The Snake's Advocate

This is dude is my hero!

2009-01-24T14:48:00.003-05:00

It is official, Hamas is full of sh*t

2009-01-01T14:18:00.002-05:00

Like it takes a genius to figure that one out...

Irony...

2008-12-24T16:36:00.002-05:00

I think the BBC's photo and its caption tell the whole story. No need for me to elaborate.

A man in Gaza City looks at a hole in a wall hit accidentally by a militant rocket

This shirt is black. Not!

2008-12-16T21:28:00.001-05:00

Hell’s Angels — Lithuanian Style:

U.S. and Afghan soldiers in Zabul Province give high marks to the Lithuanian Special Forces, who like to ride these captured Taliban motorbikes to sneak up on, and chase Taliban fighters. The “LithSof” are on their way to becoming living legends: Both Afghans and Americans report that the Taliban are afraid of the Lithuanians. Stories about them are filled with dangerous escapades and humor.

Americans say that the Lithuanians are sort of a weaponized version of Borat, who think nothing of sauntering around a base in nothing but flip-flops and underwear. “They look like mountain men. They never shave, sometimes don’t bathe, and often roll out the gate wearing nothing but body armor and weapons. Not even a t-shirt,” an American soldier told me. The Lithuanians may be a little bit nuts, but the Americans love to have them around because Lithuanians love to fight, and when you need backup, you can count on them. That contrasts starkly with many of the NATO “partners.” Maybe when your country spends almost a half-century with the Soviet boot on its neck, its first generation of free soldiers know what freedom is worth — and that you sometimes have to fight for it.

Read the rest of the Michael Yon dispatch over at Pajamas Media.

Talk about a sweet upgrade!

2008-12-10T14:56:00.000-05:00

No comment...

2008-11-10T12:17:00.001-05:00

The starvation effect and October's PFT

2008-10-01T08:26:00.002-04:00

September's PFT

After Ramadan's starvation camp, I officially lost 2 pounds of muscle weight, and a lot of upper body strength. It is time to visit the weight room again.

Push ups: 63
Sit ups: 66
2 mile run: 13:18
Weight: 177.0
Height: 73"

Total Score: 264 (+15)

Pelosi does it again

2008-09-30T11:58:00.002-04:00

Now, where was Nancy in all of this?

Bring it on!

2008-09-27T07:51:00.003-04:00

In preparation for my next diagnostic PFT, I went out for a little two mile run this morning. Knowing that my last test's time was 14:42 can you guess what my time was?
14+?
13+?
13 flat?

Actually, none of the above! I just ran the two miles in 12:39.44! I haven't ran this fast since the summer of 2006 when I was able to run 3 miles in sub 18 minutes!

I guess if I keep up the training, my plans for qualifying to the Boston Marathon might be coming back... Who knows? As for now, I'll just focus on next week.

The highlight of my week

2008-09-26T16:06:00.002-04:00

I'd feel a little better if their two victories hadn't come against Nos. 31 and 30 on this list. Still, your average Falcons fan is like a broke college student who went to a casino with $100 to gamble, turned it into $300 in 20 minutes, put a $100 chip in his pocket, shrugged his shoulders and said, "Whatever happens from now on, worst-case scenario, I'm breaking even."

-- Bill Simmons, ESPN

Damn it! Why is Wednesday so dang far away?!!

This is just too good...

2008-09-19T04:42:00.004-04:00

If you follow Al Raya's cartoonists, Ummaya Juha sucks...

Here is an observation

2008-09-19T04:42:00.002-04:00

Vista + Bluetooth Headset + Skype = Blue Screen of Death

Kill me now, please!

2008-09-17T19:02:00.005-04:00

So I push myself through fasting and Ranger Challenge PT to make first squad -starting lineup- and now the Army tells that I can't compete because of paperwork and requirements that I asked about back in August before signing up for the class!

That is some B.S.

Add to that the fact that CWST was canceled this semester, and basically I can say that I am having the worst week ever!

I was beginning to sway over to the Army's side given how cool my Ranger Challenge teammates were. However, after this incident, if I ever get a chance to enlist, it is going to be the Marine Corps damn it.

Hopefully I won't be too old by then...

So much for going green

2008-09-16T10:38:00.003-04:00

I guess my plans for reducing my carbon footprint - sorry Wyatt - has just been canceled as my bike was stolen this morning. I reported it to the local police and they took the bike's serial number and the usual information, but I don't think they will be calling me anytime soon...

Oh well...

No power, no bike, and no food. How awesome is that?

Like Ike beat Tina!

2008-09-15T21:04:00.003-04:00

So I guess you know the story, the rap-side, crack-side
How I smoked funk, smacked b*****s on the backside
Bed-Stuy, the place where my head rests
Fifty shot clip if a n***a wan' test
The rocket launcher, Biggie stomped ya
High as a motherf***in helicopter
That's why I pack a nina, f*** a misdeameanor
Beatin motherfuckers like Ike beat Tina

Machine Gun Funk - The Notorious B.I.G.

So whats left of Ike came running through Louisville yesterday, and my apartment is still without power...

This blows!

McShoot Me!

2008-09-13T12:51:00.002-04:00

I would like to meet the person who made the movie "Supersize Me" and punch him in the face.

Random thought of the day

2008-09-12T02:03:00.003-04:00

I really don't get it how I can run outside for three hours straight, but can't take 30 minutes to get my stuff organized...

One day at a time

2008-09-11T05:04:00.003-04:00

Date: September 11, 2008
Time: 0500
Location: Dougherty Hall

It is a new day, but the fatigue caused by lack of sleep, food, and intense daily preparation for Ranger Challenge continues. If this situation doesn't correct itself in another week I might find myself in an unfavorable situation as homework and work begin to pile up, and procrastination and lack of focus dominate. That cannot be allowed to happen.

I must take charge of things, and get things done one day at a time.

19 more days to go.

Help wanted

2008-09-09T23:37:00.002-04:00

After losing my FijiFilm FinePix f50 12 MP camera last summer to unknown circumstances, I believe that I need to get me a new digital camera. I am doing so much fun stuff right now, I would really hate to look back one day and wish that I had photographs of it...

Any camera suggestions?

Disappearing act...

2008-09-08T23:25:00.002-04:00

After the attention he received on Control Room, and the buzz he made by leaving the Marine Corps and Joining Al Jazeera English, I really wonder what happened Josh Rushing.

His Youtube page hasn't been updated since December of 2007, and I don't recall anybody in Doha has paid any attention to him joining Al Jazeera, or to the interviews he had with Bill O'Reily or Tucker Carlson.

Any ideas?

It is random Quiz time!

2008-09-08T16:54:00.002-04:00

What military aircraft are you?

B-52 Stratofortress

You're a B-52. You are old and wise, and you absolutely love destruction. You believe in the principle of "peace through deterrence" and aren`t afraid to throw your weight around.

Click Here to Take This Quiz
Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

Time!

2008-09-07T22:17:00.001-04:00

One advantage living in Utah has over living in the Kentucky is that you don't have to wait to 1300 for the games to start, and that by 2200 all the games are over.

The Falcons are 1-0!

If you first don't succeed,

2008-09-07T01:49:00.000-04:00

then sky diving is not for you!

That was awful

2008-09-06T01:56:00.002-04:00

I guess I just paid the price for staying up too late. Bill Maher's show sucks a$$.

I hope he gets a heart attack soon.

Hello Ramadan, and good bye Ranger Challenge

2008-09-03T17:45:00.001-04:00

Date: September 03, 2008
Time: 0600
Location: Crawford Gymnasium

This morning I had my diagnostic PFT. I passed, but I don't think that my scores will help me make the cut to the Ranger Challenge team. I think the exhaustion and dehydration caused by fasting to ruin my run time. I still did better than a lot of the contracted cadets out there, but I don't think I want to use them as a measuring stick for my performance.

During the run I was passed by LTC Gough, he is an SF guy who graduated from West Point, his run time was 12:50, I don't think I ran that fast since August of 2006.

My next PT test will be in the first of October, exactly the first day after the end of Ramadan. I better have better excuses for my performance shortcomings by then.

Push ups: 65
Sit ups: 64
2 mile run: 14:42
Weight: 179.2
Height: 73"

Leadership

2008-07-06T14:30:00.002-04:00

Again, the fine people of the U.A.E. have shown their true colors of honor and brotherhood, by leading from the front in helping out the Iraqi government by canceling all the Iraqi debts.

Related:
A salute to the fighting men of the U.A.E.

Hope!

2008-06-25T04:56:00.000-04:00

Some videogame humor for you

2008-06-24T16:22:00.002-04:00

If you have no idea what Rainbow Six, Gears of War, or Metal Gear Solid is then just close the browser window and go do something else.

This one is the best of the three

It is my birthday: The Gifts Keep on coming!

2008-06-18T02:26:00.001-04:00

1. I got my ticket out of Qatar: 28th July!
2. The Lakers Lost!

Yeah Boi!

Racism and Mathematics

2008-05-21T01:19:00.003-04:00

Since I will be moving to Louisville this upcoming August, I've been checking out the Louisville Courier-Journal's website to see whats going on in that city, and the State of Kentucky. Today was the day for the Democratic party primaries in the states, and it seems to me that someone over there didn't really like Hillary Clinton very much, so he declared that

Kentucky = a bunch of racist hicks

Lets see how the math works:

As C-J Washington reporter Jim Carroll pointed out earlier tonight, about 20 percent of Kentucky voters said race was a determining factor when it came to deciding for whom they would vote. And of those people, 90 percent said they voted for Hillary Clinton. The mathematical conclusion is pretty obvious.

90% of 20% = 18% of the whole population.
18% - Holy Shit Batman!
Lets visualize the numbers here for those who lack the imagination - like my humble self over here:

So, if the small piece of the pie does care about race, does that make the whole state Racist?!!!
The other question that I wonder about is would the same statement be made if all of those who favored race were black?

Video of the Day.

2008-05-17T05:10:00.003-04:00

Who are we kidding?

2008-04-04T13:55:00.002-04:00

So, a woman gets pregnant, whats a f**king miracle about that?

A salute to the fighting men of the U.A.E.

2008-03-28T14:07:00.005-04:00

I didn't know that the U.A.E. Had combat troops in Afghanistan until I ran into this article on the BBC this evening. Am I pleased to finally see an Arabic/Muslim nation move into action and get boots on the ground to help secure the situation. Another pleasing factor is when you get to read something like this:

As fellow Muslims, they get a warm reception from the villagers.

"At first I thought these were American soldiers and I wanted them to leave but when they said they were Muslims I knew they were our brothers," a young Afghan man says.

Hajji Fazlullah, another Afghan villager, says: "The Arab troops come in our country and our village, we are very happy."

And this:

"And we try to convince the people about the US, about British. They came here to give you peace."

Oorah U.A.E.

The New York Times

2008-03-19T08:42:00.000-04:00

Holding no punches

2008-03-16T02:19:00.003-04:00

Wow, I am reading Townhall.com for the first time in more than a week and it seems that last week Doctors Sowell and Williams held no punches at all. They went after Spitzer, Obama, Hillary, the POTUS, and the ethanol industry.

On Spitzer, Dr Sowell "served" him like this

Many in the media refer to Eliot Spitzer as some moral hero who fell from grace. Spitzer was never a moral hero. He was an unscrupulous prosecutor who threw his power around to ruin people, even when he didn't have any case with which to convict them of anything.

Because he was using his overbearing power against businesses, the anti-business left idolized him, just as they idolized Ralph Nader before him as some sort of secular saint because he attacked General Motors.

Linking that to Obama

Currently, various facts are belatedly beginning to leak out that give us clues to the character of Barack Obama. But to report these facts is being characterized as a "personal" attack.

Barack Obama's personal and financial association with a man under criminal indictment in Illinois is not just a "personal" matter. Nor is his 20 years of going to a church whose pastor has praised Louis Farrakhan and condemned the United States in both sweeping terms and with obscene language.

The Obama camp likens mentioning such things to criticizing him because of what members of his family might have said or done. But it was said, long ago, that you can pick your friends but not your relatives.

Then finishes the whole piece with absolute "pwnage"!

Obama chose to be part of that church for 20 years. He was not born into it. His "personal" character matters, just as Eliot Spitzer's "personal" character matters -- and just as Hillary Clinton's character would matter if she had any.

Then Dr Williams opens up a can of whooped () by going on the Ethanol Industry

Ethanol is so costly that it wouldn't make it in a free market. That's why Congress has enacted major ethanol subsidies, about $1.05 to $1.38 a gallon, which is no less than a tax on consumers. In fact, there's a double tax -- one in the form of ethanol subsidies and another in the form of handouts to corn farmers to the tune of $9.5 billion in 2005 alone.

There's something else wrong with this picture. If Congress and President Bush say we need less reliance on oil and greater use of renewable fuels, then why would Congress impose a stiff tariff, 54 cents a gallon, on ethanol from Brazil? Brazilian ethanol, by the way, is produced from sugar cane and is far more energy efficient, cleaner and cheaper to produce.

He goes for the kill right over here

It's easy to understand how the public, looking for cheaper gasoline, can be taken in by the call for increased ethanol usage. But politicians, corn farmers and ethanol producers know they are running a cruel hoax on the American consumer. They are in it for the money. The top leader in the ethanol hoax is Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), the country's largest producer of ethanol. Ethanol producers and the farm lobby have pressured farm state congressmen into believing that it would be political suicide if they didn't support subsidized ethanol production. That's the stick. Campaign contributions play the role of the carrot.

The Big Sticks

2008-03-09T01:07:00.003-05:00

Earlier today, more "stuff" came out of senator Pelosi:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the nation's ability to lead the world depends on its morality, not military might. "We will begin to reassert that moral authority by attempting to override the president's veto next week," said Pelosi, D-Calif.

I have to disagree with that, as I am a firm believer in "Big Stick Diplomacy".

"Speak softly and carry a big stick."

I beg your pardon!

2008-03-06T05:21:00.003-05:00

*I am sorry, but you have to be doing something to be hard working...
Anyhow, move on...

Iraq progress report

2008-03-06T01:05:00.002-05:00

Courtesy of Blackfive.net

They mentioned this article from the New York Times*:
Violence Leaves Young Iraqis Doubting Clerics

*The Snake Advocate doesn't take anything the New York Times seriously, but has to admit that this article had some interesting statements. Take this one for example:

Violent struggle against the United States was easy to romanticize at a distance.

“I used to love Osama bin Laden,” proclaimed a 24-year-old Iraqi college student. She was referring to how she felt before the war took hold in her native Baghdad. The Sept. 11, 2001, strike at American supremacy was satisfying, and the deaths abstract.

Now, the student recites the familiar complaints: Her college has segregated the security checks; guards told her to stop wearing a revealing skirt; she covers her head for safety.

“Now I hate Islam,” she said, sitting in her family’s unadorned living room in central Baghdad. “Al Qaeda and the Mahdi Army are spreading hatred. People are being killed for nothing.”

So I guess the whole rhetoric of that the war on terror is creating more terrorists, isn't really conclusive at all.

Economic Facts and Fallacies

2008-03-03T02:18:00.004-05:00

I've been interested in getting this book from Amazon.com for a while, and luckily Mr. Sowell had an interview on NRO discussing it.

Here is the rest of the interview.

So, can someone explain to me something here?

2008-02-28T06:12:00.002-05:00

What came first, the egg, or the chicken?

"Can you tell me which country is not re-arming now? I think it's not just a question of Russia, or the US, or Great Britain. The government of each country is responsible for updating and providing new technology within the military."

-Sukhoi's Mr Federov.

I guess Mr Fedrov didn't get Mr Obama's sound bite.

I am beginning to think that Obama is back on crack... Read the rest over here.

As I was saying the other day

2008-02-25T02:41:00.002-05:00

I got a lot of shit for it, but it does sound like a worst case scenario for a lot of conservatives...

This gives me a headache...

Don't F**k with this Eagle

2008-02-16T14:51:00.001-05:00

Never quit, never surrender.
That is one inspiring Eagle.

May there be peace

2008-02-15T11:04:00.000-05:00

Comic Relief

2008-02-13T00:01:00.002-05:00

Lets start the day on a good note...

Enjoy!

I love research!

2008-02-12T09:58:00.000-05:00

What the HELL are they thinking?!!!

2008-02-11T02:44:00.000-05:00

"Passion of the Christ" meets "Afro Samurai"

Ajinbayo Akinsiku wants the world to know Jesus Christ, just not the gentle, blue-eyed Christ of old Hollywood movies and illustrated Bibles.
Mr. Akinsiku says his Son of God is “a samurai stranger who’s come to town, in silhouette,” here to shake things up in a new, much-abridged version of the Bible rooted in manga, the Japanese form of graphic novels.

If you think that wasn't weird enough, check this

A few years ago, for example, the religious publisher Thomas Nelson issued a Bible for teenage girls called Revolve, which looked like a glossy magazine. It sold 40,000 copies in a month, Ms. Clark said, a staggering number for a Bible.

Holy crap...

My blog

2008-02-11T01:15:00.000-05:00

This is my blog.

There are many like it, but this one is MINE.

My blog is my ranting outpost. It is not my life.

I don't have to care what other people think about what I write here,

because politics, military action, and economics are not my life.

My blog without me is useless. Without my blog, I can get by.

I must blog every once in a while.

I must make sure that the comments made on the blog are reasonable.

I must delete all random nonsense that I simply find absurd.

My blog and myself know that what counts in blog is not the words we use,

the political leanings of our opinions, nor the quotes we make.

We know it is the hits that count. We will hit...

My blog is human, even as I, although that it is not my life.

Thus, I will learn it as a brother.

I will ever guard it against the B.S. of trolls.

I will keep my blog clean and personal, even as I am clean and ready.

We will become part of each other. We will...

My blog and myself are the defenders of my peace.

We are the masters of my mind.

We are the mirrors of my life.

So be it, until there is no life, but PEACE.

Nobody's perfect: McCain's sucess and Reagan's shortcoming

2008-02-07T05:55:00.000-05:00

This is so true even on a personal level. McCain raised two battle hardened Marines. Reagan on the other hand, gave us a Slut, and a Prancer.

Lets give this McCain dude a chance, he is after all right off Obama and Hillbilly.

Operation:Zeus

2008-02-07T05:34:00.000-05:00

It is this simple, I am bored of routine. So, I've decided to break the routine by growing my beard for as long as I can. Lets see what happens.

The last time I did something like that was back in 2006, I was training for a couple of Half Marathons and I managed to keep it for three months. I am sure it is going to suck, but I it will be fun to see the impression on people who hasn't seen me in a while, that would be priceless.

MSN blows

2008-02-07T01:30:00.000-05:00

Well, I've always had issues with the opinions posted on MSN.com and the selected news coverage on MSNBC. However, this article "Gasoline's New Math: Miles Per Dollar" is just ridiculously stupid.

Check this out:

It's time for new rules, and new math: Miles Per Dollar, or mpd.

The formula is simple. Take the old mpg, but divide it by the price of fuel. Unlike the vague mpg, mpd is a remorseless measuring stick, its pointy end aimed directly at your wallet. When gas was cheaper than the dirt it sprang from, 20 miles per gallon seemed pretty solid. Even when gas reached a dollar a gallon, you were still getting 20 mpd, traveling 20 miles on a buck.

Here is the problem:

This chart represents the average price of gasoline in Texas from 1979 to 2008.

Can you see the problem now?

1 gallon now = 1 gallon in a month
1 mile now = 1 mile in a month
Price of fuel now != price of fuel in a month (! is 'not' for those unfamiliar with coding)

So can someone please tell me how is the MPG standard vague and the MPD is a "remorseless measuring stick"?

Stupid asshats...

Let the bodies hit the floor

2008-02-05T06:44:00.000-05:00

Pain is weakness leaving the body….rest is for the week….and only the hungry get fed!

In my first coaching experience, I started coaching my friend who simply had two goals:

Get in shape-comparatively speaking

Look good before leaving for the summer vacation

After a couple of Googling training programs, we both agreed to give this one a shot.

So far his improvement has been promising. He went from not being able to run two miles continuous, to running them in 26 minutes and eventually last Friday he was able to get it done 19:47 minutes, which is alright for a start. I just hope he stays motivated until the remaining 16 weeks are over.

"Fat kids got goals like bakeries have cakes..."

Dear Truther

2008-02-04T02:32:00.000-05:00

Dear Mr. Charlie Sheen,

Before you go out of your way, and make the sequel to the great movie "Hot Shots: Part Duex", Please read this document.

Thank you very much,

PS. You sucked in Spin City

MANNING!!!

2008-02-03T21:58:00.001-05:00

It comes down to this. With 35 seconds on the clock, the Patriots need a MIRACLE.

More Polls

2008-02-03T03:52:00.000-05:00

More B.S. and coming from San Fransisco, it has to be organic.

Polls and predictions for Super Tuesday

After New Hampshire, I wonder how people can take poll seriously?

Sorry Mr. Sowell

2007-12-05T01:52:00.000-05:00

Random thoughts on Random thoughts on the passing scene.

You may scoff at the Tooth Fairy if you like. But the Tooth Fairy’s approach has gotten more politicians elected than any economist’s analysis.

I only scoff at the Easter Bunny.

Is there anyone so willing to suffer as to watch all the political “debates” of both parties?

Thats one of the really few good things about living in Qatar. I get to miss all of that nonsense. Thanks Town hall!

Now that Congress has violated the First Amendment by restricting free speech with “campaign finance reform” laws, in the name of getting the influence of money out of politics, have you noticed any less influence of money in politics?

Have you heard about how much money MoveOn.org makes?

The next time somebody in the media denies that there is media bias, ask how they explain the fact that there are at least a hundred stories about the shrinking arctic ice cap for every one about the expanding antarctic ice cap, which has now grown to record size.

Because Global Warming sounds cooler than Global Cooling!

Those who are looking forward to a second Clinton administration should remember what they say about movies — the sequel is seldom as good as the original. And the original Clinton administration was not all that great.

Dude, Next Friday sucked big time. I can't even watch Friday...

Being murdered is not painless, so why all the hand-wringing about trying to make the execution of murderers painless?

Lets stone them to death!

Maybe the reason Senator John McCain’s campaign has failed to get any traction is that the debates show him to be the kind of arrogant and condescending know-it-all who would be the most dangerous kind of president.

Maybe he can throw a couple of drunken sailor jokes here and there... Nah! That won't work either.

The more I learn about “ethics” programs and ethics “experts,” the more I think ethics has become a pious word for imposing the arbitrary notions of third parties on others, who are forced to pay the price for whatever has caught the fancy of self-congratulatory elites.

The other word is "morals"

Teaching is very easy if you don’t care about doing it right and very hard if you do.

Thats why schools should be private business, make them compete for that salary.

Hillary Clinton’s main claim to the Democratic nomination is that she is invincible. But that claim cannot survive the first primary in which she gets vinced.

Amen to that!

The culture of this nation is being dismantled, brick by brick, but so gradually that many will not notice until the walls start to sag — just before they cave in.

It could be worse, check England and France.

When there are people with multiple convictions for child molestation, what does that say about what wimps we have become that we cannot bring ourselves to put people away, even when they are a continuing danger to children?

Two words, "Death Penalty" or "Chuck Norris".

The way our current presidential “debates” are conducted, both Lincoln and Douglas must be turning over in their graves.

They get CNN and YouTube down there?

I believe in libertarian principles but not in libertarian fetishes. In any context, the difference between principles and fetishes can be the difference between night and day.

Are you saying no to the RLOVEUTION?

Now that the British television documentary, The Great Global Warming Swindle is available on DVD, will those schools that forced their students to watch Al Gore’s movie, An Inconvenient Truth also show them the other side? Ask them.

The only British documentary they might get is Monty Python.

Of all the presidential candidates in both parties, Barack Obama is the best performer on stage. He has the most presence, the most command of his words, the most quietly dramatic style. What he actually says, however, is mostly warmed-over 1960s ideas that have been failing ever since the 1960s.

Thats where Oprah comes in! BWAHAHAHA!

When people have to resort to words like “greed” or “exploitation,” it is hopeless to try to have a rational discussion with them.

Yeah dude, that dude who sells up pot is totally exploiting us man. He is like totally greedy and shit man.
What?

Why does Fred Thompson go around with his collar open, as if he were Harry Belafonte? It doesn’t make him look younger. It makes him look like an old man trying to look young. It is as if Hillary Clinton tried to look young by wearing a mini-skirt. A bad image can overshadow good ideas.

His wife suggested that.

Giving a helping hand

2007-11-26T13:54:00.000-05:00

Here they are, that United States Marine Corps, proving that they are "No Better friend, no worse Enemy" one more time. Courtesy of Blackfive.net

Bangladeshi military personnel take charge of a shipment of bottled water delivered by U.S. Marine helicopter crews from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, embarked with the USS Kearsarge, in Parisol, Bangladesh, Nov. 23, 2007. Photo by Cpl. Peter R. Miller, USMC.

Bangladeshi citizens receive aid in hard to reach areas of southern Bangladesh. The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge and elements of Amphibious Squadron 8 and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived off the coast of Bangladesh Nov. 23 to support ongoing disaster relief operations following Cyclone Sidr. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ezekiel R. Kitandwe.

Condi Rocks

2007-11-26T07:47:00.000-05:00

Thats about sums it up.

Gateway to the Amazon

2007-11-24T03:52:00.000-05:00

Sweet! So I ran into this link where it shows the best way to get stuff from Amazon.com
In my last purchase from Amazon the shipping cost me more than the price of the books I bought, and it took three weeks for the order to get delivered. Maybe now I can set up that online wish list of all the things I wanted and "hope" that someone will be kind enough to "donate" stuff to me :)

Piss off!

2007-11-24T01:53:00.001-05:00

So I stopped by the office yesterday's afternoon to get some work done so I would be able to be "free" on Saturday. I noticed that the market next door was way too crowded with people who were just "chilling" out there. You know, talking on the phone, drinking tea, smoking cigarettes, etc.. And there from my office window, I notice that they have turned one of the walls across the street into a public urinal. People were just stopping, unzipping, pissing, and then moving on. Whats up with that?!!

Semper Haj!

2007-11-23T14:46:00.000-05:00

We all know that the Marines are the best when it comes down to blowing up shit. They are also known for getting the job done no matter what.

Saving us from the scum of the universe!

2007-11-21T07:21:00.000-05:00

Yep, the Men In Black are on the case. Or at least they would be, given the fact the agent J himself is handling the situation. According to this article, Will Smith has fought so many aliens in his movies, that he now believes that they exist. Isn't that just awesome!

Smith admits in the issue of Men’s Vogue on sale Tuesday that he has studied Scientology with Tom Cruise and doesn’t disagree with its basic tenets.
In doing so, he finally "comes out," joining Cruise, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley and a handful of other Hollywood types in their devotion to this controversial religion.

I honestly predict that the next actor to join would be Danny Glover, he did fight the Predator after all. They could be right you know, Hollywood is full of so many weirdos, they could all be aliens.

Here comes the men in black...
Galaxy defenders...

Hey Sicko, check this out!

2007-11-21T07:08:00.000-05:00

I think Michael Moore won't be checking this great example for the short comings of the so called "Universal Health Care".

Experts have criticized the standard of trauma care in the NHS, after a study found too many patients were not given the right tests or seen by suitably experienced staff after being admitted.

The biggest problem with big government: expectations.

And Mr McGinn said the findings of the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death do not surprise him.
The report has revealed over half of patients are not given good enough treatment as staff are often too inexperienced.
He said: "It is all about money these days. But everybody pays their taxes. There should be enough money to do the jobs properly."

R.I.P. Kid

Sudoku

2007-11-21T06:19:00.000-05:00

There was a phase in my life where Sudoku was an essential daily activity. I am glad those days are over, and that I have less spare time to waste. What reminded me of Sudoku today is that I haven't done any programming outside of work for a really long time, and just like everything else, if you don't use your programming skills, you lose it.

I once implemented an algorithm that solves Sudoku puzzles, it was very straight forward and not very complicated, I would love to develop one of these Algorithms and see how my solution stands...

Like a deer in the headlights

2007-11-20T08:05:00.000-05:00

This has to be the most evolved deer, Ever!

"If You Have No Shame, Do Whatever You Wish"

2007-11-20T04:48:00.000-05:00

What is this woman thinking?

Her children, who are 80, 74 and 62 have been supportive of their mum baring all for a good cause, she said.

She has lived in Ancaster since 1933, and retired as the village's postmistress at age 72, after 35 years on the job, according to the newspaper.

Can't imagine the wrinkles... Pukes

Update: And in the other side of the world, more random shit happens as one dude, decided to marry his own daughter. Like Muslims didn't have enough bad PR already...

"He is a deeply religious man and will never lie in the name of Allah," Sakina told a court in the northern district of Jalpaiguri.

"I agreed to his marriage with our eldest daughter when he invoked divine sanction," she said.

Beyotch Please!

No True Glory

2007-11-20T02:22:00.000-05:00

So I finally finished reading "No True Glory: Fallujah and the Struggle in Iraq: A Frontline Account" and I really didn't feel any good for doing so. The book is brilliant and I hope the movie doesn't disappoint by taking out many of the details in the book.
To read a book like this one must prepare mentally to do so, and that is by simply avoiding:
1. Playing any of the Medal of Honor games in the toughest difficulty setting for long hours at a time
2. Playing Command and Conquer: Generals against the maximum number of brutal armies.
3. Watching the Kingdom or Black Hawk Down three times before finishing the book
4. Not getting enough sleep

I feel jumpy every time I think about the last two chapters of the book -operation Phantom Fury. The description of the fire fights, the pain and the destruction is brilliant. I wish my writing style was half as good.

If you compare this book to another brilliant book, One Bullet Away, you can clearly see the major differences in the different phases of Operation Iraqi freedom. The March to Baghdad was quick, and very straight forward. While dealing with an insurgency was very slow, confusing, and created more damage. It took three weeks for Baghdad to fall, and it also took three weeks of combat to clean Fallujah of insurgents.

There is no Glory in death and destruction, but if they have to happen, they must be for a just cause. Cleaning Fallujah from these terrorists was worth it. Any fight that brings people order and freedom is worth it. Time will be a witness to Iraq's freedom, and the end is coming soon.

Finish the Fight.
-Semper Fi

Arrows over Doha

2007-11-20T02:12:00.000-05:00

Two days ago I went and saw the Red Arrows of the Royal Air Force perform at the Doha Cornich. I was very impressed but unfortunately I didn't take any pictures because my camera is still broken and I am too lazy to do research before buying a new one. I stole this picture from one of the online blogs out there, but yeah, you get the idea.

I will learn to fly one day. Mark my words.

The Marathon Can Wait

2007-11-20T02:06:00.000-05:00

Long story short:

Dude. My travel plans to Singapore got shot down miserably. First my work didn't allow me to be gone on race weekend. Second, the whole visa issuing process turned into a pain in the ass. I was supposed to go to Dubai because there is no embassy in Doha and the consulate would take a week to issue me a visa. I couldn't stay in Dubai for a week with all of the projects I got at work just to wait for my passport. Anyhow, good luck out there.
I will be in Malaysia on the 8th, so if there is a chance of you being there, lets catch up.

Lets push it a little bit more

2007-10-25T06:20:00.000-04:00

The marathon is only 5 weeks away and I am not happy with my running program. Ramadan has destroyed the last program and two running sessions a week aren't cutting it. It is time to adapt, improvise and overcome.

Still Ticking

2007-10-23T02:15:00.000-04:00

It has been a month since my last blog post, and ten days since Ramadan has ended. You can't imagine how tiring this Ramadan has been, or how miserable training has been during that month. I had to change my training hours to after midnight, I was limited to two running sessions a week, I was dehydrated in every run, I wasn't able to lift weights, and I lost seven kilograms in about thirty five days. To sum it up I was running on an empty tank 99% of the time.

Injuries were also a problem, I had some ankle issues, my left knee bothered me for a while and my back hurts every time I think about running. I feel that I am lacking the motivation to continue training, but I can't quit, because quitting is simply unacceptable.

Other than running, nothing noteworthy is going on in my life. I finally finished a project that my boss is happy with, I am still waiting to get my GRE scores, and I tried indoor rock climbing the other day.

Rock climbing was actually quite fun, I expected it to be a lot harder than it was, maybe the wall wasn't a hard one, but it was something I plan to do more off in the future. - Note, expect video of the climb to be posted soon.

One interesting note, after going through my library my mom made the suggestion that I should switch careers and consider going the military path, she even suggested that I go into the military intelligence field. Little that she know, that has been an idea going through my head for quite sometime. At least now, she won't be totally surprised when I do it, and she might even take credit for "leading me to that path"... Who knows?

Anyhow, I am on the clock. So back to work I go.

Six!

2007-09-23T03:04:00.000-04:00

Excuse me for being a thick headed dinosaur, but can some please explain to me how am I supposed to support the Jena Six?

Here is what I know about the story:
In the town of Jena, LA some black students are being prosecuted as adults for beating up on a white kid after being racially provoked.

Now let me repeat the question, how am I supposed to support them?

Is it by requesting that these charges be dropped immediately?
Is it by calling them innocent?
Is it by ignoring the fact that when six men gang up on one dude they are nothing but THUGS who are breaking the law?
Is it by crying out about racism?

Being provoked is one of the weakest excuses I've heard in a long time. Once you go ahead and attack someone physically, it doesn't matter if you're white, black or Martian. You break the law, you pay the price.

I just wonder what would have been the reaction if six white guys beat up black dude for calling them "crackers"? I wonder why no civil rights activists marched for the sake of the Duke lacrosse players -who are innocent by the way? I wonder why there are double standards in race relations while demanding equality?

I have a lot of questions with no answers, but what can I say? I am just a thick headed dinosaur...

Update:
Seems to me that I am not the only dinosaur on this planet, as Thomas Sowell seems to be saying something very similar to my ramblings...

I feel good about myself now, kinda

TPS Report: 2007

2007-09-09T01:27:00.000-04:00

It has been a year since I left the college life in Logan, Utah to the other life of Doha, Qatar. It has been quite the experience, I feel that I've learned a lot about myself and the people around me, and my choice of friends.

About this time last year, I had no clue to what I was doing, or planning to do. It wasn't only the jet lag but it was just a case of depression. I felt that I've lost something I took for granted and to be honest, I don't accept losing easily. I was in a situation where I was living at home, with no personal income, no sense of freedom, and no job. It was like high school all over again.

I wasn't going to let this situation break me, and turn me into another whiner. I remembered "the doctrine" tattooed in the back of my brain and looked for inner strength, if this wasn't going to kill me, then God Damn it, it is going to make me stronger.

I tried keeping myself busy, reading books in the morning, Judo in the afternoons, and running at night. It was quite the simple schedule, but it served its main purpose. Keep me busy, and keep my spendings to the minimum and keep me outside the house for as much as possible.

Then came the grad school acceptance, and then work, and suddenly my situation wasn't as bad as it was. I was in a perfect situation that a lot of people might not dream about. My starting salary was great, my job was brilliant, I was in good shape and and my spending is minimum. Thanks to God, I was given the tools to make my own path, on my own terms.

Lesson learned: Have faith in God, never surrender, stay always on the move.

My blogging have been very crappy, and I am happy about that. The main reason is that I've been so busy to sit down and blog. I am either working, running, training, or recovering. I have no time to sit down -today is an exception- and rant about this and that. I still keep track of whats going on around me, and whats going on in the rest of the world, but I honestly feel that rambling over the internet about it, won't solve a thing. I am in no position to make changes and since my words will be useless, I better keep them to myself.

Do or die, thats the only true way of doing things, and thats only way to handle situations. A good plan now is better than a great plan later is best way to handle things aggressively, because the inability to make decisions would count as a decision because of the time wasted while not making a decision.

Never say die.

On the move

2007-08-11T09:25:00.001-04:00

You have got to be sh*ting me!

2007-07-10T11:12:00.000-04:00

Think before you blabber!

2007-07-07T09:54:00.000-04:00

When antiwar groups are asked for the reasons why the US should leave Iraq right now, the typical answers I usually hear are:

"Bush lied!"
"You're F**king Nazi's!"
"War for peace is like f**king for virginity!"
"911 is an inside job!"

Okay, how can you explain to me this image to the right? How do you expect that when the Coalition forces leave Iraq, peace is just going to show up suddenly?

I haven't gotten an answer to that question yet, so I started thinking on my own and drawing comparisons. The most similar situations were Afghanistan after the Russians left, Somalia after the UN left, and Lebanon after the Marines left. In all the cases above, a brutal civil war started, and ended up with extremist groups in power, oppressing their people, armed, and causing more conflicts in neighboring countries.

The question in my head morphs magically into a different question? Do they really want peace? Or do they want something else? I guess the simplest answer would be that they want to see the US humiliated by defeat maybe because they are closet communists? I did say maybe...

I was just reading the BBC, about the latest bombing, who in their full mind would think that this will stop once the troops are out? The troops aren't the ones doing this, and the troops aren't being attacked in attacks like this. So why don't you want the troops to get those people who do these attacks out of Iraq so they can leave Iraq to the Iraqi's? Isn't that what peace at its simplest form is all about? The Iraqis taking over a secure and a stable democracy able to defend itself and hold its own?

One other point that is quite interesting, is that those same people that are asking for the US to get out of Iraq, are asking the US to intervene in Darfur. So, not only that they are asking for military action, they are contradicting that whole "war for peace doesn't work" crap... Aren't those people going to go on peace rallies if the US goes into Darfur and it becomes another hot bed for Al Qaeda operations against the United States? And how come those individuals who are always rallying for peace have never thought of enlisting in order to help their country win a war in order to establish peace?!! Now do they really want peace? Or just attention?!!

I think the next time I see one of those peace signs in a blog, I am just going to browse to something more useful, maybe myspace or something...

Semper Fi

2007-06-10T10:30:00.000-04:00

So Peter Pace is no longer the Joint Chief of Staff, and the word is that his replacement is going to be a Navy Admiral. I wish good luck to both men, and I want to point to the great forty years of service by General Pace.

Three months ago, my respect for General Pace was reassured after making the following statements and refusing to back down on his comments. He believed in the truth, and he didn't "bend over" to some special interest groups.

"I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts," Gen. Peter Pace

"I do not believe the United States is well served by a policy that says it is OK to be immoral in any way," Gen. Peter Pace

Let me make these points clear:

Homosexuality is wrong, both biologically and morally.
God didn't make people homosexuals, homosexuals chose to be homosexuals.
Saying that science proves homosexuality is natural is biggest pile of cow crap I've ever seen. How can it be proven, if there is no DNA link to homosexuality, or that is it is passed on genetically.

And since we are on this subject, I really hope Dr. James Holsinger becomes the next U.S. surgeon general. Why you might asked, because he knows science.

In a paper he published in 1991titled "Pathophysiology of Male Homosexuality," the paper says that male and female sex organs, like pipe fittings, are designed for each other, and when "the complementarity of the sexes is breached, injuries and diseases may occur."

It is as simple as that.

Back to the main subject, Semper Fi General Pace.

Update: I would put my money on Paul

Yeah, G.W. is evil...

2007-05-07T12:46:00.000-04:00

Speaking of Democrats, check this "inconvenient truth".
CerebralWaste

Respecting the Democrats

2007-05-07T10:50:00.000-04:00

Yeah, you read it right. I have always had respect to those Blue Dog democrats. I personally believe, if there were more of them, than the crazy lunatic Democrats seen everyday on TV screens, everybody would be happy, I guarantee that.

You have to respect a man like congressman Jim Marshall, just for telling it how he sees it, and being pushed around by poll numbers and fruity lobbying groups...

Osama and the Book of Mormon

2007-04-21T02:27:00.000-04:00

Just watch it!

What a crazy world we live in...

2007-04-16T14:15:00.000-04:00

At least 22 dead in Va. Tech shooting rampage

Wow, I was going through my RSS feeds before going to bed as usual when I saw this news headline. It is a sad day for all, and my heart goes to the families and loved ones of those students.

What pisses me off is that as many universities, VA Tech probably doesn't allow students to have firearms on campus including their dormitories. Which implies students are defenseless. People have firearms to defend themselves against ass-hats with firearms. The number of causalities could have been a lot less if students had means of self defense.

The Punisher: Episode I

2007-04-10T10:20:00.000-04:00

Main Entry: pun·ish·ment
Pronunciation: 'p&-nish-m&nt
Function: noun
1 : the act of punishing
2 a : suffering, pain, or loss that serves as retribution b : a penalty inflicted on an offender through judicial procedure
3 : severe, rough, or disastrous treatment

I started training for next year's marathons six weeks ago. I have been lifting weights, running like a mad man, and trying my best to swim as much as I can, and to stretch daily. It started as highly motivated self improvement project, but slowly mutated into an obsession.

To be honest, I don't really know what my goals from training are, but I know that if I wanted to put muscles on, I wouldn't be running all that running. And if I wanted to run faster, I wouldn't bother with all that strength training. And if I just wanted to be healthy, I would just take stairs at work every now and then and I will be fine.

In those six weeks, I've seen a lot of improvement on my physical abilities. As I can do twenty pull ups straight and I can run 3 miles in about 18 minutes, or sprint a mile in sub 5 minutes. I tried to climb a rope for the first time, and it wasn't so easy, but I did it. I tried open water swimming, it wasn't easy, but I finished. I've lost an inch of my waist, and I've put an inch on my arms.

All of that sounds like I am in good shape and I am feeling great. Right?

WRONG!

I am not going to lie here, I feel like shit! My upper body is in constant pain, and my legs are always on recovery mode unless I am running. The only time that I am feeling good or no pain, is the time I spend going through the punishment of training. I have become my own punisher.

I hate to be a quitter, and if I go "emo" and quit training because I don't know my goals are, I will be nothing but another quitter. So you know what, I am going to crazy with it. I am going to set a goal of being the best possible shape I can ever be. I am going to transform my self into a Frank Castle. I will* put on nine extra kilograms by December, will* drop my body fat, will* swim a mile, will* bench 225lbs 10 times and I will* run a Marathon in sub 3 hours.

Fuck it! See ya in another six weeks!

Don't watch this movie

2007-04-07T04:33:00.000-04:00

Don't Watch this Movie

Word.

The Barny Clan

2007-04-07T00:23:00.000-04:00

I don't know much about the Cucuruchos and Wikipedia has nothing on them, but if the KKK had a San Fransisco chapter, they would fit the profile.
Barney called, he wants his suit back!

Penitents of the "Cucuruchos" brotherhood exchange views before their procession in Quito. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6534171.stm

Yo!

2007-03-30T23:01:00.000-04:00

I mean Yao! Yao Ming is just a great guy, and probably one of the best things to ever happen to the NBA since the thugs and gangster wannabes started making the NBA really lame. This clip featuring him on the Jimmy Kimmel show is just great.

http://www.youtube.com/v/o5Z3qhthNP8

BTW: Jimmy's an Ass!

Racial Profiling?

2007-03-30T03:54:00.000-04:00

Brought to you by the good people of Day by Day Cartoon.

Keeping it real

2007-03-27T22:10:00.000-04:00

It amazes me how the Muslim intellect went from brilliancy to what we have now. I was reading the book "From Babel to Dragomans: Interpreting the Middle East" when I ran into this quote from Andalusian-Arab philosopher, Ibn Hazm. He really describes how anyone should "keep it real" while managing foreign politics.

The measure of prudence and resolution is to know a friend from an enemy; the height of stupidity and weakness is not to know an enemy form a friend.

Do not surrender your enemy to oppression, nor oppress him yourself. In this respect treat enemy and friend alike. But be on your guard against him, and beware lest you befriend and advance him, for this is the act of a fool. He who befriends and advances friend and foe alike will only arouse distaste for his friendship and contempt for his enmity. He will earn the scorn of his enemy, and facilitate his hostile designs;he will lose his friend, who will join the ranks of his enemies.

The height of goodness is that you should neither oppress your enemy nor abandon him to oppression. To treat him as a friend is the mark of a fool whose end is near.

The height of evil is that you should oppress your friend. Even to estrange him is the act of a man who has no sense, for whom misfortune is predestined.

Magnanimity is not to befriend the enemy, but to spare them, and to remain on your guard against them.

From The Book of Morals and Conduct, Ibn Hazm of Cordova (994-1064)

The benefits of living by the sea

2007-03-24T06:35:00.000-04:00

It has been about three weeks since I've blogged about me, or what I have been doing. So I think yesterday was fun enough for me to blog about it.

The last time I swam was three days before leaving the States in September. It was in
the small hotel pool in the little town called Delta in the middle of no where, Utah. Yesterday was supposed to be my long run of the week day, but I decided to forfeit that after getting in touch with some of my high school friends and deciding to go to this beach club to spend the afternoon.

When we got there, the receptionist didn't want to let us in at beginning, as he said that the weekends are for families entry only and no singles were allowed. After ten minutes of persuasion, he decided that we were respectable human beings and decided to lets us in. Of course, each one of us had to pay about 50Qrs to get in...

Once we got in, the fun started. I checked out the gym over there and it was nice. It costs about 350Qrs a month for a membership which I think is ex termly over priced. Then we swam some laps in the pool, and then after some walking around. We got to the jacuzzi.

The most memorable part of the day was once we got into the open waters, my friend Fady just wanted chill and play around, but I saw something different. As I wasn't wearing my glasses my depth perception was quite messed up. I saw two boats that didn't seem that far away and I suggested we swim to them. Fady was a little bit skeptical and wasn't sure if we were going to make it. We decided to throw all the doubts aside went like "Fuck it, lets do it man".

Being the crappy swimmer I am - sorry Jon - this swim was the best thrill I had in a while. Midway I was getting tired, I was having doubts, I was cussing the idea, and I was about to freak out. As I continued with my crawl, I collected my thoughts, calmed down, got a hold of my breathing and before I knew it, my hands were touching the port. Getting there was great.

After the high fives, and a bunch of "Dude! That was nuts!", we swam back to the beach. Surprisingly, the swim back felt a lot shorter. I swam in the pool after that for another 40 minutes, grabbed a bite, and then took off home.

I woke up very tired today, and I am doing nothing. I've earned my weekend and I am ready for next week.

-Cheers!

The Montage

2007-03-23T23:36:00.000-04:00

On Thursday's night I went out to City Center -I gigantic mall in the west bay of Doha, no where near the actual city center - to watch 300. Unfortunately, due to the lack of other name worthy movies playing, all shows were already sold out. So movie night had to be delayed to Friday.

So last night, instead of heading to the mall again, I got the DVD of Rocky Balboa. It was quite the usual good guy does well in the end, but I felt that it had some encoded messages with some value to them. I felt it was a conservatives' movie.

I personally don't think that is quote is directed only to Rocky's son. It is directed to all of those "I need to find someone to blame for my misfortunes out there", and if you read carefully, you might see where it is headed.

Let me tell you something you already know, the world isn't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me or anybody. It is going to hit us as hard as life, but it isn't about as hard you hit, it is about how much you can get hit and keep moving forward. It is about how much you can take and keep moving forward, thats how winning is done. Now if you know what you are worth, go out and get what you're worth, but you've got to be willing to take the hits. And not pointing fingers and say you aren't what you want to be because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that isn't you. You're better than that!

Of course, the movie had its montage. It wasn't as colorful as the one in Rocky III, or as dramatic as the one in Rocky IV. I think it made up for the whole horrible piece crap called Rocky V. If Rambo 4 is as entertaining as this was, I might just forgive 60 year old Sly for trying to import GH.

Let me leave you to the greatest Rocky inspired montage of all time. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zixAjmrmn6g

Fighting evil

2007-03-19T09:20:00.000-04:00

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing.

Whether you disagree with the war or you don't. You need to know that the Americans and the Iraqis over there are fighting some of the most evil and blood thirsty people on this Earth. They need to be taken down, and defeated. Liberty and freedom never come cheap.

Is this a freedom fighter?

And are these the traitors?

Hippies and Ass-hats need a reality check.

Those who are on facebook can check the videos at:
http://www.youtube.com/v/q4ghwZjyxMI
http://www.youtube.com/v/GjgiGFkTjFY
http://www.youtube.com/v/Ezyb1BfzG_4

Beautiful.

2007-03-14T22:46:00.000-04:00

As featured on Popular Science magazine. Simply beautiful.

America! Here to save the Mother F@#$ing day!

2007-03-10T10:58:00.001-05:00

I had a conversation with my friend Wyatt, it went like this:

Zoal says:
Dude check this out: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6435391.stm
Zoal says:
I think I should blog about those f*** in the southern hemisphere
Wyatt Shmiatt says:
dude, we need to drop a couple bombs on that country
Wyatt Shmiatt says:
You know the people there couldnt care less about bush or the US
Wyatt Shmiatt says:
Chavez is a f**.
Zoal says:
yeah
Zoal says:
Ass-hat to be accurate...
Zoal says:
Why aren't they blaming Europe for their poverty?
Zoal says:
or Russia?
Zoal says:
or themselves?
Zoal says:
or even China?
Wyatt Shmiatt says:
some liberals in the US must have got to them
Zoal says:
in Free trade there are benefits for both parties
Zoal says:
but both parties have to offer something
Zoal says:
whats so unfair about that?
Wyatt Shmiatt says:
nothing. freedom is never unfair
Zoal says:
Plus, they aren't citizens of the United States of America
Zoal says:
then why should the good old US of A give a rat's ass about their welfare in the first place
Wyatt Shmiatt says:
I know I don't
Zoal says:
the US is not getting enough credit in this world
Wyatt Shmiatt says:
they should quit worrying about it.
Zoal says:
they should.
Wyatt says:
The world is great because of the US. If people don't realize that, H them.
Zoal says:
Word.

Moral of the story: Like it or not, USAID provides economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 100 countries to provide a better future for all.

America, F*** Yeah!

JSF F-35

2007-03-10T04:31:00.000-05:00

Northrop Grumman really hit the jackpot with the F-35. I envy all the engineers who were part of designing such a beautiful machine, and those who will fly it for the Marines, USAF, and US Navy... Damn it!

My new favorite word: "Ass-hat"

2007-03-05T08:34:00.000-05:00

Ass-hat

One whose head is so far up their rear end it could pass for a hat; used to describe a person who is stubborn, cruel, or otherwise unpleasant to be around.
Leave 'em alone, asshat!

Going through the news everyday, I read a lot about ass-hats. They are everywhere and quite unavoidable, so I decided to present to you my dear readers, this week's ass-hats.

1. All of those who stood with Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama on Sunday, because honestly, how long are you going to ride this "civil rights" wagon?!! It is about time you Malcolm X'ed your asses and started doing instead of complaining. Al Sharpton hasn't taken you anywhere, neither did Jessie Jackson, who are both major ass-hats by the way. Drop the joints and start making something happen damn it!

2. Drug dealers in India and everywhere around the world. These ass-hats deserve not only death the penalty, but should all be executed by overdosing them on the shit they kill the youth with. I feel sorry for the ones who become ass-hats as the result of addiction, but I still think no government should spend a penny on them. They made retarded choices, let natural selection take its course.

3. Anyone who thinks that Hizbolla's major ass-hat has won the July's war in Lebanon. As if they did, this kid must have missed out the victory "speech".

4. This CNN ass-hat:

Thats all for now, watch out for ass-hats!

Not for the weak at heart

2007-03-03T13:17:00.000-05:00

The following video contains significant amount of violence and use of "offensive" language. You've been warned.

Thats right. Fuck MTV.

March Madness!

2007-03-02T02:21:00.000-05:00

Oh yeah! March is here, and comes with it this blog. Cheers to that!

In four days I would have completed six long months in Qatar. Not much has changed, I started a new job, started hanging out with some new friends, and lost some muscle weight. I can't complain that much, it could have been worse.

One of the norms in life over here is the huge exposure to movies. As there isn't much to be done over here I am averaging about two movies a week, plus my usual TV shows, The Unit, NCIS, and CSI: NY.

I just finished watching the DVD of the Departed, and it was really good. I didn't expect that a movie with Alec Baldwin would involve any real acting, but was I surprised. Everything about that movie rocked, and I think I am getting the special edition DVD if it comes out. Mark Wahlberg was really entertaining, just watch this clip.

Next week I start training for next year's marathons. My main goal is to qualify for the 2009 Boston Marathon. My plan is to train in two sixteen week cycles, the first cycle is to get comfortable with the idea of running 26 miles. The second cycle is to get my speed and endurance up. Hopefully, if I stay injury free, I will be able to run three marathons in 2008, or qualify for Boston, I'll take what ever comes first.

-CZ

What a pile of crap...

2007-02-23T01:34:00.000-05:00

So I finished watching Babel, and was I disappointed... This movie is the biggest pile of cow crap stacked in 2 hours and 14 minutes, the story was lame, the acting was boring, and the style of connecting stories as if this was Syriana just doesn't work.
I am not sure if the whole point of showing the stories is supposed to trigger emotions of compassion to people with disabilities, sheep herders in the middle of the north African desert, or illegal aliens trying to cross the border to continue on with their lives? There are two things I am sure about after watching this movie:

1. There is no limit to human stupidity,
2. Behind every crappy situation, there was a pea-brain involved.

Spoiler Warning: Don't continue to read if you plan to watch this crap.

1. Kids are kids, but kids also know that shooting live ammo into moving vehicles is a stupid idea. One died, natural selection at its finest. You have to feel sorry for the dad though, another example of why people should use birth control...

2. Just because you are deaf, that doesn't mean it is okay to do drugs and get naked in front of cops... I am sure her mom committed suicide because she realized how stupid her daughter was.

3. If you know that you have a trip that involves multiple police check points, don't get drunk. If you are drunk and operating a vehicle, you deserve a cap busted up yours.

4. Since when having an exotic vacation is an excuse to leave your kids at home with a baby sitter? That is not parenting, and what happened to Brad Pitt and his wife is Karma... Just ask Earl.

5. Don't blame God or Language barriers for your misfortunes, shit happened because you're stupid.

On the offensive

2007-02-13T12:59:00.000-05:00

How do news agencies work? Do they wait for someone to show up under the spot light before showing scandals and conspiracies? Or is it karma's way of putting everyone in his place?

Before you start scratching your head, and cursing the day you knew my blog existed, let me point out what I am ranting about. A couple of days ago, president Putin went all out on the US and how it is being a bully in the world and people started talking about how a second Cold war is about to start and Yada Yada Yada, well I guess not with the way Russia's military is going.

First of all, I personally think that any Army based on a draft is an army full of weaknesses, no matter how big in numbers it might be. But an army that has its soldiers "used for sex", forget about it.

On a different note, check this out. I am glad Milton - the stapler dude from Office Space - got a new name and job!

-CZ

We are all Doomed...

2007-02-11T10:15:00.000-05:00

Back in 2005, I was excited when I heard that there was a Splinter Cell movie in the making. Not any more...

I've just finished watching the DVD of "Doom", and I was kinda surprised by how lame, and lacking to originality the story was. How many times are we going to expect the Space Marines to come to save the day from Aliens? I felt like I was watching a modern version of the Movie Aliens, with better graphics, cooler guns, and some new scientific imagination, but as I said before, it was lacking originality.

I think the problem with movies that are inspired by video games, is that they are quite stupid. Which makes me wonder, why do we -I personally- enjoy the games so much? Is it because when I am playing the game, I don't expect to think about the story line as much? Or is it because when I am watching a movie, I expect to see something that will make me feel that I made a solid investment with my 10 dollars?

On a side note, the idea of Marines in Space is a cool idea. But with the emergence of ballistic missiles capable of blowing up satellites, I am kinda pessimistic about the deployment of the idea. As I am sure the idea of having Marines flying over you might actually piss off a lot of people in this world, including Army folks!

Curing the Itch!

2007-01-29T10:22:00.000-05:00

It has been five days since my last blog and I've had the greatest desire to blog something positive. Unfortunately, with the weak collection of news, blogs, and articles on my RSS feeds, I had to get my fix of blogging by posting this. So bear with me...
Lets go over some of the things that have bugged me over the last couple of days. First, the Washington Riots. Do these people realize that we are not in the sixties anymore? Somebody needs to lock Jane Fonda up, thats all I have to say...
Secondly, the Palestinians are going at again, and again and I am really not sure how they want any one to take them seriously with their stupid shit.
Finally, I am glad the state of Lebanon is back to normal - what exactly is normal?!! - and I am sorry for what has happened in Pakistan, and I am glad another page is being turned over the Abu Graib case...

After getting that off my chest, I feel comfortable enough to talk about some of the less important things in life like upcoming movies. I've some promising trailers of movies that I don't think that they will get enough attention once they come out. Rescue Dawn will probably be another piece of evidence on how Christian Bale is the best actor of our generation -the best Batman EVER-, and Shooter will probably have you hoping that the Predator comes from space rips Danny Glover's face into a Philly Stake. Oh yeah, Eddie Murphy is broke again, so I guess we all need to go check out Norbit...

-CZ

When is it right to beat your kids?

2007-01-24T04:24:00.000-05:00

So, I just got home after a busy day trying to take care of some health care paper work, and going through the news I ran into this article on MSNBC.com "Airline defends removing family from flight". Of course, the first thing that jumped to my mind was, what now? Was it because they were praying too loud? Or was it because one of the passengers had too much facial hair? Or was it because someone tried to hide the odor of his crap?

I assume that you noticed from the sense of sarcasm of my assumptions that non of that happened, which is correct. The reason was because a whiny little brat didn't stop crying and the parents were unable to control the behavior of the three year old. I don't know what I would have done if I were in their place, given th R.O.E. (Rules of Engagement) between parents and children in the states, but I am sure a smack upside the head would have done some good.

I am not an advocate of child abuse, but I think that letting the kids run around without enforcing ways of discipline isn't the best way to raise kids. I had my share of head smacks growing up and I think I turned out OK -some might argue that, screw them - and I think it is the way to go.

So in the words of Russel Peters, "Beat your kids!" that should save your flight tickets next time!

-CZ