Tuesday, September 23, 2003
OK, I'll fill in a few blanks a la mi vida loca. As the pictures probably make clear to anyone who's been there I was in Hawaii (hence the constant interrogation and security searches) — on Maui. It's a neat place and quite pretty, although I have to admit that I think I liked the people in the Caribbean more and I'm not sure if I liked the dichotomy of America and Islander.
The day we were about to sign a lease, we got confirmation that I'd just inherited a 550 acre waterfront farm in Ontario (worth anywhere between $500,000 and $2 million!), so we came back to deal with the courts on that. However, it's not actually the byproduct of a death, but a court battle, so there's still some uncertainty in all of that… It's definitely possible that it falls through. So who knows where we'll be in a year. We may be back on a tropical island, or maybe even elsewhere. I've got the paperwork to get my EU (German) passport back in order, so because of our wide range of joint citizenships we have a lot of options.
The other reason I'm doing that paperwork is the crashing of the US economy. Personally I think it's going to recover, but as the Euro potentially starts to become the dominant world currency it's increasingly important that I can move fluently in that world as a native. My businesses have taken fairly significant hits due to being US-based, so it's my “Plan B” I suppose.
Monday, September 22, 2003
I was waiting in a queue today and this was my number… They looked at me funny when I asked if I could keep it (normally they take them and tear them up), but I just had to scan it. Figured there'd be some other green-inclined folks that might be amused.
Monday, September 22, 2003
Monday, September 22, 2003
I don't know if this guy makes the military look worse, or tattooed people. Meet Private Kerri McAllister:
The only reason I joined the Army was to kill people. I really feel like there are some people who deserve to die, so why let somebody else do it when I can take care of business? Saddam for one. He was really [messing] his people up...
[But] I cannot die a happy man until I go to an Iron Maiden concert. [If I don't like the army], I'd love to be a bouncer in a [topless] bar.
Maybe I'm in the minority here, but if some dumbass says crap like “the only reason I joined the Army was to kill people” they should be instantly disqualified. Anyway, you can expect one or two columns to be posted later today, as well as perhaps an experience update depending on how the day goes.
Oh, and you'll get a preview of the awesome new BME/boy and BME/girl shirts too.
Sunday, September 21, 2003
While flying over the ocean yesterday I saw a nuclear sub, ironically, right before watching The In-Laws (about a stolen sub), cruising along on its way to threaten someone or other's life for no good reason… I'd like to refer to this article (more) written by a US solier in Iraq:
From the moment the first shot was fired in this so-called war of liberation and freedom, hypocrisy reigned. Tell me where the humanity was [for] two young children brought to a U.S. military camp by their mother, in search of medical care? The two children had been, unbeknown to them, playing with explosive ordinance they had found and as a result were severely burned. Following an hour-long wait [they] were denied care by two U.S. military doctors. ... One of many "atrocities" on the part of the U.S. military.
I once believed that I served for a cause: "to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Now, I no longer believe; I have lost my conviction, my determination. I can no longer justify my service for what I believe to be half-truths and bold lies. My time is done as well as that of many others with whom I serve. We have all faced death here without reason or justification.
How many more must die?
At least he seems to “get it”… A couple days ago a bunch of US troops got drunk and decided to party at the Baghdad Zoo. One of them tried feeding a rare Bengal tiger through his cage (breaking through the first layer of protective barriers), and of course the drunken dumbass got his hand bitten. In response, his buddies opened fire and killed the endangered tiger (more). It's as if killing things is all these kids can think of at this point.
I recently passed through the US and over the few days I was there was searched and detained a dozen times. It was insane. You know what, it ceases to be random after about the fifth time in a row, and when you hit double digits, it's just ridiculous… and going into restaurants and actually seeing “Freedom Fries” on the menus was disgusting and insulting. I can't believe people are stupid enough to buy into that crap. Well, Bush wants more of it. More police powers are being demanded (more)…
The thing about all this new “security” stuff is that it doesn't work. It's only going to catch dumbasses that aren't a threat anyway. People who are actually determined to cause problems will do so — if you want a free society, that's one of the things you've got to live with. Part of me wants to write a “How To” book on airline security. Having been searched so many times recently, I saw dozens of serious holes — unpatchable holes at that — which would allow me to bring guns, machetes, and any other weapons to any point in an airport and even onto a plane.
I wonder what would happen to me if I posted such a guide to USENET?
