Archives » 2004

Home for Christmas

Posting might be light, as I am home for Christmas. I injured my back 2 days ago, so am somewhat limited in my mobility. I jokingly wondered if the way I felt was the way the elderly feel. “Yep, that’s probably true,” my mom responded. So, it’s official, when I start to get old, I’m going to take up a large number of very dangerous hobbies.

My injury restricted me to bed for a day, and I’ve been on painkillers (can’t drive), so I’ve yet to finish my Christmas shopping. Not that I’m usually done with it by this time of year anyway…

Posted by Mark | Dec 22nd, 2004 @ 8:00 PM | Personal and Site Announcements
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Poor Sar

My poor girlfriend, Sarah, just got all four of her wisdom teeth removed. She’s kind of groggy, and in a lot of pain. Unfortunately, narcotics make her nauseated, so she’s going to just have to be a big brave dog and bear it.

Posted by Mark | Dec 20th, 2004 @ 6:16 PM | Personal
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Earquake

Last night, I woke up to what I was convinced was an earthquake. I heard a rumbling noise that felt like it was shaking my brains. I sat up, quickly. The rumbling stopped. Still groggy, I put my head back on the pillow, and as soon as I did, the noise resumed. But this time, I was very aware of the direction of the sound. It was coming from the left. No, scratch that… it was coming from inside my left ear. There was a bug walking on my damn eardrum. I ran into the bathroom, panicked (and still not all the way awake.) Not finding any rubbing alcohol, I poured the next best thing, mouthwash, into my hear. Whatever it was… that made it mad. I think it bit me. After a few seconds of struggling, it drowned.

I woke in the morning, not quite sure if I had dreamt the whole thing. The minty-fresh scent of my ear quickly verified the episode. I’m honestly not sure if the bug was flushed out when I drained the mouthwash or not. Maybe it’s still in there.

Posted by Mark | Dec 20th, 2004 @ 6:07 PM | Personal and Humor
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Time’s Man of the Year: George W. Bush

In an unsurprising move, Time Magazine has named President George W. Bush their Man of the Year, for the second time.

After a grueling campaign, Bush remains a polarizing figure in America and around the world, and that’s part of the reason he earned the magazine’s honor, said Managing Editor Jim Kelly.

“Many, many Americans deeply wish he had not won,” Kelly said in a telephone interview. “And yet he did.”

In the Time article, Bush said he relishes that some people dislike him.

“I think the natural instinct for most people in the political world is that they want people to like them,” Bush said. “On the other hand, I think sometimes I take kind of a delight in who the critics are.”

Bush joins six other presidents who have twice won the magazine’s top honor: Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower (first as a general), Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. Franklin Roosevelt holds the record with three nods from the editors.

Kelly said Bush has changed dramatically since he was named Person of the Year in 2000 after the Supreme Court awarded him the presidency.

“He is not the same man,” Kelly said. “He’s a much more resolute man. He is personally as charming as ever but I think the kind of face he’s shown to the American public is one of much, much greater determination.”

AP: Bush Named Time’s Person of 2004

In truth, I’m not so concerned with what he did this year, but with what he is to do in the next four.

Posted by Mark | Dec 19th, 2004 @ 9:03 AM | News
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No War for Profit!

Ah, the United States: the great war profiteer. America is once again showing that we only went into Iraq to make money, not to free people and to rid the world of another dictator with WMDs or to clear out a terrorist haven… nothing like that.

The United States on Friday completely forgave $4.1 billion in debt Iraq owed it and urged other nations not part of an international debt relief agreement to follow suit.

Both Secretary of State Colin Powell and Treasury Secretary John Snow hailed the move as an important contribution to the future of Iraq and its people.

Snow, Powell and Iraq’s Finance Minister Adil Abdul al-Mahdi signed the agreement in a ceremony at the State Department.

Al-Mahdi thanked the U.S. government and its people, describing debt relief as Iraq’s “second liberation after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.”

USA Today: U.S. forgives $4.1 billion in Iraq debt

Posted by Mark | Dec 19th, 2004 @ 6:59 AM | News
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72% in AARP Favor Legal Medical Marijuana

Nearly three-fourths of Americans middle age and older support legalizing marijuana for medical use, according to a poll taken for AARP.

More than half of those questioned said they believed marijuana has medical benefits, while a larger majority agreed the drug is addictive.

…

Over all, 72 percent of respondents agreed “adults should be allowed to legally use marijuana for medical purposes if a physician recommends it.” Those in the Northeast (79 percent) and West (82 percent) were more receptive to the idea than in the Midwest (67 percent) and Southwest (65 percent). In Southern states, 70 percent agreed with the statement.

AP: AARP Poll Shows Most Support Legalizing Medicinal Marijuana

Of course “having medical benefits” and “being addictive” aren’t mutually exclusive. Having a glass of wine with dinner is medically beneficial, yet alcohol is still addictive (even more so than marijuana). Myths about marijuana still abound, but it’s nice to see that even the elderly recognize that it isn’t the danger to society it is made out to be.

Posted by Mark | Dec 19th, 2004 @ 4:24 AM | Commentary and Issues
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Whoa there, Dubya

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - President Bush said he was sure he would bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians during his second term in office, in an interview published in an Israeli newspaper on Sunday.

“I want you to know that I am going to invest a lot of time and a lot of creative thinking so that there will finally be peace between Israel and the Palestinians,” Bush told the leading Israeli newspaper Yedioth Aharonoth.

“I am convinced that, during this term, I will manage to bring peace,” he said in remarks published in Hebrew.

Reuters: Bush Confident of Israeli-Palestinian Peace

Bush won the election. He won a lot bigger than anyone expected. He certainly has political capital here in the States… but claiming to be able to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a bold thing to promise. Foolhardy, even.

Let’s face it: the Palestinians won’t be happy until Jerusalem is their capital. “Over our dead bodies,” says Israel. “Naturally,” say the Palestinians.

Sorry Dubya… it’s not going to happen. I know that Presidents start thinking about their legacy in their second term. Clinton also tried to solve the Isreal-Palestine situation in his second term. It’s not going to happen. It’s time to start focusing on achievable goals, like Social Security reform and the security of our borders.

Posted by Mark | Dec 19th, 2004 @ 3:59 AM | Political Commentary
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Ha ha! We’re being Hijacked!

I honestly had to create a new category for this one: “Stupid People.”

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - An Italian tourist aboard a flight from Sydney to Vienna caused an international security alert after he sent a joke text message from his cell phone to his wife claiming his plane had been hijacked by terrorists, the Australian government confirmed Sunday.

The man, Antonio Casale, 35, sent the message to his wife from Kuala Lumpur during a refueling stop on a Lauda Air flight from Sydney last Sunday night, Sydney’s Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported.

Transport Minister John Anderson’s spokesman confirmed the newspaper report.

Casale claimed terrorists were in control of the plane and were taking the passengers to an unknown destination.

His distressed wife contacted Italian police, who immediately contacted the Italian embassy in Canberra, who in turn contacted Australian Federal Police.

Anderson’s spokesman said authorities were able to quickly establish Casale’s identity and discover the message was a hoax.

AP: Joke Text Message Triggers Terror Alert

Ignore for a second the public scandal caused by such an action. Why the hell would he do that do his poor wife? The worst part is that he was released without being charged in Vienna.

Posted by Mark | Dec 19th, 2004 @ 3:40 AM | Stupid People
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A Worthy Cause

Nov. 19th, 2004
Kaydee Hager, 4 years old, of Minot, ND was air ambulance to Children’s Hospital in St. Paul, MN after being diagnosed with Stevens Johnson Syndrome.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome “Fire of the Flesh” is an extreme allergic reaction to a drug. Kaydee’s reaction was to Phenobarbital that she was taking for seizures.

Blistering from the inside out—skin lesions are wide spread over the entire body. Treatment is similar to that of a severe burn patient. The major concerns are blindness, dry eye syndrome, lung damage, asthma, arthritis.

Kaydee’s lung has collapsed and she has needed a blood transfusion to help her fight off the infection. She is heavily sedated to help her heal faster.

Kaydee is in ICU in the Children’s Hospital and her parents, Andy Hager and Carolyn Engh need your financial support to help cover the staggering medical expenses.

Say Anything: Help A Little Girl Out

This has nothing to do with Christmas, or it has everything to do with it, depending on your perspective. Regardless, this girl needs your help. If you can spare something, even if it’s only $5.00, you should really consider doing a good deed and helping this family out.

Donations can be sent to:

Kaydee Hager Benefit Fund Account
First Western Bank and Trust
900 South Broadway
Minot, North Dakota 58701

Alternatively, Rob (an honest and trustworthy guy) is collecting donations via his Amazon Honor System account. Be sure to drop him an e-mail or leave a comment if you use that method.

Posted by Mark | Dec 19th, 2004 @ 2:14 AM | Announcements
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