Morning Coffee (55)

You ever see the movie "Groundhog's Day?" Yes? Well, that's what it feels like to me. Every day. I wake up (remarkably, I can wake up at 0200 and feel great, then when I get up a mere three hours later, I can barely move because I'm so tired). I shower. I let the dog out. I leave the house. I see the same three Fed Ex trucks leave the highway. I work. I leave, then I do it all over again. Groundhog's Day. Time to make the doughnuts…

It's good to see that it's warmed up. And by warmed up I mean it's not 0 degrees Kelvin. Currently, it is 10 degrees, but the Weather Channel tells me that it FEELS like -2 degrees. For all I care it could be -10 degrees, because at this point it all feels the same: too cold.

And speaking of this cold, this climate change/global warming thing is getting out of hand. It's almost like a religion. One side is convinced it's caused by man, the other convinced that it's natural. Some variations - some think it's happening, others think it's not happening at all. Combine the themes and you cover the gambit of this nonsense. When I say "think" I should say "believe" because that's what it is now, a belief. Each side has what appears to be sound science backing them up, but at this point, I don't think there's a such thing as sound science in this debate. Each side merely finds what it wants that will back their belief up; sort of like religion. You don't find a whole lot of religions people that will admit to something that punches a whole in their beliefs, nor will you find many in the global warming/climate change debate. I find the whole thing humorous. Look at the words - climate change (doesn't sound all that bad, and perhaps more accurate); global warming (man-caused connotations, sounds very bad).

Personally, I think we're pretty arrogant to insist that we know just how this planet works; so well that we can say for certain that man caused climate change. We can't even predict the weather tomorrow with any degree of accuracy (it's more like reading omens and portents) let alone say with any certainty that anything is the cause. However, I don’t think that absolves us the responsibility to do something about it. I see no reason we cannot modify our lives, collectively, to lessen the load on our planet. We, the United States, developed nuclear weapons in the span of four years. The entire country's resources were mobilized, billions upon billions of dollars spent, and for what? A weapon that was used twice (to devastating effect, admittedly). We have thousands of these weapons now. But alternative energy sources are primitive. I would argue that climate change is more of a threat to us than nuclear holocaust. Yes, people fear being incinerated in megaton nuclear explosions, and a nuclear holocaust would surely bring about global climate change - but we wouldn't be around to see it. We can take a proactive approach to avoiding nuclear holocaust, and thus it isn't a problem really. Climate change is a problem, mostly because we're doing squat about it. We're hemming and hawing about it rather than doing anything to prevent it. Who cares what is causing it? That's not the important thing. The important thing is that in a few hundred years, earth may have a hard time supporting life, not only for flora and fauna of a less sentient nature, but for mankind. I think it's irresponsible to simply argue about it when we could be doing something to help. Debate and discussion are good things, but they're paralyzing us. Indecision will kill us. We've made a conscious decision as a species to try to avoid nuclear holocaust - good on us. But since the connection between man-made and nature is difficult to see, we're having a hard time acting at all. And it's not instantaneous, but happens over decades and centuries, and that doesn't serve to motivate people. But our descendents might just wish we'd have done something about it.

To reiterate my opinion - I don't care what the cause is, whether it's fossil fuels or emissions from carbon turds, it's our responsibility to help ease the burden. This is not a First World problem; it's a global problem, and nations like China should not be exempt from regulation. I'm tired of the endless debate and court jester "experts" slinging figures and "facts." The time to act is now, or there won't be any time left.

I'm now getting off my soap box; into the elevator and pushing the button for the ground floor.

Some woman was found guilty of poisoning her Marine husband with arsenic to collect his insurance policy and live a life of luxury (to include breast augmentation). Her lawyer told the jury that Cynthia Sommer had "lost her knight in shining armor" alluding to the fact that she didn't kill him because she loved him so much and he meant so much to her, etc, etc. Interestingly, she's engaged to a former Marine she met a mere two months after her husband's death. I guess he didn't mean that much after all…helluva mourning period. Well, at least I wasn't poisoned with arsenic.

Word of the Day: Homily (noun): 1. a sermon; a discourse on a religious theme; 2. a moralizing lecture or discourse; 3. an inspirational saying; also, a platitude. Surprisingly fitting today.

On This Day in History: The first venereal diseases clinic opens at London Lock Hospital (1747). US government orders all Native Americans to move into reservations (1876). Mystery Science Theater 3000 ends its run on the Sci Fi channel (2004).

"Si vis pacem…para bellum."

Morning Coffee (54)

I wish I were having coffee with you this morning.

I have a headache. And my back hurts (when doesn't it?). It's 0640, and I'd already much rather be in couch sleeping. Or at least home doing nothing of interest. I mean, I do that here, so why not at home?

I'd rather be having coffee with you this morning.

Huge anti-war protest in DC. That's good. People should use their right to free speech. I honestly never thought I'd see this sort of thing though. I never wanted to see the sort of thing my dad saw growing up: massive anti-war protests, Jane Fonda making herself look silly, veterans wearing their medals while trashing their service, protesters spitting in the faces of troops coming home from war. But each day, it seems that we come closer to seeing just the sort of things my dad saw growing up. There's a right way, and a wrong way to protest something that you're against. I thought that maybe we had learned something from the 60s and 70s. We haven't.

People will always misinterpret, misunderstand, see through rose colored glasses, or just simply perceive things wrongly. You cannot stop it. So, I generally don't take offense to the stuff I hear or read people saying about the war or politics in general. They simply see things differently than I do. Perhaps wrongly, perhaps not. So when Rev Graylan Hagler says, "When we voted it was a directive to bring the troops home now," I sort of chuckle. I don't recall the election being hinged upon the immediate return of US troops, and if Rev Hagler voted for a person because the basis of his or her campaign was the immediate return of US troops, then Rev Hagler failed to make responsible use of his vote. When Tassi McKee, former Staff Sergeant in the Air Force, says, "I BELIEVE [stress added by me] this has become a civil war, and we are being hurt and making matters worse by staying in the middle of it," I simply smile the smile of the knowing and feel pity that Sergeant McKee's understanding of all things is primitive and cannot be helped. And I will address this buffoonery - what does a mere Staff Sergeant, whose military occupational specialty is unknown to the reader, have to say about the war? What information is she basing her "belief" on beyond the stuff she hears on TV and reads on her favorite internet news sites? Is this the sort of belief one has in a deity, where one is apt to suspend belief in other areas to continue belief in one? An opinion Sergeant McKee is entitled to, yes. And it needn't even be informed. But if she desires to influence the minds of others, then she needs more than a simple gut feeling, a queasiness in the stomach that we are making things worse. I wish we could leave, so McKee could witness the subsequent slaughter of Iraqi Shiites, Iraqi Sunnis, and Kurds by each other. So she could witness Iran's take-over of southern Iraq and war break out between the newly independent Kurdistan and Turkey and Iran. So she could witness genocide, and maybe even the catalyst of World War Three, all from the comfort of her Bastrop, LA, couch.

Former Marine Sergeant Jack Teller, 26, wears his olive green flight jacket during his time at the protest. He doesn't like wearing it, "because it reminds me that I participated in an immoral and illegal war." When Mr. Teller says those things, and follows it up with, "but it's important to make a political statement," I cannot help but smile. This is a man who thinks for himself, a man who makes logical conclusions based on his perception of reality. What's more: He's made himself a mere "political statement." He's nothing more now. Immoral…Illegal…two very bad things. But morality is in the eye of the beholder. And illegal? Well, if that's the case then there are a lot of Congressmen and Senators that need to be arrested. I'm not privy to Teller's motivations; and they're likely self-serving in some manner or another. But if I were to see him, I would tell him that it's not his responsibility to worry about whether or not he fought in an illegal or immoral war. History will judge that. But it will not judge him so long as he conducted himself with honor. He should remember the creed that warriors are to follow: "Ours is not to question why, ours is but to do or die." We don't make policy, we execute it. If you don't like that thought, don't join my beloved Corps. Some of you might know, that when the chips are down, and the complaining starts, USMC stands for "U Signed the Motherf@#*ing Contract." No one forced you to do so. Ours is not to question why, ours is but to do or die.

Annie Yanowitz laments that the war has been going on longer than her 2 year old daughter has been alive (2 years is such a long time, no?). She complains that Cheney says it will be a 50-year war. She says, "I find it totally inappropriate that our children may grow up with this war continuing." It's times like this that I question the ability of public schools to fully educate our citizens. Once upon a time, there was a thing called the "Cold War." It lasted 50 years. And another time, there was this thing called the "100 Years War." The Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage ran well over 100 years. Yanowitz fails to realize that Cheney does not mean "war" as in the sort of WWII constant battles kind of war, more like Cold War. She's foolish, because it's quite likely that Annie Yanowitz' life goes on as if there isn't a war going on. Little Amira will probably be oblivious to any war for a long time. She won't go without chocolate, as they did in WWII. No food rationing. No draft when she turns 18. Some of the foolish things people say I find remarkable.

Finally, I want to address the case of Corporal Joshua Sparling of the 82nd Airborne Division who served in Ramadi, Iraq. Sparling lost his right leg below the knee. An anti-war protester spit at the ground of Corporal Sparling who was counter-protesting with a group nearby. Some fool SPIT at the feet of one of my comrades. Forty years ago, we had the 60s, and they are returning to us. This act, this spiting makes me ill. Have we no decency? Spartans were not spit upon by their kin. Romans with disfiguring injuries were not spit upon by their fellow citizens. These are our soldiers, the defenders of our nation. Elect new leaders if you don't like what you've got, but do not soil the honor of these men and women. Their's was not to question why, their's was but to do or die.

I hope you see my point here, as oblique as it is. I'm not saying, "MORE WAR!" I'm critiquing the misinformed and unintelligent things people say. I'm not defending this war, although I feel that leaving would be bad. I hope you get my point.

Why can't I be having coffee with you rather than here?

Word of the Day: Cohort (noun): 1. a group or band of people; 2. a companion; an associate; 3. a group of people sharing a common statistical factor (as age or membership in a class) in a demographic study; 4. (Roman Antiquity) a body of about 300-600 soldiers; the tenth part of a legion; 5. any group of warriors. A Roman legionary cohort usually had 480 men, and it was 1/10 of a legion's order of battle (not sure what they mean by the "tenth part." The First Cohort, the most elite in a legion and the bearer of the legion's standard (aquila - legionary eagle) was normally double strength.

On This Day in History: First assassination attempt against a US president (Andrew Jackson). The assassins pistols misfire, and Jackson then beats the man with his cane (1835). Now that's a president. US Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan closes (1989). It has since reopened, bullet holes and all; I worked in it for six months. Now there's a new one.

"Hold me now I feel contagious. Am I the only place, that you've left to go? She cries her life is like some movie black and white. Dead actors faking lines over and over and over again…"

Morning Coffee (53)

Another weekend down. I figure I've got 2,262 weekends or so left. I'm sure they will all be as great as this one, though I doubt any will be greater. I mean, how could they be?

It's cold outside. Bitterly so. But it's so hot in my office, I would almost rather be outside, sleeping on my sheet of cardboard drinking whiskey out of a bag. Of course I kid. I don't drink whiskey. Anyway, there are no windows or anything in here, so we're entirely dependent upon massive blowers and ventilation systems to keep us warm/cool. I'm probably 200 feet from an outside wall even; buried in the bowels as they say.

Our friends the Brits are talking of putting new X-ray technology on lampposts in order to spot, as Breitbart says, "armed terrorists and other criminals." I'm not sure why they need to separate the two; more "war on terror" propaganda coming at you. Anyway, people have been freaking out about this technology for a while now as it allegedly allows the viewer to "see" through your clothes. I'm not sure what the big deal is. You cannot make out who it is; you can't really see faces. You can see a rough outline of body features but that's it. There's nothing remotely sexual about it in my mind. Surely, some fetish would develop, but the images are not stored, and I'm certain that if some moron were to try to disseminate the images, he/she would be fired and probably sued or imprisoned as they would probably have to fill out a substantial non-disclosure agreement. People are such prudes. What are they honestly worried about? Are they worried that someone will see their fat, bloated bodies and think ill thoughts? Then maybe this X-ray thing is the cure to our obesity.

I like this idea. I've worked security for concerts and other events, and I'll tell you from first hand experience, frisking thousands of people sucks. I know that people find it uncomfortable having a strange man frisk them; perhaps they feel violated. Well, it's not all that fun for us either. We don't think, boy, she's hot, I want to frisk her. No, it's awkward. So awkward, in fact, that some security guards don't do a very good job of it. Lots of people get through with minimal frisking. It's virtually impossible to get something through a quality frisk, but it's difficult to make sure you frisk people thoroughly every time, and a quality frisk is more invasive than a mere pat down. This technology would eliminate a lot of discomfort on both ends, and would likely make things safer. So, cut out the junk food, and revel in your X-rays. Oh, and some people get more X-rays than others…hilarious.

Word of the Day: Gadabout (noun): Someone who roams about in search of amusement or social activity.
On This Day in History: Romeo and Juliet is probably first performed (1596). Who cares? Yesterday was more interesting: Challenger explodes after liftoff (1986) (Do you remember seeing this?); Charlemagne dies (814); World Leprosy Day; and for Joe - Feast Day of St Thomas Aquinas.

[Insert remarkably profound quote, poem, song lyric here.]

Morning Coffee (52)

The main thing I hate about winter is not the cold, although I despise the cold. It's the static. I hate static more than (just about) anything. Static on everything. My pants, my shirt. It's the most uncomfortable feeling. Who's the idiot that invented static electricity?

No time to report today. I've got a slew of work that needs doing. Besides, there's probably nothing that you will find all that interesting. But the weekend is nearly here. I'm sure I'll have a blast.

Word of the Day: Overweening (adjective): 1. overbearing; arrogant; presumptuous; 2. Excessive; immoderate; exaggerated.

On This Day in History: President Hamid Karzai signs the new constitution of Afghanistan (2004). I used to help protect this guy from his own people.

"Don't be aroused by my confession unless you don't give a goddamn about redemption. I know Christ is coming, and so am I. You would too if the sexy devil caught your eye. Jesus is risen, it's no surprise. Even he would martyr his momma to ride to hell between those thighs. If I gotta sin to see her again, then I'm gonna lie and lie and lie. She'll make you cry. I'll sell my soul to be back in your bosom. Gladly now please suck me dry. And still you'll cry to be back in her bosom. To do it again. She'll make you weak, and moan and cry to be back in her bosom. To do it again. (Pray) til I go blind. (Pray) Cause nobody ever survives. Prayin' to stay in your arms just until I can die a little longer. Saviors and saints, devils and heathens alike; she'll eat you alive." - Puscifer "Rev 22:20"

Morning Coffee (51)

Wow. What do discuss today? Surprisingly, and after a Herculean effort, I dragged my dessicated carcass out of couch this morning. I woke a mere three minutes before my alarm clock/rolodex (i.e. worthless, turned off cell-phone). I uttered a pointless, "You've got to be kidding me." I'm not sure to who I was speaking. Father time perhaps. I didn't go back to sleep, but it took me about 20 minutes to wrest my body from its position.

CNN, the masters of the obvious, reports that al-Qaida has a safe haven in the Pakistan frontier. They actually pay these people to write this stuff. Children as young as fetuses know this.

Barak Obama is going to have a blast running for the Presidency. Someone (and I really don't care who) reported that while a child living in Indonesia, Obama was enrolled in a madrassa - one that supposedly espoused Wahhabism. Turns out the story wasn't exactly correct; more misleading. But, like anything else, the negative makes the front page, whereas the retraction or correction or vindication typically end up on page 12. It's going to be a fun campaign year. Frankly, I won't vote for Obama simply because he's got as much experience as a thimble, but this sort of stuff makes me sick. I actually sympathize with him more than I would have otherwise.

I'm going to stop now before my head explodes.

Word of the Day: Dissimulate (transitive verb): to conceal under a false appearance; (intransitive verb): to hide one's feelings or intentions; to put on a false appearance; to feign; to pretend. Pretty sure I've used this one once before; someone QC the MC. No matter, I like the word.

On This Day in History: Claudius accepted as Roman Emperor (41 CE). Russia declared a republic of Soviets (1918). Russia ends state of war with Germany (1955). Also, today is Opposite Day.

"From yesterday, it's coming. From yesterday, the fear. From yesterday, it calls him. But he doesn't want to read the message here." - "From Yesterday"

Morning Coffee (50)

Good morning to you. It was sort of nice to have an extended weekend, even if a lot of it was spent in a vehicle. Hope everyone had a good weekend as well. And thankfully, the week's almost over now, though I doubt the upcoming weekend will be as enjoyable.

State of the Union address was on last night. I didn't watch it. I remembered it was on earlier in the day, but by the time I got home I had forgotten completely. From reading the transcripts, it seems like it was a pretty good speech. The President even departed from his script and paid homage to Nancy Pelosi as the first female Speaker of the House. Apparently, though, she blinked 25-30 times a minute throughout the speech. I don't know what average is, but that seems like a lot.

The President spoke a lot about "convictions." Everyone has conviction and such, etc, etc. The implication when speaking about convictions is that it is good simply to stand up for your convictions, no matter what they be. That it is somehow honorable and virtuous to do so in the face of opposition. Well, Hitler had convictions. Convictions are great provided you can compromise with other people, because they have convictions too. Health care, immigration, the conflict in Iraq, these are things in which Republicans, Democrats and Independents (and others) have vastly differing convictions. I'm not saying that they need to suspend their convictions, but sometimes there seems to be too much ideology and not enough pragmatism in Washington.

That's all I've got the energy for today. Pathetic, huh? Give me your take on the SOTU address if you saw it. Until tomorrow.

Word of the Day: Supine (adjective): 1. lying on the back, or with the face upward; 2. indolent; listless; inactive; mentally or morally lethargic.

On This Day in History: Roman Emperor Caligula is assassinated by the Praetorian Guard (41 CE). Petrograd, formerly St. Petersburg, is renamed Leningrad (1924). Today is also the first day of Sementivae, the Roman festival of sowing, held in honor of Ceres and Tellus (goddesses of agriculture and Mother Earth respectively). And lastly, today is International Xenu Praise Day, brought to you by the First Church of Xenu. Seriously, I couldn't make this stuff up.

"After all is done, and we're still alone, I won't be taken. Yet I'll go with my hands bound. I will walk with my face blood. I will walk with my shadow flag, into your garden of stone."

Morning Coffee (49)

Another day, another cup of Coffee. This morning, I'm drinking this Raspberries and Cream flavored coffee from Millstone, and I'm pleasantly surprised at how good it is. It's not exactly helping me stay awake, but no coffee really does. I guess this is why baseball players use amphetamines.

Congress is going to do some non-binding vote thing to send a message to the president on his Iraq policy. It's a "bipartisan resolution condemning" Bush's plan to increase the troops in Iraq. So we're paying these yahoos to make votes on things they have no ability to change. They even admit it. In that case, me and my co-workers are going to vote for a non-binding resolution supporting the colonization of the Crab Nebula. Additionally, we're going to pass a vote of no confidence in the Great Plains' prairie dogs and their insistence on peeking out of their holes. Come on! This stuff is nonsense. Either vote to deny funding for a "surge", which is in your power as the legislative branch, or shut your pie holes. Why waste time with these pointless votes? Do some legislation; pass some more stupid laws. Or better yet, review some of the old laws on the books and get rid of them. But they know they can't vote to deny funding; it would be disastrous. Even hinting at not supporting the troops is political suicide. That's why Pelosi says things like, "The president knows that because the troops are in harm's way, that we won't cut off the resources. That's why he's moving so quickly to put them in harm's way." Other than admitting that they cannot cut funding without losing power, this statement is stupid on multiple levels. He's moving so quickly to, as you say, "put them in harm's way" because he knows you won't cut off resources to troops in harm's way? Interesting…The devil's in the verbiage.

Going to go rather low-brow for a minute. Never would I have thought that "American Idol" would be a topic of discussion in a Morning Coffee. However, Rosie O'Donnell and her co-stooges on "The View" launched into a scathing attack on the hit show this week. Apparently, Rosie's been emboldened by her relative success in attacking Donald Trump. O'Donnell says that America doesn't want to see people made fun of on TV. Well, apparently they do, because the show is shattering its own records in viewership. I've said from the start of this buffoonery that it was crap TV and has little to do with music. But that's what America wants: they want a show that makes fun of people's inadequacies (musically, physically, etc.) and they want their pre-packaged, staged musical acts. The numbers don't lie. Millions of people watch this stuff every week. I'm not sure what that says about our society, but it doesn't seem like it could be anything good. Remember, the Romans were fascinated with the gladiatorial games. Other than blood and death, is this really any different, fundamentally? On a side note: while reading about O'Donnell whining over the American Idol judges' poking fun at physical appearances, I could only sit back and remember fondly the comb-over, poofy hair, sour faced impersonations she did of Trump a few weeks ago. Ah, the sweet hypocrisy.

There will probably not be any Morning Coffee on Monday or Tuesday next week. I am having my son down to visit this weekend, and I'll need to return him to Erie. No, not because I want too, but because I haven't a half a dozen people that can watch him for me while I work. So, you'll have to make your own pot. Send them to me; would like to see what you come up with.

Word of the Day: Corpulent (adjective): very fat; obese.
On This Day in History: German zeppelins bomb two cities in Britain, killing over 20 people. This is the first major aerial bombardment of a civilian target in history (1915). Also, for all you southerners, today is Confederate Heroes Day in Texas. Yee haw!

"There's a shadow just behind me, shrouding every step I take, making every promise empty, pointing every finger at me. Waiting like a stalking butler, who upon the finger rests. Murder now the path called "must we," just before the son has come. I will work to elevate you just enough to bring you down." Sober.

Morning Coffee (48)

Today's Coffee is decaff. Yeah, I know decaff sucks, but it's better than drinking water.

There was an error in edition 46. I erroneously reported that Congress hadn't declared war in over 40 years. I transposed 1940s and 60 years, which would have been the correct statement. Congress last declared war on 05 Jun 1942 on Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary. Thanks to Joe for catching my foible.

Senator Clinton wants to impose troop caps for Iraq. What is this, the NFL? I'm not sure that's beneficial. But what it does, however, is allow her to be against the Bush plan without undermining support for the troops currently there. Politically it's smart, because she's playing the middle. She does not want to be seen as not supporting the troops (no one does, which is good even though it's fake), and it separates her from her colleagues who wish to hamstring the president through denying money. Of course, your average person won't see through the idiocy of "troop caps" but what can you do?

I'll be in Erie Monday and Tuesday. Woo hoo.

Well, like I said, decaff.

Word of the Day: Cudgel (noun): a short stick used as a weapon; a club. (transitive verb): to beat with or as if with a cudgel.

On This Day in History: Nika riots in Constantinople fail (532 BCE). This ended badly for the rioters…

"And I remember the day when you left for Santa Monica, you left me to remain with all your excuses for everything. And I remember the time when you left for Santa Monica, and I remember the day you told me it's over." - Theory of a Deadman "Santa Monica"

Morning Coffee (47)

Winter finally arrived. I'd rather it have stayed on extended vacation. Something like 16 degrees this morning. My car was frosted over quite nicely, and since I don't like that, I suppose I'll consider parking in the garage. Might as well make use of it, since I'm paying, by myself, $1,000 in rent for the place. Boy, glad I counted on the income from that other party when I moved here.

It is my understanding that the first ship in the next class of aircraft carrier will be named after Gerald Ford. I'm not sure it's appropriate. Look, I respect the guy for what he did while in office, but the man was not elected by anyone. He was selected by Nixon as his VP. He inherited the office by chance. In my opinion, based on what I've read about him since his death, he was a good man, very smart, very nice. He was just what this country needed at the time, and I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to have breakfast with him. But he wasn't, by any stretch of the phrase, a great president. He wasn't a Lincoln, or a Washington, or a Kennedy. I'm not liking the trend of naming capital ships after marginal figures. Those who knew him say it is a fitting tribute, as he served in the Navy in WWII, and was proud of his service. Interestingly, hundreds of thousands of men served in the Navy during WWII, and most of them were and/or are proud of their service. Somehow, that he was a president elevates his service above theirs?

In Afghanistan two civilians (Afghans both) stopped a suicide bombing in progress by dragging the bomber from his vehicle before he could detonate his bomb. One was a security guard, the other an interpreter. Pretty heroic I think. But Col Tom Collins (I'm serious) says what's on every American's mind: "Amazingly, a couple of Afghans who just happened to be on the scene there realized what was happening." Yes, just a coupla Afghans. Just a couple of country bumpkins, chewing on their straw. That statement bothers me. They just happened to be there? Couldn't it have been their job to be there? I mean, I know I haven't spent six months in Afghanistan or anything, but I'm pretty sure Afghan security guards and interpreters do work the gates at most of these bases. But we can't go and give these backwoods types any credit. For one, they're just a couple of Afghans. For two, they just happened to be there. Incredible. They've fought and defeated occupiers of their land for 2,500 years, and we give them no credit. We're not even conscious of our relegating them to inferiority. They may not all be able to read, but they are some of the most hardy, brave people I've ever seen.

Word of the Day: Foofaraw (noun): 1. excessive or flashy ornamentation or decoration; 2. a fuss over a matter of little importance.

On This Day in History: US buys the Virgin Islands from Denmark for USD $25 million (1917). Emperor Theodosius, the emperor who made Christianity the official state religion, died (395 CE).

No quote today.

Morning Coffee (46)

I hope you all had a great weekend. No, no I don't. I'm rather ambivalent about your weekend. Mine was so utterly exciting, I can barely contain myself.

So, gas prices are plummeting. I found gas for $1.839 yesterday. Surprisingly, waiting did me good for a change. Usually, I wait and it jumps 25 cents overnight. I find it interesting that in the space of ten blocks prices can vary by as much as 15 cents or more. In fact, one gas station had prices of $1.949 and was well within site of another station whose price was set at $1.839. I also noticed that that station had no one in it. Anyway, the price watchers are forecasting a further drop in prices. Don't get used to it; our friends at OPEC, who are always looking out for their consumers, will likely do something to "stabilize" the price of their wares. I read last week that they were set to cut production by 500,000 barrels per day (bpd). So, get your gas while it's cheap.

I'm so tired of seeing Nancy Pelosi in the news; the perpetually shocked look on her face. You ever notice that? She always looks surprised. And not the pleasantly surprised kind either. Anyway, she went back to San Fran the other day and at some self-promoting event stated that the President shouldn't abuse his power and that it's Congress's responsibility to provide oversight. Maybe they should have done that four years ago instead of rubber stamping everything he put forth. I don't recall seeing too many Democrats arguing against war in Iraq. And another thing, it's not a war. Since Congress has the sole power to declare war, which it hasn't done in over 40 years, members of said political body should stop referring to it as that. Pelosi is adamant that the Democrats will hold Bush accountable if he doesn't have a plan. And in response to Cheney's assertion that Dems don't have a plan: "we [Democrats] have a plan and he knows it." That sounds more grade-schooler than anything I've heard out of a politician in a long time, and that's saying a lot. I know someone else who would make chronic use of the infamous "and he/you/she knows it." It's a good way of trying to gain the upper hand in any petty argument. It establishes, in some manner, the perception that you "know" whatever the other person is trying to argue, and thus, cannot put forth any counter to their claims. Stupid. "I would never do that, and you know it." Well, clearly not or we wouldn’t be arguing about it. Similarly, Cheney/Bush, etc must not know that the Dems have a plan. Heck, I don't know if the Dems know they have a plan. Does anyone here know what the Dems' plan is? Is their plan NOT having a plan? Is their plan to merely criticize everything the President does with regards to Iraq? I think they're still in the pre-election mentality; that being simply be against whatever Bush is for. If the President announced a complete withdrawal to happen within six months, you'd have the majority of the Democratic Party up in arms.

And while we're talking about the "war" we ought to touch a bit on nomenclature. Regarding the troop increase, notice the different words each party uses to describe it. Republicans: Surge. Democrats: Escalation. Surge conjures up images of an epic football game; the underdog makes a dramatic surge to defeat the opposition. Escalation is decidedly negative in its connotation. To escalate something means you're taking it to a higher level of violence. Escalation of a war is never a good thing. Neither word is wrong. WWII was escalated with the invasion of Europe by Allied forces, but that was a good thing. No one today would call that an escalation though. It'd be a surge or some such thing. Take a look at the phrase "cut and run" used by the Republicans for another instance of ridiculous "weasel words."

Whoa, Nellie! I found Pelosi's plan. This is what they (Dems) suggest: "a redeployment of our troops out of Iraq" to help "make the region more stable and make America safer." I would love to sit down with this woman and pick her brain. Maybe she could provide me with an explanation of her logic, and make a poor dumb Marine like me understand how a redeployment (see, another weasel word) makes the region more secure.

What strikes me the most about this love affair with Pelosi amongst her supporters is that they truly believe that this woman is "committed to fairness and helping the middle [or middling?] class." This woman hasn't known a middle class day her whole life. Virtually none of these politicians have. Yet people believe that so and so is going to help. These people are interested in helping us so long as providing that help assists them in maintaining power. Power is what is important to them (see the Pelosi-themed, drunk-with-power celebrations of her ascendancy last week). And if keeping power means throwing you a cracker here and there, then they're all about it. That's why they are such strong supporters of raising the minimum wage. On the outside, it looks like they're championing a cause that is supremely beneficial, and they have the opportunity to take the moral high ground, right? Who wouldn't support raising the minimum wage? Oh, I don't know, the small business owners who will go under because they can't afford to pay for help. Maybe the people who will lose their jobs because their company took it's operations overseas. However, you start talking about term limits and suspending the annual raises, well, that will raise the hackles of any politician.

Final note on Pelosi: Some columnist labels her the most powerful Italian since Caesar. Maybe Augustus (Octavian), Nero, Caligula, Marcus Aurelius, etc, etc, etc, were overlooked.

And if anyone cares, 51% of US women are living without a spouse. That's a first; more without than with. Oh, and women who are divorced remain unmarried for longer than men. Why? Oh, they're sometimes "delighting in their newfound freedom." Yeah, I guess that's true, isn't it.

In the "studio" Thursday this week and next. Songs should be ready in a couple of months.

Word of the Day: Imprecation (noun): 1. the act of imprecating, or invoking evil upon someone; 2. a curse. Maybe that's what has happened to me.

On This Day in History: The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate (27 BCE). Note: this is not Julius Caesar; he was killed 17 years prior to this date. Octavian was Julius' nephew, and was adopted by Julius. Also, National Religious Freedom Day here in the US. Does this mean freedom FROM religion, or just freedom OF religion? What if you have no religion, do you have that option? No, not in seven states you don't. What am I talking about? Ask me and I'll send you an article I wrote about the subject.

""I have done that," says my memory. "I cannot have done that," says my pride, and remains adamant. At last, memory yields." - Freidrich Nietzsche on how pride trumps memory.

Morning Coffee (45)

Fortuna strikes again, and this time impact flows beyond me. My weekend plans, to which I had greatly looked forward, have been waylaid by a debilitating illness that infected my would-be guest. Now that my good friend knows what continued association with me may entail, she may too think twice about making plans with me. Here's to her regaining her vitality quickly, and then having the fortitude to attempt to brave my company in the future. She now knows that it could prove disastrous! Regardless, get better soon, You.

The Pentagon announced some interesting new plans for the deployment of combat units from the National Guard and Reserves, as well as modifying policy for active duty units. These new plans eliminate the cumulative 24 month limit on active duty for "citizen soldiers." The new policy states that any single mobilization may not exceed 24 months. So, if you're in the reserves, you could be mobilized for training and deploy to Iraq/Afghanistan/Pleasure Cruise, for a total of 2 years. Then you could come home for six months or so, and turn right around and do anther 2 year mobilization. You could be in the reserves and spend more time on active duty that on reserve duty. Say adios to that job or college career. The big wigs are going to try to keep mobilizations to a maximum of 12 months.

I'm a big fan of the USMC policy - that being "U Signed the Motherf*@king Contract." However true that may be, these soldiers did not sign up for constant deployments. Yes, there are expectations that you will deploy, you may see combat, and you may die or be wounded. But if these people wanted to serve on active duty for four years out of six, they would have probably joined the active duty force. Many of these young men and women joined the reserves or National Guard because it offered them a way to better their lives by going to college, all while serving their country and having the pride of doing so. Pride only goes so far when the expectations you have, all provided to you by Dept of Defense policy and the soothing tongues of recruiters, are dashed against the sandy dunes of Iraq. The big recruiting drives of the late-90s and early-00s centered around getting good training and the money and opportunity for college. Good training these folks are getting, as they are money for college, but they're spending far more time away from families and college than they signed up for. Part of me says to tell them to suck it up and to do their duty, but at some point I have to begin to look at this as a leadership failure. And now to address that failure, the leadership is simply modifying the rules after the fact. It's unreasonable for a serviceman to renegotiate his contract with the government during the third year of a six year contract, why is it okay for the government to do the same? I think that the implied expectations that these citizen soldiers have, expectations that were not discredited by the services, are part of that contract. Not to mention, by changing the rules at a whim, you're telling future enlistees that the leadership will modify the rules if it fails, and there's nothing you can do about it. How are they going to add that 90,000 odd troops to the Army and Marine Corps if this is the perception? They can barely meet recruiting goals to sustain current numbers.

I think this is going to force us to rethink our current position on our military. It's going to be a tough problem to solve in the end, and I don't have a warm and fuzzy about our ability to do so. Already people are actually considering taking recruitment operations overseas, offering citizenship as an incentive for serving in the US military. Ludicrous. Another world class military did this sort of thing in the past. They were called the Romans, and it didn't turn out so well for them. The iron discipline of the Roman legionary was slowly eroded away by the influx of the "barbarian" mentality of warfare. Tight lines of legionaries armed with gladii were replaced by loose formations of men flailing around with their long swords. Language problems arose and undermined command and control. If you can believe it, the emperor himself was guarded not by Romans, but by Germanics. Could you imagine our president being protected not by the efficiency of the Secret Service and the honorable colors of the Marine Corps, but by Central Asians? It has little to do with race or ethnicity, and everything to do with cohesion and, get this, national pride. If Americans aren't willing to bear the preponderance of the burden of defending our nation, what is there left to defend? Are we to outsource not only the production of tool and die, but our security?

It is time for our leadership to be creative. Generally, bureaucracy doesn't breed creativity, so maybe it's time for someone else to step up to the plate. Our men and women are being asked to do a lot; not too much I don't think - look at our grandparents, they shouldered more of a burden. But they're asked to do a lot nevertheless, all with the meager promise of additional pay. Our leadership owes it to them to keep their end of the bargain.

Attempts to answer Wednesday's riddle flooded my inbox, so much that my computer nearly crashed. I say that with serious jest. Anyway, the answer is "experience."

Everyone have a great weekend, etc, etc. If you're sick, get better (especially you). If you're not sick, don't get sick. Since Monday is a federal holiday, I will not be brewing up any Morning Coffee.

Word of the Day: Incarnadine (adjective): 1. having a fleshy pink color; 2. red; blood-red. (transitive verb): to make red or crimson.

On This Day in History: Joe Smith, the great Mormon prophet, along with his flock, leaves Ohio for Missouri in order to avoid prosecution under laws banning polygamy (1838). Also, US House of Representatives rejects a proposal giving women the right to vote (1915).

A treat for you today; a trifecta of quotes:

"The true man wants two things: danger and play. For that reason he wants woman, as the most dangerous of playthings."
"Love is a state in which a man sees things most decidedly as they are not."
- Freidrich Nietzsche (both - credit Joe)

"My goddess. I was knee deep in a sick love. I was cross-eyed under your drug. Schizo savior, mad messiah, fatal worship you inspired. Gone, I don't believe in you now. I've seen too much. I don't believe in you now, my goddess. Now you see what you get when you lose yourself, what you get when you don't know who you are, when you don't know who you are. My goddess." - Exies, "My Goddess"

Morning Coffee (44)

Good morning again. How's it going? That's nice. I hope it's all going well. It's going well here for the time being. Colder than cold, but pretty good. Tired though. I only remember a few times ever being this tired. They were all in the Marine Corps though. I know what the problem is. I'm staying up too late working on my stupid songs!

I suppose we could discuss the President's address last night. It's 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Yuck, yuck…Anyway. I really hate political speeches. They seem so sterile; wholly void of any semblance of emotion. I'm not talking about sappy emotion, but emotion period. They could be given by an android and the delivery would be the same. I've only witnessed perhaps a handful of political speeches that have roused so much as a tingling in the belly. When he first started out, I liked Bush's speaking style. It seemed genuine, prepared, yes, but somehow off the cusp. Like he had bullet points, and just sort of played it by ear from there. That's what I prefer. For some reason, everyone loved Clinton's speeches. I felt they were bland. Which is why I liked Bush. The art of speaking publicly is pretty much dead in America. Blame it on the information age, I guess. But, we can discuss that whole thing some other time (perhaps this weekend).

Instead, I'd like to touch on the content of this speech. Bush basically admitted that it was a mistake not to have more troops. Okay, great. So we're sending more troops now. I did notice the subtle politicking of this speech on this regard. Bush said somewhere that the commanders had assured him that the numbers being sent would get the job done. Very deftly deflecting blame if it fails. I'm not sure how anyone can assure anyone of a thing like this.

President Bush mentioned Shia "death squads." This is a term I've always found somewhat humorous. Death squads. Like some sports team. Do they hold tryouts? Do they have a B-team? Do they hold split-squad competitions? It's one of those terms designed simply to invoke a negative air. I would like to know just what constitutes a death squad. Thoughts?

"The terrorists and insurgents are without conscience." Not very objective, that statement. Do we really know this for certain? Has there been some community wide intelligence report on the conscience levels of terrorist and insurgents? I suppose they could say the same about an American platoon, or a combat aircraft. Bombs tend to kill indiscriminately, whether dropped from a plane or placed on the side of the road covered in dirt.

What am I getting at here? I have no idea. I'm tired, man. Morning Coffee pot 44 is sub-par. I expect you all to recognize the inferiority of this particular edition, but remember the greatness of previous editions while reading this drivel. You can't win them all, isn't that what they say? Here at Morning Coffee, we hold ourselves to the highest standards possible dependent upon the mental capabilities of our writers at any given time. Since it's just me, we'll have to take the ebb and flow in stride.

Lastly, I noticed Bush didn't make mention of god in his closing. Okay, scratch that. I'm guessing god's the "Author of Liberty" who will guide us. He snuck that one in on me. I'll bet 90% of the people who watched the speech didn't even notice that. God wrapped inside an enigma, cloaked in a riddle…

And speaking of riddles…no one, not a single one, not even Joe, my most faithful responder, even attempted to answer! That is down right blasphemous. Come on!

Okay, I'm killing this edition before it kills me. How long must this day last? Now that's a riddle. Perhaps the answer would be forever. I mean, think about it. That's deep man.

Word of the Day: Bowdlerize (transitive verb): 1. to remove or modify the parts (of a book for example) considered offensive; 2. to modify, as by shortening, simplifying, or distorting in style or content.

On This Day in History: Nika riots in Constantinople (532 CE). 30,000 people put to the sword for rioting at the Hippodrome. Also, Carmentalia, a feast day of Carmenta, the Roman goddess of childbirth and prophecy was held on this day.

I need a good quote…any suggestions?

Morning Coffee (43)

Good morning all. And I actually mean it today. I feel really good today; it's been so long since I've felt really good, I'm not really sure how to react. Last night was a pretty good night. Played my song live to a couple of friends over the phone, had some great conversation with an great old/new friend (witty repartee, even?), made some tentative plans for this weekend (good plans too, not those crappy ones like a solo trip to the movies), knocked out a stellar recording of one of my songs, a half-assed version of another, wrote the better part of a new one (hey, maybe someone inspired me). This morning, I get up, find a nice message on my computer, take a nice hot shower. Driving into work I hear one of the best songs ever recorded: "Sultans of Swing" by Dire Straits. I'm sure I could feel better than this, but why push my luck? I'm sure something better would merely mean taking a hit somewhere else, like my car, so I'll take this.

So with that, I'm not sure what to cover in today's Morning Coffee, although it's a good, fresh pot for a change. I guess I'll just finish off this cup, and go pour myself another one. I suggest you folks do the same. The Morning Coffee's best with good company, and you, my faithful readers, are the best kind.

Word of the Day: Ensorcell (transitive verb): to enchant; to bewitch. I enjoy being ensorcelled. One more: coxcomb (noun): 1. obsolete - A cap worn by court jesters; adorned with a strip of red (now cockscomb). 2. archaic - The top of the head, or the head itself. 3. obsolete - A fool. 4. a vain, showy fellow; a conceited, silly man, fond of display; a superficial pretender to knowledge or accomplishment; a dandy. Now that's one hell of a word. Use it and be proud you've done so.

On This Day in History: Gaius Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, signaling the start of civil war in Rome (49 BCE). It was at this time Caesar uttered the infamous phrase "Alea jacta est." The die is cast. The Roman Republic would soon cease to exist, replaced by an Empire that would exist in one manner or another for the next 1400 odd years.

A riddle: Does anyone know what on earth this guy's talking about?
"If you have it, you don't need it. If you need it, you don't have it. If you have it you need more of it. If you have more of it you don't need less of it. You need it to get it. And you certainly need it to get more of it. But if you don't already have any of it to begin with, you can't get any of it to get started, which means really have no idea how to get it in the first place, do you? You can share it, sure. You can even stockpile it if you'd like. But you can't fake it. Wanting it, needing it, wishing for it. The point is, if you've never had any of it, ever, people just seem to know."

"And then the man he steps right up to the microphone, and says at last just as the time bell rings. "Thank you, goodnight, now it's time to go home." And he makes it fast with one more thing: "We are the sultans, we are the sultans of swing…"" - Dire Straits.

Morning Coffee (42)

Yay. Another day. So fun, so exciting. What to say other than "yay"? But, there's always the Morning Coffee to make things worth living, right? If I say so.

First real snow of the season this morning. An inch or so of wet accumulation. Made driving to work this morning really fun. And by fun I mean not fun at all. They don't plow the roads here much from what I can tell, and I think they add some chemical to the asphalt that makes it slipperier that a wet noodle as soon as a drop of moisture touches it. If I die any time soon, it'll be because I've smashed into a tree or an oncoming car, all due to the sweet roads. The Romans built better roads than these…two thousand years ago or more. Little known fact, since we're talking about ancient roads: the Persians had some pretty good roads too, long before Rome came to be an important power.

I went and saw Rocky Balboa last night. It's the first movie I've seen in the theater in almost exactly three months. In fact, the night before life sucker punched me with a flailing right hook I went to a movie; a date so to speak (the right hook came about an hour after seeing the movie). Anyway, Rocky…pretty good movie. I'm frankly glad Stallone did it. After the debacle that was Rocky V, it was good to have some closure. I was going to write up some eloquent prose about how inspirational it was, and it was very much so, but I really don't feel like it at the moment. What will follow will make no sense to you unless you've seen the movie. Suffice it to say that I wish that I could find "the beast." I had it once; knew where it was. My drive. That aching hunger that propelled me to semi-greatness. Rocky still has his, and it was the driving factor in getting him to fight again. He still had the drive. I wish mine would manifest itself sometime soon. I fear that it will not.

Normally, I don't care about football period, let alone college football. However, today is different. I care because I'm going to have to hear about the stupid Ohio State loss to whoever beat them. All I'm going to hear about it this stupid friggin' game. A bunch of no name kids who will probably be criminals in five years because they didn't make the NFL. Who cares? I'll tell you who. Every one in this building. If it isn't the stupid Ohio State Buckeyes, it's the Cincinnati Bangles and their ridiculous "who dey!" chant/greeting/acknowledgement. It's worse than "ooh rah" in the Marine Corps. For one, it sounds whimpish. For two, they abuse it worse than any boot Marine abuses "ooh rah." I do not care about Ohio State/college football…I do not care about Ohio State/football period. Don't complain to me about the loss of one football game played by a bunch of kids whose names I don't even know.

Okay, I'm going to sign off before this Coffee gets more stale and bitter. Like you thought that could happen…

Word of the Day: Sunder (transitive verb): to break apart; to separate; to divide; to sever; (intransitive verb): to become parted, disunited, or severed. I've probably used this word in the past as a WoD. I don't care. It's fitting, and frankly, I could easily think of a few heads that I'd like to sunder.

On This Day in History: US Marine Corps ordered to invade Honduras (1912). Incidentally, it's also "Stepfather's Day." Stepfathers don't deserve a friggin' day. It's a bullshit holiday invented by idiots for one of two reasons. One, to make more god damned money; two, to make insecure assholes feel better about the fact that they're incompetent fathers in their own right and not feel so guilty about playing daddy to another man's children. Step anything is fictional. He's either your father or he isn't. My kid won't call any man or woman step shit. He's got a mom and a dad, anything else he can call them by name. When asked, he can refer to her as, "my dad's wife." "Well, isn't that your step-mom?" No, it's my dad's WIFE. There will be no such thing as "step daddy" or "step mommy." It's bullshit. And that's all I've got to say about that for the time being. Just when you thought it couldn't get any more bitter…

No quote today. If I had one, it would be so negative and hateful that it would merely appear as a black splotch on your computer screen.

Morning Coffee (41)

The weather is amazing. Presently, it is 59 degrees here and slightly rainy. The perfect day, weather-wise.

I've gone without my "lucky" coin for a week or so now, testing my cursed-coin theory. Nothing bad has happened. Although, nothing good has happened either. I don't like not having it in my pocket, so perhaps I'll bring it back. I'd like to say, "How bad could it be?" but I know better. Somehow, Fortuna will find a way to screw me hard core.

Politics. Yes, it's that time already. The stuff makes me nauseous. First, we've got Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) who has just been sworn in as the first Woman Speaker of the House. She's so drunk with power that it's sick. Go ahead and troll the news a bit, you're bound to find a few interesting quotes attributed to her in the past few days. It's "power, power, power" with her and her ilk. And by ilk, I really mean Republicans and Democrats. However, at present, the Democrats are so ecstatic over finally being in power again that they're acting like the ugly duckling that just got asked to the prom by the stereotypical football star. They can't contain themselves. They have perma-grins attached to their faces (of course Pelosi looks like she's just been scared by a Yeti all the time - you see her face?). It would be nice, refreshing even, to see some serious faces on these people. Instead, they give the impression that power is all that matters. After 14 years of Republican control in the House, all these Dems can think about is that THEY FINALLY have the power back. It just seem wrong to me. I really don't like the two-party (and a throw in) system.

One more thing on this Speaker of the House BS. The Dems throw a big party to celebrate their milestone - first woman in the Speaker role, etc, etc. (On a side note, doesn't this over joyous celebration perpetuate discrimination somehow?) The party costs $1,000 a ticket. A pretty hefty sum for a party that supposedly champions the common man. Not a single one of you, nor I, could afford to attend this gala. The food is typical aristocrat/liberal fare: goat cheese ravioli with some obnoxious sauce. Common men and women don't generally eat goat cheese ravioli. Then, the entertainment. The Grateful Dead (whom I wish were really gratefully dead), Wyclef Jean, some random other baby boomer idiots. I think Tony Bennet maybe. Who knows? The point is, this whole thing isn't some "common man" event. These rich idiots wouldn't be caught dead at a common man event unless it somehow brought them political gain.

And the big Presidential race is on already. The speculation is what kills me. Everyone knows so and so is going to run, yet they are purposefully vague, refusing to throw their hat in the ring before forming exploratory committees or hiring aides, blah blah. They leak stuff to the press to feel out public opinion. Barak Obama is a prime example. We all know you're going to run, putz, just admit it! You're going to be stomped anyway since you've been a politician at the national level for about 5 minutes. Then we have the person(s) who took Rudy Giuliani's plan and leaked it to the press. Talk about dirty. If you want to run, if you believe in your message and abilities, just tell me you're going to run. If I don't like you, I won't vote for you. Stop with the spin and the exploratory bullshit. And why just one nominee per party? Let 'em all run. How about some real democracy? Lip service! Remember, this is NOT a democracy. It's a republic and there is a difference. I think republic means: represented by idiots who think that their office makes them smarter than us. You give me five candidates, and you let me decide who's best. This primary/electoral college thing is annoying.

Enough of that…Everyone have a superb weekend. I'm going to sit around my house doing…oh, I don't know…nothing? Yeah, that sounds about right. Should be really interesting. I need to get myself a "best friend." That's what they're called these days. I've got a riveting game of Medieval 2: Total War going right now, so…those Aztecs are going DOWN! My gunpowder should make quick work of them. Oh, and the smallpox.

Word of the Day: Interregnum (noun): 1. the interval between two reigns; any period when a state is left without a ruler; 2. the period of freedom from authority or during which government functions are suspended; 3. any breach of continuity in an order; a lapse or interval in a continuity. Great word.

On This Day in History: FM radio demonstrated to the FCC for the first time (1940). Boring day. If you need more, it's also Mungday in the quasi-religion Discordianism. This stuff is hilarious. More joke than religion.

"I never wanted to write these words down for you, with the pages of phrases of things we'll never do. So I blow out the candle and I put you to bed. Since you can't say to me now how the dog's broke your bone, there's just one thing left to be said: say hello to heaven…"

Morning Coffee (40)

This morning was what I like to call a Parris Island morning. I step outside and am taken back to that place those years ago. The air, the smell, the dark; all reminded me of that Island upon which I was forged into a Marine. Nostalgia hit like a wave. Anyone who's been there in that capacity has a fondness for the mornings there. I always enjoyed the mornings; just before the day began, you could almost feel the calm before the storm. Soon, the Island would be abuzz with the sounds of the forge. Like smiths pounding away at the nascent shape of a red hot, soon-to-be sword, the Drill Instructors would bark out orders. Slowly, the raw iron would be increasingly shaped into a steel sword. A weapon of war. A weapon of honor. Sometimes I miss that place and the three smiths that forged me. It is were I was made. And thus, I relish mornings like today. I breath the air a bit deeper, and I remember what I am.

Which is really something we all should do. Too often, mankind as a whole wants to forget what it is. We ignore things about ourselves that are painful. We banish these things, pretending that if we do not speak of them, they will simply cease to exist. We like to think that we are above our base instincts; our primal urges and desires. But we are not. We will probably never be. We should embrace them. To do so is not to absolve ourselves from a sense of morality. No, it will help us define our morality. No other species that we know of is concerned with what it is. It simply is, and that is all that matters. It does not try to shut away parts of what it is. It is the ability to understand that there are parts of us that are, simply put, amoral, that separates us from the rest. But we ignore it because it makes us uncomfortable.

What on earth am I talking about? In 1963, Stanley Milgram, a psychologist at Yale University, conducted an experiment designed to test and evaluate normal people's responses to authority. Two years prior, Adolf Eichmann, a high ranking Nazi SS officer was tried in an Israeli court for war crimes. His defense was that he was following orders. Milgram was inspired by this trial. Normal people acted as "teachers" and an actor was the "learner." The teachers were directed by an alleged biology teacher: the authority figure. The teachers would read off a word, and the learner was to respond. If the learner did so incorrectly, which he always did, the teacher, a normal, every day person just like you and me, was to administer a shock of increasing power up to 450 volts. The authority figure would prod the teacher on if he/she were to exhibit signs of distress and concern about the experiment.

You might be thinking that only a very small number of people administered these shocks willingly to another human being. That is precisely what Milgram's psychology students thought too. They theorized that only 1.2%, the sadistic few, would administer the maximum dosage. You, and they, were very wrong. Up to 66% of people would inflict the maximum to the actor, who would complain, scream in pain, and insist on the cessation of the experiment because of a heart condition. Sixty-six percent. No one refused to give shocks before the 300 volt level. This test was performed a number of times by Milgram and others, and the results were the same. Many people would continue to administer shocks despite being visibly upset over what they were doing. It took but a man in a lab coat to get normal, every day people, people who by most accounts would be considered genuinely GOOD, to inflict serious, life-threatening damage to a stranger.

My point here is two-fold. Firstly, it is quite clear that there are parts of us that we'd rather not admit existed. This is a prime example. A man in a lab coat can get us to administer fatal levels of electricity. Normal, every day people. I cannot stress that part enough. We like to think that we're good hearted and so forth. These people were not "little Hitlers." They were people you knew. It could have been you. And that leads me to my second point. This experiment forced us as a species to face the stark reality of humanity: we are capable of horrendously evil things. All of us. Not just the serial murderers, or the Stalins of the world. Every single one of us.

As a result of these types of experiments in the 1960s, this sort of human experimentation was generally frowned upon, if not banned de facto. It scared people so much that it was basically forbidden until very recently. ABC News last night did a recreation of that experiment. Forty years later, and the results are the same. I do not ask why the results were the same. I've come to grips with the disturbing propensity for evil in man a long time ago. My job will do that to you. But I do ask why we would ban these types of experiments; we're so afraid of recognizing what we are and what we're capable of. I think that we should understand what makes us work so we can mitigate those things that are distasteful, not ignore them in the hopes that they'll go away. These experiments may help us understand how and why the mechanism of authority can work to undermine our collective morality. Many Germans simply did what they were told. And many Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, mental patients, and disabled people died as a result. You will sit there in your easy chair, in the comfort of your warm home or office, and you will say to yourself that you would do differently. That you would not turn a blind eye to the evil; that you would not participate; that you are better than those terrible (every day, normal) Germans. But you should really ask yourself, "Would I? Would I simply do what I was told?" I feel that in knowing the answer, which is very likely a resounding "yes", only then will you be able to change that answer. It is, friends, impossible to change the answer when you've never even considered the question. If the question is asked and you're hearing it for the first time, then you've only one opportunity, and Milgram has shown us that we will not choose the alternative. When confronted by authority, real or otherwise, we will do what we're told.

Word of the Day: Punctilio (noun): 1. a fine point of exactness in conduct, ceremony, or procedure; 2. strictness or exactness in the observance of formalities; as, "the punctilios of a public ceremony."

On This Day in History: Titus Labienus, a lieutenant of Julius Caesar during the Gallic Wars, defeats his former liege in the Battle of Ruspina (46 BCE).

"Stark authority was pitted against the subjects' strongest moral imperatives against hurting others, and, with the subjects' ears ringing with the screams of the victims, authority won more often than not…Ordinary people, simply doing their jobs, and without any particular hostility on their part, can become agents in a terrible destructive process. Moreover, even when the destructive effects of their work become patently clear, and they are asked to carry out actions incompatible with fundamental standards of morality, relatively few people have the resources needed to resist authority." - Stanley Milgram "The Perils of Obedience"

Morning Coffee (39)

Happy new year, etc, etc, etc. I hope your long weekend was joyful. I apologize for the four day break. Us federal types had Tuesday off as well on account of the Presidential Cult. That's like the Roman Imperial Cult where the emperor was worshiped as a deity. Speaking of which, if I hear one more person utter the phrase, "the emperor has no clothes," I'm going to flip out and start cracking skulls.

My weekend was surprisingly enjoyable. I had some good friends in town as well as my son. However, if anyone cares the first was also my six year anniversary, and in light of the current situation, it was somewhat depressing. Six years. Surprisingly, the whole anniversary thing still means something to me. I guess if I had an [in]significant other like some people do, maybe it would have been just another day. In time perhaps.

Someone informed me that they were very interested in what I thought about the Saddam Hussein hanging. Too bad. I'm not a circus monkey and I don't do tricks on command. To you I say, ask your buddy. He'll provide you with your opinion now; he seems to have done admirably thus far.

Instead I'll mention the buffoonery that is Pat Robertson. Apparently god has informed him that a terrorist attack-induced mass killing would occur in late 2007. Pat tells those of us without a direct line to the almighty that "The Lord didn't say nuclear, but I do believe it will be something like that." The omniscient one is suspiciously vague in his revelations to Pat. Conveniently, as is the case with most prophets and fortune tellers, this vagueness on the part of god allows for a bit of latitude when interpreting results. Usually, anything can be used as evidence of successfully predicting the future. Storms and typhoons and tsunamis ravaging the US coastline in 2006? Easy, the heavy rain and flooding in New England partly fulfilled the prediction. So, storms plus tsunamis plus ravaging equals heavy rains and flooding? Interesting. I find it funny that the receiver of these messages is virtually never able to hear the message clearly; it's always garbled or spoken in riddles. One would think that a being as powerful as god would be able to send a clear, concise message that left no room for error. But that takes some of the mystery out of it, and without mystery it isn't nearly as exciting. And it leaves room for god to be infallible; error in the prophecy is attributed to the flawed human who clearly didn't interpret the message correctly, not god who simply failed to communicate the message properly. When is it going to be time to place the blame where it belongs?

Let me put it to you this way: I brief a senior staff member and he misinterprets my analysis because of my inept communication style. I'm vague, speak in riddles, and just plain ambivalent as to whether or not he "gets" what I'm saying. I've done my part, right? I've told him what my analysis is. It's HIS fault that he didn't interpret it right. The onus is on him to take appropriate action. No. Wrong. Try again. It's my fault because I failed to properly communicate. People are vague and speak in riddles because they don't know the answer. They use wishy-washy phrases and blame failure on the misinterpretation of their findings. Thus either god is vague because he doesn't know what he's talking about, which would be very bad for all the believers, or Pat Robertson is full of it. I'd suggest variations of both. Folks, if this guy wasn't citing god as his prime source, we'd throw him in a loony bin. People who receive messages from anything other than the almighty are ruled out as nut cases. Frankly, I think that anyone who claims to be in contact with an omniscient being is a nut case.

Even more hilarious is Robertson's assertion that he has a "relatively good track record…sometimes I miss." For one, he basically took god out of the equation because he's claiming ownership over his prophecies. That's bad news, right? Shouldn't he give credit where credit's due? Or is he simply speaking of his track record of deciphering the riddles god puts forth to him as his personal messenger? If I were god, I'd get tired of people mucking up my messages. Secondly, I find it hard to put much stock in any soothsayer that uses terms like "relatively" in describing their success in the fortune telling business. Hey, I'm a relatively good investment banker, just give me your money and we'll find out.

Word of the Day: Favonian (adjective): pertaining to the west wind; soft; mild; gentle.
On This Day in History: Leonardo da Vinci tests his flying machine, and thankfully for the Wright brothers, he does so unsuccessfully (1496). Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther (1521). JRR Tolkien was born (1892). The Roman festival honoring the Pax, the goddess of peace, is held (also 30 Jan and 04 Jul).

"So down comes the sky, for no reason why, you're in this all alone. With no help from me, you're free to be, misery all on your own." - Evolocity "Too Far"