Posted by Paul at January 31st, 2009
I know I’m preaching to the choir at this point, but Bush really messed things up in Iraq. They actually made a sculpture of the shoe an Iraqi journalist threw at his face. No joke. A fucking bronze sculpture. To anyone who thinks Bush will somehow be redeemed (as if such a person still existed): No one in Iraq will ever build a statue of Bush. Unless it includes a shoe flying at his face.
Posted by Paul at January 25th, 2009
George W. Bush has always been proud of his ability to inspire rage in the hearts of disenfranchised Muslims. But Barack Obama seems unaware of the blow he delivered al Qaeda just by being sworn-in. Witness their newfound desperation:
…the terrorist group has unleashed a stream of verbal tirades against Barack Obama, each more venomous than the last. Obama has been called a “hypocrite,” a “killer” of innocents, an “enemy of Muslims.” He was even blamed for the Israeli military assault on Gaza, which began and ended before he took office.
The torrent of hateful words is part of what terrorism experts now believe is a deliberate, even desperate, propaganda campaign against a president who appears to have gotten under al-Qaeda’s skin. The departure of George W. Bush deprived al-Qaeda of a polarizing American leader who reliably drove recruits and donations to the terrorist group. — Washington Post
Posted by Paul at January 17th, 2009
What’s with all these people falling off cruise ships? First the newlywed then the other newlywed, now the old couple. It seems cruise ships have become the new way to commit murder/suicide. Soon they’ll have suicide hot line numbers posted at the deck railings, like they do on the bridge to Coronado Island in San Diego.
No one died on my one and only cruise ship experience (that I know of), but an expensive camera with a telephoto lens was stolen from a duffle bag. I know: bad place for a camera.
Then there’s the influenza outbreaks. Let’s see, take a bunch of people from all corners of the world, herd them on to a floating open air smorgasbord, set them adrift in the sludge of Los Angeles Harbor. Makes you sick just thinking about it.
This is not to say I’d turn down the chance to take another cruise. Alaska or the Amalfi coast would be nice. Hey, I’ll take my chances. If I’m not violently ill or murdered, it could be a pretty nice time. Any takers?
Posted by Paul at January 10th, 2009
Comedian Dane Cook is considered by many to be a douchebag. I liked him when he first appeared on Letterman, but mega-success seemed to change him. First, he invented his own hand gesture. Then, during one of his HBO concert specials — in the round of course, with giant video displays — I was stunned to hear him glorify the Bible in the punchline to one of his “jokes”. He got a huge cheer and stood there with his chest puffed out. The Messianic Complex had reared its head; we saw it with Scott Stapp, lead singer of the rock band Creed (certified douchebag). Except for the guitars and drums, Cook is now the same as Stapp. Success can have a debilitating effect on performers (i.e. Kurt Cobain, not a douchebag), or it can have a debilitating effect on the audience.
Governor Rod Blagojevich of Illinois is a prime example of a douchebag firing on all cylinders. It’s likely he was a garden variety douchebag before he tried to sell a U.S. Senate seat. Then, rather than hide his ridiculously coiffed head in the sand, he chose to strut around for the cameras. So he’s certifiable now. In fact, this unique combination of chutzpah and cluelessness is the hallmark of a true douchebag. Bravo Blago!
