WMD

So I went to revive my golf game today, which I discovered is stable but doctors recommend that it stay in the ICU for another night for close observation. The drive was probably more remarkable than the game itself, the trees are changing colors and everything was on fire. That and there were loads of smashed up deer parts on the side of the road. Gross.

On my way back home, I was almost swiped by this prick who was flying in his Escalade. I'm not normally one to to get worked up over moronic drivers, even when they are aggressive. It's just not a healthy state of mind living in the land where guidos breed. I try not to dwell on morons in general, but sometimes I just have to laugh.. or cry. This particular tosspot had a big W '04 sticker on the rear windshield that made me hate him and Bush about ten times more. If it is indeed possible to multiply infinity by ten. The thing is, when you're speeding and weaving in and out of lanes there's a graceful way to go about it, even in an SUV. We've all seen the dark horse that just dances through traffic. The speed limit on this particular road is 65 but everyone travels at 80mph pretty comfortably. W was easily exceeding 100 and he was changing lanes so abruptly that he had to fight his truck to keep from swaying. His driving resembled that of a cockroach succumbing to the effects of RAID rather than the strides of a stallion. Too much? Probably.

Now, I'm no granny on the road, but I'm not an idiot either - this guy was just dangerous. He went careening past, leaving me with a glimpse of an early-40s balding Bush supporter who needed to overcompensate for his own insecurities by risking the lives of everyone around him. Few miles down the road, a police car was just pulling over a black family in a beat up old Cadillac. He had to have seen the bald Escalade fly by. It's good to know that our police prioritize giving some old black guy a ticket for a broken tail light rather than checking the extremist recklessly wielding a 3.5 ton weapon. That whole scenario was twisted on so many levels.

[Sidenote: I don't hate SUV's, he could have been driving anything and would still have been a prick. If you buy an SUV, your decision is rewarded by expensive gas costs and other taxes that make your choice an expensive one (unless you take advantage of Bush's tax loophole ). Just don't be an asshole about it.]

Eclipse

During totality, when the moon is completely immersed in shadow, it might turn red, the result of Earth's atmosphere bending hints of all the world's sunrises and sunsets simultaneously onto the moon while the sun's primary light is blocked.

But on your tiny planet, my little prince, all you need to do is move your chair a few steps. You can see the day end and the twilight falling whenever you like...
"One day," you said to me, "I saw the sunset forty-four times!"
And a little later you added:
"You know - one loves the sunset, when one is so sad..."

The Little Prince
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Dervishes

Why does the melody of the reed flute move us? Because holes have been cut in its heart, permitting it to cry. Only when a human heart has been emptied of false apprehensions and made hollow like the reed, can one play one's own melody.

These photos were meant to accompany this post. This ceremony is normally a very intimate, a spiritual observance sometimes performed in the presence of few invited guests. This particular observance was performed in a fairly large auditorium, and thus lost the intimacy it would otherwise convey. That said, sorry for the poor quality photos, they were taken in a bit of a rush with a camera I wouldn't recommend.

All day and night, music,
a quiet, bright
reedsong. If it
fades, we fade.
Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi (1207-1273)

Bloomin

Bloomin, originally uploaded by bitter apple.

More pictures.

This cactus belonged to the crazy lady who lived across the lane from me in my lovely Sydney suburb. According to crazy lady, this bloom occurs just once.. so I figured I might as well snap it while it was there.

Then again, she has sent money in response to some mail scam about investing in an account in Nigeria. She has done this more than once and has not seen any returns, yet continues to send money. She also once came out and informed the ape, who was waiting in the car, that I was probably a teacher involved in a strike that was going on at the time. There was absolutely nothing that made sense about that conclusion. She is a nutter. So maybe this thing blooms once a month.

Oh dear

"It's full of Democrats and Republicans, the others only have Democrats. We don't take any position at all," Mr Murdoch said in response to a question about Fox's impartiality.

"We're not in the least bit biased, we're a fair and balanced company."

Murdoch: Fox News does not favour Bush.

I think he's missing the point: it's not whether you have Republicans or Democrats on your staff. Not only does that make it sound like those are the only two possibilities for political alignment, but it's about the language and nuances you use to present information. I can't believe that the importance of language isn't touched upon more often - using the word 'liberator' has different connotations than 'troop'. This rabid nationalism, or jingoism as a friend put it, that is displayed by our media is insulting.

The scariest part here, as Albright pointed out, is that they (the administration and their talking heads) actually believe what they say. This isn't a charade - it's worse.

The punch line is that Fox News makes CNN look like an objective source of information.

More plaster, please

The Bush administration intends to seek about $70 billion in emergency funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan early next year, pushing total war costs close to $225 billion since the invasion of Iraq early last year, Pentagon and congressional officials said yesterday.
....
On top of paying the wages of the all-volunteer force (What kind of wages does an all-volunteer force receive?) and the contractors, the military has paid for building dozens of bases and keeping a high-tech force equipped with computers, communications gear and expensive modern weaponry.
....
Yale University economist William D. Nordhaus estimated that in inflation-adjusted terms, World War I cost just under $200 billion for the United States. The Vietnam War cost about $500 billion from 1964 to 1972, Nordhaus said. The cost of the Iraq war could reach nearly half that number by next fall, 2 1/2 years after it began.

They have to be taking the piss. This will most likely be kept subdued until after the elections, I wonder why it isn't plastered about by Kerry's campaign. Isn't this in itself an admittance of the quagmire they're in? Living in oblivion must be fun. But as Secretary Albright said last night on Jon Stewart, I prefer this universe to the parallel one the administration is trying to create. Did Stewart really recommend that she try a bong and a Grateful Dead album?

Found this Washington Post article on Anselpixel's site.

Procrastination

For those of you that have time on your hands.. or have things to do, this will help.

Found it on zoe's site.

Should

I've noticed recently that a lot of our lives are governed by should's. We all have ideas of what our partner 'should' be like, what our status 'should' be, what we 'should' do. Interesting to think about the ideals that we live by that define our 'should's. I mean really, what happened to Yoda's 'do or do not, there is no try'. Just get on with it.

This post isn't really going anywhere, and I've been taking the easy way out with posting pictures lately and I want to get back into thinking. I'm actually rationing my mental energy this week. Yes, that's it. I'm stupid now so I can be smart later. Do you see how that works? I'm only stupid on here, you see.. when I'm out and about, that's when the lights go on. Right this is nonsense. I'm going running. Late.

Rolling Bridge

Rolling Bridge, originally uploaded by bitter apple.

This is just too cool.

'How it works is the extraordinary aspect of it', designer Thomas Heatherwick

Article

in NY Times Magazine

Surfer chick

surfer chick, originally uploaded by bitter apple.

This is me learning to surf at 6am on Manly Beach in North Sydney. Notice the instructor is carrying my board.

Never quite worked up the courage to pull a stunt like this.

Surfer, originally uploaded by bitter apple.

Jon Stewart

I know I'm behind the times on this, partly because I can't bring myself to stomach TV that doesn't feature Friends reruns, but you can watch Jon Stewart on CNN's Crossfire here. Finally, someone calling the 'news' the theater that it is. Blah.

Byron Lighthouse

Lighthouse, originally uploaded by apple.

The lighthouse at Byron Bay is marked as the easternmost point of Australia, nevermind the fact that you can see a small island a few miles out to sea from the location of the staked claim.

Endless Coast

Endless Coast, originally uploaded by apple.

Okay I take that back about the previous photo being my favorite. This was taken on the last day of a roadtrip returning to Sydney from Noosa. Byron Bay, the ultimate hippie town, was a bit of a rainy disappointment following the glorious Sunshine coast. This scene was more humbling than can possibly be expressed here, so I will just let you imagine the salty air whipping through your hair while being mesmerized by the rhythm of the waves. Australia may be a quirky place, but the geography is absolutely amazing.

Still Celebrating 2000

Inexplicably, we have about 3 boxes of these plastic cups that say 'Celebrate 2000!'. Regardless of how often we try to use them for barbeques, and send them with my brother and sister to their respective school functions where they dutifully sign up to bring the cups, our supply of these cups is neverending. Despite the fact that my brother and sister share a unique last name in a small school, some teachers have only realized that they are siblings by recognizing these cups. I even had a supply at university in which my flatmates happily mixed their rum and cokes. I think we still have an unopened box of these cups lurking in the garage somewhere. So, if you happen to be in the market for cups to celebrate the milennium, you know who to call.

Circular Quay, Sydney

Circular Quay, Sydney, originally uploaded by apple.

These fellows were kicking up quite a storm at Circular Quay in Sydney. One of my favorite photos.

Ralph Nader

I don't know about Ralph Nader. Everything I learn about him represents qualities that I want in a leader. He is overwhelmingly stubborn about his candidacy despite so many calls for him to endorse Kerry. I don't think it is about ego. The guy doesn't strike me as egotistical. I think he sees his candidacy as more than a bid for the presidency; he sees it as a fight for democracy. I don't know. Kerry is really not much better than Bush. The 20-something Kerry who spoke out against the Vietnam War showed some promise, but now, he's just as bad as the rest of them. I think maybe having Bush in office for another 4 years won't be all that different from Kerry. Maybe there is a greater battle to be won, maybe supporting Nader will bring us closer to the demise of this two party system. I received this sample ballot in the mail and when I was looking at it, I got a little excited. I'll enjoy not voting for Bush and his council of power-mongering racist shits. But is Kerry all that deserving? He seems a little more, well sane, but he's going to push an agenda similar to Bush's, albeit in a more polite way. Maybe it has to get worse before it gets better. Nader gives credence to the role of a public servant. Did you forget that that's the most fundamental role of the President? I did. He is elected to serve his country. The mainstream candidates are serving themselves. I know these thoughts are disorganized, but I just don't know. Do I vote for Kerry because I hate Bush? Do I vote for Nader for the sake of the system, for another nudge towards a real democratic system where we choose our leaders from more than two viable options? Does it matter?

World On Fire

Watch this.

Sharks

Sharks

This photo by Doug Perrine has earned him the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Amazing, eh?

You can see some of the other photos in the competition here.

Penguins

I feel (and look) like this penguin. Go ahead. Poke me.

On a side note, I have been party to the theft of a blow-up penguin from outside this Discovery type store in the Centrepoint mall in Sydney. The one who stole is a professional rugby player who ran through the shopping center with a giant blow up penguin tucked under his arm. Curiously, no one tried to stop him. A Wallaby stole a penguin. Heh.

enter at own risk

I want to tear my hair out. I'm getting pissed when I'm loading web pages and the little blue highlight line stalls for even a moment while bringing images and information to my screen at the speed of light. I am so bloody impatient. I don't want to explain anything more than I already have. I don't want to hear shitty music. I don't want to hear loud, stupid girls laughing in annoying voices at their loud, stupid selves. Don't be melodramatic. I don't want to suffer through conversations I have absolutely no interest in. I don't want to hear anyone chew food or gulp down liquid. When you park on a busy street, stop being an idiot for just a second and look to see if you are about to open your car door into traffic. Baseball doesn't matter. Don't greet me with 'how are you?' when you are going to talk about yourself anyway. Hold your child's hand as she navigates her way down steep, cement steps. Moron. Don't drive a 5L SUV with a yellow 'Support our Troops' sticker. If you want to support our troops, drive a hybrid. You don't need to state the obvious.

PMT you say? Yes. Congratufuckinglations.

Anybody but Bush

I don't think it is necessary to dissect this as I have done previous issues. Naomi Klein (No Logo) doesn't need me to elucidate what she has already made so simple.

...there is something about George Bush's combination of ignorance, piety and swagger that triggers a condition in progressives I've come to think of as Bush Blindness. When it strikes, it causes us to lose sight of everything we know about politics, economics and history and to focus exclusively on the admittedly odd personalities of the people in the White House.

This madness has to stop, and the fastest way of doing that is to elect John Kerry, not because he will be different but because in most key areas - Iraq, the "war on drugs", Israel/Palestine, free trade, corporate taxes - he will be just as bad. The main difference will be that as Kerry pursues these brutal policies, he will come off as intelligent, sane and blissfully dull. That's why I've joined the Anybody But Bush camp: only with a bore such as Kerry at the helm will we finally be able to put an end to the presidential pathologising and focus on the issues again.
...

Under a Kerry government, the comforting illusion of a world united against imperial aggression will drop away, exposing the jockeying for power that is the true face of modern empire. We'll also have to let go of the archaic idea that toppling a single man, or a Romanesque "empire", will solve all, or indeed any, of our problems. Yes, it will make for more complicated politics, but it has the added benefit of being true. With Bush out of the picture, we lose the galvanising enemy, but we get to take on the actual policies that are transforming all of our countries.


This is really worth a read, don't just go with what I considered to be most poignant. The column can be found in its entirety here at The Guardian. Enjoy.

parents

To what extent do our parents shape our lives? The emphasis placed the parental environment during early childhood, through adolescence would indicate that our parents have a profound influence on our decision making processes, emotional intelligence and general ways of coping with what comes our way. On the other hand, there comes a point when we have gathered enough experience to be able to carve out our own paths and take responsibility for them. So which is it?

I am un jour de retard

I'm not sure what to make of the fact that on more than one occasion I have come here looking to see if I've updated. Needless to say, I'm pretty bored. A good friend recommended a few books I should get into, and that is something I'm looking forward to.

The excitement that comes with the knowledge that I am going to start working soon has subsided, giving way to dreaded dark cold mornings. I think the independence that comes with working is something pretty motivating. A new experience nonetheless.

More than anything, I need to get back into my fitness routine. You might think that fasting complements one's goal of eating less, but in reality the celebrations that surround it involve a lot of rich foods. Not that I'm complaining. That and I need to be able to stand up in order to go to thie gym, and my post-fast feasting is making that pretty difficult. The problem is, the fatter and more unfit I feel, the less motivated I am to go. Conversely, if I feel like I'm getting fitter, I am cemented in my routine - no matter what else, I make it to the gym. When I was in it, I would look forward to go to the gym at 5am, no matter how painful the cold was. I feel so lazy right now and it's compounding on itself. I'm pretty sure that wasn't the correct use of compounding, but think in terms of interest. It becomes overwhelming. Ugh.

I've also spent time playing with the cutest baby around. He sometimes forgets if he's laughing or crying and does both simultaneously, to my neverending amusement.

Oh- and I've had some words with the ape. Things are much better, thanks for asking.

Peace.

such potential

It is widely known that Muslims made great contributions to scientific fields, particularly betweeen the 8th and 13th centuries. In medicine, Muslims are known to have developed the use of anesthetics and thus made headway in many kinds of surgeries. They also successfully investigated the inner workings of the human eye and the first successful cataract surgery is attributed to an Egyptian surgeon. In Mathematics, the world Algebra is of Arab origin, while the number Zero and the decimal system were developed by Muslim mathematicians. In astronomy, the names of many stars are Arabic in origin and the earliest astrolabs were discovered in the Middle East. The earth's circumference, accurate within 70 miles, was calculated in the 8th century by a Muslim scholar. There is no dearth of intellectual legacy in non-scientific fields, either. To me, however, the scientific discoveries are astounding given their prominence in modern science and technology.

Why then do we never manage to ascertain the start of Ramadaan until the midnight before it starts? Why does half of the Muslim world celebrate it on one day while the other half the following day? Why is there any ambiguity at all?

Actually, the way things are going it seems this is the least of our problems.

preparing for the famine

Us Muslims, or terrorists as many of you know us, start fasting tomorrow. I'm going to start eating now nonstop until sunrise tomorrow. That should make the first days somewhat bearable. Well, it's not so bad - I don't get all that hungry but the knowledge that I can't eat kills me. I'm going to eat so much crap now that I feel too guilty to think about food and that should sufficiently override the psychological torture of knowing I'm not allowed to eat. Sounds like a plan.

the sun god

Tell me if you've seen this live you don't get chills promising great things to come.

on second thought

Upon closer consideration, I've realized that the next two weeks are indeed the end of the world as I know it. I've worked before but never for real. I've had some pretty awesome internships - the kind where I get to stand behind important people and see the side of my apple head on the front page of the NYTimes the next day. But they don't count as work because I'm there to have fun and the expectations of a lowly intern are.. well low. Short of committing a crime, you can only exceed their low expectations with your free labor. I was fortunate to work with some really interesting and genuine characters so it never felt threatening. I know that I have been lucky.

Intrigued but with that feeling of dread do I approach this new world called work. I have to get up at an obscene hour and take public transport to the frenzy that is Penn Station and then submerge myself in the panic of the subway to get to Grand Central. There I emerge in a sea of scurrying blurs dwarfed by gorgeous marble, only to purposefully walk in the brisk air to my place of employment.

That I've done before.

What I'm not even closely prepared for is working. I am fairly decent, and maybe even adept at conversation in a social setting. I can even make a phone call when the need arises. I can also give an interview which requires I behave and speak professionally for an abbreviated period of time. I do know that everyone I know doesn't take me seriously. The people who like me have sifted through my unending drivel to discover that all is not lost, and indeed there are some gears turning. The ones who don't like me, well they've given up hope. My friends often chide me for my academic and intellectual bent.. and the chaos that characterizes the rest of my life. How can the same person achieve on paper while being such a buffoon in real life? The ape asks me this all the time. I don't have an answer.

So you see why I am concerned about my upcoming role. I know that I'm in over my head right now with this job, which is confirmed by the fact that, when someone asks me what my new position entails, I can only say I have no idea. Granted, I have some idea, but really, when I try and imagine my day and the people I'll be interacting with I realise I have no clue what to expect. This proves that what people write on their resumes, and employers post about various positions is essentially nonsense.

Like I said earlier, I am intrigued by the new challenge of the unknown, but I think my biggest fear is that I will be disappointed. I don't want to be one of the millions of bloggers who type about how much they hate the people they work with and their jobs and their lives and the girl who sells them coffee. In reality, I think the job, will keep me challenged for long enough.. it's an entry point anyway. My life.. well I'm blessed girl and too cognizant of the opportunities available to me to be miserable about anything serious. I still hate my thighs, though. Okay so I think I'm safe from being the girl who who self-prescribes anti-depressants because she can identify with an eggman who goes around with a cloud following him. Yea, I get pretty depressed, but I can deal with it.

Anyway, my question is, how am I going to start working??? I guess this is really growing up. It seems especially awkward because here I am, in my hometown where I've spent about 15 of my 23 years, and I've never imagined myself anything but a stupid kid. But now, when I go watch my sister play field hockey, I realise - the girls on her team are stupid kids. I am no longer. Ah, it's an identity shift I believe. I'm happy for it, for the most part. I've always felt that guilt that comes from having parents as gracious as mine, and am looking forward to being less of a financial burden on them. I think that's my biggest release.

Well that's my mental vomit for now, I have a pretty gigantic deadline that smells of about 8000 words in the a.m., so I need to get cracking. Goodnight mailbox.

good news everyone!

(That was a cameo by Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth in case you didn't notice).

Very excited to report that I'll be receiving my official offer tomorrow and will be starting training on November 1st!!!

... on the second debate

I didn't get a chance to watch the debate on Friday night, and have only watched parts of it during CNN 'encores'. I did notice that Bush was more coherent this time around, marked by glee among his supporters who continue to champion his performance. Indeed, he put in a strong showing. Kerry articulated strong points well but then that is not a surprise, while Bush's delivery was. Nevermind that the President sounded like a whining 3-year old child when trying to defend his position.

'Mr Bush sounded like a passionate preacher, while Mr Kerry made his case like a lawyer.'
When it comes to the Office of the President of the United States, I think it is safer to go with the lawyer who builds a case based on logic and evidence than the passionate preacher who tries to gain support by appealing to emotion and capitalizing on fear. But that's just what I think.

If Bush did as well as his supporters claim, then why do the polls indicate that Bush and Kerry are tied with 48% support each, or that Kerry is in the lead? Before the debates began, Bush was clearly ahead in the polls. If his last performance was that good wouldn't it have put Bush back in the lead? Or perhaps Americans are finally stepping up to the plate.

Also, was Bush wearing a wire during the first debate?

Autumn

Off to run my six mile route on this beautiful day. Is anyone else surprised by how quickly the leaves have changed?

Cheers.

Circles

The more I try to think about what to post here, I realize that I need to develop some kind of direction for this blog. I don't want it to be as random as it has been yet I don't want to make it into a project. I'm not sure what it is I'm looking for. Maybe some sense of structure? Right now I'm pretty much left to my own devices during the days and just hang out with my parents in the evenings if I don't go out. After the fiasco this weekend, I don't know how 'up' I will be for frolicking in the city.

I feel drained, but that's probably due more to being ill than anything long-term. I'm just feeling really lazy and uproductive. I've worked on my dissertation but I'm so detached from it now, I have become increasingly resentful towards it and my advisor for not taking a role in its development. I know that I may be passing the blame for not doing the work, but I never even received acknowledgement, much less feedback on the earlier work and drafts that I sent to my advisor. Only one random email that yes he received it, when can he expect the next section - no feedback on the content. Yea, I didn't get back to him on that either. It's my essay, not his I don't really have a leg to stand on here. It's much closer to being completed though and while I'm pretty happy with it, it's nothing groundbreaking. I know I shouldn't be settling for this but fuck it.

The ape. I don't write about him much because I am having a lot of issues with him. I don't even know where to begin and if I even want to start. I haven't made much of an effort to speak to him which he has been making easy because his schedule is pretty chock full. I am scared to admit to myself that I may not be happy with where we are. I don't know if this is my mood, issues with living at home or something substantial. I am tired of thinking about it. Living inside my own head without much of an opporunity to speak to trusted friends isn't very healthy for me. Actually, I know I'll be okay.. well, more than okay once I get through this transition.

I've lost interest in this post for now, and want to do some work so I'm going to cut out here. I still don't know how to approach this blog or what purpose I want it to serve. Cheerio, friends.

Lessons of the weekend

If your car is a full-time all wheel drive and you happen to require a tow, be sure to remember to request a flatbed truck. This is necessary even if it is a sedan and you have to spend an hour convincing the dispatcher that it is indeed all wheel drive and, no, you cannot change the setting. Also, the guy who works in the BP on the corner of 96th street and 1st avenue in Manhattan is very helpful. He let me park there for the 4 hours it took for the correct towtruck to arrive. Not that he had much of a choice.

In my time waiting for the tow, I observed a dog get hit by car and get up and run right back into traffic. I then saw his screaming owner run into traffic as well. I ask you to imagine what might be going through someone's head to let a dog, no matter how seemingly obedient, off its lead anywhere outside a safe, enclosed area in Manhattan - much less on 1st avenue. This prospect is beyond me. I hope that little mutt is okay.

You cannot pay your $2.00 fare for a NYC bus with dollar bills as you might presume. You must have a charged Metrocard or a roll of quarters in your pocket. My Metrocard was empty, and surprisingly I didn't have the prerequisite roll of quarters. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those people on the 102 bus last night who rummaged through their pockets for change for me and my friend. That bus took us to the best dinner we've ever had.

Motion

The hours turn into days, days turn into nights, into weeks, weeks into months, months into years. So every moment I have is an opportunity to direct the course of the day, week, month and year. Ultimately, my lifetime. Each decision will play out over time and affect my life in numerous, often unseen ways. While external circumstances have their role, I can easily capitalise upon them or circumvent them to my own accord. So, where will I go from here?

My Favorite River

So, I haven't heard anything since I filled out a number of forms for my soon-to-be employer. The forms were fairly standard, investigating whether I have committed any number of crimes or have any inclination to do so. I was told these would take 3-5 days to process but it has been 6 full business days. Now, I don't have anything on my record, as far as I'm aware so there's no reason to fret. I've been granted US Govt Security Clearance, so I can't imagine what could be stalling this. Well, I can imagine a few HR ladies standing around gossiping, but they can't do that for 6 days... can they? I still have to take care of a few other things before I get my official offer. I was told to expect to start on the 18th of this month, but the way things are moving, I wonder if they meant next year. Not that I'm itching for a 5am rise and the panic of the Manhattan commute, but I have a more pressing problem. I have run up a fairly decent credit card bill, which won't be a problem once I get paid, but until then I think I have a lashing coming from Ferdinand. It's now a race between my first check and when the bill arrives. I'm pretty sure of who is going to win but a girl can live in denial, can't she?

Checking the facts

If you haven't already, I suggest you check out factcheck.com. I wonder if this is what Cheney intended for you to see.

Yes

"People have often asked us in the last 14 months if we were 'pro-Palestinian' or 'pro-Israeli', 'right-wing' or 'left-wing', 'religious' or 'secular'... We have always answered these questions with a single word: 'Yes'. We are pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli, both right and left, both religious and secular. In fact, there is no other way of supporting peace. To support only one of the sides means to work for conflict and hostility, not for mutual acceptance and reconciliation..."

Hopeways Alternative National Design Forum

Domestic Problems

And another thing:

In listening to 'analysis' of the VP debate on The Charlie Rose Show, I was struck by an issue that was raised regarding Kerry's position on involving the 'International Community' in the security and reconstruction of Iraq. Rose highlighted a specific problem in Kerry's position that while he would want to include countries like France and Germany in Iraq, their willingness was not even close to guaranteed. Mortimer Zuckerman, Chairman & editor-in-chief of US News and World Report and Chairman & Publisher of NY Daily News stated that while France, Germany and India may have an interest in participating in the reconstruction of Iraq, they face 'domestic problems' in being able to commit to an alliance with the US in this regard. The "domestic problems" as Zuckerman categorized them, are due to the significant Muslim populations in these countries that objected to the invasion and presumably would object to their countries' participation in what is widely seen as 'occupation'. According to Zuckerman, India's involvement in Iraq would see an exacerbation of domestic tensions due to its Muslim population of 250 million.

It is first necessary to refute the connotations of assuming that Muslims would object to see their respective countries contribute to the reconstruction of Iraq. Firstly, Muslims create too much turmoil amongst themselves to be considered as a monolithic group. I'm not sure how to emphasize this, but let's just say if you ask 10 different Muslims for a 5-minute introduction to Islam, you will get 15 completely different answers. My own beliefs and interpretations differ, often significantly, from my mother's. Thinking that you will get a cohesive view on politics is just ridiculous. Join my family for dinner, won't you? Secondly, on a purely idealistic note, why wouldn't anyone want to contribute to the reconstruction of a war-torn and traumatized country? Now obviously there are many different views on how this should be done and what form it should take, but I don't think anyone would deny peace and development as noble goals. I could go on but this isn't the point.

My main concern is with Zuckerman's assessement of the democratic process, and democratic decisions within France, Germany and India as 'domestic problems'. I've noticed this mentioned a number of times - when a country does not sign on with the US because of domestic protest, it is referred to as a 'domestic problem'. So, if people democratically object to their leaders taking a specific action that is contrary to American interests, they are considered to create a domestic problem???? And how has the United States historically dealt with 'domestic problems'? Are there any Nicaraguans reading this?

Just another pretty face

I know I said I would lay off the politics... sod that.

The VP debate was pretty nonsensical. They rarely, if ever stuck to the issues and wasted a lot of time throwing around figures and describing legislation that (I hope) everyone knows cannot be explained or understood in 90 seconds or less. I lost interest but was really put off by Edwards' response to the Israel/Palestine Issue. He didn't even make an attempt to appear balanced. It was all about Israel's defense and then a story about how a restaurant was bombed near to the hotel he had stayed in, but was not staying in at the time. I don't think Cheney said anything at all aside from the fact that Bush acknowledged a two-state plan. I'm not sure who was worse on this. Predictably, I have strong feelings on the issue and was looking forward to hearing something of substance but I see now that that was just dreaming.

I think Cheney did better in his demeanor and delivery than Edwards, and would even be impressed if he wasn't such a dirty old crook. Edwards, I think, would do well to stay quiet and just nod and smile. I missed the very beginning, but was there something in the rules about the norms of integrity and logic being suspended for each candidate's speaking time?
These two, in their constant manipulation of numbers and interpretations and in their invariable challenges on credibility, left me with the conclusion that I can't expect to hear anything solid from either.

The only thing about this debate that I found of value was the fact that it kept me distracted long enough to run 6 miles in just about 50 minutes.

Minutes

Right-O. Enough of all that. The end of the year is upon us, and I think that personal reflections and adjustments are more valuable than my take on the election. It is depressing, however, to think that if Kerry does win it will largely be because Bush lost.

There isn't much to go on about, I need to select an impressionist painting to re-paint for my art class and buy a whole lot of supplies. I have no idea what I want to paint. Any suggestions? I also need to go through my photographs and find one I want to paint. I think I have some beautiful shots from Costa Rica. I took a lot of photos there but wanted to develop and print them on my own. Four years later, still no access to a dark room. I think the film must have gone bad by now.. but might as well drop the rolls off and see what comes out. The shots I do have are courtesy of my friend, and those are stunning.

On the employment front, it looks as if I'm about to be employed for a position that I'm woefully underqualified for.. right now anyway. Training is about 4 months so I'll probably feel differently about it after then. Hopefully they send me to London for some of the training, I want to see the ape. It's been entirely too long. My very good friend from Sydney has just moved to the UK as well.. a complete surprise to me. Her sister has also been married. All this in the span of 3 months, at the beginning of which there was no indication of such changes. Wish her sister every happiness, and to you my dear I will have to plan a visit over the Christmas holidays. If I get any now that I'm on the brink of the real world and no longer living the life of the oblivious student.

Regarding Fitness, running is improving quicker than I expected. I say improving but really, I'm starting to get back to where I was. I should probably vary my cardio routine but the stationary bike is so boring I fall asleep. The elliptical and other cardio machines, I don't feel like I'm getting the same workout although my legs are generally sore. Weights are coming along well, I have to spread out the routine so I can leave the gym in 45 minutes in order to get to work on time. The leaves me about 15 minutes for weights, which should be okay.

And the dissertation. Right, well if I had to write it while I was on the bike, I'd be comatose. I'd rather stick pins under my toenails than carry on with this. Okay enough whining, I have about 2000 more words to go and a lot of footnotes. That's nothing - about 3 days worth of work. The editing shouldn't take too long.. I just want it done.

On a different note, I've made a wonderful new friend. It certainly pays to take calculated risks. I said calculated - I'm still going to wear my seatbelt.

Retrospect

Right - enough politics. I am not trying to argue a case for the sake of this blog. I'm actually trying to see what my thoughts look like in writing. I don't know if I'm right, I really don't know if there is such a thing as right (or Truth), but I guess I'm trying to work out the substance of my own conclusions. I've already said that I'm aware I may be supporting a bias, but how do we really know the extent to which our biases skew our worldviews? I don't think acknowledging a bias is enough to be able to claim my conclusions as objective. I know my language was emotional, even confrontational and this has been detrimental to my goal. I've tried to make compelling cases for what I think are objective conclusions, but I don't think that I have succeeded. This is not necessarily because the conclusions are incorrect, but my initial premises are skewed. I'm not taking in the full perspective, rather, I am going on what I 'know'. Now, I'm not sure how to acquire a greater sense of perspective. While there are more than many sides to a story, how does one really come to understand? Obviously we have our own individual experiences, but there has to be a common thread to follow from one door to the next. This is getting too abstract. My point is I need to develop a method to assess my own thought processes. I have no idea where to begin.

Fear

I didn't mean for this blog to turn so political but I suppose I should have seen it coming. I don't particularly want to write about politics because I've done more than enough of that, and I get too wrapped up in it. It's such a willing topic, there is so much to think about and discover, to be shocked and stupefied as well as to hope for. I need to move on but, in line with my first intentions with this journal, I want to write out my arguments and check them for leaks. Also, my academic and personal interests in international relations render it impossible for me to ignore the topic. I am aware that I'm leaning towards what may be described as conspiracy theories, but this can't be helped. What is in plain sight simply isn't the truth. Further - nothing is so simple as to be explained in a blurb. The changes that are taking place are the result of numerous factors, and cannot, in my opinion, be understood without a thorough consideration.

This quote was presented in Hijacking Catastrophe. I've mentioned this film already but can't stress enough how useful it is in assessing the American invasion of Iraq. Anyway, the statement is as follows:

"Naturally the common people don’t want war… But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along....the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them that they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."

-- Nazi Reich Marshall Herman Goering at his Nuremberg War Crimes Trial

This approach to leadership is identified in postmodernist theory. At risk of sounding like a total geek, this theoretical approach describes that power is developed through social constructs, by building a collective ‘consciousness’ to define ‘us’ vs ‘them’. This is achieved by limiting perspective to develop a national identity. Relevant to my point here, Goering is describing how a nation is brought to wage war – by creating an overwhelming threat that cannot be avoided. Sound familiar? Does it bother you that the approach that was taken in Nazi Germany is evident in the States? Granted he did speak the truth when he said it works the same in any country, but it is a little worrisome when one can draw any similarity with Hitler’s Germany.

And – it’s not just the Bush Administration that has worked hard to create the impending sense of doom. (Just why do you think he used the term ‘Axis of Evil’?) Osama has caught on as well! OBL continues to talk about the non-believers as a threat, and in his emotive language he has persuaded a great deal of people that this is a war that must be waged on many fronts. Bush and his administration, have gained widespread support for a “War on Terror” through similar, if not the same tactics. They’ve just substituted American nationalism for Islam.

On a slightly different note, I'm not sure how war can be waged on an ism. You can wage war on countries and people. This 'War on Terror' is simply a carte blanche to pursue broader political objectives.

I don’t know how to make it more obvious that this sense of impending fear is a political tactic. It was our Vice, Cheney, who put it plainly: “If we make the wrong choice, then the danger is that we'll get hit again -- that we'll be hit in a way that will be devastating from the standpoint of the United States." He was talking about voting for Kerry, but the point is that the current administration is literally getting away with murder by scaring Americans. I don’t know how to make this any more obvious.