News & Commentary

It isn't just "freedom" they hate
When it comes to why we were attacked, many people want to boil this issue down into a simple issue of "They're jealous of our freedom".   That way it's a black & white issue, good vs. evil, and Americans like things simplified like that...it's convenient and easier to digest.   Unfortunately, it's just not that simple.   Read this and find out why.  To quote Walter Denny, professor of art history and Middle Eastern studies at the University of Massachusetts, the hating-freedom angle is "...bullshit.  In a national crisis people always try to frame a struggle using their own ax to grind."

Who is Osama Bin Laden?
There are some veeerrrry interesting things in this story from the BBC.  Apparently Bin Laden was on our payroll at some point, did you know that?  And they actually refer to him as "Mr Bin laden" in this story...how English, polite to the bitter end. :-)

An Afghan-American speaks
As someone who has lived in the country we're currently bombing the hell out of, this guy has some very interesting things to tell us.

The media's Islamic blind spot
You don't see many Muslim perspectives in our "fair and balanced media", do you?  That stuff doesn't make for exciting and dramatic coverage.   Understanding both sides of an issue is not what the media (or the government) wants to do...they're after ratings, results, and reactions, and they'll push whatever buttons necessary to get them.  This is why Internet news is such a blessing...I can go to dozens of different news sites from around the world and get a more complete picture of things.

How video games influenced the attack on America
I've played flight simulator games for years, and I've crashed into my share of buildings.  But could someone actually learn to fly a plane with one of these thing...and crash it for real?

The mall is no place to grieve
The President is telling us to go about our daily lives, to be strong in the wake of the attacks, and (most importantly) to go out and spend lots and lots of money to help our struggling economy.  Don't fall for it.

Is flag fever patriotism or darker stuff?
Good question.  Another excellent article on this subject...

How to Feel Calmly Patriotic and Yet Not the Slightest Bit Reassured by Bush & Co.
Read this, it's fantastic!!  It expresses exactly what has been on my mind during all this craziness:  just because I don't shove my flag in everyone's face and scream for revenge, it doesn't mean I hate my country or anything.  And yet, when I express this to certain people I know, I'm called "ignorant" and fingers are wagged at me as if I should know better.  But I will not apologize for refusing to make the flag my personal logo.

And our flag was still there
People are going absolutely nuts with the flag lately.  This article takes an interesting look at why people wave it, and how it can be misused in times like this when it's almost dangerous NOT to fly it.

White House Politically Corrects Maher
Maher Causes "Cowardly" Flap
This is just frightening.  Is this really the land of free speech?  After Maher's remarks, the White House spokesman actually warned us that "Americans need to watch what they say, watch what they do."  Or else...what?  I'm afraid to ask.  Maher could have phrased things a little more tactfully, but he's still entitled to air his opinion.  Then again, having a contrary opinion has been sort of a dangerous thing lately.  I've even been "verbally corrected" by people just for putting some editorials on my website, ones I didn't even write!

BSB Explains Comments
Another example of people overreacting to a celebrity's comments without even considering what they are.  One of the Backstreet Boys (of all people) made the mistake of wondering aloud what the U.S. might have done to provoke an attack like this.  It's a legitimate question, and it's a fact that our government HAS done things to piss off terrorist groups.  It's something we don't like to think about, because we want to be the innocent victims, but there's no denying history.  And look at the backlash this guy experienced.  The price you pay for speaking your mind...

Americans 'covered up massacre of 280 Taliban'
No!  Would our military do such a thing?  Sure, we drop bombs on the wrong people and blow up incorrect targets all the time, but would we actually try to cover up such a massacre?  Don't doubt it for a second.  Remember what the basic function of the military is, folks:  to kill people and blow things up.  So why aren't they taking pride in their work by splashing this all over the news?  You don't suppose the public would react badly to it, do you?  Gee, I wonder!  That alone speaks volumes about what our government is doing in the name of its people...it's doing things it's apparently ashamed to admit.

Eagan flight trainer wouldn't let unease about Moussaoui rest
This guy knew that someone in his flight class had terrorist leanings.  He reported it to the FBI.  And did the FBI listen?  Are you kidding?  This entire agency ought to be disbanded for its incompetence and reassigned to janitorial duties.  Same for the IRS...let these two groups scrub toilets together for a better America!

U.S. to bomb Afghanistan with cake
What?  I say...WHAT??  Is this someone's sick idea of a joke?  How impersonal...and how disrespectful.  This is the tacky equivalent to getting a White House Christmas card via e-mail.  Dropping cakes on the Afghans is supposed to make our government seem to actually give a shit about Ramadan, which of course it doesn't.  I'm truly embarrassed.  Do you think they'll actually drop these cakes on the correct targets for a change?

US bombs hit wrong target for second time in two days
Wow!  I think we're on our way to some sort of world record for hitting the most incorrect targets.  Wouldn't that be cool?

Three U.S. Troops Killed, 19 Hurt by Errant Bomb
Oh, lovely!  More action by the smart bombs, obviously.  They're smart, so they must have known what they were doing...unlike the people dropping them.

U.S. apologises to media on "friendly fire" cover
Yeah, suuuure you're sorry.  Not too eager to let the media cover your screw-ups, are ya?  Then again, we're only talking about a few dead people.  What, me worry?

Woman Pilot Sues U.S. Over Islamic Dress Code
This is just plain silly.  Requiring women in the Service to dress and behave like the oppressed women of Afghanistan?  Are they joking, or are they just being typical male military morons?

Carpet bombing 'kills 150 civilians' in frontline town
Just another day in the American War on Everything... Our Nintendo Warriors should have better aim than that.  But they usually blame it on the smart missiles these days.  "Bad smart missile!  Bad!!"  But then again, it's only 150 people...collateral damage.  No big deal.

Navy photo shows antigay slur on bomb
I shouldn't be too surprised by this, I suppose.  This kind of mentality is rampant in the military...but still, if they're going to slam "fags", they at least should do so with correct spelling and punctuation.  Then again, that part doesn't surprise me much either!  Someone kindly sent me the photo, so I'm including it with the story.  Woohoo!

U.S. Bomb Hit Kabul Neighborhood in Error -U.S.
U.S. Bombers Kill Kabul Family
Gee, it's comforting to know that our country's kids are dumb, but our bombs are plenty smart.  Then again, these bombs don't sound so smart to me...not to mention the people who can't target them correctly.

U.S. Plane Hits Near Afghan Home for Elderly
More "smart bombs" at work!  Funded with YOUR tax dollars, I might add.  Maybe these smarties could use some remedial courses.

Red Cross hit in US bomb attack
U.S. Bombs Hit Red Cross Warehouses
OK, now it's getting ridiculous.  I'm getting the feeling that they're just blowing up stuff to create neato footage for T.V. here at home.  Gotta have something to keep the masses happy, right?

U.S. propaganda to Taliban: 'You are condemned'
Read some of the things we're telling them on loudspeakers and radios over there.  A lot of Americans see this and say "Yeah!  Tell 'em how it is!  We're #1!  We'll kick their ass!  Yeah baby!"  Some people are so easy to please.

Exactly.  This is similar to the killer corn madness from last year:  people panicking because the media tells them to.  This is NOT the duck-and-cover 50's, folks...but the same paranoia is taking hold.  Here in Seattle last week, the downtown library was evacuated because someone saw some "white powder" on a table and completely lost their mind.  Biohazard teams were called in to save the day and make the place safe once again for our citizens...until they realized that the white powder was only some plaster which had fallen down from the ceiling.  Spooked cattle.  MooooOOOOO!

58 Charged in Anthrax Hoaxes
Good!  It's amazing how dumb people can be, preying on the fear of others for a cheap laugh.  I'll bet they ain't laughing now...

Man installs bin Laden lynching display on truck
So?  What's wrong with this?  People shouldn't pretend to be so shocked at such an image...it mirrors perfectly bloodthirsty kill-kill-kill mentality that a lot of people seem to have lately.  I just wish I could see a photo of it.

Gunman kills immigrant in Arizona
Seattle mosque targeted by attack
More hateful, ignorant actions.  Ever since the attack, I'm hearing lots of stories about people being treating like shit because they happen to be Muslim, or even just because they have brown skin.  A friend of mine even saw a white guy pay for his parking and then yell "Go back to your own country!" at the dark-skinned parking attendant before zooming off in his car.  What's the matter with these people?  Are we really that shallow as a nation?  I guess we are.  I'm very disappointed in these people who call themselves "Americans" the same as I do.  It's not very encouraging at all.

Falwell links gays to attacks, then apologizes
Ignorant, idiotic words from someone who claims to speak for God.  And isn't it amusing how these shallow fools say such hateful things, and then suddenly retract them as "misunderstandings" and expect total forgiveness for it?  As far as I'm concerned, Falwell and his so-called "Christian" ilk can do us all a favor by finding the nearest cliff and taking a leap of faith.

Official Dressed Down Over E-Mail
This is disheartening to say the least, but is it really surprising to learn that a news organization would use the WTC thing to bury other bad news?  It's the ultimate distraction.  The WTC attack is definitely worth covering, but the rest of the world doesn't just come to a screeching halt.  Our own media pulled this same stunt back when the Monica Lewinsky thing was going on.  They covered it relentlessly, distracting us from other things which may have been more important.  But we never found out, because all we were told to care about was whether or not Bill Clinton got a blowjob in his office.

US Backs Bush Plans, Ready to Give Up Civil Rights
I hope this isn't true, but I fear it may be.  In times of fear, we are too often willing to give up our rights for a little security...or the illusion of security.

Minister says relief shouldn't go to gays
This is too stupid to even dignify by mentioning, but of course I can't help myself!

Spider-Man trailer removed after US attacks
"Imagine" All the Inappropriate Songs
"Friends" Forced to Reshoot
Is it me, or are people willing to see pictures of the smoldering WTC remains instead of what the towers actually used to look like?  The towers are being erased from everything...movie trailers, video games, flight simulators, sitcom plots, etc.  A large radio network even released a list of songs which may be "inappropriate" for the airwaves now, including "Burning Down the House" and John Lennon's "Imagine"!  I'm just floored by this.  Aren't we supposed to be strong and courageous, and determined not to let the terrorists fill our lives with fear?  Then WHY are we so afraid to see the WTC as it was?  The two buildings are surely still a difficult sight for those who lost friends and family in the attacks, I don't disagree with that.  But how far are we going to take this?  Are we going to ban the sale of pre-attack NYC postcards which show the WTC?  Are movie studios going to discontinue production of terrorist-themed DVDs like "Die Hard with a Vengeance" or "True Lies"?  How about Bush coming on T.V. and asking everyone to remove personal photographs of the WTC from their scrapbooks?  Being sensitive is one thing, but by taking this too far we are hiding from reality.  I do agree with movie studio decisions to stop production or release of WTC-related terrorist movies, but this business with trying to remove the very memory of the WTC is overkill in the name of sensitivity.  Let the image of the WTC be a fond one, an image of a great thing which is no more, something to strengthen our resolve to destroy the network of terrorists responsible for this.  But let's not flee from the images...we're stronger than that.

Bush to Americans: Quit Drugs, Join War Effort
He's kidding, right?  Right?  Please tell me he isn't this dense.  Perhaps he would have more men able to fight in this war if he wasn't so busy locking them up for harmless, recreational pot use.  And what about all those alcoholics, smokers, and coffee addicts?  Why isn't he asking THEM to give up their drugs of choice to join the war effort?  Legal or not, they're still drug users like the others.  Let's not have any more hair-splitting propaganda, Shrubby.

Bush's "Crusade"
This man seriously needs to take a lesson in word usage.  He's using this term "crusade" in connection with our "war on terrorism".  The foremost definition of a crusade is a holy war.  Isn't that what the terrorists are waging?  This is a great article which examines Bush's use of this word and why he continues to use it.

Bush Vows to Rid World of Evil-Doers
Bush: U.S. Will 'Rid World of Evil'
Um, is he serious about this?  Isn't the goal of "ridding the world of evil" a little broad?  We're talking about stamping out evil itself here, not just going after the terrorists.  Bush wants to sound strong and righteous, but come on...ridding the world of evil?  Let's not get carried away with our rhetoric here.  Yes, we need to root out and destroy this network of terrorists.  But really, ridding the world of evil is way beyond our scope.  And if he didn't mean it that way, maybe he should think about these things before he says them.

World Trade Center, Pentagon Hit by Planes
When I read this story I was floored.  Our own President actually referred to the terrorists as "folks".  That's right, he called them "folks".  He said he's going to mount "a full scale investigation to hunt down and to find those folks who committed this act."  You know, the word "folks" is typically used in a friendly or familiar manner, as in "My, they're nice folks!" or "What are you folks up to this evening?"  When was the last time you heard something like "Saddam's army is a mean buncha folks!"  Who knows, maybe he's just such a down-home country fella that the word slips out naturally, but I'm not so sure.  He's able to command huge legions of soldiers and send them off to war, but a simple command of the English language often escapes him.  Of course this quote is no longer being printed anywhere, from what I can see, so I had to save it somehow...

Rivera, Fox ripped by rivals over war coverage
Where's Geraldo?
This is too funny...  First he was almost shot by a sniper, and now he admits that he wasn't bravely reporting from the frontlines of the battle like he said.  Dork!  Phony!  LIAR!!

Mariners Victory Won't Be the Same
Sports Comes to a Standstill
Pardon my French, but boo-fucking-hoo.  So a baseball victory is muted because a few thousand people died?  Oh, cry me a river!  These people need to grow up and realize that sometimes, despite what most Sports Cultists say, even human lives are more important than the outcome of a baseball game.  I'm just astonished by the value that people place on this stuff, it's just unreal.

Eerie Image Pulled From CD
Yes, this is a complete coincidence, but come on.  Using images like this, in a world like ours today, is just silly...no matter what kind of "artistic statement" they're trying to make.  Violence sells, sex sells...  And they actually have the audacity to say that this image is "a metaphor for the capitalist state being destroyed through the music."  Say what?  Not only is this kind of statement much too deep for a bratty hip-hop group, but it's the "capitalist state" which makes it possible for this stuff to be made and distributed in the first place.  More rebels with a misguided, nonsensical cause.  But such is the music industry today, eh?

Sept. 11 has little impact on gay travel
Gay New Yorkers report state of shock
Gay passenger may have foiled hijackers
I'm sorry, but this is absolutely ridiculous!  All kinds of people were involved in this whole disaster...gay, straight, men, women, whatever.  WHY does the "gay press" feel the need to single gays out from the rest of the crowd?  Did they somehow have a different experience or have a greater loss than everyone else?  Sexual orientation has nothing to do with this, nothing at all.  Maybe these writers felt like they had to report something different than the rest of the press, but this is just unnecessary.  This is a time when many people are suffering together, regardless of anything as personal as someone's homosexuality.  And as for the fact that one of the people who MAY have helped bring down the third plane is gay...who cares?  What does that fact have to do with anything?  Did his homosexuality give him some sort of superpowers or ultra-courage or something?  No.  It's irrelevant.  The gay press often disappoints me this way, by bringing up someone's homosexuality for no other reason than to say "See?  He was gay!  See??"  Whatever.  Not all of us are in such dire need of validation.

Stunned Hollywood Tries To Cope
Oh no!  Those poor Hollywood people are suffering SO much from all this.  They're having to actually push back their movie release dates, and some movies might not even come out at all!  Oh dear, this is a tragedy far worse than the massive loss of life in New York.  Far worse!  How will they ever survive this unspeakable act??

Internet breeds spam in wake of tragedy
Yes, spam has increased sharply because of the incident in New York, but I'm not seeing the kind of spam mentioned in this story (donation fraud).  I'm seeing plenty of faux patriotism being passed around in the form of "prayer candles" (chain letters), editorials about how great the U.S. is (I've read it a zillion times already), and PowerPoint slideshows with AP photos we've all seen a dozen times already.  People, this is NOT necessary.  Spamming your friends does not make you a better American.  Show your support some way which will actually BENEFIT others, such as donating money to a charity and/or relief efforts.  But whatever you do, STOP filling our mailboxes with this junk.  It's not helping anything at all.

Paris fashion shows go forward
Oh, thank God!  I just don't know how we would cope if the fashion world were in any way disrupted by these attacks.  I mean, really...what we all do if we didn't have these people around to tell us how ugly we are?