David~ Okay, you know the Internet is shrinking when...
Did you know you have a post that made it into alt.humor.best-of-usenet? "Subject: Re: Is this group about books? "
L.
AAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHH!
Frickin' Derek Jeter!
When will it stop, God? When do I get to see the rabbits, George?
*whimpers*
I knew it was all too easy......
Re: "sending a message"...what's been ironic to me is that typically the message that is actually put forth is the OPPOSITE of the one these folks seem intent on sending.
For example - Bush going to the World Series to prove how "safe" it is for folks to the go to the World Series. Well, if it's so safe, why make an issue? I understand that his message is that he's not afraid to show his face, but let's face it - that's meaningless for a guy who has a battalion of security guards with him everywhere he goes, and who has probably been given every available innoculation against possible biohazards.
Same with all the flying politicians have done. I've been on six or seven flights since September 11th, but I'm not looking for accolades. I'm just living my flippin' life. And I'd personally be more convinced if the media folks and politicians would just go back to conducting theirs without having to haul out the heavy symbolism every time they take a step or tighten their ties.
And that's the message I'm just about to send... ;-)
Lorin O.
Frank,
Ah, the "libertarian" method of takin "anything" that's wrong with a "system," magnify it by a "hundred" and claim that it's the end-all-be-all of a "situation." No one's arguing that the capitalistic system we live under is flawed and (to an extent) corrupt. That's human. It's also human to work for improvement. Advocating Socialism, to me, is nothing near an improvement - it's a step backward to despotism, and an willful ignoring of mankind's wish to control it's own individual destiny.
Oh, and referencing Chomsky to me is about as effective as referencing John Maynard Keynes.
Joseph
Joseph: Even ask any Libertarian and they will tell you that we do not have an actual "Capitalist" system. Actually, what we have is a "Socialized" corporatocracy, that is based on "Fascistic" forms of structure. Noam Chomsky has reported on this for years. Read, and you learn grasshopper.
Government subsidy of Corporations--or social welfare to the laymen--does not qualify this system as a pure "Capitalist" mode of governance. If we end Corporate Welfare we would have a true "market" system, but Corporations would never go for that, because the structures that are in place, make them lots more money in the long run. Also, Government subsidy keeps many Corporations from going bankrupt. Corporate, back alley bribes are what keep the money train rolling. So to say we even have this wonderful "Capitalist" system in the first place is hilarious, to say the least.
Only the "little guy" is forced to abide by "market rules". We don't pay our bills, we get fucked. If a Corporation cannot do the same, they are given Govenment dollars. So in a way we have a Socialist system, but for the rich, not for the rest of us. A Pure system once again, would scare any Corporation silly. Joseph, remember, these guys are about one thing: The bottom line. They could care less about fair wages or slave shops in in the third world. They only care about the kitty bein served. This is not my idea of a great economic model for this country. A form of Socialism is the only fair system. But I am sure I will hear the bats coming out of the rafters now.
Dig it: There's an Islamic Cultural Center across the street from this hunny-rich harem I call my apartment. So I'm driving past it yesterday on my way to an appointment with the Study Abroad office. I notice an abundance of cop cars and fire trucks parked in front. As it behooves any good citizen to do in those situations, I peeled my eyes away from the road ahead and slowed to a crawl. Not twenty feet away I spotted about four Moon Men, resplendent in full biohazard gear, huddled around in a circle fiddling with an array of ominous gadgets and whoozits. I read in the paper this morning that someone had sent the Islamic Center a letter that was covered in white powder, which of course tured out to be nothing harmful.
Not a sight one is necessarily prepared for, even in light of the current anthrax scares. I'll file that one under SURREAL.
J
Lynn wrote: "David~ So what you're saying is that you don't have a problem with the *actual* message being sent, you just have
a problem with them trying to point out what 'message' is attempting to be sent, am I right?"
Precisely. Whenever someone says "this sends a message," he (and it's usually a "he") is in effect looking out of the corner of his eye and hoping the rest of the populace is trooping in right behind him. It's as much as to say, "Now, children, this is what I want you to believe." It's an insult to our intelligence, a version of the royal/editorial "we."
Lynn continues: "Maybe if the politicians and the press weren't so concerned with the message they're trying to send, they'd wake up and realize the kind of message they're *actually* sending."
YES!
STOP TRYING TO SEND A GODDAMN MESSAGE AND JUST DO YOUR DAMN JOB!!!
Andrew Rogers: To call the replacement "animatronic" is an insult to animals, who at least have instincts.
He'll be a 'droid veep.
(Sounds like something R2D2 would say....)
David~ So what you're saying is that you don't have a problem with the *actual* message being sent, you just have a problem with them trying to point out what "message" is attempting to be sent, am I right?
Maybe if the politicians and the press weren't so concerned with the message they're trying to send, they'd wake up and realize the kind of message they're *actually* sending.
L.
http://cagle.slate.msn.com/agifs/ohmanYankeestall.gif
23/32
Lynn:
I've been puzzling over your example of "messages sent" for most of the day -- whether you meant them as positive examples or negative ones.
I think the latter, but that doesn't disprove my point: Nobody was out there bloviating for the press about "sending a message" in these instances, because they didn't/don't have a message they want to send; they're just ducking and covering, trying to regain their balance while trying to figure out what the f**k is going on.
We can read out of that whatever message we like.
Scott~ Thumbs up. My box is already doing drugs, my cat 'editorializes' with glee, and if I had more time, there's nothing I'd enjoy more than harassing street corner messiahs. And damned if I don't look out the window and stare at the Mountain every frellin' day.
As to the question of Cheney... What if something did happen to Bush and this guy has to take office? Would anyone even remember him at this point?
L.
PS. Lorin~ ::GRIN::
Lorin,
My fiance and I have been talking about Cheney for a couple of weeks. We're both of the opinion that they're still working some bugs out of his animatronic replacement.
Anyone care to wager on it?
-Andrew
Oh, and for my fellow Yankee haters, here's Rick Reilly's take on the...erm..."unique" outfield stands at Bank One Ballpark:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/magazine/life_of_reilly/news/2001/10/31/life_of_reilly/
Lynn: My husband and I have a theory that Cheney is actually DEAD, and they're just waiting for a good time to tell us....
Lorin O.
(Spheres rule!)
Joseph:
"I was responding to Brian's contention that Democrats feel entitled to the liberal vote when I made by statement. As a so-called liberal vote, I simply defined what I was talking about about, the reasonable vote. It was not meant as a slam on liberal voters. "
Well, considering that it was I also who said that the Democrats feel entitled to the liberal vote, you can see why I took exception to it as well. You said you didn't care about the liberal vote, which is fine. Clearly Mr. Gore feels the same way you do, which is why he is not president now.
Obviously, I do not think Nader made a bad decision by running for President. The two-party system (can we all agree it's a bad idea?) doesn't work anymore, but it's never going to change until someone has the stones to take on the Big Two. Whoever does so risks being pilloried, derided, and disregarded-- who better then to rise to this challenge than Ralph Nader?
Yes, Nader is a millionaire. Read: *self-made* millionaire, not an extraordinarily rich corporate Little Lord Fauntleroy. It's laughable to comment on Nader's relatively meager assets, which he uses to fund positive legislation, than Bush and Gore. Let's get some perspective. No, Nader isn't perfect, but he looks like a saint in comparison.
I do not think Gore and Bush were carbon copies of each other. I do, however, feel that Gore was barely a moderate. As Frank said, he's pretty close to the right on issues like marijuana legislation (hypocrite!), abortion (his personal feelings are anti-), censorhip (hi Tipper), the death penalty, NAFTA, and oil.
If we're talking about the environment, you are definitely choosing the lesser of the two evils if you are choosing Gore. There is no way to contend that Gore has or would do more for the environment than Nader has already done. If you're pro-oil, you're anti-environment, as far as I'm concerned.
TODD: The election was actually rather amusing, in a horrifying way. The whole thing filled me with despair, but I did find it incredibly, blackly comic the way Gore gave that election away. It was like laughing at a funeral, not out of mirth, out of sheer nerves.
HAPPY SAMHAIN.
Bermanator
Scott,
It isn't the board, it's Hotmail itself that's behind your spam woes. Most Hotmail accounts (mine included) wind up on a member directory that spammers use for their nefarious mass mailings. I get tons of spam in my Hotmail account. On the other hand my accounts with other providers get almost none.
-Andrew
Frank,
Not vote for Gore because he's pro-capitalist? Wouldn't you rather have a capitalist run a capitalistic economy? Not sure I see your point here, except a cheap shot against the only economic system that has worked in the historical long run.
Alex,
I tend to think that the era of player managers is over due to the acrimonious relations between players and ownership. Also, the increased specialization of players might be a factor.
Regards,
Joseph
It's a good thing I saw how many other people had gotten this stupid "Lisa Cunningham" e-mail. I was thinking, "Who is Lisa Cunningham, and why is she e-mailing me about certificates?"
I deleted it on sight. I don't know about anyone else, but I've always been kinda leery about opening 208K e-mails from people I don't know.
And as far as spamming goes, ever since I first posted here, I get mortgage offers and "free diploma" junk out the wazoo. That's life, innit?
Lynn: "If you loved me, you'd all kill yourselves tomorrow." Right? Have I got it placed or what?
Why don't I have Filthy Assistants to carry my stuff for me?
Scott
Quick hit before I go off to work: Remember, Schilling was the first one to raise the question of coming back after three days' rest, back after the first game. Being a lifelong Phillies fan and having watched Schill for years, I'd bet he begged for it.
And it's a good managerial decision, win or lose. The Yankers have a history of coming back when down 2-0, they have a three-game homestand, and a win by the D-backs there in Yankee Stadium would strengthen their resolve while demoralizing the Yanks--plus, even if they lost the last Yankee Stadium game, they could take the next game in 'Zona.
Hmm. On the subject of baseball and Harlan, his longtime hero is Lou Boudreaux, the best player-manager since Cap Anson (bearing in mind that Boudreaux was a sweetheart and Cap Anson was a foul despot who originbally drew the color line). The player-managers since have been few and far between, with an abortive season by Pete Rose being the standout. In today's baseball, do you think there can again be player-managers?
My point stands: We have one party in America--the Corporate Party. The slight diffrences do not mean a thing in the long run. Would I prefer Gore over Bush? Sure. But voting for Nader was about making a real choice, and not just pandering to fear. Gore is not a Progressive, and I wanted one to be elected, so I voted for Nader, nuff said.
A good book to prove my point is, "Al Gore--An Owners Manual", by Alexander Cockburn. Shows all the votes that Gore has endorsed over the years.
But here are some of the reasons I could not in good consious of voted for Gore:
1. Welfare Reform bill.
2. Crime Bill. (Even the death penalty for kids!)
3. Nafta/GATT
4. Telecommunications Bill Of 1996, which basically gave the radio waves to big buisiness lock stock and barrel.
5. Supports death penalty.
7. Bigger military buildup, and for Star Wars.
8. Advocates media censorship, and stickering of rock albums for content.
9. Supported Clean Air Act, but sold out on it behind the scenes, in secret.
10. Is a Born Again Christian.
11. Pro Capitalist.
12. Pro WTO/Globalization.
13. Cannot Dance..haha.
And you ask me why I didn't vote for gore. For shame.
Growing up here, in Southern California, has made me pretty blase about quakes. I normally sleep right through 'em.
I'm still trying to decide whether or not my ambivalence makes me especially brave or a special kinda stupid though. :)
-Andrew
My mother reported an earthquake in Maine couple weeks back. We don't have many there and they're small, but---Christ! An earthquake just makes the hackles stand up and the mind go alert. Have only felt two in my lifetime: the first in Ithaca back before I had kids and the other while I was sleeping at my granparents' house in Maine. It rumbled and the house shook and at first I just thought it was some drunken rig-jockey taking the corner on 9 wheels. However, the rumble persisted and grew to where the cast-iron bed itself shook. Then it subsided and ceased.
Next morning, my beloved Yankee Grampie greeted me, "Good Mawnin'! Christ? Did you cut a Faht in y'sleep lahst night?"
Andrew~ That quake was way the hell and gone in San Berdue. I guess I'm finally getting used to that gentle swaying of the earth.
David~ re: 'Sending a message.' I think it's just as important to note the kind of message Bush sent by hip-hopping around the United States in Air Force One on September 11th instead of returning to the White House as soon as the threat was over. Or the kind of message that Cheney sends every day with his notable absence.
L.
PS. Happy Hallowe'en All! Virtual sweets for everyone.
Todd - That 2 inning suspended game was against my Padres. Schilling did not come back to finish the game, Johnson did (and struck out a crapload of Padres in doing so). On the other hand Woody Williams did come back and, though he took the loss, did not pitch badly.
-Andrew
Being a local, I get to listen to the game on the radio (walkman) while watching FOX so that the announcers do not ruin the experience. I basically hear both, but I pay most attention to the local Yankee gang....and they are damn good.
Schilling - mistake? Not? Who knows. As a big Yankee fan, I like the thought of him coming out on short rest just because he never has (the one time this year was after a two inning suspended game). All I know is that I think this decision makes Brenly look chicken. Come on....doesn't he have faith in a well rested Schilling for game five and Johnson for game six to beat the Yanks? It smells of panic....but we'll see.
-TODD
Rob,
To quote Rick Reilly, Jordan can bring the Wizards to the next level. Unfortunately, that's Sucks, a step above Dreadful. Personally, I think there's plenty of good stuff to look forward to. I think this may be the real Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter year - and I NEVER discount Malone/Stockton.
Andrew,
Like anything in baseball, I refuse to predict how Schilling's pitching tonight will look as a managerial decision until tomorrow morning. Could be genius, could be madness. Personally, I think Schilling could pull it off - even though he pitched about 102 pitches in Game 1, he felt fine, and can be a great intimidation factor (remember, they only scored 1 run against a 4-9 pitcher last night - Torre will not let them forget that and get too happy about the victory). Personally, I think tonight will be a bit higher scoring - 4-6 Arizona?
Regards,
Joseph
P.S. Happy Halloween everybody!
By the way...
Any SoCal folks here feel the quake last night?
-Andrew
Finally, I can get a break from you baseball freaks now that court-rippin basketball is back, with Jordan in a third debut leading the anemic Washington Wizards to scores unheard of; and Bryant and Shaq, and Singleton and Starks and Malone. It’s gonna be an interesting season.
I didn't hear any spitting (though, per usual, there was plenty to be seen). I *do* wish they hadn't dwelt on the cat in the dugout with that big wad o' chaw just a-bulgin' from his jaw, protruding from his lips and swirling with the tongue. Eeeeeyuck.
The rendition of "God Bless America" by the officer was one of the best I've heard throughout the postseason. The tone, pitch, and diction were perfect. No ugly, effected "AmerEEEca." Good, straight-ahead American short-i sound sung well.
... he typed emphatically, only noticing afterward that he would have to click on a box that reads "Send message"....
Fox mikes baseball fields for "sounds of the game" coverage? Do you get to hear the players spit tobacco REAL LOUD?
I really enjoyed the election, too, much as the outcome disturbed me. Elections used to be a lot more entertaining until about 1980.
Here's my rant for the day: I HATE the phrase "sends a message" in all its permutations, and wish it could be banned for at least a few years.
This morning's example on the news was the innocuous explication of President Bush's presence at last night's game by Joe Torre. But watch for future uses by people with real power (or their mouthpieces), especially U.S. Congresspersons.
Proper translation of the phrase "sends a message": "This is the interpretation I'm praying other people take from it."
What it really means: "I'm engaging in PR/spin/damage control."
What are its effects: Almost nil. The vast majority of potential hearers don't give a shit, and the people who are specifically targeted by "the message" either know it's a lie, or have their minds staunchly made up on behalf of the opposite point of view.
In other words, "this sends a message" means "I'm deluding myself."
Todd/Joseph - To be honest, I've never liked Fox's baseball broadcasts. Especially the way they mic the field like a football game. I find the whole "sounds of the game" thing much more annoying than the ads. As far as the announcing goes, Joseph's right McCarver and Buck suck rocks. The ESPN radio play-by-play is much better (with Joe Morgan and someone else who's name escapes me).
-Andrew
P.S. What do you guys think of Brenly's decision to bring Schilling in on 3 days rest? -AR
Todd,
A) I have to admit, the election was a hell of a lot of fun. Sue me - I'm a political process junkie.
B) Take a look at today's www.chicagosuntimes.com for a good column by Richard Roeper on those asinine backstop ads. Fox should be ashamed.
Regards,
Joseph
While everyone debates the election, I just wanted to make a quick point: wasn't it a hoot? Unfortunately, today's news blows it out of the water, but once all the bitterness subsides over who won and who didn't win and what a ripoff and waitaminute why couldn't Gore win his own damn state or Billy C's state and make the Florida question moot: Wasn't that one hell of a fun election?
Think about it.....before Florida even happened, election eve was damn exciting. I remember being glued to that teevee. It was like an extra inning game 7 World Series. The tension was thick. And waking up in the morning to hear that it had not yet been decided......wow, as a person who enjoys seeing how the various media cover major news stories, who could ask for anything more? Forget the bitterness....Bush is President, deal with it like you dealt with any other President you didn't like (as I dealt for the previous 8 years).....the story itself was just so damn exciting and dareIsayit fun!
Speaking of the World Series......how distracting are those blue-screen ads behind the batter/catcher?!?! The first game I didn't really notice them until the blaring white ones came on with the monstrous picture of Ally McBeal. Good God, can we get even the slightest piece of class out of this? I noticed last night that they did not go for the blaring white monstrosities, but they are still quite noticable because they are not melding that perfectly with the background. Yeesh. What a horror.
And speaking of horrors: who the hell let PumpkinHead Rosie O'Donnell sit behind the home plate last night? She was more distracting than the ads! I don't think I caught her watching the game once.....she just ate and talked and ate and talked and looked at the field only when a foul ball hit the backstop.
Ahhh, I feel better now.
-TODD
Joseph,
Hey. Absolutely. That dopey voluntary program of Bush's in Texas was an unspeakable joke. The corporate goons had a field day turning the region into an over-busy toilet bowl. There's no friggin' way Gore would've allowed that.
Rob,
Thanks for the 1st-hand account. If we want to look at the even wider view, let's consider Gore and Bush on greenhouse gases.
Gore: Writes a book entitled "Earth in the Balance," which was slightly over the top, but presented the opinion of every reputable plantary scientist that Earth's atmosphere was heating up due to greenhouse gaes from industrialization. Sponsored further study of future climactic change with President Clinton.
Bush: gutted the Natural Resource Conservation Commission (Texas' EPA) and made most industrial compliance with environmental regulations voluntary. According to a tri-national NAFTA commission, Texas became the worst polluter in Canada or the United States. Take a look at the Bush environmental legacy here,at the Texas Observer: http://bushfiles.com/00_04_14/000414_bush_and_environment.htm. It'll scare the hell out of you. Scared the hell out of me, and was a major reason I didn't vote for Bush (well, that and his cavalier attitude toward sending hundreds of people to their death).
Regards,
Joseph
For you guys spiraling into the Twilight Zone with your denials of differences between Gore and Bush in such absolutes:
In an ideal universe, I prefer Nader to take the lead. But we don't live in an ideal universe. In the one we DO live in strong differences do exist bet. Gore and Bush, whatever likenesses you choose to embrace (similar constituents in the last election, Gore's one oil investment, etc.)
I worked for an environmental organization for a year. In scientists' efforts to save an intelligent endangered species and the rainforests of Indonesia (the former indigent to the region; the latter critical to the globe's eco-balance) at the hands of pochers, the Clinton Administration allocated funds for several years. Gore took an active interest in the efforts and promised a continuation and possible increase in grants after winning the election. The moment Bush took office it was all cut off; every damn cent. Not even a prospect has been discussed.
For all his faults and irritating pandering, Gore would've been far better for issues like these; it's a fact I saw first hand.
Jim,
A) I just spit on the screen with laughter over your costume idea. That was great.
B) My distinction between Nader and Perot is a matter of intent (and I think you're overestimating Perot's impact in that election's electoral college). Perot ran a serious campaign intended to reach the White House. Nader, by all indications, ran to make a point. Again, this is my opinion.
Oh, and whoever made the quite reasonable comment about Nader's past performance as a corporate gadfly and consumer advocate: of course. Doesn't mean I can't criticize him for a bad decision. (If you want a good look at how Nader can have neck as stiff as anyone else, take a look at Andrew Tobias' book, "My Vast Fortune," and read up on Nader's unreasonable opposition to California automobile insurance).
Regards,
Joseph
P.S.
Can't Fox hire any better baseball commentators? McCarver and Buck are giving me a headache. Where's Costas?
Just a short aside re:the Lisa Cunningham thingee. To those who feel left out - I got 49 of the damn things, three yesterday and 46 today - one every four or five minutes from 7:25am to 11:05am - my ISP berated ME (gently, via form email) for using up bandwidth and storage space. So, to those who still feel left out - I got plenty of love to share - want some? (and even though I'm a Mac user, I officially hate SIRCAM - having been hit by it just over one hundred times since it showed up in July.)
Joseph (you lovable Nader-bashing, Halloween-hating freak, you): Here's an idea for a costume. Take a bunch of those credit card applications that you get in the mail, tape them all over your body, conceal yourself at work, and then randomly jump out at people (preferably scaring the crap out of them). When they ask you what you are doing, scream, "I'M A POP-UP AD!"
Hey, whaddya want for nothin'?
I pledged I wasn't gonna get dragged into yet another Nader debate, but I want to point out a few things:
First, the election results were SO slimly divided, ANY left-leaning third party could have made the difference for Gore. The Socialist Workers Party, the Natural Law Party, the Communist Party, the Workers World Party, etc.--almost ALL of them had enough members to put Gore over the top in Florida. So it's hardly fair to single out the Greens as the culprit in Election 2000.
Second, I don't think there are many regrets by Nader voters, even after the election debacle. Most of the people who claimed that they were going to vote for the Greens, ended up switching to Gore at the last moment. So anyone who actually punched the hole for Nader, did so because he/she really believed he was the best candidate. In an age of voter cynicism and apathy, that's an admirable thing (even if you don't agree with Nader's politics).
Third, if you're going to castigate Nader for "throwing" the election to Dubya, then you should praise Ross Perot for helping to put Bill Clinton in the White House. The Reform Party pulled 19 million votes in '92--TELL me most of them weren't disgruntled Republicans who would have voted for Bush I. Just keep a little perspective, is all I'm saying.
And no, I don't think the two parties are carbon copies of each other. But when you're forced to speak of their political differences in relative terms, something is clearly wrong.
End of Lecture. (Audiotapes are available at...)
Rob: I flipped through what I THOUGHT was the current issue of Scarlett Street last night. I didn't see your article anywhere. Is it in the NEXT issue?
Everyone: I just want to put a plug in for the new CD, "Give Me Your Hump!"--The Unspeakable Terry Southern Record. Southern was the great humorist/writer who penned the novels CANDY and THE MAGIC CHRISTIAN, and the screenplays for DR. STRANGELOVE and EASY RIDER, among others. The CD features exerpts from his books, read by Southern, Marianne Faithfull, Allen Ginsberg, and many more. It is simply the most gleefully obscene recording I've heard in a long time. And funny? Oy, you don' vant to KNOW how funny...
Jim
Some clarifications...
Frank,
Gore a carbon copy of Bush? C'mon. That's like saying the Democratic Party is a carbon copy of the Republican Party. An untenable statement.
P.A. Berman,
I was responding to Brian's contention that Democrats feel entitled to the liberal vote when I made by statement. As a so-called liberal vote, I simply defined what I was talking about about, the reasonable vote. It was not meant as a slam on liberal voters.
Regards,
Joseph
Andrew~ For shame, man. It's Ticketmaster. It's what they do best. Don't be complainin' cause they didn't kiss you first.
To those of you who know 'Transmetropolitan,' I just got done reading 'The Year Of The Bastard' which makes this whole Dole/Bush/Nader discussion particularly humorous. Spider Jerusalem is my new hero. Sorry Harlan.
L.
So,
-- and don't take this the wrong way, please, since I've really no idea about the copyright laws in this case --
would it be possible to get a copy of the tapes of the Ellison appearance someone mentioned waaay waaay near the end of this page? Or is that impossible due to copyright/HE's preferences?
Seeing as I'll probably never get to see HE live, being geographically challenged, and all that... (whine, etc.)
Lynn,
Bought my tickets online through Ticketmaster (something I wouldn't care to repeat) so I paid even more in fees (2 tickets, $40.25).
BTW LA drivers (actually all SoCal drivers)are not so good rain or shine (just worse in the rain). ;)
-Andrew
Joseph: To say that there is a vast difference between Gore and Bush is to be quite ill informed. Gore is the carbon copy with Bush on so many issues it would take all night to map them out. Nader understood this, and that is why he fought the good fight; except for my small quibles.
The Democrats gave in to Corporate America a long time ago, so I really don't feel much sympathy. Actually, many Republicans are critical of Bush on his handling of this war so far.
Now Rumsfeld is saying they may never find Bin Laden. Then why in the hell are we there in the first damn place?? But would Gore handle it any better? I doubt it. Gore, the beard wearing boho is better off in obscurity. We need fresh blood.
HARLAN,
Operation "Enduring..." was a big, big success. I can't express enough my admiration for your generosity (and Susan's, too). You're all right, Ellison. I don't care _what_ they say about you. (Har, Har, Har...)
Next week, we square the circle, and get the Cumaen Sybil started on a program of Retin-A!
Captain Midnight
Joseph, c'mon, you can't post a huge message like that and *then* say you're going to drop it. No fair.
"Ah, the liberal vote. Don't care. I'm talking about the reasonable vote"
Snippy, snippy, snippy. Don't be like that... Being liberal does not make me unreasonable, nor is it a bad word. It's been sullied over the years, but I hold onto it because that's what I am and I'm proud of it.
When I vote, I vote for the candidate I think is the best man, who cares about me, my livelihood, and the environment. Essentially, you are criticizing me for not giving in to fear and letting go of my principles. So be it.
"not handing over the United States government to the Christian Right and the worst polluters in the country"
I handed nothing over (not even my vote to The Dems, who are arrogant enough to feel I owe it to them *because* I'm a liberal and I fear the Republicans-- talk about blackmail. Would they respect me in the morning?). I made a positive choice to stand up for what I believe in. If I wanted Bush to be president, I would have voted for him. Do you give the Republicans who voted for Bush this much shit? Why all this bitterness at Nader when there are much more relevant and appropriate targets?
"Just because Bush (so far) won the election doesn't mean I have to stop complaining about the manner in which it happened."
Who told you to stop complaining? I think I recommended that you complain about the election farce rather than Nader, since those shenanigans are what lost the election for Gore... and he conceded, need I remind you.
"Nothing against the Greens, but they hold the place for me of a small vocal minority - worth a listen too, good for a useful point, but part of a self-imposed exile from United States political life."
Ummm, Nader ran for President. If that's exile from the American political life, what's being involved mean to you? How about the fact that I registered numerous voters, took students to be election inspectors (where they were illegally harassed by A DEMOCRAT for representing the Green Party), wrote letters, got petitions signed for campaign finance reform and environmental issues. Again, berate all the people who don't vote and don't raise awareness for being in self-imposed exile, not me.
Nader has been deeply involved in the political process in this country for decades. He has changed your life for the better whether you know it/admit it or not. What has Gore done for you lately? He's a big oil man himself, never had to work a day in his life, and gives no more of a damn about you than Bush does.
Why are we still so far from becoming independent of foreign oil when we had 8 years of Democratic rule to start changing that? Hmmm?
"'the major parties are basically the same" argument.'"
The two candidates in this case were basically the same. It was eerie to see them debate and trip over themselves agreeing with each other.
The two-party system is bad for America. It violates the spirit of democracy and the concepts of the Founding Fathers. All in all, it's an idea whose time has come to an end. The Greens are trying to change it, and if some eggs have to be broken, at least maybe someday we'll have omelets.
"It doesn't hold any water, based on things like voting records, human rights records, environmental support, worker's rights, international relations, and so on, and so on."
If you think so, that's your prerogative.
Bermanator
'Lorin' has five letters thus explaining your dissynchronicity with timecube. The last initial 'O' predisposes your untapped spherical nature to infinity theories which are stupid. Take your fur-covered banana and begone.
23/32
I'll reply to Joseph's points in order.
1) On the matter of what former vice-president normally do, Joseph asks me to report what Mondale, Quayle, and Ford have been doing. Glad to. Mondale ran for President in 1984, lost, and returned to a private law practice. He served as ambassodr to Japan during the Clinton administration. Quayle also mounted Presidential bid, and he's written a book and a newspaper column, and he's working at the Hudson institute. Ford spent his time after his Vice-Presidential term by being President for four years.
But Joseph is asking a misleading question. None of these men ran for President and lost in a very closely contested election which may very well have been won through systematic voter discrimination. So, even apart from the _personal_ stake Gore had for the Presidency, this sitting vice-president was faced with evidence that the democratic process was corrupted in Florida. The situtaion _demanded_ some kind of action, if only to defend the democratic process. Did he order an investigation? Did he use any of the powers of the Vice-Presidency to investigate this unsurpation of democracy? _NO_. Gore went off to lick his wounds. And his only commentary on the current Presidency has been to proclaim his support for Bush.
2) The claim that Gore would've been better than Bush is one of those unprovables. I'd be glad to consult my copy of _Al Gore: A User's Manual_ and cite examples of Gore's opportunistic use of environmental politics. But I'd also like to point another aspect of this question. When the Republicans propose some environmental rape, activists have no trouble getting busy over the prospect of the Republicans doing evil. But the Democrats have done equally horrible things without anywhere _near- the public outcry: even Daniel Moynihan was astounded that Clinton was able to get "welfare reform" through Congress without very much opposition, and what Clinton got was _worse_ than anything the Republicans had dared propose. In other words: if Gore was in the White House, he'd have a much easier time opening up the Alaskan oil fields. And he'd do it.
3) As for handling terrorism.... well, I'm happy for you that you think Clinton "succeeded" in the Balkans. Personally, I think his failure to have taken any action against Tujdman and Milosevic when they could have been stopped is a big minus for the man. But, by your own criteria, George Bush Sr. scored a big plus for his successful handling of the Gulf War.
4) We're in agreement over the horrifying "handling" of this war. Thing is, given the precedents of the Gulf War, Bosnia, and other recent adventures, I doubt that Gore's handling would have been much different from what we're seeing with Bush. I can say, with absolute confidence, that Nader wouldn't be making these same mistakes.
I must respond to your earlier comments, blaming Ralph Nader for every evil that Bush might visit upon us. Frankly, I cannot see any logic in what you say. If Nader bears responsibility for what Bush does, then why not blame Gore for failing to mount a more effective campaign? For dropping the ball? For not raising his voice in protest over every awful spectacle Bush gives us? In fact, why not denounce every Democrat who votes along with the Republicans?
But we don't see this from the Nader-bashers. All we see are contortions devoted to blaming Ralph Nader-- who could only manage less than 4% of the popular vote-- for the evils of a different person entirely, and whose actions are abetted by Democrats and Republicans alike. I cannot see any rational basis for this, and I am forced to blame it on some kind of psychosis shared by Democrats.
FYI, there is a $2.50 service charge PER TICKET for inconveniencing the California Center for the Arts by purchasing your ticket over the phone. Apparently putting tickets in an envelope, addressing said envelope, and then mailing said envelope is damned strenuous work. Right up there with answering the phone in the first place. Pesky customers.
L.
I am another of the great unloved....(by Lisa C.) Ah, well.
Justin: No problem. Hope it helped. Report back after the writing workshop is over, will you?
Lynn: Thanks for the recommendations. I have worn out one copy of the first Deep Forest. Don't have much Enigma, though I've heard them, of course. Will check that one out. (Always thought that was "getting-sexed-up" music! :))
Brian: People really stopped being your friend because you voted for Nader? Lousy friends.
I just pointed at my Nader-voting-friends and said, "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT." ;-)
Seriously, I will say that my three close friends who voted for Nader ALL said they would do it differently if they had it to do all over again. (Pretty sure that means three votes for Gore, and since we're Floridians, who knows--they may have helped!)
A question: Have any of you read anything about Afghanistan's untapped oil reserves, and how they may have a LOT to do with our involvement there?
I've had two people mention this to me, but have seen nothing online to support (or, for that matter, invalidate) the idea.
Re: timecube - do you think we should write to the guy and tell him that 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. is ALSO a day, as is 8:01 to 8:01, 8:02 to 8:02, etc? Or would his brain explode?
Spherically yours,
Lorin O.
PAB~ :( I wanted to go to Ithaca. Youa culpa indeed.
Andrew~ Yes, well. I'm not looking forward to the commute home. Rain is good. LA drivers in rain, not so good.
L.
SORRY... I meant that last message to go to Cookie.
Forgive me, mea culpa.
Bermanator
Lynn--
E-mail me privately. I may be going to Ithaca this weekend, but not on Friday... but you might convince me. I lived in Ithaca for 10 years and was a bartender at the Chapter House. Where are you playing?
Bermanator
Lynn,
I'm jealous, they keep threatening us with rain down here but, so far, nuttin'.
Sigh...
-Andrew
HELP! Terrorists are attacking LA!!! There is currently WATER falling out of the sky! I can see the pavement growing slick and dark from my fourth storey window!! Someone call the FBI!!
Signed, Been so long I forgot what rain looked like,
L.
Heather - glad to see you overcame and returned. If you're going to be criticized, this is probably the nicest crowd to deliver it. Good to know any comments didn't throw you off permanently.
Alex - I didn't receive any Lisa emails either. Supposed we're both unloved. Got any worms?
Cookie - I'm convinced it's me, not you!
Lynn, Andrew - I'm jealous.
Lorin, thanks for the info!
J
To the Masked of Many Faces:
I believe you since I doubt anyone with the intent to put a worm through would be retarded enough to bring any attention to himself in the forum. On the other hand a nice air of McCarthyist paranoia might be good for a forum every now and then. Turn in your online friends today! Kazan, move over!
Finally, remember: if you continue strolls through here you walk sacred cyber-turf. If you stay here you must genuflect and kiss Harlan's robe; and once a week a goy must be sacraficed in his cherished name (which means I better convert damn fast).
David,
Two words: eeeewwwww, gross!
Everyone Else,
Are any of the So-Cal Webderlanders planning on attending the event in Escondido on the 15th?
-Andrew
My wife Carole has never forgotten the time a girl showed up to a Halloween party at the University of Michigan dressed as a tampon:
"As I recall, she wore a close-fitting white outfit that included a hood and she had a piece of white cotton rope attached to the top of her hood/head."
That must have been pretty shocking for the time -- in 1962 or '63!
Alex,
You are an evil, evil man. I love it!
Joseph
JOSEPH: One year in the reign of Bush the First, after some really bad ruling had come down from the Supreme Court, I got an old pair of black sweatpants, ripped 'em in a few places, wrote on them in white ink, and paired them with a white t-shirt which was also holed and ripped, stained with a dark bootprint and some orange juice for verisimilitude, and had calligraphed on it "We the People ..." and went as the US Constitution.
Mostly, what I've been doing for Hallowe'en in years since is crafting very realistic bullet wounds right between and above the eyes, with no other costuming. You wouldn't believe the number of cops and such who've freaked, then laughed.
(The one time I caught a quick nap in a food court was especially effective ...)
Oh, yay. I have to wear a Halloween costume to work tomorrow. Any suggestions, since I'm a crank who doesn't like Halloween?
Okay, you.. you..you..Mystery Webderlander..I gotta bone to pick with you.
$22.66. TWENTY-TWO DOLLARS AND SIXTY-SIX CENTS, DO YA HEAR?
I was gonna buy milk this week, perhaps a small, cheap package of flat, dull pasta--I coulda LIVED like a king. Yanno? Yanno?
Instead, there I was, emptying my bank account and pouring loonies, twoonies, pennies and dimes on the post office counter, much to the amusement of the teller, to pay the GST and PST on this damn parcel. What an adventure, heh? (By the by, she said she needed the change so yer off the HOOK there, boyo.)
And I hadta LUG this huge, huge, huge, box to the university where I'm now late for work and and.. and..
ooooohhh...
I love it. I'll do without the milk.
Thank you, Syd.
Heather loves Syd.
I know, I said I would I never post here again. But I still like to read the board, and I have to post now to simply say: this virus thing isn't me. I too have received it, at least five times, and anyone is welcome to check with c4.com's administration on that point. Obviously my e-mail was picked up in the same way everyone else's was: I've never rec'd a virus at tmb@c4.com before, an address I only use for anonymous posting to boards.
(I have also contact c4.com, informing them that they need to upgrade their virus software. You all should do the same, if it's getting through...I tried to forward the virus to my work e-mail address, and that server caught it right away.)
TMB
David: I basically agree that assassination shouldn't become an official policy of the US, but damned if the ironies don't abound. It's pretty common knowledge that the CIA has covertly used it as an instrument for decades--witness the Allende killing and the botched assassination in the early '80s of a terrorist supporter in Beirut--and I doubt that the American special forces in Afghanistan aren't engaging in some secret wetwork activity, as well. Not to mention the basic absurdity of Marquis of Queensberry rules regarding war. Apparently, it's ok to kill innocent civilians whom we claim we want to help, bomb structures that we'll have to rebuild anyway, and expend massive amounts of American troops, weapons, and money in the hope that, MAYBE, we'll nail a small group of terrorists and political leaders--but it's wrong to avoid all this by putting a few well-placed bullets in the proper heads? And I don't believe that an open use of assassination by the US would ring the dinner bell for the crazies of the world any louder than it's been rung already. However, my superego insists that it's immoral, though I'm damned if I know why...
To go off on a not-completely-unrelated tangent: Given the Anthrax scare that has swept the nation, it's kind of funny (not funny ha-ha, but funny ironic) that very little attention has been focused on the REAL biological threat: Influenza. Twenty-thousand people die from it every year, and that number has gone up to fifty-thousand in times of epidemic. If the news media devoted even a small percentage of its Anthrax coverage to urging Americans to get inoculated against the flu, some lives may be saved. But it's not as Le Carre-ish as powder-filled envelopes, I guess.
And am I the only one who thinks that Pixie Stix will NOT be a popular Halloween treat for kids this year? (To be replaced by bottles of Cipro, I bet. It must SUCK to be a tot these days...)
Jim
Sniff.
Nobody loves me.
I've been posting on this board for years, and Lisa didn't seek ME out.
(Of course, it might have been one that I got; I just delete spam out-of-hand)
Regarding the misnamed "Patriot Act": I'm writing my local Congresspersons and Senators on this one, and I am going to be standing up whenever I can in violation of it. I can't WAIT for this one to get to the Supremes.
(And yes; I work for the federal government, and never have I been more ashamed of that fact.)
Just wanted to post my email on the offchance that THE BERMANTOR might wish to venture north to meet me. Didn't want to make him wade through the board to find it.
To answer some points:
A) How is any of that laying low for Gore? That's quite normal ex-vice president behaviour. Anyone, without looking it up, know what Dan Quayle is doing these days? Mondale? Ford?
B) Never claimed Bush wasn't fairly elected, because the results aren't released yet from the media-financed study. They've been sitting on it for the moment, what with some more pressing matters to deal with (which I don't agree with, but that's the facts). Check out the Poynter Institute's MediaNews.org for more details. However, it's fairly clear that Nader split the vote enough, allowing the Bush administrations (otherwise known as the big-business cabinet) to slip in.
C) Ah, the liberal vote. Don't care. I'm talking about the reasonable vote, not handing over the United States government to the Christian Right and the worst polluters in the country (aka, the Texas energy businessmen in the Bush administration). I feel a great wave of pity for my Republican friends who have had their party stolen.
D) Just because Bush (so far) won the election doesn't mean I have to stop complaining about the manner in which it happened. That's like saying I can't complain about Dukakis' nitwit campaign managers from 1988.
E) Nothing against the Greens, but they hold the place for me of a small vocal minority - worth a listen too, good for a useful point, but part of a self-imposed exile from United States political life. I just wish they'd come in from the cold and participate, instead of standing outside and shouting to the point that people simply tune them out. Kind of like the Reform party.
F) My apologies for being snippy. I'm just tired of hearing the "the major parties are basically the same" argument. It doesn't hold any water, based on things like voting records, human rights records, environmental support, worker's rights, international relations, and so on, and so on. You obviously believe differently, and I'll stop this arghument now, as we have both stated our sides.
Besides, it's time for bed. Night all!
Regards,
Joseph
That's "LIFE of the average American," and did I mention that my typing skills stink on ice?
Bermanator: just wanted to say that I, too, was a New Yorker for Nader (but of course! I live in Ithaca: Birkenstock, patchouli, capitol of the region if not the Northeast).
I agree with your assessment. I wanted desperately (as a "good democrat") to vote for Gore, but the progressive in me just wouldn't let me pull that lever.
Alas! It's now all water under the (Brooklyn) bridge.
BTW: am singing in Ithaca next Friday. Email if you have any interest in being my guest. No cover and I'll gladly buy you and a friend (or friends plural ---within reason and budget of course) a round of drinks or somethin'.....
:)
(PS: Crazy 'round these parts these days. Rick, as always, is a wise and gracious host. The conversation certainly isn't boring even if you're only eavesdropping from the periphery! My big Internet Paranoia these days is thinking that *I'm* the gibberatic poster Brian Siano chooses to ignore. Ach! The ANGST!)
Frivolous points re: Nader, et al,
1) My only gripe with Nader is that on his campaign he ceaselessly shoved pitch forks up Gore's ass while scarcely mentioning Bush; he would almost NEVER mention Bush. TOTALLY unfair. If there was more parity in his blitz I wouldn't have been disturbed by his run at all. He certainly had a right to run; no one should be screaming hell about that. But Gore, whose programs were much closer to his than Bush's, was ALWAYS the target. (The inference is he wanted Bush to win so the country could take SUCH a dive as to give the Green Party a stronger case in the future; meanwhile I have to pay a price I may barely survive till that happens).
2) Yes, Gore - with all his drawbacks and compromises - would've easily made a greater difference on environment than Bush. It's ludicrous to even compare them. He was an unimaginative image-builder but he would've been better on the domestic matters than Bush.
3) Any one of these guys would've been taking the lead in the current Afghan crisis with at least as much facility as Bush; Clinton pulled off in the Balkans what no one had been able to do prior: rely completely on air attack for a successful war campaign with the least possible casualties. And I think he would've been flexible enough to come up with a different, more complex approach demanded by this new war. (On the other hand, ALL of the guys running the White House over the last several years miscalculated the ultimate security and intelligence needed to deal with Terrorism, when all the signals were there).
4) Re: 'American's vicory in Afghanistan'. I get the feeling that Bush's 'facility' in this war is being a bit over-touted. So far, we've managed to smash one of our own choppers, blow up UN buildings, rocket the wrong cities, kill civilians who weren't even near intended targets, and fumble a rescue plan for Abdul Haq. Not too shockingly we're not getting the rally of support from the moderates over there that we were expecting. Instead of building a strategic alliance with Israel, experts on the 'life-style' of terrorism and its psychology, we tell'em to knock it off as trouble-makers and behave themselves while we try and take the lead, flexing muscle with no brains, stumbling over ourselves like 'Dumb and Dumber', providing both amusement and growing sentiment for the Taliban. And THEN we wonder where they're getting their resolve to hold out. This affair may take years, not because of the complexity of Terrorism, but because it may take that long for us to find brain power. Yes, Bush deserves the credit he's getting for the grand show of 'America's Might'; his signature is alll over it.
And finally: I think it's an interesting cooincidence, a recent Harlan basher visiting briefly for a single-minded purpose, then just after his departure, a 'Lisa Cunningham' virus suddenly springs out using our addresses.
I would like to state for the record that I am not currently, nor have I ever been, educated stupid and evil by evil educators.
I also received the "Lisa Cunningham" e-mails--four in all, to be exact. The attachments were unopened, the messages were deleted, and the sender was blocked, as well. I restrict my use of the "scythian66" address to two places, Webderland being one of them, so it certainly seems plausible that a lurker has targeted this group. In addition, some other strange e-mails were sent to me over the past two days, and I can't tell if they're related to this "Lisa" virus or not. I'll keep you guys posted as the situation develops...
I've already stated that I'm a Floridian who voted for Nader, right? So, if you Gore-ites wanna bitch at anyone here, to borrow the words of Father Karras, "TAKE ME!!TAKE ME!!"
(I've had FAR too many arguments over the man, so I'm not gonna dive into one here. I WILL say that, hate his presidential campaign or not, Ralph Nader has done more to better the lives of the average American than any ten politicians you can name. Increased safety regulations in the auto industry? That's his doing. The Safe Drinking Water Act? Ditto. The Freedom of Information Act? Ditto redux. You know how, when your flight is delayed or cancelled, the airline puts you up in a hotel for the night? Damned if that isn't his doing as well. So don't demonize the man--hell, he could even turn into a Helms supporter, and it STILL wouldn't neutralize all the good he's done.)
(End of speech.)
Lynn: Yes, it's true. I am your half-brother. What can I say? Pappa was a rolling stone, wherever he laid his hat was his home, and when he diiieeeeed...
Scott: I heard from Heather on Saturday. She seems fine, and, well, still as Heatherish as always. E-mail her again.
Jim
Three lousy posts on the whole page & I got the stupid virus e-mails too. At least I consider the subject of my most recent post (my suggestion that you all, immediately, before downloading anti-virus software, read the complete works of W.G. Sebald) a noble act worthy of permanent hard drive damage. (And, yes, you may consider this a subtle reminder re: Sebald.)
While I'm here: Rob, the one thing better than The Tick animated series is the original 12 issues of The Tick comic written by creator Ben Edlund.
-AW
Joseph,
Nader did not hand the election to the oil companies. That is both unfair and inaccurate.
Gore himself is an oil interest, just to get that out there (hello, Occidental Petroleum). Why doesn't anyone blame Gore for handing the election to Bush? He failed to win his home state or Clinton's, and even though Clinton was nearly impeached, he would have been reelected in 2000 had *he* run. Talk about ineptitude. Gore blew it bigtime without Nader's help-- Nader only received 2 million votes, for god's sake.
Look at the big picture. Who screwed around in Florida and 'stole' the election from Gore? Why is no one railing against that anymore but still blaming Nader for Gore's defeat?
I wish more Democrats would accept the fact that they are not entitled to the liberal vote-- my vote is earned by the best man, not automatically granted to the Dems. Every time the Republicans step to the right, instead of holding the line, the Dems step right too. I could give many examples but I'm tired and it's a matter of public record anyway.
It's up to Greens and other alternative parties to hold the line. This country was never intended to be a solely two party system; many other nations offer their citizens more than two (corrupt lawyers with rich daddies and slick hairstyles) candidates with great success. For me, Nader was a considered, informed, deeply felt choice that no disgruntled Dem will convince me was wrong.
Even if you disagree with all of the above and can't respect my and Brian's decisions, I wish you would not berate people who vote for exercising their free thought and right to chose. Ain't that why we're proud to be Americans and all that? Direct your vitriol some really meaningful targets: the non-voters, the media, the lack of awareness, the campaign finance laws, the connivance of the Florida Republicans/Gov. Bush, the spineless Supreme Court, etc. Don't blame The Greens. It's a bit absurd, really, considering.
We don't have to talk about this anymore. Unless you want to, but keep it civil, OK?
Bermanator (who campaigned for Nader and is far from ignorant)
Joseph, Joseph, Joseph... First of all, when did you _ever_ get the notion that Gore wouldn't have thrown the environment over to the oil companies? The man's family has substantial holdings in Occidental Petroleum, and you may want to check his record in preserving the wilderness of Appalachia. He's far from being Mr. Green.
As for Nader "lying low," let's take a look at Gore's activities since the election. All I can recall is that he a) pledged to "stay and fight" until the election was resolved, b) taught a bullshit course at NYU, and c) recently announced that he stood behind President Bush's actions re the WTC attack. I can understand the need to crawl into a hole and lick one's wounds after a trauma as bad as last November's... but it's not something I'd want in a President.
And if you think that Nader threw the election to Bush, then it logically follows that you believe that Bush has been fairly and decisively elected.
Xanadu,
On the 16th of any month? Does that mean it 'WILL' or 'MIGHT'?
I've never dealt with a virus before; until now I ALWAYS deleted e-mail I couldn't recognize. I backed up my files just in case. At worst what can I expect? Will it wipe out my files? Or will I most likely have to reinstall my drivers for Windows? I can't believe I was so lame.
I hope this won't be a pain-in-the-ass.
Incidentally, to the extent you like talking about it, what was your script? Is someone working with it or did it land on a studio shelf somewhere?
Brian, Joseph~ RE: Nader/Gore It's over and done with. Get on with your respective lives. Live and let live. Live and learn. Spider Jerusalem is the messiah! Timecube and furry bananas for all!
L.
Got the Lisa Cunningham e-mail too. I know for a fact my address was taken from this bulletin board; I haven't used this particular address for anything else in a loooong time, and not ever with my real name before. Only this BB has ever gotten my real name in connection with this account, and this sucker was addressed to "P.A. Berman." Cute. It's crap like this and other past weirdo web experiences that led to hiding my name in the first place. Sigh.
If you get the SirCam worm, the removal patch & instructions are at:
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.sircam.worm@mm.html
As Rick said, use virus software and don't open any attachments before scanning. In fact, it's a good idea not to open any attachments from people you don't know. I realize I'm preaching to the choir here.
Annnyway, it seems as if our safe enclave has has become the target of some malicious prankster. Several suspicious e-mail incidents have been happening lately, it seems... if a coincidence is just a coincidence, then why does it feel so contrived? (in the immortal words of Dana Scully)
OK. I'm paranoid. I can live with that. Time to go to bed.
Bermanator
("lcunning" indeed...)
Brian,
You're proud of helping to pave the way for the appointment of anti-environment corporate officers to key United States government posts? For shame. Here, go read some Molly Ivins to see what I voted against, and you voted for (and don't give me that 'Nader could have won' crap): http://web.star-telegram.com/content/fortworth/2001/10/29/columnist/molly_ivins.htm
Joseph
P.S. Sorry, but you pissed me off with such an ignorant statement. Note how Nader has barely had the guts to pop his head above ground after he helped hand the country to oil companies.
Re: The Cube, and "Harlan Ellison" having thirteen letters:
DILUTE! DILUTE! OK! OK! Teach the moral ABC that unites mankind, lightning-like, six billion-strong and we're All-One! OK! OK!
Re the recently-passed USA Patriot Act: Well, it was a good Constitution while it lasted, wasn't it? (See http://www.thenation.com/thebeat/ for further information.)
I'd like to urge people to send letters of support to Russ Feingold, of Wisconsin, for having the courage and integrity to cast the _one dissenting vote_ in the Senate against this horror of a law.
And just to carp on something that's hurt my personal life since last November... I do NOT want to hear any nonsensical, fantastic CRAP about how it wouldn't have happened if Gore had won. Maybe Ashcroft wouldn't have been around to propose it... but someone else would have. And would the Democrats have voted or it then? Well, since they voted for it _now_, overwhelmingly, we can be safe in assuming that they would have otherwise. Would Gore have vetoed it? I doubt it.
I think I mentioned the personal-life stuff; I lost a couple of close friendships last year because I had the temerity to vote for Nader. I am prouder than ever of that vote.
Re: the Lisa Cunningham email.
I got the sucker too, but deleted it without opening the attachment. The text saying that this file was being sent to ask advice matches the Norton Anti-Virus Center's description of the message that carries the SirCam worm. Whether it's SirCam or a new variant of Nimda, it's a royal pain in the posterior to get rid of if it gets into a network.
--TR
Followup - turns out it will do damage on th 16th of any month, not just October...
EVERYBODY - The emails you have received from Lisa Cunnigham are indeed virus laden - the virus is called SIRCAM, it is a particularly tricky beast - since it uses its own mail protocol to email future intended victims, rather than going through regular email programs - once a computer is infected it scans all files on a hard drive to find addresses - this includes cached browser files. Most likely, Lisa is a lurker here.
The following address will give you further information:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/indepth/background/sircam_worm.html
Mac users have nothing to fear, this is a Windows specific worm - but Window users have something like a 10 percent chance of irrevocable damage. Please use current, updated commercial antiviral software as soon as possible.
(This worm broke during the whole Code Red thing (thus it was not covered very well), and since I have a published screenplay on the web, with my email address in it - I've gotten some thirty or forty of these messages from people around the world.)
'Time' has four letters. 'Cube' has four letters. 'Rick' has four letters. 'Lisa' has four letters. This explains 4-way majesty affixation.
But then again, a cube has six sides. And we all know 'Harlan' is six letters. Hmmm... If you add up Harlan(6) & Ellison(7), you get thirteen letters. Hmmm.... That could explain the lunar perfection of the Ellison-cube.
Signed,
32/23
On our strange e-mails: To posit a malicious intent specifically towards this site and its visitors, I'd have to see evidence like text in the subject or body involving Harlan or the site that might fool people into clicking on it. Instead, it's the same text as any of the other latest Namda virii. The most likely scenario is the e-mails were the result of a spiderbot scanning websites for e-mail addresses, or an automated program working off a list built by such a bot. Occam's Razor and all that.
So who do I blame? I blame timecube, and your imperfect understanding of its 4-way majesty.
And while I'm here, I should mention that HBO (the channel that has the 2 best shows on television right now) presented an absolutely stunning treatment of the discovery of the first concentration camps in the BAND OF BROTHERS episode 9, titled "Why We Fight." Those of you who have the channel, or know someone who has, need to check your schedules and make sure you see it. The entire miniseries has been of an incredible quality, both in the production values and in their treatment of wartime subjects without being overwrought or indulging in stereotype.
Friends,
I just got the Lisa Cunningham e-mail, too. While I'm all over the net, the coincidence is such that I strongly suspect addresses from this area are being targeted. Don't open those emails.
David, I hadn't heard that bit about the rose petal and the Grand Canyon. Very apropos. I've written just about everything over the years, and poetry is the only thing I've _never_ been paid for. Unless you count contributor copies--and I don't.
--Alex
Brian,
I have a feeling (Lynn, I believe also alluded to it) that a disgruntled visitor to Webderland may be behind it. Then again, maybe it's just a ko-inky-dink.
-Andrew
Like a brain-dead nimrod I got suckered by that Lisa Cunningham 'Certificate' e-mail because I've been doing so much correspondence lately. I downloaded the attachment and pages of codified data flipped open. As the resident guinea pig I can report nothing has happened to my files thus far.
I'm going to be a helluva lot more alert from now on. Anyone who finds out about this keep us posted. Then we can light up the torches. Good old-fashioned, savage mob rule is the only solution
That's strange. I got the Lisa Cunningham message as well. (I replied to it, warning this person that someone might be using her address to send viruses.)
Think someone's scanning this page for addresses?
Lynn,
I will definitely be attending on the 15th. Tickets have been purchased (left orchestra row A seats 1 and 2). You can get a seating layout by going to:
http://www.artcenter.org/
You can also order tickets online, just be sure to follow the link to Ticketmaster.
BTW, I received not one, not two, but three of the "Lisa Cunningham" messages. The first ended in a .pif the other two were batch file extensions. This is the first time I've ever received anything like this. Go figure.
-Andrew
Pt. the Second: Chuck, if you want to pursue tracking down the email, view the header and send the entire email (adv. message header and all) to abuse@whatever-domain-the-email-originated-from.com. Identifying the actual IP address that the email originated from may be a bit tricky and generally spammers aren't that stupid to use their actual email return addy anyway. It can be done, tho' and most ISP's frown on their accounts sending unsolicited email.
Good Luck,
L.
Chuck~ What you got was another go-round of the new, IMPROVED Nimda virus. For more info, go to www.mcafee.com or www.norton.com and search on NIMDA. The thing I find interesting is that the email I reference on this site also received two emails from one "Lisa Cunningham" with a .bat file attached. You should know to always delete file attachments from an unknown source. Always. No exceptions. And you should also invest in good virus protection software.
I wonder whose skimmed the board for email addys to send virus packages to. Hmmmm... What an od___ thing to do...
L.
Just a quick note to all. I received an e-mail from someone going by the name of Lisa Cunningham. Actually, multiple e-mails. The subject line was Certificates, so I figured this was spam that I'd read and toss into the virtual trash can. Inside was a note saying the person needed advice on the attached item. The Anti-Viral service on my e-mail spotted a virus in the attachment. This person or persons used my e-mail address. Just watch out for this, I have no idea what the virus is, or what it does. By the way, is there anyone official I could notify?
Chuck
P.S.: Go, Odyssey!
I guess this, "Bishop" is kind of the dark side of the internet come to life. Some folks have a warped sense of priorities in life to be sure.
According to Chomsky, the war is going to subject 3 to 4 million afghan starvation deaths in the coming harsh winter. The food drop was merely a propaganda tool, and it looks like Bin Laden is in never never land, for all we know. So much for any kind of logic in this quagmire.
Rob: re the Tick,
Before yesterday I would have been in complete and absolute agreement with you; nothing could be better than the animated Tick show.
But this is FUNNY, man, FUNNY! It'll make milk come out of your nose.
Even if you're not drinking milk. Check it out when it airs.
Spooooooooon!
Lynn what is Escondido??
HEAR HEAR Bermanator
me thinks hydrogen combined with fuel cell technology is the wave of the future! Ford, Shell, and others are on the wagon.
http://www.clean-air.org/
They are building hydrogen stations in Europe already and
Near LA there is a bus company that has converted to hydrogen. They built their own hydrogen station and now pay no one for fuel! Here's another good link.
http://www.ch2bc.org/bulletin/bulletin20001112.htm
If you ever wonder what the war is about, check out Bush's history. He owned Harken Energy Corp(oil) and ran it into the ground. Ripped off all his investors but came out with money in his own pocket(so he probably owes some of those investors a few favors). Who is profitting from this war is the question to be asked because someone sure as hell is. They wouldn't use a million $$$ bomb on a pile of rocks for nothing.
Hey Rick, does that academic anti establishment cube world lovers link mean you didn't get through the firewall, therefore you have no idea who I am, as if it mattered? ;) Don't worry I won't start impersonating you again. Well maybe. hahahaha. I always thought the world was round not a cube, which would mean it would have zillions of simeultaneous days depending on where you were standing. (If they hadn't established time zones)
Fillenia "Rick" Alperton, misconductor
Lynn,
From the California Center for the Arts website:
"The first exhibition of its kind in an American art museum presents more than 100 spectacular examples of pop culture's most interesting representations of outer space - space toys! From Buck Rogers to the "Gang of Five" robots, this exhibit includes a rare collection of space helmets, ray guns, robots, comic book and other artifacts that reflect America's early attraction to the world beyond."
As if you didn't have enough reason to go already.;)
-Andrew
Alex Krislov mentioned the days before he knew that poetry doesn't sell. I hope you're familiar with the line from Don Marquis, Alex: Publishing a book of poetry in America is like dropping a rose petal off the rim of the Grand Canyon and listening for the echo.
Jim Davis wondered whether Regis might ask a leering question about the "research" for my book. He wouldn't approach it that way, but I'll be very curious to see whether he gives me some kind of opening to mention the project.
Jim also bit on my passing remark about regularly attending synogogue but not being a Jew. It's real simple: my wife became a Jew four years ago ("Why would anybody wanna do that?" -- Harlan Ellison) and I tag along with her to keep up with what's she's doing. I enjoy the rabbis and the other interesting folks in the congregation.
Call me a "non-practicing atheist." I like to tell people I grew up in the Unitarian Church but I left because they were too organized for my taste.
Lynn,
I'll know better in a couple of hours. I don't see that it should be much of a problem, but, the way things have gone lately I can never tell.;)
-Andrew
Oops.
L.
Andrew~
And I Quote (my HERC flyer): "I Bore King Kong's Illegitimate Baby And Other Troublesome Stories From Harlan Ellison"
An Evening With Harlan Ellison
At: The California Center For The Arts
340 N. Escondido Blvd, Escondido, CA 92025
Concert Hall
Thursday, 15 November 2001
Performance @ 7pm (Doors open 6:30)
The Event Is Open To The Public
Call 1-800-988-4253 For Tickets, $15/each
Reserved Seating Only
Are you going? Trying to get a contingent of Angelino's (I hate to drive by myself) together to go. I'd have to take off work early to miss the traffic, but the day draws nigh when I must decide.
L.
Andrew~
And I Quote (my HERC flyer): "I Bore King Kong's Illegitimate Baby And Other Troublesome Stories From Harlan Ellison"
An Evening With Harlan Ellison
At: The California Center For The Arts
340 N. Escondido Blvd, Escondido, CA 92025
Concert Hall
Thursday, 15 November 2001
Performance @ 7pm (Doors open 6:30)
The Event Is Open To The Public
Call 1-800-988-4253 For Tickets, $15/each
Reserved Seating Only
Are you going? Trying to get a contingent of Angelino's (I hate to drive by myself) together to go. I'd have to take off work early to miss the traffic, but the day draws nigh when I must decide.
L.
Mark: "Hey PA Berman: You do realize there's a world of difference between Germany who is trying to apprehend the terrorist cells in its bosom, and Afghanistan who is shielding them by deliberate policy...?... of course you know."
Yeah, I know, but not sure why you bring up Germany. I think the US has taken a rather hypocritical stance on terrorism, that's all I was saying. If we expect the world to come into line against terrorism, we should lead by example. I wasn't criticizing anything you wrote in your post, just expounded on an interesting point you made.
As for letting them keep their frigging oil... Amen. I totally agree. I think the only way to solve the problems in the Middle East on a long-term, lasting level is to end our dependence on foreign oil forever. That means converting the transportation and utility industries to cleaner, more eco-friendly resources that we can generate ourselves. Until we do, we will always be in conflict with and subject to those who possess the fuel.
Freedom from oil can be achieved, and that would be the best revenge. Living well always is.
Bermanator
Lynn,
Escondido is only a skip and a jump for me. What's up?
-Andrew
Andrew-
You gonna be in Escondido on the 15th?
L.
PS. I'm okay with 32. In Discordian years, I'm the mirror image of 23. Hail Eris!
Mark,
I'm still amazed that NASA has managed to accommplish any of these space borne endeavors. Not only with the Martian spacecraft, but the deep space missions like; Pioneer (No. 10 is still going strong, yahoo!), Voyager, Gallileo and soon (hopefully) Cassini. With all the things that can (and often, do) go wrong, NASA still manages to pull rabbits from hats. I must admit though, I'm still looking forward to the next group of lander/rover's that are planned for Mars over the next couple of years.
-Andrew
I just got back a little while ago from my weekend at Madcom in Madison. What a terrific time,Harlan was awesome as usual and the 3 high verbals were hilarious on their panel. Harlan did a reading/talk late Friday night as a fundraiser that was amazing. It lasted nearly 2 and a half hours ended about 1:30 AM. He read his new story written around the cover for the next Dream Corridor, the one with Ronald Coleman climbing high in the mountains only to spy the Golden Arches ahead of him in the mist, where the Cleveland Indians of Lou Boudreau just happen to be working.Amazing story, very funny.The story Harlan is working on with Neil Gaiman is coming along nicely. The pages done so far were being posted on a large board by where they were working.I preordered the chapbook of it and also a copy of the upcoming illustated bibliography coming out about February.If you have never seen Harlan do a readingor a talk, run do not walk at your earliest opportunity.This was a 5 hour drive for me, I have driven as far as Atlanta to see Harlan, and would do it again in a heartbeat.
Andrew, fitting punishment for Bin Laden if caught and tried. Life in prison with no parole. Of course, being that we must not stomp on this rights, we will have to allow him to speak to his 'friends' and 'family' and we must allow his, at least, annual interview with 60 Minutes and other news media to get his point out to his brethren (after all, Chuckie Manson gets this). And, of course, let's make sure he is in a comfortable, secluded area to keep him away from all other prisoners.
Yeah, that'll teach him to come out of his....um.....cave.
-TODD (in a very sarcastic mood)
David,
Honest question, no acrimony intended...
What would you consider to be a fitting punishment for Bin Laden and Co.(should they be captured, tried and convicted)?
Just Curious,
Andrew
A tug on Rick Wyatt's sleeve: While I've got you cornered in the hallway here man, I just need to thank you for this great party. A wonderfully thoughtful group of folks you've attracted. Love the things hanging from the lights -- spooky. And your words on Harlan The Man are too right-on to need elaboration by me. My reasons tumble over each other when I try to elucidate the good Harlan has done for my view of the world, and of people. Your panegyric was just and overdue.
The Mars Odyssey craft is in orbit!!! Blessed be those who can play in such distant sandboxes and take us along vicariously for the thrill and the escape. The craft is now in an elliptical orbit, which it will circularize by "aerobraking." This is the hair-raising maneuver of subjecting its fragile, deep-space design to the hypersonic touches of Mars' upper atmosphere, with its expansive wing of solar cells behaving like the feathers on a badminton birdie. They'll heat up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or so.
Does anyone else notice how hare-brained seem the feats of technical science? Consider jet planes: Here we sit, some two-hundred of us, plus enough baggage each that we need wheels to move most of it, a couple of well-stocked kitchens and a few bathrooms. See those things out on the wings that look like oversized hair dryers? Well, they're going to blow some hot air backwards, see, and that'll push us forwards; in fact we'll roll forward so fast, that this whole, heavy, sag-wheeled contraption will lift clean off the ground like a bird. That's right: flying -- all the way across the ocean. No, really. They're going to blow REALLY, REALLY HARD, see, and ... the road? Oh it doesn't go anywhere; it ends in a few thousand feet. I think there's a river or woods or something ... Wait -- where are you going? Siddown!
Sending that little spaceship anywhere near an atmosphere seems to my layness as smart as using $500 Italian loafers as motorcycle brakes. But what do I know? Huzzah! There's a glitch, though: A radiation measuring instrument doesn't want to boot up. But they're going to upload the latest version of Quicktme Pro as well as Myst and Tomb Raider and that should do it.
Hey PA Berman: You do realize there's a world of difference between Germany who is trying to apprehend the terrorist cells in its bosom, and Afghanistan who is shielding them by deliberate policy...?... of course you know. I agree that having trained these people is our pregnant guilt, and is part of the appeasement I lamented in my post; appeasement of the despots our government has assumed these people deserve: The Shah, the Saudi monarchs, the Ayatollahs. It occurs to me that as Communism was the hangover of European monarchy, Islamic fundamentalism is the product of these powers we have regrettably danced with. I wish we had just told them all to keep their friggin oil, we'll just take back the equipment.
No oil powers the Odyssey ship, Yay!
Mark Z
On an entirely different note, I LOVED Edward Champion's story about "runcibility reports."
I don't remember pulling anything that drastic in the roughly two years I've put in as a temp in various locales, but I always insist on having fun on the job, whether that involves wearing one of my dozen Tasmanian Devil neckties (the one with the tiny Napoleon Bonapartes with their right hand jammed in their fly is for really special occasions) or self-mockingly acting dumber than I am for a joke.
Anytime my direct supervisor forgets something or makes some other harmless error, I like to tell him, "I'll have to put another written reprimand in your personnel file."
Wow, a lot of posts and topics have piled up in the past week! Rather than load all of you down with one stupendous post to catch up, I'll try to cover some of the issues in a series of moderately-sized posts over the next day or so.
The biggest one first. Xanadu asked, politely and quite civilly, "I concur with you re: Heather, but, like Lynn - I'd really love to see what you think the proper course out of this Afghanistan/bin Laden mess is." Nice, clean request for input; no insults, no insinuations. That's the way I like it, the way discussion needs to take place, especially in this awful time.
Up at the top, I'd like to remind myself as well as all of you that we are operating on insufficient information. We don't KNOW what's going on, we don't KNOW who all the players are, and therefore we don't KNOW what to do. Opinions and speculation are what we are dealing with here, so keep that in mind before you take your own position too seriously or attack someone else's. The problem is, the U.S. GOVERNMENT is also in the dark about a lot of this, but won't admit it ... and that's always a prescription for disaster.
I liked a lot of Alex Jay Berman's fiery post, to wit: war is a last resort, this bombing is not working (which result I expected long before it began), war in Afghanistan does NOT equal a war on terrorism, the food drops are ineffective and mostly just for show.... I wouldn't go so far as to say Homeland Defense equals Gestapo, but it does amuse me (in a rueful way) that last week's anti-terrorism bill sailed through Congress with provisions that were bitterly fought over when they were known as the Communications Decency Act several years ago. Apparently, you can get people to do anything these days with little question if you say "terrorism," the way you could get them to respond to the word "Communist" fifty years ago.
Alex also noted that the U.S. did not capitalize on the massive world sympathy and support it had just after Sept. 11, and that whatever support it did have from many corners is rapidly disappearing the longer the bombing goes on. This is a large part of the tactical error I was warning about weeks ago.
So, what should we have done? I'm all for covert operations to locate and capture bin Laden or anyone else we could identify as potentially responsible for terrorist acts. Capture them and bring 'em back alive for trial before a world court. I am totally AGAINST political assassination, however, so I was surprised to see that turn up on Alex's approval list.
Political assassination of national leaders we don't like is as much as to say "our terrorism is righteous, your terrorism is not." We can never win at that game, because our country's borders are more permeable, they're open to the extent our democratic principles call for, and the borders of countries we don't like are not as easily penetrated. If we get into the political assassination game, there can only be more killings on our soil with the perpetrators thinking themselves perfectly justified (and onlookers persuaded as well) by tit-for-tat reasoning.
War with Afghanistan, no matter how despicable the Taliban may be, was a mistake. A huge percentage of the populace did not support the Taliban -- they didn't get a chance to decide, and many probably didn't care, as long as they were left alone -- and the result has only been to make many of our Western allies nervous as well as risk alienating Muslim and Arab allies further.
Here's my wild suggestion:
1. We should have pursued covert operations to identify and capture terrorist leaders
2. We should have offered huge rewards to any countries or individuals that helped us identify and bring them in -- which would have shown we are still focused on individual miscreants, not whole nations of whom we happen to disapprove, or Islam; this would have been far cheaper than all the personnel and military machinery now in play
3. We should have blanketed the Afghani hinterlands with food and medical supplies, not token drops -- maybe even fed in more goods through international aid organizations, even sent military troops to remove land mines and distribute goodies, with the instruction to fire only in defense of distributions
4. We should have blanketed the international air waves with coverage relating only to the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the flight that crashed in Pennsylvania -- data from recorders, funerals, testimony of surviving family members, etc. -- to KEEP the world's attention focused on the terrible wrong done to our country and citizens of other nations, including Jews, Muslims, Indonesians, etc. ... because people's memories are short, including ours, and bombing Afghanistan diverts attention away from the original dastardly event, so that now Muslims and Arabs are mainly seeing other Muslims suffering and dying, and they are going to be more quick to sympathize with that against the "bully" United States, than to remember the unprecedented cruelty that led to this "aggression."
That's enough for now.
All Wisest Humans thanking Rick
For show 4-corner majesty of Timecube
(It is "True"!)
I will give $1,000
(maybe $5,000; cannot tell)
To any can disprove existence of Rick
Must now format screed in many colors and fonts
Hello, everybody... I'm back.
(I can just *imagine* the mighty cheers of joy going on right now.)
I'm not even going to try to jump into the Ellison/political debates (and I'm definitely not going to bite troll bait, either), so I'll just say:
Jim: We cool.
Heather: I doubt if you're here to read this, but, I sent you an e-mail from my other mail account. Keep an eye out for it. You OK?
(And I am NOT pleased by people who feel the need to attack people on a personal level, when said people are not here to defend themselves. It's fine to attack someone's attitudes or ideas, but attacking someone personally is grade school bullshit. If you must attack someone, attack me. I'm an easy target, and I'm here to RESPOND. Otherwise, it's like talking behind someone's back.)
As for everything else: how about this for news? NASA got the Odyssey spacecraft into an orbit around Mars, after two failures. A spacecraft, orbiting Mars... I am in awe. That, for me, was the important news this week.
Or, as my inner four-year-old put it:
"Boss!"
So right.
Scott Miller, takes a licking and keeps on ticking
Michael,
Re: The Tick.
I look forward to the new live-action version. BUT...well, let me think of how to put this; I must choose my words carefully: NOTHING is as good as the animated version. NOTHING, I say.
CORRECTIONS TO THE POST BELOW:
line 3: "introduced to him" should read "introduced to his work"
line 5: excise the word "prove"
line 8: replace "like" with "of"
line 10: to avoid the echo, replace "the holocaust"with the pronoun "it"
-aw
A slight diversion from the incessant webderland natterings on masked so-and-sos and whether Heather was a nuisance: Everyone on the board, HE included, should read whatever they can find by the German author W.G. Sebald. I was first introduced to him a year ago when a professor suggested I read THE EMIGRANTS. I've been meaning to mention Sebald and his four novels on the board for some time but it took today's cover story in the books section of the Sunday NY Times prove to give me the impetus to actually write the post. Check out www.nytimes.com/books & search for Sebald -- there are free, archived reviews of Sebald's novels (but be sure to search within the books page and not the entire NY Times site). The reviews will explain exactly why Sebald is worth your time and I wish to offer little as postscript save the assurance that this is not the holocaust-lit like Weisel, Epstein, etc. For example, the impact of the holocaust in THE EMIGRANTS is felt because of Sebald's avoidance of references to the holocaust (er, I suppose).
That's all. Commence nit-picking,
AW
Whew! Half the dental nightmare is over -- a two-week reprieve from needles and Novocaine...
Thank goodness for my friend the TV Queen! Tonight she brought over the press kit for the upcoming live-action series The Tick, including the first three episodes. It is DAMN funny, people, better by far than the cartoon ever was! Patrick Warburton as the big blue hero seems able to spout the funniest superhero gibberish with an absolutely straight face. My pal the Queen sez it's easily the funniest series of the year. Do not miss it! Yuks galore...and just when I needed some!
Fillenia - check out timecube.com. You obviously do not understand timecube.
WOW!!
I never knew about Unit 731 but I looked it up online and there's even more horrors than bubonic plague!!!
http://www.aiipowmia.com/731/vivisection.html
This site talks some about the human radiation experiments-- They had soldiers march into ground zero minutes after the Nevada test site bombs went off and salute!! Y
There's also some good mind control Manchurian Candidate stuff one here. http://www.raven1.net/ravindex.htm#GLOSSAR
I usually only feel pure terror in dreams and when suprised though fear pervades my everyday life. I ALWAYS have nightmares if I eat before I go to sleep. Usually if I ask a person who's had a nightmare if they ate right before bed, they say yes. Imagine how many people are having nightmares at this very moment!!! millions!
damn rick!!! you take things so seriously you poor thing, you should go read Stanislav Lems story about the Washing Machine evolution, that is FUNNY and will lighten you up immediatelly. caught for misconduct!!! How awful!!! I guess you sure told me eh?
So have you actually gotten through the firewall and figured out who I am or did you just look at the stats??
Sorry, mistake on the masquerade - cut and paste error. It's been corrected.
I should mention that I do not complain about the anonymity here, nor do I ever demand people give their real names or e-mail addresses. Many treasure the ability to post anonymously, and I believe it aids frank discussion.
What I do take seriously is any posting, even in jest, under my name using my e-mail address. Please desist, or I'll have no choice but to block the IPs from the Academy of Art in San Francisco and notify their technical contact Ivan Noches of the misconduct. Thanks!
Hey Rick you edittor you,
I'm not The "real" Masked Bishop masquerading as you though previously I did masquerade as the Masked Bishop for the purpose of making fun of his pants pooping problem and smell :)
You guys should make up and tongue kiss.
-Rick Wyatt 2
This board is great most of the time
Harlan's posts -word usage and phrases are nile jewels and I value EVERYBODies book recommendations. I'm relativelly new to Ellison, have only read a few short stories, but the few I've read have been memorable time well spent. Like that one about the jewish caterpillar? That was hillarious!!!!
Humour about futility, lazy work ethic is ALWAYS much appreciated.
Some of you guys are acusatory without first questioning yourself. "HAve I done the same thing I am accusing someone else of doing" but who cares, these bulliton board things are plagued with flame war ten car pileups, everybody uses a scapegoat to let out the "road rage"
I don't agree that the masked bishop should use his real name. For what purpose, you probably don't know him anyways.
You guys need to get over the anonymity fear. Its the best part about being online. No one can track you, unless they are hackexperts. In anonymity, THere is no involvement in fame or racking up points for your ego as you wax poetic. Its purely for enjoyment or social commentary or critisizm.
Rick, If everybody gets so up in arms about about signing on without a "real" name perhaps you should have authentication and a login. Until then, let us have fun making up names. Quit complaining and calling us woosies. I like The Masked Bishop, reminds me of the Avengers episode "The Joker". Don't you think The MAsked Bishop's house is like that except with giant chess peices everywhere instead of cards. He makes a good villan.
yours truly,
Rick Wyatt 2
FEAR:
Lynn, I guess I'm fortunate to have avoided any prolonged fear, except perhaps a bout of bullying I endured in jr. high. I did have one person tell me "I'm you worst nightmare" to which I replied, "My worst nightmare involves an amphibious great white shark. Top that." Fortunately, he didn't try. My nightmares did provide some moments of terror, but in the end I knew I would wake up. For historical examples, I might dredge up Japan's Unit 731, their germ warfare horror show which used human guinea pigs. Whole villages were exposed to bubonic plague, then 731 agents and soldiers in isolation suits came into the village, dragged people out into the fields and dissected them alive. Every bit as chilling was the way the USA let the head of 731 get away with his crimes, so our germ warfare ghouls could get his data.
Science ED:
I'm sorry, but I can't recall who brought this up, I was away for several days. There's been so much posted I lost you. My high school biology class was well taught by Mr. Starbuck, who was also the track coach. He not only managed to structure the class in such a way as to let us experience the joy of discovery, but also made sure that all boats were lifted. He insisted that the smart kids in the class help the class rumdums learn their stuff. The word rumdums was his. He was the track coach, so subltlety was not his long suit. My rumdum was a big gorilla by the name of Dave Gillam. He was the only person I ever hauled off and punched. I did manage to get him over the top gradewise, but I didn't know what his final grade was until years later when I had a conversation with Mr. Starbuck, and found out Gillam got a D-minus. A FUCKING D! With all the help I gave big happy babboon, he should have gotten a C.
By the way, Mr. Starbuck was once interruped in class by a bible-thumping student who didn't even read the damn bible. Something about how we shouldn't worry about the world's expanding population, because the bible said the world was going to be destroyed by monsters. He firmly but gently put her in her place -- in his crew-cut track coach sort of way. I think he did all right.
Chuck
TMB: Ah, so THIS is the mythology you're trying to perpetuate: You're ignored and/or rebuked on this board because you're a modern Zen Archer shooting arrows of splendent Truth into the very marrow of our blindly-adulatory bones. Bullshit. You're a troll, you're not interested in serious debate and discussion, and everyone knows it. And you WILL come back for yet another penultimate pot-shot because, well, that's what you do. My prediction: You'll post another name, of course, and you'll deny any relationship to "The Masked Bishop," just like you now deny that you're really Od---. Knock yourself out. Unlike you, I CAN keep a promise: I won't devote another byte of disc-space to you or your tiresome displays of petulance. London, Goodbye, Ta-Ta!
(Extends hands through the electronic ether to grab Brian and shake him 'till his fillings rattle) BRIAN, YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BLURT OUT THAT HENDRIE DOES ALL THE VOICES ON HIS SHOW!!!!! Sheesh...
(I DID figure you for a Hendrie fan. I think his show is one of the funniest things on the planet, myself. I've known MANY Bobbie Dooleys in my time, so his stuff hits very close to home...)
Jim
"Every point scored in a sport is a dead Afghan."--The Phil Hendrie Show.
Along the lines of Nasby, I'd like to pass along my admiration for radio personality Phil Hendrie, who operates out of Los Angeles. His routine is to conduct an interview with someone who, usually, is so wrapped up in his or her own world that they have become completely moral-blind. And then he lets the callers have a go at his guest.
For example, last week, Hendrie interviewed a lady journalist who was so outraged that she didn't get a front-row seat at the Madison Square Garden concert that she couldn't bring herself to write a favorable review of the show. This person went on about how no one had the courage to tell the firemen to sit maybe twenty or thirty rows back. "These people are heroes," she said, "so they're used to fires and danger and buildings falling on them. They're _used_ to sitting farther back."
One of the callers was a fireman in Texas who lit into this journalist as much as he could. Suddenly the journalist asserted that she "knew all about firefighting" because she'd interviewed Ron Howard and had ridden the "Backdraft" ride at Universal Studios, and she begins baiting the fireman with questions like, "Okay, if you're a real fireman, answer me this. What do you use to put out fires?"
Now, here's the fun part. The interviewees are actually Hendrie doing another voice. He is extremely accomplished at sounding like two different people, and he has a real knack for developing characters who are unspeakably certain and obnoxious. Maybe it's a cheap way of stirring up his listeners into phoning in to yell at his characters, but the results are _hilarious_.
Better Translation: I couldn't go away without rebutting what was an impassioned, well-written slam by Mr. Wyatt. Also, the balls reference was not to comment on anyone's sexual preferences, but to point out the close relationship between fanatacism and sexual competitiveness. (I'm sure I'm not the only one who has considered that a large part of the problem of Islamic fundamentalism is sexual frustration. Maybe I've read too much Reich.)
Harlan is a great writer, and will always be. But he made the decision long ago to put himself into the ring, and become a target for "shots across the bow" at his sheer ego and literary pugilism. You think I'm an asshole, go read the stuff written by people who actually don't like the man or his work.
Selah, and peace be with you all. And maybe some thicker skins...
The Masked Bishop
Well, the Merkined Bishop fufilled my first expectation: he couldn't just _leave_. He had to stick around and offer some more parting shots. This is one of those indicators that marks the True Iconoclast from the infantile poser. In their insecurity, the posers keep returning, hoping beyond hope to have an effect.
A real iconoclast doesn't even _lurk_. He moves on, without even contempt burdening his brain.
P.A., Petroleum V. Nasby was a newspaper humorist in the Archie Bunker tradition (or perhaps Bunk