Category: News & Politics

This is on a par with a recent post on Iraq. When did The War in Iraq become The War Against Iraq?

I’ve gotten into more than my fair share of debates that have ended when the other side retreated to the tune of, “It’s only semantics!” The implication being A) that I’m flogging a dead horse and B) that the subject of the debate was something trivial. I find that response frustrating. If we cannot understand the words that others use, then there is no point in trying to communicate. Since human speech–a symbolic and highly abstract form of communication–is what separates us from the cute little animals, without it, we wouldn’t be human, would we? So, I tend to think semantics might be the only thing that really is important.

And so, I am saddened to hear The War in Iraq referred to as The War Against Iraq, because anyone possessing a rudimentary facility with the English language will recognize that the two things have entirely different meanings.

Also, I used the juice from both halves of a very large lemon in my ginormous iced tea this ayem. It is sour beyond belief, and that’s coming from someone who likes to eat lemons. Oops.

Also, too, it looks like my planned migration back to civilization might take place sooner, rather than later. More on that as events unfold. I will only say that I’m conflicted, as I love the country and the wee woodland critters, but I also miss having broadband and–dear lord, I’m almost afraid to contemplate it–cable teevee.

This looks interesting.

When I was in high school, we were told we were required to take the ASVAB test. Being the uppity pinko militant peacenik that I was, I refused. There was no way in hell I wanted our military knowing any more about me than absolutely necessary. Our school counselor and the vice principal informed me that the test was required. My ass, I replied. I told them that I wouldn’t be attending school on the day the ASVAB was given. If they scheduled a make-up exam, I would not attend on that day, either. I thought it was pretty damned funny that they thought they could force me to take a test. If it actually came down to it, I was perfectly happy take the test, but mark down incorrect answers. And, I let them know that, too.

Now, why on earth the military would have thought it was worthwhile to wast their time trying to test and recruit a kid who was rabidly anti-military was–even then–beyond me. Asstrumpets.

They also weren’t particularly up-front about what the ASVAB actually was. I expect most kids, back then when it wasn’t possible to hop online and go a-Googling, had no idea it was an armed services aptitude test. Sneaky bastards. I may have fallen for it, if I hadn’t been terminally inquisitive and more than a little suspicious of authority. “You’re telling me I have to take this test? I don’t effing think so.” When I asked what, exactly, the test was, the school counselor was a little vague. “It’s an aptitude test.” Yeah, well, I’d already taken the state-required academic aptitude test, so I wasn’t buying that one. When she finally copped that it was for the military, I said, “No, thank you, ma’am.” I was assured that I could opt out of being recruited (yeah, right). What she didn’t understand was that I was pissed off about the test itself, and how it had been presented to us. Recruitment officers, I could deal with. Being manipulated, not so much.

The funny (cuz it’s true) thing was that friends of mine who gave in and took the ASVAB were recruited, even though they had opted out of it. Yeah, manipulated and lied to.

So, I’m all for telling kids the truth and helping them develop the skills they need to fend for themselves. Unfortunately, that means giving them the tools to stand up for themselves against our own military.

I can’t believe I forgot to mention this. Not only do our new fancy schmancy electronic voting machines not supply any sort of a receipt, but Indiana is now requiring that voters provide government issued identification. The state’s license branches were open extended hours on Monday and Tuesday, so that folks who did not know about the new ID requirement could obtain state IDs.

And, this from Pandagon, on voting irregularities in Ohio. One point that is made is that outright fraud is not necessary, when physically restricting access to voting might work just as well.

It’s been said before but bears repeating, they don’t actually need to change votes, which is something that could eventually be detected and people could be thrown in jail for, in order to throw elections. All they need to do is make sure there’s inadequate facilities in certain precincts and the frustration of waiting to vote will drive huge numbers of voters away.

The same sort of situation occurred in my precinct, but it’s rural and the population is extremely low, so folks here would not have faced long lines and big hassles. Still, it sucks. And, at least the folks in Ohio were supposed to get a receipt. Our new electronic machines don’t even have that option.