tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54796602011-04-22T00:03:30.519-04:00Dohiyi Mir<i><b>FAIR AND BALANCED</b></i><BR>
<P><b><a href="http://wampum.wabanaki.net/archives/000721.html">Best New Blog</a> finalist - 2003 Koufax Awards</b>
<P>
A non-violent, counter-dominant, left-liberal, possibly charismatic, quasi anarcho-libertarian Quaker's take on politics, volleyball, and other esoterica.<br>
<p>
<i>Lo alecha ha-m'lacha ligmor, v'lo atah ben chorin l'hibateyl mimenah.</i>ntoddnoreply@blogger.comBlogger23061100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-65491381670239387632007-04-21T21:03:00.000-04:002007-04-21T21:08:31.810-04:00ARCHIVES, ARCHIVES, ARCHIVES!Since Blogger migrated to the "new and improved" platform, the old archive HTML page is gone. If you're looking for old stuff, see the monthly archive links below the logo in the right navbar...ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084285132922781362004-05-11T09:27:00.000-04:002004-05-11T10:20:54.043-04:00
Changing Media
Buh-bye Blogger: I'm
now found at dohiyimir
dot typepad dot com
I'm moving early. The re-design is pretty much done, and I'm tired of Haloscan loopiness. So please change your bookmarks and blogrolls to reflect the new URL: http://dohiyimir.typepad.com/!
I even have my first "offical" post up: a brief bit on blogs, democracy, and the media.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084277619920462222004-05-11T08:03:00.000-04:002004-05-11T08:13:39.920-04:00
Poor, Poor Us
I was going to try to do a Shorter Brooks, but couldn't boil down his latest inanity in any way that would do today's addled column justice. I don't have the time to do a proper fisking, either. Just go read it to peer into the depths of intellectual dishonesty, cognitive dissonance, and self-pity.
I will, however, note my favorite line:
We went into Iraq with what, in ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084274784631654612004-05-11T07:21:00.000-04:002004-05-11T07:50:07.466-04:00
Mmm...Turkee
Here's the latest tally of Kerry contributions: 13 donations for a total of $750 and an average of $57.69. Thanks, all! Anybody else want to kick in?
If you really still shudder at the idea of giving Kerry money (I understand all too well), then please consider giving to the Democratic National Committee to help the Party in general, or Dean's grassroots organization, Democracy ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084231617342896272004-05-10T19:23:00.000-04:002004-05-10T21:44:33.736-04:00
Bernie Backs Kerry
Apparently our lone Congressperson, Bernie Sanders, somewhat surprisingly is going to work his ass off to get Kerry elected:
Not only am I going to vote for John Kerry, I am going to run around this country and do everything I can to dissuade people from voting for Ralph Nader. The likelihood is, this election will come down to a relatively few votes. Some of the polls alreadyntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084229845308159112004-05-10T18:48:00.000-04:002004-05-10T18:57:25.306-04:00
Evening Photoblogging
New additions to the photo album:
Something caught Cairo's eye on our daily trek to the mailbox.
No, this isn't what she saw. Can anyone ID this flower? I have no clue, and Stef planted them so long ago she's forgotten what it is.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084219908552142502004-05-10T16:04:00.000-04:002004-05-10T17:36:24.743-04:00
Bush's Hangover
Zogby:
I have made a career of taking bungee jumps in my election calls. Sometimes I haven't had a helmet and I have gotten a little scratched. But here is my jump for 2004: John Kerry will win the election.
Have you recovered from the shock? Is this guy nuts? Kerry's performance of late has hardly been inspiring and polls show that most Americans have no sense of where he ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084219378017674392004-05-10T15:48:00.000-04:002004-05-10T16:02:58.016-04:00
Bye, Bye Rummy
Today President Bush told the world that Rummy's doing a "superb job". He then broke into song:
In ev'rything I do,
My sincerity shows thro'
I looked you in the eye,
Don't even have to try,
It's automatic!
I'm sincere!
So it looks like Bush is sticking by his man for now.
Fat lot of good it will do, but you might consider signing Kerry's petition demanding Rummy's resignation.ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084204536090660272004-05-10T11:48:00.000-04:002004-05-10T13:36:42.790-04:00
Rummy's Hangover
ArmyTimes:
This was not just a failure of leadership at the local command level. This was a failure that ran straight to the top. Accountability here is essential -- even if that means relieving top leaders from duty in a time of war.
Q: What do you call it when the "best SecDef ever" is fired?
A: A very good start.
ntodd
[Update: found the direct link to the ArmyTimes ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084188192017617272004-05-10T07:20:00.000-04:002004-05-10T07:25:34.763-04:00
Still Here
I'm still planning on the official move to TypePad on the 14th. There are still some things to tweak, and I want to explore some other hosting options before I take the plunge for real. But things are in motion--here's a picture hosted on the new photo album:
Finally saw a male rose-breasted grosbeak yesterday! Two, actually.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084148089815456632004-05-09T20:12:00.000-04:002004-05-09T20:14:49.816-04:00
X-Post
Nope, I haven't moved sites officially yet, but while Blogger was down this evening I posted a long thing about how we blew it in Iraq, and a picture to bring some cheer...
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084131274001251032004-05-09T15:34:00.000-04:002004-05-09T15:37:50.140-04:00
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
Bowie:
Strange fascination, fascinating me
Changes are taking the pace I'm going through
Change is afoot at Dohiyi Mir: catch a sneak preview of the new blog and new photo album. Still in the tweaking stages, so feedback is encouraged. Official launch expected on 5/14.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084124736241120842004-05-09T13:45:00.000-04:002004-05-09T13:48:52.200-04:00
Nancy Backs Embryo Research
CNN:
Former first lady Nancy Reagan endorsed human embryonic research Saturday night at a star-studded fund-raiser.
Such research is generally opposed by political conservatives and many anti-abortion groups because it involves the destruction of days-old human embryos. President Bush signed an executive order in 2001 limiting research to existing embryonic stem cellntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084111464158892442004-05-09T10:04:00.000-04:002004-05-09T10:07:40.356-04:00
QOTD
People ought to get off his case and let him do his job. - Dick Cheney on Donald Rumsfeld
I guess Rummy ain't going anywhere...
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084107769691442172004-05-09T09:02:00.000-04:002004-05-09T09:17:55.936-04:00
A Happy Image
Cairo and her friend, Chocolate Dog1, greet each other as we head out to get the mail. Yes, CD is wearing a bandage and a sock. Anyway, they had fun sniffing butts and chasing each other.
ntodd
1 - No, we don't know the names of most of her friends--if we did at one point, we've forgotten them. Thus, descriptive nicknames like Chocolate and Neighbor Dog.ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084106759013285922004-05-09T08:45:00.000-04:002004-05-09T08:56:13.013-04:00
Epiphany
WaPo:
Army Maj. Gen. Charles H. Swannack Jr., the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, who spent much of the year in western Iraq, said he believes that at the tactical level at which fighting occurs, the U.S. military is still winning. But when asked whether he believes the United States is losing, he said, "I think strategically, we are."
Army Col. Paul Hughes, who last year was ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084104125139247172004-05-09T08:02:00.000-04:002004-05-09T08:12:35.373-04:00
Chechnya: Lopping Off Heads Redux
I have a brief post up at Open Source Politics about today's assassination of Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084042693888023992004-05-08T14:58:00.000-04:002004-05-08T15:04:16.686-04:00
Out To Breakfast
Took some pics on our meandering way back from breakfast this morning...
These old heaps on VT-128 catch our eye every time we pass by. This time we stopped.
There's some new logging going on a couple miles down the road.
They might be clearing for a new house, or just selling off some lumber. Whatever the reason, they're making a mess.
Looks complicated to operate!
ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084040682574363362004-05-08T14:24:00.000-04:002004-05-08T14:27:57.670-04:00
The Story Of Little George
Tom Burka has the story:
When George was little, his father put him in charge of the garden in the back yard.
"Now, George, the gardeners are going to make this garden nice. All you have to do is make sure that they do a good job."
"Yes, Daddy," said George.
George had some other things to do, so he put his dog in charge of the gardeners.
When the gardeners came, ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084036742568869242004-05-08T13:19:00.000-04:002004-05-08T13:22:17.700-04:00
Milestones
BBWW is celebrating 6 months in the blogoverse! Go congratulate Mustang Bobby.
Apropos of nothing, I'm going to be overhauling DM in the coming weeks as part of a relaunch celebrating my one year blogoversary in June. I appreciate the feedback I've gotten over the past several months, and I hope to make the site more functional, easier to read, etc.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084025358973582562004-05-08T10:09:00.000-04:002004-05-08T10:12:34.106-04:00
Focus
Stef's glasses on her nightstand with today's morning light sneaking past the window blinds.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084020372333050232004-05-08T08:46:00.000-04:002004-05-08T08:49:27.013-04:00
Shorter David Brooks
B-b-but we're noble and our cause is just!
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1084018508893379052004-05-08T08:15:00.000-04:002004-05-08T13:57:39.310-04:00
Depending On The General Spirit Of The People
Moyers:
The war in Iraq has become also a war of images. This week, we were troubled by pictures of tortured Iraqi prisoners. Last week, it was photographs of American soldiers who have given their lives there.
On Friday a week ago on NIGHTLINE, Ted Koppel read the names of the dead and showed their photographs. But their faces and names were ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083977937555516072004-05-07T20:58:00.000-04:002004-05-07T21:04:21.653-04:00
I Am Enamour'd Of Growing Outdoors
Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass:
The sharp-hoof'd moose of the north, the cat on the
house-sill, the chickadee, the prairie-dog ;
The litter of the grunting sow as they tug at her teats,
The brood of the turkey-hen, and she with her half-
spread wings ;
I see in them and myself the same old law.
A chickadee perches amongst new leavesntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083977567559022312004-05-07T20:52:00.000-04:002004-05-07T20:56:01.546-04:00
Some Good News From Iraq
The Poison Kitchen: Tolling for the luckless, the abandoned an' forsaked.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083970696132922262004-05-07T18:58:00.000-04:002004-05-07T19:09:02.700-04:00
Speaking Of Rummy
Time to lighten the mood: we have a winner in the latest Rummy Caption Contest! Here's the picture:
As usual, it was a tough choice. The honorable mentions:
Rummy: You could say we intend to Achy Breaky the will of the terrorists.
Garth: Um, that wasn't me.
space
Gee, Death, you're nothing like I pictured.
norbizness
"Some people see the Grim Reaper in robes, some see ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083968893345909872004-05-07T18:28:00.000-04:002004-05-07T20:25:37.966-04:00
Godwin's Law Has Been Suspended
2001 State Dept. report on Human Rights Practices in Iraq:
The authorities routinely used arbitrary arrest and detention, prolonged detention, and incommunicado detention, and continued to deny citizens the basic right to due process...Special security courts have jurisdiction in all cases involving espionage and treason, peaceful political dissent, smuggling, ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083963992843597122004-05-07T17:06:00.000-04:002004-05-08T07:59:17.920-04:00
Every Morning the War Gets Up from Sleep
From my book one of my favorite books, Iraqi Poetry Today:
Ah! Every morning the war gets up from sleep.
So I place it in a poem, make the poem into a boat, which I throw into the Tigris.
This is war, then.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083961746292382172004-05-07T16:29:00.000-04:002004-05-07T16:32:20.436-04:00
Zen Chess
Rook makes a Zen-inspired move in our epic Bloggers Chess match. Might be time for me to dust off the Five-Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083957973827567832004-05-07T15:26:00.000-04:002004-05-07T15:30:45.326-04:00
Is Our Republicans Learning?
CNN:
A pro-military Democratic congressman's description of the war in Iraq as "unwinnable" unless changes are made sparked anger in House Republicans Thursday.
Rep. John Murtha, D-Pennsylvania, in a news conference with Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, said the problems in Iraq are due to a "lack of planning" by Pentagon chiefs and "the direction has ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083947726043548302004-05-07T12:35:00.000-04:002004-05-07T12:38:39.936-04:00
Now That's An Apology
Shocking:
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Friday extended "my deepest apologies'' to Iraqi prisoners abused by U.S. military personnel and told Congress he accepts full responsibility for the shocking events.
"These events occurred on my watch. As Secretary of Defense, I am accountable for them. I take full responsibility,'' Rumsfeld told the Senate Armed Services ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083935864166410592004-05-07T09:17:00.000-04:002004-05-07T14:33:33.793-04:00
Manure In A Pile Of Ponies
288k jobs created last month. Good.
Other items also modestly improved: employment population ratio was up 0.1%; average duration of unemployment dropped from 20.1 weeks to 19.7; there were 159k fewer people working part-time for economic reasons. Good.
Now the manure in that pile of ponies (thanks, Commissar): the number of jobs created were fewer than last month,ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083927225276988782004-05-07T06:53:00.000-04:002004-05-07T07:14:35.450-04:00
Chipping Away
Cairo and I walked to the mailbox yesterday afternoon, as is our wont, and we saw lots of stuff, including a chipping sparrow.
Speaking of chipping, here's Cairo last weekend taking a break from making wood chips out of a log.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083892885896179152004-05-06T21:21:00.000-04:002004-05-06T21:24:39.340-04:00
Caption Contest Reminder!
Even though I said midnight UTC today was the deadline for the current Rummy Caption Contest, it's still really not too late to enter for a chance to win a VALUABLE PRIZE. Winner announced tomorrow. Go now!
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083888567050844822004-05-06T20:09:00.000-04:002004-05-06T21:15:10.670-04:00
Meta Apology
Bush today:
I told [King Abdullah] I was sorry for the humiliation suffered by the Iraqi prisoners, and the humiliation suffered by their families. I told him I was equally sorry that people who have been seeing those pictures didn't understand the true nature and heart of America. I assured him Americans, like me, didn't appreciate what we saw, that it made us sick to our stomachs.ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083878106893956792004-05-06T17:15:00.000-04:002004-05-27T13:01:43.643-04:00
Grisly Arithmetic
I was arguing with somebody the other night about Iraq-Vietnam comparisons. Inevitably, wingers point out the literal differences between the two conflicts, as though we don't know there are differences and that the analogy requires them to be exactly the same to hold true. One of the most popular reasons they list for why Iraq is no Vietnam is the casualty level, so I ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083862482535866672004-05-06T12:54:00.000-04:002004-05-06T13:30:45.246-04:00
Unhappy Campers
Wow, the latest Gallup poll is telling:
The poll finds 36% of Americans satisfied with the way things are going in the United States...19 points lower than an early January reading.
The poll shows that 49% of Americans approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president...The current reading ties with the lowest approval readings Gallup has measured in Bush's presidency.
ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083846420417303032004-05-06T08:27:00.000-04:002004-05-06T08:30:58.733-04:00
Morning Zen
I love mornings, especially the calm before-the-day-starts feeling as the birds start to wake up. As Cairo and I were taking out the trash/recycling, we paused to listen to the sounds of the red-winged blackbirds, cardinals, blue jays, mourning doves, and other members of the avian chorus. We also took in the sights of the foggy world in the early morning light...
One of the manyntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083844891244977582004-05-06T08:01:00.000-04:002004-05-06T08:04:44.420-04:00
Starry Eyed Friedman
Tommy is so cute when he gets all optimistic. He's right, Rummy should resign, but I don't hold out hope that this or anything else BushCo does will do all that much to restore our moral authority in the community of nations. We lost that long ago, and it's going to take a long time to get it back.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083806277216595602004-05-05T21:17:00.000-04:002004-05-05T21:22:45.280-04:00
Bush: US Will Withdraw From Iraq
Bush speaking to Arab TV today:
Iraqis are sick of foreign people coming in their country and trying to destabilize their country. And we will help them rid Iraq of these killers.
A bold suggestion from our steady leader. I expect our troops to come home any day now...
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083804791554765042004-05-05T20:53:00.000-04:002004-05-05T20:56:24.326-04:00
Not Sadistic Dog Blogging
Since the cat thing didn't go over so well, how about a happy dog?
Cairo's friend, Neighbor Dog, wags his tail beyond the stone fence.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083792127036963432004-05-05T17:22:00.000-04:002004-05-05T17:25:19.403-04:00
Sadistic Cat Blogging
A student showed me this advert a couple weeks ago. It hit Mark Morford's radar screen today:
Genius.
No, wait. I mean sick. Sick and wrong and pure distasteful vileness and what is the world coming to.
And genius. And hilarious.
Viral marketing. Sinister as hell. It's when an ad company creates a twisted little promotion specifically designed to bypass the mainstream ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083771321663373382004-05-05T11:35:00.000-04:002004-05-05T11:39:34.060-04:00
Goodbye Blue Sky
It's a grey, dreary day today.
Here's a happy cloud from last weekend. What does it look like to you?
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083762158719465032004-05-05T09:02:00.000-04:002004-05-05T10:26:42.733-04:00
A Great Victory For American Workers
WaPo:
The Republican-controlled Senate voted yesterday to block new Labor Department rules that critics said would deny overtime pay to millions of white-collar workers, handing an embarrassing rebuff to the Bush administration on a politically sensitive jobs issue.
The Senate voted 52 to 47 to scrap the new rules despite recent changes to address earlier ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083756408099059112004-05-05T07:26:00.000-04:002004-05-05T07:30:32.123-04:00
Not A Caption Contest
Bush will speak to Arab TV: "Calm down, already!"
Don't forget, you still have two days to enter the Rummy caption contest for a chance to win a VALUABLE PRIZE!
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083708744674332002004-05-04T18:12:00.000-04:002004-05-04T18:41:10.653-04:00
Perpetual Energy
Sam the Action Kitten this evening:
As regular readers know, Sam's favorite toy his is Amazing Technicolor Dream Fish. He usually starts slowly, just poking at it.
Then he'll start picking up the fish...
...and batting his prey around.
But he especially likes to flip the toy...
...often quite high and far (note the upper left corner of the pic)!
Sorry, but I had to ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083697396627686322004-05-04T15:03:00.000-04:002004-05-04T15:16:28.246-04:00
Bush Rally In Michigan
Edited for clarity:
THE PRESIDENT: Lie about being on a bus tour.
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
THE PRESIDENT: Blahblahblah, stronger, safer, better, we will win on November the 2nd.
AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!
THE PRESIDENT: We've had a fabulous day today. Vote forntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083676328321900172004-05-04T09:12:00.000-04:002004-05-04T09:14:51.670-04:00
The Fetishists Are In Charge
Krugman:
A number of people, including Jay Garner, the first U.S. administrator of Iraq, think that the Bush administration shunned early elections, which might have given legitimacy to a transitional government, so it could impose economic policies that no elected Iraqi government would have approved. Indeed, over the past year the Coalition Provisional Authority ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083676003578626352004-05-04T09:06:00.000-04:002004-05-04T09:11:18.610-04:00
It Is Spring, Right?
On Sunday it was really windy. Today, it's snowing...
Apparently it was breezy enough this weekend to blow a robin's egg out of the nest. Note that there is no snow on the ground in the picture. Sigh.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083626516598118962004-05-03T19:21:00.000-04:002004-05-03T19:24:50.716-04:00
A Tradition Revived
Garth Brooks: C'mon, man, let's step outside.
Rummy: You wouldn't hit an impotent old guy with glasses now, would you?
The caption contest is back. 1 prize: 10 bucks from Amazon. Submit your entries in comments by Thursday, Midnight UTC.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083588145124830702004-05-03T08:42:00.000-04:002004-05-03T08:48:14.326-04:00
I Gotta Get Me A New Agent
So I was reading about how David Brock is starting a site called Media Matters that will keep an eye on the winger media. Then I find the blogosphere's own ODub will be joining the team. Congrats on joining a cool, important project!
Someday I'll get an offer to blog professionally. Someday.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-108358576227009022004-05-03T08:02:00.000-04:002004-05-03T08:05:45.403-04:00
Less Brutal Than Saddam
ATimes:
If the United States invaded Iraq to liberate its people from the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, recent reports of "systematic" inhumane treatment of Iraqi prisoners only underscore that the very nature of occupation of one country by another is such that it invariably leads to acts that dehumanize the occupied people in the name of security. The outcome: intense and ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083584879929380252004-05-03T07:47:00.000-04:002004-05-03T07:51:03.250-04:00
A Cat's Life
Sam wakes up after a nap on his favorite step.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083542638545140212004-05-02T20:03:00.000-04:002004-05-02T20:15:56.763-04:00
Mars, Bitch!
Commenter lil' John reminded me of Dave Chappelle's "Black President" bit on Comedy Central ("Mars, bitch!") in the Mars thread below. If you haven't seen it, you must (RealAudio).
ntodd
[Update: oops, looks like the Comedy Central video doesn't have the whole thing. Try this AVI (you'll need a DIVX codec).]ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083513165031593682004-05-02T11:52:00.000-04:002004-05-02T11:55:53.686-04:00
Anyone For Chess?
Finally: my latest Bloggers Chess move is posted.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083509685179128662004-05-02T10:54:00.000-04:002004-05-07T21:13:19.873-04:00
Anyone For Tennis?
"C'mon, Daddy, let's go play!"
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083504876622021342004-05-02T09:34:00.000-04:002004-05-02T09:53:48.873-04:00
Relax, Celebrate The Quagmire
Richard Perle in McPaper on May 2, 2003:
[The war] ended quickly1 with few civilian casualties2 and with little damage to Iraq's cities, towns or infrastructure3. It ended without the Arab world rising up against us4, as the war's critics feared, without the quagmire they predicted5, without the heavy losses in house-to-house fighting6 they warned us to expect.
...
ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083456778907046902004-05-01T20:12:00.000-04:002004-05-01T20:34:16.296-04:00
9/11 Couldn't Have Been Prevented
Condi:
Esteemed members of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, good afternoon. As National Security Advisor, my job is to coordinate the efforts of America's intelligence and defense agencies and report directly to the president. I was, and continue to be, in a unique position to understand the threats and dangers our nation ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083451313406479162004-05-01T18:41:00.000-04:002004-05-01T19:31:20.170-04:00
We're Going To WallyWorld!
Our ADD preznit at work:
Like his father's proposal to go to Mars, President George W. Bush's grand space exploration vision appears to be on the verge of being scuttled well before launch. Despite its goal of refocusing NASA, the vision's potential to inspire dreams and garner new funds is largely evaporating.
...
When announced, Bush's long-term plan to "extend a ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083447403207725722004-05-01T17:36:00.000-04:002004-05-01T17:42:48.450-04:00
Mini Blogaround
Something this bad boy hasn't done in a long time:
The Iraqi clusterf...er, occupation has Lambert at corrente so worked up he can't decide whether to puke or go blind.
Charles2 at The Fulcrum rubs his vacation in our faces.
Andante wishes us a Happy Loyalty Day over at Collective Sigh.
BBWW's Mustang Bobby sanitizes the war for us.
Wanda from Words On A Page is doing her part tontoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083445528430317192004-05-01T17:05:00.000-04:002004-05-01T17:10:19.576-04:00
You Know We'll Have A Good Time Then
Making up for lost time...
The crocuses are gone, and the hyacinth has sprung up to take their place.
I believe this is a white-crowned sparrow out in the meadow.
Sam has been very curious about "outside", so I let him poke around on the deck a little this afternoon.
The chippers are a bit frisky today.
Okay, no more photoblogging today.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083442585160094602004-05-01T16:16:00.000-04:002004-05-01T16:19:33.500-04:00
Oregon Votes
Faithful reader, and contributor at Candleblog, Spine casts his ballot by mail in Oregon:
I sure do love to vote. But after all the drama of the presidential primary campaign, after all those candidates, I'm left with three unexciting choices on Oregon's ballot: John Kerry, Lyndon LaRouche, and Dennis Kucinich. I don't care for these choices. It will be time soon enough to vote for ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083440871580199542004-05-01T15:47:00.000-04:002004-05-01T15:50:59.466-04:00
We Should Be Nice To Europe
Beeb:
The new 25-member European Union has heralded its historic expansion with celebrations across the new bloc.
The 15 old members welcomed in Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia at midnight.
...
With a population of 455m, the EU now is the world's biggest trading bloc.
First they want their own GPSntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083440964022635602004-05-01T15:45:00.000-04:002004-05-01T15:52:31.890-04:00
Sadness
Cairo on the couch while I was packing last Sunday. Not sure if she was sad I was leaving, or upset by the news from Iraq.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083435308528139552004-05-01T14:15:00.000-04:002004-05-01T14:20:34.390-04:00
Denial: It's Not Just A River In Punditland
Bush's radio address today:
Electricity is now more widely available [in Iraq] than before the war.
Reality check:
"Iraq produced about 4,400 megawatts of electric power before the war...[and] the country required, but could not produce, about 6,000 megawatts of power per day." (WashTimes)
Our stated goal is to "improve generating capacity to 6000 MW ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083431659195278382004-05-01T13:14:00.000-04:002004-05-01T13:30:13.123-04:00
Denial: Apparently It's A River In Iraq
The lovely and talented Mona Charen:
"They are the images of war the Bush Administration doesn't want the American public or anyone to see. But a Web site is showing hundreds of flag-draped caskets arriving at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Official Bush Administration and Defense Department policy forbids such photographs, saying they are disrespectfulntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083415637328915222004-05-01T08:47:00.000-04:002004-05-01T08:52:18.903-04:00
A Ray Of Sunshine
A bluebird in the meadow on a hazy May Day morning...
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083414847893204992004-05-01T08:34:00.000-04:002004-05-01T08:39:12.590-04:00
Mission Accomplished
A trip down memory lane:
Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed.
One year and 600 dead American soldiers later, we're begging a former general in Saddam's Republican Guard to restore order in Fallujah.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083364267805135492004-04-30T18:31:00.000-04:002004-04-30T18:34:15.153-04:00
Not A Sign O' The Times
Something on a construction vehicle near Lowell, MA, caught my eye today:
Don't be a flirt
Lift up the skirt
I wonder if that's why roadwork costs so much--the harassment lawsuits must be expensive.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083323893845332562004-04-30T07:18:00.000-04:002004-04-30T07:34:56.843-04:00
The Truth Will Out
Byrd yesterday:
The White House argues time and again that Iraq is the "central front" on the war on terrorism. But instead of keeping murderous al Qaeda terrorists on the run, the invasion of Iraq has stoked the fires of terrorism against the United States and our allies. Najaf is smoldering. Fallujah is burning. And there is no exit is in sight. What has been ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083237685563951562004-04-29T07:21:00.000-04:002004-04-29T07:24:31.530-04:00
Yes, I Still Blog
Just haven't had time this week. Light at the end of the tunnel...
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1083012558356935372004-04-26T16:49:00.000-04:002004-04-26T18:37:53.640-04:00
Find Your Happy Place
Exhausting day of class, and it's rainy out, so I wanted a little cheer:
On Saturday, one of the maples in the backyard was showing some real signs of spring. Click on the image for a full size pic (just noticed it's a bit large).
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1082978509386949252004-04-26T07:21:00.000-04:002004-04-26T07:25:16.733-04:00
Karen Hughes: Back In The Saddle
Not content to imply that pro-choice people are terrorists, Karen Hughes now is attacking John Kerry for what he said about Vietnam over 30 years ago:
One of President Bush's closest confidants challenged Sen. John Kerry on Sunday to further explain comments he made in 1971 that he participated in "atrocities" in Vietnam.
The presumptive Democratic nominee has ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1082904189917504412004-04-25T10:43:00.000-04:002004-04-26T19:15:29.576-04:00
Two Countries Separated By The Same Language
CNN: Iraq oil exports resume after raid
BBC: Raid disrupts Iraqi oil exports
CNN focuses on the fact that a small oil terminal reopened. The Beeb starts off noting that the main terminal is still shut down, a fact completely ignored by the other story. Hmm.
Both articles do observe that the attack that shut down the Basra facilities and reportedlyntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1082897252712538972004-04-25T08:47:00.000-04:002004-04-25T08:52:15.716-04:00
Time To Fly Away
Heading back down to Marlboro today and I still have a few things to do, so I'm a bit harried. Here's a picture rich with symbolism for me:
A red-winged blackbird chases away a red-tailed hawk over our back yard.
Stef was sitting on the couch in the living room yesterday evening and saw a couple of hawks circling around. I quickly grabbed my camera and ran outside and took ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1082896819765553282004-04-25T08:40:00.000-04:002004-04-25T08:43:21.593-04:00
Hero
I respect former Cardinal Pat Tillman's decision to join the Rangers after 9/11. He put his money where his mouth was, as it were. Not knowing anything really about his service or how he died in Afghanistan last week, I would still agree that he was a heroic figure.
Yet I'm troubled by all this hero talk. Sports Illustrated's Peter King said yesterday, "I think 100 years from now, ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1082836065486761132004-04-24T15:47:00.000-04:002004-04-24T15:51:07.403-04:00
A Rather Blustery Day
Hum, dum, dum, dee, dee, dum
Hum, dum, dum
Oh the wind is lashing lusterly
And the trees are thrashing thrusterly
And the leaves are rustling gusterly
So it's rather safe to say
That it seems that it may turn out to be
It feels that it will undoubteadly
Looks like a rather blustery day today
It seems that it may turn out to be
Feels that it will undoubteadly
Looks like a ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1082815751751752392004-04-24T10:09:00.000-04:002004-04-24T10:35:48.873-04:00
Poll Watch
I don't follow or blog about polls much, mostly because it's early and also because people like Kos already do. But I have been interested in the presidential race lately because it is so close (if the polling data is to be believed). Fox has it 43-42 for Bush, Rasmussen pegs it even at 45 each, and Zogby says Kerry has a 47-44 edge. An amazingly tight race, it would appear.
I ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-108276844848607492004-04-23T21:00:00.000-04:002004-04-23T21:03:49.216-04:00
Fly Me To The Moon
The moon, Venus, and a very faint Mars (below and to the left of Luna) from the backyard tonight. If I'd been more motivated, I would've gone to the meadow for a cleaner shot.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1082760386701265082004-04-23T18:46:00.000-04:002004-04-23T18:49:26.700-04:00
Home For A Moment
Saw a couple moose on I-89 just south of Warner, NH, on my way home. My weekend plans: do laundry, get a haircut, then head back to Marlboro, MA, to start the fun all over again. Oh, and blog a little.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1082717324543305822004-04-23T06:48:00.000-04:002004-04-23T06:52:40.436-04:00
Pity The Pentagon
CNN:
A Web site [linky] published dozens of photographs of American war dead arriving at the nation's largest military mortuary, prompting the Pentagon to order an information clampdown Thursday.
The photographs were released last week to First Amendment activist Russ Kick, who had filed a Freedom of Information Act request to receive the images.
Air Force officials initiallyntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1082680281581427572004-04-22T20:31:00.000-04:002004-04-22T20:34:20.983-04:00
Thursday Bug Blogging
Not blogging bugs me:
A crappy picture of a moth on the door to the training facility this evening.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1082594073281931092004-04-21T20:34:00.000-04:002004-04-21T20:37:31.513-04:00
Doublespeak
Oh god, the irony is killing me:
As a valued member of the President's team, you are receiving a special preview of a new Bush-Cheney television ad that will begin running all over the country.
The new ad highlights John Kerry's habit of taking both sides on just about every issue. As more Americans hear John Kerry change his positions, the clearer the choice becomes between ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1082506216333454072004-04-20T20:10:00.000-04:002004-04-20T20:15:07.686-04:00
Tuesday Rodent Blogging
I have a great group of students, which means our discussions are animated and long. Oy, they're killing me. All I can muster tonight:
Just before I left home Sunday: first time I'd caught a chipper at the deck feeder this season. He was as stunned as I was.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1082419572033649662004-04-19T20:06:00.000-04:002004-04-19T20:09:08.653-04:00
Heartbreaking
Flag-draped coffins are secured inside a cargo plane on April 7 at Kuwait International Airport. Military and civilian crews take great care with the remains of U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq. Soldiers form an honor guard and say a prayer as, almost nightly, coffins are loaded for the trip home.
(via Atrios)
Over 700 of these coffins, and we're no safer. Bastards.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1082302676809402522004-04-18T11:37:00.000-04:002004-04-18T11:40:51.590-04:00
Hurry Put Your Troubles In A Suitcase
Heading back out on the road, but I had time for a quick snap with my Nikon 70-300mm telephoto lens1 this morning:
First cardinal I've seen this season!
ntodd
1 - The lens was relatively cheap, as far as these things go, and is a fine toy. However, I'm likely going to return it and eventually get a Vibration Reduction lens (this or this).ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1082248798399844852004-04-17T20:39:00.000-04:002004-04-17T20:42:52.546-04:00
Sounds Of Spring
The peepers are out tonight!
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1082239239538100312004-04-17T18:00:00.000-04:002004-04-17T18:03:34.110-04:00
Picard To La Forge...
Sweet!
US firm Vocera has created a wireless voice communicator just like they use in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Similar to the TV series, all you do to contact someone is press the talk button on the lapel badge, say their name, and you will be put through.
The gadget is proving popular in hospitals to make it easier for nurses to find and get advice from doctors.ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1082208672971731982004-04-17T09:31:00.000-04:002004-04-17T09:34:06.763-04:00
Jeebus
According to Lunaville, we are averaging 45.86 wounded troops per day in April. That's 5 times higher than the average over the course of the war, March to March, and 3 times higher than last October, which was the worst reported individual month1.
Fortunately, no troops have been reported killed in the last couple days. Hopefully that trend can continue, and I hope our captured ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1082203977308750722004-04-17T08:12:00.000-04:002004-04-17T08:26:38.403-04:00
Stupid Republican Tricks
Heehee!
(AP Wire) The Democratic National Committee announced today the Lemming will be added as the new logo for rank and file Democrats. The Jackass logo will continue to be used by Senator Ted Kennedy, Bill and Hilary Clinton, Al Gore, Terry McAuliffe, Al Franken, Michael Moore, numerous Californians such as Rob Reiner and members of the Hollywood Entertainment ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1082163572797134212004-04-16T20:59:00.000-04:002004-04-16T21:41:52.310-04:00
I Love Candles
New blog in the blogroll: Candleblog. Faithful reader and filmmaker, Bill S (and friends), has joined the blogosphere!
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1082153074735444182004-04-16T18:04:00.000-04:002004-04-16T18:07:28.250-04:00
A Taste Of Spring
There might still be snow in patches on the lawn, but the crocuses have popped up in some spots.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1082121838025456422004-04-16T09:23:00.000-04:002004-04-16T09:33:14.733-04:00
Word For The Day
From Merriam-Webster:
Main Entry: 2fungible
Function: adjective
Etymology: New Latin fungibilis, from Latin fungi to perform -- more at FUNCTION
1 : being of such a nature that one part or quantity may be replaced by another equal part or quantity in the satisfaction of an obligation
2 : INTERCHANGEABLE
Now let's use our word in a sentence. Rummy, take it away:
Oh, come on. [ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1082075869430813242004-04-15T20:37:00.000-04:002004-04-15T20:46:11.670-04:00
Some Of My Best Friends Are...
What annoyed me more than not being able to dial out from my hotel yesterday was this snippet from Bush's PC on Tuesday:
Some of the debate really center around the fact that people don't believe Iraq can be free; that if you're Muslim, or perhaps brown-skinned, you can't be self-governing and free. I strongly disagree with that. I reject that, because I believe ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1081894204464023622004-04-13T18:10:00.000-04:002004-04-13T18:16:59.840-04:00
Speaking Of Samuel Adams
So I'm in Newton, Mass, just outside of Beantown. Doing a day-long class here tomorrow, then stopping off in Manchester, NH, for the same class Thursday. Ugh.
Anywayz, blogging very light the next couple days. In the meantime, here's Sam helping me pack:
Well, maybe he's not all that helpful. He sure does like trying to fit in the pockets of my garment bag...
ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1081863269217680922004-04-13T09:34:00.000-04:002004-04-13T09:39:19.200-04:00
Tories
I keep reading variations on the idea that somehow a rebellion isn't legitimate, or at least can't be successful, if only a minority of people participate. That's odd to me because the American Revolution itself, oft held high as the prime example of good and just rebellion, hardly had popular support. Only an estimated one-third of the colonists in favor of breaking away from Britain.ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1081805602209796402004-04-12T17:33:00.000-04:002004-04-12T17:37:10.920-04:00
Monday Grassroots Blogging
A barn down the road from us still has their Howie sign up. Shot this over the weekend.
Howie had an op-ed in the NYTimes today:
Ralph Nader once said that your best teacher is your last mistake. Too many of us learned the consequences of not standing together four years ago. This November, we can elect a president who fights for average Americans. But we can ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1081780781998034342004-04-12T10:39:00.000-04:002004-04-12T17:03:36.013-04:00
Full Circle In 12 Days
A year after we toppled Saddam's statue, we're right back where we started. During the first 12 days of April, 2004, 73 76 US troops have been killed in Iraq, equalling surpassing the total for the entire month of April, 2003. In fact, this is a greater American death toll than the first 12 days of the war, when we lost 65 troops in March, 2003.
Not to worry, though. ntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1081714013083746972004-04-11T16:06:00.000-04:002004-04-11T16:10:06.030-04:00
Easter Cat Blogging
When in Full Kitten Mode, Sam often uses furniture to launch himself at his targets.
ntoddntoddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5479660.post-1081640296523408412004-04-10T19:38:00.000-04:002004-04-11T19:28:50.763-04:00
The PDB
Not a smoking gun, but the August 6th PDB (PDF of the actual doc) still makes me wonder why Bush didn't heighten our level of alertness:
Clandestine, foreign government, and media reports indicate Bin Laden since 1997 has wanted to conduct terrorist attacks in the U.S. Bin Laden implied in U.S. television interviews in 1997 and 1998 that his followers would follow the example of World ntoddnoreply@blogger.com