I took a few days off, right when I got some very nice positive feedback on the blog too (domo arigato sensei).

Truth is I’m still feeling crappy from whatever I caught and as a result I’ve been having intermittent bouts of energy interspersed with feeling very fatigued. I’ve also been keeping weird hours again (much to someone’s chagrin). I’ll be up late at night and then during the day I’ll feel tired and wind up falling asleep for a few hours.

In those moments when I’ve been subject to great energy, I’ve been continuing the work of getting things in order. It shouldn’t be this messy, but it is (I could probably give Roberta a run for her money in terms of clutter - which is probably why we’re good friends). Putting shelves together, moving something, moving something else into the space just cleared. It’s like playing dominos with your life possessions.

Also, I’ve just come to the realization there’s just a bunch of stuff I want to throw out, give to good will, sell, whatever. Just clear things out. Even I’ve gotten sick of it.

The garage is almost to the point where I can walk through it. This is a big thing in my life. Also, the way I have things set up now, I’ll be able to get at stuff without having to move a ton of other things. One wall is entirely those industrial steel shelf jobbies. The ones that aren’t along the walls have wheels on them so I can move them around. Most of these things have wheels on them now so my life is mobile (it brings to mind this image of Michael Richards as Kramer explaining to Jerry how he’s going to make his whole apartment into levels).

I might even be able to get the lawn mower out soon, just in time for the leaves to start falling!

I had looked at the blog and was sickened by the big political focus, gripe, gripe, gripe, gripe. There was one bit of political news last week that turned my stomach though. There is one thing and one thing only which would make me vote for George Bush in the next election:



1960S - After becoming involved in politics, Wellesley graduate Hillary Rodham orders her senior thesis sealed from public view


1974 - Impeachment was evolved… to cope with both the inadequacy of the criminal standards and the impotence of the courts to deal with the conduct of great public figures. It would be anomalous if the framers, having barred criminal sanctions from the impeachment remedy… intended to restrict the grounds for impeachment to conduct that was criminal" - Hillary Rodham, Staff Attorney, House Judiciary Committee


1978 - Two months after commencing the Whitewater scam, Hillary Clinton invests $1,000 in cattle futures. Within a few days she has a $5,000 profit. Before bailing out she earns nearly $100,000 on her investment. Many years later, several economists will calculate that the chances of earning such returns legally were one in 250 million.


1980s - Hillary Clinton makes a $44,000 profit on a $2,000 investment in a cellular phone franchise deal that involves taking advantage of the FCC's preference for locals, minorities and women. The franchise is almost immediately flipped to the cellular giant, McCaw… Hillary Clinton quietly lobbies on behalf of the Contras and against groups and individuals opposing them.

1981 - Hillary Clinton writes Jim McDougal: "If Reagonomics works at all, Whitewater could become the Western Hemisphere's Mecca."

1985 - Mrs. Clinton is put on a $2,000 a month retainer by Madison Guaranty… McDougal will later write in his book that the payments were in lieu of his earlier system of passing money to Bill Clinton. Ms. Clinton will later claim not to have received any retainer nor to have been deeply involved with Madison. Subsequent records show, however, that she represented Madison before the state securities department. After the revelation, she says, "For goodness sakes, you can't be a lawyer if you don't represent banks."

1993 - Hillary Clinton and David Watkins move to oust the White House travel office in favor of World Wide Travel, Clinton's source of $1 million in fly-now-pay-later campaign trips. The White House fires seven long-term employees for alleged mismanagement and kickbacks. The director, Billy Dale, charged with embezzlement, will be acquitted in less than two hours by the jury.

1993 - Less than three hours after Foster's body is found, his office is secretly searched by Clinton operatives, including Mrs. Clinton's chief of staff. Another search occurs two days later. Meanwhile, US Park Police and FBI agents are not allowed to search the office on grounds of "executive privilege." Foster's suicide note is withheld from investigators for some 30 hours. The note is in 27 pieces with one other piece missing.

1994 - John Huang quits the Lippo Group — with a golden parachute of around $800,000 — and goes to work for the Commerce Department. Some believe the move is instigated by Hillary Clinton. Commerce Secretary Ron Brown orders a top secret clearance for Huang. While at Commerce, Huang visits the White House about 70 times, is briefed 37 times by the CIA, views about 500 intelligence reports, and makes 281 calls to Lippo banks.

1996 - Hillary Clinton's attempts to conceal the fact that she had $120,000 of editorial help in preparing her book-like substance…

Hillary Clinton tells New Zealand television that she was named after Sir Edmund Hillary. At the time of Mrs. Clinton's birth, Hillary was an unknown beekeeper.

1997 - Hillary Clinton goes for her daily dose of photographic self-aggrandizement at the pediatrics ward of the Georgetown University Medical Center. She is to be pictured reading to the kids. The problem: sick children don't look that cute, especially those who are bald from cancer treatments or fitted out with tubes and such. The solution: replace the sick children with well versions belonging to the hospital staff. It works beautifully.

2002 - CARL LIMBACHER, NEWSMAX - In a surprise revelation during a Memorial Day campaign swing through upstate New York, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton announced that she used to be a duck hunter… The New York senator's long-secret hunting days conjured up memories of other unlikely assertions she's offered over the years, such as:

- The claim that she once tried to enlist in the Army but was turned down because she was too old.

- Her 2000 senatorial campaign metamorphosis into a New York Yankees fan.

- Her 1996 announcement that at age 49, she and President Clinton were thinking of adopting another child

2000 - THE RAY REPORT - It is, in the independent counsel's judgment beyond peradventure, that as a matter of historical fact, Mrs. Clinton's input into the process was a significant - if not the significant - factor influencing the pace of events in the travel office firings and the ultimate decision to fire the employees. Accordingly, the independent counsel concludes that Mr. Clinton's sworn testimony that she had no input into Watkins's decision or role in the travel office firings is factually inaccurate.

All courtesy of Sam Smith’s Progressive Review.

Oh, and I’m sure all those people who were glad I bashed Bush will now get to feel tremendous moral indignation now that I have casted aspersions on HRC. The door swings both ways folks.

Politics, politics and more politics...

I was looking over the last week or so and realized I have to take a step back from the political world if only to break the monotony.

Just in the interest of equal time though (and in case anyone thought I was giving the other players in this game a pass). A good article on the “Clinton legacy” by Edward S. Herman professor emeritus at the Wharton School of Business from Z magazine.

Clinton’s inept medical reform plan got nowhere, but did result in the rapid and not very helpful spread of HMOs. Thus, in his eight years in office he did nothing constructive to deal with the underlying medical cost problem, which would involve serious government intervention via a single payer insurance system and price caps. These were ruled out by his ties to the insurance and medical industries and his ideological commitment to Hooverite principle two: government is bad and must be shrunk. So here also his legacy sets the stage for further attacks on the welfare state by Bush II.

Democracy in action, be your very own political terrorist. Go to the site and follow the instructions. Probably one of the most subversive acts I have ever undertaken (and to think me a registered Republican - Lorenz would be surprised).

Asked whether the United States might have to reinstitute the draft to deal with the many and far-flung trouble spots in the world, Myers said, "No, no, I can't say we are anywhere close to that at this point."

Draft, did someone say draft? Is it getting drafty in here?

How you liking me now America?



Draft. Did you say Draft. We don’ need no stinkin’ draft (with apologies to the Banditos in the Treasure of Sierra Madre)

The US is desperately trying to encourage other countries to commit troops to Iraq and this week a resolution is likely to be presented to the United Nations Security Council that would encourage and seek greater international involvement in Iraq.

The stumbling block is likely to be America's flat refusal to cede any authority for an international peace-keeping force to the UN.

So, today I found myself wandering around the web. I was thinking about posting a historical description of the Boston Tea Party and changing the word Patriot to the word Terrorist just as an exercise in how we use language as a tool (sometimes detrimentally) to justify policies which would not be as agreeable otherwise.

While I was on my journey, I came across those documents which we talk a lot about in this country but, (at least in my case) rarely take the time out to read. I’m talking about the Bill of Rights, the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. None of the documents (for me) are easily digestible without careful reading.

However, I found reading the Declaration of Independence particularly interesting in light of current events. There’s a passage of bulleted points of trespasses made by the King of England on the colonists. Considering our current foreign policy, these were the ones which struck me as truly ironic:

• For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

• For protecting them, by 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 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 in 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 plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow citizens 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...

Sound like any nation we know? Just something to bear in mind as we zealously prosecute the War on Terrorism.

It was a moment of unadulterated goofiness, the kind of thing anyone might do with no one watching: A teen from Quebec videotaped himself as he pretended to wield a light saber "Star Wars" style.

From Waxy.org here’s the original movie...

...and the movie with dubbed effects.

Apparently there’s a petition to get the kid into the next Star Wars film. Can’t be any worse than Jar Jar Binks.

U.S. Officials Argue Against More Troops

WASHINGTON - Faced with rising numbers of attacks, sabotage and foreign terrorists, U.S. officials on Sunday rejected sending more American troops to stabilize Iraq but said they would welcome additional help from other countries.

I can see it now:

Sound of phone number being dialed

Colin Powell: Hi, France? Yeah it’s me Colin. How’ve you been?...

Yeah, this summer has sure been hot...

Really? Oh, you took all that stuff seriously? You mean that American Fries business?!

Oh, that was nothing, yeah...

No really, you know how George can be sometimes...

Well... yeah...

No that’s why I’m not sticking around for a second term...

No...

No, I don’t like it either...

Listen, I wanted to ask you. You know he really wasn’t serious. Really. Well, we could really use your help on this, you know?...

Yeah, just a couple thousand.

How long?

Hmmmm... I don’t know he doesn’t really seem to sure.

Clicking noise as phone is hung up

France... France? You there?

Dial tone noise

Mumbling:Now, where did I put Germany and Russia’s numbers?

Always nice to have a foreign policy that doesn’t really think through objectives. Nation building is a tough business and it doesn’t happen in six months, you’re lucky if you can do it in six years and we don’t have that kind of attention span as a nation.

War has been declared, SUV owners you have been warned!


Vandals acting in the name of radical environmentalism struck four car dealerships and several individual car owners in the San Gabriel Valley early Friday, setting fire to one Chevrolet dealership and destroying or defacing dozens of Hummers and other SUVs, many painted with the word "polluter."

Through media reports, the ELF Press Office has been made aware of three ELF actions occuring in the early morning hours of August 22, 2003.




These people are f**king serious!

2345

A big number, it’s been a good run.

The Blackout entry

Well, I figure everyone who was going to answer has (and those of you that haven’t - grrrr...).

Anyway I thought it would be cool to gather everyone’s stories of the blackout and to see how the loss of electricity affected peoples’ lives.

Cathy - At work on the phone, got to take the long walk home to Brooklyn with so many other New Yorkers.

Larry - At work, also one of many who made his way across the east river bridges back home to Brooklyn.

Sung - In air conditioned comfort with an ice coffee watching TV the electric flickered out for a few minutes and that was it. His big blackout moment came later that evening when he went to get his brother at the Edgewater ferry terminal in a scene he described as reminiscent of the British retreat at Dunkirk.

Brian - On vacation at the Jersey Shore with his soon to be betrothed Valerie missed all the excitement (although there was some refrigerator clearing to do when he returned from the vay-kay).

Tom - Boarding the bus after a day at the beach (Rock, Rock, Rockaway Beach), the savvy bus driver stuck to the side streets running parallel to Woodhaven Blvd. Tom got home without much delay and soldiered through the lack of power like a trooper.

Mark - In Vermont, where he lives but, not really clear on where he was or whether or not the power was off.

Suzanne - Out on the Island at home on the phone with the cable company. Spent a pleasant evening out on the Long Beach boardwalk where everyone was enjoying the absence of electricity. Everyone booed when the power returned.

Tina - Stuck on the Path for almost an hour until she and the other passengers were walked back to the Jersey side. Then an hour walk to the ferry terminal, two and a half hour wait for the ferry, two hours to get through the crowd at the Manhattan terminal trying to get back to Jersey, a walk over to the east side and a climb up 19 flights of stairs.

Sara - A walk from midtown to 125th St. with a co-worker. A short bus ride over to the Bronx (on a packed express bus). A walk up to Yankee stadium and then a very slow ride up to Ossining.

Roberta - In the car on the west side highway in the 20’s, finally got home to Williamsburg at ten, a nice six hour drive from the west 20’s.

Bill - In a windowless room in downtown Detroit, the four block drive from where the car was parked to the nearest expressway entrance took 90 minutes. Managed to coast into Bowling Green on fumes but ended the evening with a plate of wings.

Howard - On vacation in New Paltz (with the ever-lovely Lisa), sitting over a picnic dinner hearing about the blackout, then watching the valley below darken in the twilight while basking in the light of their vacation hideaway with its own electric generator.

Cara - Escaping work at 4:30, beat the mad rush to the ferry terminal and was lucky enough to get home by 8 that evening.

Roy - Just stuck (although I’m not sure if his lights were out longer than our own three hours) locally and probably frustrated that he couldn’t get his business done.

Marcia - Having the good fortune to have decided to forego Tai Chi (and after one of those frustrating days walking around Manhattan and being stymied in what she wanted to accomplish), just having exited the subway five minutes earlier, having Lemonade on the street in front of her home with her neighbors.

Jill - One of the few days she’s stuck in the office our in Jersey, didn’t notice the power was out (because the building has its own generator) wasn’t inconvenienced by anything more than a more painful commute.

As for myself as I had stated earlier, I was in the middle of Judge Judy and after a phone call realized it wasn’t just our block (as it normally is). Power was back by 7 and I spent the next three hours driving around Westchester and the Bronx looking for the Big S.

Just to prove how slow my internet connection is. Want to test your internet connection, go here.

File this one under more labor givebacks by American workers:

Analysts expect supermarkets to focus on costs spawned by such things as health care, pension and overtime pay. But closing the cost gap between themselves and their nonunion rivals "is going to be a long negotiations game and there may be pain along the way," Merrill Lynch's Husson said.

Yeah, stocking shelves is one of those glamor occupations people just find themselves gravitating towards. It’s certainly one of the occupations high school guidance counselors hold out as a brass ring to today’s students. It’s one of the last bastions of cushy unionized jobs with those ridiculous fringe benefits: health care, pension and overtime pay.

What is going on in this country? I ask you.

Like driving that SUV now?

In Arizona, gas shortages led to long lines at the pump and prices at some stations of almost $4 a gallon.

In Connecticut, pump prices surged by as much as 21 cents a gallon in a matter of hours. A state industry group predicted prices will continue to rise this weekend.

Higher gas prices mean more than just a couple of bucks more to top off the tank in the SUV. They also mean higher prices for food (which is shipped by truck) and energy (what do you think makes those turbines go if the power plant isn’t hydro-electric?).

So, do you think wages in our country are going to keep pace with the additional expenses of living? Notice how the subway, bus fares and tolls have all gone up? Notice how taxes have gone up while the government scrambles to cover budget deficits? Don’t think it will get worse? Get ready to dig deeper into your pocket.

If you think gasoline prices are high now in New York and Connecticut, wait until next year.

If you’re thinking of trading in that gas-guzzler or even if you’re in the market for a new car, might I suggest a stroll over to the EPA website so you can take a look at those mileage estimates before you get your heart set on that new Hummer.

So, I guess invading Iraq didn’t work out the way some people thought it would.



For the first time the poll has found that more registered voters — 49 percent — would not want Bush to return for a second term in office if the elections were now, compared with 44 percent who would.

Only 23 percent said terrorism and homeland security would be the most important issues for them in the November 2004 election, compared with 48 percent who said deciding factors for them now would be the economy and jobs.

Meanwhile, 69 percent are now convinced the United States will become bogged down in Iraq, without achieving ostensible goals in getting the country back on its feet.

Some 40 percent of them are now "very concerned" US troops will be there for the long-haul.

A majority also fears that US forces will be overextended in the event of a security threat elsewhere, according to the poll in the latest edition of Newsweek — 29 percent very concerned and 30 percent somewhat concerned.

Another Saturday night...

...right now, I should be in Vermont.

I had reserved a room at a nice bed and breakfast. I had set up a car rental for the trip.

There was just one thing I hadn’t counted on...

...So, it’s been a busy week. I’d been running around much of Wednesday. The litany of laundry, bills, post office, CostCo and comics. At the end of the day, the good news that the car was ready and going to pick it up so I finally had the car back. Finding out that what it had been all along wasn’t the crankshaft sensor ($300+) or the fuel pump and fuel filter (another $300 +) but was in fact a small electronic switch the sits just inside the engine compartment and which controls the flow of fuel to the engine.

This is something so small the dealership ate the cost of the part (which for them to do had to be minuscule indeed). Anyway, I got the car back which was the important thing.

Thursday was a whirlwind going into the city and a trip to the doctor, coffee with Brian (who’ll be married by this time next week), lunch with Jack and then a movie with Roberta (yes, Tomb Raider 2 was very enjoyable thank you very much).

Since last weekend, I had a bit of a scratchy throat and my nose had been running. I had ringing in my ears (again - I don’t even want to think about the last time something like this happened and I wound up in the hospital). Obviously, nothing serious as I kept pushing away trying to get things done (which is remarkably similar to what I did the last time before I wound up in the hospital).

Yeah, I felt a little tired after trying to get some of the lawn done on Tuesday (and finding myself falling off for a few hours after I finished). I got a little worried though when I noticed the gland under my right armpit had become swollen and noticed my neck was bothering me (soreness). That combined with the throat made me take the trip to the doctor.

So, the doctor looks me over and the gland has gone down. My throat is red and my nose is still running (but I’m in nowhere near as bad a shape as this other girl in the waiting room who seems to be in the process of coughing up a lung). He prescribes some antibiotic and I go through my day making all the appointments on my social calendar.

Then, Friday comes...

...and wow! Damned if I don’t feel really, really bad. The mark of good health is how unawares you are taken by not feeling well. Achy all over, this really incredibly sharp pounding pain in my sinuses which just makes my head feel as if it’s a balloon about to pop. Turns out I’ve managed to get a really good fever going to, I’m cresting 100°. Then, there’s this really nice pain in my stomach as well. This is definitely not going to be one of my better days.

Friday is a blur as the TV stays on giving the backdrop of noise as I drift in and out of sleep. I wake up and it’s 9:30 in the morning. I’m up for a little bit and when I wake up again it’s around 1pm and that’s the way the day goes. I’m not walking around much and the bed just seems to be the perfect place to be (not that I have much choice in the matter).

I’m sick, I know I’m sick and as much as I don’t want to be it’s not like I have much choice in the matter. Over the last few years I’ve had to take a couple of trips to the local emergency room: weird stuff happening like not being able to hear at all (earlier this year) or the phantom fever that struck one Friday afternoon (shot up to 104°) and then disappeared just as mysteriously, and truth be told it’s not a lot of fun and I’d just as soon avoid it.

So, Saturday comes and I wake up and it’s 6:30 in the morning. The fever has broken (I can’t tell you how I know but, I can feel it). The dull throbbing pain has subsided and I’m just going to get up and get ready for the drive up to Vermont and pick up the rental and get all ready but... maybe I’ll just lay down for a bit cause yeah, I’m feeling much better than yesterday but, I still feel a little tired and...

...I wake up and it’s 9:30. And, I’m going to get up right now cause the day is going past and I have to get over and pick up the rental car and we have to get moving if we’re going to get up there and it should be a nice drive but, I’m feeling a little tired and...

...I wake up and it’s 10:30.

So, here it is almost 10 at night on Saturday. I’m not in Vermont. I offered up the room to our friends (since it was paid for anyway) but, the day was pretty much left over to sleep and I’m hoping sometime around Monday I’ll be back to normal.

So, I’ve made it onto someone’s “good news” list.

“Good news” as in those little sniping emails sent to remind you how someone is just rejoicing away in the glow of the lord. (you cannot here the musical cadence to my voice when I say that phrase hence the italics)

I’ve never felt compelled to club anyone over the head with my religious beliefs. I don’t particularly like it when I find myself getting those kinds of emails.

I’m one of those weird people who thinks all religions pretty much have it right. I don’t think there’s a wrong way to worship (and isn’t that mighty big of me as if it’s my decision - or anyone’s for that matter to make).

While there seems to be a great deal of focus on who’s method of worship is correct, the western religions all seem to share a great deal with one and other. Much more than some people would have you believe. Also, I always find it interesting to learn what the beliefs are of the people around me so, I try against my own closed nature not to come to the table with any preconceptions. As a result, I’ve been fortunate enough to learn some very interesting things through the years I probably wouldn’t have if I didn’t take the time out to listen.

I’m a lapsed catholic (cat’lick), meaning I feel guilty whenever I think about something that doesn’t fit into the rigid moral code of the teachings of the church. Still, I haven’t set foot in a church in a long, long time. I just lumber along figuring if I can stay true to the moral compass I was given for the most part, I’ll be alright.

It’s not that I don’t imagine there’s a God or even that I pray on occasion (though I find myself a little embarrassed to admit it), it’s just that I don’t put much stock in the temporal body of the church.

Funny thing is when I went to Rome a few years back, I did make it over to the Vatican and was sorry I didn’t get a chance to enjoy a mass lead by the pope. I also have to admit I got really jazzed about St. Peter’s and the whole Vatican city thing - it really was an incredible experience for me. Yet, I didn’t come away feeling the compulsion to convert all my friends and acquaintances over to Catholicism.

It wouldn’t be right.

It not only wouldn’t be right, it would be downright rude and insulting. I never would assume my form of belief is the correct form of belief or better than anyone else’s. But, there are those os us that don’t feel similar to me in that regard and find there is not only a comfort in their faith but a certain superiority in the structure of their beliefs (guess they’ll get to cut the line into Heaven).

That’s okay by me though, I’m just as willing to take my number and wait my turn - and if for some reason my way of doing things is wrong, something tells me I’ll be forgiven.

In the meantime, I’d sure like to avoid all those well-meaning people who seem to have such a better way of worshipping than me - I don’t want to be nasty about it but, I really wish they’d get the hint.

I’ve been watching The Restaurant on Sunday nights. I’m finding it addictive (with emphasis on “dick”, see photo below).



I don’t like the product placement (and neither does AdAge apparently), and I don’t ever imagine going there especially after the stingingly bad reviews the Rocco’s has gotten. (I’d much rather opt for Mario Batali’s Lupa or Babbo two great restaurants)

What I find interesting is how a guy can open a restaurant and (at least to this point) do such a thorough job of alienating both the staff and diners. Rcco seems very interested in building up his own celebrity but, not very interested in building a successful restaurant. The question is how long his celebrity will last when it’s based around such failure.

From the New York Post on 08/12:
Mamma Mia! Rocco DiSpirito's new Italian restaurant features flies, greasy spoons and dirty towels in addition to its famed meatballs, according to a city Health Department inspection.

A woman who answered the telephone at Rocco's last night said manager Laurent Saillard - who was handed the violation - was not available, but she took a message from The Post seeking comment.

It got me to thinking I’m going to work up a pitch for another reality show. It’s going to be called The Ad Agency, or The Design Studio or maybe The Production Department it seems no matter where I’ve worked there’s never been any shortage of drama.

I wanted to reference Joe Maller’s website (and his blog). Joe is someone who I don’t know really well (having worked mainly with his wife) but, whose efforts have impressed me enormously. Joe is a very talented guy, makes me sorry I hadn’t chatted with him more when I’ve had the chance.

I also wanted to reference the Ignite Productions website. Maybe if Paul gets enough hits he’ll get off his ass and build a few pages.

I just wanted to talk up the book I’m reading again, Catastrophe. The David Keys book is very compelling reading.

Perhaps one reason I segued into it was something I saw on the news, a reporter was talking about our dependence on electricity, a dependence which didn’t exist a mere 100 years ago. Keys’ book deals with history and covers periods of several hundred years in different parts of the world.

It made me think how history is happening all around us every day, the question is whether or not we have the faculties to take note of it. Historical trends aren’t that apparent in a day, a week, a month, a year or a decade - they’re apparent over centuries, a measure of time beyond the scope of our short lives. Decisions made long ago are impacting us today and likewise, decisions we make today will impact the lives of our descendants through the centuries. We just need to “pop” the bubble of the present.

I’m the grumpy guy on the sidelines jumping up and down pointing out the inequities in our society.

I never would have thought I could even remotely be considered a radical but, as more time passes I begin to wonder...

In the days after September 11th when we as a nation were reeling, coping with the scope of the tragedy and collectively raising our fists in anger, our lawmakers struck perhaps the single biggest blow against the civil liberties of the American people, a blow infinitely more damaging to us than anything any terrorist group could perpetrate on us as a nation:

To deter and punish terrorist acts in the United States and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools, and for other purposes.

What prompts me to make this statement is the news story I saw a teaser to this evening on the FBI being able to check into the library records of American citizens. By clicking on the link above, you can read the actual verbiage of the infamous “Patriot Act.” If it isn’t something that sends a chill down the spine of patriots everywhere, you aren’t paying attention. It’s managed to get the that known left-wing radical group, The American Library Association up in arms, and we all know what trouble makers those librarians are.

So, what’s going to wind up popping up on your radar soon (maybe not today or tomorrow but eventually).

Well, remember after the last adventure in Iraq we heard the phrase Gulf War Syndrome?

Well, people are dying right now in Iraq.

Yes, you probably roll your eyes and think, “of course people are dying, there’s still a war going on.”

Soldiers are dying all right, but not from bullets, from pneumonia. Buried in among the items on the war is this item from The Albany Times Union on July 27th:

The U.S. Army Surgeon General's Office has confirmed two teams of epidemiology experts will investigate 12 cases of severe pneumonia — including two fatal instances — among military personnel in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East.

Col. Robert DeFraites, the surgeon general's senior preventative-medicine physician, said it is uncommon for pneumonia to cause a breakdown in organs other than the lungs, as reportedly happened in one of the fatal cases.

Without releasing specific numbers, DeFraites said there has been a noticeable increase in pneumonia cases among soldiers since the war in Iraq began. DeFraites said preliminary tests show the illness is not passed from person to person and is not related to severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS.

Then on the 28th of July, the Springfield News Leader ran this article.

On the Unknown News website, the speculation is it’s the result of depleted uranium weapons. Certainly the report by the World Health Organization referenced in the article could support some of those conclusions.

Also, in this article from August 5th, the fact that the Army cites “dust” as a problem would also support the DU theory.

Well, everyone loves a good mystery. My curiosity is certainly piqued by this one.