November 2001

Afghanistan

Don't Mess With The U.S.

Yeah, I'm going to do a bit of chest pounding. Simply put, having the best technology and the best country to fight for makes a difference. Konduz fell over the weekend (11/26/2001) and the U.S. Marines are landing near Konduz. The Taliban has had a serious lesson in "Doing The Right Thing Or Else 101."

I, as a duly non-elected representative of my country, would like to offer up this invitation: To countries that would like to have the Al Queda live, breed, and flourish under the protective wings of your country, we say, "Go ahead." That's right, be our guest. Supply the Al Queda with troops, munitions, supplies. It's ok, we don't mind. But be aware that, when you do, we're going to erase you. That's right, we're going to stomp the mortal hell out of you, your troops, and your Al Queda buddies. Forget the Stone Age; we're going to bomb you into nonexistence. Gladly, yet professionally. No hard feelings and all that. We're just doing what naturally comes next when someone blows up 6000 innocent civilians. We stomp that perpetrators and their supporters into the frikkin' dust. And while we're doing it, we'll have American flags flying in front of every single house in America. You see, this actually pulled us together, cemented our people behind a single cause in a way we haven't been pulled together in decades.

It's tough not to love the best and greatest nation this planet has ever seen.

China Is Flying To The Moon

I've written in the past about how China is a nation to keep close tabs on. Well, they're expanding their space administration and planning missions to the moon. That's right, China will join the U.S. and Russia as the only nations to put people on the moon. Great, right?

But look down the road.

Who here really thinks that's where they'll stop? I have nothing against any nation that will further space exploration. Every little bit helps, really. But let's not be naive; let's think politics. Do you really think that China won't put arms on Mars? If this sounds like I'm going off the deep end, I'm not. I fully expect China to take on an imperialist stance with any property they settle on a permanent basis anywhere in the Solar System. We, and by this I mean all democratic nations and peoples, need to either join them or beat them. And I define "beat them" as either to change their politics or be the first ones to put permanent stations on the moon, on Mars, and on Mars' moons. Control of the Solar System and its resources will go to the party that controls these assets first. Period.

If I seem to be thinking too far ahead, consider the rate at which the area humans occupy has expanded. Consider the steady rise in the consumption of resources. When I was a kid, the seas were the "next frontier", "inner space" and all that. The oceans' resources seemed limitless. Now the seas are so over fished that fishermen find themselves barely making a living. Fish populations are in the tank, so to speak, and nothing we're doing is fixing the problem. People want to eat whatever they want to eat, and they'll pay gladly for the privilege to do so.

Look at how we've populated the earth. Measures to slow down population growth are not working because not everyone buys into the measures required.

Forests are chopped down as fast as men can put an ax to them, naturalists' efforts not withstanding.

Scientists tell us the ozone layer may be regenerating. Great. But by the time it's back to it's former levels (about 50 more years), we'll have polluted ourselves into huge class action lawsuits and enormous cleanup taxation that will make the SuperFund look like Aunt Martha's penny jar.

The time is coming when we will need more elbow room, and that time may be sooner than any of us think. NASA needs funding. I urge our Congressional leaders to step up to a plate that JFK planted in the dirt nearly 40 years ago and plant the seeds of Democracy on worlds that can take the ecological pressure off of Mother Earth.

Bush: Microsoft's Puppet

Who do you suppose it was that OK'ed the move to let Microsoft off the hook so easily? Yup, Bush and his Nixon-era cronies. Ready for this? Microsoft has offered to put $2 billion worth of computers and software into the most depressed schools in our nation.

Gates is giggling until he drools blood over this one.

That's right, M$ has been ordered to do something they already do, and which amounts to free advertising and training directed at our youth. In 4 years, this little investment pays off HUGE when kids graduate from high schools all across our nation with experience in M$ Windows and M$ Office Suite. And about that same time, M$ can start charging for updates to all that software they gave away for free.

Hey GEORGE! Here's a better idea, better that is if you wish to actually make this a PUNISHMENT! Make M$ install $2 billion worth of hardware, but with LINUX installed on it! That's right, force M$ to put their biggest competitor into the same schools that are churning out M$ drones by the thousands. Hurt M$ the way they've hurt others, by forcing them out of a major market.

Unless, of course, you're on the take, lining your reelection war chest with millions of Bill Gates' dollars.