Brad Kaspar's Vacation

For those of you who know him, the photos from his vacation are incredible. No passwords needed.

http://gregstrock.typepad.com/photos/hiking_in_the_alps

If you ever want to email him, I can send you his email address.

Hunter Adam Plano Plano Yoda

Steve, still gallavanting around the US? Can we have a report on your stay in America?

I have nothing to report.

Is there word yet on a date and place for the wedding, Adam?

Discourse

"This nation is at war with Islamic fascists who will use any means to destroy those of us who love freedom, to hurt our nation." Controlling the terms of discourse controls the conversation. It takes control in advance of what will be said because it determines what can be said. Such control takes place in various ways under various names (ideology, hegemony, etc), and it takes its power from going unnoticed: it appears to be natural, the only way a topic can be discussed. Take, for example, our President's speech yesterday in Wisconsin (quoted above). He implies a rationale for anyone who wants to attack the US: they hate us only because we "love freedom" or, even more simply, because we are who we are ("our nation"). Strictly speaking, this is not a rationale because it denies any rational process/motivation. What it does is rule out any possibility that US economic and foreign policies play any role in motivating terrorism. If they hate us merely because we enjoy freedom, then there is no reason for us to examine our imbalanced policies towards the Palestinians, our support of dictators in oil-producing Arab states or the ways and degrees to which our government supports the global actions of primarily American multinational corporations. If our enemies are irrational or simply evil, then we are targeted arbitrarily (or because we are a beacon of goodness) and there is nothing we can do to prevent the spread of terrorism short of killing everyone who might want to hurt us. Now, I don't claim that terrorists have such universably defensible grievances with the US that we would be compelled to agree with them and their methods. I do think that in order to address a problem we have to understand it first, and labeling our enemies as evil and/or irrational does not begin to comprehend the problem. If US foreign policy contributes to terrorist recruitment-- and US foreign policy DOES contribute to terrorist recruitment-- then we need to carefully examine whether the offending parts of our policy are absolutely necessary or whether we can ammend our policies to minimize the violence we attract to ourselves. There are many possible reasons for denying the possibility of a logical connection between our global policies and our enemies' motivations for hating us-- emotional connections to September 11, economic interests, militaristic neocon ideology, political expediency, etc.-- but closing our eyes and ears to critical self-examination and blindly labelling terrorists as irrationally evil cannot help and often wrecks our efforts to protect ourselves and our national interest. We need to be engaged in a serious conversation about our nation's place and role in the world, but we cannot make progress on this front as long as we claim to be a target only because we "love freedom." We need to listen to both Sun-tzu and the oracle at Delphi: the first teaches "Know your enemy" and the second "Know thyself."

Urban Stronghold

I now own a house. That is, I now own a huge loan for a house, and the bank is letting me live there. It a 1350 sq. foot, three bedroom, ranch-style house directly adjacent to my own "Good Shepherd Reformed Episcopal Church and School" in Tyler. I intend to put it to heavy use as a gathering place for friends and allies, much like Steve and Adam's Traber 611, but rather less relaxed and more like a neighborhood intelligence and command center.

My first maneuvers from home will constitute planting two fruit-bearing plum trees in my front yard.

Richard M. Daley, Mayor

Just in case anyone is in striking distance, I will be in sweet home Chicago from August 17-21 (Th-Mon) to see Josh and hopefully Jordan, Ryan (Shifty) and whoever else I can dig up in or lure to the windy city. I'll buy you a pint if you can make it!

New Urbanism

I remember Dave mentioning new urbanism not too long ago. All Things Considered had a story about it today, so I thought I'd post it. Enjoy.

Kids and Madison Ave, or Why Capitalism is Evil

Indulging once again in my summer fling with NPR, I heard this piece about children and commercial advertising: All Things Considered July 31, 2006. I thought I should share it with everyone here since we have already touched on the topic of children, television and commercials. The billions of advertising dollars aimed at preschoolers and toddlers give us one more example-- and a particulary insidious one at that-- of what capitalism is really about. Capitalism is not about meeting needs; it is about creating them. It is not about fulfilling the demands of people in the system; rather, it is the strategic destruction of fulfillment in consumers in order to meet the corporate need to sell more and more units. Why supply what people demand when you can get them to demand what you supply? After all, if you supply what people demand, they might be satisfied, and satisfaction is bad for the bottom line. It's better business to sell desire, and start as young as possible...

My Ugly Mug

Stop playing games with my face.

Why We Fight

I just finished watching a documentary titled Why We Fight (2005). Has anyone else seen it? If so, I would love to hear what you think. If not, then watch it now. Put it in your Netflix queue or spend three bucks at Blockbuster or whatever, but watch it. I don't have words right now, so I'll talk to you guys later.

Congress Ave

I found this scene reflected in a downtown window.

Get Your Kicks

One of my favorites from the last roll I developed.

In America

I'm In America.
I'd like to get together with whoever can, which might mean making a trip to Arizona, Tyler, and/or D.C. Anybody in the mood? Please? Pretty please?

Sometime between Aug 6 - 16

Get your tickets while they're hot!

In full support of our new plan to make crazy delicious money with off-the-wall ideas, I've decided to sell tickets to my wedding.

Dude... I'm getting married. That's stinking weird... and crazy delicious. So yes, I have bit the dust so to speak, and asked Rachel to marry me. After a cute pause, she said yes and sealed the deal. So... I'm excited! That's certainly the second most scary time I've ever had. Second only to almost getting blown up in Iraq. Either one is about as life-changing, but the marriage thing has gotta be WAY more fun. We're thinking of getting married sometime between the end of October and the New Year, but the earlier the better! I would fully accept comments in the nature of congratulations but more importantly, TELL ME WHAT THE HECK I'M SUPPOSED TO DO NOW! Advice from married and single alike are welcome. Peace, love, and all that gushy stuff.

Naseous Anger

I am so angry today with the state of Israel, but it is not a "righteous indignation"; it is anger mixed with dread and an unsettling guilt. I cry for the Israeli dead and hate the violence backed by Hamas and Syria and Hezzbollah. I also weep for the dead in Gaza and Lebanon, and as I weep I see their blood on my hands. Our country has entwined itself with Israel in such a way that their sins cannot but fall on our heads. I feel this in my bones. The billions of dollars, the machines of war and death, our omnipotent veto that silences every censure from the United Nations all offer material support to our tacit approval of whatever Israel does-- no matter how unjust or immoral. But how could we do otherwise? Could we censure the Israeli government for collectively punishing civilian populations when we have murdered tens of thousands in our own "war against terror"? (Yes, "collateral damage" is nothing but a pretty word for murder.) But surely if given the choice between hypocrisy and murder we must choose to be hypocrites and then work to amend our own lives. But our President is silent; our ambassadors protect the "rights" of Israel to destroy Lebanon and Gaza; and we do nothing for those in Beirut who have died, are dying and will die tommorow. God save them, and God save us from their blood which cries out from the ground that soaks it up. In His mercy, let us hear the cry for justice. What twists the knife in my chest is knowing that the vast majority of evangelicals will line up in support of Israel as though that country were established by Divine fiat and not by proclamation of the Bristish empire. Apologizing in the name of God for war waged on civilians is a heresy if ever anything was heretical. I fear that we won't escape from wrath. Lord, have mercy.

One Red Paperclip

So a few weeks ago, Dave and I were talking and we figured that, in light of the fact that we have contributing to this blog a group of very intelligent human beings, we might be able to turn it into a venture that would make us all fabulously rich. And once that happens, we can start solving the problems of the world instead of just talking about them. We figured that Strauss, with his economic know-how and ability to do complex math, would be the source of this amazing idea. But I just read about this blog today where Kyle MacDonald, a random 27-year old from Canada, in the course of a year, managed to trade one red paperclip for an entire house. All on his blog, appropriately named oneredpaperclip. The moral of the story: anyone can come up with an idea that is just so crazy that it might work. Even people who can’t do complex math. So, since we don’t seem to have anything more to talk about during these quiet summer months than… grass… this is your chance to offer up your ideas for our collective online business venture. The winning idea will receive a silver-colored paper clip. Hey, it’s more valuable than you think…

Is our archive being destroyed?

What's happening to the early months of our blog? Is it being eaten alive? I know we started this thing before December 04. For example, where is the lovely picture I took of Logemann's house burning down???!!!

Maybe we should rethink moving to a private space where we have more control of the content.

Too Much Grass, Not Enough Green

Why do we have so much grass in America? It was hardly used at all in Japan, and I admit I missed it. But here there is such an awful excess in lawns, parks, sports fields, etc that I am beginning to loathe it. Why grass over every other plant on the earth?

Aaaarrrggghhhh!!!

On a more serious note, here's a review of the new Pirates movie delivered by a ninja. The kind of high quality, hard hitting journalism we expect from NPR. Seriously, though, it's great.

Happy Independence Day

Happy 4th, everybody! Enjoy the grillin' and the chillin' (that's "chilling" for those of us without progeny and "children" for the breeders in our midst). But don't forget what the day's all about: the perfect mixture of alchohol, water sports and explosives. It's amazing that there are any Americans left alive (or at least with all our fingers). Excercise your freedom to choose between hot dogs and fried chicken, or eat them both and wash it all down with a cold Sam Adams. To paraphrase Patrick Henry: Give me a beer, or give me death! And be careful!

(You could also watch Germany play Italy at 3pm eastern... in honor of our German extraction.)

Cubicle Wars

All the talk about online games sparked my memory about playing "Lycos Fight Club" back on the Floor. Unfortunately, that game is no longer available, but Adam, Andy and I have been playing its replacement, "The Office." I'm ashamed to admit how thoroughly Adam has been humiliating me. Play with us. Drink the Kool-aid.