Republicans voted for Bush, but they love ass. (picture credit goes to Rhino)

You say "Blue," but all I see is Red

Can someone please tell me why there is at least one article a day from common news outlets describing how the majority of Americans disagree with Bush's policies or that liberal culture is prevalent? (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/23/national/23poll.html?hp&ex=1101272400&en=3ea63a4e6a76d17d&ei=5094&partner=homepage) It's like journalists are determined to give the disenfranchised losers from the last election something good to read amongst all the devastating news such as cabinet appointments and an even more conservative policy direction of a second Bush administration. But who are they fooling? Just because I like to read news that reinforces my ideological perspective or preference doesn't mean it's newsworthy or even true for that matter. I mean, how much can we really trust polls anymore? I say the only "pole" you should trust is the rusty, hollow 1 inch lead pipe you can use to beat someone's head in when they tell you ridiculous things like 'metro' will prevail over 'retro,' or that the liberal culture is dominant, or that the majority of Americans disagree with Bush. 59,054,087 agree with him. Even if they are watching 'desperate housewives,' or are 'unsure' about the situation in Iraq (seriously, how much time do they really need to form an opinion about it?), they are somehow convinced that having every branch of government led by irrational-faith-based policies is actually a good thing. So Democrats and liberals just better grab the lube because the Republicans and conservatives aren't going to spoil a minute of the next four years to completely assault everything that we've thought was a God-given right. No, the liberals are in the minority and liberal policy won’t rear its ugly head for a long time. I just hope the next four years of ass-raping isn’t going to hurt us beyond salvation.

Bad Religion Strikes Again

So I saw Bad Religion last night at the Ventura Majestic Theatre and, like the previous five times that I've seen them, they were amazing. Bad Religion remains the best live band among bands that I've seen. Always high energy, good crowd, a packed set (always about 30 songs) and ultimately fullfilling.

My back hurts though from all the elbows in the mosh pit. My throat hurts from all the singing (screaming). And my legs are sore from dancing. But there is no way I can go to a punk show (much less Bad Religion) and not be in the mosh pit. I need room to move, dance, and throw some blows if I have to. Standing or swaying just doesn't do it for me. Whats the point of seeing live music if you're not going to interact?

Seriously, he does. I asked him.

The Voracious March of Godliness

It really bothers me that most people who call themselves "religious" actually rarely exemplify true characteristics of a religious individual. Instead of being generous, compassionate, or tolerant, as their religions claim they should be, I usually only see them as pretentious, exclusionary, greedy, and judgmental. Do they forget the sermons as soon as they leave their church? Are the religious vows only supposed to be an “ideal,” kind of like communism – looks good on paper but doesn’t work in reality? All the religions say not to force religion onto others. One can be informed of religion, but never forced. So why am I constantly seeing the new moral majority of America trying to hijack America’s policies by imposing their religious dogma on the rest of the nation? No stem-cell research. No abortion. Reinstate prayer in schools. Increase the division between the wealthy and the poor. Reinstate racist policies. The biggest problem with all of this isn’t even the fact that these douche bags make my life (and everyone else’s who doesn’t conform to their religion) worse, but that they are corrupting the solidarity, compassion and selflessness that religion used to stand for. So the next time some bible-thumpin evangelist tells me they are trying to do God’s will, I feel like snippin’ of me plums and hangin up me Chomsky Reader! Ha! Ha..ha…ha….ha…..ha…….ha………….sigh.

A Trio of Disasters

There are several things that I would like to talk about, all in depth, but since I don't really have time and I know you certainly don't either, I will only give you a brief synopsis and let you check it out for yourself if you’re all that interested. They are (in no order): Wal-Mart’s ability to control the future (just what we needed), the rise of fascism in Germany (why is no one surprised?), and Ol’ Dirty Bastards death (again, no surprise here).

So let’s start with Wal-Mart. The New York Times article (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/14/business/yourmoney/14wal.html?hp&ex=1100494800&en=eb8433beb442a5e7&ei=5094&partner=homepage) explains that Wal-Mart stores all the data concerning customer habits to “predict what’s going to happen instead of waiting for it to happen.” So if pop-tart and beer sales rise directly before a hurricane is supposed to hit (which are actually the top two sellers) then Wal-Mart will pack its stores up with toaster pastries and six-packs seven times their normal stockpile. Of course it’s a good idea for a business to do this. But my concern, as with most things, is the potential to abuse this information.

The second item is that a far-right party could be elected to Germany’s Bundestag, or Parliament, in 2006 – a first since the end of World War II (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/14/international/europe/14cnd-germany.html). While the whole world is focusing on Islamic extremism, not as much people are paying attention to the rise of Christian fundamentalism in their own countries which, in some aspects, could me more alarming. Because most Western countries are Christian dominant, Christian fundamentalism is more accepted and according to some yahoos the “moral choice” for the nation. This leads to such policies as banning abortion, stem-cell research, cloning, fair-handed policies toward minorities, and an eradication of civil liberties. Extremism isn’t good in any religion and if western countries begin electing them to parliament or congress, it will be much harder to stop them once they are already in power.

And now, finally, ODB’s death (http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/14/odb.death.ap/index.html). You know, I was sad to read this news for a number of reasons. Hip Hop is about the streets, and nobody typified the streets more than ODB (this is debatable). He was the dirtiest and most ghetto MC that I can think of: constantly drunk, in and out of jails, outlandish behavior, and not even that good of a rapper. Yet his reputation propelled him to stand out among the throngs of ghetto-ass MCs as well as among very good MCs including the highly talented and successful Wu-Tang. Even when I saw Wu-Tang at Rock the Bells, I would mainly be watching the RZA, Method, and ODB. How can someone like him be so famous and adored? Without saying anything else, I will let ODB have the final words:
“Here comes Rover, sniffin at your ass
But pardon me bitch, as I shit on your grass
That means hoe, you been shit-ted on!
I'm not the first dog that's shitted on your lawn!”

How Falluja will look in ten years

The Pentagon is building a new internet, cause apparently the old one sucks.

Actually, the internet that the Pentagon is planning on building is intended only for military use to give the soldiers "a God's-eye view" of the battle by providing instant imagery of "all foreign enemies and threats." It will cost over $200 billion over the next decade to build the hardware and software.

I understand that the CIA wants to know everything at all times, and I even welcome Mr. Rumsfeld's statement (this will be the first time I do so) that "the single most transforming thing in our force will not be a weapons system, but a set of interconnections," because it implies a strategic shift from weapons to information as the main weapon we will use against our enemies. Unfortunately, Mr. Rumsfeld and I disagree about the strategical use of information. He expects to exploit it, while I champion education. Just imagine if we announced that we would use $200 billion dollars over the next decade to build schools in the Middle East rather than on our military? Besides the fact that it would earn us great respect in the world (but who needs that when we have a brave steadfast leader like Bush?) its primary objective would accomplish the number one goal needed to truly win the war on terror: educate the ignorant to build tolerance. If we treat the war on terror as a war of attrition, we have much more to lose than they do. But I digress, the main problem with this new internet, or big eye in the sky, is that this is the building block needed to establish a big brother-like state which spies on its civilians because it can't trust them. Whatever the military develops always gets used in civil society anyway. Big companies will want to know where their employees are, parents their children, as well as a thousand different other uses.

I'm not saying this is exactly what will happen. But I definitely don't like the idea of us tapping into God-like powers. All power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Sometimes, I am absolutely terrified of the future.

Here's the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/13/technology/13warnet.html?hp&ex=1100408400&en=27b47c63b0a8e037&ei=5094&partner=homepage

UCLA beat USC 6-4 last night 11/12/04

I'm too happy right now to talk about politics!!

This is highly unusual for me, and you will rarely see me do this, but I simply must tell you about the amazing day I had yesterday. First of all, there was no work (holiday) which alone is often enough to get my panties in a bunch. But I also went to the Hollywood Park Casino with my friend Jules to play Texas Hold 'Em for a few hours and I ultimately ended up with a net winning of $340!! That is the most I have ever won at a casino, as well as Hold 'Em. I guess now I have no excuse but to change the brakes in my car now (about a $200 investment) :o/

So after the casino I went to the UCLA vs. U$C Ice Hockey game held at El Segundo. I'm an assistant coach for the team after having played the last four years on the team. Why did I stay on as coach? For precisly the reason to beat $C. UCLA has lost the last 17 games played against them. Thats right, I only beat $C once and that was in my Freshman year. Since then we have lost to them. But last night was a different story. UCLA beat those faggots 6-4 in a game that was the most enjoyable game I have seen since I have been with the UCLA ice hockey program. The stands were packed with our fans and we interacted with them to make them feel a part of our victory. The feeling I had was similar to the feeling I would've had if Kerry had won - a sense that good guys can win, no matter if the other side is richer, corrupt, dirty and dispicable. It was a feeling of justification. After four years of being the underdog, we took it to those rich, snobby, and conceeded pricks to let them know that this is our year. I am very proud of our team and I hope they take this all the way to the championship. Go bruins!

Here is the website for the UCLA hockey team: http://www.uclahockey.org/

Bush embracing the Blue State culture

Moral Values

The first article I read this morning was actually kind of a booster (since when does news uplift your spirits? especially these days). It explained that even though the politics of red states are going to dominate that of Washington, the culture of the blue states is still very much in the majority and the politicians and private executives very much pander to blue people. They just needed the votes from the red states but financially, the blue culture is what fuels them. Taking Rupert Murdoch, for instance, the father of Fox News, will show you that even though his political agenda is very much right wing and republican, the Fox channel's main perogative is entertaining the blueies by showcasing Paris Hilton, Jenna Jameson, and wife-swapping. There is no question that the decadence and immorality that conservatives claimed was the main reason they got out to vote for Bush was because it is so prevailent in our social lives. The politicians simply capitalized on this.

But here is the silver-lining on the cloud of marijuana smoke that hangs over the blue states: now that the election is over, the politicians will go back to real issues where Republicans are deeply divided with one another over gay marriage, abortion, stem cell research, and the Iraqi war.

I predict that these next four years will divide the Republican party in two with those religious conservatives on one side and the progressive and secular conservatives on the other. I think its also time for another Ross Perot (the right's version of the Nader factor) in 2008.

This is why the blues must stick together and stand fast to their agenda. They have a majority, its just that their policies wan't politically popular this year.

Anyway, here's the link to the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/14/arts/14rich.html?8hpib

Not as dangerous as the man with the pen

Always wanted to try this...

Well, I'm finally going to begin blogging. It's funny, I remember two years ago in my Political Communications class (poly sci 160 - ucla) a blogger came in to speak to us about the relevance and importance of blogging. The whole class (including myself) proceeded to eat this man alive (not literally) informing him of the dangers of unsubstantiated, illegitimate, and possibly harmful information allowed to be spread by practically anyone while possibly being seized by unsuspecting passer-bys who continue to spread the learned misinformation.

I should clarify that I am refering to POLITICAL blogging, and not the stuff about taking poopsy to the groomers or complaing about a cell phone bill. Why people would ever want to share useless and sterile information like that is completely beyond me, although I hope it fills that empty void in their soul that whispers to them at night that NO ONE REALLY CARES ABOUT YOUR DAILY ITINERARY.

Sorry bout that, got a little carried away there. As you can tell I'm new to this. But my point in all of this is that I think blogging can be useful if its informative and has some other value beyond simply learning about the blogger. My government teacher from High School, Mr. Bingham, once told us "average people talk about people, and smart people talk about history, but intelligent people talk about ideas."

Lets kick some ideas.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=533&e=1&u=/ap/20041107/ap_on_re_us/ground_zero_suicide