Popular Media Attention

I wanted to say hype rather than attention, but I'm not so sure about what is hype.

Here are a couple of links:

• SaveTheFilibuster.org
  
• Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt found 14 defining characteristics common to each

Look the country is going to hell in a handcart, can we at least try to derail it.

I've got to get out of this place

Take a look at this page on Amazon. The reviews alone should send a chill down your spine, but take a look at the product placement around the page. Where does all this crap come from. Judicial Tyranny? How about right-wing-whack-job tyranny?

We have become a Nazi monster in the eyes of the whole world

The late, and great Hunter Thompson said that not too long ago. Here's some evidence to show what kind of nut jobs we actually are.

• A husband refuses to quit in the face of anguish and vitriol
  
• Bush: our laws and our courts should have a presumption in favor of life
  
• Study: Teens Who Pledge Virginity Try To Bend The Rules
  
• Washington’s criminal war against Iraq enters its third year
  
• What do Fallujah and Halabja have in Common?
  
• War crime claims- Marine recruiter turned peacenik
  
• U.S. Joins Old Foes to Build New Iraqi Army
  
• Orphans of Tall Afar
  
• Secret US plans for Iraq's oil
  
• Irag Coalition Casualty Count

Here's the whole quote from "Generation of Fear".

"We have become a Nazi monster in the eyes of the whole world -- a nation of bullies and bastards who would rather kill than live peacefully. We are not just Whores for power and oil, but killer whores with hate and fear in our hearts. We are human scum, and that is how history will judge us ... No redeeming social value. Just whores. Get out of our way, or we'll kill you. Who does vote for these dishonest shitheads? Who among us can be happy and proud of having this innocent blood on our hands? Who are these swine? These flag-sucking half-wits who get fleeced and fooled by stupid rich kids like George Bush? They are the same ones who wanted to have Muhammad Ali locked up for refusing to kill gooks. They speak for all that is cruel and stupid and vicious in the American character. They are the racists and! hate mongers among us -- they are the Ku Klux Klan. I piss down the throats of these Nazis.

And I am too old to worry about whether they like it or not. F**k them."

-Hunter S. Thompson

Seattle

Seattle_02
Originally uploaded by PaulTrum.

I don't know how the weather managed to be warmer there then here, but it was. Great city though.

Compare and Contrast

Here, without commentary, are two links. Read them in any order you like, and tell me why you voted for Bush.

• George Kennan, architect of Cold War policy, dies
  
• Two Years Later, Iraq War Drains Military

Also this week, I just returned from Seattle, where Microsoft was announcing a new service for selling ads. It's not ready yet of course, and really isn't going to be ready soon. In any case, I got to ask Steve Ballmer when msn search was going to be less sucky. That's not ready yet either apparently, cause he didn't really give me a straight answer.

Something off topic (sort of)

I just returned from the absolutely fabulous Information Architecture Summit in Montreal, Quebec. Aside from the fact that I traveled many hundreds of miles NORTH in the winter, it was, as I said, absolutely fabulous.

The opening keynote speaker was B. J. Fogg from Stanford. His research is into the use of technology as a persuasive device. I'm interested in this quite a bit as my work is aimed at trying to get people to buy something fairly complicated online. The ethics are scary though, the potential to be very sleazy definately exists. One thing Dr. Fogg talked a great deal about was the persuasive power of video games. Specifically we discussed the persuasiveness (and ethics) of the army's free role playing game. It basically softens kids up for the recruiters. Who incidentally can thank the patriot act for being guaranteed access to their school records. Big brother is alive and well.

This was the first time I'd been out of the cozy confines of the U. S. since 9/11. Oh wait, that's right it's not cozy and there are enemies on every block, that's why all those people voted for Bush again. But I digress... Under the fabulous auspices of our travel office I got to come and go through Reagan National. Going out wasn't a big deal, but coming back gave me an appreaciation for what these people have gone through. Ridiculous amounts of prodding, poking and searching.

Well there you have it, an actual post from me. Oh and thanks to The Terps for taking a dive today and probably killing the Hokies chances at any tournament unless they go way deep in the ACC tournament. Gilchrist should definately go pro.

Our Prez is friggin' Dale Carnegie

• United States quits foreign inmate accord
  
• Egyptian Diplomat Rebuts Bush's Views on Mideast
  
• Remembering all those arguments made 1,500 deaths ago
  
• U.S. 'knew agent going to airport'
  
• Bush Nominates UN Critic Bolton as UN Envoy

Our Prez is friggin' Dale Carnegie

• United States quits foreign inmate accord
  
• Egyptian Diplomat Rebuts Bush's Views on Mideast
  
• Remembering all those arguments made 1,500 deaths ago
  
• U.S. 'knew agent going to airport'
  
• Bush Nominates UN Critic Bolton as UN Envoy