Feb 24, 2006

The United Arab Emirates

most notably, Dubai.

I know almost nothing about Dubai, except that the citizens are very wealthy, and they have a lot of guest workers, who are not generally very wealthy. Peaceful, good neighbor, all around OK country, i suppose. If I were to vacation in greater arabia right now, I think Dubai is the only place I'd really feel safe. No flies on Dubai.

Now. I know about as much about Israel, there are kibbutz there, there is desert there, and stuff blows up. I think they try to be a good neighbor, but sometimes the best neighbor is sometimes the one who won't put iup with crap, nevermind exploding mailboxes. That said, Israel has stepped way over the line a few time, but whaty the hell, i;m an american, what's a few atrocities between allies. I wouldn't visit willingly.

Britain. Wet, bad food, great beer, cute to unitelligible accent. Worcestershire sauce, ta ta. Great pals. I'd visit in a heartbeat, on my way to Ireland.

Canada. Oh, Canada.

Australia. Best friends. Literally, my best friend is australian. well, one of them, but that's another story, and another time. I would go there, but i really do not like flying for one third than many hours. Too f'ing far away, mate. Keep sending your hipster to New England though, they rock.

and lest I forget, Poland. The oft maligned stalwart, the too good neighbor, the catholic nation that has often turned that very cheek. I'd visit just to thank you.

I suppose that's the shortest list of some aopparently crucial allies. Feel free to imagine more.


Now. What is the motivation for General Electric, the corporate entity?

It is to maximize shareholder value. Because they are a publicly traded company.

Their motive is pure profit tempered by fear of government citations.


Now, as much as I love or respect my nations allies, I do not want a corporation,

read this carefully

I do not want a government owned, as in foriegn government owned, even a Canandian owned, corporate entity running ANY port of entry into my nation.

what is their motivation? To maximize shareholder value? or to maximize the intrests of a foriegn government.

Hey, if the company was owned by a single righ guy in dubai, I WOULD NOT GIVE A CRAP.

Let him run the port, let his company, from dubai, using all dubai'ian workers even, run the whole freakin port of Los Angeles for all I care.

so long as that single rich guy is not a foriegn government, then have at it.

capitalists can be trusted, becuase they are predicatable.

Governments cannot, and are not.

Feb 23, 2006

HASH(0x8c52f80)
You Are Ignignokt


The Ultimate Aqua Teen Hunger Force Quiz
brought to you by Quizilla

Feb 20, 2006

My president would have asked

Neil Stephenson.

Feb 17, 2006

Henry Rollins "a possible threat" (link)

"Please tell your Government and everyone in your office to go f... themselves. Baghdad's safer than my hometown and your PM is a sissy," he wrote.

Feb 15, 2006

Best. Video. EVER.

".....They'll also remember what NOT to do"

Feb 14, 2006

Stereolab

At Pearl Street

on St Patricks Day EVE!

I mean, Evacuation Day.

Nedra Pickles (again)

"Cheney, an experienced hunter, has not spoken publicly about the accident, which took place Saturday night while the vice president was aiming for a quail. Critics of the Bush administration called for more answers from the Cheney himself."

the Cheney himsef?

AP are rapidly becoming a bunch of hacks.

[UPDATE: I had to fix a small typo. and in so doing, I attempt to emphasise my point about that organizations view of you]

Feb 13, 2006

The gang that couldn't

Well,

Cheney FINALLY got to shoot someone in wartime

accidents do happen, but imagine if Kerry had done this.

Feb 10, 2006

Better Dead than Red Handed (link)

I have come to love Big Brother.

Feb 8, 2006

A contest

Slow day, but the most memorable among the last few.

I was working today, in a run-down section of Boston, and I wound up having to kill an hour, waiting for a guy to let me in to his pad, so I could pick up an air sampler I had left there overnight. I'm a chemist.

He was sleeping in, and all the banging I could muster wouldn't wake him up, because they were stripping the roof off of a nearby building. The three of us took shelter in the entrance shed to the studio. It was cold in boston today, and windy, and bits of roof kept flying by.

Anyhow, got to talking with these two guys, smoking a few cigarettes. They were waiting to be let into the sleeping mans recording studio. All of us had phones. None of us had his number. They talked music, I nodded, I talked chemistry, they nodded. We talked about California, Hawaii, Mexico, British Colombia, and Amsterdam. All great places. I claimed the "I am at work" exemption from some other ways to pass the time. Chatted for, maybe an hour. drank coffee.

As an afterthought, I asked, oh, are you guys in a band I'd have a chance of knowing?


For the record, it wasn't the two in the middle.

[UPDATE: The contest is name that band]

Feb 6, 2006

The SuperDuperGame Review

Well, the Superbowl left me with a few lasting impressions

1. The 75-yard rush record and the 76-yard return record ANSWER made me feel like I was watching baseball.

2. Creepy creepy people eat at Outback Steakhouse.

3. It's okay not to tell that the pony took the beer wagon out for a ride. Just between you, the old man, and his dog.

4. The term "wardrobe malfunction" is the new macarena

5. When you fall, watch out for your toolbox. Bravo.

6. Does anyone know anything about the steelers player who took a nasty hit in the 1st?

Feb 5, 2006

Damnit Jim, I'm a blogger, not a bioethicist

Both 3Bulls! and Open Pajamas Media have recently completed migrations.

How did it go?




(there should be a video here) (fingers crossed)

That's me in the stripes

Feb 4, 2006

Don't understand my byline? (link)

During my time in Congress, I have always acted in an ethical manner within the rules of our body and the laws of our land. I am fully confident time will bear this out.

-- Tom DeLay 1/06

Feb 2, 2006

I think this deserves it's own post

In the comments at Open Pajamas Media, I opined:

Today, Boehner slipped comforably into Tom DeLay's seat, taking the "leadership" position while resisting the phalanx advanced by those behind Shattuck and Blunt.

okay, yes, my arm now hurs from patting meself on the back.

and I am SO glad they made that joke. I would have missed it, and it needed making.

Feb 1, 2006

If you have a few minutes (link)

This is a good listen.

I wish NPR was still as good on a daily basis as the BBC (especially the world service) is on an hourly basis.

but, that's the cost of consolidation and consumerism.