New Weapon in War on Terror

The CIA has devised many new creative ways to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan, and that also includes passing along Viagra to aging tribal chieftains.

World Crises Reveals Russia's True Colors

The world economic woes that are being felt from London to Wall Street to Tokyo are finally showing the major faults of Putin's Russia. The Oligarchs who control numerous companies that produce oil, metals, and other raw materials are going bankrupt, selling large shares of companies and begging the Kremlin for money to keep afloat. And while the billionaires try to keep ahead of the creditors, the fall of oil prices has halted Russia's growth and many believe they are headed towards a recession. High oil prices, which created years of growth in the Russian economy, have deteriorated and threaten to undo the stability created under Putin. Higher prices created jobs and allowed for a consumer culture to develop in Russia making Putin a popular leader, but as the economy slumps and unemployment increases the people are becoming unhappy with their government. Yet, the government is still taking draconian measures by suppressing protest and by keeping the people ignorant of world problems through control of television and the press.

Eygptian offers daughter to Iraqi who threw his show at Bush

According to Reuters, an Egyptian has offered to give his daughter to the reporter who hurled his shoes at President Bush this week. The daughter would be honored by the match. While I don't find this shocking, its actually quite surprising that it did not happen earlier. The Islamic worlds interpretation of honor defiantly skewed from mine. While I think Bush has been a disaster of a president, reporters should refrain from throwing shoes at a foreign dignitary.

Watch Jesus Celebrate his last Birthday

Jesus and his roommate Doug celebrate a combination birthday Christmas

For Movies, Germans want to be Nazis

A Daily Beast article by Caroline Winter about the influx of World War II era films coming out discovers that Germans want to act as Nazis.

"Sure, you’re a Nazi—but you know that, in the end, your going to get your head hacked off,” said a friend of Kage’s who managed to get cast and thus spoke with me anonymously. “That was definitely part of why I wanted to do this."

Lawyers use Facebook to serve papers

According to Reuters, Australian lawyers are now using Facebook to deliver documents to defendants that go on the run.

Melik Kaylan thougths on conservatism

Melik Kaylan's article on how certain modern conservatism ideas puzzle him. I agree with some of his points, but others I find way off base. First, I do agree that conservatives in Washington have moved to a policy of spending in order in boost the economy ie stimulus plans. Conservatism is about saving and investing in order to create wealth not giving consumers money to burn. I also agree that many many people in the conservative states have no understanding of the modern world. Conservative states today take pride in being backwards, rednecks, and hillbillies. And while one should take pride in their heritage, conservatives should be encouraging education in order to create a dynamic workforce that is prepared for the global economy where we will be competing with people from all over the world for jobs. However, this article does not encompass all conservatives, only the those who are easily swayed by propaganda machines of the left and the right.

Dexter

Now that my internship with the NPS is officially over, I spent a couple of hours catching up on one of my favorite shows, Dexter. While I enjoy the show immensely, I cannot understand what it is about me and everyone else that routes for this deranged serial killer. Is it that he only kills "bad guys"? Works for the police? These kind of questions are why I enjoy this show, it vividly depicts the blurry morals that we as humans have always had. While I know Dexter's vigilante behavior removes criminals from the street, he really has no authority to kill anyone guilty or innocent. I really enjoy the moral questions the show raises, and plan to continue watching in the future.

Mountaintop Removal

According to Reuters (here), the Bush administration and the EPA will now be easing restrictions on mountaintop removal through Appalachia. This marks another victory for the big coal companies, and deteriorating the lives and land of the people of Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. The ignorance and blatant disrespect by President Bush is outrageous. As a state, West Virginia has voted consistently voted Republican for president, yet we are still low balled by big corporations that are absentee landholders and the government. Apparently now even the EPA doesn’t even care about the mountains of Appalachia; all Washington wants is that sweet energy buried in the ground that powers have the east coast. But will the people of Appalachia ever real benefits of the coal they mine and the sacrifices they make? NO! Big Coal is too busy filling their pockets and those of politicians they need to influence. While I understand that coal is vital to the economic system in Appalachia, what happens when the coal is gone and the people are no longer needed, the mountains have been all blown up, the creeks and streams are polluted, and the wildlife is killed off? Nothing happens, the companies and landowners will go back to their plush east coast offices and find something new to invest in. Mountaintop removal needs to end now. Coal mining needs to and should continue; however, the people of Appalachia deserve and should see some benefit the sacrifice of their homes, land, time, and lives.