Entries for April, 2004
April 19th, 2004
the Transition
Posted by bert at 10:42 PM on April 19, 2004.
the dark side cometh.. I'm still debating about how to migrate over to tabulas. But in an effort to support Roy, I am canceling my current webhosting agreement and paying Roy instead. Quite well I might add =).
hehe.. feed the poker addiction i am.
the Fighting Temptations
Posted by bert at 10:57 PM on April 19, 2004.
What a great movie. Was very surprised by how much I liked it. More surprising is the lack of attention this movie recieved.
Anyway.. It's great, go watch it, and listen to the sound track.
here are the inspired lyrics.. (yah.. i rarely post lyrics.)
Took me a while
But I'm finally here
I just wanna testify
Make it crystal clear
See I've been picked out
To be picked on
Talked about out my friend's mouth
I've been beat down
Til he turned my life around
(turned my life around)
[Chorus:]
Seems like I always fall short of bein worthy
Cuz I aint good enough
but he still loves me
(yeah)
I aint no superstar
The spotlight aint shinin on me
(no no no no no)
cuz I aint good enough
but he still loves me
Loves me
[B]
I used to wake up some days
and wish I'd stayed asleep
cuz i went to bed on top of the world
today the world's on top of me
everybody's got opinions
(they share)
They aint been in my position
(they don't care)
that it breaks my heart when I hear what they have to say about me yeah
(what they say)
seems like I always fall short (fallin short)
of bein worthy (Lord I aint worthy)
Cuz I aint good enough (no no)
but he still loves me (still loves me)
[All]
I aint no superstar
(I wanna be for you)
The spotlight aint shinin on me
cuz I aint good enough
but he still loves me
I'm not perfect
(I'm not perfect)
Yes I do wrong
(yes I do wrong)
I'm trying my best
(trying my best but)
But it aint good enough
(just aint good enough)
Shunned by the world
If I don't succeed
Cuz I aint good
But he still loves me
(I just aint good enough)
If you aint worthy just raise your hands
And let me know that you understand
That we are all so blessed
To be loved, loved
Stand for him and fall for anything
Cause through his eyes we all look the same
What would we do without blame?
Feels like we always fall short
Of bein worthy (we are not worthy)
Cuz I aint good enough
But he still loves me
I aint no superstar
(I aint no superstar but I wanna be for you Lord)
The spotlight aint shinin on me
Cuz I aint good enough
(Oh)
But you still love me
I'm not perfect
Yes I do wrong
I'm tryin my best but
(tryin my best)
It aint good enough
(I'm not good enough)
Shunned be the word
(shunned by the world)
If i dont succeed
(i dont succeed-ceed-ceed)
Cuz I aint good enough
But he still loves me
(child sing with me)
I'm not perfect
Yes I do wrong
I'm tryin my best but
It aint good enough
(But the Lord's been so good to me)
Shunned be the word
(Shunned by the world)
If i dont succeed
Cuz I aint good enough
(I aint good enough)
But he still loves me
(The Lord still loves me)
No I aint good enough
But He still loves me
(Raise your hands if ya understand)
No I aint good enough
(How he blessed you cuz he blessed you too)
but He still loves me
(even though I aint worthy)
No I aint good enough
(you aint worthy, He's there for you)
but He still loves me
(no matter what I do)
No I aint good enough
(I aint good enough)
but he still loves me
(but the Lord still loves me)
Currently listening to: He Still Loves Me - Beyonce and Walter Williams
Currently feeling: chipper
the OJ
Posted by bert at 11:12 PM on April 19, 2004.
for the longest time, I've seen this new brad of OJ out on the market, "Simply Orange" orange juice. Suffice to say, i never bought it because it was $3.25 for 60 fl oz worth of juice.
Anyway.. it went to 2 for $5 this week, so i decided to give it a try.
two comments about it.
1.) The stuff is MUCH better than tropicana. The taste is great.
2.) On the seal (that proves it is fresh), it say that the OJ is kosher. what?!??! I didn't know OJ could not be kosher. Maybe i'm out of it, or maybe i dont' know what it means.. oh well.. the stuff is good. and definitely worth $2.50 a bottle.
Currently listening to: none
Currently feeling: amused
the Extreme Left
Posted by bert at 11:32 PM on April 19, 2004.
I am at a loss for words.
Michael Moore speaks and the left scrambles to follow.
Currently feeling: annoyed
April 20th, 2004
the Blame Game
Posted by bert at 10:35 AM on April 20, 2004.
Not Bush,
Not Cheney,
Not Clinton,
Not any politician in office, past or current.
"The only people to blame for terrorism are the terrorists. "
-Orson Scott Card.
Read
this article and tell me he doesn't make the right case for Bush.
Yes.. I very much dislike Bush's economic policy. And even more so I dislike the fact that companies like Halliburton get these golden eggs. BUT... just remember this... Our economics don't mean diddly squat if Osama gets off a nuke.
Currently listening to: Clocks - Coldplay
Currently feeling: Ornery
the Chernobyl
Posted by bert at 01:53 PM on April 20, 2004.
Kinda Cool, Kinda Creepy, but something defintely worth sharing.
Take a look at modern day Chernobyl with pictures from the source. All credit goes to the author. She is much braver than I am.
Currently listening to: Learn to Fly - Foo Fighters
the Passion of the 420
Posted by bert at 04:54 PM on April 20, 2004.
4:20 on 4/20...
what does
Wikipedia say?
The Origin Revealed
courtesy of Denise Witmer
"According to Steven Hager, editor of High Times, the term 420 originated at San Rafael High School, in 1971, among a group of about a dozen pot-smoking wiseacres who called themselves the Waldos, who are now pushing 50. The term was shorthand for the time of day the group would meet, at the campus statue of Louis Pasteur, to smoke pot. Intent on developing their own discreet language, they made 420 code for a time to get high, and its use spread among members of an entire generation. "
it's a time of day people take off and get high.. simple enough
Interesting historical facts about 4/20
Apollo 16 landing
Hitler's birthday
Columbine anniversary
Currently listening to: Little Black Backpack - Stroke 9
Currently feeling: curious
the Bad Beats
Posted by bert at 10:52 PM on April 20, 2004.
Playing head to head NL holdem.
I have A4, and double the blinds
opponent calls with QQ
Flop
4 A 4
probably can't get any better than that (well except AAA). Anyway. He bets me all in (we're about even). I call.
Turn:
3
no help..
River:
Q
ugh.. my full boat loses to 1 of 2 outs.... I am humbled by Partypoker yet again....
Currently listening to: musicless
Currently feeling: crushed
April 21st, 2004
the Tail Between Their Legs
Posted by bert at 07:12 AM on April 21, 2004.
The Dominican Republic has became the third country to withdraw their troops from Iraq... how many troops was that? 25? 15? that's just a few less mouths to feed.
Currently feeling: amused
the Onion
Posted by bert at 09:36 AM on April 21, 2004.
I LOVE the Onion. It is so funny, and sometimes even accurate. This is a
great article on our political process.
the Naming Rights
Posted by bert at 09:58 AM on April 21, 2004.
It first started with Candlestick Park, but in 1995 they sold the naming rights to 3Com for a measely $500,000 for 6 months.
Since then, nearly all sports stadiums have had their stadiums names "sold" examples include: Gilette Stadium (patriots), Petco Field (padres).
It got really bad last year (or so I thought) when Bankone bought the naming rights of the Chicago Bears.
They are actually called, "The Chicago Bears presented by Bankone."
i'm serious...
but it gets worse. Apparenlty local grade schools want to get in on the action too.
"Thanks to the school district's sale of naming rights, they get their exercise at the ShopRite of Brooklawn Center and flip through books at the Flowers Library and Media Center."
read the disgust here
or better yet.. You can BID on the NAMING rights of the school on Ebay after they put it up for vote.
If I win, I'll call it the weSoldOut grade school.
hrm.. what would you name the school if you won the bid?
Currently listening to: musicless
Currently feeling: nauseated
the Spam
Posted by bert at 12:52 PM on April 21, 2004.
Well.. spam apparently now needs to properly label itself.
Starting May 19th 2004, spam that contains sexually oriented material must include the warning “SEXUALLY-EXPLICIT: ” in the subject line or face fines for violations of federal law.
read more here
Currently listening to: Superman - Five for Fighting
Currently feeling: amused
the Terrorists' Demands
Posted by bert at 01:54 PM on April 21, 2004.
Why would you negotiate with terrorists? Whats the freaking point. This guy says it better than me.
Taken from the
Telegraph's Opinion column.
"No demands have been made by whoever was responsible. That is typical of al-Qa'eda, which has wreaked death and destruction across the world without ever making demands. Indeed al-Qa'eda has not issued any demands for one very simple reason: it has none.
As one of the Islamic fanatics who inspired al-Qa'eda said: "We are not trying to negotiate with you. We are trying to destroy you." The Islamic terrorists who destroyed the World Trade Center, those who bombed Bali, and whoever it is in Spain who has now demonstrated a comparable appetite for indiscriminate killing, do not have specific political goals, in the way that terrorists such as the IRA or Eta have. "
Currently listening to: Black Balloon - Goo Goo Dolls
Currently feeling: groggy
the Turnabout
Posted by bert at 04:32 PM on April 21, 2004.
Recently the Republicans have decided to turn the tables on John Kerry and question HIS service for the U.S. Military. This is probably a mistake, but they actually managed to get
Kerry's former teammate to speak up about him. Suffice to say, it was not positive.
"We were there, we know the truth, and we know that this guy's unfit to be commander-in-chief," said O'Neill, who took over command of Kerry's boat after he left. "I think you'll find that people are very, very angry at John Kerry. They remember his career in Vietnam as a short, controversial one, and they believe that only Hollywood could turn this guy into a war hero."
- John O'Neill, Navy Coastal Division 11
Still.. even though they point out that he wasn't good or whatever, it does not shy away from the fact that Kerry WAS in Vietnam, protecting this country. His incompetance isn't in question, and he will throw this back in Bush's service-ditching face.
Bad move, and i think it's quite implorable...
Currently listening to: Higher - Creed
Currently feeling: Waiting for 5 p.m. =)
April 22nd, 2004
the Scathingness
Posted by bert at 12:00 AM on April 22, 2004.
About 2+ months ago I wrote a letter to Best Buy, basically blasting their customer service. basically I was fed up with their games and figured out how their e-mail addresses worked. I found their entire list of board of directors and CC'ed each and everyone of them on the e-mail.
Here it is. Because I'm pretty sure that it'd be both wrong and somehow Illegal i will not be posting their E-mail addys..
Suffice to say.. I got someone's attention and recieved a very courteous call from someone rather high in the organization, apologizing to me. They even mailed me a $20 giftcard, which is currently sitting at home, not being used. I still haven't been back, but some people have asked me about it. So here's the e-mail in full.
All.
I am just your average American consumer (24yr. old male, engineer who loves electronics). You have lost my confidence and my wallet.
I have considered Best Buy as one of my favorite places to shop. In the past year, as a student I easily spent well over $2000 at Best Buy (no small amount considering I was paying tuition as well). I realized that since I have been spending this kind of money, I should sign up for a Best Buy credit card while I was at it. And I did. When I received my card, I was given a $25 giftcard coupon (given upon $100 purchase). This is no problem for a spender like me. Within a week, the coupon was used, the rebate was sent. I still have no received it.
In late August, I received a reply that my submission "did not fully comply." After asking a few store managers, on October 5th, I brought it in to a store manager and asked what that meant. He pointed at the miscellaneous category marked on the reply and shrugged at me. We both proceeded to then call the rebate center and ask what they needed for me to complete the rebate. Apparently, everything I needed was sent in the first time.
Since I had all the documents with me, we asked if we could fax it in. Yes we could. So I had the store manager fax it in. He confirmed it, and I was happy. 6 weeks later... I still had not seen it. I called the Rebate center and they told me "don't worry about it, we are still processing it."
Another month past, another call ended with "don't worry about it, we are still processing it."
another month, another call. I think you get hte picture. SEVEN of these calls in all. (but I am now told that this is not possible, because for some reason the system doesn't show it.)
Until today.
Karen (employee # 4776) and her Supervisor Heidi) told me. "Sorry that promotion has been closed. It was closed FIVE months after the fact (December.) They told me there is nothing they or I could do about. Basically they told me to suck an egg. Now the $25 is really not that important to me. Nor is it that important to the bottom line for Best Buy.
But your Customer service is horrendous. Anytime I have a problem with anything. I get the run around. This is for both the phones lines AND the stores. I am a card holder AND I have been a loyal customer. I have wasted hours (about 30 minutes each time I call in) dealing with this singular issue. There have been others, but eventually they were dealt with.
This is an e-mail basically letting you know that the current system is horrible. So horrible that I have decided not to shop at Best Buy anymore. Though my measly $2000 will not be missed by your bottom line, it will be greatly beneficial to my wallet. Why spend money at Best Buy only to be greeted so poorly over the phone. Sorry, I would rather spend my money where it is appreciated and where I am not jerked around by "customer care (HAHAH, what a joke) representatives." Fact of the matter is they don't care, but I the customer do. So I am ending my relationship with Best Buy. I would wish you the best, but corporate atmosphere probably just doesn't care.
Your ex-customer,
Bert Tong.
Currently reading: Super Systems - Doyle Brunson
Currently feeling: sleepy
the Defense Industry
Posted by bert at 07:42 AM on April 22, 2004.
Northrop is not as uppity as one would seem...
Taken verbatim from Peter Pae's article in the LA Times 4/22/04
I would have posted a link but you need to register to get in.
'Northrop Grumman Corp. lied to the Air Force to cover up problems with a radar-jamming system it was developing in the late 1980s and submitted fraudulent bills on other equipment, according to documents unsealed Wednesday.
"We lied our teeth off" and "now we need to make these lies come true," one of the documents quotes a Northrop manager telling employees in 1985, as the radar-evading equipment was undergoing a critical design review.
The documents were unsealed by a federal judge in Chicago as part of a whistle-blower lawsuit scheduled to go to trial later this year. When the suit was filed 15 years ago, it appeared to focus mainly on alleged accounting irregularities. The documents show there also are fraud accusations against Northrop in connection with the company's alleged overcharging for materials and falsifying of data.
The Justice Department, representing the former Northrop employees who filed the suit, says Northrop managers lied about the readiness of radar-evading technology for the company's B-2 stealth bomber. Filed under the False Claims Act, the suit seeks $369 million in damages. If Northrop is found guilty, the damages can be trebled.
A Northrop spokesman said Wednesday that the company was likely to file a motion Friday to dismiss the lawsuit. "The company denies these allegations and will continue to vigorously defend the actions," Frank Moore said.
The documents unsealed Wednesday pose new headaches for the nation's third-largest defense contractor, which has its headquarters in Century City.
In recent years, the company has tried to put much of its troubled past behind it. Northrop was the target of several high-profile criminal and civil cases in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In the last year, it has settled — without admitting any wrongdoing — three of the four whistle-blower lawsuits that were filed against it during the early 1990s for about $200 million.
The remaining whistle-blower suit was filed by Rex A. Robinson and James H. Holzrichter, who worked at Northrop's facility in Rolling Meadows, Ill. According to court documents, Robinson was laid off by Northrop and ended up living in a trailer before he died last year, while Holzrichter, who took a disability leave, has been sweeping driveways and delivering newspapers.
The U.S. attorney's office investigated their claims and didn't file criminal charges.
In 2001, the government intervened in the case based on new information that apparently was gathered during the discovery stage of the civil suit.
The Northrop radar-evading program was eventually canceled by the Air Force because of problems with the systems and after rival Lockheed Martin Corp. provided an alternative.
According to the documents unsealed by U.S. District Judge Ronald Guzman, Northrop allegedly billed the government for time employees sat idly while awaiting security clearances.
Northrop designated rooms known as "holding tanks" at its Rolling Meadows plant for new hires, who did crossword puzzles, played computer games, talked and sometimes left the facility for lunch and didn't return, the government said, citing an internal Northrop memorandum.
The documents also said Northrop lied about materials and material costs, concealed deficiencies in handling of inventory and scrap by fraudulent accounting and deceived government auditors. '
the Passing of the Blame
Posted by bert at 07:48 AM on April 22, 2004.
I don't subscribe to TNR, but the perspective of
this article has a very solid point.
here's the excerpt
If we're going to play the 9/11 blame-game, why exempt the media?
"On June 25, 2001, one of those infamous warnings rattled down the wire. Aides to Osama bin Laden were promising attacks against United States interests "in the coming weeks." Officials handled the threat in a way that now sounds familiar: They ignored it. But unlike other similarly discarded warnings, this one isn't currently under investigation by the 9/11 Commission. That's because it didn't appear in a CIA memo or a Presidents' Daily Brief. It was a story on the Associated Press wire, datelined Kabul and attributed to a Dubai-based cable channel. And the officials who didn't pay attention weren't spooks; they were foreign editors, who must have seen the story as thinly sourced and terribly obscure. The three big, agenda-setting national papers--The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times--all passed on the story."
Currently feeling: awake
the Fundraising
Posted by bert at 07:58 AM on April 22, 2004.
this site is a very well done and informative site.
I had no idea that kerry got this kind of money.
check it out.
Currently listening to: Days of the New - Enemy.Mp3
Currently feeling: awake
the Verbal Diarhea
Posted by bert at 08:15 AM on April 22, 2004.
This crap makes me sick.
"As far as I'm concerned, when they bomb London, the bigger the better," says Abdul Haq, the social worker. "I know it's going to happen because Sheikh bin Laden said so. Like Bali, like Turkey, like Madrid - I pray for it, I look forward to the day"
*sigh*
living in Britain, off of it's welfare system, plotting terrorist actions.. so sad.
Currently feeling: sad
the Dumbness of John Kerry
Posted by bert at 12:36 PM on April 22, 2004.
"For the first time in history, our generation may pass this country on to our children in worse shape than we were in fact handed it by our parents." - John Kerry
Gregg Easterbrook says it better...
"In the 1960s, each morning in Pittsburgh or Cleveland you could write your name on the family car in the sulfur dust that had settled the night before; today these cities have clean air, though industrial production continues. In the last five summers, Los Angeles has experienced just one Stage One smog alert; 20 years ago, the average was almost 100 per season. The Chicago River in the 1950s was an open sewer; now, dinner-cruise boats ply it. The Potomac River in the 1960s was an open sewer; now its waters are so inviting police have been unable to stop a rash of Potomac drownings, because people keep jumping in to swim. "
I'm in LA and that's true..
I've lived in Chicago and the river is true..
I think the environment is a LOT better than it used to be. and I think John Kerry might just be on crack.
Currently feeling: *burp*
the Saudi Denouncement of Terrorism
Posted by bert at 02:06 PM on April 22, 2004.
Wait.. So it's only bad if the terrorists kill muslims? I'm sorry... Am I not a person too? (stupid question. I am an infidel).
Another stupid terrorist glamorization link....
Grand Mufti Abdul-Aziz al-Sheik, the kingdom's highest religious authority, condemned the attack "as one of the greatest sins."
"Whoever kills an (Islamic) believer on purpose will be punished by being burned in hell, punished by God's anger and will be cursed and suffer great pain."
"Whoever kills an (Islamic) believer on purpose will be punished by being burned in hell, punished by God's anger and will be cursed and suffer great pain."
but killing american infidels is praised by Allah...
Currently listening to: Bring Me to Life - Evanescence
Currently feeling: fiesty
April 23rd, 2004
the \"Waffling\"
Posted by bert at 07:36 AM on April 23, 2004.
John Kerry Waffles. No surprise there.
Slate breaks it down.
here's a fun example.
The Death Penalty
Then:
During one of his debates with Weld in 1996, Kerry ridiculed the idea of capital punishment for terrorists as a "terrorist protection policy," predicting that it would just discourage other nations from extraditing captured terrorists to the United States.
Now:
Kerry still opposes capital punishment, but he now makes an exception for terrorists.
Currently feeling: barely awake
the River...
Posted by bert at 07:49 AM on April 23, 2004.
I am continued to be amazed by how often people get bailed out on the river on the site Partypoker. It is AMAZING what you can accomplish by chasing an inside straight draw after getting fully committed to a pot (all in).
two examples from last night.
1.)
3 handed pot. me at 2400 chips, guy1 at 1500 chips, guy 2 at 800 chips, blinds are 50/100, and I had the button.
I have KK, guy1 has 78 suited hearts, guy2 has A5 offsuit
I raised blinds to 400. and both guys call.
Flop is K 2 10, and the King is the only heart.
guy1 bets 150, guy2 goes all in, so i bet 1100 at guy1, who calls!!!
turn 9 of hearts
river j of diamonds.
so my set of kings lose to a Jack high straight that needed two runners AFTER committing him completely to the pot.
Suffice to say... I was furious...
Hand 2 (same table)
2 handed game. Me at 1400, other guy at ~700. Blinds at 200/400
I have AK suited diamonds, he is bigblind with a 10 7 offsuit.
I double blinds to 400, he calls.
Flop 8 6 4 of spades. I've made my flush on the flop. I bet him all in he calls.
He has the 7 of spades.
turn 3
river 5 of spades.
he beats me with a straight flush. man... 1 out and he got it..
sick...
I went on to get third in this single table... but should have placed a LOT higher... *sigh*
I keep thinking, let these morons play like this. they will only throw their money away. yet they still get incredibly lucky... One has to think...
Currently feeling: awake
the Point of it All
Posted by bert at 08:13 AM on April 23, 2004.
"In Iraq our national security interests and our national values converge. Iraq is truly the test of a generation, for America and for our role in the world. Faced with similar challenges, previous generations of Americans have passed such tests with honor. It is now our turn to demonstrate that our power, ennobled by our principles, is the greatest force for good on earth today. Iraq's transformation into a secure democracy and a force for freedom in the greater Middle East is the calling of our age. We can succeed. We must succeed." - Senator John McCain
that's all that needs to be said there.
The question is who will lead us? Kerry or Bush. I like my chances with the Texan. I'd rather have an unpopular president that gets things right, then a popular one who does nothing *cough* Clinton...
I think this says it best in regards to describing the mood in the US.
The left seems to hate George Bush like teenagers hate their parents. Quite often parents are right, but the teenagers don't like the right choice and rebel because they don't get want they want.
Currently feeling: chipper
the Mistake?
Posted by bert at 03:28 PM on April 23, 2004.
taken from Fox news
After an hour and a half, the manager of the Kansas City Chevrolet dealership came into the room with a strange question.
"'Have you ever been to Yemen?' I go, 'No,'" Allen said, according to KETV-TV of Omaha.
Turns out Allen may share a Social Security number with Ramzi Binalshibh (search), a Yemeni man thought to be one of the planners of the Sept. 11 terror attacks and currently being held in U.S. custody at an undisclosed location.
After the April 10 discovery, the dealership called the police, who called the FBI, which refused to do anything about the matter since Binalshibh had already been arrested, Allen said.
Allen didn't get his Chevy Cavalier, and a spokesman at Van Chevrolet refused to comment to the Associated Press, but that might be the least of his problems for the near future.
Binalshibh — and by association, Allen as well — is on a list kept by the U.S. Treasury that orders U.S. banks to block assets of suspected terrorist financiers and enforces sanctions against some countries and suspected drug overlords.
John Garlinger, a spokesman for the Kansas City office of Social Security, said Allen might want to stay in the country for a while, since getting into and out of the United States might be problematic.
"It's unfortunate that he may spend hours and hours and hours trying to recover from this," Garlinger said, adding that it would be "virtually impossible" to figure out how Binalshibh ended up with Allen's number.
Allen has contacted the U.S. Treasury, Social Security, his credit union and lawyers. He's found out that no one's used the number to open new accounts in his name, but hasn't been given any good advice about how to clear up the matter.
"At one point [the Treasury Department] told me my name might have come up because the consonants are the same as this other guy," Allen said. "Come on — 'Little Bo Peep' is closer to his name than mine."
Allen does have another theory, however. His birthday is Sept. 11.
Currently listening to: Days of the New - Enemy.Mp3
Currently feeling: amused
the President?
Posted by bert at 04:29 PM on April 23, 2004.
if only we were so lucky...
I was caught up in a debate with a co-worker in regards to the presidency.
We both came to the same conclusion about the two existing candidates. We don't really like either one, but eventually we will have to choose one, and it will be the lesser of two evils. This is very unfortunate. However we disagreed on whom we both felt (currently) as the lesser evil.
Then talks turned to who WOULD be a good president.
names were thrown out. (i suggested John Kerry, that evil malpractice lawyer, and she countered with Hillary Clinton - i scoffed btw.)
but then i thought.. damn man.. Tony Blair.
That guy is the stoic image of what a president should be. Articulate, Educated, Steadfast, Convicted in his beliefs, and best of all, he knows damn well what is most important.
it's unfortunate that the popular voice in Britain doesn't see it as such. With the extreme left media *cough* *cough* Guardian *HACK* *WHEEZ* flaring the self-important Brits, Blair has resolutely stood by America because he sees the bigger picture, which is this.
the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE is the war on Terror. Yes, this includes Iraq. We are winning. Wars has casualties, all of which is unfortunate, but sadly also necessary. Most soldiers (not John Kerry), understand this. Look at Pat Tillman, who WILLINGLY and GLADLY sacrificed his life for his country. Same with all the other casualties of war so far. What did the media think? We could go into a fight and come out without a scratch? We can mourn our dead in freedom now. If the terrorists have their way, there will be no one to mourn our deaths.
The Brits will be electing their PM, and if current polls hold, he will be defeated. It's a shame, because I would gladly cast my vote for this man. The Brits are only too lucky to have Tony Blair leading their country.
Currently feeling: FRIDAY!
the Draft
Posted by bert at 11:48 PM on April 23, 2004.
how high will Phil Rivers go? my gut says they're just throwing his name out there to create confusion and that he doesn't go in the top 10. Probably 11 to pittsburgh (i hope not) or 13 to Buffalo. Maybe he gets REALLY lucky and gets drafted by the Bucs? so i can go buy his jersey (probably not). I think a team out of no where is going to get him. HOPEFULLY... the 9'ers will get him.. bet is that is not the case.
ok.. so my guess at what will happen.
1.) Giants swap picks with San Diego. San Diego takes the G-men 2nd rounder and a 4th rounder.
2.) Giants draft Manning
3.) Raiders get Fitzgerald
4.) Zona trades with Cleveland. Swaps 1st rounders, and gets a 2nd and a 6th or vet player to be named later.
5.) Cleveland selects Gallery
6.) San Diego trades down again, this time with Jacksonville. Swaps Picks, gets a 2nd and a 4th.
7.) Jacksonville selects Roy Williams
8.) Washington Selects Kellen Winslow
9.) Detroit selects Sean Taylor
10.) Zona with the 7th pick selects Ben Roethlisberger
11.) Atlanta selects DeAngelo Hall
12.) San Diego selects Phillip Rivers
13.) Houston selects Dunta Robinson.
And that's how i see the top 10 going =P
Currently listening to: Days of the New - Enemy.Mp3
Currently feeling: determined
April 24th, 2004
the Draft (update)
Posted by bert at 04:36 PM on April 24, 2004.
Phil Rivers #4 to the Giants
who in turn traded him to the Chargers.
Well.. there's a Dec 12th game this year.. Tampa Bay at the Bolts. I'll be there in a Rivers Jersey and Bucs hat.
Currently feeling: complacent
April 26th, 2004
the Pat Tillman Lose
Posted by bert at 01:35 PM on April 26, 2004.
First off... This guy was amazing, and his life pretty much is what I could only dream of. Here was a good looking, charismatic, Completely unselfish, Intelligent, yet incredibly (Physically) talented guy in the prime of his life. His wife is beautiful, his family is loving, and he was football, for money.
He gave that ALL up for my personal freedom, and for that, I consider myself forever in his, and all the other nameless soldiers whom have died. I am in their debt.
Basically Pat Tillman is how I saw myself as a young kid. The epitome of Bert in a way.
But I am disturbed in a way at how this is being voiced.
First off, I'm willing to post a $10 wager that there will be a Pat Tillman made for TV movie out within 2 years. Any takers?
now to the disturbing connection that I made. If you look at the reverance our country is giving Pat Tillman, you can see how that will influence children to strive to be like Pat and give their lives up on behalf of their country. They would (and don't get me wrong here..), and rightfully so, deserve the everlasting mantle of "Hero." I think that much is agreed upon.
But lets look at it another angle. This is how a LOT of the Terrorist community sees these Jihadists... Only, they worship each and every single dead, due to their "Heroic Acts." These martyrs are INSPIRATION to the young, just like Pat Tillman should be inspiration of our youth.
basically what I am saying is that we need to realize what we are dealing with here. Youth in the middle east are growing up idealizing the ways of Osama Bin Laden. He is being treated like the greatest thing since... Pat Tillman. He is revered like Pat, and here's the worst thing. He is still alive to give direction.
We unfortunately have lost our Superman. And I don't think our nation really cares ...
Currently listening to: Anthenaeum - Flat Tire
the GMail
Posted by bert at 02:58 PM on April 26, 2004.
hrm.. Tabulas needs the TMail. It's the one thing blogger has that Tabby does not. Course I won't really complain because
Roy is God of Tabby.
Currently got asked to beta test the GMail.. Will be doing that.. should be fun.
the Work
Posted by bert at 10:39 PM on April 26, 2004.
it sucks. 'nuff said.
as evidenced from my lack of posting... i'm.. ahem... busy at work... *sigh*
they pay for an engineer and have him do little MS Office b*tch work at the last moment because their personal assistant called in sick.
What ever happened to getting your crap done ahead of time?
Currently listening to: none
Currently feeling: pissed
the Worst Bad Beat to Date
Posted by bert at 10:56 PM on April 26, 2004.
first hand (i'm at 5000 chips, he's at 2000)
i have big blind 7 4, guy limps in with A 7
flop
7 7 4
he goes all in.. i call
Turn Ace. I lose
next hand (i'm at 3000, he's at 4000)
I have AK suited spades, and doulbe the blinds
He has 8 of spades, 5 of diamonds and calls.
Flop 4 5 9 of spades
i go all in.
he calls
turn
6 of spades
river
7 of spades
so he hit two running consecutive spades... and beat me with a Straight Flush.
Absolutely amazing... =(
Currently feeling: shocked
April 27th, 2004
the Grade Inflations
Posted by bert at 10:02 PM on April 27, 2004.
Princeton University is on a concerted effort to curb their "A" distribution by "Rationing" the numbers of A's they give out.
This seems to be as pure stupidity.
You know.. Princeton IS considered by many as the BEST university in the US for a reason... They're Admissions standards are as though as they come, and their students are as qualified as can be from their undergraduate education. Their students are the BEST in their highschool classes.
Note to faculty. your students SHOULD be getting A's. If they were averaging C's then you would have a reason to worry.
How about.. you give them the grades they deserve..
if they have a 90% or better through the entire class.. give them an A. Simple as that. *shrug*
I don't understand how this "issue" escalated to the level it did. 6 years of resaerch my butt....
Currently listening to: Days of the New - Enemy.Mp3
Currently feeling: enlightened
April 28th, 2004
the Senator From Arizona...
Posted by bert at 02:54 PM on April 28, 2004.
John McCain, Republican, Arizona Senator, American.
I am liking this guy more and more. He's tough, stands for his convictions and speaks when his voice is needed.
On the Senate floor today, after another senator started blasting republics for being "chickenhawks" blasting bush on his service from 30 years ago, instead of focusing on issues that are happening today and now.
John McCain laid it out to them.
"At least could we declare that the Vietnam War is over and have a cease-fire and agree that both candidates -- the president of the United States and Sen. Kerry served honorably -- end of story? Now let's focus our attention on the conflict that's taking place in Iraq, that is taking American lives as I speak on this floor."
Come on guys... Listen to the man. Right here, right now the most important thing is what is going on in Iraq. We belong there fighting for what is right. They should have our full support, not our efforts to make one nominee weaker than the other.
Currently feeling: optimistic
anna
Posted by bert at 07:56 PM on April 28, 2004 in ME.
I have before never questioned our relationship as much as today.
You have been purposely avoided talking to me,, and it has been distressful to say the least. I have tried to engage in conversation with you, but you blow me off.
You say you have been busy, but during a drive to Chapel Hill today to take care of some entreprenurial function, you still didn't have the time to call.. fine.. maybe you were in a rush to get there.. or needed to study up on some stuff while driving.
On your way back from Chapel Hill, you didn't call. Didn't even remember to call. Didn't bother to have it pass your mind. It was a non-issue.
Fine... Things have slipped my mind before, and I understand that.
When i got back from work, I IM'ed you. You were plenty active but didnt' have time to respond to me until at least 1 hour later. Not a problem... maybe you were in one of your streaks where your adrenaline was pumping and you were getting stuff done. That rush is a great feeling and I understand not wanting to respond then.
When you did respond.. you blew me off and told me you were tired.. tired and hungry. and went away for a good 30-40 minutes. Left me hanging on IM.. not bothering to call while you were eating your Jelly and Toast. But i know you don't like to talk and eat at the same time.
You come back.. barely talk to me.. just say Hi.. and then "i'm going dancing"
you have time to go dancing yet Still can't get a full fucking sentence in with me.
I point this out and you go into sad mode.
You then tell me you are taking off now.. and throw up your away message.
I IM'ed Christina saying that I didn't mean for my comments to sound as harsh as they did, but I just wanted to chat with you and it came out bad.
about 10 minutes later she responded..
This is what bothers me..
You were leaving.. in so much a rush to leave...
that you didn't have time to even say bye.
I'm truly hurt.. and sad..
While waiting that 15 minutes.
you still couldnt' give me a call.
avoiding it.
and that worries me.. Why should it though? I don't know.. perhaps you have the answer..
I was chatting with some people today. It was about the concept of being in love. Marriage, etc.
basically it came to this.
The difference between loving your parents/siblings/relatives
and loving your other.
The difference is that you can love a lot of people, and would do anything for them
but the person you want to marry, the one you LOVE. You are in love with BEING in love with them.
I love being in love with you. I gladly do what i can to help you. I go out of my way to try to help, and I try to do what's best for you always. You needed something, and i damn well tried to get it done. When I realized I loved you, I have done that.
I think that you love me. But i don't think you love to love me. I don't think you love me the way i love you. If i think i hurt you in anyway i try to make sure that you know that it was not my intention. I try to make you understand that It was not what I meant/ trying to do.
You try to avoid it and pretend it didn't happen.
You cheated on me because you couldn't control some urges, and I figured afterwards, it made us stronger. You still don't realize how much that hurts.
I have always, to my fullest capacity, been there for you, and I think i've come to the realization that I need to go against all my urges to demonstrate my love for you, in order to figure out just how much you love me.
I wrote this on 4/28/04. But i have to keep it private, because this test needs to be done blind, and you can't know, until i tell you afterwards.
Don't get me wrong Anna, I love you, and always will... but I can not marry someone who doesn't love me the sameway back. It hurts too much.
April 30th, 2004
the Worst of the Right
Posted by bert at 08:22 AM on April 30, 2004.
Ann Coulter
I'm really not sure HOW she gets the following she has, but man (i use this quite literally) is she an overvoiced, small minded woman.
While I agree with her on the basics of most issues, she brings out the worst of every issue, and takes any issue to the conservative extreme. I wonder how she feels about the current "women use sex as power" movement.
Anyway.
Read this article and be disgusted. She's almost as bad as that "educated grad student" from UMass.
Currently listening to: Sunburn - ATB
Currently feeling: nothing
the 7 Sentences of Germany
Posted by bert at 08:57 AM on April 30, 2004.
...taken from David mienkritik's Blog...
"The worldview of the average German in 2004 in seven sentences: Bush is stupid and evil. Iraq is the new Vietnam. America is doing virtually everything wrong. Sharon has himself to blame for the Palestinian terror. Israel has gotten us into this whole quagmire. Germany has thank God stayed out of it. Now we just have to be careful that our nice democracy isn’t turned into a police state by unnecessary security fears.
You think I’m exaggerating? A little! But when you listen in on the conversations at the watering holes of the leftist establishment – and much worse still – at the salons of the so-called bourgeois camp, you will rediscover these elements.
Above all, anti-Americanism has become a "Comme il faut" of intelligent conversation. But – and this is new – not just on the side of the Left. Even in nationally conservative and culturally conservative circles a sense of relief predominates that one can once again finally be open about the Americans. …
Only when two things come together can the network of self-declared holy warriors really be weakened: Tough resistance from the outside through the Western democracies and a clear distancing of the moderates in the Moslem world, especially among the clerics, from such extremists. George Bush has realized that from the beginning and made that excessively clear with his visits to mosques: The terrorists can only be stopped together with Islam.
When one takes seriously the challenge of this war of religion, which in reality is one of culture and capital, when one is convinced that “there can be no compromises reached with Jihadis,” when one prepares oneself to take on such a long-term and desperately aggressive threat, then the question has to be asked why the non-Islamic world apparently has little willpower to complete its part of the job.
Who is really protecting himself? Who is defending us effectively?
Since September 11, the day that Islamic terrorists declared a world war, there have been above all two nations who have done something and believed in themselves: America and England. And since that day three nations above all have been grilled morally: America, England and Israel again and again. …
Naively, and from the comfortable and seemingly secure gallery of the European observer, tips are being given out as to how Israel, surrounded by an anti-Semitism of the most bloodthirsty sort, should carry out the fight against suicide commandos and those madly seeking to destroy Israel and drive the Jews out: More compromises, more allowances, more negotiations please! I ask myself how the German government would behave when on virtually every weekend a bus full of German school children would be blown apart in downtown Berlin.
He who acts, makes mistakes. Case in point Bush and Blair: For example in their reasoning and communication regarding their Afghanistan and Iraq policy, in the concept and the management of expectations the key question is how fast the region can be pacified and democratized. But despite all of the mistakes regarding the details (or often just in public relations) their policy and politics are at their core right. It is a policy of clear and tough resistance against the enemies of the free world.
One can truly see that the leaders of the governments in London and Washington are doing exactly that which the general public is supposedly increasingly demanding from politicians: They are following their convictions against the general spirit of the times, against resistance, in part within their own parties, and they are doing that which an international alliance of cowardice is not prepared to do.
In that sense it is not about downplaying war and violence as long as they serve a good purpose. On the contrary: Morality and good intentions as arguments to defend violence are always suspect. But it is about weighing the balance as to when tolerance for intolerance has to stop. And when doing nothing is worse than defending the Western system with military means. …
In broad sections of Europe and in less threatened parts of Asia an appeasement is spreading that is frightening. If the consequence, for example, of the terror in Madrid is that Poland comes to the conclusion that it would be better to stay out of the matter, then the strategy of Al-Qaeda will soon succeed: Short-term in that the alliance of opponents collapses demoralized and discouraged. And long-term in that a demographic bomb is ticking whose explosion will be more damaging than any explosive.
The illusion that the aggressor can be soothed by good behavior reminds of 1936: Had the Allies not waited, negotiated, formed pacts and maneuvered back then and instead intervened, than millions of Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, millions of soldiers, millions of people who thought differently could have been saved.
We are the ones who think differently. Maybe we need more toughness and vigilance to secure our democracy. Maybe it is wrong that Germany has refused to join the coalition of the willing. Maybe Israel is one of our most important allies. Maybe we should help this ally and not give them advice. Maybe America is doing more right than we think. Maybe more people in Iraq are better off today than they were one year ago. Maybe George Bush is not as stupid and evil, maybe one day, looking back on the developments that have just begun – we might even be thankful to him because he was one of the few who acted in accordance with the maxim: These things must be nipped in the bud. (A phrase often used in Germany to refer to stopping the re-emergence of Nazism.)
And maybe we Germans need more than seven sentences for our worldview"
Currently feeling: surprised
the Backlash of Being Stupid
Posted by bert at 11:24 AM on April 30, 2004.
i read this online today.. Pretty much a response of how to take things at face value, i.e. that Rene Gonzalez diatribe written in his school paper.
"I find Rene Gonzalez's Pat Tillman column ignorant, insensitive, and wrong. That said, I have a feeling I'll find the backlash Gonzalez receives from his Op-Ed just as disturbing.
I graduated from UMass in 1998. I even published a few columns in the Collegian - which, every day, features 3-4 op-ed pieces written by students. What I can tell you is this: Daily Collegian columns are often silly and immature, filled with all manner of right and leftwing ranting and raving, little of which should be taken seriously. It's a sounding board for immature ideas...and when I read my old columns, well, I'm embarrassed for myself. What complete drivel!
As wrong and as stupid and as insensitive as the column is, I can't help remembering how dumb some of my Collegian columns were when I was a student. And while he deserves to be criticized - even ostracized - for his column wouldn't it be better if this criticism came from fellow students and local adults? What disturbs here is the way the national media (from CNN to ESPN to your own blog) picks up on ignorant writings of a student and goes into full attack mode. What will he get? I suspect he'll get death threats, threatening phone calls and emails, politicians attacking her on the 24-hour news spin cycle, her picture posted on the Internet. Basically he'll receive the "Kobe Accuser Treatment."
I wouldn't mind his column being passed around the blogosphere and even on the regular news if I thought it would generate honest debate. But we both know that won't happen. What will happen is a public lynching, all because Gonzalez shared what was on his immature mind. Sure what he said was ugly. But what comes next will be even worse."
Currently feeling: blah