STOP
TERROR
STOP
TORTURE
OUT
OF IRAQ
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Good God, What In Hell Are You Waiting For?
231 years ago today, a bunch of people who really had not wanted to do so found that the only way they had to get the lives they wanted was to declare themselves independent from their mother country.
They wanted to live in freedom.
There are many debates as to whether or not the United States of America is the "best" country in the history of our civilization. Often overlooked is the reason the matter is debated at all, the reason many people believe that in the first place: The notion that the people can rule themselves. No kings, princes, strongmen, warlords... no hereditary ruling class.
We The People.
Unfortunately, several years ago this entire notion was thrown into chaos by a group which believed rather differently. And they have screwed up our nation almost incalculably in six short years.
Day before yesterday was, perhaps, I can hope, the last straw.
And, last night, Keith Olbermann let them have it.
Our country is not the best because of some mythical entitlement.
Our country is the best when we remember that we are all in this together.
Happy Independence Day, America. It's time to be free once more.
They wanted to live in freedom.
There are many debates as to whether or not the United States of America is the "best" country in the history of our civilization. Often overlooked is the reason the matter is debated at all, the reason many people believe that in the first place: The notion that the people can rule themselves. No kings, princes, strongmen, warlords... no hereditary ruling class.
We The People.
Unfortunately, several years ago this entire notion was thrown into chaos by a group which believed rather differently. And they have screwed up our nation almost incalculably in six short years.
Day before yesterday was, perhaps, I can hope, the last straw.
And, last night, Keith Olbermann let them have it.
Our country is not the best because of some mythical entitlement.
Our country is the best when we remember that we are all in this together.
Happy Independence Day, America. It's time to be free once more.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Farewell, Steve Gilliard
Damn it.
No clever whatevers today.
Steve Gilliard, one of the finest and angriest and most passionate voices in Left Blogostan, has passed away at the age of 41. He'd been sick for several months, and took a bad turn some weeks ago, and never got better.
Condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues. He was a hell of a voice, and we'll miss him.
Damn it.
No clever whatevers today.
Steve Gilliard, one of the finest and angriest and most passionate voices in Left Blogostan, has passed away at the age of 41. He'd been sick for several months, and took a bad turn some weeks ago, and never got better.
Condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues. He was a hell of a voice, and we'll miss him.
Damn it.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
"You're Going To Shoot Me?" "Yep, 'Fraid So, Ol' Chap! Sorry!"
Wonkette, writing for the Time Magazine blog, picks up on John Derbyshire, over at The Corner at National Review Online:
If handguns aren't very accurate at close range, and you can't hit squat and you doubt this guy was any better than you, why isn't the body count goddamn zero?
Why didn't anyone rush the guy? Have you actually been in a classroom? They aren't exactly designed for Hong Kong combat moves.
"... [T]wo handguns for goodness' sake—one of them reportedly a .22. At the very least, count the shots...." COUNT THE SHOTS?!? Someone comes bursting into a room firing guns, and you expect people to know what weapon is being fired at them, with what modifications, and keep track of the ammo? This isn't fuckin' Gunsmoke, you cretin.
I'm not precisely sure what's on Derbyshire's alleged mind, or what idea he hopes to advance by this -- that he himself is a Manly Man? that handguns really aren't that dangerous unless the victim is a coward? that gun control laws are pointless and we should all just be vigilant, or vigilantes? that doing badly at a firing range makes you an expert on self-defense against gunmen? that A = Blue, or kumquats divided by chef's knives = dessert?
I am quite sure of one thing, though.
John Derbyshire is a pompous, preening bag of shit.
Okay, Fucknutz. Never mind how bloody-ass macho you need to make yourself out to be, at the expense of thirty-two dead kids. Never mind calling a ban on concealed weapons on a fuckin' college campus "ludicrous".Spirit of Self-Defense [John Derbyshire]
As NRO's designated chickenhawk, let me be the one to ask: Where was the spirit of self-defense here? Setting aside the ludicrous campus ban on licensed conceals, why didn't anyone rush the guy? It's not like this was Rambo, hosing the place down with automatic weapons. He had two handguns for goodness' sake—one of them reportedly a .22.
At the very least, count the shots and jump him reloading or changing hands. Better yet, just jump him. Handguns aren't very accurate, even at close range. I shoot mine all the time at the range, and I still can't hit squat. I doubt this guy was any better than I am. And even if hit, a .22 needs to find something important to do real damage—your chances aren't bad.
Yes, yes, I know it's easy to say these things: but didn't the heroes of Flight 93 teach us anything? As the cliche goes—and like most cliches. It's true—none of us knows what he'd do in a dire situation like that. I hope, however, that if I thought I was going to die anyway, I'd at least take a run at the guy.
If handguns aren't very accurate at close range, and you can't hit squat and you doubt this guy was any better than you, why isn't the body count goddamn zero?
Why didn't anyone rush the guy? Have you actually been in a classroom? They aren't exactly designed for Hong Kong combat moves.
"... [T]wo handguns for goodness' sake—one of them reportedly a .22. At the very least, count the shots...." COUNT THE SHOTS?!? Someone comes bursting into a room firing guns, and you expect people to know what weapon is being fired at them, with what modifications, and keep track of the ammo? This isn't fuckin' Gunsmoke, you cretin.
I'm not precisely sure what's on Derbyshire's alleged mind, or what idea he hopes to advance by this -- that he himself is a Manly Man? that handguns really aren't that dangerous unless the victim is a coward? that gun control laws are pointless and we should all just be vigilant, or vigilantes? that doing badly at a firing range makes you an expert on self-defense against gunmen? that A = Blue, or kumquats divided by chef's knives = dessert?
I am quite sure of one thing, though.
John Derbyshire is a pompous, preening bag of shit.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
I'd Rather Die Today And Go To Heaven Than Live To Be A Hundred And Go To Hell
It is a coincidence that a friend reminded me of this video not a half hour ago.
Fred fucking useless waste of biomass Phelps is planning to have one of his little anti-gay protests at the funerals of the victims at the Virginia Tech shootings.
I know, I know. Why give him attention? He's head of a church consisting basically of himself and his extended family. He's a nasty, profoundly stupid bigot. Why pay attention?
Because he gets media attention.
Because he gets media credibility.
Because he protests funerals.
He can't let people grieve because of his own hate. Of stuff that has nothing whatsoever to do with him. For the most asinine reasons. And his weak and pathetic god needs his help to... what, exactly? Make people miserable? Make them fear Him? By sending an old man to berate them and interrupt their grief with non sequiturs based on his own prejudice?
I don't wish violence on people. I really don't. I mean, I don't wish violence on Bush and Cheney and Rumsfeld and the rest of BushCo.
Fred Phelps gets me real goddamn close.
Fred fucking useless waste of biomass Phelps is planning to have one of his little anti-gay protests at the funerals of the victims at the Virginia Tech shootings.
I know, I know. Why give him attention? He's head of a church consisting basically of himself and his extended family. He's a nasty, profoundly stupid bigot. Why pay attention?
Because he gets media attention.
Because he gets media credibility.
Because he protests funerals.
He can't let people grieve because of his own hate. Of stuff that has nothing whatsoever to do with him. For the most asinine reasons. And his weak and pathetic god needs his help to... what, exactly? Make people miserable? Make them fear Him? By sending an old man to berate them and interrupt their grief with non sequiturs based on his own prejudice?
I don't wish violence on people. I really don't. I mean, I don't wish violence on Bush and Cheney and Rumsfeld and the rest of BushCo.
Fred Phelps gets me real goddamn close.
Friday, April 13, 2007
I Can Tell You One Thing: If We Were At War, I'd Want Him On My Side
By way of John Kovalic, Game = Life, and GameGrene we learn about Ziggurat Con, a one-day gaming convention to be held June 9... at Camp Adder/Tallil Airbase in Iraq.
This is a tremendously cool thing, and I've contacted them about sending over some CDs. Anybody else want to kick in stuff? Contact david.amberson (at) iraq.centcom.mil
Donations can also be sent to SPC Amberson directly at the following address:
SPC David Amberson
A Co 86th Sig Bn
APO, AE 09331
(Crossposted from the Digital Acoustic LJ.)
This is a tremendously cool thing, and I've contacted them about sending over some CDs. Anybody else want to kick in stuff? Contact david.amberson (at) iraq.centcom.mil
Donations can also be sent to SPC Amberson directly at the following address:
SPC David Amberson
A Co 86th Sig Bn
APO, AE 09331
(Crossposted from the Digital Acoustic LJ.)
