I got a copy of this book in the mail from my folks recently, and it is a great read. I just can’t reconcile the gravity of what it reveals with the lack of media attention. Something is odd about the whole situation. It seems to me that the public might not be surprised with it’s content given the Scooter Libby thing, the DoJ thing, and the Tenet thing happening rapid fire. It might just take a Headline like President eats fetuses for breakfast to startle the public. It is asinine that we would want to impeach someone over sex (don’t get me wrong, I am not defending Clinton,) but when an administration manipulates and misleads people nothing happens. Well take this as a lesson; every time a neocon is voted into office McCain eats a kitten.

- Duke

I was poking through NPR’s archive today and found these essays. It is surprising to read these essays. I wouldn’t have thought folks like these would have invoked religion so much. Enjoy.

Aldous Huxley

Walden Pell II

Adlai Stevenson

Harry Truman

I try to follow security related issues fairly closely and I am fairly surprised to see the delay of at least a day in reporting major issues like Halliburton’s move to Dubai, and even greater delay of up to a week with smaller stories. It is kind of odd, because I used to rely heavily on news networks for news, and now I find myself moving away from them and more towards the blogs of their sources. Its funny how a RSS reader can make a news service like the BBC superfluous by cutting out the middle man. RSS/Aggregators give the reader the power to create their own micro news service with the opportunity for speedy receiption of news, and more detailed coverage of what they are interested in. It will be interesting to see what happens to places like the BBC/NPR where people conventionally went for the same type of information. I guess they’ll have to get faster or provide more original content.

-Duke

I have been away for awhile, but let me see if I can back into the swing of things. Anyway, I have a couple thoughts for today.

1. It is incomprehensible that these folks at fox and other “Republican” pundits refuse to acknowledge Scooter Libby IS a criminal. I think that they are forgetting that Libby did two unforgivable things;
a. Outted an undercover US intelligence operative because he and his ilk were irritated at her HUSBAND
b. Lied to federal investigators. These crimes transcend political boundaries as they acted against the interests of ALL citizens. Anyone defending his actions (other than the man paid to) have some cajones to even call themselves American.

2. Another point for Later about Iraq. Leaders at all levels need to give their subordinates guidance so they can share their vision. I’ll try to expound on that a little later.

In the mean time I’ll leave you with an interesting article from Larry Johnson at No Quarter.
Fox News

-Duke

I just wanted to post a couple of quotes that I found particularly applicable to our situation currently.

“… one has to remark that men ought either to be well treated or crushed, because they can avenge themselves of lighter injuries, of more serious ones they cannot; therefore the injury that is to be done to a man ought to be of such a kind that one does not stand in fear of revenge.”
&
” There are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends by itself nor by the showing of others; the first is the most excellent, the second is good, and the third is useless.”
-Machiavelli

Pretty smart guy huh?

-Duke

I got some packages a couple days ago including a package from Ambrosia Software. I just wanted to say thank you again to these kind people. They sent a copy of their EV Nova board game, mugs, tee shirts, mouse pads, and decks of cards. My coworkers and I are putting all of these gifts to good use. The tee shirts are especially good because they just clothed us for Mid Tour leave. Thank you again Ambrosia.

Duke

Well its been a few days since our last snow, and it seems to be melting pretty well. This left us with some pretty muddy terrain. Not just your typical mud-on-the-street mud, but monty-python-bring-out-your-dead mud. Alot of goings on recently up here. We had that “detention” of Iranian diplomats over in Irbil and the Presidential address.

I can’t sit here and listen to that without thinking these policies we pursue don’t make any sense. I don’t know why we cant see that this halfway hardass act wont work. I’m sure most people in public office have read Machiavelli’s Prince. It should be a given that you cant do the fear me/love me thing at once. If we are going to be rude hard charging assholes, do it, but don’t go halfway. That is exactly what we are trying right now, and that is why we will ultimately fail. /sigh. Till Later.

-Duke

Just wanted to get that out there. You know so if you talk to Mel or Bill, tell em Rip-its are teh suck. Till later.

-Duke

Brrr. High of ~40 and a Low of ~20. Insane. Now I know what to say next time I hear someone say it never gets below 60 (or what gesture.) At least it makes for some fun times and some good views. Frankly I hope we get more snow. Some of the guys up here started making sleds. It looks like we might be able to have a little fun if it snows again. The snow got up to a couple feet thick. Well; I gotta go. Till later.

-Duke
Frost
Antennae
Mountains
View 3

I figure its only fair for me to start posting again now that I can finally
connect to the internet. We’ve been having some rather bad weather lately including a blizzard that lasted several days. Practically couldn’t see a thing. It looks like our heater is starting to go south. Last night it started making an awful noise that sounded like a medium sized rodent being beaten over and over. At least they say it should be fixed soon. Anyway I got a couple good pictures yesterday after the clouds were gone. Without further ado the pictures.
Winterview 1
Winterview 2