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December 31, 2004
Tsunami Questions for Burma
First off, let me just bitch-slap all the America haters and point out that US Aid to Tsunami disaster areas is now up to $350 million. I said that we'd be putting more in the aid package and we have. I'll even say that we're not done yet and more will be added by the US government.
US citizens are donating like mad as well. Donations are flowing into aid agencies and Amazon.com has already collected 8.7 million.
Now, what's up with Burma? Oh sorry, Myanmar. No, I'm gonna call it Burma from here on out. It seems that the official death toll in Burma released by the military junta is only 90 people. I think that's just fantastic - IF IT'S TRUE. I'm not the only one that has a hard time believing that with many villages completely wiped out that only 90 people have perished. I'm afraid that the junta in power in Burma is too unstable to conduct an honest examination of the crisis and can't admit that they are going to need help rebuilding.
The Irish seem to agree. The numbers don't make any sense. We'll have to keep an eye on this one.
Posted by JasonColeman at 1:06 PM | Comments (0)
December 30, 2004
Bombs, Buses and Robots
If you're watching the TV right now, the major story is a bomb scare in Norfolk, VA at the Naval Air Station. As I type, the various agency's bomb squads are deploying robots to approach the buses that have been identified as a possible threat.
As this story develops, you may be interested in this piece I wrote about the very robots being used and their future in the military, police and civilian sectors.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 11:32 AM | Comments (0)
December 29, 2004
Face Facts Moonbats
The left is all in an uproar about the US aid response to the recent Tsunami. In a word? It's sickening. The outrages range from people saying that the Tsunami was created by global warming to the Tsunami missing Diego Garcia because of secret government weapons systems to create undersea earthquakes.
The left is crying that Bush didn't come out publically soon enough. I'm sorry, but the initial 15 million was announced the day after the quake. Then they want to scream to the rafters how the aid is paltry. Get real people, it's not over yet, no one knows how many are dead and NO AMOUNT OF MONEY WILL GET ANY OF THE DEAD BACK.
More will be spent on this by the US and other nations than is currently committed. But get real people!!! Throwing money, more money and more money at the region WILL NOT DO A DAMN THING!!!!
If the region needs money to rebuild, it will come. It will come in the form of aid, loans, credits, in-kind donations, private contributions, trade missions and all manner of other sources. It will be there and the region will be rebuilt, better than it was before.
The Moonbats on the left are SO DAMN anxious to try and blame Bush for the earthquake that they themselves are trembling. It saddens me to think that the first thoughts on people minds about this event wasn't "what can I do to help" but rather it was "this is Bush's fault because. . ."
Some days I really wish that anyone who's so profoundly unhappy that they have to blame their country for every single event, regardless of what it is, would actually carry through with their threats to move to Canada or Vietnam or wherever.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 11:21 PM | Comments (0)
December 27, 2004
We're stingy?????
What the hell. The United Nations is calling the US response to the recent Tsunami in southeast Asia "stingy". Some are even implying that the US stood by and let this happen.
What the Hell!!!! The world continues it's slide into madness.
FIRST!!!! The US has already pledged 15 million. The EU has pledged 4 million. And we're the stingy ones? Lets remember here, that it's more a European tourist mecca than a US one. We've already ponied up 15 mill, and it's just Monday. More is surely to come from both the public and private sectors of the US.
Give me a break Kofi, don't you have enough to worry about with genocide in Africa, you don't need to be trying to extort more money from us when the entire scope of the event isn't even known.
Besides 15 million vs. 4 million. Who's the stingy ones?
More will surely develop on this one.
UPDATE: A few treasury department people have sent letters to the UN pointing out that the US accounted for 40% of ALL foreign aid worldwide. The US has upped their aid assistance for the tsunami victims to 35 million.
2ND UPDATE: US Government aid up to 350 million. The American Red Cross has collected over 18 million and Amazon.com has collected 8.7 million.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 4:27 PM | Comments (0)
December 23, 2004
Somethings VERY wrong here.
Ok, first off let me make a couple of things perfectly clear. First, I am an atheist. Fully, and without qualms or doubt, I am an atheist. I also have no problems with homosexuality. I feel that a person's sexual orientation is their business, PERIOD.
What I'm INFURIATED about is what I see in THIS VIDEO. (10 Megs / 7 min.)
What I see here is a peaceful protest by members of an organization with a message, the message is a religious one. I see them exercising their constitutionally protected right to assembly and speech. The event in the video is a festival called OutFest held in Philadelphia. The festival is a gay pride celebration and a Christian group called Repent Now staged a protest during the festival which occurred over 15 city blocks, and did not charge admission.
What I also see in this video is a group of people DENYING those constitutional rights. The group doing the denying happens to be a homosexual advocacy group called the "Pink Angels". What I see in this video is one group of people denying another group of people access to public streets and thoroughfares. I see them surrounding them and denying them their right to move freely and speak freely.
This is VERY disturbing, but it gets better. The activity of the "Pink Angels", denying others their constitutional rights was announced in advance.
But it gets better. The police wind up arresting the Christian group. YES. They sure as heck do, and it's all right there in the video. The police watch as the "Pink Angels" surround the Christians, the police whatch as the "Pink Angels" harrass the Christians. The police also watch as the "Pink Angels" impede the Christians on public thoroughfares, and deny them their right to assembly and speech. Then the POLICE arrest the Christians.
Ok if you haven't watched the video yet, HERE IT IS again.
This is HIGHLY HIGHLY disturbing to me. I could care less if one group wants to parade their gay pride around in a street festival, and I could care less if a group of Christians want to preach gospel at the same festival in protest. That is the CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED right of BOTH parties. What I DO CARE ABOUT is that the Constitutionally protected rights of one group was denied to them repeatedly by another group of people in PLAIN view of the police.
You'll see in THE VIDEO, that the POLICE even acknowledge briefly that the Christians are being impeded and harrassed. But when the Christians finally put their foot down and exercise their CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED RIGHTS. They are arrested.
This is an OUTRAGE. But it's not over yet. The Christians that were arrested are now in danger of being sentenced to 47 years in prison for the activities shown in THE VIDEO. Please, I implore you, my readers, few that you may be to please watch THE VIDEO and then decide for yourselves. I'll put up more about this OUTRAGE as I investigate it further. Here are a few links about the incident so you can start investigating yourself. As I learn more about this I'll be updating this, as well as commenting on the larger implications of what's going on. PLEASE view THE VIDEO and read the links below to learn more.
Link 1 - Bill of Rights/Amendments to the US Constitution
Link 2 - Announcement of the intent of the "Pink Angels" published in advance of the event. NOTE: DEAD LINK, either this site has been getting hammered with hits in the last 24 hours or it has been removed by the owners. Below is a relevant quote from festival organizer Chuck Volz. I will try to find another source for the advance anouncement of the groups plans.
"We'll have a moving pink wall around them [protesters]," Volz continued. "Hopefully, they [protesters] will be so frustrated, they won't come again. Talking to a piece of Styrofoam is not the same as talking to a crowd of people."
Link 3 - Press Release from the AFA
Link 4 - Press Releases from the arrested group [ONE] [TWO]
Link 5 - Coverage of the incident by Ex-Gay Watch
Link 6 - WorldNetDaily Coverage - [ONE], [TWO], [THREE]
Link 7 - Philadelphia Inquirer coverage of the recent court decision.
I'll be adding more to this tomorrow when I've learned more about it, please check back and a special hat-tip to Geek Blonde Girl. Please feel free to save the video (right-click and "save target as. . .") and email it to concerned parties or direct them here to view the video.
The permanent link for this post is:
http://www.jasoncoleman.com/BlogArchives/2004/12/somethings_very.html
--Jason
UPDATE: Unrelated but equally egregious is this item from California
Posted by JasonColeman at 12:10 AM | Comments (10)
December 20, 2004
Change the Party
So I'm sitting here surfing the web, doing my thing, and on Hannity & Colmes, they've got this guy on named Donnie Fowler. I'm not sure what it was that caught my ear, but something did, so I paid a little attention. Then he popped out with "changetheparty.com", and my fingers went to work. I poured through his site, trying to grab every bit of it and then finally, I bought it. Hook line and sinker. If this guy's serious, then I'm all for it.
He didn't have any issue that caught me, there was no platform to embrace, no rhetoric to absorb. This guy just wants change. He wants a viable two party system. TWO CHOICES. REAL CHOICES.
So as I looked more and more through the site, I began to get twitchy and then I took the plunge.
Ok, Donnie, I'm in. If you're seriously going to work to change the Democrat party into something that represents the mainstream of America, then I'm all for it.
I'm a realist. I know that the Republicans aren't "all that and a bag of chips" and I know that the Democrats as they are now I want nothing to do with, but I'll go along with you on this roller coaster and see where it goes.
Dear Readers, few as you may be, expect to hear more reports from changetheparty.com as time marches on.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 10:36 PM | Comments (0)
Music and Marriage and Alabama Blogs
Today, I followed a link from Geek Girl Blonde (another blogger from Birmingham, AL) to Policy Review. As a "product of divorce" myself, the article resonated with me. When I was younger and thought about my father, I too felt the pangs of abandonment, and I can certainly agree with the issues explored by Everclear, Papa Roach, Nirvana and others lamenting the breakup of the family as well as the desolation and angst of Generations X, Y and Z.
I can only hope that as the children of these fractured generations (my own included) grow up they will turn back to a traditional family unit that includes both a mother and a father as role models. If the music of our parents was that of abandon, and ours is the music of abandonment, let's hope that the next music generation is that of reconnection and commitment. Unfortunately, I'm kinda doubting it, commitment doesn't really sell. *frown*
--Jason
Below are some quicks hits collected from other Alabama Bloggers:
Over at My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, is a great recap of Delroy Murdock's editorial about the War on Islamofacism in The Union Leader.
Spontaneously Planned and The Irish Geisha are Birmingham, AL area bloggers. See, I read about more than just Space, Politics, and Religion.
Stephanie at Weekly View is upset about the PC crowd turning MERRY CHRISTMAS into Happy Holidays and the like. She's also not too happy with the gaggles of Hollywood-pundits out there.
Ltmr.net is reviewing Xmas Movies. Personally, I didn't think Ocean's Twelve was all that great, but worth seeing anyway. (No permalink on this one, so hit it quick if you need a red state review of Christmas flicks.)
The Crimson Lefty has died. Probably of Pork Rind poisoning.
Carla Jean at Stumbling Through the Lines wanted everyone to know she graduated. But she also has a good post about her Southern Heritage.
Citizen Frank (great blog BTW) is talking about his serendipitous mistake.
Finally, Liberty Flash details discusses the state of Prohibition in Alabama.
Posted by JasonColeman at 4:11 PM | Comments (0)
December 19, 2004
Wha Wha What?!?!?!?
Newsweek is apparently reporting this week that Alberto Gonzales will have a hard time getting confirmed as Attorney General because of memos that he READ shortly after 9/11.
Yep, that's what Michael Isikoff just said on Fox News. The author of the Newsweek piece is criticising Gonzales because he read these memos. NOT BECAUSE HE WROTE THEM, but because HE READ THEM.
I'm flabergasted but I'll wait a bit to truely freak out until I get my hands on a copy of the newsweek article.
--Jason
UPDATE: HERE is the article that Isikoff was referring too. I'm going to have to chalk this one up to grasping at straws by Isikoff in an attempt to shine a negative light on Gonzales. The article refers to an article written by someone under Gonzales examining the Constitution and reporting on what the Presidents powers actually are regarding going to war. This should in NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM affect Gonzales' confirmation. Of course it would make Isikoff dance in the streets if Gonzales were derailed, this moron (Isikoff) has been rooting against our troops, deriding the President and crying "the sky is falling" for months now.
Posted by JasonColeman at 9:18 AM | Comments (0)
December 16, 2004
Quick Shots - Dec. 16th
I've been working on a piece about George Soros, the self-proclaimed defender (huh?) of democracy. However it's not ready yet, so I want to take a moment or two to hit on some little bits that are of interest -- to me.
With all the hoopla about global warming, I find it strange that a bunch of Kiwis got worried about the problems posed from a massive iceberg threatening penguins.
In case you have dropped out of the loop on this one, the Spirit and Opportunity rovers are still hard at work on the surface of Mars, giving us daily reports on our red neighbor. Unfortunately, the demise of Beagle 2 is still a mystery.
It seems the good Mormon, Ken Jennings jumped the gun in a particularly interesting way during his run as Jeopardy champion. (Hat-tip to my sister Adrienne for giving me a few laughs.)
I have a morbid side too, that's why I'm working on my picks for this years Dead Pool.
Date rapists beware!!! Women are catching on to your tactics and turning the tables on you. (No! I'm not googling "date rape" I found this over at Die Puny Humans.)
I feel a bit sorry for Bernard Kerik. Personally I think he'd have been a great choice for Homeland Security Chief. After all, if the guy can keep two mistresses and a wife all at the same time, he's certainly capable of handling multiple security matters at once. Honestly though, we need a kick ass rough and tumble cop heading up this department. I hate to thing we're actually looking at Lieberman for this spot. I just have no confidence in this guy watching our backs, no offense Joe, but you've never been known as the toughest guy on the block, and then there was that whole excommunication thing.
I love reading the Iraqi blogs. Not just the blogs that are talking ABOUT Iraq, but the ones actually written by people IN Iraq. I think it's a good thing to get the the word's "from the camel's mouth" so to speak (Yes, I know that was insensitive, I'm sorry.). But do go check out A Day in Iraq's post about Michael Moore. BTW, Iraq The Model is another great Iraqi blog.
This probably should have gone at the top, but it looks like one the last hurdles has been completed to get the morons over at DU to shut the hell up and accept that they lost. Well, no, I guess they can't accept it, and they don't read the news.
Well, that's what's been on my mind today, and I'd like to give a special thanks to Cambridge Coffee. They've opened up a new store near me and I think I've found a new spot to stop in, coffee up and hit the net for a few minutes. They certainly do a better job that that Seattle outfit.
--Jason
PS, While you're here, please check out a couple of other Alabama bloggers, Geek Girl Blonde and My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy.
Posted by JasonColeman at 3:58 PM | Comments (0)
December 13, 2004
Godspeed, Sean O'Keefe
NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe has resigned. While his tenure has overall been positive for NASA, it's time for new blood to carry us to the stars. Plus, LSU really wants the guy and hopefully they'll get him and pull some R&D research dollars to Baton Rouge. Tigers in space, YAY!!
But seriously, there's a short list of five candidates to replace O'Keefe in the top slot at NASA. First on the list is Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronald Kadish. Kadish has been the champion of the missile shield for the US. I personally support the missile shield development programs, not necessarily because I think N. Korea will start chucking missiles at us, but rather because the program funnels lots of money into rocket research. Rockets may be inefficient, but it's proven technology and provides for heavy lift capacity.
However, I think Kadish may not be the right guy for this job at this time. I think his history with rocket programs may lead to more groupthink at NASA (which we DO NOT need) and focus our efforts on building bigger and better rockets when we need to be building space planes and the space elevator.
Also on the list is Congressman Robert Walker. I like the guy, but again, I don't think he's the right guy for the job at this juncture. The Vice President is really in charge of NASA and I think from that point down we really don't need any more politicians involved. Lets continue down the list.
Ron Sega, Charles Bolden and Robert Crippen are all former shuttle astronauts, and they're the ones that should be most seriously looked at for the top slot. All three have actually been in space, experienced the wonder and excitement of "slipping the bonds of earth" and travelling where few men have gone before. I think that each of these individuals will bring to the agency a sense of wonder and excitement for the future. All three are strong proponents of replacing the ageing space shuttle and all three are anxious to get the ball rolling on finishing the ISS, returning to the Moon and getting a manned mission to Mars.
The downside of putting an astronaut in the captain's chair is that they'll be political novices when it comes to dealing with Capitol Hill and budget matters. They won't be anxious to spend time in Washington lobbying for more funding, they'll be down at the cape pushing the engineers and rocket scientists to solve problems and develop mission profiles.
I would really like to see one of these three make it to the top job, and I'm putting letters in the mail today promoting such, but I fear that politics will win and we'll see Walker get the nod. We'll see.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 4:32 PM | Comments (0)
Carnival!!!!!
The Carnival of the Capitalists is up. Some great reads in there, I'm especially liking this one.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 2:07 PM | Comments (0)
December 12, 2004
Geaux Breaux Geaux!!!!
Democrats should take note. Probably the best chance they have for 2008 to regain the White House is to nominate and truely support John Breaux. The Senator from Louisiana has led an honorable public life. He has a voting record that shows a depth of conviction and a responsibility to public service, and one that's remarkable in the CENTER of the political stream. He bowed out gracefully from the Senate, and even though his son couldn't win his vacated seat, John Breaux left the Senate honorably and with great respect from his constituents.
Breaux is a Democrat that many moderate Republicans can agree with, he's weathered the storms of 7 Presidential Administrations, and has repeatedly been looked at for cabinet positions in Repub. and Dem. administrations. In fact, political commentators often refer to the "John Breaux Era" of bi-partisanship.
He lauds Kennedy and Reagan, he's never had troubles with interns, he's strong enough on defense and he's been a leader when it comes to social policy legislation.
There's one problem. He's from Louisiana. Any politician from Louisiana is going to have a hard time. Louisiana is looked at as one of the most backward of Southern states. It's economy has been in the toilet for decades, the state has a history unparalleled by any other for political corruption and fraud. Let's face it, Louisiana can't even get on board with the rest of the U.S. when it comes to the basic system of law we live under. Yep, Louisiana still adheres to the Napoleonic Code.
Oh, wait? That will appeal nicely to the Francophiles on the Far Left of the political stream.
Look out Hilary, there's another John on the horizon, and he's not the one from N. Carolina.
I should mention that I'm from Louisiana, born and raised in New Orleans, with some time in Alexandria, Covington and other parts of the Pelican State. I should also note that I'm a Republican, but you already knew that. I make note here because I'm biased, I'd like to see another President from Louisiana. The only one we've ever had was Zach, and while he was the "Hero of Buena Vista", his Presidency was lackluster. Well that's not really fair, he died while in office and while the results are inconclusive, the cause of death was probably arsenic poisoning. There's some evidence that he ate a copious amount of iced milk and cherries which may have been contaminated with cholera or typhoid.
Breaux would make me think twice. If it were Breaux versus Guiliani, I'd go with Rudy. However, if it were Breaux versus Frist? I'd probably vote for Breaux.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 4:24 PM | Comments (0)
December 10, 2004
Opening the New Frontier
** Don't forget to listen to the audio clip at the end of this post. **
Lots of movement today in the space exploration arena today. NASA has confirmed that there's a developing food shortage on the International Space Station. The occupants aren't in any danger as of yet, but the provisions have had to be rationed out and if there's a delay in resupply, then come of the astronauts may have to leave early.
It's ironic that this was announced today, or maybe it was planned. The coincidence lies Rep. Dana Rohrabacher's, R-Calif., Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act, or H.R. 5382. The bill has passed both houses and awaits President Bush's signature, there does not appear to be any reason this bill won't pass into law.
The new law opens up the way for commercial entities like Virgin Airways to move forward with their space tourism plans with vechicles like Spaceship One. The oversight for commercial space tourism will reside with the FAA who will protect the public interest for the next 8 years, then in 2012 the FAA will begin to regulate commercial space tourism industry with an eye toward passenger safety.
I like the fact that they're giving the breathing room for the industry to get off the ground, although I agree with the Space Access Society that 8 years may be not long enough for a viable industry to develop.
I'm excited about this legislation. I'm sure that numerous companies will partner with existing space agencies to develop cheaper and cheaper rocketry and space planes. Planes that get bigger and bigger, carrying more people higher and higher.
I'm sure that soon we'll be seeing retrofitted B-52 or maybe even B-1 bomber frames being put out by the large aeronautic giants such as Boeing, Lockheed or Northrop. These large plane will serve as space plane launchers inserting commerical craft into low earth orbit.
Maybe in the coming years we'll see commercial entities bidding on the freight contracts to the ISS and other orbital platforms. Space Hotels are just around the corner.
I support any legislation, companies or governmental agency which works to get humans into space. I think that man has a "NEED" to explore and I firmly believe that only space colonization can distract attention away from the age old passtime we humans share, war.
Yes, that's it, I said it, I firmly believe that colonization of other worlds and the nearer orbital space around with will lead to world peace. Having a place new frontier to explore will allow us to focus outward with an eye toward the future rather than simply sit around and stew in our nationalist, and religious soups. Getting off the rock is a cause to rally around. It's sexy and exciting, and the economic potential is simply astounding. I think that every dollar spent on space exploration will return 100 fold in the near future.
--Jason
While I'm at it, heres a link to a good video clip about George Bush's view on future space exploration.
HERE's a bonus sound clip from SETI, those are the kiddies that are looking for E.T.'s cellphone signal. The audio clip is of an "Anomalous Signal" that SETI and some other researchers are trying to figure out. I've listened to it about 10 times. I'm hoping it's not something like GPS constellation interference or Moonbounce. It's VERY cool nonetheless.
Posted by JasonColeman at 12:28 AM | Comments (0)
December 7, 2004
Karzai's In -
Hamid Karzai is being sworn in as I post this. I'm really proud right now.
I hope that when people look back at this day, they see a turning point in the War on Terror. I hope that they see today as the start of a stable, strong and vital government. One that becomes a shining example of the principles of democracy and a free society. Yeah, that's kinda flowery, but it's how I feel.
I think that today is the start of something new in that area of the world.
--------------------
Overall, it was a pretty good speech by Karzai. He looked good, sounded strong and hit all the high points well.
He wants to set a stage for Afghanistan to succeed. He made positive remarks about Canada and Japan's committment to rebuild Afganistan. He thanked the US and the UN for the generosity. He made good gestures to Afghanistan's neighbors, the Arab world, Greater Middle East and the world at large. This guy's got potential as a leader, that's for sure.
He touched a few times on drugs. Especially the eradication of poppy production. Which reinforces "this post" about agriculture in Afganistan. Developing Afganistan's Agri-Business sector needs to be a major priority. With Western technology, the food output of Afghanistan could be drastically increased (last years Wheat Crop was the best in 20+years). Afghanistan could actually become a significant food exporter for a region that seriously needs it.
I really think that good things will come from Afghanistan. They have resources, if we just help them get at them. They have a labor force, and they have nowhere to go but up. When I think about the tremendous opportunities present for the Afghan today, it's kinda boggling.
Amost anything from this point forward is an improvement over what things were like 6 weeks, months or years ago. They've got the whole world on their side when it comes to economic development. They've got the US as a defensive umbrella, they've got our know how and our money flowing freely into every corner of the society.
And we'll keep up the flow, we'll give them everything they need to succeed, and they will succeed. Hopefully, other nations leaning toward extremism will see the success of Afghanistan and either reform politicially or through revolt and revolution.
A stable Afghanistan leads to a stable Middle East and it's a HUGE success in War on Terror and Muslim extremism.
--Jason
UPDATE: VP Dick Cheney and SecDef Donald Rumsfeld were in attendence for Karzai's swearing in. Way to go guys!!!!
Posted by JasonColeman at 1:31 AM | Comments (2)
December 6, 2004
Chicago Fire
Blogs of War is giving a minute by minute account of an ongoing high-rise fire in Chicago. As of right now, the fire has caused over 25 injuries, with at least a dozen reported as "serious."
The fire has involved several floors, but the roof webcam is still working, for now.
Posted by JasonColeman at 10:24 PM | Comments (0)
Pablo won't go
So here we have Pablo Paredes, a Navy Petty Officer who refused to board his ship today for Iraq. He's claiming that he's been against the war from the beginning, so why did he wait until the last possible minute and make a scene out of the whole thing with his dockside revolt?
Well it's pretty simple if you look at it with an eye to common sense and with a bit of skepticism. Pablo is a coward, and when he was safe and sound in Japan, he felt isolated from it. He didn't mind working on weapons systems, taking his pay and socking away money for college.
However when it came time for Pablo to make good on his committment to the US and each and every one of her citizens. He flaked. He turned yellow. Basically, he been taking advantage of the system and when it caught up to him, he's created a political event to get out of it. I'm sure the media that picks it up will go on and on about how military morale is low and that troops don't want to go over to Iraq to serve.
WELL OF COURSE THEY DON'T WANT TO GO. No soldier "wants" war. But our soldiers and sailors make a committment to protect the US and serve in her military. Their promise and contract with the people is what ensures our way of life. It protects our freedoms and provides for our way of life. Let's forget that most reports form the field acknowledge that morale is actually high.
The nature of the military is that you make a committment and serve it out. This term of service gives us the ability to invest considerable sums in the soldier to prepare to train him or her for the tasks assigned. This isn't just a job people, it's a military, and you simply can't take from the US people and her military in the form of pay and training, and then decide to pick and choose how that training is applied. SO . . .
I'm sorry Pablo, but we won't be sending you to Iraq. Instead, we'll send you here. After all, we've paid Pablo, trained Pablo and depend on Pablo to live up to his promises. If he's not going to do that, then he can pound big rocks into little rocks for a while.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 9:53 PM | Comments (1)
December 4, 2004
Now I'm no prude -- however
I've finally been triggered to talking about indecency on television.
Personally, for me, nothing that could be broadcast over the tele could possibly generate outrage in me. I'm not going to be offended by language, violence, nudity, crassness or even poor taste.
I'm simply going to change the channel, turn off the TV or ignore it while my attention wanders over to something else, like this BLOG.
But I was watching "NewsWatch" on Fox, that's the program where they spend the hour doing the news "about the News." They go back and forth about media events, but it's the end of the show that prompted this rant. During the email segment, someone named Robert had written in and said basically:
at issue isn't the nudity or the activities promoted, but rather the issue is me as a father trying to teach my son to be respectful of women or my daughter to respect herself and her body and to be responsible in their actions, and then to have all of that undermined when we try to sit down and watch a football game
And DAMN, if that just ain't the IT of all this hullabaloo that started with Janet's "Wardrobe Malfunction" and has most recently included the Monday Night Football / Desparate Housewives Promo.
This guy Robert has hit the nail right on the head. It's about choosing your programming and then getting thrown that unexpected curveball. Expecting to sit down with the Family to watch the game and suddenely you're involved in a "Deep Ethical Conversation" with your son or daughter about the events on the screen. If you're any type of good parent you can't just let it slide. You have to address it. If you don't you've given tacit approval to the attitudes of the athelete and actress and there goes all that social programming you're fighting the losing battle on, right out the window. If you do react to it and begin a "family discussion" you've ruined the game and have to on the fly disect and analyze the situation you just saw in an unexpected flash. It's simply unfair for you, the consumer.
Just like with Janets "wardrobe malfunction". I saw that live. I was in a room with many other people, we were all talking about this or that, and no one was really paying attention to the half-time show. But I was angled so that I still had the TV in my field of view and . . . WHAM . . . there it was. I think some liquid may have come out of my nose. No one else in the room saw it. Only me. I knew immediately that it'd be an issue, or was I wrong? Maybe I didn't see it. I'd definately have to check the news later.
AND THAT THE RUB. This is AMBUSH MARKETING, and I don't think we're going to see it go away any time soon. Because it works. Desparate Housewives couldn't have been happier with the free advertising on EVERY network for their Monday Night Football stunt. The NFL, Janet, CBS (it was CBS right?), and even pretty boy accomplice made out pretty well with their half-time stunt too.
That's how AMBUSH MARKETING is going to be from now on.
1. Identify your demographic
2. Insert racy/raunchy/whatever material into unrelated high viewship programming.
3. Wait for the outrage.
4. Feign innocence, misunderstand or just sack the producer with a golden parachute and rehire said producer later.
5. Rake in the viewer and the profits.
I really don't like this tactic with advertising. And I SURE AS HELL didn't like it when Rather used this marketing gimmick in the election with his "false but accurate" reporting. But it seems that the last vestiges of honor and decency are leaving us in group interactions. It's a matter of rudeness, it's a fine example of the lack of respect that media outlets have for their consumers and it's just simply, in the commonest sense, WRONG.
But I don't think we'll see it go away anytime soon.
--Jason
The Internet is a great thing. With a few clicks you get this.
Posted by JasonColeman at 11:01 PM | Comments (0)
December 2, 2004
Battlefield Robotics
The US military is always looking for ways to be a leaner, meaner fighting machine. Most of the superior performance of our war-fighters in the field can be attributed back to our technological edge.
You probably don't think twice about Unmaned Aerial Vechicles when they're mentioned on the news. But in the near future, you can also expect to begin hearing about UGV's, Unmanned Ground Vechicles.
Robots are making tremendous inroads into the ground battlefield environment. The Talon, which has been serving as bomb defusing or ordance disposal robot for years, is now being equipped to carry a grenade launcher and machine gun. The Terminators have arrived.
Also in the development pipeline is the REV or Robotic Extraction Vechicle. This cool unit is essentially a robot ambulance. Safely incased in a light armor shell, the wounded soldiers can be stabilized, then shuttled back to the rear for attention at field hospitals.
John Deere is even working on a version of it's small utility vechicle the Gator for the military. Currently, infantry units are using the small truck/tractors to haul gear. John Deere wants to enable some sort of robotic technology into the M-Gator so that the troops don't have to drive the vehicle. It will just follow the group around and react to information is receives from its sensor array.
Finally, I have to mention the iRobot company. No relation to the movie. These guys make the Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner. Which is a good christmas present for bachelors, BTW. You can buy one here.
But iRobot is also developing the SUGV, otherwise known as The Soldier's Robot. This things being designed to serve as a personal assistant to the individual soldier, serving as a shooting platform, pack mule or outfitted to whatever speciality the soldier needs.
Very cool technology. Of course I get the mixed feelings about taking the Humanity out of war. Will leaders be more willing to start shooting conflicts when their armies are swarms of UAV's and UGV's instead of humans? What happens when war becomes just another video game?
But generally, I support the development course with all these projects. I'm all for keeping our guys overseas in all the gear they need and anything we can do to make their job easier and safer, I'm giving it my full support.
Oh yeah, the Gladiator for the Marine Corps is really cool too.
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 10:46 PM | Comments (0)
