Another one

My question is how many of these guys is it going to take before we evolve to the point where the other half of us realize we all have impulses that need to be confronted and dealt with personally instead of hoisting a boisterous facade that holds the rest of us back because we have to deal with their hypocrisy? I know I rail against religion a lot but the problem really isn't religion so much. Those on the far right of any belief are the real threat. Not the thoughtful and truly devout who are an asset. I can only hope and pray that someday while I am still alive the faux religous of Bush's ilk will no longer hold positions of power and inluence.

More panorama fun

You may be tired of these but I am far from tired of panorama fun. The first shot is taken from the top of amphitheater at Freedom Park in Charlotte, NC. The second is the same park at the Princeton Dr. entrance. Good times.

Just a thought

You know, the funniest thing about George Bush (if it's possible for anything to be funny about an unqualified president taking a great country into war by lying) is that he is bringing the world one step closer to the cartoonish satire of the band Gwar. We are totally screwed when Gwar's music becomes eerily prescient.

The torture never stops

"If America's leaders want to hunt terrorists while transforming dictatorships into democracies, they must recognize that torture, which includes CID, has historically been an instrument of oppression -- not an instrument of investigation or of intelligence gathering. No country needs to invent how to "legalize" torture; the problem is rather how to stop it from happening."

I recommend highly reading the full article I linked to above. This crap they are passing through congrss this week that allows Bush to interpret what is considered torture is shameful. We need a Democratic congress bad this upcoming year.

changes in the all-star race?

I like some of the ideas for changes in the NASCAR all-star race described in this article. Letting drivers from NASCAR's other series is a very good idea. Maybe the top two in points from the Busch and Truck series and maybe a third if that driver has had a specified number of wins at that point in the season. I'm a little worried about tweaking the racing format too much. Humpy Wheeler seems to desire the last lap on every lap. You can't have that kind of racing all the time, that causes too many wrecks. The last time Humpy tried to tweak the racing the Lowe's Motor Speedway they put grooves in the track with a grinder and literally ruined the race that followed. That still has got to be one of the biggest fiascoes in sports in recent memory. That was akin to resodding a football stadium with untested sod and then throwing the players out there and hoping for the best. He's concerned about a lull in the race. Hey, it's a race. There are lulls in every race.

I see Humpy wants to improve the race. How about getting rid of that excruciating driver introduction segment that seems to get longer and less watchable every year? It's torture. Check out the look on Mark Martin's face when he is introduced if he is ever in the all-star race again. I feel your pain, Mark. I feel your pain.

I say the best all star race you could have is a big Saturday night shoot-out type of event at Bristol and anyone with racing credentials is welcomed to join in. Established drivers would get early round by's at pole positions in their heats. Run twenty laps, take the top two and move on. Now that would be exciting.

Julian Barnes

A few months ago I wrote here how much I loved the book "Arthur and George" by Julian Barnes. If you are interested there is a nice interview with the author in the Telegraph.

Holy underwear, it's almost here

Troy announced on his website that it is almost time for the annual Everyman Photo Contest. It is what it says it is so you should enter this year. I know I will. I haven't won a prize now three years in a row. I missed one year and I hate that I could have lost four years in a row but I missed one year. Never again. I will win no more forever.

I totally disagree

"Some people have guessed what’s in the report and concluded that going into Iraq was a mistake," the president said. "I strongly disagree." Yeah, we know that. You've said that before. You'll probably proclaim it on your death bed. I like this part too: "Mr. Bush said today that he agreed with the intelligence report’s findings that "because of our successes against the leaders of Al Qaeda, the enemy is becoming more diffuse and independent." He said he was not surprised that enemies of the United States would use the conflict in Iraq to attract recruits to join in "their murderous ways."" If his arguments get any more circular he might screw himself into the ground one day on camera.

Not you too?

Yup, I watched that video of Chris Wallace interviewing Bill Clinton this morning on Youtube and Bubba does have a temper, don't he? I didn't see it when it was aired because I don't watch Fox News because it sucks. You got to give Clinton some kudos. It was refreshing to see a politician, even a former politician (are you ever really a former politician?) drop the rhetoric and show actual emotion. It must have had a lot to do with Chris Wallace because even I wanted to smack that annoying little smirk off his face. Is his face partially paralyzed or does he just smirk constantly? I'm glad this confrontation happened. Anything that brings into public discussion the absolute worthlessness of Fox News is good for our country.

Martha Gellhorn

Have any of you guys ever heard of this lady? There's a biography that came out recently that I am going to read some day. Fascinating lady. Here's an excerpt from an interview with the woman that edited a recently published book of Gellhorn's letters. "People thought of her that way a lot, and it made her very, very angry. If someone had the temerity or foolishness to bring it up, she would just get up and leave the room. She used to say, "I was with him for eight years, and married for four. I've lived a lot of other lives." I was telling someone recently I've written about Martha Gellhorn, and it seemed to draw a blank. I said, 'She was a writer and a war correspondent.' Then, with huge reluctance, I said, 'She was also married to Ernest Hemingway,' and the person said, 'Ah, of course.' And I could just see Martha sending a rope down from above."