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If you read any link that I have posted in a blog to a news story, read this one:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/25/INSJ176CI1.DTL
This story is truly disturbing to me, and what makes it worse is the seeming lack of news coverage or importance. It was not a single front page story on any of the sites I went to, and wasn't even a lead off story on NBC Nightly News, just a 23 second brush over. This despite the enormous impact that this has on the future of the country as well as the rest of the world.
For the last ten years, terrorism has been one of the biggest threats to the world, and yet it seems we now stand on the brink. For all of the talk of keeping nuclear and biological weapons out of the hands of Al-Qaeda, it now seems that we are close to failing on the nuclear side of things.
If you didn't read the article, please do, the Taliban is slowly taking control over Pakistan, and could very well succeed in their efforts. The foremost and gravest issue with this developing situation is Pakistan's nuclear aresenal. I fear that if Pakistan doesn't wake up and take back their own country, that it will only be a matter of time before a mushroom cloud will be over a major Western city or Israel.
The worst part to me is that the US may have had a chance to prevent this altogether, but the Bush Administration literally fucked up. Call me a Bush-bashing liberal all you want, but its true. When you use the bulk of your military forced to invade Iraq, a country that had NO LINKS to Sept. 11, instead of using that same force to drastically increase the odds of eliminating Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan; you really did drop the ball! Even though we have the best military in the world, it is impossible to win a war in Afghanistan with a force that is SMALLER than the force used to invade and stablize Iraq which is a SMALLER country!
I'm afraid that all we can do now is to try and keep Pakistan from falling as best we can. I just hope that we succeed and that the Pakistani people can push out the Taliban and regain their country.
If it fails, however, I can think of only one way to keep most, if not all, of Pakistan's nuclear weapons out of Al-Qaeda and Taliban hands. The US will have to bomb the hell out of all of Pakistan's nuclear installations. Even then, it would be hard to know if we destroyed every single one of their nuclear bombs. But its better to destroy as many as possible than the alternative. . . .
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Why is there still a debate...
Ok, why are we STILL having this asinine debate on torture?
Torture is illegal! PERIOD!!! This idea that by using torture has helped keep America safe is just flat out wrong! If anything it has drastically weakened our place in the world. How can we expect to defeat the idea of terrorism, when by using torture we are in fact COMMINTTING an act of terrorism ourselves? Torture has NEVER been proven as a reliable intelligence gathering practice because any person under extreme pain or duress will tell you whatever the hell you want them to, regardless of whether its true or not! Not to mention, by simply using torture to create a crimal case against a person annihiliates any chance of prosecution because nearly EVERY court in the world refuses to take evidence gained while the person was under any form of duress.
The use of torture, even once, in any form degrades not only the United States government; it also destroys our values, ourselves, and every other person on this Earth!
Torture is illegal! PERIOD!!! This idea that by using torture has helped keep America safe is just flat out wrong! If anything it has drastically weakened our place in the world. How can we expect to defeat the idea of terrorism, when by using torture we are in fact COMMINTTING an act of terrorism ourselves? Torture has NEVER been proven as a reliable intelligence gathering practice because any person under extreme pain or duress will tell you whatever the hell you want them to, regardless of whether its true or not! Not to mention, by simply using torture to create a crimal case against a person annihiliates any chance of prosecution because nearly EVERY court in the world refuses to take evidence gained while the person was under any form of duress.
The use of torture, even once, in any form degrades not only the United States government; it also destroys our values, ourselves, and every other person on this Earth!
Workplace Ethics
So apparently someone(s), at work got offended at some of the conversations that have gone on in our team, so our manager gave a "don't talk or say.." talk on Tuesday.
I only have four words for this: GROW THE HELL UP!
If every person complained about something they heard, saw, read, etc that offended them, then every single form of communication would become obsolete overnight! If you can't handle something that you find offensive, then stay in your own little bubble house without books, newspapers, tv, radio, etc and stop trying to control what people can and can't say.
I only have four words for this: GROW THE HELL UP!
If every person complained about something they heard, saw, read, etc that offended them, then every single form of communication would become obsolete overnight! If you can't handle something that you find offensive, then stay in your own little bubble house without books, newspapers, tv, radio, etc and stop trying to control what people can and can't say.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Are We Responsible for the Chaos in Mexico?
*First off I just wanted to state that I think drugs are disgusting and why anyone in their right mind would use them is completely beyond me. That being said, I wonder if our War on Drugs is part of the current problem in Mexico and along the US/Mexico boarder.
It seems that we, the United States, has royally screwed Mexico in two ways with regards to the current violence and unrest. One, is the worldwide global recession (that really is our fault), and the other involves the ongoing War on Drugs. Both have major consequences on their own, but combined create an incredible powder keg.
By waging a war on illegal drugs have created a vast and lucrative black market. This has allowed what were once simple petty thugs to rise and become powerful, wealthy, and very dangerous cartels almost overnight. If you you don't believe that is the case, simply look at what happened to crime after the 18th Amendment (Prohibition of alcohol) was passed in 1919. Before the amendment, most crime was done by thugs and was mostly unorganized. But after the amendment passed, suddenly there is a rise in organized crime full of very wealthy, powerful, and dangerous people such as Al Capone. When the 21st Amendment (repeal of the 18th) was passed in 1933, all these groups took a massive hit in the wallet because after alcohol became legal again, their black market cash cow disappeared. By stopping the drug war and legalizing drugs, we not only cause the black market on drugs to crash but was also help our own government by creating a new area of tax revenue. We can also use regulate quality and safety of the drugs which in turn is better for your health (in a manner of speaking). The revenue could even be used to help fund treatment centers to eliminate or drastically reduce drug addiction [thanks for that idea Carey lol].
The Recession has only made this whole situation drastically worse. Due to our own actions, greed, and deregulation, we were the spark that ignited the powder keg. All the drug cartels have always competed for profit but in good economic times people are willing to spend more and not be as picky about price. As a result there is enough demand and profit so that the cartels can somewhat coexist with each other. During bad economic times, such as right now, people spend less and religiously hunt for bargains on any and everything. This in turn drastically cuts into the profits of the cartels and causes them to start fighting for their share in the market. No different than a regular business, except when cartels fight for the market they use lethal force and are ruthless. As a result anyone in the way gets caught in the crossfire and the effects spread from there. Just like a group of innocent bystanders getting trapped between two (or more) rival street gangs.
So to me it seems that we have three options that we can choose to try and stop what is happening down there. 1) Continue as we are, change nothing, just simply try and keep the situation contained so that it doesn't get any worse. 2) Stop the war on drugs, legalize drugs, which causes their profits in the black market to crash, which destroys the profits and power of the cartels. Or 3) Some other form of action that no one has yet thought of.
Logically, I would think that option 2 would be the best path to take but this is a decision for smarter people in the government need to make. All I know for sure is that if the status quo is allowed to continue, I fear that it could cause not only the drastic weakening, or failure, of Mexico but also many other countries in Central and South America that are dealing with this very same problem.
It seems that we, the United States, has royally screwed Mexico in two ways with regards to the current violence and unrest. One, is the worldwide global recession (that really is our fault), and the other involves the ongoing War on Drugs. Both have major consequences on their own, but combined create an incredible powder keg.
By waging a war on illegal drugs have created a vast and lucrative black market. This has allowed what were once simple petty thugs to rise and become powerful, wealthy, and very dangerous cartels almost overnight. If you you don't believe that is the case, simply look at what happened to crime after the 18th Amendment (Prohibition of alcohol) was passed in 1919. Before the amendment, most crime was done by thugs and was mostly unorganized. But after the amendment passed, suddenly there is a rise in organized crime full of very wealthy, powerful, and dangerous people such as Al Capone. When the 21st Amendment (repeal of the 18th) was passed in 1933, all these groups took a massive hit in the wallet because after alcohol became legal again, their black market cash cow disappeared. By stopping the drug war and legalizing drugs, we not only cause the black market on drugs to crash but was also help our own government by creating a new area of tax revenue. We can also use regulate quality and safety of the drugs which in turn is better for your health (in a manner of speaking). The revenue could even be used to help fund treatment centers to eliminate or drastically reduce drug addiction [thanks for that idea Carey lol].
The Recession has only made this whole situation drastically worse. Due to our own actions, greed, and deregulation, we were the spark that ignited the powder keg. All the drug cartels have always competed for profit but in good economic times people are willing to spend more and not be as picky about price. As a result there is enough demand and profit so that the cartels can somewhat coexist with each other. During bad economic times, such as right now, people spend less and religiously hunt for bargains on any and everything. This in turn drastically cuts into the profits of the cartels and causes them to start fighting for their share in the market. No different than a regular business, except when cartels fight for the market they use lethal force and are ruthless. As a result anyone in the way gets caught in the crossfire and the effects spread from there. Just like a group of innocent bystanders getting trapped between two (or more) rival street gangs.
So to me it seems that we have three options that we can choose to try and stop what is happening down there. 1) Continue as we are, change nothing, just simply try and keep the situation contained so that it doesn't get any worse. 2) Stop the war on drugs, legalize drugs, which causes their profits in the black market to crash, which destroys the profits and power of the cartels. Or 3) Some other form of action that no one has yet thought of.
Logically, I would think that option 2 would be the best path to take but this is a decision for smarter people in the government need to make. All I know for sure is that if the status quo is allowed to continue, I fear that it could cause not only the drastic weakening, or failure, of Mexico but also many other countries in Central and South America that are dealing with this very same problem.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Great Job Republicans...
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/03/11/1832273.aspx
I just wanted to send my heart felt congratulations to all the Senators (mostly Republicans) who voted AGAINST the 2009 Omnibus Spending Bill. Your stance against earmarks is truly a great thing and must spread more widely through the government to curb wasteful spending. With special thanks going to my own two US Senators (Hatch and Bennet) as well as Senators Mitch McConnel and James Inhofe. What an impressive rock hard stance on principles Senators! *applause*
I also want to congratulate said Senators for filling this bill with earmarks of their own. No one would dare think that a person who voted against the bill would have the audacity to fill it with earmarks of his/her own despite voicing outrage and disgust at earmarks.
Seriously people, if you are going to lead a pointless and asinine "crusade" against earmarks DON'T FILL BILLS WITH YOUR OWN AND THEN VOTE AGAINST THEM! Either vote against every bill with earmarks and DON'T include any of your own, or SHUT THE HELL UP!
I just wanted to send my heart felt congratulations to all the Senators (mostly Republicans) who voted AGAINST the 2009 Omnibus Spending Bill. Your stance against earmarks is truly a great thing and must spread more widely through the government to curb wasteful spending. With special thanks going to my own two US Senators (Hatch and Bennet) as well as Senators Mitch McConnel and James Inhofe. What an impressive rock hard stance on principles Senators! *applause*
I also want to congratulate said Senators for filling this bill with earmarks of their own. No one would dare think that a person who voted against the bill would have the audacity to fill it with earmarks of his/her own despite voicing outrage and disgust at earmarks.
Seriously people, if you are going to lead a pointless and asinine "crusade" against earmarks DON'T FILL BILLS WITH YOUR OWN AND THEN VOTE AGAINST THEM! Either vote against every bill with earmarks and DON'T include any of your own, or SHUT THE HELL UP!
History clashing with Today
http://www.sltrib.com/utahpolitics/ci_11829373
http://www.sltrib.com/utahpolitics/ci_11882229
Ok to sum the subject of these articles up, they concern a future FrontRunner (commuter rail) and an ancient native american site.
I don't care how invaluable something could be to the future (even if it is something like mass transit) it pales in importance to knowing about our past. If we don't know or care about our past civilizations we greatly hurt our present one. Things this old just don't pop out of no where everyday and to destroy them is unacceptable in my mind. I would bet money that there are acres of undeveloped residential land (that will not be developed anytime soon) where this station AND business park could go instead of this site. Plus those undeveloped areas may even be CLOSER to Draper than this site is.
We don't have huge ancient monuments that can't be overlooked (like the pyramids) in this state, or frankly hardly any in the entire country. Ancient people here lived WITH the land and as a result their remnants are rare and often have been reclaimed by the land. Its easy to just turn the ignition and bulldoze a piece of land, but its much harder to restore and remember everything that that bulldozer buries.
As for Greg Curtis, what he did as Speaker of the House (Utah Legislature) was absolutely wrong! I don't care if he did it in session or not, he abused his position as Speaker. When there is an obvious law on the books, and you are representing a person whose interests conflict with that law, you yourself are in a conflict of interest! The fact the he was Speaker adds insult to injury because even if he didn't mean for it to happen, his position influenced people and their subsequent decisions. If any other person had done this (esp if part of the minority party), they would have been busted on the spot and kicked out of their jobs or the Legislature.
I really hope that the Governor vetoes this bill, and if he doesn't I will be very disappointed and sad because we will have lost yet another small piece of the puzzle to what life was like thousands of years ago.
http://www.sltrib.com/utahpolitics/ci_11882229
Ok to sum the subject of these articles up, they concern a future FrontRunner (commuter rail) and an ancient native american site.
I don't care how invaluable something could be to the future (even if it is something like mass transit) it pales in importance to knowing about our past. If we don't know or care about our past civilizations we greatly hurt our present one. Things this old just don't pop out of no where everyday and to destroy them is unacceptable in my mind. I would bet money that there are acres of undeveloped residential land (that will not be developed anytime soon) where this station AND business park could go instead of this site. Plus those undeveloped areas may even be CLOSER to Draper than this site is.
We don't have huge ancient monuments that can't be overlooked (like the pyramids) in this state, or frankly hardly any in the entire country. Ancient people here lived WITH the land and as a result their remnants are rare and often have been reclaimed by the land. Its easy to just turn the ignition and bulldoze a piece of land, but its much harder to restore and remember everything that that bulldozer buries.
As for Greg Curtis, what he did as Speaker of the House (Utah Legislature) was absolutely wrong! I don't care if he did it in session or not, he abused his position as Speaker. When there is an obvious law on the books, and you are representing a person whose interests conflict with that law, you yourself are in a conflict of interest! The fact the he was Speaker adds insult to injury because even if he didn't mean for it to happen, his position influenced people and their subsequent decisions. If any other person had done this (esp if part of the minority party), they would have been busted on the spot and kicked out of their jobs or the Legislature.
I really hope that the Governor vetoes this bill, and if he doesn't I will be very disappointed and sad because we will have lost yet another small piece of the puzzle to what life was like thousands of years ago.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Well what do ya know
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_11821265
http://www.sltrib.com/portlet/article/html/render_gallery.jsp?articleId=11821265&siteId=297&startImage=1
Guess what fellow Utahns, we are the nation's leading state for online porn subscriptions! Wait though...I thought it destroyed society if even a tiny bit of skin was shown and yet there isn't a smoldering crater where Utah now sits is there?
Once again I say this: HIDING SOMETHING DOES NOT MAKE IT GO AWAY! Utah is so antisex (esp premarital) its not funny and yet low and behold people do it anyways and watch other people do it too. Funny how saying how bad something is night in and night out leads to Utah having this unique distinction.
If people want to do something they are going to do it whether its hidden or not. The only difference is by hiding it people are more likely to do something irresponsibly because for some reason hiding rules this state and not PROPER education on responsibility should you decide to do something, be it alcohol, sex, or whatever.
So please Utah and every other paranoid state, GROW UP!
http://www.sltrib.com/portlet/article/html/render_gallery.jsp?articleId=11821265&siteId=297&startImage=1
Guess what fellow Utahns, we are the nation's leading state for online porn subscriptions! Wait though...I thought it destroyed society if even a tiny bit of skin was shown and yet there isn't a smoldering crater where Utah now sits is there?
Once again I say this: HIDING SOMETHING DOES NOT MAKE IT GO AWAY! Utah is so antisex (esp premarital) its not funny and yet low and behold people do it anyways and watch other people do it too. Funny how saying how bad something is night in and night out leads to Utah having this unique distinction.
If people want to do something they are going to do it whether its hidden or not. The only difference is by hiding it people are more likely to do something irresponsibly because for some reason hiding rules this state and not PROPER education on responsibility should you decide to do something, be it alcohol, sex, or whatever.
So please Utah and every other paranoid state, GROW UP!
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