Voice of Reason from Kabul
November 11th, 2009 by Jon Taplin
Former four star General Karl Eikenberry, who serves as President Obama’s ambassador to Afghanistan has weighed in on the troop build-up.
The U.S. ambassador in Kabul sent two classified cables to Washington in the past week expressing deep concerns about sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan until President Hamid Karzai’s government demonstrates that it is willing to tackle the corruption and mismanagement that has fueled the Taliban’s rise, senior U.S. officials said.
A four star dissenting from the Petraeus/McChrystal party line has really frosted some folks at the Pentagon. But Obama seems to be listening to Eikenberry.
Just in time.
In the blogosphere, it has been determined that Gen. Eikenberry is a TRAITOR! even though if you read closely as much as can be determined of his cables’ content, it’s not a screed against further “investment” in FuckadumbUSistan, or even any repudiation of the Four Options (10-15, 20, 30, or 40,000 New Troops) that Obama is going to pick one of. Just a tiny effort to point out the weakness and corruption of the “Nation We Are Building” and maybe just a smidge about the futility of shoveling more billions into the Great Pit Of Baksheesh and Unnecessary Death And Destruction.
And of course there are the “opportunity costs” in all this, one of which is described in this, from the New York Times today. I’m sure Papola will have something illuminating to say about this piece, channeling the spirit of M. Warstler, suckering others into “debating” with him on terms that he and his, as they say, ilk, want to define.
Thank God the hand- and handkerchief-wringing is over for another few months until the next opportunity comes for the few, the cowardly, the thieves to play off sentiment for Our Sacred Veterans who Gave Their All while We Sat At Home and Watched On The HD.
Biggest fucking lie of them all, if you are a young person: “Serve your country and preserve freedom — Join Up Today!” How plain does it have to be that walking or riding around in, or joysticking a Reaper over, playing with all those sexy weapons in Iradiatorsnackistan, drawing fire, eating a daily diet of propaganda about how this activity is of Historic Nature, Protecting American Freedom and Spreading Democracy, is actually None of the Above? And who make themselves the lumbering bulls being speared by the picadors until they are so weakened that the brave matador can walk up and shove a sword into their hearts?
And that the crocodile tears shed by the people who place the wreaths (including The Only President We’ve Got, whose ‘tribute” was the mealiest-mouthed of the recycled tripe), spout the More Of The Same speeches, and thunder editorially about the God-Damned Terrorists, and just darken the blindness and froth the delusions of mostly decent people who are all unaware of the way their tribal instincts are played for fun and profit. The same people who, having lost an acquaintance or family member killed by being placed by their own wilful Jingo-Bells blindness in harms way, Demand Vengeance! so the wogs that are ignorantly and often OOPS! mistakenly killed, people who pose absolutely no threat to “US Interests” except to those same GIs ordered to march or drive over US munitions turned into IEDs, or into ambushes that we helped teach the fast-learning Wogs how to set (not that they didn’t have such skills and strong prior inclinations from centuries of practice). So the other Wogs can have reasons to overcome their own vestigial reluctance, such as it might be, to kill Our Sacred Sacrificial Sacrificing GIs, and round and round.
This is of course just another square in the finely sewn and knotted quilt that obscures the rotting corpses that ought to remind us that humanity has a death wish.
Time to Ragnarock’n'Roll! You can even play along on line, and read neat stuff about how Free Market Capitalism allowed the management guys to steal millions from the IP creators. Letterman, another addition to your “Stupid Human Tricks.”
In the blogosphere, it has been determined that Gen. Eikenberry is a TRAITOR! even though if you read closely as much as can be determined of his cables’ content, it’s not a screed against further “investment” in FuckadumbUSistan, or even any repudiation of the Four Options (10-15, 20, 30, or 40,000 New Troops) that Obama is going to pick one of. Just a tiny effort to point out the weakness and corruption of the “Nation We Are Building” and maybe just a smidge about the futility of shoveling more billions into the Great Pit Of Baksheesh and Unnecessary Death And Destruction.
And of course there are the “opportunity costs” in all this, one of which is described in this, from the New York Times today. I’m sure Papola will have something illuminating to say about this piece, channeling the spirit of M. Warstler, suckering others into “debating” with him on terms that he and his, as they say, ilk, want to define.
Thank God the hand- and handkerchief-wringing is over for another few months until the next opportunity comes for the few, the cowardly, the thieves to play off sentiment for Our Sacred Veterans who Gave Their All while We Sat At Home and Watched On The HD.
Biggest fucking lie of them all, if you are a young person: “Serve your country and preserve freedom — Join Up Today!” How plain does it have to be that walking or riding around in, or joysticking a Reaper over, playing with all those sexy weapons in Iradiatorsnackistan, drawing fire, eating a daily diet of propaganda about how this activity is of Historic Nature, Protecting American Freedom and Spreading Democracy, is actually None of the Above? And who make themselves the lumbering bulls being speared by the picadors until they are so weakened that the brave matador can walk up and shove a sword into their hearts?
And that the crocodile tears shed by the people who place the wreaths (including The Only President We’ve Got, whose ‘tribute” was the mealiest-mouthed of the recycled tripe), spout the More Of The Same speeches, and thunder editorially about the God-Damned Terrorists, and just darken the blindness and froth the delusions of mostly decent people who are all unaware of the way their tribal instincts are played for fun and profit. The same people who, having lost an acquaintance or family member killed by being placed by their own wilful Jingo-Bells blindness in harms way, Demand Vengeance! so the wogs that are ignorantly and often OOPS! mistakenly killed, people who pose absolutely no threat to “US Interests” except to those same GIs ordered to march or drive over US munitions turned into IEDs, or into ambushes that we helped teach the fast-learning Wogs how to set (not that they didn’t have such skills and strong prior inclinations from centuries of practice). So the other Wogs can have reasons to overcome their own vestigial reluctance, such as it might be, to kill Our Sacred Sacrificial Sacrificing GIs, and round and round.
This is of course just another square in the finely sewn and knotted quilt that obscures the rotting corpses that ought to remind us that humanity has a death wish.
Time to Ragnarock’n'Roll! You can even play along on line, and read neat stuff about how Free Market Capitalism allowed the management guys to steal millions from the IP creators. Letterman, another addition to your “Stupid Human Tricks.”
In the blogosphere, it has been determined that Gen. Eikenberry is a TRAITOR! even though if you read closely as much as can be determined of his cables’ content, it’s not a screed against further “investment” in FuckadumbUSistan, or even any repudiation of the Four Options (10-15, 20, 30, or 40,000 New Troops) that Obama is going to pick one of. Just a tiny effort to point out the weakness and corruption of the “Nation We Are Building” and maybe just a smidge about the futility of shoveling more billions into the Great Pit Of Baksheesh and Unnecessary Death And Destruction.
And of course there are the “opportunity costs” in all this, one of which is described in this, from the New York Times today. I’m sure Papola will have something illuminating to say about this piece, channeling the spirit of M. Warstler, suckering others into “debating” with him on terms that he and his, as they say, ilk, want to define.
Thank God the hand- and handkerchief-wringing is over for another few months until the next opportunity comes for the few, the cowardly, the thieves to play off sentiment for Our Sacred Veterans who Gave Their All while We Sat At Home and Watched On The HD.
Biggest fucking lie of them all, if you are a young person: “Serve your country and preserve freedom — Join Up Today!” How plain does it have to be that walking or riding around in, or joysticking a Reaper over, playing with all those sexy weapons in Iradiatorsnackistan, drawing fire, eating a daily diet of propaganda about how this activity is of Historic Nature, Protecting American Freedom and Spreading Democracy, is actually None of the Above? And who make themselves the lumbering bulls being speared by the picadors until they are so weakened that the brave matador can walk up and shove a sword into their hearts?
And that the crocodile tears shed by the people who place the wreaths (including The Only President We’ve Got, whose ‘tribute” was the mealiest-mouthed of the recycled tripe), spout the More Of The Same speeches, and thunder editorially about the God-Damned Terrorists, and just darken the blindness and froth the delusions of mostly decent people who are all unaware of the way their tribal instincts are played for fun and profit. The same people who, having lost an acquaintance or family member killed by being placed by their own wilful Jingo-Bells blindness in harms way, Demand Vengeance! so the wogs that are ignorantly and often OOPS! mistakenly killed, people who pose absolutely no threat to “US Interests” except to those same GIs ordered to march or drive over US munitions turned into IEDs, or into ambushes that we helped teach the fast-learning Wogs how to set (not that they didn’t have such skills and strong prior inclinations from centuries of practice). So the other Wogs can have reasons to overcome their own vestigial reluctance, such as it might be, to kill Our Sacred Sacrificial Sacrificing GIs, and round and round.
This is of course just another square in the finely sewn and knotted quilt that obscures the rotting corpses that ought to remind us that humanity has a death wish.
Time to Ragnarock’n'Roll! You can even play along on line, and read neat stuff about how Free Market Capitalism allowed the management guys to steal millions from the IP creators. Letterman, another addition to your “Stupid Human Tricks.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylaPz6qFp7I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylaPz6qFp7I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylaPz6qFp7I
Our first course of action over there should be to inform Karzai, “Start aggressively cleaning up now, or we go home immediately.”
But this assumes that Karzai is a stand-alone in the corruption game, and that we’re not in it up to our eyebrows. If we start aggressively cleaning up corruption, I suspect we would soon start hearing strident freedom fries voices at home talking about freedom and liberty and justice in Afghanistan, which is why we have to blah blah especially when it comes to the blah contract which is vitally blah to the freedom fries blah.
Our first course of action over there should be to inform Karzai, “Start aggressively cleaning up now, or we go home immediately.”
But this assumes that Karzai is a stand-alone in the corruption game, and that we’re not in it up to our eyebrows. If we start aggressively cleaning up corruption, I suspect we would soon start hearing strident freedom fries voices at home talking about freedom and liberty and justice in Afghanistan, which is why we have to blah blah especially when it comes to the blah contract which is vitally blah to the freedom fries blah.
With our experience in Iraq to guide us
With our experience in Iraq to guide us
“As the scope of Mr. Galbraith’s financial interests in Kurdistan become clear, they have the potential to inflame some of Iraqis’ deepest fears, including conspiracy theories that the true reason for the American invasion of their country was to take its oil.”
And we are outraged…outraged we tell you!…to discover that there is corruption in Afghanistan.
“As the scope of Mr. Galbraith’s financial interests in Kurdistan become clear, they have the potential to inflame some of Iraqis’ deepest fears, including conspiracy theories that the true reason for the American invasion of their country was to take its oil.”
And we are outraged…outraged we tell you!…to discover that there is corruption in Afghanistan.
Look at what is happening in Colombia. Now because of the US military presence-build up in Colombia , the countries of South America , including Brazil, are arming themselves. Action – reaction. Its a mistake. The money could be used to better purposes, why put that unnecessary military pressure , to what end ? to fight ” narco terrorism”?. Come to think of it , Mr. Uribe, the Colombian president, is the South American version of Karzai . Same pattern of conduct. Afghanistan = Opium. Colombia = Coca. This is real weird.
Critics of Obama here in South America, suggest that the man is not living up to the expectations
that were created during is campaign. The big winners : the International military Industrial complex ( Russia, China, France Italy Israel ect…
…now the mess is spreading like an infection…
JTM what is your opinion on this, Am I confused ?
Look at what is happening in Colombia. Now because of the US military presence-build up in Colombia , the countries of South America , including Brazil, are arming themselves. Action – reaction. Its a mistake. The money could be used to better purposes, why put that unnecessary military pressure , to what end ? to fight ” narco terrorism”?. Come to think of it , Mr. Uribe, the Colombian president, is the South American version of Karzai . Same pattern of conduct. Afghanistan = Opium. Colombia = Coca. This is real weird.
Critics of Obama here in South America, suggest that the man is not living up to the expectations
that were created during is campaign. The big winners : the International military Industrial complex ( Russia, China, France Italy Israel ect…
…now the mess is spreading like an infection…
JTM what is your opinion on this, Am I confused ?
Look at what is happening in Colombia. Now because of the US military presence-build up in Colombia , the countries of South America , including Brazil, are arming themselves. Action – reaction. Its a mistake. The money could be used to better purposes, why put that unnecessary military pressure , to what end ? to fight ” narco terrorism”?. Come to think of it , Mr. Uribe, the Colombian president, is the South American version of Karzai . Same pattern of conduct. Afghanistan = Opium. Colombia = Coca. This is real weird.
Critics of Obama here in South America, suggest that the man is not living up to the expectations
that were created during is campaign. The big winners : the International military Industrial complex ( Russia, China, France Italy Israel ect…
…now the mess is spreading like an infection…
JTM what is your opinion on this, Am I confused ?
JT:
Thought you might appreciate this app.
JT:
Thought you might appreciate this app.
Actually, here’s a better link.
Actually, here’s a better link.
Actually, here’s a better link.
Seth, I bet I’m not the only one who appreciates both the link and the app.
I wonder — is it possible to “win” the game, or is it set up like “Missile Command” was, so that no matter how quick your reflexes, the incoming warheads would eventually reach a pace and number that would destroy all your cities? Teaching you the futility of the whole Cold War shootin’ match, and I guess the futility of resisting too…
And for the squeamish who resist the notion of killing off the parasites and predators, you ought to remember that first, they are using your great-grandchildren’s potential wealth to buy up those penthouses and private islands and to hire the best security details that Funny Munny can buy, and that what they’ve done to the rest of us has caused thousands, maybe millions of deaths of ordinary people, and likely a whole lot more before the shooting’s over.
What’s the worst is that these folks have set it up so that we have to choose between tolerating these people and their killer skill-sets, or risk the post-revolutionary chaos that might ensue. Since they have created their own system of “constitutional rule of law” by lining up judges and lawyers to approve their notions of e.g., corporations as “persons” whose “free speech” is to be protected, and law=makers to give them the laws that create their market spaces and make everything all either “legal,” or at least “not illegal,” or more deliciously, “too hard to prosecute.”
Seth, I bet I’m not the only one who appreciates both the link and the app.
I wonder — is it possible to “win” the game, or is it set up like “Missile Command” was, so that no matter how quick your reflexes, the incoming warheads would eventually reach a pace and number that would destroy all your cities? Teaching you the futility of the whole Cold War shootin’ match, and I guess the futility of resisting too…
And for the squeamish who resist the notion of killing off the parasites and predators, you ought to remember that first, they are using your great-grandchildren’s potential wealth to buy up those penthouses and private islands and to hire the best security details that Funny Munny can buy, and that what they’ve done to the rest of us has caused thousands, maybe millions of deaths of ordinary people, and likely a whole lot more before the shooting’s over.
What’s the worst is that these folks have set it up so that we have to choose between tolerating these people and their killer skill-sets, or risk the post-revolutionary chaos that might ensue. Since they have created their own system of “constitutional rule of law” by lining up judges and lawyers to approve their notions of e.g., corporations as “persons” whose “free speech” is to be protected, and law=makers to give them the laws that create their market spaces and make everything all either “legal,” or at least “not illegal,” or more deliciously, “too hard to prosecute.”
Seth, I bet I’m not the only one who appreciates both the link and the app.
I wonder — is it possible to “win” the game, or is it set up like “Missile Command” was, so that no matter how quick your reflexes, the incoming warheads would eventually reach a pace and number that would destroy all your cities? Teaching you the futility of the whole Cold War shootin’ match, and I guess the futility of resisting too…
And for the squeamish who resist the notion of killing off the parasites and predators, you ought to remember that first, they are using your great-grandchildren’s potential wealth to buy up those penthouses and private islands and to hire the best security details that Funny Munny can buy, and that what they’ve done to the rest of us has caused thousands, maybe millions of deaths of ordinary people, and likely a whole lot more before the shooting’s over.
What’s the worst is that these folks have set it up so that we have to choose between tolerating these people and their killer skill-sets, or risk the post-revolutionary chaos that might ensue. Since they have created their own system of “constitutional rule of law” by lining up judges and lawyers to approve their notions of e.g., corporations as “persons” whose “free speech” is to be protected, and law=makers to give them the laws that create their market spaces and make everything all either “legal,” or at least “not illegal,” or more deliciously, “too hard to prosecute.”
If anyone here hasn’t read it yet, may I suggest Chris Hedges’ “Empire of Illusion”. As I sit here in the local coffee house listening to the chat at the next table about such unimportant nonsense as relative worth of this football player to that, who’s a free agent, championship chances, etc., I think of the press that the latest version of “Call to Duty” received yesterday (even on NPR), the kids eying same at Costco’s extremely large and promintent display of the latest kill-em-dead video game, and, just across the aisle, the adults browsing Glenn Beck’s “words of wisdom” (at its equally prominent aisle-end display). Ugh. The tidal wave of distractive devices and disinformation being set upon us by corporate America and the MIC seems to just be gaining its full destructive strength. Very depressing, indeed. But when the likes of an Eikenberry stands up and makes the kind of sense he is making and disagrees with the “business-as-usual-more-boots-on-the-ground-will-solve-all-of-our-problems” establishment of which he was part, and the President is listening, I think there may yet be hope.
If anyone here hasn’t read it yet, may I suggest Chris Hedges’ “Empire of Illusion”. As I sit here in the local coffee house listening to the chat at the next table about such unimportant nonsense as relative worth of this football player to that, who’s a free agent, championship chances, etc., I think of the press that the latest version of “Call to Duty” received yesterday (even on NPR), the kids eying same at Costco’s extremely large and promintent display of the latest kill-em-dead video game, and, just across the aisle, the adults browsing Glenn Beck’s “words of wisdom” (at its equally prominent aisle-end display). Ugh. The tidal wave of distractive devices and disinformation being set upon us by corporate America and the MIC seems to just be gaining its full destructive strength. Very depressing, indeed. But when the likes of an Eikenberry stands up and makes the kind of sense he is making and disagrees with the “business-as-usual-more-boots-on-the-ground-will-solve-all-of-our-problems” establishment of which he was part, and the President is listening, I think there may yet be hope.
If anyone here hasn’t read it yet, may I suggest Chris Hedges’ “Empire of Illusion”. As I sit here in the local coffee house listening to the chat at the next table about such unimportant nonsense as relative worth of this football player to that, who’s a free agent, championship chances, etc., I think of the press that the latest version of “Call to Duty” received yesterday (even on NPR), the kids eying same at Costco’s extremely large and promintent display of the latest kill-em-dead video game, and, just across the aisle, the adults browsing Glenn Beck’s “words of wisdom” (at its equally prominent aisle-end display). Ugh. The tidal wave of distractive devices and disinformation being set upon us by corporate America and the MIC seems to just be gaining its full destructive strength. Very depressing, indeed. But when the likes of an Eikenberry stands up and makes the kind of sense he is making and disagrees with the “business-as-usual-more-boots-on-the-ground-will-solve-all-of-our-problems” establishment of which he was part, and the President is listening, I think there may yet be hope.
I read your posts, JTMc and think of the last scene in Thelma and Louise. I ask myself, are you telling us to embrace each other, smile and hit the accelerator?
The scene doesn’t really show a poof at the bottom of the canyon. They’re freeing themselves from their abusers whom they’ve abused in turn. The last shot is the car arcing upward to some kind of freedom.
But on the drive home from the theatre or on the way back to the kitchen, in the mind of the audience, they’re rather finally and completely dead.
Great statement. Great ending. Terrible way out of a tight spot. Maybe we can do better?
I read your posts, JTMc and think of the last scene in Thelma and Louise. I ask myself, are you telling us to embrace each other, smile and hit the accelerator?
The scene doesn’t really show a poof at the bottom of the canyon. They’re freeing themselves from their abusers whom they’ve abused in turn. The last shot is the car arcing upward to some kind of freedom.
But on the drive home from the theatre or on the way back to the kitchen, in the mind of the audience, they’re rather finally and completely dead.
Great statement. Great ending. Terrible way out of a tight spot. Maybe we can do better?
I read your posts, JTMc and think of the last scene in Thelma and Louise. I ask myself, are you telling us to embrace each other, smile and hit the accelerator?
The scene doesn’t really show a poof at the bottom of the canyon. They’re freeing themselves from their abusers whom they’ve abused in turn. The last shot is the car arcing upward to some kind of freedom.
But on the drive home from the theatre or on the way back to the kitchen, in the mind of the audience, they’re rather finally and completely dead.
Great statement. Great ending. Terrible way out of a tight spot. Maybe we can do better?
Nothing requires more prudence and thought than war. Please, mr. President. Side with reason and ignore the screeching neocon hordes.
Nothing requires more prudence and thought than war. Please, mr. President. Side with reason and ignore the screeching neocon hordes.
bernard, you are certainly not confused. I don’t have an answer, just observations.
Individuals are born and die, and do whatever we are inclined to during that span, with more or less attention to the pain we cause or the pain we feel, likewise for pleasure. Now that we are so many, so mutually if asymmetrically vulnerable, so completely armed, and so subject to manufactured demand and the numbness that having too much brings, I think we have reached the end of the trail as the Major Top Predator And Biggest Parasite Species. Although those who know how to rob and accumulate will live out their protected lives immune to the consequences and safe from retribution.
I think you have said it exactly right before: hold on to what you love that loves you back, try to protect those you can, help those you can and hope for help in return, and keep out of effective range of the people whose pleasure comes from that other kind of motivation.
Seems to me that humans can live in small groups only, which is the only place that the kind of mutuality that the “forces” JPapola believes in might actually manifest itself, although from a very different genesis in whatever is spiritual about us rather than some derivative dogma.
I’m aging and my life is shrinking, no more big-law firm shit, no government employment, no notion of military virtues. I do not know what my kids and grandkids will have to live with and try to survive, but to my mind the paradigm of individuals following their own interests and driving other “weaker” people before them while robbing them blind has weakened not only the species but the whole planet.
We react strongly to the Badness of the Aliens in “Independence Day,” who wander from planet to planet killing the inhabitants and eating and stealing everything, but of course WE aren’t like that, now are we?
My bet is that if the Messiah were to show up, a detail of CIA or ISI or Mossad or whatever passes fo the KGB these days would kill him or her off and as much as possible anyone who might have been polluted by contact with that essence, to Preserve What We Value. Right.
Make a small, low-visibility space you and those you care about can live in and defend, minimize your needs, kill off your wants. And you might even pray — it might do some good too.
bernard, you are certainly not confused. I don’t have an answer, just observations.
Individuals are born and die, and do whatever we are inclined to during that span, with more or less attention to the pain we cause or the pain we feel, likewise for pleasure. Now that we are so many, so mutually if asymmetrically vulnerable, so completely armed, and so subject to manufactured demand and the numbness that having too much brings, I think we have reached the end of the trail as the Major Top Predator And Biggest Parasite Species. Although those who know how to rob and accumulate will live out their protected lives immune to the consequences and safe from retribution.
I think you have said it exactly right before: hold on to what you love that loves you back, try to protect those you can, help those you can and hope for help in return, and keep out of effective range of the people whose pleasure comes from that other kind of motivation.
Seems to me that humans can live in small groups only, which is the only place that the kind of mutuality that the “forces” JPapola believes in might actually manifest itself, although from a very different genesis in whatever is spiritual about us rather than some derivative dogma.
I’m aging and my life is shrinking, no more big-law firm shit, no government employment, no notion of military virtues. I do not know what my kids and grandkids will have to live with and try to survive, but to my mind the paradigm of individuals following their own interests and driving other “weaker” people before them while robbing them blind has weakened not only the species but the whole planet.
We react strongly to the Badness of the Aliens in “Independence Day,” who wander from planet to planet killing the inhabitants and eating and stealing everything, but of course WE aren’t like that, now are we?
My bet is that if the Messiah were to show up, a detail of CIA or ISI or Mossad or whatever passes fo the KGB these days would kill him or her off and as much as possible anyone who might have been polluted by contact with that essence, to Preserve What We Value. Right.
Make a small, low-visibility space you and those you care about can live in and defend, minimize your needs, kill off your wants. And you might even pray — it might do some good too.
I am going sailing. I am to old for this shit. One day at the time and fuck the news.
I am going sailing. I am to old for this shit. One day at the time and fuck the news.
I am going sailing. I am to old for this shit. One day at the time and fuck the news.
There are few sounds so crisp as a spinnaker popping. Enjoy!
There are few sounds so crisp as a spinnaker popping. Enjoy!
Thanks Ien. Take care.
Thanks Ien. Take care.
Or the sounds of the bow wave while straddling the bowsprit, or that loverly gurgle and rush of wake, streaming past the hull, inches from your head, as you drowse away your off-watch. Not much is better than an ocean sunrise, or a moonless night far from the “noble gas” streetlights of any city, with a whole galaxy awash across the black, reminding us of our relative significance, including that part about how all our atoms were born in the immeasurable Caesarian of a star going nova.
(Loved spinnakers back when I was young and agile and driven enough to race — gimme nice heavy working sails now, where being a little off your trim is not an invitation to one of those Diane Beeson moments. Which usually look something like this. Been there, done that, too many times. Feels so good when it’s over…
Or the sounds of the bow wave while straddling the bowsprit, or that loverly gurgle and rush of wake, streaming past the hull, inches from your head, as you drowse away your off-watch. Not much is better than an ocean sunrise, or a moonless night far from the “noble gas” streetlights of any city, with a whole galaxy awash across the black, reminding us of our relative significance, including that part about how all our atoms were born in the immeasurable Caesarian of a star going nova.
(Loved spinnakers back when I was young and agile and driven enough to race — gimme nice heavy working sails now, where being a little off your trim is not an invitation to one of those Diane Beeson moments. Which usually look something like this. Been there, done that, too many times. Feels so good when it’s over…
Or the sounds of the bow wave while straddling the bowsprit, or that loverly gurgle and rush of wake, streaming past the hull, inches from your head, as you drowse away your off-watch. Not much is better than an ocean sunrise, or a moonless night far from the “noble gas” streetlights of any city, with a whole galaxy awash across the black, reminding us of our relative significance, including that part about how all our atoms were born in the immeasurable Caesarian of a star going nova.
(Loved spinnakers back when I was young and agile and driven enough to race — gimme nice heavy working sails now, where being a little off your trim is not an invitation to one of those Diane Beeson moments. Which usually look something like this. Been there, done that, too many times. Feels so good when it’s over…
Which part? Starting one, keeping one going, or ending one?
Which part? Starting one, keeping one going, or ending one?
Which part? Starting one, keeping one going, or ending one?
While I’m killing time, I just heard a tiny bit of “reason” on NPR. They have this support-the-troops, sell-the-party-line series where they “interview” or provide a voice for a few soldiers, who generally continue the main meme without nary a trope in sight.
But what I heard was a GI saying, “I know how to fight. I’ve been in a lot of fights. What I do not want to do is be a mine detection device.” Yep, Mr. President, you’re a smart guy who got us to vote for you because you said you wanted to change the game — you got the stuff it would take to do it? It would be something better than mealymouthing all those “patriotic” platitudes and nostrums at the next memorial for the next knot of unnecessary and futile deaths.
While I’m killing time, I just heard a tiny bit of “reason” on NPR. They have this support-the-troops, sell-the-party-line series where they “interview” or provide a voice for a few soldiers, who generally continue the main meme without nary a trope in sight.
But what I heard was a GI saying, “I know how to fight. I’ve been in a lot of fights. What I do not want to do is be a mine detection device.” Yep, Mr. President, you’re a smart guy who got us to vote for you because you said you wanted to change the game — you got the stuff it would take to do it? It would be something better than mealymouthing all those “patriotic” platitudes and nostrums at the next memorial for the next knot of unnecessary and futile deaths.
While I’m killing time, I just heard a tiny bit of “reason” on NPR. They have this support-the-troops, sell-the-party-line series where they “interview” or provide a voice for a few soldiers, who generally continue the main meme without nary a trope in sight.
But what I heard was a GI saying, “I know how to fight. I’ve been in a lot of fights. What I do not want to do is be a mine detection device.” Yep, Mr. President, you’re a smart guy who got us to vote for you because you said you wanted to change the game — you got the stuff it would take to do it? It would be something better than mealymouthing all those “patriotic” platitudes and nostrums at the next memorial for the next knot of unnecessary and futile deaths.
Loved that wooden thistle. Hated reworking it after every sail. Loved the look of the keel leaning out with an ear inches from the water. Hated getting caught in a thunderstorm.
Good days.
Loved that wooden thistle. Hated reworking it after every sail. Loved the look of the keel leaning out with an ear inches from the water. Hated getting caught in a thunderstorm.
Good days.
In the real world, Thelma and Louise smile, hit the accelerator and choke the engine because they put cheap gas in a high performance engine when they haven’t changed the plugs or the oil for five years.
Stupidity and obliviousness may save us in 2012. Meanwhile, at least I’ll have a good excuse for not shopping for Christmas that year. “But but but… the world was ending! What use would you have for new hairdryer???”
I want to restart the war of the sexes. We might win that one this time maybe.
In the real world, Thelma and Louise smile, hit the accelerator and choke the engine because they put cheap gas in a high performance engine when they haven’t changed the plugs or the oil for five years.
Stupidity and obliviousness may save us in 2012. Meanwhile, at least I’ll have a good excuse for not shopping for Christmas that year. “But but but… the world was ending! What use would you have for new hairdryer???”
I want to restart the war of the sexes. We might win that one this time maybe.
In the real world, Thelma and Louise smile, hit the accelerator and choke the engine because they put cheap gas in a high performance engine when they haven’t changed the plugs or the oil for five years.
Stupidity and obliviousness may save us in 2012. Meanwhile, at least I’ll have a good excuse for not shopping for Christmas that year. “But but but… the world was ending! What use would you have for new hairdryer???”
I want to restart the war of the sexes. We might win that one this time maybe.
Mine was an International 110 in the home waters of Marblehead, Mass. Grew up in Town Class. My kid now has a Glen L 14 sloop…
Now does Robin Williams get to play Eikenberry in the movie?
Mine was an International 110 in the home waters of Marblehead, Mass. Grew up in Town Class. My kid now has a Glen L 14 sloop…
Now does Robin Williams get to play Eikenberry in the movie?
Mine was an International 110 in the home waters of Marblehead, Mass. Grew up in Town Class. My kid now has a Glen L 14 sloop…
Now does Robin Williams get to play Eikenberry in the movie?
Yeah but he plays a deaf mute paralyzed from the waist up.
Yeah but he plays a deaf mute paralyzed from the waist up.
Yeah but he plays a deaf mute paralyzed from the waist up.
Yeah, looks like the playing field is leveling out — when “they” start to live like “us,” which now has more than a Few, Proud women joining in the real-life battle space Game of Warcraft. In fact, according to this piece in the New York Times, it is now, and per the officer quoted, should be, ‘culturally unremarkable.’ Even married couples get to live together Over There. What better proof that the war franchise is “successful” in totally displacing any of those weak-kneed-pacifist-Leftie-Loony-appeaser motives that were thought in the ’60s and ’70s to belong mostly to the distaff side? (I should be careful about broadcasting such sentiments, which are sure to draw hostile reflexive fire from the well-armed woman’s side.)
And of course there’s still a Glass Ceiling, but women have shown the ability to be Just Like Or Even Stronger And More Effective Than Men in politics, business, you name it… I wonder if thre’s any on-line betting site where the odds of when monetary compensation of women tips past the male mark are given? Marketeers already know that women control the bulk of spending. And on the subject of wagering, another human trait, there’s this little snippet on the subject. I especially like this bit:
“What about market manipulation? Can wealthy traders create the equivalent of a “bank run” on a candidate, thus reversing the momentum of a race? In October 2004 a bettor tried to do that by placing a series of large bets on John Kerry. Within moments of the first bet the presidential line moved radically–Bush’s likelihood of winning went from 54 to 40–but then a flood of cash came in behind Bush because the odds were now seen as a bargain, and soon the line migrated back to its starting place. A study by economists at the University of North Carolina on speculative attacks on election markets found “little evidence that political stock markets can be systematically manipulated beyond short time periods.”"
Kind of like oil prices, and the stuff that the really smart guys and gals at Goldman-Sachs are doing with their really fast computers and total dedication to “Greed is good.”
And should I be cheery or leery that average longevity of both species is getting closer too, as x-chromosomes run up against that other set of stressors that used to belong to the y-guys?
Doesn’t take muscle mass to fire a .50-cal M-107 sniper rifle. Or tilt the joystick and punch the firing buttons that control that Predator or Reaper and that load of “smart” ordnance half-way around the world. I hope, if you watch the little clip, that you listen carefully to what the sniper unit officer and the sales rep/executive for Barrett Industries have to say in the video link. And recognize the likely reaction of the vast human (male and female) mass of viewers — “Fuckin’ insurgents — cool weapon!!!! Love that ‘pink mist!!!!!’ Kill the fuckers from a mile away!!!!!!!!”
Momma might prefer a can of “ammo” to that stupid hair dryer… I know I would. But then, I walk around under a half-bald buzz cut these days.
Yeah, looks like the playing field is leveling out — when “they” start to live like “us,” which now has more than a Few, Proud women joining in the real-life battle space Game of Warcraft. In fact, according to this piece in the New York Times, it is now, and per the officer quoted, should be, ‘culturally unremarkable.’ Even married couples get to live together Over There. What better proof that the war franchise is “successful” in totally displacing any of those weak-kneed-pacifist-Leftie-Loony-appeaser motives that were thought in the ’60s and ’70s to belong mostly to the distaff side? (I should be careful about broadcasting such sentiments, which are sure to draw hostile reflexive fire from the well-armed woman’s side.)
And of course there’s still a Glass Ceiling, but women have shown the ability to be Just Like Or Even Stronger And More Effective Than Men in politics, business, you name it… I wonder if thre’s any on-line betting site where the odds of when monetary compensation of women tips past the male mark are given? Marketeers already know that women control the bulk of spending. And on the subject of wagering, another human trait, there’s this little snippet on the subject. I especially like this bit:
“What about market manipulation? Can wealthy traders create the equivalent of a “bank run” on a candidate, thus reversing the momentum of a race? In October 2004 a bettor tried to do that by placing a series of large bets on John Kerry. Within moments of the first bet the presidential line moved radically–Bush’s likelihood of winning went from 54 to 40–but then a flood of cash came in behind Bush because the odds were now seen as a bargain, and soon the line migrated back to its starting place. A study by economists at the University of North Carolina on speculative attacks on election markets found “little evidence that political stock markets can be systematically manipulated beyond short time periods.”"
Kind of like oil prices, and the stuff that the really smart guys and gals at Goldman-Sachs are doing with their really fast computers and total dedication to “Greed is good.”
And should I be cheery or leery that average longevity of both species is getting closer too, as x-chromosomes run up against that other set of stressors that used to belong to the y-guys?
Doesn’t take muscle mass to fire a .50-cal M-107 sniper rifle. Or tilt the joystick and punch the firing buttons that control that Predator or Reaper and that load of “smart” ordnance half-way around the world. I hope, if you watch the little clip, that you listen carefully to what the sniper unit officer and the sales rep/executive for Barrett Industries have to say in the video link. And recognize the likely reaction of the vast human (male and female) mass of viewers — “Fuckin’ insurgents — cool weapon!!!! Love that ‘pink mist!!!!!’ Kill the fuckers from a mile away!!!!!!!!”
Momma might prefer a can of “ammo” to that stupid hair dryer… I know I would. But then, I walk around under a half-bald buzz cut these days.
Yeah, looks like the playing field is leveling out — when “they” start to live like “us,” which now has more than a Few, Proud women joining in the real-life battle space Game of Warcraft. In fact, according to this piece in the New York Times, it is now, and per the officer quoted, should be, ‘culturally unremarkable.’ Even married couples get to live together Over There. What better proof that the war franchise is “successful” in totally displacing any of those weak-kneed-pacifist-Leftie-Loony-appeaser motives that were thought in the ’60s and ’70s to belong mostly to the distaff side? (I should be careful about broadcasting such sentiments, which are sure to draw hostile reflexive fire from the well-armed woman’s side.)
And of course there’s still a Glass Ceiling, but women have shown the ability to be Just Like Or Even Stronger And More Effective Than Men in politics, business, you name it… I wonder if thre’s any on-line betting site where the odds of when monetary compensation of women tips past the male mark are given? Marketeers already know that women control the bulk of spending. And on the subject of wagering, another human trait, there’s this little snippet on the subject. I especially like this bit:
“What about market manipulation? Can wealthy traders create the equivalent of a “bank run” on a candidate, thus reversing the momentum of a race? In October 2004 a bettor tried to do that by placing a series of large bets on John Kerry. Within moments of the first bet the presidential line moved radically–Bush’s likelihood of winning went from 54 to 40–but then a flood of cash came in behind Bush because the odds were now seen as a bargain, and soon the line migrated back to its starting place. A study by economists at the University of North Carolina on speculative attacks on election markets found “little evidence that political stock markets can be systematically manipulated beyond short time periods.”"
Kind of like oil prices, and the stuff that the really smart guys and gals at Goldman-Sachs are doing with their really fast computers and total dedication to “Greed is good.”
And should I be cheery or leery that average longevity of both species is getting closer too, as x-chromosomes run up against that other set of stressors that used to belong to the y-guys?
Doesn’t take muscle mass to fire a .50-cal M-107 sniper rifle. Or tilt the joystick and punch the firing buttons that control that Predator or Reaper and that load of “smart” ordnance half-way around the world. I hope, if you watch the little clip, that you listen carefully to what the sniper unit officer and the sales rep/executive for Barrett Industries have to say in the video link. And recognize the likely reaction of the vast human (male and female) mass of viewers — “Fuckin’ insurgents — cool weapon!!!! Love that ‘pink mist!!!!!’ Kill the fuckers from a mile away!!!!!!!!”
Momma might prefer a can of “ammo” to that stupid hair dryer… I know I would. But then, I walk around under a half-bald buzz cut these days.
Bottoms up! Tits Out!
Momma is a fan of power tools. I have to borrow them from her.
Bottoms up! Tits Out!
Momma is a fan of power tools. I have to borrow them from her.
Bottoms up! Tits Out!
Momma is a fan of power tools. I have to borrow them from her.
I long for the smiles of children, the wind in my face, the sound of silence, the simple life. Happiness is peace and a conversation with my fellow fishermen. Fresh fish and a bottle of rhum.
Last night we solved all the problems of the world.
I long for the smiles of children, the wind in my face, the sound of silence, the simple life. Happiness is peace and a conversation with my fellow fishermen. Fresh fish and a bottle of rhum.
Last night we solved all the problems of the world.
I long for the smiles of children, the wind in my face, the sound of silence, the simple life. Happiness is peace and a conversation with my fellow fishermen. Fresh fish and a bottle of rhum.
Last night we solved all the problems of the world.
I long for the gurgling of garrotted investment bankers, the luger in their face, Emily Wherever I May Find Her, my minister’s wife. Happiness is a piece of Glenn Beck’s IRS returns and pummeling my neighbor with the leaf blower who cleans his deck at 5AM. Fresh ammo and block of C4.
Last night we poisoned our CEO’s dog.
I long for the gurgling of garrotted investment bankers, the luger in their face, Emily Wherever I May Find Her, my minister’s wife. Happiness is a piece of Glenn Beck’s IRS returns and pummeling my neighbor with the leaf blower who cleans his deck at 5AM. Fresh ammo and block of C4.
Last night we poisoned our CEO’s dog.
I long for the gurgling of garrotted investment bankers, the luger in their face, Emily Wherever I May Find Her, my minister’s wife. Happiness is a piece of Glenn Beck’s IRS returns and pummeling my neighbor with the leaf blower who cleans his deck at 5AM. Fresh ammo and block of C4.
Last night we poisoned our CEO’s dog.
All I want to say is that what Ambassador Eikenberry has done–reporting his findings to the President–is what he’s sworn to do. Ergo, if his reports happen to upset the cart, then so be it.
(A small point, but one conceerning consequential matters.)
All I want to say is that what Ambassador Eikenberry has done–reporting his findings to the President–is what he’s sworn to do. Ergo, if his reports happen to upset the cart, then so be it.
(A small point, but one conceerning consequential matters.)
Which is why channeling Mork and Garp while he does it is all the more appropriate.
Which is why channeling Mork and Garp while he does it is all the more appropriate.
Rousseau couldn’t have put it any better.
Rousseau couldn’t have put it any better.
Rousseau couldn’t have put it any better.
Leaf blowers!
Don’t get me started on leaf blowers!
GRRRRRRR!
Leaf blowers!
Don’t get me started on leaf blowers!
GRRRRRRR!
Leaf blowers!
Don’t get me started on leaf blowers!
GRRRRRRR!
We seem to have moved from particulars to particulates…
We seem to have moved from particulars to particulates…
We seem to have moved from particulars to particulates…
Humor, Hugo, because otherwise it gets so human we lose our humanity. Here is something to remind us from Homer NY a few weeks ago: real music and a message, “in case we forget”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVwp1NTacpo
Humor, Hugo, because otherwise it gets so human we lose our humanity. Here is something to remind us from Homer NY a few weeks ago: real music and a message, “in case we forget”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVwp1NTacpo
Humor, Hugo, because otherwise it gets so human we lose our humanity. Here is something to remind us from Homer NY a few weeks ago: real music and a message, “in case we forget”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVwp1NTacpo