I just love this quote from Tom Friedman from the NY Times on the Imus show this morning referring to our strategy for the future of Iraq.
"If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there"
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
Sunday, April 13, 2003
Saturday, April 12, 2003
Jay Leno "Turkey has voted not to allow U.S. troops into their country and Saddam Hussein said 'You can do that?'"
Jay Leno A lot of students around the country protested the war today. The National Youth and Student Peace Coalition sponsored an anti-war organization called 'Books Not Bombs.' President Bush said, 'Why do you want to drop books on them?'"
Jay Leno "Experts say that if we go to war with Iraq, oil could reach as much as $80 a barrel. Of course, after the war it will be free."
Jay Leno "Saddam Hussein also challenged President Bush to a debate. The Butcher of Baghdad vs. the Butcher of the English language."
Jay Leno "President Bush announced tonight that he believes in democracy and that democracy can exist in Iraq. They can have a strong economy, they can have a good health care plan, and they can have a free and fair voting. Iraq? We can't even get this in Florida."
Jay Leno "In an interview with Dan Rather, Saddam has challenged President Bush to a live, televised debate. I think this would be fair, since English is a second language to both of them."
Jay Leno "President Bush has said that he does not need approval from the UN to wage war, and I'm thinking, well, hell, he didn't need the approval of the American voters to become president, either."
David Letterman "In a speech earlier today President Bush said if Iraq gets rid of Saddam Hussein, he will help the Iraqi people with food, medicine, supplies, housing, education, anything that's needed. Isn't that amazing? He finally comes up with a domestic agenda and it's for Iraq. Maybe we could bring that here if it works out."
Jay Leno "Secretary of State Colin Powell addressed the United Nations Security Council, offering a compelling 90-minute presentation that not only furthered his case but reminded the world why America is second to none in the field of PowerPoint."
Jay Leno "I read today that the president was interrupted 73 times by applause and
75 times by really big words."
Jay Leno "This week officials from France, Russia and Germany accused President Bush of having a fondness for war. Yeah, when asked about it, a spokesman for Bush said, 'It's a one syllable word, of course he's fond of it.'"
Jay Leno A lot of students around the country protested the war today. The National Youth and Student Peace Coalition sponsored an anti-war organization called 'Books Not Bombs.' President Bush said, 'Why do you want to drop books on them?'"
Jay Leno "Experts say that if we go to war with Iraq, oil could reach as much as $80 a barrel. Of course, after the war it will be free."
Jay Leno "Saddam Hussein also challenged President Bush to a debate. The Butcher of Baghdad vs. the Butcher of the English language."
Jay Leno "President Bush announced tonight that he believes in democracy and that democracy can exist in Iraq. They can have a strong economy, they can have a good health care plan, and they can have a free and fair voting. Iraq? We can't even get this in Florida."
Jay Leno "In an interview with Dan Rather, Saddam has challenged President Bush to a live, televised debate. I think this would be fair, since English is a second language to both of them."
Jay Leno "President Bush has said that he does not need approval from the UN to wage war, and I'm thinking, well, hell, he didn't need the approval of the American voters to become president, either."
David Letterman "In a speech earlier today President Bush said if Iraq gets rid of Saddam Hussein, he will help the Iraqi people with food, medicine, supplies, housing, education, anything that's needed. Isn't that amazing? He finally comes up with a domestic agenda and it's for Iraq. Maybe we could bring that here if it works out."
Jay Leno "Secretary of State Colin Powell addressed the United Nations Security Council, offering a compelling 90-minute presentation that not only furthered his case but reminded the world why America is second to none in the field of PowerPoint."
Jay Leno "I read today that the president was interrupted 73 times by applause and
75 times by really big words."
Jay Leno "This week officials from France, Russia and Germany accused President Bush of having a fondness for war. Yeah, when asked about it, a spokesman for Bush said, 'It's a one syllable word, of course he's fond of it.'"
Friday, April 11, 2003
One of the great things about baseball is the length of the season. Every day is a chance to start a new winning streak. You don't have to wait a week after a loss to get back on track.
Of course, this doesn't apply if you're a Mets fan. Every day brings new opportunities for frustration and disappointment. The length of the season just represents the length of your despair. You feel like a voodoo doll whose only purpose is to be constantly stuck with pins.
Of course, this doesn't apply if you're a Mets fan. Every day brings new opportunities for frustration and disappointment. The length of the season just represents the length of your despair. You feel like a voodoo doll whose only purpose is to be constantly stuck with pins.
Thursday, April 10, 2003
Possible future?
The year is 2050. The last non-military related factory has closed down. The USA is reconstituted as the USMILCORP-the United States Military Corporation. The entire infrastructure is now dedicated to creating weapons and training and sustaining our military. Outsourcing is no longer a function of individual companies. The entire world has outsourced military functions to the USMILCORP. Anytime a country needs an army, they contract with USMILCORP. We will go anywhere, anytime for the right price.
The year is 2050. The last non-military related factory has closed down. The USA is reconstituted as the USMILCORP-the United States Military Corporation. The entire infrastructure is now dedicated to creating weapons and training and sustaining our military. Outsourcing is no longer a function of individual companies. The entire world has outsourced military functions to the USMILCORP. Anytime a country needs an army, they contract with USMILCORP. We will go anywhere, anytime for the right price.
3/15/03
I think it's apocryphal that I am writing this on the Ides of March. I can't recall a time of greater stress and feelings of helplessness and negativity during my lifetime. Even during the '60s, with the Vietnam War and race riots, there was always a feeling of great energy and anticipation for the future. We had events, ideas and people that stimulated and challenged us. We had the Kennedy's, Woodstock, the race to the Moon and, of course, the '69 Mets. Maybe it was the naivite of youth or just the raging hormones. You were always excited and energized about what the next day would bring.
Now, we are constantly faced with events that could undermine the very foundation of our society. Everyday, we face the implications of terrorism, war, religious hatred, the Stock Market meltdown, recession, downsizing, and unemployment. New ominous sounding terms such as weapons of mass destruction, al-Qaeda and jihad have become part of our vernacular.
For the first time in my memory, our country is no longer the global beacon of hope and freedom. We are now vilified and considered bullies. Didn't we learn anything from the Vietnam War? History has shown that we can foster global change by exporting our political, economic and moral values not via military power. We need trading partners not Coalition partners to promote long term global economic stability and peace.
Our government fosters policies that ignore systemic problems in our economy. As evidenced by the high interest rates and deficits of the '80s, trickle down tax cuts do not work. Our leaders are oblivious that entire industries that we created along with the associated high paying jobs are moving offshore to Asia. A recent published report stated that the US lost over 500,000 Information Technology jobs between 2001 and 2002 alone. How long will the global hegemony of the US continue when all we produce are movies and bombs?
We now live vicariously through pseudo-reality shows on TV. Is this because our own reality is too difficult to deal with? Why are shows about death and dysfunctional families like the "Sopranos"and "Six Feet Under" so popular?
Yet, we must go on. I realize now more than ever that we can't rely on external factors for happiness. We must look within ourselves for hope. We must truly live within the moment and not worry about things out of our control.
This was reaffirmed just today. I witnessed three thousand people gladly pay $100 (it went to a local charity) to participate in the annual polar bear plunge. Entire families ran into and then quickly exited the thirty-nine degree ocean water. Yet smiles abounded. No one was thinking about war and death.
I started the day by running along the ocean under a cloudless sky with Springsteen on my CD player:
" Hard times, baby well they come to us all,
Sure as the tickin' of the clock on the wall
Sure as the turnin' of the night into day
Your smile girl, brings the mornin' light to my eyes
Lifts away the blues when I rise
I hope that you're coming to stay
I'm waitin', waitin' on a sunny day
Gonna chase the clouds away
Waitin' on a sunny day"
Bruce Springsteen-The Rising
Well it's just one Mann's opinion!
I think it's apocryphal that I am writing this on the Ides of March. I can't recall a time of greater stress and feelings of helplessness and negativity during my lifetime. Even during the '60s, with the Vietnam War and race riots, there was always a feeling of great energy and anticipation for the future. We had events, ideas and people that stimulated and challenged us. We had the Kennedy's, Woodstock, the race to the Moon and, of course, the '69 Mets. Maybe it was the naivite of youth or just the raging hormones. You were always excited and energized about what the next day would bring.
Now, we are constantly faced with events that could undermine the very foundation of our society. Everyday, we face the implications of terrorism, war, religious hatred, the Stock Market meltdown, recession, downsizing, and unemployment. New ominous sounding terms such as weapons of mass destruction, al-Qaeda and jihad have become part of our vernacular.
For the first time in my memory, our country is no longer the global beacon of hope and freedom. We are now vilified and considered bullies. Didn't we learn anything from the Vietnam War? History has shown that we can foster global change by exporting our political, economic and moral values not via military power. We need trading partners not Coalition partners to promote long term global economic stability and peace.
Our government fosters policies that ignore systemic problems in our economy. As evidenced by the high interest rates and deficits of the '80s, trickle down tax cuts do not work. Our leaders are oblivious that entire industries that we created along with the associated high paying jobs are moving offshore to Asia. A recent published report stated that the US lost over 500,000 Information Technology jobs between 2001 and 2002 alone. How long will the global hegemony of the US continue when all we produce are movies and bombs?
We now live vicariously through pseudo-reality shows on TV. Is this because our own reality is too difficult to deal with? Why are shows about death and dysfunctional families like the "Sopranos"and "Six Feet Under" so popular?
Yet, we must go on. I realize now more than ever that we can't rely on external factors for happiness. We must look within ourselves for hope. We must truly live within the moment and not worry about things out of our control.
This was reaffirmed just today. I witnessed three thousand people gladly pay $100 (it went to a local charity) to participate in the annual polar bear plunge. Entire families ran into and then quickly exited the thirty-nine degree ocean water. Yet smiles abounded. No one was thinking about war and death.
I started the day by running along the ocean under a cloudless sky with Springsteen on my CD player:
" Hard times, baby well they come to us all,
Sure as the tickin' of the clock on the wall
Sure as the turnin' of the night into day
Your smile girl, brings the mornin' light to my eyes
Lifts away the blues when I rise
I hope that you're coming to stay
I'm waitin', waitin' on a sunny day
Gonna chase the clouds away
Waitin' on a sunny day"
Bruce Springsteen-The Rising
Well it's just one Mann's opinion!
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