Tell Me Again Why I Should Care

I heard the grim news in passing today. From many sources. It's everywhere. You cannot avoid it. Even if you wanted to.
The death toll has surpassed 2,000 for Americans in Iraq.
I say this. Why have they died?
Do not patronize me and tell me it is so that Iraq can have a constitution.
Because, frankly, I don't care. I could care less if they ruled themselves by constitution, Torah, or "paper rock scissors". I just don't care.
And also do not presume to tell me this is so we can win the war on terror. There is no "war on terror". If there was really a war of that kind, they would be outlawing religion right now. But they are not, and the war on terror is their excuse to make their pockets deep with money.
For one thing, calling something a war means that there is a way to achieve victory. There is no way to "win" the so called war on terror. To win you have to "beat" the other side and have them see that your way is the right way.
The other side in this war on terror will never concede. They will never see any other way than their way.
The only way to win this "war" is to commit genocide. Leave absolutely no remnant alive.
And with genocide, there is no winner. There are only losers.
So, to continue to call this a war is wrong. Let's call it what it is.
It is a conflict of differing opinions.
The other side believes that their "god" gives them absolute authority to kill others who do not believe their ways.
"Our" side believes that their "god" gives them absolute authority to kill others who do not believe their ways.
Well, when I say it like that it makes them sound similar. The difference comes when I mention who the "god" is of each side.
Allah vs Money (God for the sake of the Christians)
Allah vs infidels.
Money vs terrorists.
Call it what you will. I will simply call it a waste of 2,000 soldiers lives.
As I said earlier, I do not care about Iraq. I care about America.
If we really cared about America we would be spending the 80 billion dollars every so often on security measures over here. Not over there.
Local money for local folks.
That is all for now.
Let me know what you think Earth.

Comic Book That You Should Be Reading

So, I was sitting here thinking about what I should write about. Then it occured to me. I should try and push the comic book to more of an audience.
I thought of a brilliant one. It is not even really a super hero book. Although the main character at one time was a super hero. But now, he's the mayor of New York. You know, you grow.
The title is Ex Machina. It is written by Brian K Vaughn. It is drawn by Tony Harris. It is published by Wildstorm Signature, which is an imprint of DC Comics.
Anyway.
This is a must read for anyone who likes smart dialogue and witty conversations.
I believe that there are two trades out now for this series. Trades are what are referred to as a collection of individual issues. Such as, the first trade collects the first like 5 issues of the series.
This series is flaming hot. It has people talking. It is getting noticed by major news publications.

In the first issue we are introduced to Mitchell Hundred. We see some flashbacks to his childhood, the accident that gave him some extra normal powers, his deciding to run for mayor and a final page of issue 1 that had many people crying and speechless. Trust me, if you cannot read the first issue of Ex Machina and not be moved, then you are a different breed of person.

The series is on issue 15 now, so it is not that far along. It is easy to catch back up with. Or if you find yourself interested and you do not want to visit your local comic book shop then you can just order the trades form Amazon or wherever when they become available.

Check it out. I would not lie to you.

Series Of Things That Are Pissing Me Off Pt 2

Here is another in a long list of things that I do not like.
This time I am going to talk about the political process. Specifically, campaign finance.
I agree with the intent of the McCain-Feingold Finance Law. I do not think that it goes far enough.
I think that you ought to eliminate all money from the process. People should receive free air time to air why they should be elected. No negative ads.
I just get sick and tired of hearing these people bitch and moan about their theory that "money = free speech". How much bulls**t do they think we can take? Do they honestly think that we are that stupid?
In essence, what they are trying to tell us is that your opinion only matters if you have money. So, my opinion matters more than some homeless person, but WAY less than an affluent person.
Mind you, at this point, my opinion is only very slightly higher than a homeless person.
I guarantee you anything, that if money were taken out of the equation, 95% of senators and congresspersons would quit their jobs. They are hypocrites.
Need I point out anything more than the problems that Bill Frist and Tom DeLay are in right now? Whether or not you like them, you have to agree that if money were not part of the picture, then there would be no problem. But instead, these people come to your house, poop on your floor, and tell you that the other side is out to get them.
Well, you know what? I do not give much of a damn about the other side either. Fix your own problems. Do not ever come to me and try to tell me that everything you are involved in is the product of some "activist judge" or "activist lawyer". Shut the hell up.
But getting back to the money issue. I know there are people who are pessimistic and say that money will never be taken out. I try to look at the possibility of money not being an issue.
Again, I want to vote FOR someone.
Maybe one of these days I might get around to actually running for a position. Who knows? At least then I could vote FOR someone. And I could do it without taking money or bribes from anyone. What a noble concept.

The Whole Voting and Candidate Process

The other day, I came to a conclusion with myself. I shared this observation with a coworker.

I told him that I wish there were actually people that I could vote for. I tend to vote Democratic most of the time. I have just been really disgusted by the people to vote for on both sides. (I am speaking more for the national races here). George W Bush has done nothing to endear himself to me. I very much dislike the way he does things. But that is for another post some other time.
I did not even care much for John Kerry. He was not the right person for the job. I do not want someone who has been gunning for the presidency since birth, ala Al Gore.
Politics are just so disgusting on a national level. They are even dirty on a state level. But, why is it that when I look at things going on in the government, I just get depressed? I should not be getting that way. I should be inspired.
I am just tired of voting against someone. I want desperately to vote FOR someone. Anyone.
Well, anyone within reason of course. I will not vote for Mickey Mouse. Ever.
I just want to vote for someone who should be in a leadership position. I am tired of voting for someone just because my union tells me to.
By the way, I do not follow their suggestions all the time. I am not cattle. Just had to clear the air on that one.
Please, will the real people please stand up so that we can vote for you?

Things I Like

U of L sports
Comic Books
Star Wars (the orignial trilogy)
ROME
Battlestar Galactica (the new tv series)
Books by R. A. Salvatore
Anachronism
Sim City
Civilization game on computer
Heroscape
Risk 2210 AD
Rome : Total War
Any Munchkin card game
Role Playing (D&D, Arcana Evolved, Buffy, Star Wars, Werewolf)
New England Patriots
Chicago Cubs
Weird Al Yankovic
High Definition TV
Cable
Broadband internet

These are just a few of the things that I like. But most of all, I really love my wife.
Thanks.

Series of Things That Really Irk Me Pt 1

You know something that really irks me?
People who do not update their blogs often. Like someone who posts maybe once every few weeks?
What's that about? Do they not have anything else better to do? Do they think that we are held captive by their abscence?
I have had enough with these people. Who's with me in restoring some daggone dignity to these blog posts?

The "ayes" have it. Dignity shall return.