Sunday, April 27, 2003
Well, I mean, a lot of stuff has happened; I'm not sure that anybody is reading this; I ran six miles yesterday.
Yeah that's right bitches, I ran farther than I've run since high school yesterday morning, and it felt damn good. As a former sprinter, I never imagined that I would have to run for 3 miles before I felt warmed up, but that's what happened yesterday. It's like my body had been waiting for me to finally break out and do a long run. This is a very strange development. But I guess it makes sense, in that I have been doing shorter runs for roughly a year and a half now; perhaps these have actually prepared my body for the plateaux-hopping adventure on which I'm about to embark: running the Chicago Marathon in October. I'm totally insane, of course, but the early returns are in, and they are positive.
In other news, London is still cool.
Yeah that's right bitches, I ran farther than I've run since high school yesterday morning, and it felt damn good. As a former sprinter, I never imagined that I would have to run for 3 miles before I felt warmed up, but that's what happened yesterday. It's like my body had been waiting for me to finally break out and do a long run. This is a very strange development. But I guess it makes sense, in that I have been doing shorter runs for roughly a year and a half now; perhaps these have actually prepared my body for the plateaux-hopping adventure on which I'm about to embark: running the Chicago Marathon in October. I'm totally insane, of course, but the early returns are in, and they are positive.
In other news, London is still cool.
Saturday, April 19, 2003
So, back from London, and not nearly as depressed as I thought I'd be. Although I am insanely jealous of my good friend Rick Bach, who not only received a letter from Pvt. William L. Jagnow when I didn't, but is a much better guitar player (and lover!) than I. The temerity!
London was total magic for me. I consider myself so lucky that my first excursion outside the beloved U.S. involved such a lively, cosmopolitan, and enchanting city. Of course, I also got to see my men Rob W and the aforementioned Ricky B, and my No. 2 biatch Dayna S. I suggest you go to London, if you can; I feel the experience has somehow broadened and strengthened me. What higher recommendation can I make?
So, the war in Iraq is over, having been simultaneously the most successful military operation possibly in the history of warfare and a great human tragedy. Now some Iraqis want the U.S. out so they can rebuild their country. In the strictest democratic sense, this is their right, but recent history (i.e. the Baathist dictatorship) suggests that it might not be such a good idea. As always, it's important to try to look at both sides of this issue. On one hand, deposing a dictator who treated his subjects with such blatant carelessness for human life (and Hussein killed more Iraqis than W ever could have, remember) was an absolute good. On the other hand, the U.S. killed a lot of innocent people to accomplish its goal, and was also acting partly out of self-interest. Additionally, victory may make the U.S. even more odious in the eyes of the Arab world, which means: more terrorism on U.S. soil. My personal verdict on the war is still out, as I'm sure many people's are. But don't be fooled into voting for Bush: the man is still an idiot. That Tony Blair, on the other hand....
London was total magic for me. I consider myself so lucky that my first excursion outside the beloved U.S. involved such a lively, cosmopolitan, and enchanting city. Of course, I also got to see my men Rob W and the aforementioned Ricky B, and my No. 2 biatch Dayna S. I suggest you go to London, if you can; I feel the experience has somehow broadened and strengthened me. What higher recommendation can I make?
So, the war in Iraq is over, having been simultaneously the most successful military operation possibly in the history of warfare and a great human tragedy. Now some Iraqis want the U.S. out so they can rebuild their country. In the strictest democratic sense, this is their right, but recent history (i.e. the Baathist dictatorship) suggests that it might not be such a good idea. As always, it's important to try to look at both sides of this issue. On one hand, deposing a dictator who treated his subjects with such blatant carelessness for human life (and Hussein killed more Iraqis than W ever could have, remember) was an absolute good. On the other hand, the U.S. killed a lot of innocent people to accomplish its goal, and was also acting partly out of self-interest. Additionally, victory may make the U.S. even more odious in the eyes of the Arab world, which means: more terrorism on U.S. soil. My personal verdict on the war is still out, as I'm sure many people's are. But don't be fooled into voting for Bush: the man is still an idiot. That Tony Blair, on the other hand....
Monday, April 07, 2003
Okay, quick Top 5 before I leave for London. London!
1. "Digital Love," Daft Punk
2. "The Fly," U2
3. "London," Third Eye Blind
4. "Thriller," Michael Jackson
5. "Pretend We're Dead," L7
Cheers.
1. "Digital Love," Daft Punk
2. "The Fly," U2
3. "London," Third Eye Blind
4. "Thriller," Michael Jackson
5. "Pretend We're Dead," L7
Cheers.
Saturday, April 05, 2003
AND FURTHERMORE, motherf**kers, bombing has never been as effective in reality as it seems to be in theory, as a means of cowing a population or breaking an army's fighting spirit. Hey, the Viet Cong found that, although it was really scary to do so, they could survive a B-52 assault by hiding in a tunnel equipped with a gabled roof. Not, like, a steel roof or anything, just a wooden one. There are numerous other examples, mostly from WWII--and yes, I know that technology has improved since then. But I also think the precision of "precision munitions" is vastly overrated, and believe that reports after this conflict will bear this out. I understand, and am completely in favor of, substituting technology for manpower inasmuch as it saves lives on both sides in a battle. But recent experience in Kosovo et al suggests that use of ground infantry is still vital to a fighting force's agency. Computers still can't do what even stupid people can, and you can bet your ass that the battle of Baghdad will be shaped in large part by this fact.
Having said all this, and knowing that it's pretty morbid to say the following: I also think that tanks are cool.
Also knowing that I am moving with probably depressing rapidity from uninformed but reasoned commentary to vacuous blathering, I'll now take this opportunity to respond to Rick's blatant dis re: my basketball prowess. Now, I've been about 5' 7" since my senior year of high school, when I could jump and get a finger on a 10' goal, on a good day. 30" was my vertical, back in the day. That's not going to win any awards, but if I was 6-6 like MJ, and my arms were correspondingly longer, YOU BET that I'd "dunk the fucker" every chance that I got. Switch-hand layup? Please, Shawn Kemp has displayed superior artistry around the rim. Jordan was at his best when he was putting the ball directly through the rim from above. Proof? See the Air logo, MF. I rest my case.
Having said all this, and knowing that it's pretty morbid to say the following: I also think that tanks are cool.
Also knowing that I am moving with probably depressing rapidity from uninformed but reasoned commentary to vacuous blathering, I'll now take this opportunity to respond to Rick's blatant dis re: my basketball prowess. Now, I've been about 5' 7" since my senior year of high school, when I could jump and get a finger on a 10' goal, on a good day. 30" was my vertical, back in the day. That's not going to win any awards, but if I was 6-6 like MJ, and my arms were correspondingly longer, YOU BET that I'd "dunk the fucker" every chance that I got. Switch-hand layup? Please, Shawn Kemp has displayed superior artistry around the rim. Jordan was at his best when he was putting the ball directly through the rim from above. Proof? See the Air logo, MF. I rest my case.
