Monthly Archives:
April 2006

news Politics

Bush, Schwarzenegger Variety Hour

Bush and Schwarzennegger give the performance of their lives. Well, ok, they both were on stage together in California. Providing comic relief for an uneasy public. Ok, the only joke was the stars of the show.

Why were they on stage together, you ask? Because their suckage is becoming public knowledge.

Bush was in California to promote math and science. The logic behind Bush promoting the sciences leaves me thinking that that Arnold was on stage to promote english and public speaking.

The two caracatures were onstage together to promote themselves. With the public becoming more and more aware that cartoon-like characters are not very good executing even the best laid out plans. With Wile E. Coyote drawing up the plans things seem to explode in their faces.

I question the value of having two unpopular people on stage together. That would be like the Facts of Life gang doing a reunion show. I am not sure who, in this analogy, is Joe, Natalie, Tutti, or Blare. What I am sure of is that it is likely to be boring as hell and will not illicite the public response that is intended.

Bush is a joke. Schwarzenegger doubly so.

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Etc.

hopes and dreams

Here is what I have been thinking and dreaming about lately.

The Vespa LX 50

I currently drive a 2004 CPI JV50. It is a two-stroke, fuel injected beautiful sport scooter. Gas milage is great. It rides like a dream. And whenever I am out for a ride or on my way to work I am in my special place.

But I am more interested in the classic scooter look. The Vespa LX 50 is a four stroke engine which means it would get even better gas milage. And is even better for the environment. It has an eight litre tank (the JV has a 5 litre tank) and it looks so very right.

In fact, it looks righteous.

I likely will try to trade mine in. Where I trade it in is dependant on the trade-in value.

But this is my dream. I am in love.

can you feel the love

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thots

On death, life, and continuance.

I stare and I stare at the blank screen. Debating.

If I say something. If I leave my mark. Then they will know I was here.

I don’t want to be here.
I don’t want to be anywhere.

Being dead is being somewhere. Where ever that is. And I don’t want to be there.

Nowhere. That is my destination.

I write about the journey. Philosophical. Religious. Political. Romantic. Emotional. Theoretical. Whatever. But can I just sit down? Is there a bench on this path?

Questions here. Questions there. For me. For you. For the earth. For the sky. And the waters in between.

Why does the temporal have such adverse affects?

Why is it that the eternal only appears as a reflection in the temporal?

The winds on my cheek died. The winds in my sail flew away. And my chest collapsed. And I cannot make it by myself.

If you knew me . . .
If I knew me . . .

Then maybe we could get somewhere. Maybe I could.

But somewhere is not where I wish to be. Anywhere. Some other place. But only a place that is no place.

Just for now.

Tomorrow’s rain will wash away the images burned into my head. Images I created when the winds died.

And now you know. And now they know I was here.

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thots

The Long Journey Home

She was on hiatus since the begining of November until April 5th. That is five months. But now I am mobile once again without the aide of Winnipeg Transit.

I love Winnipeg. Don’t get me wrong. But there are other places I would like to live as well. Places where driving a scooter is for more than seven months out of the year.

The other day I was driving along. I had been the the same lane for something like five or seven blocks. When a loud, rusted out car pulls up behind me. Honks its angry horn (some horns you know are happy “How’re you doin’?” horns – this was not one of them).

And then this car passes me and cuts back in quite quickly. Then the car speeds up and stops at the next red light where I catch up to it. And then it races ahead and again waits at a red light, where I catch up with it.

Normally I would not care. I have every right to be on the road. And I did nothing wrong.

But this car had two bumper stickers. One read “My Other Car is a Bicycle.” And he honked at me?

The other sticker had a rainbow and read “I Stand Up For Diversity.” Apparently his diversity stops as soon as he gets behind the wheel.

But I believe in diversity as well. Without cars guzzling gasoline scooters would not make as much sense. Besides being environmentally friendly, scooters cost less to fill on gas (that is if it is a gas scooter, like mine). They also are cheaper to insure. Cars cost more and put paycheques into the Insurance Corporation’s pocket. Or, in my case, it goes to Manitoba Public Insurance. If everyone drove a scooter or a bicycle, or took the bus then some people would be without a job.

And so it makes sense to have ugly, loud, economically and environmentally idiotic vehicles on the road. If only to make driving a scooter more appealing for me.

As I pulled into my back alley I could smell the garbage that the warm sun was waking up. I could also smell the freshly thawed urine and alley cat feces. The smells of spring. A potpouri of shit petals. Isn’t diversity wonderful?

For some people diversity stops at the point of inconvenience. The guy in the car owns a bike. But he was in a hurry and the bike was inconvenient and, therefore, I was as well. It is easier to hate, despise or dislike rather than accept the fact that there are other people in the world. People with different agendas and different outlooks on life. People seemingly moving the same direction but with a different destination.

My destination was home. I was, and rarely am, not in a hurry. I want to enjoy the journey. And my journey is usually in the direction of home. Someplace to call my own. I am not going to be bunking with the likes of Augustine, Ignatius, Calvin, Luther, Da Vinci, Marx, John Steinbach or even Kurt Vonnegut and William Blake. I may go visit or have them over. But I am going to build my own place.

And I will not have Mr Diversity or the driver of the Iron Mountain van who was using his CB radio and nearly ran me over, tell me where to go and how to get there. I have a map of my own. I will get to my destination. I will get home.

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Etc.

Life is Grand

Well, Julesco is back. I missed her.

Spring is here and summer is on the way.

And my bd is behind me.

Things are going good.

Now it is time to go for a ride. And finally I realize how my dog always felt whenever we would ask “Wanna go for a ride?” and she would go nuts. It was the same thing whenever my grandpa would pull up on the yard. She would go crazy.

I miss her. After 9 years. Still.

But this is how I will honour her memory. I will go for a ride with Julesco and feel the wind on my cheek.

Life is grand.

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news Politics

2 Sides to Every Betrayal

There is always another way to look at things. And here is how I see it.

The Betrayal of America – Part One

Bush OK’d the leaking of classified information. And that is cool. Bush hates leaks. Soon as he hears the faucet dripping in the White House he gets his monkey wrench and fixes that damn leak. But if it is he who turned on the tap then there is nothing to fix. That is cool. But Bush does not like the fact that someone told on him. And that is why he is looking for the person who leaked the information that an illegal wire-tapping ring was authorized by the White House. He did not turn that tap on. It was just dripping.

Bush allowed information to be leaked. And that is fine. Bush then stole information from Americans. And that is fine. But then someone told on Bush for stealing this info. And that is bad. Go figure.

Betrayal of America – Part Two

FoxNews is reporting on the Libby investigation. Actually, they are merely reporting that an investigation is taking place. It seems they have their own perspective but they could not find the words to actually say anything. So they say nothing. I guess they would not want to leak anything classified. So, instead, they merely link to some law documents. This is what fair and balanced reporting is, I guess. FoxNews is becoming a web-portal. Linking to the information that is so wordy and long that no one would read it. Or maybe they just did not understand it and are hoping someone will say something to clear it up for them. Who knows.

Terrorists Betray Our Trust

Rudolf Guilliani is testifying at Zacarias Moussaoui’s death penalty trial. And what evidence does Guiliani bring to the table? He saw people jump from the WTC. He saw people holding hands as the buildings burned and crumbled, and they plummented to their deaths. Is this enough to sentance someone to death? If Maoussaoui’s lack of action to prevent the attacks is enough to kill him, then what about the Intelliagence agencies? What about the government? What about the Standard Operating Procedures that were in place for the Air Force whenever a plane flies too far off course or enteres protected space? But I guess Guiliani’s romaticised view of himself, Bush, and 9/11 is enough to kill another person in the name of 9/11.

Conservatives Betray Farmers – Part One

Harper wants to revolutionize Canada and Canada’s farming programs. And by revolutionize I mean scrap and start fresh. But what is to be said when even Alberta does not like the proposed changes? Albertan Agriculture Minister Doug Horner says that Harper had the provincial ministers support to make the systems work but not to scrap them. It seems that the Federal government thinks that democracy can only work if the provinces act as yes-men and -women to the Federal government.

Conservatives Betray Farmers – Part Two

The Tories believe in the free market. But the free market is killing the farmers. As long as the US and Europe subsidize farmers the Canadian farmers cannot sell their products. Cheaper inports will outsell the more expensive domestic grains. In order to compete the Feds have to pony up the dough and help pay for grain (to make dough). But the feds would rather change the system and the farmers will have to wait and see. Then 3 years or so from now a new system will be devised. And that won’t work either. By then all our bread will be made in Europe and sold to us one day old. Unless you have money for the $10 loaf of OvenJoy.

Harper Betrays Rationality

Harper blames the agricultural crisis on “13 years of neglect.” Even though the farmers are saying that they have had the worst years of net income in a long while. I don’t think I understand. How do tax cuts galore fit into the income subsidization that the farmers are asking for? How does giving hand-outs to farmers fit in with the Conservative Child-care plan and the idea of the “do-it yourself” Conservativism? And will the farmers get what they need or what the Conservatives think is good enough? Maybe the equivalent of $25 per week.

Terrorist Betray Internet’s Innocence

A report shows that terrorists sites on the Internet are increasing. There are sites demonstrating things such as how to turn a cellphone into a remote detonator. And others that tell you how to become a suicide bomber. The Internet used to be virgin territory. Now it is terrority advertising for pictures of virgins.

Just so you don’t have to go looking, let me make suicide bombing easy for you: Blow yourself up in a public place.

I thought it was pretty straight forward. What is difficult is taking the 12 Step Program for Recoving Suicide Bombers. The names of the 12 Step Programs are purposely misleading though. Suicide Bombers Anonymous sounds like a group helping the would-be bombers to remain anonymous. Recovering Suicide Bombers sounds like a group that helps to identify and remove the remains of a bomber. And Ex-Suicide Bombers sounds like a morgue.

Judas Betrays Betrayers

The Gospel of Judas revealed. Judas, apparently was not such a bad guy. It appears that he only wanted to help Jesus’ cause. But inso doing he painted himself as a betrayer. Now all those who have tried to become just like him (a Benedict Arnold, maybe) have been betrayed. So, it would seem, Judas is still a treachorous traitor. He first appeared to have betrayed Jesus. But, I guess, he did not. Now he has betrayed those who idolized him. And those who demonized him. And that is a shame. In clearing his name he soiled the paper detailing his pardon.

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thots

Out Damn Spot

The Martyr’s Mirror is a horrid book. And by horrid I mean that it details some of the ugliest moments of humanity. Hitler used gas chambers so that the soldiers would not have to suffer any adverse affects from seeing countless numbers of people die. Those who persecuted others for religious reasons wanted to see the people die. I, personally, see these two as being at least equal in their horridity.

But burning someone at the stake; or tearing their insides out while they are still alive; or, as was the case in the Spanish Inquisition, Vlad the Impaler caused people to sit on a pole until it had worked its way up the arse and into the person head; or the fact that when people were killed by being cut in half they were cut from the genitals to the head. These things caused public spectacle. And people desired to see or be a part of the on-goings or at least to see it. Which is worse? It is hard to say.

But killing others is an age-old ritual of purification. Supposed purification of humanity. A form of eugenics. And it serves as a tool to help the executioner to purify themselves by placing themselves above the sinful, the heathen, the heretic, the secular, the un-democratic and any other group that would say otherwise to their perspective.

To try to remove all opposing groups is to try to wash the blood stain from the hands. The spot will not disappear. And purification of humanity will only occur with Nuclear Holocaust. Purification of self – of mind, body and soul – can only occur through introspection and not extermination.

Right is not right due to the absense of wrong. Right is right in the face of wrong.

And how can the Right be determined unless tempted or coaxed by wrong? How can Right be assured unless weighed against the other options?

This is where the discussion turns from a macro, world, level, to the micro, personal, level. Plausibility structures are secured by being surrounded only by like-minded people. Ideas are re-enforced and ideologies are re-entrenched. This does not make an idea more right or correct or realistic. Thiis just makes the idea, for the person and group, more plausible.

Purifying the environment by removing all opposing perspectives is the antithesis of developing a well-rounded, clear, well thought-out idea of the world. The world does not stop at the doorstep. It does not even stop at the Ocean. Not even at the European-Asian border.

Purging the world of “evil” ideas, ideologies and doctrines will not purge the world of evil. New counter-arguments are in a constant state of development.

If it is not worth dieing for, then is it worth killing for?

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thots

Positioning

I hesitate to talk of religion, particularily what I believe, because it opens myself up to criticism. Normally I welcome criticism but when speaking of religion people usually get too caught up in correcting and converting the person who opens the doors. The assailants attack because it is usually easier to insult or hurt the speaker than it is to consider, re-consider and come out with a new outlook even if seated in the same position.

Just so you know, I am not a Catholic. In fact I do not like Catholicism. And Catholicism does not like me. The Catholics tried to suppress the Anabaptists but, accouding the Catholic Encyclopedia, the use of force was powerless to “effect suppression.” Even with the Catholics, the Calvinists, the Lutherans and the government hunting the Anabaptists down they could not effect suppression.

Catholic.com lists the great heresies that have plagued the Catholic Church. It is an interesting read. If you are reading this then you already know that I am guilty of being a Protestant (and an Re-Baptiser) but you likely did not know that I am also guilty of:

There is one thing that I believe for absolute sure. I believe that any understanding of the Bible should be possible without being told by someone else. The Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Watchtower organization all believe that it is the Elders that are the only ones capable of interpreting the Bible. (The Bible that the Church selected, de-selected, and added to.) Consider these “Catholic Questions.”

Consider also the idea of exorcisms, demon possession, demon influence and Satan. I could rant on and on about this but that is for another day. If the Devil is scared of Jesus then why does this “exorcist” say that he has been working with a girl for several years trying to get, ahem, the hell out? When the disciples cast out demons it was instantaneous. Miracles are instantaneous. And, if the book of Job is understood correctly, why does God allow Satan to have such a grip on this poor girl? And if God does not allow for anything to happen that we cannot handle why would he allow for such torment?

But alas . . .

My reasoning for bringing up the Catholic issue is that the Catholic Church holds to many of the beliefs that I find appalling and ignorant. The ideas of the the Papacy are filtered down to the masses en masse, in Mass. The thought process is removed. All that is left is for fanaticism to take root. During WWII the Catholic response to Hitler was to “render to Caesar . . .” and then turned away. The thinking was done for the people.

During the Reformation Martin Luther translated the Bible into the language of the people. They had never had the chance to read it before. In fact Menno Simons, while a Priest, did not read it but rather followed the liturgical formulas.

Formulas do not help people. Prescribed traditions and rituals do not provide sanction in Heaven. If dipping a child into water and reciting the Nicene or Apostles Creed is going to allow for entrance through the Pearly Gates then maybe I should buy some indulgences to help pay off the Vatican mortgage.

Faith, understanding, religion and philosophy are about a journey. If I am following someone else then I am only as good as my sherpa. The Pope, John Calvin, Martin Luther, Conrad Grebal, Ulrich Zwingll, Balthaasar Hubmaier, Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell and any other name you care to think of are all people. [Brigham Young, L.Ron Hubbard, Joseph Smith, David Koresh, Dolly Parton, Hank Aaron, Lou Gehrig, Bill Crystal and so on.]As people they are reading and interpreting things for themselves. If they are speaking the truth then they should not have to tell you what to believe.

[Correction: I am not guilty of being a "re-baptiser." I have only been baptised once. But I am an Anabaptist, a term that means, literally, "re-baptiser."]

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Politics

Thumbs have their own pulse.

From the Toronto Star (with a h/t)

“Ultimately, there will have to be constitutional changes, not just to accommodate Quebec but also to accommodate demands we have from the West and from other parts of the country â€â€? and from the population of Canada,” Harper said.

Ok, let me see if I get this straight. Harper wants to re-open the constitutional debate. I figured he would do something as anal and stupid. And he will want to put property rights into it too. That way he can keep the pinko-nazi-left-wing-hippy-free-sex-tree-hugging-facist-commies at bay. That way he can say “It’s in the constitution. Sorry, my hands are tied.” Always forgetting that he forced any change that could be opposed.

But that is not my major qualm here. It is his wording. He refers to Quebec, the West, and other parts of the country. Basically he is referring to all of Canada. But then he adds “and from the population of Canada.”

There are several things wrong here. First of all, he appears to seperate the government from the people. That is Quebec, the West and “other parts of the country” are being addressed apart from the population. Last time I checked we have a representative democracy in Canada. This means that those in “government” are speaking for the constituents. This means that there should be no difference from the population than from the government. Or at least a minimal difference.

Government should be an extension of the population. But we do not have that in Canada. It appears that Harper understands this. But he is not addressing this problem. He is perpetuating it.

The problem of Quebec is my second problem with Harper’s choice of words. It appears that he does not see the Quebec issue as a problem the people of Quebec have with the idea of Canada but a problem with the governance of Quebec. He, so it seems, has to address the Quebec government seperately from the people.

I may be reading into his words a little much. But I feel that he would want to do for Quebec only what he would want for Alberta. And when he speaks of “the West” I believe he only is referring to Alberta. I have never felt that he has any feelings for BC, Saskachewan or Manitoba. The problem is that he wants only to help Quebec insofar as he can do what he wants for Alberta. A two birds with one stone type idea.

My third issue with Harper’s quote is that he included the population of Canada as an after-thought. As if the people of Canada do not make of Quebec, the West and other parts of the country. Without the population where would government fit in. Is this how he sees issues such as health-care and child-care? The fact that it is the population that uses health-care and pays for it but the government governs it should be some sort of tip-off. I mean, if Harper sees health-care as an issue in which the federal government takes to the provincial authorities but considers the population as an afterthought then it is all dollars and cents without human bodies to get in the way.

For an economist this is a pretty natural way to look at things. For someone with a bent to look at the social aspects of literature, history, and political science this is the antithesis of good government. (I studied the social history of Canada, Shakespeare in context and political science.)

Harper’s distinction is not one between church and state but between government and the population. Harper may not pay attention to polls but he claims to have his finger on the pulse of Canadian society. The thing is, he is using his thumb to take the pulse and all he is getting is his own pulse. And dollar signs and numbers do not have pulses anyway.

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