"Man is a marvelous curiosity ... he thinks he is the Creator's pet ... he even believes the Creator loves him; has a passion for him; sits up nights to admire him; yes and watch over him and keep him out of trouble. He prays to him and thinks He listens. Isn't it a quaint idea."
Mark Twain 1835-1910 Letters from the Earth
11/07/2020
Still Alive
It's been over a decade since I last posted here. I honestly didn't think I still knew how to even log into the account. Given all that's happened in the last ten years and change, I'm curious if there's still any sort of audience for my words on the world or if this is the right spot to share them. Heck, I'd forgotten I had the twitter account associated with this email and blog.
I'll check in again soon, who knows I may even vent about the election.
While i haven't blogged a lot in the last year or four, I do still pay attention to the news. One of the things I thought I'd have to wait years to have happen actually did today. I was both shocked, and gladdened respectively by the action and the reasoning. Our Socialist-In-Chief listed the prior Paterfamilias's ban on embryonic stem cell research. This is good news not simply for the sake of all the research that was drawing American scientists out of the country to do research, but because of why. His Communalness stated this was done for to keep politics out of science. Who knows, maybe next we'll have schools teaching effective sex education classes that don't have to spend their time preaching abstinence only. Maybe we'll even get Kansas to stop insisting that Intelligent Design deserves a place on the same syllabus as evolution and other science.
I realize they are only a gambling site, but this shows a scary set of choices as the 'front runners' for the 2012 election. The top three choices, with number one having a strong gap, and little separation between themselves are
#3 Mike "The Bible Molester" Huckabee.
#2 Mitt "The Snakeoil Salesman" Romney.
#1 Sarah "Madame Pitbull in Lipstick" Palin.
Behind these three who have all danced across the national stage are several people most of the country will have to track down the websites for to even begin to have a clue who they are. Bobby Jindal, is the Governor of Louisiana and next on the list. Sad as it sounds, David Patreous is listed with the same odds as Newt Gingrich and Rudy Giuliani. I'm not sure which of the two it says more about, but scraping the bottom of the barrel along with John McCain are Jeb Bush and Ron Paul.
I just watched the silliest campaign ad I've seen in my life.
Seriously, it was a McCain-Palin ad quoting Biden. They were quoting Biden talking about an international "test"of a freshly elected Obama. Now instead of just quoting and refuting Biden. They decide to use some voice altering software to make Biden's voice sound slow and distorted in something that i guess is supposed to sound like a drug induced haze. Honestly, what's next? Are they gonna speed Obama's voice up so he sounds like a chipmunk? Maybe have Palin start telling yo mamma jokes? Or maybe they'll start trying to compare the Obama girls handwriting to the McCain kids.
People wonder why it is my dream job to cull from homo-sape all those who fail to use logic, reason or at least good old fashioned horse sense. The charming and no doubt honest politico's in Pennsylvania have a law on the books stating what you can and can't wear to vote. At least one person who showed up to vote in primaries was told she had to remove or cover the writing on her Obama t-shirt before being allowed to vote. Granted I'm writing in Bobby Seale for President, and Norman Shwartzkopf for Veep, but why in the hell does it matter what someone has on their t-shirt?
What's next? Are they going to stop people from wearing a "God Bless America" hat because of the religious implications? Will those in military uniform be denied because of their connection with war? How about someone wearing a gay pride hat or pin?
Oleg Volk Posted this over on his LJ: Going to court. In December 2002, I founded The High Road forum dedicated to the advancement of responsible gun ownership. Recently, it was discovered that in 2006, the volunteer forum systems administrator, Derek Zeanah of Statesboro, Georgia, changed domain registration to himself. After he was confronted, Derek locked out all other staff from accessing the Web server administration and would not share even backup copies of its content. After failed attempts to peacefully resolve the dispute, it has become necessary for me to initiate a lawsuit against Derek Zeanah for the return of thehighroad.org domain name and the forum database.
I am seeking and would greatly appreciate donations to help with the cost of litigation. You can use Paypal (olegvolk@gmail.com) or send a check to: Oleg Volk 3112 Chambley Ct Hermitage, TN 37076
All donations shall be returned if the lawsuit is ultimately avoided. You can also aid me by re-posting this appeal on your blog, forum or web site. My legal position is already endorsed by almost all of The High Road staff as well as Rich Lucibella, the founder of The Firing Line forum.
UPDATE: Derek's reaction was to disable The High Road forum all together. He also removed most of the staff who opposed him.
Obviously there are some noticeable difficulties here on the micro level of who owns the domain. More importantly, this was one of the best known gun rights, information, and education sites. THR had a very tight social community as well.
I don't recall any more hilarious commentary on a Veep pick. It really does sound like McCain has picked two separate running mates who happen to have the same name. CNN talking head, and Democratic strategist Paul Begala is good for a few laughs:
John McCain needs what Kinky Friedman calls "a checkup from the neck up."
In choosing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate, he is not thinking "outside the box," as some have said. More like out of his mind.
Palin a first-term governor of a state with more reindeer than people, will have to put on a few pounds just to be a lightweight. Her personal story is impressive: former fisherman, mother of five. But that hardly qualifies her to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.
While funny, it is the rest of the article that reveals who the DNC was most worried about who the "maverick" would pick. A simple look at the word count given to each, and their relative order is vastly informative.
Fox News pundit Judson Berger wonders if the Palin factor could "de-fang" Biden. This obviously shows that whatever they may be saying in public, Republican sympathizers do consider Biden a viable threat. A highlight of the article is:
Despite the challenges of attacking Palin, Biden's own experience — both in foreign policy and time spent on the national stage — vastly overshadows Palin's.
While McCain clearly likes Palin's bridge opposition, Alaska residents don't seem to hold it so favorably. Is this a sign that McCain-Palin will face the same trouble carrying one of their home states that Kerry-Edwards did? If this article is accurate, she seems to be well acquanted with Kerry's reputed favorite foot wear.
During her first speech after being named as McCain's surprise pick as a running mate, Palin said she had told Congress "'thanks but no thanks' on that bridge to nowhere."
In the city Ketchikan, the planned site of the so-called "Bridge to Nowhere," political leaders of both parties said the claim was false and a betrayal of their community, because she had supported the bridge and the earmark for it secured by Alaska's Congressional delegation during her run for governor.
The strongest words of praise from any Republican name worthy of note is former Reagan adviser and Mike Huckabee national chairman Ed Rollins. He call Sarah "Barracuda" Palin an excellent choice, noting that she earned the nickname on the basketball court and cites her pageant experience as proof she can stand toe to toe with Biden. He then goes on to cite her strength on domestic policy versus Biden's foreign exposure.
It is being reported that McCain has chosen a woman young enough to be his child (or wife) as his running mate. Unknown Alaska governor Sarah Palin has been selected.
It doesn't take much to deduce that this is in part a ploy to draw the disaffected Clinton supporters. To me though the most remarkable thing about this is which of the strategies McCain chose to follow in selecting the person who will be the a heartbeat or a trigger pull away from being leader of the free world. He appears to have gone what I'll call the Dan Quale Route. He's picked a running mate who is not known to have any serious handicaps, skeletons in the closet, and who's greatest contribution will be a failure to distract from the number one slot. This is the direct opposite of the Cheney Route which is bringing in a heavy hitter to beef up flimsy credentials. Interestingly, this leaves McCain open to attacks on his less than stellar reputation on domestic issues.
The Democratic National Convention was in two words; exceptionally expected. It wasn't boring, there was too much nuance to be shifted through in the words of the Clinton's, and in making wondering at the value of having Kerry speak, but there was nothing dramatic about it. Biden's announcement just prior to the convention wasn't anything earth shattering. The prospective First Lady proved to be a solid speaker but was almost over shadowed by the raw and undiluted cute of the Obama kids. For all the hype surrounding Ted's 'surprise' appearance at the convention, it was hardly that. Ted Kennedy will be stumping for a cause when he takes his last breath, he is incapable of failing to be in the thick of things.
Sadly I suspect the RNC will not be any better unless something exciting happens like McCain falling down.
I'm somehow still, this late in life, frequently amazed at the lack of sense people display on a regular basis. It's particularly disconcerting in the those who would be our leaders. Sadly, some of those folks have managed a modicum of success in the public arena.
Offending people in the general populace is pretty easy, the larger the group the easier it gets. But it takes a special sort of blunderful to turn off a group of people when talking about their particular passion. A man who would be president Mike Huckabee has managed just that.
Because there are limits to my time, and the amount of words blogger will let you put in a post, I'm only going to lightly dissect this video:
5/11/2008
Hillary as she really thinks...
I've made no secret of the fact that I loathe all three candidates and think all of them will be bad for America in their own very special way. Here's Senator Clinton speaking her mind.
4/29/2008
Obama and Wright
Those who know me will know that I'm not a big fan of Barrack Obama. In fact, I dislike all three of the major candidates. But I now personally revile Reverend Wright. I hate those who feed racism, who feed fear, and who feed their own ego with constant grand standing for whatever their cause is. Yes. there are grains of truth to the asinine nonsense falling from Wrights lips, however, there's no damned proof. We all know the story behind the Tuskegee Airmen experiments, and that is in theory the basis for the so called argument that the government created AIDS to kill blacks. Honestly, I think Wright and his ilk give the government too much credit for competence. Whether the ability to create a disease like AIDS was or wasn't beyond the ability of scientists in the late seventies just before it was first diagnosed and classified, isn't worth addressing. The fact that they really think our government could keep anything like that secret is only slightly more credulous than the moon being made of cheese.
I got to watch the good Reverend let nonsensical proposition after inane clause after preposterous prepositional phrase flow from his mouth like the inflow pipe at a grey water treatment plant, I grew more and more disgusted. Reverend Wright was entirely focused on being entertaining and drawing attention to himself. He clearly believes himself to possess the mantle of Martin, but he reminded me of those old minstrel shows with some so called comedian in blackface. For the first time, I found a reason to respect Obama for his courage. Wright is the man who performed his marriage ceremony, and baptized his children, to say what he did to Wright and publicly sever a relationship not for need but for cause takes the sort of moral courage more Americans could stand to have.
From the The Casual Observer's Political Dictionary Activist Judge (noun) A judge with opinions other than yours. Generally used as a slur, and often used to justify calls for public election of all jurists.
I'm an immoderate moderate. My views: Don't like gay marriage? Don't marry someone with the same combination of X's and Y's. Gun Control is hitting what you aim at. Crime control is limiting the actions of criminals. The war sucks, that's how you can tell its war and not a beach party.