively, and one book is a mystery and the other has a certain finality:)
But I the one known to you only as "NF" did persist and in the next week or so will bring you the finest fruits of my labor, and will send out a message that...
...what the hell, here's the first two posts.
10:12 PM, June 27, 2002
Today I give a post relevant to current events. Based on recent events involving the Pledge of Allegiance, God, and the 9th Circuit Court (if this becomes a book title I want a share of the royalties), a critique of a well-known writing piece:
I pledge allegiance to the flag
The flag? What about the Constitution!?!
And to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God,
Some argue that given economic and racial boundaries it is actually several nations. I will not say much about the god part here, as you have likely heard too much already. I will say that the phrasing implies that God favor the U.S., and the mainstream religious right believes that God only held biblical Israel as the Promised Land, contrary to what the Rev. Jerry Falwell said.
Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
A) The nation has divided once, and B) ask a civil libertarian about liberty and justice for all.
"What's hidden in an empty box?" -Zen saying
NF
9:51 PM, June 26, 2002
This is a first post, so you may expect some sort of, I don't know, impressive meanderings, but I say no, offer up some bit of wisdom and put a sock in it, that's the way to go. Here goes a meandering:
Who is behind the terrorism in Israel? How deep is Arafat's involvement? What is the purpose behind the timing of suicide attacks with attempts to restart negotiations?
I think Arafat was responsible mostly for the first wave of terrorism, in an effort to bring Barak back to the table with whatever it was exactly that Arafat wanted. A land for peace deal, which Arafat may have thought Barak would take to save his position in the government (Arafat would have). Then Hamas began to get involved. Arafat's goal is a Palestinian state at whatever cost. Hamas' official goal is the same, just more so. Their actual goal is the complete destruction of Israel, and their manifesto even says that they oppose negotiations with Israel. Hamas has done everything possible todestroy the peace process, coordinating suicide bombings whenever the peace process could start again. The first condition of any agreement should be the dismantling of Hamas and other terrorist organizations, otherwise they could take over once Arafat (or who ever replaces him) has built up a respectable military. Hamas and Arafat are in a power struggle right now. The outcome will determine how much of a chance a lasting peace has. Israel should take note of this.
"As the blind lead the blind, so shall the unenlightened lead the unenlightened. They know the way don't they?"
NF
So that's it. In my opinion, not bad. I think the part about Hamas is even prescient to a degree. And the Supreme Court would do well to take note of my deconstruction of the Pledge of Allegiance. Of course that's just my opinion.
P.S. I will be gone on vacation for the next week, so I might or might not do more posts. Rest assured though, all that has been promised will be delivered eventually. I'll even list my unfinished business, the "Part Two"s I haven't written yet. Until then, I leave you, the reader to guess what my vacation reading is. (Hint: The author of one of each of the two are Stephen King and Paul Scott, who I have read extensively, and one book is a mystery and the other has a certain finality:)
Monday, June 23, 2003
Heads Up
Just getting the word out that the 1st birthday of my weblog is June 26th. Events will include the blogger archiving of my first posts, Best Post of the Year, and Rabid Dirtbag of the Year (preliminary nominees: Rep. Jim "The Jews Control Everthing" Moran, Sen. Rick "Legal Gay Sex Will End Society As We Know It" Santorum, and Jonah "McCarthy Kicked Some Commie Ass" Goldberg).
Check back soon for Part Two of the Mother of All Posts.
Just getting the word out that the 1st birthday of my weblog is June 26th. Events will include the blogger archiving of my first posts, Best Post of the Year, and Rabid Dirtbag of the Year (preliminary nominees: Rep. Jim "The Jews Control Everthing" Moran, Sen. Rick "Legal Gay Sex Will End Society As We Know It" Santorum, and Jonah "McCarthy Kicked Some Commie Ass" Goldberg).
Check back soon for Part Two of the Mother of All Posts.
Friday, June 13, 2003
Tuesday, June 10, 2003
Sunday, June 08, 2003
The Mother Of All Posts
Part I: Gulf War II in retrospect
The second Gulf War was not marred by any of the possible problems I had predicted. I didn't say that any of these problems would definitely happen, I said that they might happen and should be discussed more. The reasons that none of these problems manifested is at the core of the situation today.
The war was a success. There were few civilian deaths, few military deaths, and no major damage to the Iraqi economic infrastructure that remained. More people died at Halabja than in Gulf War II. I think one thing that is over-emphasized by pundits is the role of US technological superiority in the victory in Iraq. What happened was not a victory of the much-hyped shock and awe, but a massive assault of highly-mobile well-trained soldiers and excellent combat recon, as well as unchallenged air superiority that allowed the Air Force and Navy to hit targets with inpunity. These combined to convince an already demoralized army that by and large did not like Saddam to forget about the fighting and return home. Those that didn't desert were handily defeated, as at Kharbala Pass before Baghdad.
Turkey was rebufffed in its desire to invade Kurdistan, and neither the Kurds nor the Shiites continue to be oppressed. Evidence of atrocities commited by Saddam emerged, including a children's prison and mass graves. Also, at no point did Iraq use chemical or biological weapons on the American soldiers or its own people. This brings us up to the post-war, where the next part will continue from.
Part I: Gulf War II in retrospect
The second Gulf War was not marred by any of the possible problems I had predicted. I didn't say that any of these problems would definitely happen, I said that they might happen and should be discussed more. The reasons that none of these problems manifested is at the core of the situation today.
The war was a success. There were few civilian deaths, few military deaths, and no major damage to the Iraqi economic infrastructure that remained. More people died at Halabja than in Gulf War II. I think one thing that is over-emphasized by pundits is the role of US technological superiority in the victory in Iraq. What happened was not a victory of the much-hyped shock and awe, but a massive assault of highly-mobile well-trained soldiers and excellent combat recon, as well as unchallenged air superiority that allowed the Air Force and Navy to hit targets with inpunity. These combined to convince an already demoralized army that by and large did not like Saddam to forget about the fighting and return home. Those that didn't desert were handily defeated, as at Kharbala Pass before Baghdad.
Turkey was rebufffed in its desire to invade Kurdistan, and neither the Kurds nor the Shiites continue to be oppressed. Evidence of atrocities commited by Saddam emerged, including a children's prison and mass graves. Also, at no point did Iraq use chemical or biological weapons on the American soldiers or its own people. This brings us up to the post-war, where the next part will continue from.
Friday, June 06, 2003
Requiem for an Editor:
I have just one question: who will Kaus hound now?
The morale Raines damaged will self-repair. But he will have to live with the sad fact that he made his beloved newspaper the punchline of a thousand cruel jokes. He left the paper in worse condition than he found it and positioned his successor to reap the glory that he dreamed was his.
I have just one question: who will Kaus hound now?