Bomb sniffing dogs

Have you ever walked by a bomb sniffing dog with drugs in your pocket and grown concerned that the dog may be on his second career?

On Ageing

There is little such thing as old, if we die tomorrow we were old yesterday. That is all.

On Spicey Food

I never liked spicy food. I always thought that it was preposterous that anyone could like spicy food. It seemed made-up to me that anyone actually liked the experience of pain while they ate their food. It seemed more an exhibition of machismo to like spicy food then an actual appreciation of the food. It took me being stoned one day (today) to understand what it is to like spicy food. It's an act of self-mutilation. It's a teenager cutting himself. It's the only thing that's real.

Bill Simmons, king maker: Gus Johnson, recipient.

Call in Agnostic/Atheist Day

Call your boss from work on Dec. 25 and ask them where they are.

The national Call in Gay Day seems to have failed due to the haphazard way in which it was put together and, more importantly the struggles of an economy that could claim the employment of individuals willing to sacrifice productivity for ideology. So YFBFB proposes a Call in Agnostic/Atheist Day, in which all who claim no such ideological attachments call their bosses from work on December 25 and inquire as to their whereabouts. "What do you mean you're not coming to work today? It's Thursday, there's work to be done. Who's birthday? I know Joel in accounting took off for his birthday but this is not becoming SOP is it?"

I challenge any boss to question this day's utility.

Sarah Palin's "Radical Right-Wing" Mentors

This Salon article is fascinating but the use of "radical right-wing" twice in the article and once in the title is self-defeating. It's trendy these days to be as hyperbolic as possible and perhaps it helps attract attention but the article makes clear that the gentlemen at the heart of the story are indeed "radical right-wing"ers. Further, while the use of the term may serve to compel individuals predisposed to dislike Palin to read it it compels others to simply dismiss it as part of the "liberal mainstream media"s agenda.

As a journalism school graduate who has personally witnessed the liberal bias among many of those who aspire to work in media, I'm always shocked at the excesses of supposed responsible, objective journalism. Journalists who have strong political opinions should recognize that they needn't radicalize their stories with unnecessary language. If the story alone doesn't prove their point then they either need to re-examine their beliefs or realize that the story isn't worthy of publication. If it does reinforce their beliefs then they should let the reader come to it on their own. Otherwise the reader already shares that believe or has stopped reading before they get to the nut of the story.

5 AM

I'm up and drunk, some thoughts:

Sarah Palin's run for the Vice Presidency has upset me to the point that I'm truly concerned for the future of this country.  Anyone of even moderate intellect should be able to ascertain that this woman has no business running this country.  This is not a matter of politics, this is a matter of competency and frankly she is devoid of competency.  She was a tape recorder in the debates and the idea that a debater can legitimately state that they are not going to respond to the moderator's questions is beyond is preposterous.  

Also note cards should not be allowed in debates.  They're counter intuitive to the concept and antithetical to the purpose.  

I'm watching a program called Lockup: Pendleton, its part of the Lockup series about prison life on MSNBC that I've really enjoyed.  This program is specifically devoted to a military integration unit that is particularly interesting.  Of note - and not addressed in the program - is the racial divide in the unit.  This website puts Pendleton's racial breakdown at 54/41 white/black but the military unit seems overwhelmingly white.  The show has just reached it's completion and both of the new recruits that they selected were black.  They only placed two individuals in the program when they could have placed three so it can be assumed that they were the best candidates but I wonder if affirmative action plays in the selection process.  As said it doesn't seem so but I am unaware of the legal requirements therein (and curious if they are required to abide by affirmative action requirements - as they certainly don't seem to be fulfilling them of yet).

This program is wildly conflicting to me.  On one side I think the purpose of prison is correctional and redemptive but at the same time its unfortunate to consider that a part of our (The United States) military is made up of ex-cons.  There's a perception in the States that northeast citizens perceive the military with condensation, this perception holds a certain degree of weight, unfortunately, but that is because many of the individuals who choose to go into the military in the northeast are indeed criminals or at least miscreants.  When I was in high school I was asked to take a piss for a friend who was in AA because he was forced to go there (essentially) for stupidity, to this day I like the kid but he's now a representative of our nation's military.  The reason I mention this is that for better or worse (and certainly more for the worse) the perception of the military in the northeast is generally that of thugs and individuals who don't deserve to represent us in international circumstances.

Perhaps I thinking too much of it, and I'm willing to admit that may be the case, but it's wildly disheartening that a man of the quality of David Foster Wallace committed suicide.  I've never met him and maybe I'm over sentimental of an author who was one of the best of our generation but if he's committing suicide we must be heading in the wrong direction.

We should be fostering minds like those not allowing for their demise.