:: Skeptical Notion

:: Friday, March 19, 2004 ::

Bin Laden's right-hand man slips net

Via Atrios, it appears that the AQ leader we were close to capturing has escaped:

After mounting speculation that US and Pakistani forces ranged on either side of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border were about to pounce on al-Qa'ida's key planner, a senior Taliban spokesman yesterday made the claim Washington least wanted to hear - that both Zawahiri and bin Laden were safe in Afghanistan.

(Italics mine). "Safe in Afghanistan? Way to go George! You did such an excellent job draining the swamp in Afghanistan. So perfect a job, in fact, that it's apparently safer for terrorists to hide out in Afghanistan, where we theoretically have a lot more control (not to mention the odd soldier or three), than in Pakistan where we're reduced to saying "Would you pretty please capture that terrorist? And also perhaps not accidentally sell nuclear technology in the process?"

Perhaps if you hadn't sent the whole damn Army off on "Operation Avenge Daddy" (or was it Operation "Distract the Voters" or Operation "All Arabs look alike to me"?), we might have had the troops to, you know, make it slightly difficult for terrorists to wander around Afghanistan.

Has anything changed, George? Have you done anything right? Ever?

Update: Just wanted to add that even if they end up capturing him, that it's pretty pathetic that Afghanistan can even be remotely considered a "safe place" for prominent terrorists. I don't think George has ever finished a job in his whole life....Afghanistan is no exception.
:: Morat 12:24 PM :: ::

Witches Abroad...

And now, the stunning conclusion to Farscape...no wait, sorry. I mean the long-awaited review (all two of you have been drooling over it) of Terry Pratchett's "Witch" Discworld novels. To make life easy, here's the list (in order of publication): Equal Rites, Wyrd Sisters, Witches Abroad, Lords and Ladies, Maskerade, and Carpe Jugulum.

Bear in mind: Pratchett moved from satire to world building with Equal Rites, so it's the first of what I consider the "true" Discworld novels. In all honesty, Wyrd Sisters is the first of the "good" Pratchett, the first book written in the mature style he's become famous for. As Pratchett himself noted "'The first couple were just gag books and I wasn't really certain too much what I was doing. I was doing it for the fun of seriously parody a lot of bad fantasy, and, indeed some good fantasy...").

Equal Rites, Mort and Sourcery sort of bridge the gap between his early style and his later style. Trust me. We like his later style. In fact, although I'll get there later, Small Gods -- or thereabouts -- marks the bridge between humorous fantasy and serious --and slightly dark if still damn funny -- fantasy. Books after (and including) Small Gods tend to work on serious themes (with a few exceptions. Maskerade, out of the Witch novels, for instance). Terry's writing style is anything but static. If you want to see serious mental disconnect, trying reading The Color of Magic and then picking up Small Gods. You'd have a hard time thinking it was the same person...

The first novel, Equal Rites, introduces the character of Granny Weatherwax. (It's been awhile, but I don't think the other two witches, Nanny Ogg or Magrat make an appearance. Nor Agnes Nitt for that matter). It doesn't really fit in with the rest of the novels (Pratchett's first several books are that way. He fiddled around for a bit until he found what he was looking for), and really centers on Esk, the Disc's first -- and only -- female wizard.

Next is Wyrd Sisters, a retelling of Macbeth (Pratchett's Discworld, at it's best moments, are something of a reflection of our world...a reflection that's subtly distorted in a way designed to make some very perceptive points about what our stories and myths say about ourselves). It introduces Nanny Ogg and Magrat, the other two witches. As a retelling of Macbeth, it's quite clever (and not nearly the parody many would expect).

Witches Abroad is about stories. And Mardi Gras. But mostly about stories. Fairy tales (Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood, to name two). It also marks the first time Greebo does "it". Trust me, you don't want me to spoil the surprise.

Lords and Ladies is a retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and ranks as one of the best Discworld books Pratchett has written. Not the best or the funniest, but certainly the best of the Witches novels. Unfortunately, it's best if you've at least read Witches Abroad and Wyrd Sisters, although it's not necessary. Certain plot points make a bit more sense if you do...

Maskerade is built mostly on The Phantom of the Opera and is, by far the weakest of the Witch novels.

Carpe Jugulum deals with vampires, and while not quite as good as Lords and Ladies is one of the better Witch novels.

If you're going to read just one, pick up Lords and Ladies. If you plan to invest a bit of time, I suggest skipping Equal Rites and starting with Wyrd Sisters.

What makes the witches novels really work is the interaction between the three witches (Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and Magrat), and there's really no way to accurately describe it, short of retyping one of the books. (A slight violation of fair use, I'm thinking). To give you a slight feel of the characters, I dug up a good quote that more or less encapsulates each one:

Granny:"'Tis not right, a woman going into such places by herself." Granny nodded. She thoroughly approved of such sentiments so long as there was, of course, no suggestion that they applied to her. (Wyrd Sisters)

Nanny Ogg: Above the hearth was a huge pokerwork sign saying "Mother". No tyrant in the whole history of the world had ever achieved a domination so complete. (Wyrd Sisters)

Magrat: Magrat was annoyed. She was also frightened, which made her even more annoyed. It was hard for people when Magrat was annoyed. It was like being attacked by damp tissue. (Witches Abroad. Not the best one for her, but I don't have any of the books handy, so you're stuck with what I can find!).

Many of the Pratchett books -- and all of the best ones -- tend to revolve around certain themes that Pratchett finds fascinating...I'll round those up later, although with Granny it tends to be personal responsibility and the unspoken price of being the best at anything.

Later this week, we'll hit my favorites: The Guards novels. If you like your cops grizzled and cynical, yet not quite able to crush that tiny spark of idealism deep within their souls, you'll love Samuel Vimes.
:: Morat 1:22 PM :: ::

Our Long National Nightmare Of Peace And Prosperity Is Finally Over

PZ Meyers over at Pharyngula pointed out this slight reworking of the famous Onion article. Someone helpfully added links, detailing exactly how prescient The Onion was.
:: Morat 12:36 PM :: ::

Democracy for America

Since Dean's new group is up, and I'm bound to talk about them at least occasionally, I thought I'd let you know what they're focusing on. According to their very first post, DFA will focus on:

First, Democracy for America will be committed to strong, sustained grassroots involvement in the democratic process. Today, half of Americans don’t even bother to vote. People see what the problems are, but they are cynical about the system and prospects for change. Only through acting will people recognize the power they have to change this country.

Second, Democracy for America will be committed to promoting an America where candidates and office holders tell the truth about policy choices and stand up for what they believe. The era when politicians equivocate about matters as fundamental as war and peace must end.

Third, Democracy for America will be committed to fighting against the influence and agenda of the two pillars of George W. Bush’s Washington: the far right wing and their radical, divisive policies, and the selfish special interests who for too long have dominated politics.

Fourth, Democracy for America will be committed to fighting for progressive policies, like health care for all; investment in children; equal rights under law; fiscal responsibility; and a national security policy that makes America stronger by advancing progressive values.

Good plan, especially the fiscal responsibility as a progressive value. I think we've all learned that conservatives can't handle money. One of the reasons I supported Dean in the first place (perhaps the main reason) was that he seemed willing to buck the "Tax and spend" myth, and push to make fiscal responsibility a key plank in the Democratic platform. You can't enact progressive policies without cash, and governments can't raise money without a happy, healthy economy (which means, among other things, keeping taxes reasonable).

And, not to put too fine a point on it, most Americans got something from even the worst GOP stereotypes of a liberal big spender. Under George, who has happily spent three years playing "Let's break the bank", you only got something if you were part of the 300,000 a year and up club....

DFA also spells out how they plan to accomplish these goals in the upcoming election:

Recruit and encourage progressive candidates to run for office at every level. We will help them find the resources to campaign successfully with small donations from grassroots supporters, to begin to break the stranglehold special interests have on the political process.

Raise funds for Congressional candidates for whom financial support could be the key to winning, and whose election will be key to winning back a House of Representatives that has become the tool of the Republican right wing.

Develop strategic partnerships with other progressive organizations to maximize resources for candidate recruitment, training, and organization.

Build relationships with other political initiatives to focus on the failed, destructive policies of the Bush administration.

Harness the power of the Internet to enlarge and support our grassroots organization committed to taking back America from special interests that control the right wing leadership of our Congress and the White House.

So, basically, "support lower level candidates and hammer the ever-loving crap out of Bush.".

That's a plan I can get behind.
:: Morat 12:15 PM :: ::

Deadly Attacks Across Iraq

It's getting bloody in Iraq:

As the anniversary of the U.S. invasion approached, bloodshed continued in Iraq on Thursday with American troops and Iraqi civilians dying.

A suicide bomber blew up a car near a hotel in the southern city of Basra as a British military patrol passed by, killing three bystanders. At least 15 people were wounded, three of them seriously, hospital officials said. One suspected attacker was seized by a crowd and stabbed to death. Two others escaped.

Mortars fired at an Army base next to the Baghdad International Airport and at a Marine outpost near the Syrian border killed three U.S. soldiers, CBS News Reporter Lisa Barron says. The deaths brought to 567 the number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq.

In northeastern Iraq, gunmen opened fire on a minibus, killing three Iraqi journalists and wounding nine other employees of a coalition-funded TV station, police said.

Meanwhile, rescue crews called off their search for survivors of a massive suicide bombing of a hotel in Baghdad.

I don't expect it to get any better this week. I don't doubt US troops will be on high alert this weekend. I'd imagine that both guerrillas and terrorists see the 20th (first anniversary of the invasion) as a very symbolic time to launch strikes.
:: Morat 11:19 AM :: ::

Small changes...

I updated my "Donate" buttons, changing my "Dean 2004" button into a contribute button for his new group, "Democracy for America". If anyone notices a good button sized image for it, let me know. I'd like it to stand out a bit more than just a text link.

As to why I've got a "Democracy for America" button up but not a John Kerry button, well, every blogger and his dog is raising money for Kerry (and I've thrown a bit his way myself), so I'd like to focus a little more on party building and lower-level races. I'm not sure how big Kerry's coattails might be, but I'd like to enhance them as much as possible. The DNC (I still have the e-Patriots button up) and DFA will be focusing a lot of GOTV and party-building, something I consider quite critical.

But not the least of which is I happen to agree with Dean on a lot of things, and want to support Dean's view of the party's future. The more successful DFA is, the more likely that Dean's policies (from fiscal to health care) will be implemented.

(And yes, the web design is dull. I can only hope it's because they've been rushing to get it implemented, and it's not the final look).
:: Morat 11:12 AM :: ::

Rhea County: Banning Homosexuals and Darwinists since 1925...

Idiots:

The county that was the site of the Scopes 'Monkey Trial' over the teaching of evolution is asking lawmakers to amend state law so the county can charge homosexuals with crimes against nature.

The Rhea County commissioners approved the request 8-0 Tuesday.
Commissioner J.C. Fugate, who introduced the measure, also asked the county attorney to find a way to enact an ordinance banning homosexuals from living in the county.

I wish I could be shocked that the public could manage to elect eight people who felt that Lawrence v. Texas was "optional".

On the other hand, I've dealt with my local school board. It's amazing how easy it is to get elected to local offices. All you need is enough functioning brain cells to sign your name and pay the fee to get on the ballot....

Speaking of, I'm considering a run for my local school board, the last bastion of undiluted political power in Texas... Anyone have any experience with that, especially with Texas school boards? (I'm on the Deer Park/La Porte/Pasadena side of town).

Admittedly, I'm suffering from a handicap: My brother was rather...infamous...in that school district, and I'm afraid that teachers (the most likely to vote on that sort of thing) are going to remember him and not me.....still, can't hurt to try.
:: Morat 10:26 AM :: ::

Back today..

My child seems to have shrugged off his illness a lot faster than my brother's girlfriend, the foul beast that infected him. (Just kidding, Sandy). She's been fighting it for several days, whereas kiddo managed to fight it off inside of 24 hours.

In fact, if he hadn't been looking forward to St. Patrick's day at school so much, I might have been mildly suspicious. As it was, he had to have been feeling really bad to miss that.

On the other hand, the extra sleep I got yesterday (kiddo and I napped a lot) really helped. I hadn't realized how run down I've been....
:: Morat 10:10 AM :: ::

Home today...

My child was running a bit of a fever today, so I ended up home watching him. He should be back at school tomorrow, but in the meantime...well, let's just say I've watched way too much Pokemon today.
:: Morat 1:04 PM :: ::

For the record:

My face hurts. Stupid dentist. Stupid cavities. Stupid teeth. Most fillings are relatively painless, but he had a lot to fill on my very back molar, and for one reason or another, they can't ever seem to completely numb the area -- at least when working on the bottom back teeth.

So my face hurts. The part that isn't puffy and numb (they tried really hard to get it) is sore. On the bright side, it's the last of the actual cavities.

New resolution: No more skipping the dentist for the better part of a decade.
:: Morat 2:27 PM :: ::

If you note..

I didn't get to the Witches review yesterday. Stupid job. It's up in the air whether I'll be able to cover it today, as I've got another dentist visit today. I think I've had approximately eight million holes drilled in my teeth over the last year or so, and today should be the last of them....well, the last of the old problems. I'm hoping for no new cavities for awhile, but....soft teeth are soft teeth.

Still, the sound of that damn drill just goes right through me. Ick.
:: Morat 10:36 AM :: ::

Number of Same-Sex Couples Married

A happy "same-sex marriage" counter. For the US, it stands at 6116 happy couples.

And, last I checked, my marriage seems unaffected.
:: Morat 4:55 PM :: ::

N.Y. clergy charged for same-sex marriages

What?:

Two ministers were charged with criminal offenses Monday for marrying 13 gay couples in what is believed to be the first time in the United States that clergy members have been prosecuted for performing same-sex ceremonies.
[...]
Unitarian Universalist ministers Kay Greenleaf and Dawn Sangrey were charged with multiple counts of solemnizing a marriage without a license, the same charges leveled against New Paltz Mayor Jason West, who last month drew the state into the widening national debate over same-sex unions.

The charges carry a fine of $25 to $500 or up to two years in jail.
[...]
Greenleaf, who acknowledged performing the ceremonies in New Paltz knowing the couples did not have licenses, said she signed an affidavit for the couples and considers the ceremonies civil.

Can anyone explain to me how, exactly, it's Constitutional to charge religious officials for performing a common religious ceremony? (I don't care if Greenleaf considered them civil or not. Without the license, they're purely religious....).
:: Morat 4:49 PM :: ::

Electron Band Structure In Germanium, My Ass

This is hilarious...although I'd caution him about that CS major. I've got a CS degree, and keep looking longingly at physics. (Hat tip to Pharyngula)
:: Morat 2:47 PM :: ::

Spain...

I don't plan to talk much about the Spanish elections, but figured I'd put my viewpoint out on the table. It turns on one key point:

The Iraq War had nothing to do with Al Qaeda or terrorism, except in the fevered imaginations of the Pentagon B-Team. Had those B-teamers been right to trust the defectors about Saddam's weapons program and terrorist support, and had the CIA been wrong on Saddam's willingness to hand over those weapons, you might be able to make a connection. However, since the defectors lied, the B-teamers lied, and Saddam turned out to be about as closely connection to Al Qaeda as your average door mouse, there's not much of a connection there.

Since Iraq wasn't, save in the minds of the neocons and their weaker-willed minions, a major player in international terrorism, invading it didn't do a damn think to stop Al Qaeda. Therefore, replacing the idiot government that advocating invading an unrelated country to "fight terrorism", isn't "appeasing terrorism". It's throwing out the morons who couldn't find a terrorist with both hands and a map.

Now, might the morons in charge have come to their senses and done a better job? Could be. But useless speculation that the "Terrorists have won" is utter bullshit. Who the hell knows what they're after, and who knows if they're right? I'm sure George Bush was quite confidant the "Terrorists have lost" when he gave the OK to invade Iraq. I don't think the terrorists agree....

And I don't think Spain should pull troops out of Iraq. I suscribe to the "You break it, you bought it" theory of international politics. We broke Iraq, and get to fix it. No bugging out leaving a bigger mess than the one you came to fix...

Update: Just to make it clear: At the very least, I think that the voters blamed the ruling party for failing to do anything about terrorism and not, for instance, blaming the terrorist attack on Spain's association with the US. The former is, to my mind, quite true. Spain was promoting policies designed to inflame terrorism, not douse it. I just don't see the Spanish voters turning out, en masse to appease terrorists by voting against George Bush...by proxy.

And the government playing "Denial of Reality" by trying to pin it on ETA and not even admitting a possible Al-Qaeda connection certainly didn't help.

:: Morat 1:00 PM :: ::

Long weekend

I had a lovely weekend, thank you. I took Friday off, spent time with the family, and generally had a wonderful and relaxing time. I'll be updating through the day, and should get time to review the "Witch" books from Discworld today. Right now, though, I need to catch up on email.


:: Morat 11:46 AM :: ::