Just a Lemon

Speak low

2007-03-30T16:00:00.000-07:00

Speak low
when you speak, love
Our summer day
withers away
too soon, too soon

Speak low
when you speak, love
Our moment is swift
like ships adrift
we're swept apart
too soon

Speak low
darling, speak low
Love is a spark
lost in the dark
too soon, too soon

I feel wherever I go
that tomorrow is near
tomorrow is here
and always too soon

Time is so old
and love so brief
Love is pure gold
and time, a thief

We're late
darling, we're late
The curtain descends
and everything ends
too soon, too soon

We wait
oh darling, we're late
Will you speak low to me
speak love to me
and soon

amsterdam

2007-03-24T17:02:00.000-07:00

In the port of Amsterdam
There's a sailor who sings
Of the dreams that he brings
From the wide open sea
In the port of Amsterdam
There's a sailor who sleeps
While the river bank weeps
To the old willow tree

In the port of Amsterdam
There's a sailor who dies
Full of beer, full of cries
In a drunken town fight
In the port of Amsterdam
There's a sailor who's born
On a hot muggy morn
By the dawn's early light

In the port of Amsterdam
Where the sailors all meet
There's a sailor who eats
Only fish heads and tails
And he'll show you his teeth
That have rotted too soon
That can haul up the sails
That can swallow the moon

And he yells to the cook
With his arms open wide
"Hey, bring me more fish
Throw it down by my side"
And he wants so to belch
But he's too full to try
So he stands up and laughs
And he zips up his fly

In the port of Amsterdam
You can see sailors dance
Paunches bursting their pants
Grinding women to porch
They've forgotten the tune
That their whiskey voice crooked
Splitting the night
With the roar of their jokes

And they turn and they dance
And they laugh and they lust
Till the rancid sound of the accordion bursts
And then out of the night
With their pride in their pants
And the sluts that they tow
Underneath the street lamps

In the port of Amsterdam
There's a sailor who drinks
And he drinks and he drinks
And he drinks once again
He'll drink to the health
Of the whores of Amsterdam
Who've given their bodies
To a thousand other men

Yeah, they've bargained their virtue
Their goodness all gone
For a few dirty coins
Well he just can't go on
Throws his nose to the sky
And he aims it up above
And he pisses like I cry
On the unfaithful love

In the port of Amsterdam
In the port of Amsterdam

the irony of love and death

2007-03-24T16:49:00.000-07:00

Under here, you just take my breath away
Under here, the water flows over my head
I can hear the little fishes

Under here, whispering your most terrible name
Under here, they've given me starfish for eyes
And your head is a big red balloon

Under here, your huge hand is heavy on my chest
Ah, and under here, Sir, your lovely voice retreats
And yes, you take my breath away

Look at my hair, as it waves and waves
Sir, under here, I have such pretty hair
Silver it is, and filled with silver bubbles

Ah, and under here, my blood will be a cloud
And under here my dreams are made of water
And, Sir, you just take my breath away

For under here, my pretty breasts are piled high
With stones and I cannot breathe
And tiny little fishes enter me

Under here, I am made ready
And under here, I am washed clean
And I glow with the greatness of my hate for you

have a nice day my darling

2007-03-06T12:46:00.000-08:00

this love hereby expires
and i walk away
a kid in my heart
a revolver in my pocket

this love hereby expires
have a nice day my darling
and i walk away
a river drifts along

only a memory now,
the wistfully sleeping city
withering away in photo albums
like children and soldiers

your face, like a daisy
silently fades
sleep and forgetfulness
deepens even further

this love hereby expires
and i walk away
a kid in my heart
a revolver in my pocket

this love hereby expires
have a nice day my darling
and i walk away
a river drifts along

we used to lie side by side
and the grass were wet
how pretty you were
how fabulous a summer it was

they all recited this story
a love that is lost
all the dead poets
as they passed through this world

this love hereby expires
and i walk away
a kid in my heart
a revolver in my pocket

this love hereby expires
have a nice day my darling
and i walk away
a river drifts along

It's

2007-03-02T13:36:00.000-08:00

I don't care if monday's blue
Tuesday's grey and wednesday too
Thursday I don't care about you
It's friday I'm in love

Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday wednesday break my heart
Thursday doesn't even start
It's friday I'm in love

Saturday wait
Sunday always comes too late
But friday never hesitate

I don't care if monday's black
Tuesday wednesday heart attack
Thursday never looking back
It's friday I'm in love

Monday you can hold your head
Tuesday wednesday stay in bed
On thursday watch the walls instead
It's friday I'm in love

Saturday wait
Sunday always comes too late
But friday never hesitate

Dressed up to the eyes
It's a wonderful surprise
To see your shoes and your spirits rise

Throwing out your frown
And just smiling at the sound
And as sleek as a shriek
Spinning round and round

Always take a big bite
It's such a gorgeous sight
To see you eat in the middle of the night

You can never get enough
Enough of this stuff

It's friday
I'm in love

I don't care if monday's blue
Tuesday's grey and wednesday too
Thursday I don't care about you
It's friday I'm in love

Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday wednesday break my heart
Thursday doesn't even start
It's friday I'm in love

So old in my shoes

2007-03-02T13:05:00.000-08:00

Disarm you with a smile
And cut you like you want me to
Cut that little child
Inside of me and such a part of you
Oh the years burn

I used to be a little boy
So old in my shoes
And what I choose is my choice
What's a boy supposed to do
The killer in me is the killer in you
My love
I send this smile over to you

Disarm you with a smile
And leave you like they left me here
To wither in denial
The bitterness of one who's left alone
Oh the years burn
Oh the years burn
Burn

I used to be a little boy
So old in my shoes
And what I choose is my voice
What's a boy supposed to do
The killer in me is the killer in you
My love
I send this smile over to you

The killer in me is the killer in you
Send this smile over to you
The killer in me is the killer in you
Send this smile over to you
The killer in me is the killer in you
Send this smile over to you

Pleased to meet you

2007-02-27T14:18:00.000-08:00

Woo-hoo

I got my head checked
By a jumbo jet
It wasn't easy
But nothing is
No

When I feel heavy metal
And I'm pins and I'm needles
Well I lie and I'm easy
All of the time but
Never sure when I need you
Pleased to meet you

I got my head done
When I was young
It's not my problem
It's not my problem

When I feel heavy metal
And I'm pins and I'm needles
Well I lie and I'm easy
All of the time but
Never sure when I need you
Pleased to meet you

Yeah yeah

Summer sunday and a year

2007-02-27T14:12:00.000-08:00

She lives on love street
Lingers lone on love street
She has a house and garden
I would like to see what happens

She has robes and she has monkeys
Lazy diamond studded flunkies
She has wisdom and knows what to do
She has me and she has you

She has wisdom
and knows what to do
She has me and she
has you

I see you live on love street
There's this store where the creatures meet
I wonder what they do in there
Summer, sunday, and a year
I guess I like it fine, so far

She lives on love street
Lingers lone on love street
She has a house and garden
I would like to see what happens

La la la la la la la

Waves, the waves

2007-02-20T09:07:00.000-08:00

Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around

Come loose your dogs upon me
And let your hair hang down
You are a little mystery to me
Every time you come around

We talk about it all night long
We define our moral ground
But when I crawl into your arms
Everything
it comes tumbling down

Your face has fallen sad now
For you know the time is nigh
Well I must remove your wings
And you
you must try to fly

Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around

Come loose your dogs upon me
And let your hair hang down
You are a little mystery to me
Every time you come around

and another

2007-02-14T13:57:00.000-08:00

I found her on a night of fire and noise
Wild bells rang in a wild sky
I knew from that moment on
That I'd love her till the day that I died
And I kissed away a thousand tears
My lady of the various sorrows
Some begged, some borrowed, some stolen
Some kept safe for tomorrow
On an endless night silver star spangled
The bells from the chapel went jingle jangle

Do you love me
Like I love you?

She was given to me to put things right
And I stacked all my accomplishments beside her
Yet I seemed so obsolete and small
I found God and all his devils inside her
In my bed she cast the blizzard out
A mock sun blazed upon her head
So completely filled with light she was
Her shadow fanged and hairy and mad
Our love lines grew hopelessly tangled
And the bells from the chapel go jingle jangle

Do you love me
Like I love you?

All things move towards their end
I knew before I met her that I would lose her
I swear I made every effort to be good to her
I made every effort not to abuse her
Crazy bracelets on her wrists and her ankles
And the bells from the chapel go jingle jangle

Do you love me
Like I love you?

one for the v-day

2007-02-14T13:10:00.000-08:00

Oh my baby baby
I love you more than I can tell
I don't think I can live
without you
And I know that I never will
Oh my baby baby
I want you so
it scares me to death
I can say no more than "I love you"
Everything else is a waste of breath

I want you
You've had your fun
you don't get well no more
I want you
Your fingernails go dragging down the wall
Be careful darling you might fall

I want you
I woke up and one of us was crying
I want you
You said, "Young man I do believe you're dying"
I want you
If you need a second opinion as you seem to do these days
I want you
You can look in my eyes and you can count the ways

"I want you"
Did you mean to tell me but seem to forget
I want you
Just since when were you so generous and inarticulate
I want you
It's the stupid details that my heart is breaking for
It's the way your shoulders shake
and what they're shaking for
I want you
It's knowing that he knows you now after only guessing
It's the thought of him undressing you
or you undressing

I want you
He tossed some tatty compliment your way
I want you
And you were fool enough to love it when he said
"I want you"

I want you
The truth can't hurt you it's just like the dark
It scares you witless
But in time you see things clear and stark
I want you
Go on and hurt me
then we'll let it drop
I want you
I'm afraid I won't know where to stop
I want you
I'm not ashamed to say I cried for you
I want you
I want to know the things you did that we do too
I want you
I want to hear he pleases you more than I do
I want you
I might as well be useless for all it means to you
I want you
Did you call his name out as he held you down
I want you
Oh no my darling
not with that clown
I want you

I want you
You've had your fun
you don't get well no more
I want you
Noone who wants you
could want you more

I want you
I want you

I want you
Every night when I go off to bed
and when I wake up
I want you
I'm going to say it once again till I instill it
I know I'm going to feel this way until you kill it
I want you

I want you
I want you

coming up next

2007-02-12T16:13:00.000-08:00

No, I didn't get eaten by a shark. I'm still alive. Thanks for those who cared to ask.
=)

The weekend was off in a blink, so I couldn't get to do anything much I wanted. But I'm getting them around.

I'd been working on the translation I promised, and it turned out to be much harder than I thought. That means its also lengthier. That might be good news or bad news for you, I can't tell.
=P

Anyway, this post is a shameless attempt at self-marketing as you can see. Nothing much to tell. Unless you'd like to know what I'm listening to..
=)

We're jammin
I wanna jam it with you
We're jammin
Jammin
And I hope you like jammin too

Ain't no rules, ain't no vow, we can do it anyhow
I and I will see you through
Cos every day we pay the price with a little sacrifice
Jammin till the jam is through

We're jammin
To think that jammin was a thing of the past
We're jammin
And I hope this jam is gonna last

No bullet can stop us now
We neither beg nor will we bow
Neither can be bought nor sold
We all defend the right, Jah Jah children must unite
Your life is worth much more than gold

We're jammin
We're jammin in the name of the Lord
We're jammin
We're jammin right straight from Jah

Holy mount Zion
Holy mount Zion
Jah sitteth in Mount Zion
And rules all creation

Yeah, we're jammin
I wanna jam it with you
We're jammin
I'm jammed, I hope you're jammin too

Jam's about my pride and truth I cannot hide
To keep you satisfied
True love I know exist is the love I can't resist
So jam by my side

We're jammin
I wanna jam it with you
Hope you like jammin too

not this one

2007-02-09T14:51:00.000-08:00

Well, this certainly isn't the post I promised, so apologies. That one's coming up in a bit. Meanwhile, this just turned up, and although I'm nowhere near to being a Madonna fan, I really like this one. Both the funny lyrics and the fun-all-around music.

Haven’t we met
You’re some kind of beautiful stranger
You could be good for me
I’ve had a taste for danger

If I’m smart then I’ll run away
But I’m not so I guess I’ll stay
Heaven forbid
I’ll take my chance on a beautiful stranger

I looked into your eyes
And my world came tumbling down
You’re the devil in disguise
That’s why I’m singing this song

To know you is to love you

You’re everywhere I go
And everybody knows

To love you is to be part of you

I’ve paid for you with tears
And swallowed all my pride

Beautiful stranger

If I’m smart then I’ll run away
But I’m not so I guess I’ll stay
Haven’t you heard
I fell in love with a beautiful stranger

I looked into your face
My heart was dancing all over the place
I’d like to change my point of view
If I could just forget about you

To know you is to love you

You’re everywhere I go
And everybody knows

I looked into your eyes
And my world came tumbling down
You’re the devil in disguise
That’s why I’m singing this song
To you

To know you is to love you

You’re everywhere I go
And everybody knows
I’ve paid for you with tears
And swallowed all my pride

Beautiful stranger

Egocentric round-up

2007-02-09T13:55:00.000-08:00

Hiya, people.

I know I haven't been writing properly for ages now. Actually, I think I had already posted a while ago about not posting anything decent, so I'll skip that part. I'll just say it's partly due to CapFic, and partly because I've been going fishing in most of my spare time recently.

I have to wake up early tomorrow once more, to hook some more fish. I know, I obsess on strangest things. Whatever, it keeps time rolling.

I already had a few drinks, so I realized I wouldn't be able to wake up before the sun if I continued. Being a Friday night as it is, I chose to skip sleep and ordered some more spirits. So I'll stick around, doing my tackles and stuff.

I've promised Nocturnio for a new post, which I had been hoping to write. It's actually mostly a translation of a speech from dearest Nihat Genc, a fellow writer of my tongue. I hope he'll be okay with my "free-style" translation, adding and subtracting bits. Anyway, just to note that the thoughts and emotions in the next post are his, and not mine.

That sounded weird. To clarify: I totally agree with him, and feel exactly the same. What I meant is, it's his thoughts and words, mostly. I really wish they were mine. I just wanted to emphasize they're not mine, giving full credit against being accused of plagiarism.

Anyway, I still got several hours before dawn, so I think I'll put up the post tonight. Partially because I think I will sleep through the rest of the weekend when I come home from fishing tomorrow. And I hate to break promises.

yet another one

2007-02-09T13:20:00.000-08:00

Love me two time baby
Love me twice today
Love me two time girl
I'm going away
Love me two time girl
One for tomorrow
One just for today
Love me two times
I'm going away

Love me one time
Could not speak
Love me one time
Yeah my knees got weak
Love me two time girl
Lasts me all through the week
Love me two times
I'm going away
Love me two times I'm going away

Love me one time
I could not speak
Love me one time baby
Yeah my knees got weak
Love me two time girl
Last me all through the week
Love me two times
I'm going away

Love me two time babe
Love me twice today
Love me two time babe
Cause I'm going away
Love me two time girl
One for tomorrow
One just for today
Love me two times I'm going away

be sweet

2007-01-31T15:48:00.000-08:00

Hmm, if you thought the last song I posted was indecent, try this.

I love the Afghan Whigs. Especially when I'm drunk.

Ladies, let me tell you about myself
I got a dick for a brain
And my brain is gonna sell my ass to you

Now I'm ok, but in time I'll find I'm stuck
Cause she wants love, and I still want to fuck

Now that I'm ashamed
it burns
But the weight is off
Now that you're out of the way
I turn
and I can walk
You showed no sympathy, my love
And this was no place for you and me to walk alone

On my grave, am I ok?
I'm sure I'm not

Ladies let me tell you about my love
She kept giving me more
But it wasn't enough

So understand
Now that I come to you
To understand my little self
To understand my little self

And baby you be sweet

don't forget the alcohol

2007-01-31T15:39:00.000-08:00

if i stepped it off
walked inside your trance
crawled inside your mind
and got my hands into your pants

wouldn't that beat all
wouldn't that be great
and all the things you do to me
we could exaggerate

now everybody knows
or everybody wants to know
the hows, the whens, the whys
of how i said goodbye

don't forget the alcohol
baby
don't forget the alcohol

if i stepped it off
walked outside your trance
crawled inside your mind
and got my hand into your pants

don't forget the alcohol
baby

this is your life

2007-01-31T15:12:00.000-08:00

Well, I guess this had to come in sometime, if not sooner.

And you open the door
and you step inside
We're inside our hearts

Now imagine your pain
as a white ball of healing light
That's right
your pain
the pain itself
is a white ball of healing light

I don't think so

This is your life
Good to the last drop
doesn't get any better than this

This is your life
and it's ending one minute at a time

This isn't a seminar
This is no weekend retreat

Where you are now
You can't even imagine what the bottom will be like

Only after disaster can we be resurrected
It's only after you've lost everything
that you are free to do anything

Nothing is static
Everything is evolving
Everything is falling apart

This is your life
It doesn't get any better than this
This is your life
And it's ending one minute at a time

You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake
You are the same decaying organic matter as everything else
We are all part of the same compost heap
We are the all singing, all dancing crap of the world

You are not your bank account
You are not the clothes you wear
You are not the contents of your wallet
You are not your bowel cancer
You are not your grande latte
You are not the car you drive
You are not your fucking khakis

You have to give up
You have to give up
You have to realize that someday you will die
Until you know that
you are useless

I say let me be never complete
I say may I never be content
I say deliver me from Swedish furniture
I say deliver me from clever art
I say deliver me from clear skin and perfect teeth

I say you have to give up
I say evolve and let the chips fall where they may

This is your life
Doesn't get any better than this
This is your life
And its ending one minute at a time

You have to give up
You have to give up

I want you to hit me as hard as you can

Welcome to Fight Club
If this is your first night, you have to fight

filmstar

2007-01-31T15:02:00.000-08:00

Filmstar
propping up the bar
driving in a car
it looks so easy

Filmstar
propping up the bar
driving in a car tonight

Filmstar
giving it class
living it fast
it looks so easy

Filmstar
giving it class
living it fast tonight

What to believe in
it's impossible to say
What to believe in
when they change your name
wash your brain
play the game again
yeah yeah yeah

Filmstar
an elegant sir
a terylene shirt
it looks so easy

Filmstar
an elegant sir
in a terylene shirt tonight

Filmstar
propping up the bar
driving in a car
it looks so easy

Filmstar
propping up the bar
driving in a car tonight

What to believe in
it's impossible to say
What to believe in
when they change your name
wash your brain
play the game again
yeah yeah yeah

lispainting it black

2007-01-26T15:24:00.000-08:00

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black

I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes

I see a line of cars and they're all painted black
With flowers and my love both never to come back

I see people turn their heads and quickly look away
Like a new born baby it just happens every day

I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door and it has been painted black

Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts
It's not easy facing up when your whole world is black

No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue
I could not foresee this thing happening to you

If I look hard enough into the setting sun
My love will laugh with me before the morning comes

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black

I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes

I wanna see it painted, painted black
Black as night, black as coal
I wanna see the sun blotted out from the sky
I wanna see it painted, painted, painted, painted black
Yeah..

lis-tening

2007-01-26T14:54:00.000-08:00

How could a love like ours come to an end
We had it all but lost it around the bend
There's something that I'll never understand
Why now it seems like hurting's close at hand

But I'm alone again, alone again
Though the years that pass divide us
I am alone again, alone again
Something'll never keep us apart

There's one love left between us that will stay
When memories can slowly fade away
Though feelings changed ever since we met
Our little daughter won't let us forget

But I'm alone again, alone again
Though the years that pass divide us
I am alone again, alone again
Something'll always keep us close

I see her one weekend now and then
I've realized I'm like a long lost friend
She has your eyes, your funny little smile
Her lovely laugh brings you back for a while

But I'm alone again, alone again
Though the years that pass divide us
I am alone again, alone again
Our little daughter keep us close

list-ening

2007-01-26T14:41:00.000-08:00

Sit around and watch the tube, but nothing's on
Change the channels for an hour or two
Twiddle my thumbs just for a bit
I'm sick of all the same old shit
In a house with unlocked doors
And I'm fucking lazy

Bite my lip and close my eyes
Take me away to paradise
I'm so damn bored I'm going blind
And I smell like shit

Peel me off this velcro seat and get me moving
I sure as hell can't do it by myself
I'm feeling like a dog in heat
Barred indoors from the summer street
I locked the door to my own cell
And I lost the key

Bite my lip and close my eyes
Take me away to paradise
I'm so damn bored I'm going blind
And I smell like shit

I got no motivation
Where is my motivation?
No time for the motivation
Smoking my inspiration

Sit around and watch the phone, but no one's calling
Call me pathetic, call me what you will
My mother says go get a job
But she don't like the one she's got
When masturbation's lost its fun
You're fucking breaking

Bite my lip and close my eyes
Take me away to paradise
I'm so damn bored
I'm going blind
And loneliness has to suffice

Bite my lip and close my eyes
I was slipping away to paradise
Some say, "Quit or I'll go blind."
But it's just a myth

Week in review

2007-01-26T13:33:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone..

Well, I know I spent the last week on CapFic, and didn't post much here. At least I thought so, but looking back now, it seems it's been a while since I posted anything decent here..

So this is like a confession post. Just to sync up. Here's the state of the nation:

As you probably know by now, I launched a new site called CapFic, which is the new harbour of my defected ramblings. I really have fun writing there, but time is the worst enemy as always. I tried to (and have succeeded till now) to update CapFic daily. And especially on weekdays, that sucks up all my energy — not to mention I was constantly late to work this past week.

Well, that's me. And how's everyone doing?

I put the rss feed of this blog on Feedburner, and when I used to post daily, there seemed to be 20-30 subscribers. I know some of you, not very well, but at least I know who you are. But that's just a few people. I am really curious about who took the pain to subscribe to this piece of bogus rants.

So what's up, everybody out there? Please leave a comment if you're reading this.

And I'm just gonna get a sixpack since it's Friday. And that means, yet more lyrics. =)

How have you been?

lithium

2007-01-23T15:22:00.000-08:00

I'm so happy
Cause today I've found my friends
They're in my head

I'm so ugly
But that's okay cause so are you
We broke our mirrors

Sunday morning
It's everyday for all I care
No I'm not scared

Light my candles, in a daze
Cause I've found god

I'm so lonely
But that's okay, you shaved my head
And I'm not sad

And just maybe
I'm to blame for all I've heard
But I'm not sure

I'm so excited
I can't wait to meet you there
But I don't care

I'm so horny
But that's okay, my will is good

I like it, I'm not gonna crack
I miss you, I'm not gonna crack
I love you, I'm not gonna crack
I killed you, I'm not gonna crack

I'm so happy
Cause today I've found my friends
They were in my head

I'm so ugly
But that's okay, cause so are you
We broke our mirrors

Sunday morning
Is everyday for all I care
And I'm not scared

Light my candles in a daze
Cause I found god

Glued to the monitor

2007-01-20T16:38:00.000-08:00

I think I'll just go to bed now.

I spent most of the past 24 hours at the computer, and tired I am.

Just a quick note to you all that my new website is up now. CapFic. Check it out yourself, I don't have stamina to explain, really.

Hmm, I think I get rude when I'm exhausted. Sorry.

See you around..

Listening to 94

2007-01-19T15:32:00.000-08:00

Lullaby of birdland
That's what I always hear
When you sigh
Never in my wordland could there be ways to reveal
in a phrase how I feel

Have you ever heard two turtle doves
Bill and coo, when they love?
That's the kind of magic music we make with our lips
When we kiss

And there's a weepy old willow
He really knows how to cry
That's how I'd cry on my pillow
If you should tell me farewell and goodbye

Lullaby of birdland whisper low
Kiss me sweet, and we'll go
Flying high in birdland, high in the sky up above
All because we're in love

Have you ever heard two turtle doves
Bill and coo, when they love?
That's the kind of magic music we make with our lips
When we kiss

And there's a weepy old willow
He really knows how to cry
That's how I'd cry on my pillow
If you should tell me farewell and goodbye

Lullaby of birdland whisper low
Kiss me sweet, and we'll go
Flying high in birdland, high in the sky up above
All because were in love

Listening to - part 93

2007-01-19T15:11:00.000-08:00

With your feet in the air and your head on the ground
Try this trick and spin it, yeah
Your head will collapse
But there's nothing in it
And you'll ask yourself

Where is my mind
Where is my mind
Where is my mind

Way out in the water
See it swimmin..

I was swimming in the Carribean
Animals were hiding behind the rock
Except the little fish
But they told me, he swears
Trying to talk to me koi koy

Where is my mind
Where is my mind
Where is my mind

Way out in the water
See it swimmin?

With your feet in the air and your head on the ground
Try this trick and spin it, yeah
Your head will collapse
If there's nothing in it
And you'll ask yourself

Where is my mind
Where is my mind
Where is my mind

Listening to

2007-01-19T14:54:00.000-08:00

You don't fool me...

You don't fool me
Those pretty eyes
That sexy smile
You don't fool me

You don't rule me
You're no surprise
You're telling lies
You don't fool me

Mmm, mama said be careful of that girl
Mama said you know that she's no good
Mama said be cool,
Don't you be no fool
Yup bup ba ba ba ba da da da dah

You don't fool me
You don't fool me..
She'll take you
And break you
Sooner or later you'll be playing by her rules

Baby you don't fool me, yeah

You don't fool me, you don't have to say don't mind
You don't have to teach me things I know
Sooner or later you'll be playing by her rules
Oh, (fool you) oh, (rule you) shell take you (take you)
And break you (break you)
Yeah

Mama said be cool
Mama said she'll take you for a fool
She'll take you, and break you

You don't fool me..

Ungrateful heart

2007-01-14T02:55:00.000-08:00

This is an old and touching Italian ballad. It was originally written by Salvatore Cardillo, especially to be sung by Enrico Caruso. It was also sang by Uncle Junior in Sopranos, I think at the end of season 3.

Catari, Catari
Perche me dici sti parole amare
Perche me parle e 'o cuore me turmiente, Catari
Nun te scurda
Ca t'aggio date 'o cuore, Catari
Nun te scurda

Catari, Catari,
Che vene a dicere stu parla ca me da spaseme?
Tu nun'nce pienze a stu dolore mio,
Tu nun'nce pienze, tu nun te ne cura

Cuore, cuore ingrato
T'aie pigliato 'a vita mia
Tutt'e passato e
Nun'nce pienze chiu

Catari, Catari
Why do you tell me those bitter words
Why do you speak and torment my heart, Catari
Don't forget
I had given you my heart, Catari
Don't forget

Catari, Catari,
Why do you come to say words that make me suffer
You don't think of my pain
You don't think, you don't care

The heart, the ungrateful heart
You've taken my life from me
Now it's over, and
You don't think anymore

Kill one Iraqi each

2007-01-12T13:27:00.000-08:00

Quoting Michael Moore's letter to Bullshit.

Sir, listen to me. You have to send in MILLIONS of troops to Iraq, not thousands! The only way to lick this thing now is to flood Iraq with millions of us! I know that you're out of combat-ready soldiers -- so you have to look elsewhere! The only way you are going to beat a nation of 27 million -- Iraq -- is to send in at least 28 million! Here's how it would work:

The first 27 million Americans go in and kill one Iraqi each. That will quickly take care of any insurgency. The other one million of us will stay and rebuild the country. Simple.

Now, I know you're saying, where will I find 28 million Americans to go to Iraq? Here are some suggestions:

1. More than 62,000,000 Americans voted for you in the last election (the one that took place a year and half into a war we already knew we were losing). I am confident that at least a third of them would want to put their body where their vote was and sign up to volunteer. I know many of these people and, while we may disagree politically, I know that they don't believe someone else should have to go and fight their fight for them -- while they hide here in America.

Read the whole thing here yourself.

The Pirate Bay to buy Sealand

2007-01-12T11:59:00.000-08:00

If the title makes no sense to you, here's a recap:

The Pirate Bay was "the world's largest BitTorrent tracker" until it got raided by the police on May 31st, 2006.

The owners of the site were accused of being a source for pirate music and movie downloads. God save the Industry.

And Sealand is a country which is not recognized by any other country in the world. The motherland consists of a platform in the sea, about 600 square metres in area, and the nation's population "rarely exceeds 10".

That may sound funny to you, but international law is more or less helpless in disputing Sealand's claim to be a nation. It has its own constitution, and is completely independent in legal terms, de-facto.

And recently, the Prince of Sealand, who's father had declared the nation in 1967, has decided to sell the country.

That's where The Pirate Bay comes in. If they can buy Sealand, they will be free from international copyright laws that make the rich publishing corporations, well, richer.

So here's your chance to help make history. Buy Sealand, and give The Pirate Bay a cozy motherland.

Hoorays for the great idea and for the pirate crew.

Just read it

2007-01-12T10:47:00.000-08:00

One of the best pieces of writing I've read in a while. I won't quote, for you really need to read it all.

Bush on Iraq - the translation

2007-01-11T09:50:00.000-08:00

Good evening. Tonight in Iraq, the armed forces of the United States are engaged in a struggle that will determine the direction of the global war on terror - and our safety here at home. The new strategy I outline tonight will change America's course in Iraq, and help us succeed in the fight against terror.

Yee-haw! Tonight in Iraq, your kids, your spouses, your parents are engaged in a civil war that will determine the direction of Iraqi oil - and the wealth of a certain 1000 US citizens. The new strategy I outline tonight will boost the death toll in Iraq, and help us become even more hated by the rest of the world —if that's possible.

When I addressed you just over a year ago, nearly 12 million Iraqis had cast their ballots for a unified and democratic nation. The elections of 2005 were a stunning achievement. We thought that these elections would bring the Iraqis together - and that as we trained Iraqi security forces, we could accomplish our mission with fewer American troops.

When I addressed you just over a year ago, nearly 500 thousand Iraqis had already been killed. The massacres of 2005 were a stunning achievement. We thought that these deaths would bring the Iraqi oil to certain US companies - and that as we trained Iraqi security forces, we could kill more Iraqis with fewer American troops.

But in 2006, the opposite happened. The violence in Iraq - particularly in Baghdad - overwhelmed the political gains the Iraqis had made. Al Qaeda terrorists and Sunni insurgents recognized the mortal danger that Iraq's elections posed for their cause. And they responded with outrageous acts of murder aimed at innocent Iraqis.

But in 2006, the opposite happened. The violence in Iraq - particularly in Baghdad - overwhelmed the political and financial gains we had made. People who have nothing to do with Al Qaeda terrorists and Sunni Iraqis recognized the mortal danger that the New American Century posed for their future. And they responded with raging acts of resistance aimed at your innocent kids, your spouses, your parents.

They blew up one of the holiest shrines in Shia Islam - the Golden Mosque of Samarra - in a calculated effort to provoke Iraq's Shia population to retaliate. Their strategy worked. Radical Shia elements, some supported by Iran, formed death squads. And the result was a vicious cycle of sectarian violence that continues today.

The CIA, with help from Mossad, blew up one of the holiest shrines in Shia Islam - the Golden Mosque of Samarra - in a calculated effort to provoke Iraq's Shia population to retaliate. Our strategy worked. Radical Shia elements, some supported by Iran, formed death squads. And the result was a vicious rise in the civil war that continues today.

The situation in Iraq is unacceptable to the American people - and it is unacceptable to me. Our troops in Iraq have fought bravely. They have done everything we have asked them to do. Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me.

The situation of the US troops in Iraq is unacceptable to the American people - and I don't give a damn. Our troops in Iraq have died bravely. They have done everything we have asked them to do. Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me —and you can't do anything about it, ha ha!

It is clear that we need to change our strategy in Iraq. So my national security team, military commanders, and diplomats conducted a comprehensive review. We consulted members of Congress from both parties, our allies abroad, and distinguished outside experts. We benefited from the thoughtful recommendations of the Iraq Study Group - a bipartisan panel led by former Secretary of State James Baker and former Congressman Lee Hamilton. In our discussions, we all agreed that there is no magic formula for success in Iraq. And one message came through loud and clear: Failure in Iraq would be a disaster for the United States.

People keep telling me that we need to change our strategy in Iraq. Even my national security team, military commanders, and diplomats who conducted a comprehensive review. We consulted members of Congress from both parties, our lapdogs abroad, and distinguished outside experts. We benefited from the thoughtful recommendations of the Iraq Study Group - a bipartisan panel whose mission was to seed your minds and grant us the freedom to take the war to the next level, led by former Secretary of State James Baker and former Congressman Lee Hamilton. In the mainstream media, we sold you the idea that there is no magic formula for success in Iraq. And we imprinted one message in your minds: Failure in Iraq would be a disaster for the United States.

The consequences of failure are clear: Radical Islamic extremists would grow in strength and gain new recruits. They would be in a better position to topple moderate governments, create chaos in the region, and use oil revenues to fund their ambitions. Iran would be emboldened in its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Our enemies would have a safe haven from which to plan and launch attacks on the American people. On September the 11th, 2001, we saw what a refuge for extremists on the other side of the world could bring to the streets of our own cities. For the safety of our people, America must succeed in Iraq.

What we mean by failure is clear: Radical Islamic extremists would grow in strength and gain new recruits. They would be in a better position to topple American forces, create stability in the region, and use oil revenues to fund their ambitions, instead of ours. Iran would be emboldened in its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Our enemies would have a safe haven from which to plan and launch attacks on the New American Century. On September the 11th, 2001, we set up extremists on the other side of the world at the expense of our own people. For the safety of a certain 1000 Americans, America must succeed in Iraq.

The most urgent priority for success in Iraq is security, especially in Baghdad. Eighty percent of Iraq's sectarian violence occurs within 30 miles of the capital. This violence is splitting Baghdad into sectarian enclaves, and shaking the confidence of all Iraqis. Only the Iraqis can end the sectarian violence and secure their people. And their government has put forward an aggressive plan to do it.

The most urgent priority for success in Iraq is security, especially in Baghdad. Eighty percent of Iraq's civil war occurs within 30 miles of the capital. This violence is splitting Baghdad into sectarian enclaves exactly as we planned, and hopefully shaking the confidence of all Iraqis. Only the Iraqis who can still think properly can end the US invasion and secure their motherland. And their government has put forward an aggressive plan to either arrest or assassinate such Iraqi leaders.

Our past efforts to secure Baghdad failed for two principal reasons: There were not enough Iraqi and American troops to secure neighborhoods that had been cleared of terrorists and insurgents, and there were too many restrictions on the troops we did have. Our military commanders reviewed the new Iraqi plan to ensure that it addressed these mistakes. They report that it does. They also report that this plan can work.

Our past efforts to seize Baghdad failed for two principal reasons: There were not enough bribed Iraqi policemen and American troops to secure neighborhoods that had been cleared of the resistance, and there were too many humanly creatures among the troops we did have who refused to kill every single civilian out there. Our military commanders reviewed the new Iraqi plan to ensure that it addressed these mistakes. They report that it does. They also report that this plan can work. Not with a high probability, but who cares, I love to gamble.

Now, let me explain the main elements of this effort. The Iraqi government will appoint a military commander and two deputy commanders for their capital. The Iraqi government will deploy Iraqi army and national police brigades across Baghdad's nine districts. When these forces are fully deployed, there will be 18 Iraqi army and national police brigades committed to this effort, along with local police. These Iraqi forces will operate from local police stations; conducting patrols and setting up checkpoints and going door-to-door to gain the trust of Baghdad residents.

Now, let me explain the main elements of this gamble. The Iraqi government will appoint a military commander and two deputy commanders for their capital. The Iraqi government will deploy Iraqi army and national police brigades across Baghdad's nine districts. When these forces are fully deployed, there will be 18 Iraqi army and national police brigades committed to this effort, along with local police. These Iraqi forces will operate from local police stations; conducting patrols and setting up checkpoints and going door-to-door to gain the trust of Baghdad residents. The plan is, hopefully, unsuspecting civilians will finally fall for it, thinking that these greedy mercenaries of the puppet Iraqi government are actually protecting them. Ha ha!

This is a strong commitment. But for it to succeed, our commanders say the Iraqis will need our help. So America will change our strategy to help the Iraqis carry out their campaign to put down sectarian violence and bring security to the people of Baghdad. This will require increasing American force levels. So I've committed more than 20,000 additional American troops to Iraq.

This is a big gamble. But for it to succeed, our commanders say the Iraqi puppets will need our help. So America will change our strategy to help the Iraqis carry out their campaign to put down all resistance and scare the shit out of the people of Baghdad. This will require increasing American force levels. So I've raised the bet by 20,000 additional American youngsters on the ante.

The vast majority of them -- five brigades -- will be deployed to Baghdad. These troops will work alongside Iraqi units and be embedded in their formations. Our troops will have a well-defined mission: to help Iraqis clear and secure neighborhoods, to help them protect the local population, and to help ensure that the Iraqi forces left behind are capable of providing the security that Baghdad needs.

The vast majority of these clueless American kids -- five brigades -- will be deployed to Baghdad. These troops will die alongside Iraqi mercenaries and be hated by the civilians just as much. Our troops will have a well-defined mission: to help Iraqi mercenaries exert martial law in the neighborhoods, to help them abolish the local population, and to help ensure that the Iraqi people left alive are not capable of providing the security that Baghdad needs.

Many listening tonight will ask why this effort will succeed when previous operations to secure Baghdad did not. Well, here are the differences: In earlier operations, Iraqi and American forces cleared many neighborhoods of terrorists and insurgents - but when our forces moved on to other targets, the killers returned. This time, we will have the force levels we need to hold the areas that have been cleared. In earlier operations, political and sectarian interference prevented Iraqi and American forces from going into neighborhoods that are home to those fueling the sectarian violence. This time, Iraqi and American forces will have a green light to enter these neighborhoods - and Prime Minister Maliki has pledged that political or sectarian interference will not be tolerated.

Many listening tonight will ask why this effort will succeed when previous operations to secure Baghdad did not. Well, here are the differences: In earlier operations, Iraqi collaborators and American forces cleared many neighborhoods of men capable of resisting - but when our forces moved on to other targets, the women and the children continued the resistance. This time, we will have the force levels we need to completely annihilate those bitches and bastards. In earlier operations, political and international interference prevented Iraqi butchers and American forces from going into neighborhoods that are home to those who still dream of stopping the US invasion. This time, Iraqi and American forces will have a green light to enter these neighborhoods - and Prime Minister Maliki has been bought and pledged that political or international interference will not be tolerated.

I have made it clear to the prime minister and Iraq's other leaders that America's commitment is not open-ended. If the Iraqi government does not follow through on its promises, it will lose the support of the American people - and it will lose the support of the Iraqi people. Now is the time to act. The prime minister understands this. Here is what he told his people just last week: "The Baghdad security plan will not provide a safe haven for any outlaws, regardless of [their] sectarian or political affiliation."

I have made it clear to the prime minister and Iraq's other leaders that America's bribes are not open-ended. If the Iraqi government does not follow through on its promises, it will lose the flow of the American dollars - and they will eventually all be hanged by the Iraqi people. Now is the time to act. The prime minister understands this. Here is what he told his people just last week: "The Baghdad security plan will not provide a safe haven for any outlaws, regardless of [their] sectarian or political affiliation." Ha, ha, isn't he a nice puppy.

This new strategy will not yield an immediate end to suicide bombings, assassinations, or IED attacks. Our enemies in Iraq will make every effort to ensure that our television screens are filled with images of death and suffering. Yet, over time, we can expect to see Iraqi troops chasing down murderers, fewer brazen acts of terror, and growing trust and cooperation from Baghdad's residents. When this happens, daily life will improve, Iraqis will gain confidence in their leaders, and the government will have the breathing space it needs to make progress in other critical areas. Most of Iraq's Sunni and Shia want to live together in peace. And reducing the violence in Baghdad will help make reconciliation possible.

This new strategy will not yield an immediate end to suicide bombings, assassinations, or IED attacks. Our allies in Iraq will make every effort to ensure that our and their television screens are filled with images of death and suffering. And, over time, we can expect to see Iraqi people finally surrender, fewer patriotic acts of resistance, and the loss of all hope among Baghdad's residents. When this happens, daily life will cease to exist, Iraqis will lose confidence in their God, and the government will have the breathing space it needs to make progress in other critical areas. Most of Iraq's Sunni and Shia want to live together in peace. And killing all such people in Baghdad will help sustain the instability.

A successful strategy for Iraq goes beyond military operations. Ordinary Iraqi citizens must see that military operations are accompanied by visible improvements in their neighborhoods and communities. So America will hold the Iraqi government to the benchmarks it has announced.

A successful strategy for Iraq goes beyond military operations. Ordinary Iraqi citizens must see that military operations are accompanied by a visible increase in poverty in their neighborhoods and communities. So America will hold the Iraqi government to the benchmarks it has announced.

To establish its authority, the Iraqi government plans to take responsibility for security in all of Iraq's provinces by November. To give every Iraqi citizen a stake in the country's economy, Iraq will pass legislation to share oil revenues among all Iraqis. To show that it is committed to delivering a better life, the Iraqi government will spend $10 billion of its own money on reconstruction and infrastructure projects that will create new jobs. To empower local leaders, Iraqis plan to hold provincial elections later this year. And to allow more Iraqis to re-enter their nation's political life, the government will reform de-Baathification laws and establish a fair process for considering amendments to Iraq's constitution.

To establish its authority, the Iraqi government plans to take responsibility for security in all of American assets in Iraq by November. To give every Iraqi citizen a stake in the ass, Iraq will pass legislation to share oil revenues among all the companies sponsoring my next election campaign. To show that it is committed to delivering a better life to a certain 1000 American citizens, the Iraqi government will spend $10 billion of its own money on reconstruction and infrastructure projects that will create new markets for American companies. To silence local leaders, Iraqis plan to hold make-believe elections later this year, Florida style. And to prevent more Iraqis from trying to re-enter their nation's political life, the government will reform de-Baathification laws and establish a funky process for considering amendments to Iraq's American constitution.

America will change our approach to help the Iraqi government as it works to meet these benchmarks. In keeping with the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, we will increase the embedding of American advisers in Iraqi army units, and partner a coalition brigade with every Iraqi army division.

America will change our approach to help the puppet Iraqi government as it works to meet these benchmarks. In keeping with the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, we will increase the embedding of American kids in Iraqi army units, and partner a coalition brigade with every Iraqi army division. We have plenty of kids here anyway.

We will help the Iraqis build a larger and better-equipped army, and we will accelerate the training of Iraqi forces, which remains the essential U.S. security mission in Iraq. We will give our commanders and civilians greater flexibility to spend funds for economic assistance. We will double the number of Provincial Reconstruction Teams. These teams bring together military and civilian experts to help local Iraqi communities pursue reconciliation, strengthen the moderates and speed the transition to Iraqi self-reliance. And Secretary Rice will soon appoint a reconstruction coordinator in Baghdad to ensure better results for economic assistance being spent in Iraq.

We will help the Iraqis build a larger and better-equipped army, and we will accelerate the training of Iraqi forces, which remains the essential U.S. security mission in Iraq. We will give our commanders and civilians greater flexibility to spend funds for economic assistance. We will double the number of Provincial Reconstruction Teams. These teams bring together military and civilian experts to help local Iraqi communities digest the New American Century, strengthen the moderates and speed the transition to the American Republic of Iraq. And Secretary Rice will soon appoint a reconstruction coordinator in Baghdad to ensure better results for all the bribes being spent in Iraq.

As we make these changes, we will continue to pursue al Qaeda and foreign fighters. Al Qaeda is still active in Iraq. Its home base is Anbar Province. Al Qaeda has helped make Anbar the most violent area of Iraq outside the capital. A captured al Qaeda document describes the terrorists' plan to infiltrate and seize control of the province. This would bring al Qaeda closer to its goals of taking down Iraq's democracy, building a radical Islamic empire, and launching new attacks on the United States at home and abroad.

As we make these changes, we will continue to blame al Qaeda and foreign fighters. Al Qaeda is still clueless in Iraq. We decided its home base to be Anbar Province. Al Qaeda actually had nothing to do with Anbar being the most resistant area of Iraq outside the capital. A faked al Qaeda document describes the terrorists' plan to infiltrate and seize control of the province. This would bring the US closer to its goals of taking down Iraq's democracy, building a puppet Islamic democracy, and launching new attacks on Syria and Iran.

Our military forces in Anbar are killing and capturing al Qaeda leaders - and they are protecting the local population. Recently, local tribal leaders have begun to show their willingness to take on al Qaeda. And, as a result, our commanders believe we have an opportunity to deal a serious blow to the terrorists. So I have given orders to increase American forces in Anbar Province by 4,000 troops. These troops will work with Iraqi and tribal forces to keep up the pressure on the terrorists. America's men and women in uniform took away al Qaeda's safe haven in Afghanistan - and we will not allow them to re- establish it in Iraq.

Our military forces in Anbar are killing and capturing resistance leaders - and they are getting bonuses for slaying the local population. Recently, local tribal leaders have begun to show their willingness to take their share of the millions of dollars we've poured into Iraq in bribes. And, as a result, our commanders believe we have an opportunity to deal a serious blow to the resistance. So I have given orders to increase American kids in Anbar Province by 4,000 troops. These troops will work with Iraqi and tribal forces to keep up the pressure on the civilians. America's men and women in uniform got killed by the US funded Taleban in Afghanistan - and we will make sure more will get killed in Iraq.

Succeeding in Iraq also requires defending its territorial integrity - and stabilizing the region in the face of the extremist challenge. This begins with addressing Iran and Syria. These two regimes are allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq. Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops. We will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We will interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq.

Succeeding in Iraq also requires blending its territorial integrity - and de-stabilizing the region in the face of the extremist challenge. This begins with addressing Iran and Syria. These two regimes are allowing terrorists and resistance fighters to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq. Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops. We will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We will interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to the people in Iraq.

We are also taking other steps to bolster the security of Iraq and protect American interests in the Middle East. I recently ordered the deployment of an additional carrier strike group to the region. We will expand intelligence sharing and deploy Patriot air defense systems to reassure our friends and allies. We will work with the governments of Turkey and Iraq to help them resolve problems along their border. And we will work with others to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons and dominating the region.

We are also taking other steps to bolster the security of US companies and protect American interests in the Middle East. I recently ordered the deployment of an additional carrier strike group to the region. Ha ha, it was fun. We will expand intelligence sharing and deploy Patriot air defense systems to reassure our lapdogs. We will work with the governments of Turkey and Iraq and hopefully raise more problems along their border. And we will work with others to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons and dominating the region.

We will use America's full diplomatic resources to rally support for Iraq from nations throughout the Middle East. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf states need to understand that an American defeat in Iraq would create a new sanctuary for extremists - and a strategic threat to their survival. These nations have a stake in a successful Iraq that is at peace with its neighbors - and they must step up their support for Iraq's unity government. We endorse the Iraqi government's call to finalize an international compact that will bring new economic assistance in exchange for greater economic reform. And on Friday, Secretary Rice will leave for the region - to build support for Iraq, and continue the urgent diplomacy required to help bring peace to the Middle East.

We will use America's full diplomatic resources to rally support for Iraq from nations throughout the Middle East. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the Gulf states need to understand that an American defeat in Iraq would mean the end of US dollars flowing in - and a strategic threat to their survival. These nations have a stake in a successful Iraq that is at peace with its neighbors - so we must block up their support for the resisting Iraqi people. We endorse the Iraqi government's call to finalize an international compact that will bring new bribes in exchange for greater economic opportunities for US companies. And on Friday, Secretary Rice will leave for the region - to buy out more bastards in Iraq, and continue the urgent diplomacy required to help bring Iraqi oil to the US.

The challenge playing out across the broader Middle East is more than a military conflict. It is the decisive ideological struggle of our time. On one side are those who believe in freedom and moderation. On the other side are extremists who kill the innocent, and have declared their intention to destroy our way of life. In the long run, the most realistic way to protect the American people is to provide a hopeful alternative to the hateful ideology of the enemy - by advancing liberty across a troubled region. It is in the interests of the United States to stand with the brave men and women who are risking their lives to claim their freedom - and to help them as they work to raise up just and hopeful societies across the Middle East.

The challenge playing out across the broader Middle East is more than a military conflict. It is the decisive ideological struggle of our time. On one side are those who believe in freedom and self-governing. On our side are mercenaries who kill the innocent, and have declared their intention to adopt our way of life. In the long run, the most realistic way to protect the American people is to provide a hopeful alternative to the righteous ideology of the Iraqi resistance - by advancing threat and scare across our nation. It is in the interests of the United States to ditch the brave men and women who are risking their lives to claim Iraqi oil - and to send in more of them as they die to raise up the New American Century across the Middle East.

From Afghanistan to Lebanon to the Palestinian territories, millions of ordinary people are sick of the violence, and want a future of peace and opportunity for their children. And they are looking at Iraq. They want to know: Will America withdraw and yield the future of that country to the extremists - or will we stand with the Iraqis who have made the choice for freedom?

From Afghanistan to Lebanon to the Palestinian territories, millions of ordinary people are sick of the United States, and want a future of peace and opportunity for their children. And they are looking at Iraq. They want to know: Will America withdraw and let the future of that country to be decided by the Iraqi people - or will we stand with the Iraqis who have made the choice for American dollars over freedom?

The changes I have outlined tonight are aimed at ensuring the survival of a young democracy that is fighting for its life in a part of the world of enormous importance to American security. Let me be clear: The terrorists and insurgents in Iraq are without conscience, and they will make the year ahead bloody and violent. Even if our new strategy works exactly as planned, deadly acts of violence will continue - and we must expect more Iraqi and American casualties. The question is whether our new strategy will bring us closer to success. I believe that it will.

The changes I have outlined tonight are aimed at ensuring the survival of a certain 1000 American citizens who are fighting for their enormous grasp on American politics. Let me be clear: These guys are without conscience, and they will make the year ahead bloody and violent. Even if our new strategy works exactly as planned, deadly acts of violence will continue - and we must expect more Iraqi and American casualties. The question is whether our new strategy will bring us closer to Iraqi oil. I believe that it will.

Victory will not look like the ones our fathers and grandfathers achieved. There will be no surrender ceremony on the deck of a battleship. But victory in Iraq will bring something new in the Arab world - a functioning democracy that polices its territory, upholds the rule of law, respects fundamental human liberties, and answers to its people. A democratic Iraq will not be perfect. But it will be a country that fights terrorists instead of harboring them - and it will help bring a future of peace and security for our children and grandchildren.

Victory will not look like the ones our fathers and grandfathers achieved. There will be no surrender ceremony on the deck of a battleship. But victory in Iraq will bring something new in the Arab world - a puppet democracy that polices American interests, upholds the rule of martial law, restricts fundamental human liberties, and answers to a certain 1000 American citizens. A democratic Iraq will not be perfect. But it will be a country that fights its own people instead of ours - and it will help bring a future of wealth and security for our children and grandchildren.

This new approach comes after consultations with Congress about the different courses we could take in Iraq. Many are concerned that the Iraqis are becoming too dependent on the United States - and therefore, our policy should focus on protecting Iraq's borders and hunting down al Qaeda. Their solution is to scale back America's efforts in Baghdad - or announce the phased withdrawal of our combat forces.

This new approach comes after consultations with Congress about the different courses we could take in Iraq. Many are concerned that the Iraqis are becoming too dependent on the United States - and what the fuck, our policy should focus on protecting Iraqi collaborators and hunting down resistance leaders. Their dumb-ass solution is to scale back America's efforts in Baghdad - or announce the phased withdrawal of our combat forces.

We carefully considered these proposals. And we concluded that to step back now would force a collapse of the Iraqi government, tear the country apart, and result in mass killings on an unimaginable scale. Such a scenario would result in our troops being forced to stay in Iraq even longer, and confront an enemy that is even more lethal. If we increase our support at this crucial moment, and help the Iraqis break the current cycle of violence, we can hasten the day our troops begin coming home.

We really had a laugh out of these proposals. And we concluded that to step back now would force a collapse of the puppet Iraqi government, tear my next election campaign apart, and result in major losses in the weapon industry on an unimaginable scale. Such a scenario would result in our troops returning to the states alive, and I would have to confront an enemy that is even more lethal. If we increase our death toll at this crucial moment, and ensure the our kids —well, your kids, actually.. Ha ha!— never break the current cycle of violence, I can fasten my seatbelt and hasten right into the next elections. I bet I'll win, thanks to the support of a certain 1000 American citizens.

In the days ahead, my national security team will fully brief Congress on our new strategy. If members have improvements that can be made, we will make them. If circumstances change, we will adjust. Honorable people have different views, and they will voice their criticisms. It is fair to hold our views up to scrutiny. And all involved have a responsibility to explain how the path they propose would be more likely to succeed.

In the days ahead, my national security team will fully brief Congress on our new strategy. If members think they have improvements that can be made, we will make fun of them. If circumstances change, we will adjust. Honorable people have different views, and they will voice their criticisms. It is fair to hold our views over their bullshit. And all involved have a responsibility to explain how the path they propose would be more likely to make me succeed.

Acting on the good advice of Senator Joe Lieberman and other key members of Congress, we will form a new, bipartisan working group that will help us come together across party lines to win the war on terror. This group will meet regularly with me and my administration. It will help strengthen our relationship with Congress. We can begin by working together to increase the size of the active Army and Marine Corps, so that America has the armed forces we need for the 21st century. We also need to examine ways to mobilize talented American civilians to deploy overseas - where they can help build democratic institutions in communities and nations recovering from war and tyranny.

Acting on the good advice of Senator Joe Lieberman and other key members of Congress, we will mock a new, bipartisan working group that will help us come together across party lines to win the war on oil. This group will meet regularly with me and my administration. Booriing.. But they tell me it will help strengthen our relationship with Congress. We can begin by working together to increase the size of the active Army and Marine Corps, so that America has enough armed forces to get killed for the New American Century. We also need to examine ways to mobilize talented American civilians to deploy overseas - where they can help abolish democratic institutions in communities and nations and keep them tied down in war and tyranny.

In these dangerous times, the United States is blessed to have extraordinary and selfless men and women willing to step forward and defend us. These young Americans understand that our cause in Iraq is noble and necessary - and that the advance of freedom is the calling of our time. They serve far from their families, who make the quiet sacrifices of lonely holidays and empty chairs at the dinner table. They have watched their comrades give their lives to ensure our liberty. We mourn the loss of every fallen American - and we owe it to them to build a future worthy of their sacrifice.

In these shameful times, the United States is blessed to have extraordinary and selfless men and women willing to step forward and die for us. These young Americans are constantly reminded that our cause in Iraq is noble and necessary - and that the advance of freedom is the calling of our time - ha ha, suckers.. They serve far from their families, who make the quiet sacrifices of lonely holidays and empty chairs at the dinner table. They have watched their comrades give their lives to ensure the well-being of a certain 1000 American citizens. We don't give a damn to any fallen American - but we try to take out at least 200 Iraqi civilians for each one of those kids - the score was 3000 Americans versus 650,000 Iraqis last time I checked. Ha ha.

Fellow citizens: The year ahead will demand more patience, sacrifice, and resolve. It can be tempting to think that America can put aside the burdens of freedom. Yet times of testing reveal the character of a nation. And throughout our history, Americans have always defied the pessimists and seen our faith in freedom redeemed. Now America is engaged in a new struggle that will set the course for a new century. We can and we will prevail.

Clueless citizens: The year ahead I will demand more patience, sacrifice, and resolve. It can be tempting to think that America can put aside the burdens of carrying a certain 1000 parasites on its back. Yet times of testing reveal the character of a nation. And throughout our history, Americans have always defied the pessimists and seen our faith in money redeemed. Now America is engaged in a new struggle that will set the course for the New American Century. We can and we will prevail. That is, me and a certain 1000 American citizens. Not you, sucker. Yee-haw!

Ode to

2007-01-09T13:11:00.000-08:00

You better watch your step
You must be on your guard
And take it slow
And promise me, be careful
What you do

I know you're strong
I know you'll make it on your own
Without my help
But please make sure you won't be
By yourself

Every time I hear my song
On the radio
I keep moving closer
And closer to you
Every time the dj is playing my song
I can feel you here by my side
All night long

You got to try much harder
Take it from the start
And try again
You got to be much faster
If you can

You probably will fail
No matter how you try
It's not enough
It takes so much
To make it to the top

Every time I hear my song
On the radio
I keep moving closer
And closer to you
Every time the dj is playing my song
I can feel you here by my side
All night long

Let's go down
The dance floor if you dare
Now's the time
To show that you're not scared

Cherry earrings

2007-01-09T12:09:00.000-08:00

I just talked to my ex-wife on the phone.

I always hated the "ex-" notion. It sounds so cliche, so shallow, so ego-centric, and utterly stupid. But I just don't know how else to call her. My old wife? It's not like she's 75. My previous wife? Nah, that sounds like I'm on a series. Same with "my first wife," or "my last wife". Which are technically true, but not really more sensible than the "ex-" version. I guess, well, she is my ex-wife after all.

She just called to let me know she'll come in tomorrow to pick her things up. The various bits that were still here, that is. I'll be at work, so I'll just leave the keys at the grocer's, she's left her set at her parent's. That feels strange, she has to get the keys from the grocery guy to let herself in now. Well, life.. You can never bathe in the same river twice.

She sounded happy. That makes me happy. Well that too sounded too cliche, but I didn't mean it that way. I'm feeling more relaxed, more easy, more comfortable, and eventually more happy since we divorced. And that kind of made me feel guilty. Now that I know she's also happier, I'm happy without feeling bad.

I had really loved her. I guess I still do, but not as I used to. I don't mean less, I mean, well, different. As an old close friend, perhaps? I don't know. Just not the same. We both suffered a lot. We used to drive each other mad at times, literally. Well, most of the time, lately. It feels much more "right" this way.

Why am I writing this? I don't know. Just in case I post some more lyrics, so be warned, I think I'll go get some more beer.

Experience is everything.

Listening to (five?)

2007-01-05T16:08:00.000-08:00

Well, you've been warned..

Siempre que te pregunto
Que, cuándo, cómo y dónde
Tú siempre me respondes
Quizás, quizás, quizás

Y así pasan los días
Y yo, desesperando
Y tú, tú contestando
Quizás, quizás, quizás

Estás perdiendo el tiempo
Pensando, pensando
Por lo que tú más quieras
¿Hasta cuándo?
¿Hasta cuándo?

Y así pasan los días
Y yo, desesperando
Y tú, tú contestando
Quizás, quizás, quizás

Y así pasan los días
Y yo, desesperando
Y tú, tú contestando
Quizás, quizás, quizás

Estás perdiendo el tiempo
Pensando, pensando
Por lo que más tú quieras
¿Hasta cuándo?
¿Hasta cuándo?

Y así pasan los días
Y yo, desesperando
Y tú, tú contestando
Quizás, quizás, quizás

And here's my shot at a translation..

I am always asking you
When, how and where
You always tell me
Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps

The days pass this way
And I am despairing
And you, you always answer
Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps

You are wasting time
Thinking, thinking
That which you want most
Until when?
Until when?

The days pass this way
And I am despairing
And you, you always answer
Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps

The days pass this way
And I am despairing
And you, you always answer
Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps

You are wasting time
Thinking, thinking
That which you want most
Until when?
Until when?

The days pass this way
And I am despairing
And you, you always answer
Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps

Do you believe in free will?

2007-01-05T12:45:00.000-08:00

The blogosphere works in strange ways.

I just landed on Vanishing Zero while I was blog hopping. The post about free will and determinism was interesting, but I didn't get it all, for it linked to this blog post by Scott Adams, and this New York Times article. So I ended up reading those as well. Then I came back to Vanishing Zero, thought for a bit, and posted a comment.

Midway, I realized that this would be too long of a comment, so I tried to be as brief as I could (didn't work much, but anyway). Here's what I wrote there:

I agree machines can never be conscious. Even if they were programmed to do so, they'd still be running the program, or at most morphing the program and running new spawns of it. But they'd still be just following the commands.

But I also [agree] with parts of the NYT story that says free will is an illusion. I think it's just a matter of levels and complexity.

Do ants have free will? From our perspective, no. Their world just consist[s] of terrains, food, enemies, and other ants. They just follow their instincts and react to certain chemical compounds.

But from their point of view, they are adventuring, talking to each other, waging war, serving their queen, etc.

I'm not sure if I could explain what I meant, but that's as far as my linguistic skills go.

Basically, I think we do have free will when we look from our own perspective. But looking from one level of intelligence and complexity above us (be it God and angels, or some alien species), we are just following the commands built in us, just like we think (know) the ants do.

That was long, but I didn't know how to say it shorter.

I could write more, but I feel like thinking a bit more about it before I do.

What do you think? Are our actions all pre-determined by the universe, or do we have a say?

The free press and bringing democracy

2007-01-04T10:49:00.000-08:00

Please do me a favor, and try to remember the tone of the CNN and BBC announcing the execution of Saddam, breaking-news style. Come on, it was just a few days ago. Here, I'll help you:

"He was terrified, broken.."

"Helpless at the noose.."

"Democracy wins.."

"Beginning of a new era.."

Remember? And just look at how things turned now. Everyone's trying to back out and blame someone else for the inhuman lynching that really was.

This is a more recent take from the CNN:

U.S. officials reportedly tried to delay last week's execution of Hussein, fearing it would fuel perceptions the death of the former Iraqi dictator was more about Shiite retribution and less about justice. It was a caution that fell on deaf ears, however, as Prime Minister al-Maliki, a Shiite, was determined to put Hussein to death before the beginning of the Eid al-Adha holiday.

Now that's very convincing, how thoughtful of the US.

This is the Iraqi puppet PM Maliki speaking, after the execution:

Asked whether he would accept a second term in office, Mr Maliki replied: "Impossible.

"I wish I could be done with it even before the end of this term. I would like to serve my people from outside the circle of senior officials, maybe through the parliament or through working directly with the people," he said.

"I didn’t want to take this position. I only agreed because I thought it would serve the national interest, and I will not accept it again."

Sounds like a tough guy, eh? Can anyone believe the crap that this poor man had enough guts to put Saddam to death, despite US interception (according to the CNN story), and at the eve of a religious holiday?

Bullshit.. Saddam was not executed, he was silenced. And in the most "inelegant" way. And clearly by the US warlords, not by some PM-wannabe (or don't-wannabe, even). If you're wondering what Saddam could have told the world hadn't he been "dealt with" in such haste, you might find clues at a previous post. (and here's a post that covers the "execution" itself)

And if I may, I'd recommend another great post, by River:

.
.
America the savior… After nearly four years and Bush's biggest achievement in Iraq has been a lynching. Bravo Americans.
.
.
And no- not the celebrations BBC are claiming. With the exception of a few areas, the streets are empty.
.
.
Muwafaq Al Rubai was said he was "weak and frightened". Apparently, Rubai saw a different lynching because according to the video they leaked, he didn't look frightened at all. His voice didn't shake and he refused to put on the black hood. He looked resigned to his fate, and during the heckling he looked as defiant as ever. (It's quite a contrast to Muhsin Abdul Hameed's public hysterics last year when the Americans raided his home.)
.
.

There are already some concerned voices in some European countries. What's the big news? The Yankees just screwed up —again..

Mind like water

2007-01-04T10:09:00.000-08:00

I think I'm sober now..

I read the Getting Things Done book (manifest?) from David Allen in the past couple days (yeah, while sobering up). I had read quite a number of good (and passionate) reviews of the GTD system for some time now. I usually just smirk at such buzzy trends, especially if it's some kind of self help development all is well theme. But I had nothing better do, and decided to give it a try.

So I downloaded a pdf of the book and began reading it. But that's piracy, well, yes it is. But there's no way I'd give money for some book when I have hardly the money for smokes and food. And, by the way, especially not to some greedy robber.

Right, that's in direct reference to David Allen himself. Just for goodness sake, check out the "features" of his marvelous "digital 2 minutes timer" software:

How long is 2 minutes? Most people had no idea, until now. With this digital timer installed on your computer just a keystroke away...

This miraculous piece of software is available for purchase at David's site for $10. I mean, come on.. Does he really need the 10 bucks from that crap so badly?

Anyways, I read the book, and to my surprise, it wasn't all that bad. I liked a few tricks he suggests, actually, and I think I'm going to try them out for a while at work and elsewhere. It might be a good way to recollect my pieces.

Not to reach a higher state of mind, though, or a "mind like water." Just to get things done, hopefully. I got tons of stuff to take care of, and I can't get meself to actually do anything. And my mind is like water already, any way. Probably more like the muddy waters of the Wishkah, but.. Well..

I'm listening to (4)

2007-01-01T15:01:00.000-08:00

Realizing that I just posted a sad, sad song as the first post for a new year, here's my attempt to fix it. I'm listening to a less sad song now, not exactly what you might call "happy", but hey, it's at least one you can dance to.

And for those of you who might wonder, yup, I'm still drunk.. Actually, I just noticed that I post lyrics only when I'm drunk. Hmm..

I am the passenger
And I ride and I ride
I ride through the city's backsides
I see the stars come out of the sky
Yeah, the bright and hollow sky
You know it looks so good tonight

I am the passenger
I stay under glass
I look through my window so bright
I see the stars come out tonight
I see the bright and hollow sky
Over the city's ripped backsides
And everything looks good tonight

Singing la la la la la lala la,
La la la la la lala la,
La la la la la lala la, lala..

Get into the car
We'll be the passenger
We'll ride through the city tonight
We'll see the city's ripped backsides
We'll see the bright and hollow sky
We'll see the stars that shine so bright
The stars made for us tonight

Oh, the passenger
How, how he rides
Oh, the passenger
He rides and he rides
He looks through his window
What does he see?
He sees the sign and hollow sky
He sees the stars come out tonight
He sees the city's ripped backsides
He sees the winding ocean drive
And everything was made for you and me
All of it was made for you and me
'Cause it just belongs to you and me
So let's take a ride and see what's mine

Singing la la la la la lala la,
La la la la la lala la,
La la la la la lala la, lala..

Oh the passenger
He rides and he rides
He sees things from under glass
He looks through his window side
He sees the things that he knows are his
He sees the bright and hollow sky
He sees the city sleep at night
He sees the stars are out tonight
And all of it is yours and mine
And all of it is yours and mine
So let's ride and ride and ride and ride

Singing la la la la la lala la,
La la la la la lala la,
La la la la la lala la, lala..

Happy new year

2007-01-01T14:29:00.000-08:00

Watch the early morning sun
Drip like blood from the day
See the crazy people run
So many games to play
See the blue suburban dream
Under the jet plane sky
Sleep away and dream a dream
Life is just a lullaby

And everything will flow
You know everything will flow

Watch the day begin again
Whispering into the night
See the crazy people play
Hurrying under the light
A million cars, a million trains
Under the jet plane sky
Nothing lost and nothing gained
Life is just a lullaby

The neon lights in the night tonight will say
Everything will flow
The stars that shine in the open sky will say
Everything will flow
The lovers kissed with an openness will say
Everything will flow
The cars parked in the hypermarket know
Everything will flow

Happy new year, everyone.. I hope everything flows nicely for you.

Common people (I'm listening to 3)

2006-12-31T13:19:00.000-08:00

This one's by Pulp. Right, I'm drunk..

She came from Greece, she had a thirst for knowledge
She studied sculpture at Saint Martin's College
That's where I caught her eye

She told me that her Dad was loaded
I said "In that case I'll have rum and coca-cola
She said "fine"
And then in 30 seconds time she said:

"I want to live like common people
I want to do whatever common people do
I want to sleep with common people
I want to sleep with common people like you"
Well what else could I do?
I said "I'll see what I can do"

I took her to a supermarket
I don't know why
but I had to start it somewhere
so it started there

I said "pretend you've got no money"
but she just laughed
and said "oh you're so funny"
I said "Yeah
Well I can't see anyone else smiling in here
Are you sure
you want to live like common people
you want to see whatever common people see
you want to sleep with common people
you want to sleep with common people like me?"
But she didn't understand
she just smiled and held my hand

Rent a flat above a shop
Cut your hair and get a job
Smoke some fags and play some pool
Pretend you never went to school
But still you'll never get it right
'cos when you're laid in bed at night
watching roaches climb the wall
if you called your dad he could stop it all
yeah

You'll never live like common people
You'll never do whatever common people do
You'll never fail like common people
You'll never watch your life slide out of view
and then dance and drink and screw
because there's nothing else to do

Sing along with the common people
Sing along and it might just get you through
Laugh along with the common people
Laugh along although they're laughing at you
and the stupid things that you do
because you think that poor is cool

Like a dog lying in a corner
they will bite you and never warn you
Look out
they'll tear your insides out

'cos everybody hates a tourist
especially one who thinks
it's all such a laugh
yeah and the chip stain's grease
will come out in the bath
You will never understand
how it feels to live your life
with no meaning or control
and with nowhere else to go
You are amazed that they exist
and they burn so bright
whilst you can only wonder why

Rent a flat above a shop
Cut your hair and get a job
Smoke some fags and play some pool
Pretend you never went to school
But still you'll never get it right
'cause when you're laid in bed at night
watching roaches climb the wall
if you called your dad he could stop it all
yeah

You'll never live like common people
You'll never do whatever common people do
You'll never fail like common people
You'll never watch your life slide out of view
and then dance and drink and screw
'because there's nothing else to do
I want to live with common people like you.....

My love for Saddam

2006-12-31T11:48:00.000-08:00

I just needed to make this post.

I've been updating my previous post about Saddam's last moments, and it seems I've angered a few friends..

People seem to be mad at me for the way I think, except that I did not actually wrote what I think. I just linked to a commentary by Old Buck, and apart from that, I believe all I included in the post are plain truth, not my opinion.

Sure, the mainstream media has a different take on Saddam's execution. But that's their opinion, and not the truth. This is why I love the internet and the blogosphere. It's not just the "mainstream" no more, it's actual people who are speaking.

If you want to boo me, please do so, only I don't care. It just doesn't change the truth, and it doesn't change the way I think. If you're "shocked" that I think this way, well, that's how my mind works, and actually I'm more interested in the truth, rather than "social acceptance". Sorry.

Best gift ever

2006-12-31T08:25:00.000-08:00

Masha gave me the best christmas gift ever..

Bubbles! That's exactly how you entertain a 30 year old kid..

Thank you Masha.

Saddam's last moments

2006-12-31T05:46:00.000-08:00

This post has been updated 4 times

He was frightened? Broken? Terrified? Plain bullshit..

Just watch the video for yourself, if you haven't already, and tell me how the fuck can someone (like those guys at the CNN or BBC did) describe Saddam's expression as frightened..

That footage shows the broadcast from the Iraqi state tv. It ends as he steps onto the trapdoor. There's also another footage, taken by a cell phone camera. It shows what actually happens afterwards. Here's the link, but be warned it contains explicit imagery. It may also be removed from YouTube soon, so be quick if you want to see it.

I'm trying to compile and get the true story translated, so I'll update this post soon.

Update 1: The story as told by most Western media is distorted, incomplete, and some parts just plain lies. The closest to the actual story I read on a non-Arabic news site is on the Hindu.

The story I got from various Arabic sites and channels, thanks to a friend who translated them for me, is much more accurate, I believe. Note that "Arabic site" doesn't necessarily mean pro-Saddam. Actually, my friend was in favor of Saddam's execution, but he was decent enough to translate the speeches as they were, not distorting them to suit any political view.

At around 5:30 am, the US army guards enter Saddam's cell. It's the eve of a religious festival, and Saddam is reading verses from Quran. He requests to be allowed to finish his prayer, but the soldiers refuse, and a physical struggle takes place between the US guards and Sadddam. Not because he's afraid, but because he wants to finish his prayer. Anyway, he's dragged out and handed over to the Iraqi guards, and he quits struggling at that moment. He's walked to the execution chamber, he gives his Quran to the guards, telling them to send it to a friend of his.

This is where the first (state tv) footage begins. (Actually, the Iraqi state tv recorded the whole thing, but they just released a small part. It's not certain if they'll broadcast the complete footage in the future.) One of the guards tells that he will put a hood over his head, but Saddam refuses, saying he was never afraid of anything during his life. The guard explains he must at least wrap the hood around his neck, because the thick rope may injure his face when he's hanged, and make him unrecognizable. Saddam listens, then agrees, and the hood is wrapped over his neck. He's walked to the trapdoor, and the rope is put around his neck.

The official footage ends here, but the one from the cell phone camera shows the rest. The cleric begins chanting the prayer, preparing him for his death. A couple of the guards yell "You will go to hell." Saddam laughs, at this point, as seen in the video. The group then begins chanting in favor of Muqtada al-Sadr, which reveals that these Iraqi executioners are actually partisans of the Shiat cleric. Saddam, still smiling, tells them "Behave like a man." The cleric in the cell prays the "Kelam-i Sahadet," and asks Saddam to repeat after him. This is a small prayer which says you believe in God and his prophet Mohammed, and it is a custom that every muslim must repeat this prayer right before he dies. Saddam begins repeating the prayer, but the guards open the trapdoor before he can finish it.

Update 2: I read somewhere that the execution "made a hero out of a villain". I totally agree. The puppet government in Iraq couldn't even handle a proper trial. Did you read the official conviction? Saddam was executed for killing 148 Iraqis in Dujayle in 1982. Not for anything else. That's just ridiculous.

And how about the 650.000 Iraqis killed since the US invasion? Who will get to be hanged for that?

~~Old Buck has written a very insightful commentary of the execution. I'd strongly recommend reading it.~~
My bad.. It seems the opinion was of Robert Fisk, of the Independent. I guess Old Buck has just copied from there, I didn't know. Here's the original article, still a valuable read.

Update 3: Here's a great documentary in Flash, about the true story of who Saddam is. If you have problems with Flash, Shakespeare's Sister has posted it in Google Video format.

Update 4: If you came here via a search engine, here's a more recent post you might be interested in.

10 Please don'ts for Blogger bloggers

2006-12-29T10:36:00.000-08:00

Please don't remove the NavBar. Yeah, it doesn't really look good, but you get what you pay for (which is nothing, for this case). Removing the piece of code is easy, and although it's against the rules of service, Google doesn't seem to care, for there are many blogs that's removed the bar. But I do care. I usually hop through blogs via the "Next Blog" button. And when you "hack" the template and get rid of the bar, well, I'm ever more inclined to hit the back button and hop elsewhere.
Please don't make me wait for your 1200 x 1500 background / header image to load. Because I won't.
Actually, please don't make me wait for anything to get loaded. Not a fancy menu, not a cute slideshow, not the analogue clock script at the top of your sidebar. You know what, if I wanted to check the time, I could just look at my watch. If I arrived at your blog, chances are I'm more interested in what you might have to say, rather than to figure out what time it is (let alone waiting half a minute to see the clock magically appear).
Please don't put up a blog named with a combination of the words (bikini, models, beach, hot). Chances are all those blogs are launched by the same person (or gang), but anyway, I'm just so sick of it. Splogs are always a pain in the ass, but there seems to be so many "hot beach bikini model" blogs around nowadays.
Please don't just link to all the top stories, and expect me to subscribe to your blog. That's not blogging. If I wanted to read the news, I could use a news site. You're just linking back to them, anyway. When your blog comes up on my screen, you have a chance to tell me what you think about the news. If you just ditto the media, I'm not really interested.
Please don't blog about how to make money. Or any sorts, including stock tips, forex trading, or building an adsense empire. If you really knew what you were talking about, you'd probably be rich by now, instead of trying to make a few bucks on a blog. I don't buy it. Sorry.
Please don't make links open in a new window. Whether they're affiliate links, blogrolls, or just plain links. If your blog is interesting enough to grab my attention, I will return to read on after I check out your link, anyway. And if you don't have much to say to me, then at least grant me the right to surf away.
Please don't layout your adsense scripts so that when your blog comes up, all I see is adsense. In the header, in the sidebar, on top of the posts. I guess every blogger would like to make money just by blogging, I know I would. I use adsense too, but I try not to stick it in anyone's eyes. I don't get much clicks, but I doubt you get more than I do.
Google, please don't include private blogs in the queue for the "Next Blog" button. It's not that I'm trying to force my way into a private blog, I didn't know it was private in the first place. So I feel kind of uncomfortable when I click next and I'm anounced that this is a private blog and that I'm not authorized to read it.
LookUpLive.com, please don't launch a million Blogger accounts that refresh to your site. Please oh please, for fuck's sake please, find some other way to get users. I don't want to search for xanax, viagra, phentermine, or any other shit you might have up your ass. And to tell the truth, if I did want to search for them, I'd go to Google, not you.

Update 1: Damien has presented 2 more great tips:
11. Write for writing's sake. Not just to get clicks on your ads. That's what a blog is (should be) about, anyway. If you can both communicate your unique personality, and also make money during the process, that's just great. If not, try sticking to the former one, rather than the latter.
12. Link to my blog. =P

Update 2: Here's another one from meself:
13. Mouse cursor changing into crosshair. Just why? Am I supposed to shoot something or what?

Update 3: Dear bestestblogofalltime, it's kinda tough to break this to you, but you're actually the worsest.. Please read above about lookuplive.com, for they also apply to you.

Update 4: Blogs that consist of only one post, lots of adsense, and has this exact theme:

These are quite common lately, which are probably launched by the same person/people.. And they're soo tasteless..

Sydney, Australia (that's s-Y-d-n-e-y)

2006-12-29T08:20:00.000-08:00

And it's Australia, not Austria, for that matter.

Here's the story of a young guy who found himself in Sidney, Montana. Right, he was expecting to arrive in Australia.

Dressed for the Australian summer in t-shirt and shorts, Tobi Gutt left Germany Saturday for a four-week holiday.

Instead of arriving "down under," Gutt found himself on a different continent and bound for the chilly state of Montana.

"I did wonder but I didn't want to say anything," Gutt told the Bild newspaper. "I thought to myself, you can fly to Australia via the United States."

That was clever, though. If he kept going west, he would actually arrive in Australia. And a bit to the south, perhaps.

Sad thing is, he was trying to visit his girlfriend in Australia.

He could of course just hijack a plane and push his way through to Sydney. A "gel-type candy" is weapon enough, according to the recent liquid restrictions. But no..

The hapless tourist, who had only a thin jacket to keep out the winter cold, spent three days in Billings airport before he was able to buy a new ticket to Australia with 600 euros in cash that his parents and friends sent over from Germany.

Can't spell, and not exactly imaginative. Tough luck..

I'm listening to - 2

2006-12-28T13:09:00.000-08:00

Again, sorry for any mistakes, for I don't speak Italian.. Here's Danny Brillant:

Puorte o cazone cu' un stemma arrete
Na cuppulella cu' a visiera aizata
Passe scampanianno pe' Tuleto
Comme a' nu guappo pe' te fa guarda..

Tu vuo' fa l'americano
Mericano.. Mmmericano!
Siente a me, chi t'ho fa fa?
Tu vuoi vivere alla moda
Ma si bevi, whisky and soda
Pò te sente' e disturbà..
Tu abballe'o Rock n Roll
Tu giochi al baseball
Ma'e solde pe' camel
Chi te li dà?
La borsetta di mammà!

Tu vou' fa l'americano
Mericano, Mmmericano..
Ma si nato in Italy!
Siente a me non ce stà niente a fa
Okay Napolitan!
Tu vuo' fa l'american,
Tu vuo' fa l'american!

Comme te po' capi chi te vo bene
Si tu le parle 'mmiezzo Americano?
Quanno se fa l'amore sotto' a luna
Comme te vene' capa e di, I love you?

Tu vuo' fa l'americano
Mericano.. Mmmericano!
Siente a me, chi t'ho fa fa?
Tu vuoi vivere alla moda
Ma si bevi, whisky and soda
Pò te sente' e disturbà..
Tu abballe'o Rock n Roll
Tu giochi al baseball
Ma'e solde pe' camel
Chi te li dà?
La borsetta di mammà!

Tu vou' fa l'americano
Mericano, Mmmericano..
Ma si nato in Italy!
Siente a me non ce stà niente a fa
Okay Napolitan!
Tu vuo' fa l'american,
Tu vuo' fa l'american!

This song is in a pretty heavy Napolitan dialect, I'm told, nevertheless here's a rough translation:

You wear your trousers with a coat of arms on the behind
A small coppola with its neck lifted up
You go swinging through Tuleto like a bully
Because you want people to notice you..

You want to be American
Listen to me, what's the use of it?
You want to live fashionably
But when you drink whisky and soda
You feel sick
You dance rock and roll
You play baseball
But the money for Camels
Who will give it to you?
Mamma's purse!

You want to be American
But you were born in Italy!
Listen to me there's nothing that can be done
Okay, Napolitan!
You want to be American
You want to be American

How can you know the one who loves you
If you speak to her half in American?
When you're making love under the moon
How do you know how to say "I love you"?

What to do with a free Ferrari

2006-12-28T12:28:00.000-08:00

What to do if you receive a "free" Acer Ferrari laptop in the mail? From Micro$oft, that is..

It seems, the Gates crew are bribing certain (A-list) bloggers by sending a "for review" laptop, with Vista installed. The laptop is optional as to keep or return, or to donate. How charming.

This story is already big on Digg and many other big name sites, and it's really comforting to see the blogosphere reacting to this as they should.

The best way to deal with a "review" laptop from Gates:

install Linux

set the wallpaper

mail it back to Redmond

Give me a language

2006-12-26T13:38:00.000-08:00

I justed needed a language to code in..

Now that I'm divorced, I suddenly found meself with plenty of time to spare, even despite the day job. It was a relief, and I inclined back towards my binary sweetheart.

What I had in mind was to develop simple web based applications. Nothing in particular, I just wanted to experiment, for I hadn't coded anything for quite some time. So I began searching around, trying to pick up a language that would be both interesting to play with, and also somewhat efficient.

I'm not an actual hacker, but netiher I am a newbie. So before you begin yelling out and promoting your-language-of-choice, please take a look at my needs:

My experience: I first began programming on a Casio calculator, which had a BASIC implementation. Then I moved to GW BASIC on the pc. Then came Pascal and Fortran, during high school courses. I always avoided C. In college I drifted away from programming, and toyed with HTML. For a while I played with Assembly, but got bored too quickly, as it was too limited in terms of portability. Then I adopted Python, it was 1.4 I think, and it was a nice experience. Then I quit. I kind of lost interest, and also didn't have much time to spend (yeah, marriage).

Given that, here's a more recent me: I believe that server farms will soon replace desktop pcs. Not every pc, of couse, but I believe the majority of people who use their boxes just to surf the internet will soon have a more viable (and cheaper) solution, similar to the $100 laptop. Or even mobile devices, or gaming consoles. Anyway, my rationale was that web based applications were the way to go. So that's what I sought, a language to build the 2.0 experience on.

Rails, right. That's where I started, buzz and all. But I wanted to first study Ruby itself, so I read the talking foxes and the pragmatic tutorial. Actually, I didn't finish either of them. Ruby looked better (and more fun) than Python (as I knew it), but I had a hunch that I was looking at the wrong place.

So I searched more, and came up with Paul Graham. Is there anyone out there who read his essays and not tried out Lisp? I was amazed, and spent several days with the HyperSpec and On Lisp.

Lovable as Lisp was, I was dubious again. My favorite hosting company didn't support Lisp (what a surprise). It had extensions for Ruby, Rails, and Python, and PHP of course. I tried to find a decent (and not expensive) host that did provide Lisp support (or at least shell accounts) but I grew tired before I succeeded.

I took on Python, over again. It still made sense, everything in its right place, batteries included. Except that there were too many batteries now. Django, web.py, TurboGears, Zope.. I was, well, lost. Did I need all this stuff?

I reverted back towards the Ruby side. I actually tried out Rails this time. And ended up with a bunch of subdirectories. Many of them had even scripts in them. What does dispatch do, again? Not sure I needed all these scripts, and certainly not I wanted (a bunch of files popping up by themselves).

I gave up toying around, and took on PHP 5. I had always avoided PHP, like I did C. Why? Because they're both ugly. I thought (wanted to believe) that coding is about elegance, but probably I was a fool. So here I was, trying to implement a simple app in PHP. Guess what? I got bored..

I realized what I wanted was a small but extensible language, which I could shape myself, according to my own taste. Google led me to Scheme. Lisp again? Well, I loved the intro.. The whole language came with a standard (of 50 pages) that was about the length of the index of Common Lisp. I searched for a common implementation, but to my surprise, most of them had non-portable features that tried to imitiate Common Lisp itself.

Back to square one.

There you go, my quest in the past couple of weeks, with my basic background.

What I want, is a language, that is both interesting and not too-out-of-the-mainstream (so that I can find a plausible host).

My main focus is developing amateur web based applications in my spare time. I'm not a web startup, nor incorporated, so I wouldn't be looking into dedicated servers for hosting (still too expensive, as a hobby at least).

Any ideas?

Saddam must die

2006-12-26T11:24:00.000-08:00

The appeals court in Iraq finalized the previous verdict today, and ruled that Saddam should be executed, within 30 days.

If you still think that Saddam's trial was unfair, or illegal, or you are dubious about "whether a trial of the former Head of State in conformity with international standards is at all possible under the current conditions in Iraq, or whether the case should rather be referred to an international tribunal" like this phony bunch of guys, well, it's time to shut up.

Saddam must die, because he's evil. Saddam is guilty, and here's why:

September, 1980. Iraq invades Iran. The beginning of the Iraq-Iran war.

February, 1982. Despite objections from congress, ~~President Reagan~~ Saddam removes Iraq from its list of known terrorist countries.

November, 1983. ~~A National Security Directive~~ Saddam states that ~~the U.S~~ Saddam would do "whatever was necessary and legal" to prevent Iraq from losing its war with Iran.

November, 1983. ~~Banca Nazionale del Lavoro of Italy and its Branch in Atlanta~~ Saddam begin to funnel $5 billion in unreported loans to Iraq. Iraq, with the blessing and official approval of ~~the US government~~ Saddam, purchased computer controlled machine tools, computers, scientific instruments, special alloy steel and aluminum, chemicals, and other industrial goods for Iraq's missile, chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programs.

October, 1983. The ~~Reagan~~ Saddam Administration begins secretly allowing Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Egypt to transfer United States weapons, including Howitzers, Huey helicopters, and bombs to Iraq. These shipments violated the Arms Export Control Act.

November 1983. ~~George Schultz, the Secretary of State~~ Saddam, is given intelligence reports showing that Iraqi troops are daily using chemical weapons against the Iranians.

December 20, 1983. ~~Donald Rumsfeld , then a civilian and now Defense Secretary~~ Saddam, meets with Saddam Hussein to assure him of US friendship and materials support.

July, 1984. ~~CIA~~ Saddam begins giving Iraq intelligence necessary to calibrate its mustard gas attacks on Iranian troops.

January 14, 1984. ~~State Department~~ Saddam memo acknowledges ~~United States~~ Saddam shipment of "dual-use" export hardware and technology. Dual use items are civilian items such as heavy trucks, armored ambulances and communications gear as well as industrial technology that can have a military application.

March, 1986. ~~The United States~~ Saddam, with ~~Great Britain~~ Saddam, block all Security Council resolutions condemning Iraq's use of chemical weapons, and on March 21 ~~the US~~ Saddam becomes the only country refusing to sign a Security Council statement condemning Iraq's use of these weapons.

May, 1986. ~~The US Department of Commerce~~ Saddam licenses 70 biological exports to Iraq between May of 1985 and 1989, including at least 21 batches of lethal strains of anthrax.

May, 1986. ~~US Department of Commerce~~ Saddam approves shipment of weapons grade botulin poison to Iraq.

March, 1987. ~~President Reagan~~ Saddam bows to the findings of the Tower Commission admitting the sale of arms to Iran in exchange for hostages. ~~Oliver North~~ Saddam uses the profits from the sale to fund an illegal war in Nicaragua.

Late 1987. The Iraqi Air Force begins using chemical agents against Kurdish resistance forces in northern Iraq.

February, 1988. Saddam Hussein begins the "Anfal" campaign against the Kurds of northern Iraq. The Iraq regime used chemical weapons against the Kurds killing over 100,000 civilians and destroying over 1,200 Kurdish villages.

April, 1988. ~~US Department of Commerce~~ Saddam approves shipment of chemicals used in manufacture of mustard gas.

August, 1988. Four major battles were fought from April to August 1988, in which the Iraqis massively and effectively used chemical weapons to defeat the Iranians. Nerve gas and blister agents such as mustard gas are used. By this time ~~the US Defense Intelligence Agency~~ Saddam is heavily involved with Saddam Hussein in battle plan assistance, intelligence gathering and post battle debriefing. In the last major battle with of the war, 65,000 Iranians are killed, many with poison gas. Use of chemical weapons in war is in violation of the Geneva accords of 1925.

August, 1988. Iraq and Iran declare a cease fire.

August, 1988. Five days after the cease fire Saddam Hussein sends his planes and helicopters to northern Iraq to begin massive chemical attacks against the Kurds.

September, 1988. ~~US Department of Commerce~~ Saddam approves shipment of weapons grade anthrax and botulinum to Iraq.

September, 1988. ~~Richard Murphy, Assistant Secretary of State~~ Saddam: "The US-Iraqi relationship is... important to our long-term political and economic objectives."

December, 1988. ~~Dow chemical~~ Saddam sells $1.5 million in pesticides to Iraq despite knowledge that these would be used in chemical weapons.

July 25, 1990. ~~US Ambassador to Baghdad~~ Saddam meets with Hussein to assure him that ~~President Bush~~ Saddam "wanted better and deeper relations". Many believe this visit was a trap set for Hussein. A month later Hussein invaded Kuwait thinking the US would not respond.

August, 1990 Iraq invades Kuwait. The precursor to the Gulf War.

July, 1991 The Financial Times of London reveals that ~~a Florida chemical company~~ Saddam had produced and shipped cyanide to Iraq during the 80's using a special ~~CIA~~ Saddam courier. Cyanide was used extensively against the Iranians.

August, 1991. Christopher Droguol of Atlanta's branch of Banca Nazionale del Lavoro is arrested for his role in supplying loans to Iraq for the purchase of military supplies. He is charged with 347 counts of felony. Droguol is found guilty, but US Saddam officials plead innocent of any knowledge of his crime.

June, 1992. Ted Kopple of ABC Nightline reports: "It is becoming increasingly clear that ~~George Bush Sr.~~ Saddam, operating largely behind the scenes throughout the 1980's, initiated and supported much of the financing, intelligence, and military help that built Saddam's Iraq into [an aggressive power]."

July, 1992. "The ~~Bush~~ Saddam administration deliberately, not inadvertently, helped to arm Iraq by allowing ~~U.S.~~ Saddam technology to be shipped to Iraqi military and to Iraqi defense factories... Throughout the course of the ~~Bush~~ Saddam administration, ~~U.S.~~ Saddam and foreign firms were granted export licenses to ship ~~U.S.~~ Saddam technology directly to Iraqi weapons facilities despite ample evidence showing that these factories were producing weapons." ~~Representative Henry Gonzalez, Texas~~ Saddam, testimony before the House.

February, 1994. ~~Senator Riegle from Michigan, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee~~ Saddam, testifies before the senate revealing large US Saddam shipments of dual-use biological and chemical agents to Iraq that may have been used against US troops in the Gulf War and probably was the cause of the illness known as Gulf War Syndrome.

August, 2002. "The use of gas [during the Iran-Iraq war] on the battle field by the Iraqis was not a matter of deep strategic concern... We were desperate to make sure that Iraq did not lose". ~~Colonel Walter Lang, former senior US Defense Intelligence officer~~ Saddam tells the New York Times.

I'm listening to

2006-12-22T14:40:00.000-08:00

C'est étrange
Je n'sais pas ce qui m'arrive ce soir
Je te regarde comme pour la première fois

Encore des mots toujours des mots les mêmes mots

Je n'sais plus comme te dire

Rien que des mots

Mais tu es cette belle histoire d'amour
que je ne cesserai jamais de lire

Des mots faciles des mots fragiles
C'était trop beau

Tu es d'hier et de demain

Bien trop beau

De toujours ma seule vérité

Mais c'est fini le temps des rêves
Les souvenirs se fanent aussi quand on les oublie

Tu es comme le vent qui fait chanter les violons
et emporte au loin le parfum des roses

Caramels, bonbons et chocolates

Par moments, je ne te comprends pas

Merci, pas pour moi
Mais tu peux bien les offrir à une autre qui aime le vent et le parfum des roses
Moi, les mots tendres enrobés de douceur se posent sur ma bouche mais jamais sur mon cœur

Une parole encore

Parole, parole, parole

Ecoute-moi

Parole, parole, parole

Je t'en prie

Parole, parole, parole

Je te jure

Parole, parole, parole, parole, parole encore des paroles que tu sèmes au vent

Voilà mon destin te parler
te parler comme la première fois

Encore des mots toujours des motsles mê mes mots

Comme j'aimerais que tu me comprennes

Rien que des mots

Que tu m'écoutes au moins une fois

Des mots magiques
des mots tactiques qui sonnent faux

Tu es mon rê ve défendu

Oui, tellement faux

Mon seul tourment et mon unique espérance

Rien ne t'arrête quand tu commences
Si tu savais comme j'ai envied'un peu de silence

Tu es pour moi la seule musique
qui fit danser les étoiles sur les dunes

Caramels, bonbons et chocolates

Si tu n'existais pas déjà je t'inventerais

Merci, pas pour moi
Mais tu peux bien les offrir à une autre qui aime les étoiles sur les dunes
Moi, les mots tendres enrobés de douceurse
posent sur ma bouche
mais jamais sur mon cœur

Encore un mot juste une parole

Parole, parole, parole

Ecoute-moi

Parole, parole, parole

Je t'en prïe

Parole, parole, parole

Je te jure

Parole, parole, parole, parole, parole encore des paroles que tu sèmes au vent

Que tu es belle

Parole, parole, parole

Que tu est belle

Parole, parole, parole

Que tu es belle

Parole, parole, parole

Que tu es belle

Parole, parole, parole, parole, parole encore des paroles que tu sèmes au vent

Sorry for any stupid mistakes, I don't speak French.

And if neither do you, you can still take a half-wit peek at google.

Dalida and Joe Dassin with an epic performance.

Fun or Sun?

2006-12-22T13:46:00.000-08:00

The Sun won't be here forever. It will probably burn out in a few million years. Better not get too used to it. Better enjoy it while you can.

Wait.. You probably won't last that long.

The advice still holds, just needs a paraphrase —

You won't be here forever. You will probably burn out in a few decades. Better not get too used to yourself. Better enjoy life while you can.

I'm not completely drunk yet, so you might consider that as a hint, if not the truth.

Either way, you have a limited amount of time (life) to spend. Just like me.

How do you plan to spend it?

Never thought of it? Come on.. Your life is the most real thing you do (and ever will) possess. You never thought of how to use it?

Head up. Stand up. You've got all the time in the world, and you surely wouldn't want to spend it sitting down.

So what to do? Imagine yourself in a year from now. In five years.. In ten years. Where do you want to be? How do you dream yourself?

Sailing in the Mediterranean, on an old ass wooden boat, fishing for dinners and picking tomatoes for breakfast, drinking raki (or uzo) every other night, catching every drop of the sun, every shssh the wind carries, never having to get up early (but getting up early anyway, just to catch the sunrise), no troubles about a day-job what-so-ever, earning your living just writing poems and stories (or maybe code). Or maybe just trading in fish for whatever you need.

That is Sun.

Working your ass off like you have a thousand more, playing the corporate game, honing your skills in office politics, getting that office with a view, a salary you can't ever spend, meetings, god all the meetings, a luxury car parked in front of your luxury house, which is decorated with all the luxury money can buy, and spending your money on all the luxury entertainment (can't think what), the parties, 5-star hotels, malls, designer clothes, antique collections, security systems (of course).

That is fun.

I'd prefer the Sun. Not just because it's free. Because it's more real.

Your love did not desert me

2006-12-18T14:43:00.000-08:00

Ok, I admit this is one of those "drunk" posts I produce every once a while. There, you're warned.

Here's a translation of a poem (and also a song) from my native language:

Your love did not desert me
Hungry as I were
Thirsty as I were
The night was treacherous and dark
Your love did not desert me

The heart is still poor
The heart is still silent
The heart is shattered to pieces
Your love did not desert me

Handcuffed as I am
I've been without a smoke, without a sleep
Your love did not desert me

Is love just so overrated?

Here's my (controversial) (mindless) rant:

There are two (2) kinds of people — those who could fell in love with anybody, and those who could never fall in love.

"Sparkle" is a fine word. There are people (like me), who fell in love with a single sparkle (or two) they see in somebody. The person might as well be Britney Spears or Bill Gates, no matter what their conscious (subconscious) tells them, that single (or couple) sparkles do the job already. Love is blind. This type of person is not aware that he/she could actually fall in love with -anyone-, and this unawareness (as long as it sustains) fucks him/her up real good.

There's also another kind of person (the second). He/she too might fall in love easily, but under different presumptions. While type A picks up the "good sparkles" in any person (and falls in love with them), this type B picks up the "bad sparkles" in any person, particularly those who they are in love with, and begin carving out a (subconscious) (conscious) exit strategy.

Once more, I am pretty drunk at the moment. I'm getting divorced in 10 hours. My opinions are probably ego-centric and self-applauding, (which is the exact opposite of what I've always tried to be), but that's human nature. Don't say you've not been warned.

So my theory, (not that you could build a LISP macro on it), is that there are 2 (two) kinds of people. Those who are inclined to fall in love (with any sparkle they happen to see), and those who are inclined to drop it all (with any sparkle they happen to see).

Honestly, I had some other issues to write about this subject, but I can't quite remember right now. So I'll be a jerk and end the post with another song: (songs are divine)

Can't get the stink off
It's been hanging round for days
Comes like a comet
Suckered you but not your friends
One day she'll get to you
And teach you how to be a holy cow

You do it to yourself, you do
and that's what really hurts
You do it to yourself, just you
you and no-one else
You do it to yourself
You do it to yourself

Don't get my sympathy
Hanging out the 15th floor
You've changed the locks three times
She still comes reeling through the door
One day I'll get to you
And teach you how to get to purest hell

You do it to yourself, you do
and that's what really hurts
You do it to yourself, just you
you and no-one else
You do it to yourself
You do it to yourself

You do it to yourself, you do
and that's what really hurts is
You do it to yourself, just you
you and no-one else
You do it to yourself
You do it to yourself, yourself, yourself.

Yeah, that's good old Radiohead.

Kudos to yourself — if you can guess I'm type A or type B.

Peace of mind — if you can guess if you're type A or type B.

Worth Reading

2006-12-15T16:28:00.000-08:00

I spent the last several hours reading Paul Graham's essays. It's beyond words, to reflect the sensation you get from reading the paths a similar mind can take you.

Back to Life

2006-12-13T15:41:00.000-08:00

My computer crashed..

I'd been using Ubuntu Linux along with Win2k, and somewhere along the line, I think I did something that raged the M$ god. Nothing seemed to work, so I just showed the gate to Gate$, and re-installed Ubuntu from scratch.

And I just love it. I got the 6.06 Dapper Drake, and it works like a miracle.

What do you do first after you re-format your complete drive?

I downloaded some songs from the Gnutella Network.

I know this post is not worth a dime, but just in case, here's my playlist after an hour with my brand-new setup. The essentials, that is, so if you miss any of these, you'd better lend an ear.

Bjork - Big time sensuality
Bjork & Tricky - Black coffee
Bjork - Fucking in rhythm and sorrow
Bjork - Unravel
Nancy Sinatra - My baby shot me down
Nirvana - Lithium
PJ Harvey & Thom Yorke - This mess we're in
Placebo - A friend in need
Placebo - Every me and every you
Placebo - Where is my mind (Pixies cover)
"Screamin" Jay Hawkins - I put a spell on you
"Screamin" Jay Hawkins - I love Paris
Skunk Anansie - Brazen
Skunk Anansie - Secretly
Skunk Anansie - You've made your bed
The Doors - Hello I love you
The Doors - Love her madly
The Raconteurs - Steady as she goes
The Rolling Stones - Angie
The Rolling Stones - I can't get no satisfaction
The Rolling Stones - Paint it black

Did you write your letter to Santa?

2006-12-10T05:17:00.000-08:00

You'd better hurry, if you haven't already.

You don't know the address? Come on, everybody knows that. Just mark your envelope with "Santa Clause, North Pole". According to this story, even letters without stamps get through.

However, there is a proper way to address a letter to Santa. It appears North Pole is a town in Alaska, and Santa's Elves are volunteering town folks and the US Postal Service. The USPS has released guidelines for parents, who want their children's letters to Santa get replied.

Parents are encouraged to work with their children while they write letters to Santa so they can pick up a few tips when they later help craft Santa's reply. Once the reply is written, "Santa's response" should be placed in a stamped envelope addressed to the child. This envelope should then be placed in a larger, properly stamped, First-Class Mail or Priority Mail envelope and mailed to:

North Pole Christmas Cancellation
Postmaster
5400 Mail Trail
Fairbanks, AK 99709-9998

That ensures you'll get the Santa North Pole postmark.

The X-Bomb

2006-12-08T12:23:00.000-08:00

Recently, the Iraq Study Group Report has created much buzz, almost as much as Britney crotch shots. It currently sells at $6.57 at Amazon, but you can download it for free in PDF.

The global consensus, as presented in the report, is that the US failed to succeed in Iraq. Powell gone, Rumsfeld gone, Bush still funny, and even the remaining neocons are in agreement with pulling out of Iraq.

An obvious failure, right?

Think again..

What did the US fail to do in Iraq? To bring peace and democracy and civilization and freedom? Great balls of fire..

Iraq was invaded by the coalition forces, based on "mistaken" intelligence about mass destruction weapons. Does anybody remember that, nowadays? No, it's confessed and forgotten.

Insurgency. Honestly, I had never heard the word until the Iraq invasion. It's a cleverly picked up word. If you're too lazy (or too hooked up with my rant) to follow the link, this is what it means:

in·sur·gen·cy : the quality or state of being insurgent; specifically : a condition of revolt against a government that is less than an organized revolution and that is not recognized as belligerency

Nice one. Already feels scornful enough. But WTF is belligerency?

bel·lig·er·en·cy : the state of being at war or in conflict; specifically : the status of a legally recognized belligerent state or nation

Ahh.. Now, that rings a bell..

Looking for weapons of mass destruction? Let me tell you a tale about them.

Once upon a time, there was the H-Bomb. They were majestic when used, and few nations had them. Then, more nations got their own, and ironically, the probability of someone using them faded away.

Why? Because it's inhumane. It's an all-out act of crime, mushroom cloud and all. Much like the invasion of Iraq, which is in every aspect illegal with respect to international law, the UN Charter, and plain ethics.

You must be really curious if you've read this far, all this boring stuff. Here comes the nice part — I'll introduce you to the latest addition to the weapons of mass destruction, the X-Bomb.

Actually, it's not that new. You've seen it at work in Sarajevo. In Tbilisi, Georgia. In Beirut, time and again. And now in Baghdad and Kirkuk. Also known as "divide and conquer".

The X-Bomb doesn't let out a mushroom cloud. It's much stealthier. It can even be dropped in peace-time, without raising alerts.

The science behind the X-Bomb is simple: you take a nation, and draw a big bold "X" right in the middle.

During the Yugoslavian civil war, I recall a scene from a TV interview. The camera crew arrive in a small village. Of the couple hundred people that used to live there, only an old man is still alive. I can't really remember if he was a Bosnian or a Serb or a Croat, and it doesn't matter. The reporter tries to get the story of the massacre, he asks, through a translator, things like "Were your townsfolk killed by snipers?" "Were there tanks?" "Which direction did they come from?" The old man shakes his head all the time, in tears. Finally, he says something like "What are you talking about? It was our people. I had been to the wedding of the man who killed my wife. The kids of the man who killed my grandsons used to play at our home".

That, my friends, is the X-Bomb. That scene of the old man truly makes me sad.

Has the US failed? Not at all. They've done an amazing job. The Shiites, the Sunnis, the Kurds, the Turkomans, who had been living in harmony on the same soil for thousands of years, have now turned against each other. Neighbours are killing neighbours in Baghdad, in Kirkuk.

This is no tale, it's the reality. That's the civilization and freedom that has been brought to Iraq. I am not exaggerating, I am not being partisan. It's all over the news: Shiites bomb Sunnis, Sunnis kill Kurds, Kurds slaughter Turkomans, Turkomans bomb Shiites.

The USA has succeeded. The X-Bomb did a swell job in Iraq.

The World is Mine

2006-12-07T13:00:00.000-08:00

Every relationship is based on selfishness..

It sounds pessimistic when I say it, but it's put brilliantly on RoadSlave:

It's amazing how we let our relationships just fade because we are unwilling to sacrifice.

Could anyone argue they've fared any better?

I'm far from social. I have so few relationships still alive, and I can't say I really try to grow my circle. I've always been comfortable with being-on-your-own.

The good thing about having few friends, is that you can give your best attention to them, do everything you can when they are in need. I used to think of meself as stable and countable. Until I read:

That's all this is anyway, this life, it's relationships.
Talking about them, living them, trying to have them, maintaining them, longing for them.
As individuals we cannot survive or be happy without them. This is what really matters. Yet, we are narcissists and cannot see beyond our own desires, our own fears.
We are locked inside ourselves and are constantly screaming to get out.

We want someone to know us in a way that we can no longer hide and still we are afraid of judgment, failure, unreciprocated feelings, reciprocated feelings and commitment (and I'm sure a whole laundry list of others).

Shattering my integrity.

Reminding me of many calls I've never returned, many emails I've never replied.

Giving is one of the best things you can do in this life.

There's a catch, though, in my humble opinion. Don't be too patient. Don't spend five years of your giving on the same person. Make sure you are getting bits and pieces in return. Otherwise, I'd say it's better to give elsewhere.

Egocentric as I am.

50 Good Things About Life

2006-12-06T10:58:00.000-08:00

A peaceful sleep. No worries keeping you awake, no nightmares, no alarm clocks.
Waking up early. Not because you have to --just for the sake of the lingering sunshine on your face.
The smell of fresh coffee.
A smoke to accompany the fully caff'ed.
Breakfast. Full-fledged, deserving its name. Tomatoes, olives, and all.
Money. The dirt on your hand. Without it, you're worthless. Not that this is my design, it's just the way it goes. Not that I'd put so much emphasis on it, if it were up to me.
Health. One thing your money can't buy. You can buy to look younger, but you can't buy off a flu.
Cold beer. No tin can, the bottle himself.
The sea. Is there anything more soothing than the sound of waves? The sea, the horizon, the mild breeze.
The rain, H2O again. I truly feel sorry for people who are too elite to get soaked by the rain.
Whistling, it's so cliche, but so heart warming.
Fire. Not as in "the roof is on fire" -- but a campfire, or even a candle. Isn't it hypnotic?
Poetry. In ancient times, people gathered around a fire, and listened to the shaman (who was also a poet). Under the spreading chestnut tree, I sold you and you sold me.
Music. Or better yet, songs that pierce your very soul. An actual song with lyrics. I'm listening to Lemon from U2, at the moment (yeah, hence the name of the blog, clever you). Midnight is where the day begins. A man dreams of leaving, but he always stays behind.
Drunkness. "Get drunk -- with wine, or poetry, or with love". Can't really recall, but I think it was Verlaine.
A pet. Ever considered what a kitten or puppy might bring your home?
Lies. That's how you tell friend from foe.
Love. I really had to restrain meself up to this point, but I guess it would pop in sooner or later. And my scale for love is the size of your grin when you hug your beloved. Nothing more, nothing less.
Randomness. And complexity. Even if you do the exact same things at the exact same times, today won't be anything like yesterday.
Getting married. Once and for all, you find who you belong to. Home is sweet.
Getting divorced. The freedom of being on your own.
Getting shot. If you don't know what it's like being close to the end, how can you appreciate life?
Hellos. The basics of human interaction. Full of surprises.
Games. Toys. Who wouldn't play?
Photographs, framed on the wall. What other proof have you got of your lives?
The Impressionists. Monet, Renoir. Degas. Sisley. This is art.
1984. A tale so full of truth. Thank you, Orwell.
Also Sprach Zarathustra. Ein buch fur Alle und Keinen.
Hitch-hiking. You can't compare it with luxury cruise lines.
A good movie. Fight Club, for example. Or A Bout de Souffle. Or Memento.
Time, when you're not racing against it. Time, when you're sun-bathing, or making love.
Friends. The kind you can call up after years of silence.
Parents. Even if you don't even speak with them. For once, you owe them this very life of yours. For seconds, all the attention you'll ever get might be theirs.
Children. Of your own. From your beloved. Never mind the numbers in the list, this is the best you'll ever get, guaranteed.
Sailing. No diesel, no plexiglas, no buttons or switches. Just sailing, like they did in ancient China, racing through the fog and what not.
Open source. Information wants to be free.
The wind. In your hair, on your bare skin.
The more I listen to it, the least I can resist: The Raconteurs -- My Baby Shot Me Down from the Lollapalooza, followed by Nancy Sinatra.
Kurt Cobain minus Courtney Love.
Traveling. Go go go!
Crying. Yeah yeah, boys don't cry. In public.
Marketing. For showing us what we can be fooled into.
George W. Bush. For showing us what failure is.
The night. When it's quiet, dark, and lonely. When strangest things happen.
Dreams. The goals, not the sleepy images. The imaginary projections of ourselves. Aren't they perfect?
Imagination. What separates us from other animals.
Luck. Fate. Probability. Whatever you call it, you can't deny its impression on your life.
Sorrow. And regret. The ultimate teachers.
Snow. Now, isn't that a miracle?
Life itself. Believe it or not, this is the only one you'll get.

Eat the Rich

2006-12-05T11:06:00.000-08:00

Do you have half a million bucks?

If you do, you belong among a certain 37 million people, who make up the top 1% of the wealth distribution in the world.

The recently published study by the World Institute for Development Economics Research of the United Nations University (UNU-WIDER), shows that this 1% crème de la crème (mob) owns half of all the world's assets.

The complete report is available for downloading in PDF.

The press release says that this report is scientifically significant, because it focuses on total assets (instead of income, which many other studies track), and also because of the wide data coverage of the analysis.

People in North America, Europe, and certain Asia-Pacific countries (like Japan and Australia), collectively hold 90% of the world's total wealth.

Need I remind, that even if you're living in one of these lucky regions, you're not necessarily in the 1% club:

The authors go on to note that ‘many people in high-income countries have negative net worth and —somewhat paradoxically— are among the poorest people in the world in terms of household wealth.’

Talk about equality. Talk about human rights. Talk about freedom.