See My Twisted Addition to the Madness That is Amish Tech Support
Dinosaur Rights Groups Condemn Jurassic Park's "Apartheid Wall"
"Despite their status as the dinosaurs whose livelihood is most threatened by the fence, reporters were unable to interview any Tyrannosaurus Rex for their opinion on the issue."
Update: The average person won't have a clue what I'm talking about. The average Israel supporter will laugh. The average lefty activist collegian will be horribly offended. Screw them, if their opinion wasn't moronic, I wouldn't mock it.
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Heroism in the Line of Fire
A column by Bob Lonsberry:
It is courage and selflessness like this, that makes it all the more clear how gutless and repugnant it is for people like Micah Wright to invent a record of military service for personal gain.
(via Blackfive)
A column by Bob Lonsberry:
It was a year ago on the march into Baghdad. Brian Chontosh was a platoon leader rolling up Highway 1 in a humvee.
When all hell broke loose.
Ambush city.
The young Marines were being cut to ribbons. Mortars, machine guns, rocket propelled grenades. And the kid out of Churchville was in charge. It was do or die and it was up to him.
So he moved to the side of his column, looking for a way to lead his men to safety. As he tried to poke a hole through the Iraqi line his humvee came under direct enemy machine gun fire.
It was fish in a barrel and the Marines were the fish.
And Brian Chontosh gave the order to attack. He told his driver to floor the humvee directly at the machine gun emplacement that was firing at them. And he had the guy on top with the .50 cal unload on them.
Within moments there were Iraqis slumped across the machine gun and Chontosh was still advancing, ordering his driver now to take the humvee directly into the Iraqi trench that was attacking his Marines. Over into the battlement the humvee went and out the door Brian Chontosh bailed, carrying an M16 and a Beretta and 228 years of Marine Corps pride.
And he ran down the trench.
With its mortars and riflemen, machineguns and grenadiers.
And he killed them all.
He fought with the M16 until it was out of ammo. Then he fought with the Beretta until it was out of ammo. Then he picked up a dead man’s AK47 and fought with that until it was out of ammo. Then he picked up another dead man’s AK47 and fought with that until it was out of ammo.
It is courage and selflessness like this, that makes it all the more clear how gutless and repugnant it is for people like Micah Wright to invent a record of military service for personal gain.
(via Blackfive)
Monday, May 10, 2004
Save Rumsfeld
Rumsfeld is rapidly becoming victim to an anti-Bush political apparatus aimed at taking out the Bush administration however possible. Apparently, Rumsfeld's only crime was to not constantly inform Congress, and the media, of some cases of abuse in a prison that was being investigated and prosecuted. Oh, and not releasing the photos while the investigation was underway.
Really now, what should Rumsfeld have done? The investigation began almost as soon as the reports of abuse surfaced. The defense department alerted the press not once but twice, the second time on March 21 to announce the prosecutions of the soldiers. The press ignored it because they didn't have any sensational angle to play up. The press likely got the photos and pushed the story because they were sourcing the perpetrators.Even on the record sources in news stories tend to be those directly responsible for the abuse occuring. Brigadier Janis karpinski is telling every media outlet that it's all military intelligence's fault, despite the fact that the Taguba Report says that is just one of the lies she told the investigators to cover her own ass. The media is trying to make her out to be some sort of saint, when the truth is that if anyone in the leadership should be held accountable, it's her. Not Rumsfeld, not Bush, the officer whose job it was to oversee the management of the prison.
There is also the whole Watergate mole aspect with the leak of the confidential report, and the press loves to do nothing more than expose a scandal. At the same time John F'ing Kerry is using the dishonorable conduct of a few soldiers to begin taking down the Bush Administration. If you think that firing Rumsfeld will result in the Democratic campaign backing off, think again. They will treat the firing as tacit admission that all their accusations against Bush are right and that the Bush administration is evil. Also, General Meyers is one rung below Rumsfeld in authority in Iraq. How come all the people calling for Rumsfeld to resign aren't asking for his resignation? Oh yeah, he isn't part of the Bush Administration.
And finally, the key points of the Taguba Report's findings on command's role in the abuse cases. All emphasis added.
How is this Rumsfeld fault? Does anyone really think Rumsfeld personally directed the operations inside prisons in Iraq?
The calls for the resignation of Rumsfeld have nothing to do with accountability and averything to do with politics.
Update: There is an online petition supporting Rumsfeld from the Federalist.
The first person to tell me that this opinion is null because I like Rumsfeld will be told to, in true O'Reilly fashion, "SHUT UP!" If my opinion is null because I like Rumsfeld, your opinion must be null because you probably dislike Rumsfeld. Hmmmm...
Rumsfeld is rapidly becoming victim to an anti-Bush political apparatus aimed at taking out the Bush administration however possible. Apparently, Rumsfeld's only crime was to not constantly inform Congress, and the media, of some cases of abuse in a prison that was being investigated and prosecuted. Oh, and not releasing the photos while the investigation was underway.
Really now, what should Rumsfeld have done? The investigation began almost as soon as the reports of abuse surfaced. The defense department alerted the press not once but twice, the second time on March 21 to announce the prosecutions of the soldiers. The press ignored it because they didn't have any sensational angle to play up. The press likely got the photos and pushed the story because they were sourcing the perpetrators.Even on the record sources in news stories tend to be those directly responsible for the abuse occuring. Brigadier Janis karpinski is telling every media outlet that it's all military intelligence's fault, despite the fact that the Taguba Report says that is just one of the lies she told the investigators to cover her own ass. The media is trying to make her out to be some sort of saint, when the truth is that if anyone in the leadership should be held accountable, it's her. Not Rumsfeld, not Bush, the officer whose job it was to oversee the management of the prison.
There is also the whole Watergate mole aspect with the leak of the confidential report, and the press loves to do nothing more than expose a scandal. At the same time John F'ing Kerry is using the dishonorable conduct of a few soldiers to begin taking down the Bush Administration. If you think that firing Rumsfeld will result in the Democratic campaign backing off, think again. They will treat the firing as tacit admission that all their accusations against Bush are right and that the Bush administration is evil. Also, General Meyers is one rung below Rumsfeld in authority in Iraq. How come all the people calling for Rumsfeld to resign aren't asking for his resignation? Oh yeah, he isn't part of the Bush Administration.
And finally, the key points of the Taguba Report's findings on command's role in the abuse cases. All emphasis added.
3. (U) There is abundant evidence in the statements of numerous witnesses that soldiers throughout the 800th MP Brigade were not proficient in their basic MOS skills, particularly regarding internment/resettlement operations. Moreover, there is no evidence that the command, although aware of these deficiencies, attempted to correct them in any systemic manner other than ad hoc training by individuals with civilian corrections experience. (Multiple Witness Statements and the Personal Observations of the Investigation Team)
[...]
14. (U) During the course of this investigation I conducted a lengthy interview with BG Karpinski that lasted over four hours, and is included verbatim in the investigation Annexes. BG Karpinski was extremely emotional during much of her testimony. What I found particularly disturbing in her testimony was her complete unwillingness to either understand or accept that many of the problems inherent in the 800th MP Brigade were caused or exacerbated by poor leadership and the refusal of her command to both establish and enforce basic standards and principles among its soldiers. (ANNEX 45 and the Personal Observations of the Interview Team)
15. (U) BG Karpinski alleged that she received no help from the Civil Affairs Command, specifically, no assistance from either BG John Kern or COL Tim Regan. She blames much of the abuse that occurred in Abu Ghraib (BCCF) on MI personnel and stated that MI personnel had given the MPs “ideas” that led to detainee abuse. In addition, she blamed the 372nd Company Platoon Sergeant, SFC Snider, the Company Commander, CPT Reese, and the First Sergeant, MSG Lipinski, for the abuse. She argued that problems in Abu Ghraib were the fault of COL Pappas and LTC Jordan because COL Pappas was in charge of FOB Abu Ghraib. (ANNEX 45)
16. (U) BG Karpinski also implied during her testimony that the criminal abuses that occurred at Abu Ghraib (BCCF) might have been caused by the ultimate disposition of the detainee abuse cases that originally occurred at Camp Bucca in May 2003. She stated that “about the same time those incidents were taking place out of Baghdad Central, the decisions were made to give the guilty people at Bucca plea bargains. So, the system communicated to the soldiers, the worst that’s gonna happen is, you’re gonna go home.” I think it important to point out that almost every witness testified that the serious criminal abuse of detainees at Abu Ghraib (BCCF) occurred in late October and early November 2003. The photographs and statements clearly support that the abuses occurred during this time period. The Bucca cases were set for trial in January 2004 and were not finally disposed of until 29 December 2003. There is entirely no evidence that the decision of numerous MP personnel to intentionally abuse detainees at Abu Ghrabid (BCCF) was influenced in any respect by the Camp Bucca cases. (ANNEXES 25, 26, and 45)
[...]
19. (U) I find that individual Soldiers within the 800th MP Brigade and the 320th Battalion stationed throughout Iraq had very little contact during their tour of duty with either LTC (P) Phillabaum or BG Karpinski. BG Karpinski claimed, during her testimony, that she paid regular visits to the various detention facilities where her Soldiers were stationed. However, the detailed calendar provided by her Aide-de-Camp, 1LT Mabry, does not support her contention. Moreover, numerous witnesses stated that they rarely saw BG Karpinski or LTC (P) Phillabaum. (Multiple Witness Statements)
[...]
21. As I have documented in other parts of this investigation, I find that there was no clear emphasis by BG Karpinski to ensure that the 800th MP Brigade Staff, Commanders, and Soldiers were trained to standard in detainee operations and proficiency or that serious accountability lapses that occurred over a significant period of time, particularly at Abu Ghraib (BCCF), were corrected. AR 15-6 Investigations regarding detainee escapes were not acted upon, followed up with corrective action, or disseminated to subordinate commanders or Soldiers. Brigade and unit SOPs for dealing with detainees if they existed at all, were not read or understood by MP Soldiers assigned the difficult mission of detainee operations. Following the abuse of several detainees at Camp Bucca in May 2003, I could find no evidence that BG Karpinski ever directed corrective training for her soldiers or ensured that MP Soldiers throughout Iraq clearly understood the requirements of the Geneva Conventions relating to the treatment of detainees. (Multiple Witness Statements and the Personal Observations of the Investigation Team )
[...]
RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO PART THREE OF THE INVESTIGATION:
1. (U) That BG Janis L. Karpinski, Commander, 800th MP Brigade be Relieved from Command and given a General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand for the following acts which have been previously referred to in the aforementioned findings:
--Failing to ensure that MP Soldiers at theater-level detention facilities throughout Iraq had appropriate SOPs for dealing with detainees and that Commanders and Soldiers had read, understood, and would adhere to these SOPs.
--Failing to ensure that MP Soldiers in the 800th MP Brigade knew, understood, and adhered to the protections afforded to detainees in the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
--Making material misrepresentations to the Investigation Team as to the frequency of her visits to her subordinate commands.
--Failing to obey an order from the CFLCC Commander, LTG McKiernan, regarding the withholding of disciplinary authority for Officer and Senior Noncommissioned Officer misconduct.
--Failing to take appropriate action regarding the ineffectiveness of a subordinate Commander, LTC (P) Jerry Phillabaum.
--Failing to take appropriate action regarding the ineffectiveness of numerous members of her Brigade Staff including her XO, S-1, S-3, and S-4.
--Failing to properly ensure the results and recommendations of the AARs and numerous 15-6 Investigation reports on escapes and shootings (over a period of several months) were properly disseminated to, and understood by, subordinate commanders.
--Failing to ensure and enforce basic Soldier standards throughout her command.
--Failing to establish a Brigade METL.
--Failing to establish basic proficiency in assigned tasks for Soldiers throughout the 800th MP Brigade.
--Failing to ensure that numerous and reported accountability lapses at detention facilities throughout Iraq were corrected.
How is this Rumsfeld fault? Does anyone really think Rumsfeld personally directed the operations inside prisons in Iraq?
The calls for the resignation of Rumsfeld have nothing to do with accountability and averything to do with politics.
Update: There is an online petition supporting Rumsfeld from the Federalist.
The first person to tell me that this opinion is null because I like Rumsfeld will be told to, in true O'Reilly fashion, "SHUT UP!" If my opinion is null because I like Rumsfeld, your opinion must be null because you probably dislike Rumsfeld. Hmmmm...
More evidence of the stupidity of the Saudi misogynists. There's a reason Israel's better than the Arab world in practically everything. It's called moving away from mindless tribalism.
Can anybody comprehend how Saudi Arabia makes it illegal for women to drive, and the media is outraged when an American Muslim women has to have a picture taken of her without her veil on for her driving license? Saudi Arabia is easily the most backwards and primitive nation on the planet. Tribal government, check. Chauvinistic patriarchal society, check. Irrational xenophobia, check.
Can anybody comprehend how Saudi Arabia makes it illegal for women to drive, and the media is outraged when an American Muslim women has to have a picture taken of her without her veil on for her driving license? Saudi Arabia is easily the most backwards and primitive nation on the planet. Tribal government, check. Chauvinistic patriarchal society, check. Irrational xenophobia, check.
Reader Notice
Can the person who found this website on Yahoo searching for "henry chan" and "oversee.net" please contact me? If you're investigating this too I'd like to do what I can to help and piece together the story. If you are actually planning to write an article on this that's even better, because I am not researching this for an article and would be eager to assist in exposing Henry Chan. I have good evidence pointing to a link between Henry Chan and Oversee.net, and some things I've found may lead to biographical information about Henry Chan. My e-mail address is at the bottom of this page, under "feedback?"
Personal note: This is the 150th post on this weblog.
Can the person who found this website on Yahoo searching for "henry chan" and "oversee.net" please contact me? If you're investigating this too I'd like to do what I can to help and piece together the story. If you are actually planning to write an article on this that's even better, because I am not researching this for an article and would be eager to assist in exposing Henry Chan. I have good evidence pointing to a link between Henry Chan and Oversee.net, and some things I've found may lead to biographical information about Henry Chan. My e-mail address is at the bottom of this page, under "feedback?"
Personal note: This is the 150th post on this weblog.
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Michele has Cliff Notes for Ted Rall on O'Reilly. Her conclusion: "Well, all in all, that was very LAME. "
Update: Seconded.
I'm wondering if I should add A Small Victory to my links. Supposedly, she gave up political blogging...
Update: Seconded.
I'm wondering if I should add A Small Victory to my links. Supposedly, she gave up political blogging...
Ted Rall, Psychopath
Yesterday I wrote this:
Today I wrote this:
There's a reason for the use of the word psychopath. You may want to read the Slate article I linked to in yesterday's post first.
Back? Good. I want to, in particular, bring your attention to this:
Think about that in comparison to Ted Rall. Compare it to this satire by Jeff Goldstein. Finally, read Rall's defense of his column.
My first thoughts is that he can't possibly believe that shit. I mean f-ck all, "death cult," "suicide bombers!" As it was said on South Park, "What the hell is wrong with you!?!"
This entire paragraph is a lie:
So I think, if he doesn't believe it, he must be lying. (Duh!) So why the heck does he lie? Goldstein knows:
Yes, the egotism sounds like Harris. Of course, I doubt that Jeff realizes this, but the post is based on his interpretation of Rall's personality based on his works and statements.
So messianic-complex, check. Deceitfulness, check. Lack of remorse and empathy? He called Pat Tillman a sap, an idiot, and implied he is a racist. The man is dead! He died trying to protect Rall's undeserving ass from another terrorist attack in his hometown of New York City! Again, "What the hell is wrong with you!?!"
Then you look at his cartoons/libels of New York City firefighters, widows of September 11th, Daniel Pearl's widow, and using the death of a friend to write about his past promiscuity. The man has no shame, because he has no empathy or remorse. He doesn't give a shit about another person on this planet. The reason he has got as far as he has is that his psychopathy is sliming any one who has any misfortune, decency, or honor, because he doesn't get sympathy and he sure as heck doesn't get honor and decency, which is the least we can say from the Pat Tillman cartoon.
So, yeah, I think he doesn't have a single bit of empathy or remorse.
The reason he's been able to go along without anyone finding out he is a psychopath is that he's smart, and he knows how to control himself. Most of the time.
But along comes Rene Gonzalez soaking up all the scorn doing his shtick, followed by Micah Wright being revealed as a liar trying to figuratively bash people over the head with his fictional military service, and Rall can't take the chumps getting all the notoriety. People are supposed to hate him. So he draws a dishonest column that insults a brave and decent man's death. Because Ted Rall thinks people are "idiots" and "saps," or "evil," unless they like him, and everything to Rall is about Rall, Rall, Rall, Rall, Rall, Rall, Rall, Rall.
A festering sore on the face of mankind, indeed.
Trackback to OTB Traffic Jam.
Yesterday I wrote this:
The thing that really bothers me about [Eric] Harris is that he had no morality or compassion for others, wanted to glorify himself through murdering people, and no one saw through his deception.
Today I wrote this:
Ted Rall is a deluded, sick, hateful, talentless, amoral psychopath.
There's a reason for the use of the word psychopath. You may want to read the Slate article I linked to in yesterday's post first.
Back? Good. I want to, in particular, bring your attention to this:
It rages on for page after page and is repeated in his journal and in the videos he and Klebold made. But Fuselier recognized a far more revealing emotion bursting through, both fueling and overshadowing the hate. What the boy was really expressing was contempt.
He is disgusted with the morons around him. These are not the rantings of an angry young man, picked on by jocks until he's not going to take it anymore. These are the rantings of someone with a messianic-grade superiority complex, out to punish the entire human race for its appalling inferiority. It may look like hate, but "It's more about demeaning other people," says Hare.
A second confirmation of the diagnosis was Harris' perpetual deceitfulness. "I lie a lot," Eric wrote to his journal. "Almost constantly, and to everybody, just to keep my own ass out of the water. Let's see, what are some of the big lies I told? Yeah I stopped smoking. For doing it, not for getting caught. No I haven't been making more bombs. No I wouldn't do that. And countless other ones."
Harris claimed to lie to protect himself, but that appears to be something of a lie as well. He lied for pleasure, Fuselier says. "Duping delight"?psychologist Paul Ekman's term?represents a key characteristic of the psychopathic profile.
Harris married his deceitfulness with a total lack of remorse or empathy?another distinctive quality of the psychopath[...]
Think about that in comparison to Ted Rall. Compare it to this satire by Jeff Goldstein. Finally, read Rall's defense of his column.
My first thoughts is that he can't possibly believe that shit. I mean f-ck all, "death cult," "suicide bombers!" As it was said on South Park, "What the hell is wrong with you!?!"
This entire paragraph is a lie:
Second, Mr. Tillman served an evil president and an evil cause. Anyone with an open mind after 9/11 could easily have learned the truth, that the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq occured instead of a war on terror, not as part of one. A person who planned to risk his life in combat should reasonably be expected to dig a little deeper rather than to fall for Bush's transparent lies. We all judge each other, and while Tillman's decision to sacrifice millions of dollars for his beliefs is admirable, his belief that killing the citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan had something to do with defending America was not. At best, Tillman was foolish and misguided.
So I think, if he doesn't believe it, he must be lying. (Duh!) So why the heck does he lie? Goldstein knows:
Notice me. That's it, not much to ask, a week of Rene what's his name, the little Puerto Rican fuck with the thick lips and that awful awful hair....notice me, notice me. Micah Wright? Christ a tenth of my talent he has, the Photoshop hack, yet all the delicious vitriol spilled on him, wasted on him, spent spent spent on him, but -- notice. Me. Notice me. I rail and I roil and I boil and assail...notice me. Notice me. Notice me. You want controversy? I'll give you controversy, not like some UMass microbe dicksucker low on the food chain -- no. I'll do it with pictures, my peculiar blend of humor, love it or hate it but never ignore it because it's fucking brilliant, I'm fucking brilliant, my art -- my art is fucking brilliant.
Yes, the egotism sounds like Harris. Of course, I doubt that Jeff realizes this, but the post is based on his interpretation of Rall's personality based on his works and statements.
So messianic-complex, check. Deceitfulness, check. Lack of remorse and empathy? He called Pat Tillman a sap, an idiot, and implied he is a racist. The man is dead! He died trying to protect Rall's undeserving ass from another terrorist attack in his hometown of New York City! Again, "What the hell is wrong with you!?!"
Then you look at his cartoons/libels of New York City firefighters, widows of September 11th, Daniel Pearl's widow, and using the death of a friend to write about his past promiscuity. The man has no shame, because he has no empathy or remorse. He doesn't give a shit about another person on this planet. The reason he has got as far as he has is that his psychopathy is sliming any one who has any misfortune, decency, or honor, because he doesn't get sympathy and he sure as heck doesn't get honor and decency, which is the least we can say from the Pat Tillman cartoon.
So, yeah, I think he doesn't have a single bit of empathy or remorse.
The reason he's been able to go along without anyone finding out he is a psychopath is that he's smart, and he knows how to control himself. Most of the time.
But along comes Rene Gonzalez soaking up all the scorn doing his shtick, followed by Micah Wright being revealed as a liar trying to figuratively bash people over the head with his fictional military service, and Rall can't take the chumps getting all the notoriety. People are supposed to hate him. So he draws a dishonest column that insults a brave and decent man's death. Because Ted Rall thinks people are "idiots" and "saps," or "evil," unless they like him, and everything to Rall is about Rall, Rall, Rall, Rall, Rall, Rall, Rall, Rall.
A festering sore on the face of mankind, indeed.
Trackback to OTB Traffic Jam.
A Festering Sore on the Face of Humanity
Micah Wright is a liar.
Ted Rall is a deluded, sick, hateful, talentless, amoral psychopath.
Why, oh why, does the left get all the f---ing assholes?
Micah Wright is a liar.
Ted Rall is a deluded, sick, hateful, talentless, amoral psychopath.
Why, oh why, does the left get all the f---ing assholes?
Monday, May 03, 2004
Everything you know about the Columbine shooting is wrong
From Slate:
In 1998, my dad attended two weeks of lectures about psychopathy by Dr. Hare. He says the man knows his stuff.
The thing that really bothers me about Harris is that he had no morality or compassion for others, wanted to glorify himself through murdering people, and no one saw through his deception. It makes me think about some people I knew in high school, and I wonder whether they might have been like Harris if they had more motivation and intelligence.
From Slate:
Harris and Klebold would have been dismayed that Columbine was dubbed the "worst school shooting in American history." They set their sights on eclipsing the world's greatest mass murderers, but the media never saw past the choice of venue. The school setting drove analysis in precisely the wrong direction.
Fuselier and Ochberg say that if you want to understand "the killers," quit asking what drove them. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were radically different individuals, with vastly different motives and opposite mental conditions. Klebold is easier to comprehend, a more familiar type. He was hotheaded, but depressive and suicidal. He blamed himself for his problems.
Harris is the challenge. He was sweet-faced and well-spoken. Adults, and even some other kids, described him as "nice." But Harris was cold, calculating, and homicidal. "Klebold was hurting inside while Harris wanted to hurt people," Fuselier says. Harris was not merely a troubled kid, the psychiatrists say, he was a psychopath.
In popular usage, almost any crazy killer is a "psychopath." But in psychiatry, it's a very specific mental condition that rarely involves killing, or even psychosis. "Psychopaths are not disoriented or out of touch with reality, nor do they experience the delusions, hallucinations, or intense subjective distress that characterize most other mental disorders," writes Dr. Robert Hare, in Without Conscience, the seminal book on the condition. (Hare is also one of the psychologists consulted by the FBI about Columbine and by Slate for this story.) "Unlike psychotic individuals, psychopaths are rational and aware of what they are doing and why. Their behavior is the result of choice, freely exercised." Diagnosing Harris as a psychopath represents neither a legal defense, nor a moral excuse. But it illuminates a great deal about the thought process that drove him to mass murder.
[...]
Harris' pattern of grandiosity, glibness, contempt, lack of empathy, and superiority read like the bullet points on Hare's Psychopathy Checklist and convinced Fuselier and the other leading psychiatrists close to the case that Harris was a psychopath.
It begins to explain Harris' unbelievably callous behavior: his ability to shoot his classmates, then stop to taunt them while they writhed in pain, then finish them off. Because psychopaths are guided by such a different thought process than non-psychopathic humans, we tend to find their behavior inexplicable. But they're actually much easier to predict than the rest of us once you understand them. Psychopaths follow much stricter behavior patterns than the rest of us because they are unfettered by conscience, living solely for their own aggrandizement. (The difference is so striking that Fuselier trains hostage negotiators to identify psychopaths during a standoff, and immediately reverse tactics if they think they're facing one. It's like flipping a switch between two alternate brain-mechanisms.)
None of his victims means anything to the psychopath. He recognizes other people only as means to obtain what he desires. Not only does he feel no guilt for destroying their lives, he doesn't grasp what they feel. The truly hard-core psychopath doesn't quite comprehend emotions like love or hate or fear, because he has never experienced them directly.
In 1998, my dad attended two weeks of lectures about psychopathy by Dr. Hare. He says the man knows his stuff.
The thing that really bothers me about Harris is that he had no morality or compassion for others, wanted to glorify himself through murdering people, and no one saw through his deception. It makes me think about some people I knew in high school, and I wonder whether they might have been like Harris if they had more motivation and intelligence.
Friday, April 30, 2004
If a tree falls in a forest and the press doesn't see it, did it actually fall?
An exercise by the New York Times in solipism and delusions of grandeur:
Forget bias, this arrogance and obliviousness is the real reason people don't like mainstream media.
Article first seen at Amish Tech Support.
An exercise by the New York Times in solipism and delusions of grandeur:
If an important meeting takes place in the Oval Office and there are no television cameras to record it, did the meeting matter? [This line makes me want to slap the "journalist."]
ABC, NBC and CBS all led their evening news programs with the Sept. 11 commission's meeting with President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney yesterday. Yet no television news program had images of the encounter. A paranoid conspiracy theorist could conclude that the much-anticipated White House interview never took place.
There were no pictures of Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney sitting side by side in front of the Oval Office fireplace. There was no tape of the president or Mr. Cheney greeting or talking to commission members at the White House entrance.
[...]
On a day when viewers could watch American marines battling rebels in Falluja and see Jayson Williams squirm in his courtroom seat while awaiting a verdict on manslaughter charges, the blackout at the White House was striking.
[...]
CNN and other cable networks had to resort to showing, over and over, an archival tape from a 2003 interview that Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney gave while seated in armchairs in front of the Oval Office fireplace. The closest most viewers got to the Oval Office yesterday was watching "The Wayne Brady Show," whose guest was Dule Hill, the actor who plays a White House aide on "The West Wing."
[...]
The White House's insistence on a private, no-tech meeting made political sense — the president's aides have no interest in allowing pictures that might make him look vulnerable under questioning or overly reliant on his older vice president. But the nonvisual event was so anathema to television that at one point, the CNN anchor Daryn Kagan said it seemed as if "the event took place in the 18th century."[All emphasis mine]
Forget bias, this arrogance and obliviousness is the real reason people don't like mainstream media.
Article first seen at Amish Tech Support.
Web games
Via Michele.
After a few sorry years, "New Math" (which was already over a hundred years old) was dropped from the syllabus.
The Millenium Problems, by Keith Devlin.
Also from Michele:
When I wake up early in the morning
lift my head, I'm still yawning.
When I'm in the middle of a dream
stay in bed, float upstream--
float upstream.
Please don't wake me
no don't shake me
leave me where I am.
I'm only sleeping.
This song is so funky.
Hint: The band that made this album only made five after it.
Yes, I'm evil.
Via Michele.
GRAB THAT BOOK
Via half the Internet, it’s the latest crazy random words game:
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 23.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.
After a few sorry years, "New Math" (which was already over a hundred years old) was dropped from the syllabus.
The Millenium Problems, by Keith Devlin.
Also from Michele:
1. Grab the nearest CD.
2. Put it in your CD-Player (or start your mp3-player, I-tunes, etc.).
3. Skip to Song 3 (or load the 3rd song in your 3rd playlist)
4. Post the first verse in your journal along with these instructions. Don’t name the band, nor the album-title.
When I wake up early in the morning
lift my head, I'm still yawning.
When I'm in the middle of a dream
stay in bed, float upstream--
float upstream.
Please don't wake me
no don't shake me
leave me where I am.
I'm only sleeping.
This song is so funky.
Hint: The band that made this album only made five after it.
Yes, I'm evil.
Monday, April 26, 2004
Yes, I've realized that I haven't posted in over a week
So, a roundup:
Rantisi has been executed (Warning: graphic images in link). I think the same sentiments that I had for the death of Yassin apply. He was on my ATS Dead Pool roster, so I move up to 6th place in the Dead Pool. You know what, I might actually win something in this.
"Officials Seize Giant Snails From Schools"
Need I say more? (Yes.) [Godammit!]
"Burning Down the House," by the Talking Heads is just plain awesome, for many reasons, mostly the friday before last. Good times...
No visible means of support
and you have not seen nothing yet.
Everything' stuck together.
I don't know what you expect,
from staring into the tv set.
Fighting fire with fire!
So, a roundup:
Rantisi has been executed (Warning: graphic images in link). I think the same sentiments that I had for the death of Yassin apply. He was on my ATS Dead Pool roster, so I move up to 6th place in the Dead Pool. You know what, I might actually win something in this.
"Officials Seize Giant Snails From Schools"
Need I say more? (Yes.) [Godammit!]
"Burning Down the House," by the Talking Heads is just plain awesome, for many reasons, mostly the friday before last. Good times...
No visible means of support
and you have not seen nothing yet.
Everything' stuck together.
I don't know what you expect,
from staring into the tv set.
Fighting fire with fire!
Thursday, April 15, 2004
Random weblog report
Laurence: "It's Thursday, so that means it's Queri Threatens To Quit Day..."
[Nahhh...he's too much of a stooge to quit. And if he does he won't be there to get taken out when the revolution comes. Come on, top five!]
This is just frightening. (It involves AllahPundit and Star Wars.)
Also, the prime suspect for the adware incident is Revenue.net. Owned by Oversee.net. Owned by the mysterious and shadowy "Henry Chan." Hmmm...
"Help us Obi Don Rumsfobi!"
Laurence: "It's Thursday, so that means it's Queri Threatens To Quit Day..."
[Nahhh...he's too much of a stooge to quit. And if he does he won't be there to get taken out when the revolution comes. Come on, top five!]
This is just frightening. (It involves AllahPundit and Star Wars.)
Also, the prime suspect for the adware incident is Revenue.net. Owned by Oversee.net. Owned by the mysterious and shadowy "Henry Chan." Hmmm...
"Help us Obi Don Rumsfobi!"
Sunday, April 11, 2004
Friday, April 09, 2004
Laurence Simon Opens His Heart to The Readers of ATS
For those curious, the reason for the lack of a follow-up to the mosque bombing is either a) the media is hoping that this isn't exposed as a lie that got halfway around the world before the truth got its boots on, b) no one has written an original story about it yet, c) My computer aquired a nasty adware virus that installed several dozen adware programs on it and hijacked my browser (damn you ActiveX!), or d) b and c.
Also, here are two hatchet-jobs/articles from Slate on the Condi Rice testimony, and I think that these engage in so much tunnel vision, snarkiness, and prejudgment that it would be a waste of my time to do anything but say that Fred Kaplan has sunk extremely low for someone who had been a cogent and informative columnist. I saw the major pieces of the Condi testimony excluding the Kerrey part and the very opening, and from these writings it seems like they saw a completely different hearing.
Continuing about the adware, I also got this, and the MSView version of this. And even this, which was practically created yesterday. A few germs. (Actually that first one is pretty blatant spyware, being absolutely useless to the user if they don't subscribe.) The random "respectable" web utilitities. This, and yet another actual internet company producing spyware/adware. And last but not least, a whole lot more crapola from a company that calls itself "aBetterInternet." (Actually its just a front for this, or this if you don't get that.) The usual name for this adware/spyware is Transponder.
Ashcroft, forget about pr0n. Go after these ass----s.
(Goodnight.)
For those curious, the reason for the lack of a follow-up to the mosque bombing is either a) the media is hoping that this isn't exposed as a lie that got halfway around the world before the truth got its boots on, b) no one has written an original story about it yet, c) My computer aquired a nasty adware virus that installed several dozen adware programs on it and hijacked my browser (damn you ActiveX!), or d) b and c.
Also, here are two hatchet-jobs/articles from Slate on the Condi Rice testimony, and I think that these engage in so much tunnel vision, snarkiness, and prejudgment that it would be a waste of my time to do anything but say that Fred Kaplan has sunk extremely low for someone who had been a cogent and informative columnist. I saw the major pieces of the Condi testimony excluding the Kerrey part and the very opening, and from these writings it seems like they saw a completely different hearing.
Continuing about the adware, I also got this, and the MSView version of this. And even this, which was practically created yesterday. A few germs. (Actually that first one is pretty blatant spyware, being absolutely useless to the user if they don't subscribe.) The random "respectable" web utilitities. This, and yet another actual internet company producing spyware/adware. And last but not least, a whole lot more crapola from a company that calls itself "aBetterInternet." (Actually its just a front for this, or this if you don't get that.) The usual name for this adware/spyware is Transponder.
Ashcroft, forget about pr0n. Go after these ass----s.
(Goodnight.)
Wednesday, April 07, 2004
West Bank Press Syndrome
One of the biggest problems with international reporting in third-world countries, especially in areas of combat, is that very often the reporters are nowhere near the event that has happened and say whatever they hear from others with no assesment of the credibility of the source, or simply report events without telling how they found out about it. Sometimes they even pull out their reporters and make no mention that all their info is secondhand from government or organzational sources. The results, respectively, are repeating official propaganda and disinformation from "witnesses" as happens every day in the West Bank and Gaza, or Rwanda, where the international media left during a lull in the fighting and the world never heard local media reports that mass killings were occuring because the international press wasn't even reporting the official line because the government leaders were dead.
What's happening in Iraq is West Bank Press Syndrome, not Rwanda Press Syndrome. (Iran at its "elections" and possibly Syria a few weeks ago was Rwanda Press Syndrome. Or pro-dictatorship bias. I'm inclined to believe in ineptitude over evil.)
Take for instance these four reports. Take a look at them now, because I'll compare them to each other and to a later report tomorrow. All I'll say now is that half the world has headlines saying that the US killed 40 people in amosque based on just some "witnesses." (And an AP reporter, Abdul-Qader Saadi, (who goes anonymous in far too many stories, when the objectivity and reputation of the reporter is the only basis for the credibility of these media reports) who claims to have seen "at least three cars leaving, each with a number of dead and wounded" or "cars ferrying the bodies[,]" and said "the minaret was standing, but damaged" or "the mosque building itself was not damaged.")
"'40 dead' as US rockets hit Fallujah mosque" (Independent, UK)
"Iraq rocked by fiercest fighting since war?s end" (MSNBC.com)
"U.S. Hits Mosque Compound; 40 Said Killed" (Fredericksburg.com, AP wire report co-written by Abdul-Qader Saadi)
"U.S. forces carry out raids in Fallujah, hit mosque compound" (Boston.com, Boston, AP wire report)
One of the biggest problems with international reporting in third-world countries, especially in areas of combat, is that very often the reporters are nowhere near the event that has happened and say whatever they hear from others with no assesment of the credibility of the source, or simply report events without telling how they found out about it. Sometimes they even pull out their reporters and make no mention that all their info is secondhand from government or organzational sources. The results, respectively, are repeating official propaganda and disinformation from "witnesses" as happens every day in the West Bank and Gaza, or Rwanda, where the international media left during a lull in the fighting and the world never heard local media reports that mass killings were occuring because the international press wasn't even reporting the official line because the government leaders were dead.
What's happening in Iraq is West Bank Press Syndrome, not Rwanda Press Syndrome. (Iran at its "elections" and possibly Syria a few weeks ago was Rwanda Press Syndrome. Or pro-dictatorship bias. I'm inclined to believe in ineptitude over evil.)
Take for instance these four reports. Take a look at them now, because I'll compare them to each other and to a later report tomorrow. All I'll say now is that half the world has headlines saying that the US killed 40 people in amosque based on just some "witnesses." (And an AP reporter, Abdul-Qader Saadi, (who goes anonymous in far too many stories, when the objectivity and reputation of the reporter is the only basis for the credibility of these media reports) who claims to have seen "at least three cars leaving, each with a number of dead and wounded" or "cars ferrying the bodies[,]" and said "the minaret was standing, but damaged" or "the mosque building itself was not damaged.")
"'40 dead' as US rockets hit Fallujah mosque" (Independent, UK)
"Iraq rocked by fiercest fighting since war?s end" (MSNBC.com)
"U.S. Hits Mosque Compound; 40 Said Killed" (Fredericksburg.com, AP wire report co-written by Abdul-Qader Saadi)
"U.S. forces carry out raids in Fallujah, hit mosque compound" (Boston.com, Boston, AP wire report)
Monday, April 05, 2004
Hard to Believe I Missed This
I picked "Abu Ala" because he appears to me to be a clueless stooge who will be the first to be taken out by some one climbing the ropes to Palestinian political authority when Arafat dies. Looks like he's more likely to be taken out by poor health first.
I picked "Abu Ala" because he appears to me to be a clueless stooge who will be the first to be taken out by some one climbing the ropes to Palestinian political authority when Arafat dies. Looks like he's more likely to be taken out by poor health first.