All work and no play makes (e:Jason) a dull boy! I wish I could have an IV of coffee hooked up somehow. We got a new programmer at work, and the higher aboves told me I would have some help, some backup! Then this weekend I'm told that plans changed and he's going to be working on something else. Some days I really think I'm not doing what I'm meant to do. Anyone else feel that way? I hope everyone had a great time at the Taste and whatnot this weekend!

Jason

Because of my boycott of Talking Leaves, I don't have a local bookstore to call my own. Therefore (e:Joshua) and I made our trip to Borders to try and find some new reading material. (e:Joshua) spent part of the afternoon looking on Amazon for books dealing with string theory and other related materials. We decided we would each buy a book and then trade when we were finished. I couldn't decide what I wanted to read next.

We made the trip to Borders, and (e:Joshua) immediately found what he was looking for. We spent the next 90+ minutes searching for something I would like. I checked out the political section, which was filled to the brim with books that sickened me as I skimmed through them. I wish someone would write a political book dealing with what we need to do to become a unified America, that doesn't belittle people or discard ideology other than their own. I was severly disappointed.

Next I went to the history section, and the sections dealing with war stories. I love books dealing with war stories, especially personal accounts detailing what they go through as they come to grips with the experiences they have had. Maybe it is because my family has a long history of military service, and I want to try and understand better the experiences (good and bad) that my family has gone through. Luckily, my Liberal father had higher aspirations for us than to become instruments of death, and stood firm in his opposition to the rest of the family who thought military service would whip my brother and I into shape. I wonder what would have happened if I had entered West Point like a couple of my cousins have done. Likely I would be in Iraq, killing other human beings with speed and efficiency. I was taught that if I am going to take a job, to do it to the very best of my ability. That is a very scary thought.

Anyway enough of the rambling. I decided on "Inside Delta Force" by Eric Haney, who was one of the founding members of the elite and secretive special forces unit. It is a history of the unit and a compilation of Eric Haney's experiences in various SF operations during the 80's. So far it is really fascinating!

I admit I'm a picky reader. I don't like reading fiction. Most fiction to me only serves as a vehicle for elites with their head up their collective ass to put forth their kooky ideas. I prefer my kookyness straight up, like Howard Zinn's "Terrorism and War". The only fiction I like is on television in the form of the Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. Those shows provoke my imagination like no others. I really believe they are some of the most compelling and interesting shows on television right now. Anybody know of any really good Sci-Fi novels? I might be willing to give them a try.

Jason

That's the question to which everyone wants an answer. Is it because the Brits support our efforts in the war on terrorism? Is it because Europe has been particularly unsuccessful in their attempts to "Europe-ize" immigrants from the middle east? Is it because the radical muslims have been very successful in exporting their radical Imams to European nations, and have been WELCOMED, practically having the red carpet rolled out for them?

I know there are going to be a bunch of people on the left here and in Britain, and yes all over the world who only will accept an answer that excuses away the acts of violence and terror, and which will only offer an explanation that blames the Brits themselves. "They had it coming!" will be the cry of the radical left who seemingly joy in the deaths of their countrymen. I think a certain degree of introspection is necessary, but it alone only offers you a shallow and superficial overall picture of the problems involved.

I want peace as much as anyone. I wish we lived in a world that valued life, and valued peace. I'm also a realist and recognize that no matter how much we value life, no matter how much we value peace we will not sway the radical terrorists and get them to put down their guns and bombs. The radicals will never run out of excuses to fight and to kill. I fear that Europe is in a shitload of trouble, now and in the future, with radical muslims who perceive their socieites as anti-religious and oppressive toward muslims. (e:Joshua) is right - the only language they understand is violence. If we are supposed to not fight back, if we are not supposed to round them up or try to stop them by force, what are we supposed to do? Get into a drum circle? Hold a peace vigil? Pack up our bases all over the world and shut them down? Pay the radicals off like Italy did? None of these responses will stop radical muslims from killing innocent civilians. None of it will end the scourge of terrorism. Even if we try to help them, they will reject our help and say that we are trying to control them. If you're a lefty out there, I want to know what your solution is to the problem.

Jason

• Journal edited because Marmizo apologized. I take back the words I wrote. **

Jason

I found out that a friend's wife ran off with a co-worker, leaving him alone with his three kids. She said something to the effect of "I don't want the responsibility anymore." There is a part of me that refuses to believe that people are actually capable of this besides my mother, but having it happen to someone I know makes it all that more real for me. Hmmm....I wonder if our injustice system will take away her right to see her kids and make her pay outrageous child support, crippling her financially? Probably not, I'm scared that he will be left alone and fucked over.

This makes me think of another point. Gay dudes, don't take this the wrong way, but I don't know why you want marriage at all. You see how horrible we humans are at it, you see how when it goes bad (and you are essentially flipping a coin on this) the people involved have their money and their hearts ripped away from them. You see how it tears families apart. Who is to say that same sex couples would be any better at marriage than straight couples? I admit I am biased against marriage period, and so you should take this into consideration when I say these things, but I just don't see the point in fighting so fiercely for something when it could end up doing the same things for you it already does for straight couples. Don't ruin your relationships! Don't ruin your lives! Don't marry!

Jason