Friday, August 27, 2004

"A Stupid Sense of Humor"

Since this blog chose to delete my comment to the following news article:

A report of a bomb aboard a Turkish merchant ship Thursday forced the U.S. Coast Guard to escort the vessel away from the port of Philadelphia and anchor it near the mouth of the Delaware River, where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean, senior Defense officials told FOX News.

The ship’s master became irritated with the length of time a routine Coast Guard search was taking and made comments about a possible explosion, officials said. He refused to allow authorities to search certain portions of the vessel, called the Cenk Kaptanoglu.

But the captain later told authorities he’d been joking about the bomb, officials told FOX News. The ship, which was carrying coal, had not yet been boarded for its second inspection.

Still, the Coast Guard took his comments “very seriously” and planned to conduct a "multi-agency” search, officials told FOX News.

The blog posted this comment to the article:
Does the US Government have a Department of Insanity? [Insert your own jokes here _____] If they do, I hope they were part of the "multi-agency" search.

My answer to this was (paraphrased):

If you work in law enforcement, then you would not take such joking lightly. Especially in this day & age. Anyone who would make such an idiotic joke to a LEO should be prepared for nothing less than a cavity search.

I thought that was an obvious, "Dude, Wake up."

The blog administrator obviously didn't like that answer.


Thursday, August 26, 2004

Modern Olympics: First Gold Medalist

The Romans abolished the Games in A.D. 394. Then in 1896, they started up again. A young man - the son of Irish immigrants - decided he was going to compete. His name was James Brendan Connolly. His is a success story all on its own:

He was raised in the tough South End of Boston. Forced to leave school in the early grades, he worked at various jobs, educated himself, & was admitted to Harvard in 1895 at the age of 27. When he asked Harvard for a leave to compete in the Games, they refused. So he packed up & left for Athens anyway, paying his own expenses. His event was the triple jump. In those days, they called it the "hop, step, & jump". It was the first event on the Olympic schedule -- set for the opening day. Unfortunately, the Americans had not realized that the Greeks used the Hellenic calendar; so the team wound up arriving just hours before the opening ceremony as opposed to 12 days before the Games.

Connolly was out of shape - 12 lbs. overweight - and tired. However, he received the first Olympic prize to be awarded in more than 1,500 years when he cleared 45 feet. He was the last to jump & outdistanced his closest competitor by more than a yard.

Harvard had offered him an honorary degree, but he rejected it. He wound up becoming a prolific journalist & author, writing 25 novels. He did choose to accept an invitation to lecture on literature at Harvard. At his 50th class reunion, the college awarded him a Harvard "H" in track.

Wednesday, August 25, 2004

War Blogs.

Here is a write up article by NPR (National Public Radio) about war blogs from Iraq. I just want to share that I personally read cbftw's blog daily My War: Fear & Loathing in Iraq. If anyone is interested in checking out these soldier's blogs, then you'll find a list of them in this article.

The Grammar B---- said…

this.

Wow…I love the courage of this post. Who would have thought that a “cranky grammar b---- with blue pencil in hand” would be miffed enough to post something like this after having read one-too-many blogs written in all lowercase or with improper punctuation? If anyone needs a motivational boost (read: “a kick in the arse”) to polish up your typewritten rants, then read the link.

I do agree with one part, but I do not agree with another part.

First, what I agree with:
A blogger must be a writer and an editor if he wants to attract and keep readers. A well-written blog indicates respect both for the medium and for the reader. Proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar are not merely the tools by which anal-retentive freaks like me get their kicks; they give words meaning, clarity, and, if you're lucky, beauty. Proper punctuation can mean the difference between comments full of flame wars and comments rife with meaningful discourse.”

Now, what I disagree with:
It's time for a little tough love, people: Anyone who types in all lowercase needs to be taken out back and beaten. You are not e.e. cummings; you are not being "artistic." …Use an ellipsis to indicate words omitted from a direct quote or to trail off intriguingly. If neither of these are your intention, try a period.”
While I agree that reading a well-written, well-punctuated article, rant, posting, will indicate to me a great deal of intelligence on the writer’s part (whether or not the writer is to receive the kudos as there may be an editor involved)… I do not agree with the idea that someone is not being “artistic.” People do things to be unique or individual. I could debate that someone’s writing style is enough to indicate their individual uniqueness. However, in this medium (the Internet) where much is visual and individual expression is rampant, encouraged, and infectious; it is unclear whether someone was attempting to be artistic or truly was “too lazy to hit the shift key”.

If you can't be bothered with the extra keystroke, I can't be bothered to read your site.”
Now there is some sound advice to resolve that issue!

As for the ellipses, I use them for both the correct reasons as well as for my own “artistic” reason. I choose sometimes to place three dots in a break of a sentence where I may have a neural nuclear misfire (read: “brain is on overload”) and need a moment to let the spinning gears slow down so I can capture whatever it was I was trying to get at. I found it intriguing in a well-established, well-paid author’s writing style and adopted it into my style database for random use at will.


That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.

Tuesday, August 24, 2004

Homestarrunner.com

This is my most favorite amusing website on the internet: http://www.homestarrunner.com. I highly recommend going to the sbemails section and checking out the Trogdor the Burninator email.

A brief history in terrorism.

Did you know the word terrorism was defined in 1795? (1)
Pronunciation: 'ter-&r-"i-z&m
Function: noun
Date: 1795
: the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion
- ter·ror·ist /-&r-ist/ adjective or noun
- ter·ror·is·tic /"ter-&r-'is-tik/ adjective

terrorism: "...the systematic use of terror or unpredictable violence against governments, publics, or individuals to attain a political objective. Terrorism has been used by political organizations with both rightist and leftist objectives, by nationalistic and ethnic groups, by revolutionaries, and by the armies and secret police of governments themselves."

Terrorism is defined in the U.S. by the Code of Federal Regulations as: "..the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives." (28 C.F.R. Section 0.85)
The FBI further describes terrorism as either domestic or international, depending on the origin, base, and objectives of the terrorists:
• Domestic terrorism is the unlawful use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual based and operating entirely within the United States or its territories without foreign direction committed against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.
• International terrorism involves violent acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or any state, or that would be a criminal violation if committed within the jurisdiction of the United States or any state. These acts appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion, or affect the conduct of a government by assassination or kidnapping. International terrorist acts occur outside the United States or transcend national boundaries in terms of the means by which they are accomplished, the persons they appear intended to coerce or intimidate, or the locale in which the perpetrations operate or seek asylum.

Our nation's first encounter with terrorists occurred at the end of the 18th century. Barbary pirates seized our American merchant ships that were no longer under British protection because we had gained our independence. (The term "Barbary" derives from Barbarosa ["red beard"] after Khair ad Din, also called "Barbarossa", who was a Muslim pirate during the Crusades.) Our American crews were sold off as slaves. So in 1785, we (the U.S.) agreed to pay $18,000 a year to the Tripoli-based corsairs in return for safe passage of our American ships. Similar agreements were made at the time with the rulers of Morocco, Algier, & Tunis. Then in May 1801, we decided we were not going to be coerced into the demanding increases made by the Pasha of Tripoli. The Pasha declared war on us. The only fear we had was that other Barbary powers would join Tripoli in the war. So we dispatched naval squadrons into the Mediterranean. In the years of 1801-1805, we blockaded their coast, bombarded the Pasha’s shore fortresses, & engaged in close, bitterly contested gun battles. Our Navy slogan was "Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!" One of our first Marine battles, in which we asserted our national power, was "on the shores of Tripoli" as declared on the Marine flag & in the Marine hymn. A peace treaty was eventually made with the Pasha Yusuf who was under the guns of our warships in Tripoli and William Eaton's forces at Derna (in Libya...where Marine Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon won the Mameluke sword, which is still part of the uniform today). This treaty disappointed many Americans.
(2)

*******
The problem of Barbary pirates was forgotten about during the next decade, as Napoleon once again went on the offensive in Europe, and America went to war (all be it briefly) with Britain. After the war of 1812, American ships were once again under attack in the Mediterranean. A new Bey, Omar, had taken over the Algiers. He ordered the capture of American merchant ships because of overdue U.S. tribute. President Madison responded by getting Congress to authorize military action against Algiers in February 1815.
Two naval squadrons of nine warships, under the joint command of Commodores Decatur and Bainbridge were sent out. On June 30, 1815, under threat of heavy bombardment, the Bey of Algiers agreed to release all American prisoners without any ransom payment. He also agreed to a new treaty which protected the US from future predation by Barbary corsairs. Article II of the treaty stated, "No tribute, either as biennial presents or under any other form shall ever be required by Algiers from the United States on any pretext." Then in an unprecedented act, the Americans demanded that Dey Omar pay the United States $10,000 as compensation for property taken from its citizens. America was finally free from the treat of piracy in the Mediterranean. About a year later, Dey Omar wrote to President Madison, proposing a renewal of the tribute treaty the United States had signed with Algiers in 1796. Madison wrote back that "the United States, whilst they wish for war with no nation, will buy peace with none." He concluded that it was the "settled policy" of the United States "that as peace is better than war, war is better than tribute."
(3), (4)

*******
Back in 1904, a Berber chieftain (Barbary pirate) named Mubu Ahmed er Raisuli decided he did not like the way the Moroccan government was being run. More particularly, he wanted to overthrow its sultan, Abdul-Aziz. (Another example of terrorists doing things and somehow dragging us into it.) Apparently, Abdul-Aziz allowed the French free reign in his country as long as they provided him with things like: an assortment of bicycles, 600 cameras, 25 grand pianos, & a gold automobile. (Morocco did not have roads.) Raisuli wanted to embarrass the sultan. So he kidnapped Ion Perdicaris - a wealthy American - and his stepson in the hopes that the United States would get involved & draw worldwide attention to the incident. (Do these tactics sound familiar?) The American consul in Tangier, Samuel Gummeré, requested a warship as a show of force. President Theodore Roosevelt sent four. Even though Raisuli had a reputation for returning messengers with their throats cut or just sending back their decapitated heads in melon baskets, President Roosevelt dispatched negotiators to the terrorist's camp. Raisuli had finally agreed to free his hostages after a month of negotiations. He agreed to certain political concessions & $70,000 in ransom from the Moroccan government. But he called off the deal the day before the scheduled release. American newspapers printed the ultimatum given to Consul Gummeré by Secretary of State John Hay, as ordered by President Roosevelt:
"Perdicarus alive or Raisuli dead."

The telegram originally said, "This Government wants Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead." And yet it had no effect on Raisuli's decision because it did not reach Morocco before he changed his mind again: the matter was settled, the ransom paid, & the hostages freed. For 40 years, it was not known that Perdicaris had registered as a Greek citizen during the Civil War in an attempt to protect his landholdings in the Confederacy, which otherwise would have been confiscated when he failed to answer a draft call. And he never reinstated his American citizenship. It was all later revealed in a biography of Hay. President Roosevelt & his troops kept this information mum in order to continue the stand rather than recall the fleet he had dispatched. This information had not been learned until after the negotiations had already begun.

Wake Up Call.

There are things all around this world that I read about or see and I wonder to myself, "Why?"

Sometimes I wonder to others and they give me their opinion as an answer... and it may be sound in content, yet lacking in reason. Or it may be expressly biased to the individual's "Theory of Life & Surrounding Issues". So I may or may not keep their words in the back of my mind as I continue collecting bits of information on the quest for the total answer. It is always amazing to me to learn the history of a subject - whether it is a word, slogan, public office, race of people, type of ritual, individual person, piece of art, published book, type of food, geographic location... Wow. And sometimes, it is so disappointing to learn from that history that we (all of us) have lived with a twist, a lie, an untruth for many decades - maybe even centuries. Where we may have thought that "this is the way it has always been", we are told the historical account in detail and learn that it has not always been that way. And sometimes, it is so rewarding to be enriched with a broader, historical scope surrounding a subject. If not rewarding, then definitely an eye-opener. Things that make you go, "Ohhh!"

It's time to wake up and find out what's really going on.