Friday, June 29, 2007
How Memes Are Created
Covering the UK car bomb story this morning, CNN seems to keep trying tie this act with the Iraq war, some of it merely on the fact that it reportedly was similiar to an IED. How they are so sure of that, I don't know.
Christiane Amanpour in particular was claiming that the Iraq war was radicalizing people in Britain, although she did admit they were already radicalized. One reason was their anger at the people who were "killing our Muslim brothers".
The name of the blog is "Lattices of Bogosity", and this is the kind of stuff that I am talking about. Not only is this absurd, but is so blatantly absurd, people like Amanpour should be pointing it out:
Al Queda and other radical Islamist groups, and Muslim tyrants have killed their "Muslim brothers" in the millions over the centuries. Hell, its probably in the millions just in the past century.
*Now there is another talking head spouting this illogic.*
Get it through your head; This rhetoric is a pretext. It is right in front of your face if you take 2 seconds to think about. It is meant to justify the unjustifiable and to hide the real agenda, cloaking it in the lofty concept of "resistence."
Radicals have been living and organizing in Britain as parasites for over a decade at least. Before they kept their attacks outside of the country, but they resent the push-back post 9/11 and are now turning against the host body.
Christiane Amanpour in particular was claiming that the Iraq war was radicalizing people in Britain, although she did admit they were already radicalized. One reason was their anger at the people who were "killing our Muslim brothers".
The name of the blog is "Lattices of Bogosity", and this is the kind of stuff that I am talking about. Not only is this absurd, but is so blatantly absurd, people like Amanpour should be pointing it out:
Al Queda and other radical Islamist groups, and Muslim tyrants have killed their "Muslim brothers" in the millions over the centuries. Hell, its probably in the millions just in the past century.
*Now there is another talking head spouting this illogic.*
Get it through your head; This rhetoric is a pretext. It is right in front of your face if you take 2 seconds to think about. It is meant to justify the unjustifiable and to hide the real agenda, cloaking it in the lofty concept of "resistence."
Radicals have been living and organizing in Britain as parasites for over a decade at least. Before they kept their attacks outside of the country, but they resent the push-back post 9/11 and are now turning against the host body.
War on Terror is a Bumper Sticker...
Attached to really big car BOMB.
Next time, Scotland Yard should call John Edwards and ask him to defuse it.
Next time, Scotland Yard should call John Edwards and ask him to defuse it.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Freedom of Speech is Inconvenient
Rich Lowry on the Fairness Doctrine:
"The report of the Center for American Progress on “The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio” marks the latest phase in liberaldom’s grappling with conservative talk radio. First came the attempts to create a liberal Limbaugh — Mario Cuomo, Jim Hightower, et al. — that fell flat. Then an entire left-wing network, Air America, was founded, and foundered. So there’s only one option left — if you can’t beat them, and you won’t join them, you can agitate for government to regulate them."
When you couple the intent of both Dems and Repubs to completely ignore the strong opposition to the Immigration bill under review, with THIS little ramp up to outright censorship, EVERYONE should be worried.
Of course, Libs who are willing to decry everything else as a trampling of their free speech rights will agree its a "important corrective". Certain Republicans are on board as well, because they are tired of hearing from the peons on the issues. But no matter, this is an attempt to hand control of free speech over to the government. Advocates will bend logic into pretzels in order to convince us otherwise, but that what it is. If the government gets to say how much of what someone gets to say, and when they say it, its censorship.
I cannot believe this is a serious discussion in the United States of America.
"The report of the Center for American Progress on “The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio” marks the latest phase in liberaldom’s grappling with conservative talk radio. First came the attempts to create a liberal Limbaugh — Mario Cuomo, Jim Hightower, et al. — that fell flat. Then an entire left-wing network, Air America, was founded, and foundered. So there’s only one option left — if you can’t beat them, and you won’t join them, you can agitate for government to regulate them."
When you couple the intent of both Dems and Repubs to completely ignore the strong opposition to the Immigration bill under review, with THIS little ramp up to outright censorship, EVERYONE should be worried.
Of course, Libs who are willing to decry everything else as a trampling of their free speech rights will agree its a "important corrective". Certain Republicans are on board as well, because they are tired of hearing from the peons on the issues. But no matter, this is an attempt to hand control of free speech over to the government. Advocates will bend logic into pretzels in order to convince us otherwise, but that what it is. If the government gets to say how much of what someone gets to say, and when they say it, its censorship.
I cannot believe this is a serious discussion in the United States of America.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
"FAUX NEWS" and FAUX OBJECTIVITY
"The scorecard -- 125 of 144 donations to Democrats -- provides fresh ammunition to those who say the press has a liberal tilt. It's hard to argue you don't favor one party when you've just coughed up cash for that party." - Howard Kurtz
Another factoid which will bounce off the leftist bubble, who take it as an article of faith that Fox News is some sort of Rovian propaganda machine, but scoff at the suggestion that the MSM has objectivity issues. Turns out a Brit Hume (that's Fox's Brit Hume) researcher gave $2,600 to Democrat Harold Ford, according to Kurtz. Hey, Rove! How'd that guy make it past the screening process!?
Another factoid which will bounce off the leftist bubble, who take it as an article of faith that Fox News is some sort of Rovian propaganda machine, but scoff at the suggestion that the MSM has objectivity issues. Turns out a Brit Hume (that's Fox's Brit Hume) researcher gave $2,600 to Democrat Harold Ford, according to Kurtz. Hey, Rove! How'd that guy make it past the screening process!?
Monday, June 25, 2007
A Lacking Brain
Roger Ebert, in a review of A Mighty Heart:
"The Americans who complain about "negative" news are the ideological cousins of those who shoot at CNN crews. The news is the news, good or bad, and those who resent being informed of it are pitiful."
I am not even going to disect the idiocy in this; it speaks for itself. You either get it or you don't.
Thus my pseudonym.
I get physically tired and a mild headache trying to fathom the thought process that not only thinks this in the first place, but then types it out, rereads it, thinks it worthy to keep, then publishes it for a worldwide audience. It almost like trying to visualize 4th dimensional geometry, which is hard enough, but when one thinks of the ramifications of HOW MANY people operate under similar twisted thinking, its worrisome to say the least. Trying to imagine a mind which would draw such a parallel, and find it valid, is stupifying.
So, I guess people on the left (and right) who complain about Americans exercising free speech to criticize them (and being so popular with the public for doing so) are the ideological cousins of those who shoot at CNN crews. Reality is reality, truth is the truth, ratings are ratings and those who resent being informed of it are pitiful, no?
Idiot.
(Hat tip, New Editor)
*revised*
"The Americans who complain about "negative" news are the ideological cousins of those who shoot at CNN crews. The news is the news, good or bad, and those who resent being informed of it are pitiful."
I am not even going to disect the idiocy in this; it speaks for itself. You either get it or you don't.
Thus my pseudonym.
I get physically tired and a mild headache trying to fathom the thought process that not only thinks this in the first place, but then types it out, rereads it, thinks it worthy to keep, then publishes it for a worldwide audience. It almost like trying to visualize 4th dimensional geometry, which is hard enough, but when one thinks of the ramifications of HOW MANY people operate under similar twisted thinking, its worrisome to say the least. Trying to imagine a mind which would draw such a parallel, and find it valid, is stupifying.
So, I guess people on the left (and right) who complain about Americans exercising free speech to criticize them (and being so popular with the public for doing so) are the ideological cousins of those who shoot at CNN crews. Reality is reality, truth is the truth, ratings are ratings and those who resent being informed of it are pitiful, no?
Idiot.
(Hat tip, New Editor)
*revised*
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Great, Now Get Off OUR Ass!
Apparently, China has surpassed us in CO2 emissions. Wait, how is that possible? Don't they have better auto emission standards than we do? Oh, wait, they don't.
Anyway, so, from now on, eco-fanatics and Global Warming Warriors, can you please now direct all pompous ire toward the real destroyer of the planet from now on? China. C-H-I-N-A. Not U-S-A.
Anyway, so, from now on, eco-fanatics and Global Warming Warriors, can you please now direct all pompous ire toward the real destroyer of the planet from now on? China. C-H-I-N-A. Not U-S-A.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Bloomberg For Prez?
Michael,
Idea for a truly independent, third party candidate? Great!
You as that third-party candidate? Not so much...
Many kudos for Bloomie for keeping the city from sliding back into the sewer when Rudy left, but the nanny-state intrusions grind on me. Grind, Mike.
Not a smoker (Okay, occasional cigar), but this anti-smoking thing STILL annoys me. Don't like smoke? If it's a private establishment; don't go there!
Think you or your kids are too fat or have too much cholesteral? PUT THE DONUTS AND BURGERS DOWN!
Bloomberg has it right on some issues, but the ever growing libertarian side of me is repelled by the thought of him with national executive power.
Next!
Idea for a truly independent, third party candidate? Great!
You as that third-party candidate? Not so much...
Many kudos for Bloomie for keeping the city from sliding back into the sewer when Rudy left, but the nanny-state intrusions grind on me. Grind, Mike.
Not a smoker (Okay, occasional cigar), but this anti-smoking thing STILL annoys me. Don't like smoke? If it's a private establishment; don't go there!
Think you or your kids are too fat or have too much cholesteral? PUT THE DONUTS AND BURGERS DOWN!
Bloomberg has it right on some issues, but the ever growing libertarian side of me is repelled by the thought of him with national executive power.
Next!
Sorry, No Bogeymen Today
As I am sure thousands, maybe millions at this point, of people have experienced by now, I received a call from the Republican National Committee, asking for donations. A young woman, sounding very much of college age, told me she was calling on behalf on the RNC for a donation.
Wow, I thought. Here's the opportunity that I have only read about here-to-for.
"Yes," I said, "What's up?"
I let her do her pitch, asking for cash ($50) politely, and then told her:
"Listen, I am sure you have heard this a lot by now, but I am waiting to see what does or does not happen with this current immigration bill. I am not happy with the current stance many Republicans are taking on it, and I won't be giving any cash for now."
She was very conciliatory, saying she understood that a lot of people are upset right now, but they are trying to get ready for this next election so they can prevent Hillary or Obama from becoming president. How about $35?
Mentally rolling my eyes (I mean, she could not SEE me do it, you know?), I replied:
"Look, a Hillary or Obama for president is not what is of concern to me. I am concerned that Republicans are not listening to their constituents on this immigration issue. I am not feeling represented, and although I have given money in the past, I have no intention of giving any money right now."
She continued on, again very polite and understanding, but I felt that I had been polite as well, and my standard rule is if you don't take my wave off at the second try, niceties are over. So I hung up the phone as she blabbed.
I did not tear her a new one because she's just some kid hired to do a job which is to collect money for an organization I had previously supported. Like most telemarketers, you could tell she was working of a script.
Regarding that script, RNC; the Obama or Hillary bogeyman is not going to work. You tried that before in previous elections, telling us how bad things were going to be under Democrats. It worked for a couple of whirls, but as you MIGHT recall, it fell flat on its face in this last election because you lot were acting not much different than them. We decided the difference was no difference, and we were fed up. Now? We're pissed. Get the hint.
Do I want to see a Hillary or Obama presidency? HELL NO! on the first, and Not Really on the second, but what does it matter if you are going to sell us down the river anyway? It appears that whether Republican or Democratic, we can expect arrogance, runaway spending and unsecured borders from our leaders. So, WHY am I going to fork over $50 to you guys again? Why not keep the money for a rainy day, or for when the world finally does go completely to hell? I might need it.
You can't dress up in a cape and plastic fangs and jump out yelling, "Blah! OBAMA! Blah-Blah! Hillary!" and expect us to scramble for the Republican ticket, guys. If we are going to get indifference and corruption either way, why spend anything extra to get it?
Bottom line?
Clean. Up. Your. Act.
Wow, I thought. Here's the opportunity that I have only read about here-to-for.
"Yes," I said, "What's up?"
I let her do her pitch, asking for cash ($50) politely, and then told her:
"Listen, I am sure you have heard this a lot by now, but I am waiting to see what does or does not happen with this current immigration bill. I am not happy with the current stance many Republicans are taking on it, and I won't be giving any cash for now."
She was very conciliatory, saying she understood that a lot of people are upset right now, but they are trying to get ready for this next election so they can prevent Hillary or Obama from becoming president. How about $35?
Mentally rolling my eyes (I mean, she could not SEE me do it, you know?), I replied:
"Look, a Hillary or Obama for president is not what is of concern to me. I am concerned that Republicans are not listening to their constituents on this immigration issue. I am not feeling represented, and although I have given money in the past, I have no intention of giving any money right now."
She continued on, again very polite and understanding, but I felt that I had been polite as well, and my standard rule is if you don't take my wave off at the second try, niceties are over. So I hung up the phone as she blabbed.
I did not tear her a new one because she's just some kid hired to do a job which is to collect money for an organization I had previously supported. Like most telemarketers, you could tell she was working of a script.
Regarding that script, RNC; the Obama or Hillary bogeyman is not going to work. You tried that before in previous elections, telling us how bad things were going to be under Democrats. It worked for a couple of whirls, but as you MIGHT recall, it fell flat on its face in this last election because you lot were acting not much different than them. We decided the difference was no difference, and we were fed up. Now? We're pissed. Get the hint.
Do I want to see a Hillary or Obama presidency? HELL NO! on the first, and Not Really on the second, but what does it matter if you are going to sell us down the river anyway? It appears that whether Republican or Democratic, we can expect arrogance, runaway spending and unsecured borders from our leaders. So, WHY am I going to fork over $50 to you guys again? Why not keep the money for a rainy day, or for when the world finally does go completely to hell? I might need it.
You can't dress up in a cape and plastic fangs and jump out yelling, "Blah! OBAMA! Blah-Blah! Hillary!" and expect us to scramble for the Republican ticket, guys. If we are going to get indifference and corruption either way, why spend anything extra to get it?
Bottom line?
Clean. Up. Your. Act.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
True to Form
This guy is a clown.
Look, everyone says something stupid in their life, more than once obviously, but what makes Biden such a joke is his timing. He announces his presidential run and the day after makes a comment like this, which IS RECORDED.
The fact that Dems and liberals in general are so self-righteous with their supposed sensitivity for minorities and are so quick to label Republicans and conservatives racist makes it all the more laughable, bitter though that laughter may be.
But, heh, its okay. Biden will survive to run for President and lose, most likely in the primaries. He IS a Dem and liberal, so racist comments from him don't really count, and after all, he went on the Daily Show and received his comedic absolution from Paster Jon.
THHHHBBBBBFFFFFTTTTT!
Look, everyone says something stupid in their life, more than once obviously, but what makes Biden such a joke is his timing. He announces his presidential run and the day after makes a comment like this, which IS RECORDED.
The fact that Dems and liberals in general are so self-righteous with their supposed sensitivity for minorities and are so quick to label Republicans and conservatives racist makes it all the more laughable, bitter though that laughter may be.
But, heh, its okay. Biden will survive to run for President and lose, most likely in the primaries. He IS a Dem and liberal, so racist comments from him don't really count, and after all, he went on the Daily Show and received his comedic absolution from Paster Jon.
THHHHBBBBBFFFFFTTTTT!
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Back
So, I'm back.
Kept away because with my last posting, I got that familiar feeling of pointlessness about the whole thing. Trying to sort through all the horseshit that is fed to us on a daily basis makes what Hercules had to do with the stables seem like a cakewalk.
I'm not perfect, and I don't think I am the most brilliant person on the planet, but I don't take stupidity well. Whether it's genuine ignorance, or ideological fanaticism or faked for other purposes (agenda, money, notoriety, just to be a $&%^!@ pain in the ass), I find it oh so weary.
Yeah, I know, stop whining. Screw you. My blog.
This past September 11th, and for a few days after I went through all these photos and memorial sites from then, and now, and I was...what? Disheartened? Disgusted? It struck me that its been FIVE fucking years since it happened, and you wonder where the time went. Then you realize it must have gone straight up the asses of so many people who have also put their heads up there, looking at all the ridiculous rantings and conspiracy theories and mainstream bullshit out there.
News organizations that are so supposedly worried that they will traumatize families by showing too much of the planes hitting and towers falling and people leaping, think nothing of airing videos of US troops being shot and kiled by terrorists thugs. Videos supplied by the fucking terrorists!
What's more glaring and infuriating? The hypocrisy of showing one without the other, or the complicity in airing enemy propaganda?? Or is it that you even need to point out either one as being heinous and vile? That you get blank stares or dismissive denials?
I've stayed away because I've got other things going on, and I do not have the most focused mind (except for following the news, which just irritates me), but mostly I've stayed away because I imagined making a difference, of somehow helping tilting the balance away from catastophe.
I don't believe that's possible anymore. I think the rot has settled too deep in for it not to give way in a disasterous way. So much of western thinking has become decadent and twisted, devouring itself, that it will take blood for things to change. People don't value their freedom, they don't value their culture and they don't value their own history. We've allowed pride in our way of life to be debased and common sense to be ridiculed.
I'm part of it. Not nearly as good a student as I could be, and with schools that expected less of us than they did our parents, I am continually amazed at how little I know, even as I learn more. If I ever won the lottery, you know what I would do? I would go to California and take classes with this man until my brain bled. Instead of sailing around the world watching it burn while drinking Pina Coladas, I would try to learn how much I did not know.
I re-read this post at the Belmont Club recently, and it still goes straight to the heart of why we are in such deep shit. We lack the will to even believe and value ourselves, let alone fight for it. Fanatic and crazy as the Islamofascists seem, and as self-absorbed and self-destructive as totalitarian regimes from Russia and China are, they are not full of a whole-lot of self-doubt as to their goals and intentions. They may have realisitic comprehension of their limitations and weaknesses, but they do not plagues themselves with thoughts of "are we worth it?" or "will we be liked by everyone if we do X?".
We are decadent. We don't get it. We don't know what its like to really frightened and we don't know what its liked to be oppressed and we don't know of genocide.
We're in for a rude freakin' awakening, and the sheer tragedy of it makes me ill and despondent.
So, no, I have not felt like writing about it much, about recording the folly as it occurs, giving the play-by-play of the downward spiral. Forgive me.
Kept away because with my last posting, I got that familiar feeling of pointlessness about the whole thing. Trying to sort through all the horseshit that is fed to us on a daily basis makes what Hercules had to do with the stables seem like a cakewalk.
I'm not perfect, and I don't think I am the most brilliant person on the planet, but I don't take stupidity well. Whether it's genuine ignorance, or ideological fanaticism or faked for other purposes (agenda, money, notoriety, just to be a $&%^!@ pain in the ass), I find it oh so weary.
Yeah, I know, stop whining. Screw you. My blog.
This past September 11th, and for a few days after I went through all these photos and memorial sites from then, and now, and I was...what? Disheartened? Disgusted? It struck me that its been FIVE fucking years since it happened, and you wonder where the time went. Then you realize it must have gone straight up the asses of so many people who have also put their heads up there, looking at all the ridiculous rantings and conspiracy theories and mainstream bullshit out there.
News organizations that are so supposedly worried that they will traumatize families by showing too much of the planes hitting and towers falling and people leaping, think nothing of airing videos of US troops being shot and kiled by terrorists thugs. Videos supplied by the fucking terrorists!
What's more glaring and infuriating? The hypocrisy of showing one without the other, or the complicity in airing enemy propaganda?? Or is it that you even need to point out either one as being heinous and vile? That you get blank stares or dismissive denials?
I've stayed away because I've got other things going on, and I do not have the most focused mind (except for following the news, which just irritates me), but mostly I've stayed away because I imagined making a difference, of somehow helping tilting the balance away from catastophe.
I don't believe that's possible anymore. I think the rot has settled too deep in for it not to give way in a disasterous way. So much of western thinking has become decadent and twisted, devouring itself, that it will take blood for things to change. People don't value their freedom, they don't value their culture and they don't value their own history. We've allowed pride in our way of life to be debased and common sense to be ridiculed.
I'm part of it. Not nearly as good a student as I could be, and with schools that expected less of us than they did our parents, I am continually amazed at how little I know, even as I learn more. If I ever won the lottery, you know what I would do? I would go to California and take classes with this man until my brain bled. Instead of sailing around the world watching it burn while drinking Pina Coladas, I would try to learn how much I did not know.
I re-read this post at the Belmont Club recently, and it still goes straight to the heart of why we are in such deep shit. We lack the will to even believe and value ourselves, let alone fight for it. Fanatic and crazy as the Islamofascists seem, and as self-absorbed and self-destructive as totalitarian regimes from Russia and China are, they are not full of a whole-lot of self-doubt as to their goals and intentions. They may have realisitic comprehension of their limitations and weaknesses, but they do not plagues themselves with thoughts of "are we worth it?" or "will we be liked by everyone if we do X?".
We are decadent. We don't get it. We don't know what its like to really frightened and we don't know what its liked to be oppressed and we don't know of genocide.
We're in for a rude freakin' awakening, and the sheer tragedy of it makes me ill and despondent.
So, no, I have not felt like writing about it much, about recording the folly as it occurs, giving the play-by-play of the downward spiral. Forgive me.
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