Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Rush: Foot In Mouth and Head In Ass


Rush Limbaugh needs to get his stupid head out of his fat ass! What else needs to be said? I mean, I listen to five minutes of his ranting, and I am immediately appalled that he could twist facts so thoroughly, that I feel the urge to vomit.

Take this blurb I heard this morning, for example. In it, he said that the popularity polls are rigged, and he doesn't believe that Bush really only has 36% and Chaney only 18%, but then went on to say that even if that were the case, he has a higher approval rating than CSI Miami, CBS, or many other TV shows.

What the Fuck?! Am I the only one here who sees how fucked up that analogy is? A TV show is rated by the percentage of people estimated to be watching it as opposed to all the people watching all the other TV shows out there. 36% is fantastic for any TV show to ever get to. A president's approval rating is not a popularity contest between him and forty or fifty other contestants. He is on the stand, and the country is saying "Do we like him? Or do we not like him?" 36%, in this case, means that most of the country is not confident in your presidency. Usually, 36% is a good sign that you are a FAILURE!

And if I can see that, how come so many people who listen to him all the time, professing to be intelligent people, let that slide right by while nodding their heads and saying "how right you are!" So, he not only has his head up his ass, he has a rather large collection of people who think they are smart for listening to him up his ass. Sounds rather uncomfortable. Time to wizen up, Rush. Al Franken was dead on. You are a big, fat idiot.

Sunday, February 26, 2006

Truth In The Land Of Confusion

Every once in a while, I have to ask myself this question: What if I am wrong about all of this? What if the opposition really is right and I am just being blind to it all? What then? And how will I ever know?

Take this debate happening on The Wicked Truth. In it, "we" pretty much spend our time trashing Fox "News", while a sole voice defends them as having unbiased reporting. Maybe it is just me listening to the people I trust, and not really doing the investigation myself, which would make me no better than the people that I feel get their news too much from one group without ever really looking at things objectively...in effect, "drinking the kool-aid".

So, what is "true"? Is there really such a thing as truth? Or is it all subjective, subject to interpretation? Is it all based on what is important?

See, that is the funny thing, though, about my viewpoint, and maybe I am wrong about this; however, to me, thinking that the environment and human rights for all is most important feels like the only real way, the only thing that is right. Saying that environment is not most important would be like saying that it really isn't that important for us to breath, eat or drink water to live, which is a fallacy and a fantasy of the highest magnitude (at least in my thinking). Saying that the well being of the people, be they high class or low, is not important, is like saying that my child is not important enough for food, shelter or medical attention were he/she ill. How many parents can honestly wish that on their child?

Which brings me to the issue of abortion: How can people be so up in arms against abortion, based on the idea that the fetus is a person, and then be so against giving anyone of lower standing (who is also a person, I feel the need to point out, as a statement of the obvious, which some seem to ignore) a fair break in the world, or any form of help, because it might take a penny more out of their paycheck (which is unlikely). What sort of greedy bastards are we?

So, please, help me here. Where am I going wrong on all of these ideas so terribly that I cannot see the obvious truth that so many see who believe the words of Bush, the Right Wing Ministry, and Fox News? What am I missing? What is that critical piece? Please, tell me. I want to know, so that I might further my quest for the truth.

And that was truly random.

Friday, February 24, 2006

Lunchtime Report

Today is payday, my first from my new job. Am I excited? You bet I am! However, I am also worried, because they are sending it via mail, so it could be delayed, and I need the cash this weekend.

Honestly, who mails their payroll to their employee's house anymore? And to top it off, my bank is closed on Saturdays! This truly sucks if it isn't in the mail.

Anyway, as I said, I am on my lunch right now, so not much time to write.

I got an email saying it was from John Kerry today. I doubt he wrote it himself, but it might be from someone he does affiliate with. In any event, I do agree that we need to get on the ball and remove as many Republicans as we can in November. Bush has had too much of a freebie these last few years, and has gotten too much through that should never have seen the light of day. We need to take back control from the corporations and the religious right!

I might actually post something to my other blog in more detail tonight (note that I said "might" and not "will"). If I do, I will post a link to it here. Just to note, however, that I will likely post less there than I do here.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

CPUs, SUVs and Allergies

Computers suck, you know that? Take this one I'm working on...just doing everything it can to make my life miserable. Has taken me more than four hours just to set up, and I'm not even done yet!

Sometimes, I think computers just hate me.

Anyway, it has been a busy, allergy induced, headache making day, full of glitches and sneezes, computer crashes and red eyes. In short, it has been one of "those" days.

Whoever thought up "those" days ought to be shot.

A little news from my home town of Oklahoma City: I hear that the old GM plant in Midwest City is closing, either today or yesterday, I'm not certain. Probably moving to China and blaming consumers who want better fuel economy (that plant produced SUVs, if I'm not mistaken). Maybe a better, more "American" approach would have been to listen to the people and start building more fuel efficient vehicles. The technology is there, and it isn't that expensive.

That, however, would not mesh with their dreams of obscene profits (the real American dream, it would seem). I'm looking forward to a day when American companies don't run to other countries to make more money by tossing aside loyal US union workers and exploiting cheap, virtually slave wage laborers in their country, while also crippling the economy here and the abilities of smaller, honest businesses to make a profit. It is truly sick.

(Note: You may be able to tell from the beginning, this was written at work on a piece of paper while I was waiting for that computer to boot up. The good news is, it finally behaved itself. That makes this a truly random thought.)

Random Thought's 100th Site Hit!

Yeah! I have passed 100 hits on my site! So, I will post this goofy little picture of me and a few of my friends had taken to celebrate! Cheers!

(note: no, not I nor anyone I know were in this picture.)

Monday, February 20, 2006

Laziness: The Art of Nothing

Man, I tell you, I have to get on the ball more...I have too many ideas to blog about that I just flat out don't use. It's depressing. But not as much as this:


(Thanks to Mister Hand for turning me on to these...I'll be a drooling mess of non-motivation in no time)

Well, anyway, I wanted to say something about the Cheney mess last week, and this just goes to show you that I am a lazy SOB sometimes. A lot of times. Anyway, I also changed my avatar, seeing that my old one (posted here for posterity) was scarring people, most notable, Ellie (a.k.a., Ms. Creek).


Well, I did promise that I would write a review of Brokeback Mountain, but you must
understand, that I also promised myself that I would do some cleaning and laundry, and that I am being lazy. Maybe I will get around to it later tonight, if I don't first get too interested in my Python studies (or a riveting game of Diablo II...man, I can't wait to upgrade my computer. I've owned Morrowind for more than a year now and haven't played it once because my computer can't load it).

I'm sure this is terribly interesting to all of you, as, I'm sure, is this:

I have started my new blog, "Of Liberal Intent", and will post my first to it soon (I hope). I will post an announcement here when I finally get my lazy butt around to doing that.

Damn! Hand, these things really do work! I'm feeling demoralized and unmotivated already!

"A Bridge Too Far"


Click above to read an article by Linda C. Wilson regarding a comparison between Ted Kennedy's accedent in 1969 with "Deadeye Dick's" accedent the weekend before last. I had been advocating letting the guy go, not liking him, but not seeing this as being the right time. Well, this article changed my mind on that, by pointing out that not only would the Republicans not fail to fall all over this like ton of bricks, but that they have in the past.

Blogger Note: Linda is not a writer at The Faulking Truth, this was put in as a letter to the editor. However, her writing is powerful and potent.

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

The Geek Chic

Once again, it has been a couple days since last I posted, so here I am again. This time, I am not here to bitch and moan (it's nice to have things on a positive note from time to time). Instead, a quick catch up on some of the things that I have read lately.


Recently, I picked up a book on Python Programming (I mentioned this last post), and have been reading. I have yet to code anything, but that is because I'm not so sure I really need to type print 'hello, world' to see that it will, indeed, put out hello, world on my monitor. However, I will start coding the examples next week to get my toes wet. Will let you know if the piranhas are biting.

Next, I found an article by USA Today about the Geek Chic, and I found it rather interesting. Yes, I am a geek, but you knew that already. I particularly liked the definition of geek that they gave us: "someone who is inquisitive, thinks on his or her own, who is a little bit off-center, who doesn't follow the crowd." I couldn't have said it better myself.

Also, though a bit old, I feel these are quite amusing. If you haven't checked out the Bastard Operator from Hell, and you have ever, even for a day, had to put up with customers wining about their computer not working, check it out right now! Don't wait one more second!

Also, I want to make note that yesterday was Valentine's Day, and that I indeed did take my fiancée out. We went to see a movie, Brokeback Mountain, and I have to tell you, I thought it was great! I will post a review of it as soon as I can motivate myself to (I'm not great at reviewing, so I have to push myself to get it written...just don't expect it to be a great review, and if it is, make sure I didn't rip it off of some legitimate reviewer)

Well, that's about all I have time for tonight.

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Gods, Penguins and Pythons

Okay, well, today I decided to begin my journey as a programmer. I picked up a book on Python programming, and have finished reading the preface that tells all the crap about the book, the authors, and how thankful the authors are that they have this wonderful language to write about, this wonderful company that will produce it, these wonderful people what have supported them, and all the wonderful people who are now or will read the bloody thing.

So, if you want to count things in steps, my current step is that my ass is still firmly on the couch, and my feet are still up on the coffee table. However, this will change shortly as I go through the week.

I'm thinking about getting myself onto a programmer's forum after I write some code.

Anyway, not much interesting going on, outside of a few bitch and gripe sessions I've had on the phone with other people. I really should record my conversations, because I come up with some great material in the moment that I forget in twenty minutes. That would give me so much more stuff to blog about.

Like the conversation I had with my mother about the discrepancies with religion, the unanswered questions of the cosmos and how god is not a satisfactory answer, as well as what we do know and how it would fit into the grand scheme of things. You know, bullshitting. We also talked about how the industrialization of our nation and our global society came by knowledge, but without the wisdom or the discipline to use it right. How many other nations want the level of comfort and living that is enjoyed by the US, but do not realize that the US is living a lie, that we will burn out this planet on our own, let alone if other nations take our lead.

Well, I'm not really into that topic right now, but I will probably address that another day.

As for my choice today to learn Python, that is because it is supposed to be one of the easiest to use and learn, as well as highly versatile and useful. Also, I think it interfaces well with Linux, and I have wanted to learn more about the inner workings of that.

Well, that is about all I have for today. I will post more soon.

Friday, February 10, 2006

George Takei's Take On Howard Stern


I was just reading a few things online and happened upon George Takei's website, and read his blog about why he decided to be the announcer on the Howard Stern Show.

I just wanted to say that I think that Howard Stern takes a lot of crap that he really does not deserve, that people say a lot of nasty things about him that are frankly bullshit. He is a smart, funny man, and he has a knack for cutting the crap. He talks like there is nothing sacred, and I really think that is the healthiest attitude one can have in life. Does he talk about "disgusting" bodily functions regularly? Yes. My question is this: How often do you perform those self-same functions? If they are so normal that everyone does them, why detest the people who chose to make comedy out of it?

After all, comedy really is just life. We just chose to laugh at it.

Of course, George puts it much more eloquently than I, and I will quote him from his blog:

"Some people have questioned why I appear on a radio show so filled with disgusting talk and obscenity. I respond to them that, yes, the show has language and talk of body functions that really aren't my cup of tea. I try not to use those words myself, but don't we hear them around us daily? The body functions that Howard and gang talk about are what we all do daily as normal, healthy human beings. Howard simply talks about the realities of our life candidly. Some people seem to find life as it is - obscene. I don't.

However, Howard Stern is passionately against what is truly obscene in our society. He has railed at the obscenity of allocating billions of dollars of pork barrel money for a "bridge to nowhere" in Alaska, while our soldiers in Iraq are dying because of deficient and ineffective body armor. He has attacked the indecency of tax cuts for the wealthiest at a time of war. He has howled at the outrage of plunging our nation into war with bad intelligence, tough talk, and inadequate planning. He strongly believes that people who love each other, care for each other, and take responsibility for each other that happen to be of the same gender are entitled to equal rights. Howard Stern is a shock jock because truth naked can be shocking. Some of his humor can be adolescent. So what? We all could use a bit of adolescent giggle from time to time. It's good for us. And sometimes, for me it has been humbling, which is also good for all of us from time to time. Humility keeps us grounded. Laughter is the tonic of life.
"

Thank you, George. Would that more people were able to see things like you, we might have more intelligent, tolerant people in the world.

And that was my random thought.

The Fourteen Characteristics Of Fascism

Here is something I got off of The Faulking Truth, posted as a quote of the day by Ken Shade. I have made only formatting alterations so that it will look good here (the formatting from his page didn't transfer over).

The 14 Characteristics of Fascism by Lawrence Britt
http://globalresearch.ca/articles/BRI411A.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Political scientist Dr. Lawrence Britt recently wrote an article about fascism ("Fascism Anyone?" Free Inquiry, Spring 2003, page 20).

Studying the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile), Dr. Britt found they all had 14 elements in common. He calls these the identifying characteristics of fascism. The excerpt is in accordance with the magazine's policy.

The 14 characteristics are:

Powerful and Continuing Nationalism

Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottoes, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights

Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause

The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

Supremacy of the Military

Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

Rampant Sexism

The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.

Controlled Mass Media

Sometimes the media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

Obsession with National Security

Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

Religion and Government are Intertwined

Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

Corporate Power is Protected

The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

Labor Power is Suppressed

Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.

Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts

Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.

Obsession with Crime and Punishment

Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

Rampant Cronyism and Corruption

Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

Fraudulent Elections

Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

Ken Shade's Quote Of The Day


Click above to see The Faulking Truth's Ken Shade in action, almost every day, with a fresh quote of the day. They are regularly funny, and often thoughtful or disturbing, but whatever they are, they are a great read.

I will be posting a permanent link to Ken's Quote on the side bar, probably tonight when I am not at work. Check it out! It is well worth the visit.


Also, my next post will be one of his quotes that I thought was worthy of posting here directly, one which deals with fascism and the warning signs that you might be living in one. Scary.

Thursday, February 09, 2006

The Bullshit Manifesto

Okay, as I said, I will tell you about my new job. It’s boring. I get to babysit computers and kissass to the people whose computers are broken.


Just a moment ago, however, I came to a realization: No one gives a shit. Why am I bothering to unload these useless details of my boring life on you? If you want a reality show, there are many with a hell of a lot more drama, and no intellect to get in the way of it being real fuckin' juicy. So, my blog will now go back to its original intent: to rant, rave and bitch about the bullshit that life has to offer. About the stuff that just pisses me off. About the shit that really gets on my nerves. About

Oh, fuck it, you get the point.

So, for those of you expecting me to be polite and nice, fair warning...I will show the shitty side of things a lot more often than before; the nice stuff is just not interesting enough.

And that is my random thought.

P.S., this does not mean that all of this will be a bitch session...I will still have my calmer side leaving posts.

Maybe someday, I will even start posting on a regular basis.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Woe Be To The Lazy Masses

Okay, I haven't posted in almost a week, but judging by my hit counter, I'd say that no one is really much for caring anyway. I just wanted to post to let anyone who does care know that I will write a real blog tomorrow evening, let you know about my first week at my new job.

I'll give you an idea, though...so far, because they weren't ready to train, I have been pretty bored. However, I have still made pretty decent money, even if I have not been doing much.

Tomorrow should prove more productive, however, and I will have more to report.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Then, The Wise Man Said: "PTTTHHHH!!"


Well, a quick update, as I am meeting my fiancée in forty-five minutes. This last week has been strange, to say the least. First of all, my job did not start on Monday as I thought it would, so I have been supplementing with daily labor (more on that in a future post). I just found out today that I will probably start next Monday, and to top it off, I had to print and fax the hire documents to them! As I do not have a fax machine, a printer, or a notary public friend (I had to notarize the I-9), I had to take it to Kinko's and spent almost forty bucks just to get the stuff to them!

Now, this week, the hard wood floors were supposed to be put in, right? Well, the wood that the company sent the installers was different than the wood that she had already gotten, so they had to fight with them to take the stuff back and get them to send us the right stuff, and now the house is going to be torn up for yet another week!

So, I spent Monday painting the hallway, and last night after working all day at manual labor, I came over to her house to paint her bedroom before they put in the new carpet today (we're re-carpeting the bedrooms). I did the entire wall and ceiling in a slightly rich sky blue, and it looks great! She did the cut-in on the corners, near the ceiling and floor, and around the doors and window. Started that at 6PM, didn't get done ‘til after 10:30...we were exhausted.


So, I stayed at her place this morning to wait for the carpet installers...the "sandstorm" color that she chose is a nice, medium light tan, kinda like beach sand, and looks great with the sky-blue-like paint on the walls and ceiling. Now we just need clouds.

Also, sticking with the good news of the week, the 220 electricity circuit at my house was finally replaced, so we now have a central heater, dryer, and stove/oven again after being without for seemingly a month now. Yay!

Anyway, that's about all there is to report from my life, outside of the horror story from working at an insurance auto auction for a day. Thrilling! Terrifying! Shocking!

Okay, not nearly that exciting, but I will still post about it, just later.

Tootles!

"He Has Slipped The Surly Bonds of Truth"

Click above for an article by Faulking Truth writer Ken Shade, a man I am proud to call a friend, and a much better writer than I. It is a shame that we don't see more from him.

The above article is about Christa McAuliffe, Ronald Regan, Bush, and how the events of twenty years ago hold similarities to today's world. Also touches on education. Read it.