What's Wrong with my Country?

Can you imagine if the U.N. Headquarters was located in Tehran? That's Iran for anybody who didn't know. Iran, the country we didn't like so much, we backed Sadaam Hussein's Iraq in the eight year Iran/Iraq War. In Iran, "Death to America" is considered a perfectly reasonable expression of a person's dissatisfaction with our foreign policy. Many people in that country feel the United States sponsored terrorism against them. From their point of view it's an opinion that is understandable. The average Iranian on the street probably doesn't feel we're the good guys.

Imagine the outrage if President Obama was visiting the U.N. in Tehran, and he was treated as Moammar Gadhafi or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been this week when they visited the U.N. here in the USA.

We don't have to like the man, but as the Head of State of those countries they represent, treating them with disrespect akin to disrespecting all the citizens of those countries. Certainly they will take it that way. Certainly idiots like Cafferty on CNN calling them mutants will do nothing to bring our peoples closer together. Particularly, Middle Easterners feel hospitality is something that is sacred. Christianity asks it's followers to give even enemies good treatment, in hopes that kindness will bring them closer together in the long run.

Our angry citizens, news organizations, and politicians are not representing the goodness of the Amercian people to the rest of the world. Indeed, we more and more, appear to be barbarians and arrogant ones at that

-Corwin

Marine Invasion

I really don't expect visitors on board my sailboat that are large enough to do anything more than put webs everywhere. Sadly, I expect regiments of spiders as history shows I will have them, expected or not. My pride and joy hosts large groups of brown spiders who squirt greenish brown goo when squashed. Occasionally I have big black widows owning the bow around the anchor windless. When sleeping aboard in the roomy V-berth, I can't help but worry some vengeful black widow will climb down the anchor chain, slip into the berth from the chain locker and bite my toes.

Legacy of my parents playing "Welcome to My Nightmare" a lot when I was young I suppose.

I've been thinking about some Rid-Ex modules but have concerns about the boat's electrical system. I hear tell that spiders are not a problem on the Bay itself, where things are generally colder. Maybe someday...

Every spring, some kind of sparrow or other comes in flocks to nest and have baby birds at my marina. I hang old Symantec and Solaris CD's from my boom and lifelines to try and scare off the birds. They say the moving flashing things keep birds at bay. Unfortunately, in an outdoor environment, things don't last. Remember this as you will see this material again.

I came aboard Sunday night on a cool evening after a friendly BBQ at a friend's house. The day had been hot so the clean cool air was as welcome as it was surprising. In the dark, my boat is long, lean, and sharp; Her defects hidden in the moonlight. She accepts my "Bad Art" with surprising grace. There in the quiet, I have time to think about all things that matter. No computers making noise and owning me with an endless stream of distractions. No TV. Nothing but my piece of freedom and the night. Oh, and my failings as a master. I try not to dwell on that too much, but sometimes I stay away because of it. However avoiding the truth, no matter the pleasantness or lack thereof, never helps much of anything, and in some cases causes problems.

I am aboard and descending the dark companionway ladder. The electrical system works and thus I have lights. Soon I note some things seem to be disturbed and out of place. I'm immediately worried I've had an intruder. I check the hatches but they are tightly secured. Strange. Nothing seems to be missing, but my hatch screen is partially un-fastened. Some things have been partially pulled out of a compartment that is normally closed but is not. I felt sure the secondary access port to the engine compartment was closed when last I was aboard...

I spend a bit of time servicing a couple of items and depart, full of resolve to return the next day and get more work done and I kept my promise. The next afternoon is cooler than I would have expected, which is to say the temp is in the high 70's or maybe low 80's. The pressure washer comes out, as the night no longer hides the dirt clinging to her. Some of the varnish has held up well and some has not. Brushes, turpentine, and other messy things are in my future.

After a decent wash-down, I descend into her and pull open the engine compartment and stare in wonder at the cleaning supplies that have spilled over from under the galley sink. This has never happened before. Winds blow that badly thought I? Then, open the galley storage under the sink and find my little straw wisk broom, utterly destroyed. Pulled apart and laying everywhere.

I have a critter, there is no doubt.

My mind is spinning with questions about how a critter gained access to the interior of my boat in the first place. There seems no way for such a thing to happen. And yet... yes... I storm aft to the cockpit and stare down at the place where engine controls might be located. The piece of wood that covers that place has rotted out and the access lays open to the world. Ah. Remember what I said before? Things don't last forever when left to nature. Anyway, it's incredible how clever natures critters can be. It got in and navigated the labyrinth of the engineering compartments and found a way into the human areas of my boat. There it found cardboard to tear up and carry off. (as I now find) It found the broom under the sink. It tried to get out via the top hatch and managed to nearly open the screen.

A bird then. No rat or mouse could reach the overhead.

The brains of living creatures are truly amazing. It appears my visitor carried off large amounts of cardboard and straw for it's nest somewhere. This required many trips aboard. NASA engineers would have a hell of a job creating and programming a robot that could navigate that route once, let alone over and over again and they certainly would have to spend enough money to construct a much simpler to navigate boat instead.

-Corwin

Yes, They are Fucking Nazis

A mother with boisterous 18 month old child has been thrown off an jet liner. "Bye bye plane" while waving at another aircraft rolling down the taxiway was enough to invoke the all powerful "Security Risk" rule.

Within 72 hours another young boy, about age 6 was denied boarding because his name somehow appeared on the Terror Watchlist.

You might think my post title has something to do with the government. Naw...

I'm talking about a large percentage of John Q. Public.

The news story about the mother and child getting tossed as a security risk had close to 7000 comments where I read it. Frighteningly, well over one third of those responses were in favor of the action. Some actually believed that "Safety" required the 18 month old potential TANGO (Terrorist) be removed and investigated. I remember feeling the dazed question marks rising from my head as I read these opinions.

As one poster asked pointedly: Do they think the child is going to produce and Uzi or AK-47 from his diaper?

Most of the posters in favor of tossing the mother and kid, just didn't like flying with children in general and often suggested any child be removed from a flight if unruly. Which basically amounts to a ban of mothers and children from airplanes. After all, children are very likely to be difficult when in the grasp of the TSA and the airport system in general. It's loud, busy, and uncomfortable. It makes me, a 40 year old man, want to scream, yell, and be a bad citizen as well.

I, of course, am an adult and behave like one. I don't expect that from 18 month old children. Especially in this day and age where giving a child a dirty look is considered child abuse. Hmmm, maybe we can prosecute the Flight Attendant for cruelty to a child or something.

In any case, she, like the thousand or so people who support kicking children of planes from that news topic, should be forever forced to wear Nazi armbands. I must assume that a large chunk of the American people feel this way. I also assume that a smart power hungry politician could use these ignorant, self serving Nazis to further their own power agenda and make a once Free (as in speech) country, into a Soviet like pit where people have to look over their shoulder constantly. They would pray they don't annoy some cunt that's supposed to be in the service industry and make you feel welcome, but instead has been given a mandate to make our flights "safe" by kicking children off planes.

That "Flight Attendant" should be fired. Sued for and flogged. I'm sure she has a tough and thankless job. I'm sure the greedy corporation she works for, doesn't pay her enough. However I'm sure she gets paid more than the average burger flipper who puts up with more bullshit and a far less sanitary environment. If she doesn't like people so much, maybe the dumb bitch should find a less people oriented job.

Myself, I'm not a huge fan of children. I don't have any myself. However I was one at one time and I try to be gracious and accommodating when forced into close proximity with them. Such as when traveling on a large flying bus. It's essentially public transportation and you can't chose who you fly with. Some of those Nazi fucks had the gall to suggest that this mother should either make sure her child is a perfect little angel for other's benefit or next time charter a plane for herself.

Holy shit! Maybe if these fuckheads want to have such a comfortable flight, they should pay the thousand(s) dollar premium for first class, or they themselves should charter a plane so they can travel in the luxury and style they seem to think they deserve.

It's a bus people. Airbus the company called it right. Noise can be blocked out with earplugs or better yet a good set of headphones and an iPod. Try 16 hours on a trans pacific flight with a baby kicking the back of your chair. That's annoying and should be corrected but it doesn't rise to the level of stop and drop them off at the nearest airstrip.

It's sad that we have such a cold, intollerant society. It's no wonder we as Americans find ourselves loathed by many in the world. Bush can only be blamed for so much. I'm starting to believe he is just a symptom of the problem. A result of the kind of assholes we as a people are becoming.

-Corwin

Foley = Tool

Can you believe this guy? I mean what a knucklehead!

Many of you don't think about it daily, but there is a whole class of people in D.C. who's sole reason for breathing is the exposure of dirt on politicians. As a politician, one has been briefed on this fact. And yet, Foley, like your average dumbshit, carried out some sexually explicit sessions over an instant messenger client.

Sexually explicit by itself would be bad enough. I mean if he had been having cyber-sex with his wife and the transcript was in the news he would have looked like an asshole, lost some votes, been an embarrassment to his party et cetera. It would have blown over but he'd be a tool because instant messengers are not inherently secure or anything like that.

Somebody voted this guy into office.

Oh but wait! He's more stupid than that. He had sexually explicit talks with a person of the same sex, and NOT his wife! BWAHAHAHAHA! That's very un-smart. HELLO? Remember that people want to take your job? Remember there's a whole party out there trying to do anything at all to beat your ass and take your seat? But that's no problem cause nobody's ever gonna get those chat logs right?

If that was all, once again, embarrassing, but probably gained some votes from the gay community. Proves he's not smart again, but as you know, it gets better.

He had "cyber" with a underage boy!!! That is distasteful and VERY VERY STUPID, and people voted this moron into office. Remember he's doing something he should not have been doing. Usually when people do something wrong, they get clever and try to hide it. Using an instant messenger client is his idea of clever.

Damn, we need a better, smarter type of person in office.

-Corwin

Fuck Islam

I've just had it with these followers of Mohammedism.

Racist Engine Reving???

Link to Story

The "President" of Pakistan wants to outlaw at the UN level, all 'defamatory' speech against Islam.

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf called for a ban on the "defamation of Islam" in a speech to the UN General Assembly in which he took a veiled swipe at Pope Benedict XVI for his remarks linking the Muslim faith to violence.

Good grief! Fuck those Western Free Speech laws. Those are a bad idea according to those damn Mohammedists. Here's a cartoon for you:

War Over This Cartoon?

I didn't hear any Christians suggesting we kill anyone over that one. Mohammedists want to kill 'infidels' every time one looks at them the wrong way (or revs his engine the wrong way).

Seems the Pope was right:

"The emperor certainly knew that Sura 2, 256, reads: 'No force in matters of faith'. It is one of the early suras, from a time -- as experts say -- in which Mohammed himself was still powerless and threatened.

"However, the emperor of course also knew the requirements about the holy war that were later formulated in the Quran. Without going into details like the handling of the owners of the scriptures, or non-believers, he (the emperor) turned to his interlocutors -- in a surprisingly brusque way -- with the central question after the relationship between religion and violence.

"He said, I quote, 'Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.'"

The Organization of the Islamic Conference, in a statement released Thursday, said it "regrets the quotations cited by the pope on the Life of the Honorable Prophet Mohammed, and what he referred to as 'spreading' Islam 'by the sword.'"

"The attribution of the spread of Islam around the world to the shedding of blood and violence, which is 'incompatible with the nature of God' is a complete distortion of the facts, which shows deep ignorance of Islam and Islamic history."

-Corwin

A Conversation With Junior

I doubt I'm the only one who talks to his pet. On the other hand, I'm reasonably sure I have more complete conversations with my pet than some.

This morning, I'm getting out of the shower and there is a customary "MEOW" at the shower room door as soon as the water is off. This is not a feminine, sweet meow either. It's lower pitched (for a house cat) and enunciated fast, like a BARK.

Translation: "Open the door!"

So I do. Junior is a 15 pound orange and white cat of the American Short hair type. He has a friendly disposition and is very fun.

He noses his way in, as I barely open the door and I close it behind him. He is unconcerned. Every morning he comes in after the water shuts off to see if all is well. I think he's concerned I might smell different, thus be a different person upon my emergence from the 'Rain closet'. Or maybe he's unhappy that the tub's wet. Junior is a 'Tub Digger'. He likes to jump in the (dry) tub and dig with great vigor. Of course, he doesn't accually damage anything, so it's very cute.

Today he wonders around and sniffs everything to make sure all is in order. He gives my beard a few licks because he knows nobody likes wet fur. He then gingerly steps on the toilet seat to check the conditions of the 'Emergency Water Supply'. If it's contaminated, he bitches good naturedly to me about it. He's a good friend like that. If anything is not to his liking, he lets me know but doesn't get really bent over it.

After that, he's jumps back down on the rug as I finish drying off. There on the rug, he spys a pillow feather and it's moving slightly from the rush of air caused by his drop from the toilet seat.

He attacks the feather and starts chewing.

"Junior, you really shouldn't eat that feather." I comment offhandly and without thinking.

He looks up at me and I imagined his voice in my head almost at once.

"If I were a outdoor cat, I'd be eating whole birds!"

"Feathers and all huh?" I wondered.

"You bet!" He replied. "I'm quite the aggresive house predator and I know how you dislike those flying rats for crapping all over your boat!"

What a good cat. :)

I found myself laughing and smiling for the rest of the morning.

-Corwin

Fuck the Dixie Chicks

I say again for possible penetration; Fuck the Dixie Chicks.

It pains me that they remade a great Fleetwood Mac song called Landslide.

Bush may be a fuckwit, but the office of the President always deserves respect. In fact, people deserve a level of respect. When I was young we were taught to respectfully disagree. This led to intelligent discourse. While some arguments might never end, there was common courtesy and respect.

Just a note: These young musicians are promoting a new album. They need all the press they can get to make any money. This is why they are suddenly out there making noise about a angry statement they made back in 2003. The media, always looking for some mud to sling, joines right in and gives them press.

These days our popular culture is one of anger, disrespect, discourtesy, and selfishness. Even this post is an example. I'd like to respectfully disagree with the Dixie Chicks. However they are not interested in anyone's views but those who agree with them. In their own words, they would rather have "Cool fans who get it". Isn't that sweet?

So since I can't be one of the "Cool people who get it" and I can't have a respectful disagreement with them and so many others just like them, I'll resort to a little profanity, and move on. Too bad they refuse to do move on.

-Corwin