Canada, eh
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Headed to Canada
The FW and I are headed to Canada tomorrow - driving from DC to Ottawa. Her father's family all live in Ontario, so we're going for a little family visit. I've never met this side of her family before - they're all pretty old and weren't able to come down for the wedding, except for Aunt Rita, who we're going to visit 1st in Ottawa. I'm bringing our laptop along, so I'll keep updating as we travel around Ontario. Should be pretty interesting.
Attack in London
As you're all aware, there was an attack in London this morning. Just got an e-mail from my friend Shona:
"Hey guys
Thank you, its mad. We're waiting in work at the
moment for the transport to start again to get home.
We knew it would happen at some point but its very
scary when it does.
S x."
For more 1st hand accounts of the attack, check out The Guardian's Blog.
"Hey guys
Thank you, its mad. We're waiting in work at the
moment for the transport to start again to get home.
We knew it would happen at some point but its very
scary when it does.
S x."
For more 1st hand accounts of the attack, check out The Guardian's Blog.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
For ECAG
I thought it was a wonderful gesture by the Yankees to erect a statue of Bernie Williams in centerfield.
Then I realized that WAS Bernie Williams.
Love ya, Denhardt!
Then I realized that WAS Bernie Williams.
Love ya, Denhardt!
Monday, July 04, 2005
The Declaration of Independence
In CONGRESS, July 4th, 1776.
The Unanimous Declaration of Independence of the thirteen united States of America.
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, having its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. Such has been the patient suffrance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their acts of pretended legislation.
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offenses:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighboring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally, the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with Power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever:
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizen taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connection and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
The Unanimous Declaration of Independence of the thirteen united States of America.
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, having its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. Such has been the patient suffrance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their acts of pretended legislation.
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offenses:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighboring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally, the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with Power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever:
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizen taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connection and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Friday, July 01, 2005
It's gonna be a long summer
So today, Sandra Day O'Connor resigned from the Supreme Court. Folks, it's about to get really, really ugly. Will W do the sensible thing and nominate a moderate, much like O'Connor herself? Or will he give the wingnuts what they want, a hardline conservative? My heart tells me he'll do the right thing for the country and appoint a moderate. My brain says no effin' way he'll do that. Just what the country needs now, more hatred, from both sides. Yeah, I'm a liberal, but I don't agree lock-step with everything the Dems do. For instance, I think it's a mistake to make abortion rights such a huge issue. But then again, I'm a man and will never have to worry about getting pregnant, unless something extraordinary occurs in science (remember "Junior" with the Governator?). Yep, it's gonna be really ugly.
By the way, I can totally understand why Matthew Perry got hooked on Vicodin. I'm taking it now for the pain from having my 4 wisdom teeth pulled. The best way I can describe is that it's like living in a marshmallow. Totally, totally mellow and relaxed. Not a care in the world. I can still feel the pain, but it's like it's happening to someone else, not me. It's almost like an out of body experience. I've just taken my 1st of the day. I'm trying not to take too much, but the pain has won out this time. I only took 2 yesterday. The 1st night, I was eating them like candy. Can't wait until the pain goes away.
By the way, I can totally understand why Matthew Perry got hooked on Vicodin. I'm taking it now for the pain from having my 4 wisdom teeth pulled. The best way I can describe is that it's like living in a marshmallow. Totally, totally mellow and relaxed. Not a care in the world. I can still feel the pain, but it's like it's happening to someone else, not me. It's almost like an out of body experience. I've just taken my 1st of the day. I'm trying not to take too much, but the pain has won out this time. I only took 2 yesterday. The 1st night, I was eating them like candy. Can't wait until the pain goes away.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
This is my dog Kaleb, who, in my humble opinion, is the best dog in the world. I had my 4 wisdom teeth pulled yesterday and have been at home all day in horrible pain (helped somewhat by Vicodin). Well, Kaleb has not left my side this whole time. When I'm on the couch, he's there with me. When I'm in bed, there he is. I don't know what I'd do without him and the FW.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Out of commission
I won't be posting much today or tomorrow - getting my wisdom teeth pulled this afternoon and will be out of commission for a day or so (yeah, I'm a wimp).
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
I can't get enough of this
I'm sitting here crying, I'm laughing so hard:
No. 17
1998: After Houston takes Turkey's Mirsad Turkcan near the end of Round 1, Majerus compares Turkcan to Moses Malone and officially gets cut off by the bar at Vancouver's GM Place.
(Note: This was the same draft where Majerus described Kings pick Jason Williams by gushing "He's got great 'feel for the game,' and you can't coach 'feel for the game.'" We later found out that Williams also had great "feel for the bong.")
No. 17
1998: After Houston takes Turkey's Mirsad Turkcan near the end of Round 1, Majerus compares Turkcan to Moses Malone and officially gets cut off by the bar at Vancouver's GM Place.
(Note: This was the same draft where Majerus described Kings pick Jason Williams by gushing "He's got great 'feel for the game,' and you can't coach 'feel for the game.'" We later found out that Williams also had great "feel for the bong.")
More draft greats
No. 37
2001: The Clips trade the rights to No. 2 pick Tyson Chandler to Chicago for Elton Brand. That's right, after 47 years, Elgin Baylor finally made a good trade! Watching the draft live, Dad and I immediately start stockpiling water and canned goods and preparing for the apocalypse.
2001: The Clips trade the rights to No. 2 pick Tyson Chandler to Chicago for Elton Brand. That's right, after 47 years, Elgin Baylor finally made a good trade! Watching the draft live, Dad and I immediately start stockpiling water and canned goods and preparing for the apocalypse.
The Sports Guy
One of my favorite lunchtime activities, other than eating, is reading the Sports Guy's (Bill Simmons) column at espn.com. Today, he ranked the top 60 NBA draft moments. My favorite:
No. 45
2004: Before the draft even starts, Bilas describes Dwight Howard as "very ball friendly" and announces he has graded potential draftees in a number of categories from 1 to 5, including "Intangibles," prompting my buddy Jacko to wonder, "How do you rank intangibles from 1 to 5? Intangibles are the great unknown. And yet he ranks them. Is he clairvoyant?"
No. 45
2004: Before the draft even starts, Bilas describes Dwight Howard as "very ball friendly" and announces he has graded potential draftees in a number of categories from 1 to 5, including "Intangibles," prompting my buddy Jacko to wonder, "How do you rank intangibles from 1 to 5? Intangibles are the great unknown. And yet he ranks them. Is he clairvoyant?"
Flip Flop Much?
From Thinkprogress.org
1999, George W. Bush criticized President Clinton for not setting a timetable for exiting Kosovo, and yet he refuses to apply the same standard to his war.
George W. Bush, 4/9/99:
“Victory means exit strategy, and it’s important for the president to explain to us what the exit strategy is.”
And on the specific need for a timetable, here’s what Bush said then and what he says now:
George W. Bush, 6/5/99
“I think it’s also important for the president to lay out a timetable as to how long they will be involved and when they will be withdrawn.”
George W. Bush, 6/24/05:
“It doesn’t make any sense to have a timetable. You know, if you give a timetable, you’re — you’re conceding too much to the enemy.”
1999, George W. Bush criticized President Clinton for not setting a timetable for exiting Kosovo, and yet he refuses to apply the same standard to his war.
George W. Bush, 4/9/99:
“Victory means exit strategy, and it’s important for the president to explain to us what the exit strategy is.”
And on the specific need for a timetable, here’s what Bush said then and what he says now:
George W. Bush, 6/5/99
“I think it’s also important for the president to lay out a timetable as to how long they will be involved and when they will be withdrawn.”
George W. Bush, 6/24/05:
“It doesn’t make any sense to have a timetable. You know, if you give a timetable, you’re — you’re conceding too much to the enemy.”
Monday, June 27, 2005
And now baseball?
So now the GOP is threatening Major League Baseball. George Soros, a big Democratic donor, is part of an ownership group that wants to buy the Washington Nationals. But Republicans don't want him to have it. Read it here.
So it was okay for W to own the Rangers, but it's not okay for one of us to own a team? It's a slippery slope my friends.
So it was okay for W to own the Rangers, but it's not okay for one of us to own a team? It's a slippery slope my friends.
Friday, June 24, 2005
Let me explain my anger
at Karl Rove's recent remarks. I'm a liberal. I'm proud to be a liberal. Without liberals, women wouldn't be allowed to vote, we wouldn't have public education, there'd be no 5 day work weeks, or sick leave, an integrated military, neighborhoods or school systems, health care for the poor and elderly. Hell, without liberals, Jeb Bush and Clarence Thomas wouldn't have been allowed to marry their wives. And when we were attacked on 9/11/01, I was ready to strike back. And we did - in Afghanistan.
So don't tell me I'm helping getting our troops killed. I lived about a mile south of the Pentagon that day. My apartment stank of the smoke from the explosion for days. I drive by the Pentagon every day on my way to work, and for too long, that black scar served as a reminder to me of that day.
This mess in Iraq has nothing at all to do with 9-11, and we all know it. So don't say liberals want our troops to die and are in collusion with the enemy. You're getting desperate, and know that you're living in a house of cards. The emperor has no clothes, ladies and gentlemen.
So don't tell me I'm helping getting our troops killed. I lived about a mile south of the Pentagon that day. My apartment stank of the smoke from the explosion for days. I drive by the Pentagon every day on my way to work, and for too long, that black scar served as a reminder to me of that day.
This mess in Iraq has nothing at all to do with 9-11, and we all know it. So don't say liberals want our troops to die and are in collusion with the enemy. You're getting desperate, and know that you're living in a house of cards. The emperor has no clothes, ladies and gentlemen.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Hey Karl Rove,
If we liberals really wanted to get our troops killed in Iraq, we'd support your fucked up war! By the way, aren't Jenna and Barbara Bush eligible to enlist in the military? W, if this war is so righteous, why aren't your kids fighting?
F*** You, Rove
So, Karl Rove thinks liberals are aiding and abetting the enemy?
You know what I say to that? F*** you!! It's so apparent now what this administration wants - no dissent. Republican Party = God = right. It's like I woke up in an alternate universe, except it's real.
Contact your Representative or Senator now and ask them if they agree with Rove!!
You know what I say to that? F*** you!! It's so apparent now what this administration wants - no dissent. Republican Party = God = right. It's like I woke up in an alternate universe, except it's real.
Contact your Representative or Senator now and ask them if they agree with Rove!!
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
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