Scott Peterson was sentenced to death today for the murder of his wife and second degree murder of their unborn son, Conner. Conner, who was heralded during the trial by mourners as someone who will be missed, never did get to see what life was all about... but apparently was valued just a smidge below his mother. While the lab results are not yet in, my guess is that this is because babies can be really cute sometimes. That or the local townsfolk of Redwood City really connected with Conner at a deep emotional level while he was still gestating. In case you didn't follow the case, Scott/Laci/Conner were from Modesto... so Redwood City can shove it up their collective ass. Anyway, this photo.

Crowds gathered around the courthouse today, and cheers went up as the death sentence was read. As you can see in this photo, some people understand that the reason murder is bad is because killing is bad; ergo, murdering murderers is not exactly a happy dealing of justice and closure.

However, there is this woman. I don't know her name, I don't know anything about her, all I know is that while everyone else is mourning the entire situation that leaves 2 (and for some of them 3) people dead... this woman is literally shaking her fists with glee. "Yay, death!" she may have cried... or perhaps "Chalk another one up for the killing state!"... though in reality she most likely was cheering something along the lines of how justice is somehow dealt to Scott better when he's dead than when he's bent over and being made 'pretty' by 37 different men all coincidentally named Bubba. Why is this woman cheering the death of someone she's never met? Because she *knows* that he is a murderer. Why's that? What evidence showed her that? NONE since this case was entirely circumstantial. That's right, in case you didn't follow the trial... there was never any evidence directly linked to Scott. In the end this call was made on "eh who else could have done it" and so they kill the "double murderer". How a total stranger can cheer for someone else's death based on an opinion that has literally no factual or evidential basis?

One word: Nutcase.

Election Results:

Dance, Dance, Dance


Photo Courtesy of CNN

This photo will be the only thing you see if Kerry wins the Election. Electoral-Vote.org (a horrendous example of why not only Rasmussen, but the polling system in general is so essentially wrong and unreliable and inaccurate and so on) All of a sudden has Kerry strongly taking New Mexico, barely taking Florida, barely taking Wisconsin, barely taking Iowa, barely taking Maine, and losing Ohio. That gives Kerry about 290 electoral votes (need 270), and would shatter my advocacy that I've had for over a year now that Kerry loses unless he gets Ohio. What's going to happen? The polls are the last people to ask... all I can say is my registration card came today and I am counting down to the 2nd like it was the 12 days of Christmas.

FREEDOM!

Photo Courtesy of CNN

Yaser Esam Hamdi was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on October 2nd 1980. He spent most of his life in Saudi Arabia, and has dual citizenship. He was captured by the Northern Alliance in the Afghanistan campaign shortly after 9/11, and turned over to the American military. The first detainee labeled as an "enemy combatant", Hamdi has recently been graced with a Supreme Court decision that indefinite detainment without charge or trial is not unconstitutional per se but just something that somebody may abuse as a power someday. Yaser is going back to Saudi Arabia by the 30th (by order of the Defense Dept.) on the condition that he renounce his U.S. citizenship and have "strict travel restrictions" placed upon him. Did you know that you can be born in this country and have your citizenship taken away by the Defense Department? That wasn't in the constitution I had to study for four damn years just to be eligible for a high school diploma.

By the way, I'm back, Blogger is a pain in the neck to post for now that they've "streamlined" things... but I'm back and will be posting... thinking about a Freedom week since this Hamdi thing has me riled.

The Face of Terror

Photo Courtesy of CNN

Former "associate" of Osama bin Laden, Khaled al-Harbi (pictured above), surrendered today to the Saudi government. He was flown from his... weight... training... camp... in Iran to refuge in Saudi Arabia where he will undoubtedly be asked such questions as "how did you run through that obstacle course we see so much video of without any damn legs?" and "you are dangerous... right?". Clearly, every paraplegic tart we get off the streets is a crucial victory in the war on terror... but one must wonder... what horrors these men could unleash... if only they HAD LEGS.

This is why I don't read the New York Post. Their front page today (photo was up earlier, they've removed it since) reported in Dewey Defeats Truman style that Gephardt was chosen for the VP slot. As CNN reported just before mocking the Post, Kerry has chosen Edwards. Who can't wait to see the guy debate Cheney? Personally I think he will be eaten... and I don't mean that in any metaphorical sense.

Do I need to see the movie now?

Also, I am going to add the Al-Jazeera (English) news website as a link on the left side of the page (the news side). I need to drop an existing link however, should I drop the onion, or the bulletin of atomic scientists? Any preference?

Photo Courtesy of CNN
So Iraqi sovereignty two days early... I can't help but wonder why. What is two days waiting, really? Was it Allawi's Birthday or something? I seriously doubt Bush just felt "extra nice" today. Could this have something to do with the trial and hand-over of Saddam? Apparently a close relative of Chalabi's was going to be the one and only judge presiding over Saddam... perhaps they are trying to get him over to Iraqis now and get the innumerable controversies out of Bush's hair? Could this have something to do with the increasingly coordinated bombings? Surely, when a former CIA operative (Allawi) is in control instead of nobody at all, that sort of thing will no longer have anything to do with Americans. As if we didn't have enough reason to raise an eyebrow at the Bush administration over Iraq... John Negroponte is now the US Ambassador there. His embassy is a remodeled former palace of Saddam Hussein's... making it the largest embassy ever... because it's really a palace. So, we hand over sovereignty to somebody who was nice enough to be our dog when Hussein was in power (he also lead a horrendously bloody and failed coup attempt during that time... which means that he has blood on his hands as a killer just like anyone else in Iraq threatening a sovereign government), we give Hussein back to him so that it looks like we're giving it back to a totally unaffiliated government, we give other friends who happen to be Iraqi positions on the court that will try Hussein, we claim we've never spoken with any of these people on the matters we speak with them about, and then we say that we don't understand why the terrorists don't like the new government. It must be because they hate freedom.

Made it to both screenings of Fahrenheit 9/11. In light of the doctoring and outright lying that Moore engaged in with Bowling for Columbine, I had to take the movie with a grain of salt for the first viewing. However, in light of a second, I really cannot point to anything he argues for in the movie that a book has not already been published on arguing the same way. The only things that may have been doctored were minor (a protester camped out near the white house calling Bush a terrorist, as well as a passer-by claiming it was staged), and the other points touched on... I honestly expected a more radical opinion from Moore. Overall, the film is anything but fair to Bush. The facts, though, do not always reveal a fair image that Bush supporters will like hearing as well as those who want Kerry to win. Whatever side of the political spectrum you are on, I highly advocate seeing the movie and making your own decision rather than going by the right-wing response of "if we want to see fiction we'll see Shrek". Not everything against Bush is a lie, and as many would argue, it's Bush and his administration that operate in such dishonest ways. See the movie, make your own opinion in a truly independent fashion. I think it will be difficult not to be outraged in the same way Moore has been.

Thanks to Chip's little brother, as well as Chip himself, I have a reserved ticket for the midnight showing of Fahrenheit 9/11 tonight. This is good news as the charity event that was to be held tonight for the anti-death penalty coalition sold out their tickets rather quickly. I have this ticket at midnight, and I believe Bob has a ticket for me at 7:30pm tomorrow. Hopefully I will get to see both showings tomorrow. Even if you are a militant Bush supporter, one.... okay two things. If you're a militant Bush supporter then you are a walking breathing reason not to vote for Bush as you literally embody the barbaric and pubescent angst-ridden insecure violent behavior that the world and those liberals you hate so bad argue against. That being said, even if you are a militant Bush supporter you should see this film just for the footage of your beloved administration doing precisely what they claim on CNN and FOX that they, in fact, technically never did.

Technology Rules
I am currently in Mucci's car, outside the dwelling of one Ruth McAdams. Ruth's family has a wonderful little wireless network in their household, and it has thus far been more than happy to provide this new laptop of Mucci's with a 11.0 Megabit connection. This is either the end of the universe, or the brilliant future. Mucci has no internet connection of his own at his dwelling, so many thanks to the McAdams family for providing this "Ham Internet" tonight. If I am not arrested for white collar crimes, then go me and expect a similar post on Mucci's blog. Otherwise, I will post as soon as bail does. I really need to get myself one of these laptops.

Click Here to see the theatrical trailer to Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" which comes out in theaters thanks to Lions Gate Films on June the 25th!

Things Work Again
For the past week or so the images that make up almost all of this blog had inexplicably disappeared. Well, now they're inexplicably back. It is a week after Reagan died today, and finally the wall-to-wall news coverage has faded. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart actually did a piece on this (Wednesday the 9th...I think) very same issue that had me angrily blogging on the 6th. Looks like I'm above average in my intolerance of things... wow that can't be good.

CNN sucks, and if I had access to FOX News on this TV I'm sure I'd be saying the same about them and illogically expanding it to all American news media. Reagan died yesterday, and I don't care. Today is the 60th anniversary of D-Day, and I also don't care; HOWEVER, when Colin Powell comes on Wolf Blitzer in Normandy at the cemetery and is told "we'll get to D-Day later, tell me about Ronald Reagan" there is something wrong. Not only that, but I was actually unable to tune in to CNN at all yesterday (by "tune in" I mean go on a 4-8 hour binge) and find a story NOT about Reagan's death. If terrorism was suspected, maybe I'd understand. Not only was yesterday's reported news exclusive to Reagan, but SWEET TAP DANCING CHRIST why today as well? There are any number of things happening today that are more important than a 93 year old destructive president croaking and being worshiped like some saint had been inexplicably removed from our graces. For example: The rebellion in the Democratic Republic of Congo took yet another town. Did you even know there was a rebellion in the Democratic Republic of Congo? NO! Because our news media would rather we weep for what was (swear to god even though I don't believe in him) quoted by some "liberal" CNN reporter as "a wonderful and deceptively simple plan: smaller government, lower taxes, and a dramatically bigger military". Somebody either shoot me or help me move to France.

Almost forgot, Spaceship One is launching on June 21. If all goes well, that means Scaled Composites will wind up with the X-Prize, and we'll all have some supercool footage to look at while Rutan tries to get his design accepted in the public eye and wallet. Hopefully nothing will blow up, nothing hardly ever does with Rutan... three weeks from now... lots goin on.

Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" has found THREE distributors. CNN reports:
The film, which Walt Disney Co. declined to allow its Miramax Films unit to distribute, is set to launch theatrically June 25 in the United States, through a complicated distribution apparatus that will see Miramax co-chairmen Bob and Harvey Weinstein's newly formed Fellowship Adventure Group join forces with Lions Gate Films and IFC Films.
It seems Lion's Gate and IFC will be helping out with screenings (though they estimate only about 1,000 screens will be found), Showtime will be allowing Pay-TV viewing, and it seems Universal Home Video will be doing... well, home video. June 25... can hardly wait.

Photo courtesy of CNN

Brahimi today (and by today I mean that it is on television live as I write this post) announces his choices for the interim Iraqi Government. The Prime Minister and President Choices (Allawi, and Yawar respectively) are apparently both seen as pro-American installments rather than people the general Iraqi public can rally behind. As it has happened before, I am now apprehensively waiting for the moment when the president and/or prime minister are assassinated. I wouldn't even rule out seeing something to that tune as I speak... on live television... time to get off the computer and back on the T.V.

And just another reason to check out all those news links on the left side of the screen each time you visit: The BBC reported yesterday that the Weinsteins (owners of Miramax) have bought Farenheit 9/11 from Disney, and are now in talks with distribution through third-parties or home release. Mid-summer seems to be the target time.

Saw Morgan Spurlock's documentary "Supersize Me" last night. If you have not seen it... consider it a replacement for the book "Fast Food Nation" or "The Jungle". Very good, very graphic at times (he is living off of McDonald's for a month... after a while he can't keep food down) but in the end very insightful. Apparently there are competitively priced healthier alternatives for school cafeterias, mildly more expensive ways to NOT make McDonald's threaten your health, and so on. Informative film, as documentaries tend to be...

Speaking of which, Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11: The Temperature at which Freedom Burns" WON the Palme D'Or at the Cannes Festival (making it the first documentary since Jacques Cousteau's "The Silent World" in 1953) as well as picking up a distributor in Albania. That makes the film available to every human being on the planet, except Americans. Disney (owner of Miramax, who made the film) has refused to distribute it because of an aversion from political movies as well as a dedication to family oriented material. At the time of this claim by CEO Michael Eisner, the highest grossing movie under Disney's belt was the family-fun-time "Kill Bill Vol.2"... yeah... just keep blinking.

Hopefully, after Cannes, Moore will get a distributor in the states by early July. He hopes to release on the July 4th weekend. As I was sluggish in bringing this up at all, I'll be sure to get all information up here immediately when it happens. In the mean time, go see "Supersize Me", it is well worth it.

Update on Najaf... it seems the cease-fire and pull out of the American forces has ended within a day of its being signed due to the fire from insurgents as mentioned in my last post.

Also, it seems Ashcroft and Ridge are at odds over not only the threat level indicated by all this new information on a terrorist attack this summer... but THE DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT COOPERATING WITH EACH OTHER. What this indicates to me is that the "legal barriers" that were blamed by the right-wing upon Gorelick (9/11 committee member) which were so wonderfully torn down by the Patriot Act had nothing to do with the way these people deal with each other. You want your department to take credit because in a bureaucracy that means you get a pay raise... these people exist as members of a bureaucratic system and not as Americans working to prevent terrorism. In other words, don't expect that little Bert picture to change over to Ernie any time soon as Ridge won't let Ashcroft take the pay hike in his place.

Also, it seems the comment in my last post on Brahimi delaying his list by two weeks was potentially inaccurate as it seems the UN resolution itself is what is on the table to be delayed that long. What that amounts to is, of course, the precise delay mentioned in my last post... but let's not jump to put all the blame on Brahimi just yet.

Not sure how, but yet another Jeefo (version A) attack made its way in to my system and slipped my detection until about 400 replications manifested. They are allegedly cleared, but the same files that I had DELETED (such as my svchost and the system volume directory for my other windows installation) resurfaced on the list of infected locations. Very confusing.

American deaths in Iraq have topped 800, and even though a pullout from Najaf is under way... insurgents are still firing on soldiers there. Meanwhile, Shahrestani has turned down the notion Brahimi seemed to be suggesting that he take the prime minister position. Now they are talking of delaying the list Brahimi makes for the interim government by two weeks, effectively delaying the transition of power (or simply installing a literally secret government that is disclosed a couple weeks after its installment).

And finally, it seems my friend Nick Mucci (who's blog is linked on the top-right of this site) has found us a house to dwell in next year. Go team.

New comment system courtesy of HaloScan. I find this far better than the blogger included set up. Hope it causes some comments.

Just got my computer all set up here in Chicago. I'm on a nice big 21" Trinitron CRT Monitor now (to those who that means nothing to, I have a 21 inch TV for a monitor), and I am loving it in comparison to my 15" panel. Gloves come off this summer, House of Saud has already decided to act on their deal with House of Bush and get the gas pumpin stronger (2 million barrels more output starting next month)... hope it doesn't make people like Bush.

Speaking of Bush, I come home and there are two photos of Laura and George on my fridge with messages (one to my dad, one to my mom) thanking them for their committee work in the grassroots movement of Illinois. According to my parents there has been no such aid on their parts... could the whole zip code simply have been sent these things? I mean... the messages were personally to Richard and Phyllis Korzeniowski... very perplexing.

And as for the rest of the summer... well we'll see.

At Anschutz Library... at 6:14am. Philosophy of Mind is, needless to say, not my best subject. Western Civ II went well though. It has come to my attention that the comment system built in to blogger requires that you sign up with them before posting comments (which I disapprove of), not to mention that the comments are simply posted under my post when you click to view them. I am looking in to something like HaloScan for a new comment system, you'll see it when it changes. Also, I am going to move the archives to post monthly instead of weekly as I cannot guarantee frequent posting for the near or distant future.

Before I go, just wanted to mention that high-ranking Congress members in India are resigning to protest Ghandi's refusal to be prime minister... economic impact is already apparent with the crash of the Indian stock market... but my worry is (of course) how this will play out in India/Pakistani relations as they tend to be on the verge of something at all times. As always, more when it happens.

This gas station in Menlo Park, California, has managed to get to the heart of the problem. Photo courtesy of CNN, no idea if it will go down in the future. My 12 gallon tank is costing me over $25 to fill... and I only fill every 10 gallons... this is not right.

Just got done with my graduate seminar oral exam/paper defense. Luckily it was pass/fail 10% of the grade, and while nothing was marked as "superior" on my exam I did manage to get marked as exceptional on most other things. That means I got another letter grade in the class, now if I can get a 70/80 on my paper I get an A for the semester... got my fingers crossed.

In other news, the president of the Iraqi Governing Council was killed today in a car-bomb. He is the second member of the council to be assassinated, and his loss is sure to make Bush think even harder about who the hell sovereignty is going to be handed over to next month (June 30). Also, an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) which lightly bruised a convoy a few days ago has now been determined by a preliminary examination (which have been disproved several times in Iraq so far) to have contained sarin nerve agent. The couple soldiers effected claimed to have felt a bit ill in the days following the explosion. Sarin, by the way, is lethal by the drop; therefore, there is a great deal of speculation now that this artillery shell which contained the agent was a forgotten remnant from the Cold War. This would explain the deterioration of the agent to such an insignificant threat. A similar incident involving what appears to be mustard gas occurred about a week ago, but again preliminary studies have been disproved on this exact matter before so we are not sure about anything yet.

Finally, Tony Blair has announced his desire for Turkey to be admitted in to the EU with the final stages of planning to be done later this year. Will Germany try to block it? Who knows, but with EU/UK relations at this point I would not put it out of the question. More to come as that develops.

So my RA just tried to discuss with me the moral justification of American treatment of Iraqi prisoners at Abu-Ghraib... and then tried to tell me why the Geneva Convention should be interpreted "figuratively"... he then went on to say that Japanese Internment camps were a "fine idea" and proceeded to argue Fukayama in favor of such a view. Sometimes ignorance gets frustrating... and when ignorant people yell their opinion at me while I begin my sentence (no joke, the verb never got a chance)... it is just intolerable. This is the reason the planet hates America.

A final quote from this misguided soul: "20-65% of all arab immigrants to this country are either terrorists or will be terrorists very soon. Why else would they come here?"

Anyone remember lawn darts? Much to my dismay I have learned that there was a way to play this game that was distinctly different than the way my mother had taught my friends and I. Apparently lawn darts was played by throwing those things in to a hoop like horseshoes... not throwing those things in to a hoop while attempting NOT to hit your friend who is standing in the hoop at the same time. Thanks for volunteering me mom... I am so friggin lucky to be alive.

What I am essentially trying to say by this is that my blog is up and running in what is going to be its final form for the forseeable future. Enjoy.