Various Views of Iraq

They are looking, are we? 

Like most issues involving the election, your view on the Iraq war is probably solidified to the point that you're not digging into things to find further information. But for the few of you looking for non-U.S.-mass-media sources of news and updates, I've noted them below. Some of them are focused purely on Iraq, while others look towards the entire Middle East.

I can't vouch for any of them of course.

One notable site is the MEMRI.org Iraq site, which presumably translates into English Arab-language articles, press releases, and official statements.

There is a chilling trailer to the GNN movie titled "BattleGround: 21 Days on the Empire's Edge," which judging by the GNN website is probably an anti-war movie.

White White house webpage has a site dedicated to the rebuilding of Iraq.

So does CENTCOM.

As well as the State Department.

There is the very simple blog called "Today In Iraq" that lists the dead, wounded, and kidnapped. There are a lot of them, including those on the websites of major American media outlets.

Then there are blogs from Iraqi people themselves.

Daily news sites include:
Iraq News
Iraq Daily
Alternet's War in Iraq
EIN News' website on the war in Iraq
The PBS site.

If that's not enough, check out this index.


Good luck guys, and God bless. 

A Fourth Option For President

Looking for someone to think about if Bush, Kerry, and Nader aren't your cup of tea? 

Do Bush, Kerry, and Nader really turn you off?

Have you ever called yourself a "Libertarian"?

Then you should know something about the Libertarian party nominee for president, Michael Badnarik.

If you were against the war in Iraq, and realize that both Bush and Kerry support it, then you will be happy to know this candidate is against it.

If you are a fiscal conservative, and unhappy with Bush's soaring deficits, but not comforted by the idea of a liberal tax-and-spend democrat taking over, then you should know about his plan for the economy.

Obviously, his website has much more in terms of details on his positions on various items. So if you're not happy with either Bush or Kerry, then do not try to figure out the lesser of two evils.

If you do, you will ultimately vote for an evil.


Ugh. Election Day. 

The New Dusty Springfield?

Poetry, or self promotion? 

Check out Eminem's latest anti-war, anti-Bush rant.

The Curse is Broken

Congratulations Boston.
 

Bush's Brain

Check this new game out.

Fellowship 9/11

If you're a fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, or you have something against Michael Moore, you'll probably like this spoof of Fahrenheit 9/11.

It can be slow at times, but it's a pretty clever satire that will probably go way over the heads of most people watching it. At it's best moments, it's hillarious.

Important News From Iraq

Exclusive!

The latest in the search for WMDs and missing explosives in Iraq was leaked to me. You will find the exhaustive report here.

My New Time Waster

A new reason not to have a life. 

I was on the hunt for a new PS2 game. How many times can you win the Super Bowl with the Arizona Cardinals on Madden 2005 and not get bored? Let's face it, when you're at the point when you've taken Josh McCown of the NFL's worst franchise to the pro bowl, you've beaten the game.

So on a whim I went out and bought NASCAR 2005: The Race For the Cup.

I'm not a NASCAR fan. In fact, growing up in New York City, this is my idea of a car.

But I know a couple of fans of the sport and they are so into it that I figured I buy the game and get to know the finer points of the sport.

Well I have to say it's a great game to play. I haven't gotten to the point where I can make a turn without crashing into a wall or another car, but I've been told in due time I'll get it.

Already, after owning the game for about a week, my opinion of the sport has greatly increased. There is so much you have to know and learn to compete in the sport that I'm sure this game will keep my occupied for a while.

I'll probably be staying in more now.

It's better than dating.

Monday Morning Musings

Curt Schilling put on an inspiring performance last night. 

Curt Schilling's heroic, six inning win in spite of his team's play last night may be his last this season. I don't follow baseball that much, but I must say I've been very impressed with this guy. Part of me really wants the Red Sox to win right now, so Boston fans will finally shut up about the Curse of the Bambino.

The Buffalo Bills season ended yesterday. When Drew Bledsoe threw into double coverage, leading to Deion Sanders' second interception, he pretty much ended his professional football career as a starting quarterback. It's now time for rebuilding with J.P. Losman (when healthy), Willis McGahee, and Lee Evans.

With the Bills playing the Arizona Cardinals, the New Jersey Jets, the New England Patriots, the St. Louis Rams, and the Seattle Seahawks in the next few weeks, it's possible they may not win more than one game until December 5th, when they play the Miami Dolphins. By then, Losman will be the starter and Buffalo will be looking towards next year.

The Seattle Seahawks are officially the most over-rated team in the NFL. Congratulations guys.

I own this on LP (a record, for those of you who are too young to know...it's what we had before CDs, for those of you too young to know...it's what we had before MP3s, for those of you too young to know).

It makes me smile.

Things To Do In New York: Mutable, A New Work By Katarina Wong

Looking for something different?

For those of you looking to do something off the beaten path in New York City, you should check out Katarina Wong's new exhibit titled Mutable at the PH Gallery.

The exhibit is located at 547 W 27 St., 2nd Fl (btwn 10 & 11 Aves) in Manhattan, with the gallery hours being 11am-6pm Tuesday through Saturday. It will be on view until November 24.

"Born of Cuban and Chinese heritages, Wong was raised in the US and finds herself inhabiting three cultures, yet is also not fully claimed by any one of them. Her work explores this disjunction in several bodies of work," says her press release.

It's worth a look.

Maybe Playing Outside Isn't Such A Good Idea

If the video game industry wanted to have an advertising campaign to get kids to stay indoors, these two guys would be their spokespersons.

"OK dude, what's wrong?" Somehow, I don't think the cameraman is going to a Rhodes scholar.

Why Do Yankees Fans Hate the Red Sox?

I asked a good friend of mine a simple question, why do Yankees fans hate the Red Sox? I've only seen the topic covered once, with no great conclusion.

It's easy to see why Boston fans, or any other teams', don't like them.

Other than this, have the Red Sox ever done anyting worthy of picking them out? If you're a Yankee fan out there, please explain it to me.

It seems to me, until a few days ago, the Yankees had the upper hand.

Hey Red Sox Fans...

Before you get excited about winning the pennant, remember you have four more games to win. 

One small step for mankind? 

God, Gays, and Getting Votes

"You know, Bob, I don't know. I just don't know."

This was President Bush's answer to the question "Do you believe homosexuality is a choice?"

It was probably an honest answer. His support of the gay marriage ban is probably rooted more out of political calculation than personal conviction. While Bush did get 25% of the gay vote in 2000, even the Log Cabin Republicans refuse to support him this year.

The campaign is gunning after the "traditional values" vote, a strategy that may ironically prove to be fatal for the president.

They dynamics of the political issue of homosexuality is changing, as it was the so-called-liberal John Kerry who seemed insensitive about it and so-called-arch-conservative Dick Cheney the tolerant one. After all, wasn't that Mary Cheney and her partner on stage hugging the vice president after a recent nationally-televised debate?

Don't all religious people think homosexuality is a sin?

Not necessarily.

Of course, many do, with various ways of looking at it.

It's probably not an issue that will be solved in my little blog, nor in the political arena this year. Yet I can't help but believe that attitudes are changing.

I'm Undecided

As the November presidential election approaches, I'm still very uncertain as to whom I should vote for.

John Kerry has done a good job convincing me not to vote for George W. Bush, while the president has done a good job convincing me not to vote for the senator from Taxachussetts.

Ralph Nader was never really a serious option for me. So what's a guy in New York State to do? Perhaps vote third party?

Well, there aren't too many compelling options there either. Other than the trio of Bush, Kerry, and Nader, there are only two other candidates on the New York State ballot, according to their board of elections.

There's Libertarian candidate Michael Badnarik, who seems very pleased with himself for getting arrested recently. It's a sad state of affairs that one has to go to this extreme to participate in a debate.

For New Yorkers, there's only a fifth option, Roger Calero of the Socialist Workers party, who doesn't appear to have a website but did get in the news for almost getting deported. Even if by some miracle he does win the election, he cannot serve due to the fact that he was not born in the United States.

It truly is a tough year to vote.

Welcome to my blog. 

Non Partisan Is The Way To Go

Refuting his own party, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed a ballot proposal to end political party primaries, creating a non partisan process. Both political parties hate the move, which is the first sign it's a good one.

I agree with the notion that it will help moderates get elected. It will also have the added benefit of forcing the 90% of the population who always votes for the same party in local elections to actually think about things before they get to the booth.

I really hope this passes.

Welcome To My Blog

Chances are, if you're reading this, you know me. This is probably a good thing, as this blog is definitely a work in progress.

In its early incarnation, I'll be writing about the things I like to talk about: politics, sports, religion, and other random things; you know, the stuff we can all agree on.

The name is intentionally ironic, as yet another blog in the world is kind of spitting against the wind. Nevertheless, I hope I enjoy doing it and you enjoy reading it.

If you have any comments and suggestions, please send them over to nominalme@yahoo.com.

Regards,
Mike