tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56838612011-04-21T20:07:12.758-05:00rambling onme ranting about random thingsBenjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.comBlogger1751100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1158792682950702812006-09-20T17:47:00.000-05:002006-11-07T00:24:06.116-06:00Pictures of MiamiMiami BeachNot so tasty restaurant in Miami BeachI think this vulture wants to kill me...Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1158786378457891672006-09-20T15:55:00.000-05:002006-09-20T16:06:18.470-05:00School is back in sessionI don't know why I haven't written here since March. Certainly, plenty of things have happened that were worth writing about. I suppose I just haven't felt like sharing. Of course, it is a wonder who I am sharing with. Random internet user? Unlikely. Someone I know? More likely. But you've probably given up on this page. You've now figured that I won't update again. But, Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1141855690948398652006-03-08T15:54:00.000-06:002006-07-22T19:20:47.220-05:00The Axioms of BusinessEveryone is replaceable. I can't remember how many times I've been told this. It is most certainly, not true. You can get someone else to do the job...but people are not replaceable. I'm not going to go into how we are all unique snowflakes, or any of that sentimental crap - but all have our unique qualities. Just because you can get Bob to do the job that Jen used to do, Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1138321073022018072006-01-26T18:11:00.000-06:002006-01-26T18:17:53.033-06:00Student Protest At GeorgetownWith polls showing the public evenly split about the eavesdropping program, Gonzales - like Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney before him - said in his speech that he welcomed a "worthy debate" over the limits of presidential power. More than two dozen students in the audience turned their backs on Gonzales and stood stone-faced before live television cameras for theBenjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1138212091775553502006-01-25T11:58:00.000-06:002006-01-25T12:01:31.786-06:0013 Things That Do Not Make SenseWhy is there a placebo effect, what is dark matter, why is the universe expanding? These an other puzzles are examined by the New Scientist.DON'T try this at home. Several times a day, for several days, you induce pain in someone. You control the pain with morphine until the final day of the experiment, when you replace the morphine with saline solution. Guess whatBenjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1138071145945030492006-01-23T20:26:00.000-06:002006-01-23T20:52:26.013-06:00Did you know that your search queries are plastered on the walls at google. Does that scare you? Maybe it should. Some liken search engine queries akin to looking up something in the dictionary, or the encyclopedia - not something that you would want to necessarily share with anyone. I already wrote about how the government wants a bunch of search query information for their anti-porn law. But Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1137703698537084872006-01-19T14:27:00.000-06:002006-01-20T20:37:10.143-06:00Bush wants to know what you google'dThe Bush administration on Wednesday asked a federal judge to order Google to turn over a broad range of material from its closely guarded databases.The move is part of a government effort to revive an Internet child protection law struck down two years ago by the U.S. Supreme Court. The law was meant to punish online pornography sites that make their content Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1137608861088464172006-01-18T12:09:00.000-06:002006-01-19T01:29:23.543-06:00AgatraAgatra is basically a password store, keeping all of your passwords accessible by a single logon. It will also log you into quite a few sites automatically. Most of you, I hope, would be apprehensive to plug all your usernames and passwords into some random website. You should be. On the front page it says: Can I trust Agatra with all my passwords?Agatra uses a block cypher encryption Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1137384036130228112006-01-15T21:50:00.000-06:002006-01-15T22:00:40.610-06:00Bears get Toasted 29 to 21Wow. What a disapointment this game was. First the positives: Thomas Jones is a great running back. There is no doubt he is underrated in this league. I'm really glad we have him on our team. Rex Grossman actually had a good game, despite his 41 attempts. His preformance for most of the first half was pretty bad...but after he settled in he was hitting them left and Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1136571175235520192006-01-06T12:10:00.000-06:002006-03-12T16:32:15.523-06:00I was looking for info today about Cubtial/Carpal Tunnel and RSI and I found this website. His experiences are very similar to mine. Text reproduced below for your convience.NEW HOPE FOR RSI SUFFERERS? My Experience with Alternative Therapy (Part 1)Jack Bellis, bellisj@iscg.com After three years of coping with a repetitive strain injury, including elbow surgery, I've begun a new course of therapyBenjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1136332306121997102006-01-03T17:43:00.000-06:002006-01-05T18:43:47.596-06:00The Whole Hiring Thing Cont...Some of you may have previously read about my experience in hiring an IT worker. It may seem obvious to some: but hiring is tough. It's really hard to determine if person a can do job x better versus person b. We gave tests. Perhaps the tests were a little too tough...as all the canidates struggled a little with them. Here are a few of the (brain teaser) questions I Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1135097758604902912005-12-20T10:47:00.000-06:002005-12-30T18:37:31.560-06:00Finally, sense has returned to PennsylvaniaA Judge in Pennsylvania declared that teaching intelligent design in highschool is unconstitutional. The judge saw through their thinly veiled arguments for ID:"We find that the secular purposes claimed by the Board amount to a pretext for the Board's real purpose, which was to promote religion in the public school classroom," he wrote in his 139-page Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1135008739884346622005-12-19T10:00:00.000-06:002005-12-19T10:12:19.926-06:00"Third World lives are worth much less than the European lives."For anyone who's studied history or read any books by/about Winston Churchill, you'll know what this means. It was the mindset of colonialism. Sadly, it is still the mindset today. I watched a film earlier this year, "The Constant Gardener," about an activist that discovers pharmicetial companies are using the poor in Africa to test Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1134578339573266992005-12-14T10:27:00.000-06:002005-12-18T16:13:30.363-06:00The whole hiring thingHiring is a pain in the ass. I posted job openings on monster.com and craigslist. The monster posting being a mistake. You would not believe how many people from outside the state, and outside the country are applying! The commute from Saudi Arabia would be hell! I'd say about 90% of the applicants didn't even read the job posting and applied for the job they wanted, not theBenjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1134061855552297002005-12-08T10:33:00.000-06:002005-12-08T11:10:55.620-06:00Computers are stupidNow this is obvious to anyone who has spent anytime studying computer science. There is nothing intelligent about computers - they just do exactly as they're told (most of the time but we won't get into hardware level anomalies at the moment). In any case, the thorn in my side - my pain - my pet peeve, if you will - is automated telephone systems. They're terrible. They're Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1133984959810890972005-12-07T13:36:00.000-06:002005-12-07T13:49:19.846-06:00Cubital tunnel--- no more?So I had another nerve conduction study a few weeks ago. I was sorta surprised by the results. Apparently, I do not have any nerve damage. So that begs the question: Did I ever have nerve damage...or has it healed itself? Sadly, my arms, wrists, elbows, and fingers still hurt and ache - but I am thankful for the lack of nerve damage.I cancelled all my appointments with Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1132098294210060402005-11-15T17:27:00.000-06:002005-11-15T17:44:54.280-06:00Common DreamsI've noticed in talking with a few of my friends that there seem to be quite a few common dreams. I'm well aware that this is nothing new - there is many books on the subject.I was telling my friend about this recurring dream that I have from time to time. I'll dream that I have a class for school that I have forgotten to go to for months. Of course I get all upset at how could I Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1131670285653754522005-11-10T18:50:00.000-06:002005-11-10T18:51:25.663-06:00Now For Something Fair and BalancedWow.Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1131657857178236852005-11-10T11:46:00.000-06:002005-11-10T15:24:17.243-06:00Kansas rewrites the definition of science (I'm serious.)In addition, the board rewrote the definition of science, so that it is no longer limited to the search for natural explanations of phenomena.What? You've gotta be kidding. Kansas can now determine what science is? I feel sorry for anyone being taught in a Kansas school. I guess some colleges will accept them. So science can now have Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1131525503576476682005-11-09T02:32:00.000-06:002005-11-09T02:41:48.650-06:00Hope.That's what this is all about:The parents of a Palestinian boy killed by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank have donated his organs for use in Israel, in the hope of promoting peace.Twelve-year-old Ahmed Ismail Khatib was shot in the town of Jenin by troops who mistook his toy gun for a real one.His organs were transplanted into five Israeli children and a woman aged 58.His father, Ismail, Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1131414786329805172005-11-07T19:52:00.000-06:002005-11-07T19:53:06.340-06:00The Daily Show Investigates whether or not gay marriage has ruined Massachusetts.Hilarious.Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1131257437106608902005-11-06T00:05:00.000-06:002005-11-06T00:24:27.773-06:00It seems McCain is determined to make his bill pass:Speaking from the Senate floor, McCain said, “If necessary -- and I sincerely hope it is not -- I and the co-sponsors of this amendment will seek to add it to every piece of important legislation voted on in the Senate until the will of a substantial bipartisan majority in both houses of Congress prevails,” McCain said on the Senate floor. “Let Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1131256881820182022005-11-05T23:51:00.000-06:002005-11-06T00:01:21.830-06:00Cheney wants the CIA to be excepted from torture ban. WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney made an unusual personal appeal to Republican senators this week to allow CIA exemptions to a proposed ban on the torture of terror suspects in U.S. custody, according to participants in a closed-door session.Cheney told his audience the United States doesn't engage in torture, these participants added,Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1131256266627581542005-11-05T23:49:00.000-06:002005-11-05T23:51:06.626-06:00You know what's awesome? No one buying hummers. They lay unbought, like in this picture. More here.Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1131256146391531932005-11-05T23:45:00.000-06:002005-11-05T23:49:06.400-06:00Good Night, and Good LuckI just returned from seeing George Clooney's new movie "Good Night and Good Luck." It tells the interesting story of Edward R. Murrow versus Senator Joseph McCarthy, during the 1950's. Murrow was one of the few reporters to publicly speak out against McCarthy. It was a dangerous time for people to criticize McCarthy's tactics, as they would be branded communists as well. Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1131052292051451972005-11-03T15:08:00.000-06:002005-11-03T15:20:41.583-06:00Sony's Rootkit. Sony has finally crossed the line with their Digital Rights Management.Some more info here.This should be enough to start a class-action lawsuit against Sony - any takers?And here's one of their idiot developers asking for help on writing a cd driver filter.For those who don't know - a rootkit is commonly used by hackers to hide files on your computer so they can later exploit it Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1131048733051714642005-11-03T13:49:00.000-06:002005-11-03T14:12:13.126-06:00"Are you proud of me? Can I quit now? Can I go home?" - Michael Brown, FEMA director in the midst of the Katrina disaster. You can read more of his emails here.Rep. Charlie Melancon, whose district south of New Orleans was devastated by the hurricane, posted a sampling of e-mails written by Federal Emergency Management chief Michael Brown on his Web site on Wednesday.The lawmaker cited several Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1130875880216610632005-11-01T13:57:00.000-06:002005-11-01T14:11:20.296-06:00America is becoming Anti-ScienceYou know things are bad when one of the worst science jobs in this country is a science teacher in Kansas. "The evolution debate is consuming almost everything we do," says Brad Williamson, a 30-year science veteran at suburban Olathe East High School and a past president of the National Association of Biology Teachers. "It's politicized the classroom. Parents Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1130795285872253762005-10-31T15:41:00.000-06:002005-10-31T15:48:05.873-06:00Japan To Edit its Constitution (Not so Pacifist anymore?)In a new agreement with the United States, Japan is to take more responsibility for its defense. During the American occupation following the second World War the US co-wrote a constitution for Japan - one that renounced war and embraced pacifism.As stated in the Japanese Constitution:Article 9:Aspiring sincerely to an international peace Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1130629986224285222005-10-29T18:48:00.000-05:002005-10-29T18:53:06.233-05:00SickMaybe I'm coming down with the bird flu!? Hehe, probably not. But either way I'm getting my ass kicked this last week by something. I think its on its way out though. I haven't really slept in 4 days. Nyquil doesn't seem to have any effect, either. Oh well.White Sox World SeriesNow that the White Sox have decisvely won the World Series, I expect hell to freeze over and flesh eating zombies toBenjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1129839177080151012005-10-20T15:01:00.000-05:002005-10-20T15:12:57.130-05:00Pittsburgh not ready for full-scale Zombie Attack: The OnionThe Key:"When it comes to defending ourselves against an army of reanimated human corpses, the officials in charge have fallen asleep at the wheel," Murphy said. "Who's in charge of sweep-and-burn missions to clear out infected areas? Who's going to guard the cemeteries at night? If zombies were to arrive in the city tomorrow, we'd all Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1129567960244097372005-10-17T11:45:00.000-05:002005-10-17T11:52:40.253-05:00Scheuer accepts that targets were tortured both before and after 9/11. “I have no doubt about it,” he says. “You’d think I’m an ass if I said nobody was tortured. There was more of a willingness in the White House to turn a blind eye to the legal niceties than within the CIA. The Agency always knew it would be left holding the baby for this one.”With all this torture, do we get any useful Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1129524008664124912005-10-16T23:00:00.000-05:002005-10-16T23:40:08.740-05:00I get by with a little help from my friends Grandmother is in the hospital today. Hopefully she'll be alright. I don't think she's been taking well to not having my grandfather around. She's often mentioned that she no longer has a purpose in her life. It's hard to listen to your grandmother talk like that. I don't think optimism runs in my family, which is too bad. I'm convinced my grandfather Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1129099966231420702005-10-12T01:52:00.000-05:002005-10-26T17:13:53.216-05:00Another late nightEmma, originally uploaded by benjamini.Emma says hi. And I say good night, sir!Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1128977281428633322005-10-10T15:41:00.000-05:002005-10-10T15:52:09.496-05:00I'm so angry right now, I just got finished reading this:The man in overall charge was Major General Geoffrey Miller, a slight but self-confident Texan in his late fifties. He was later sent to Iraq to make recommendations on improving intelligence collection at Abu Ghraib prison in the months before it became infamous for the maltreatment of its inmates.If there was trouble with the prisoners, Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1128616032397064342005-10-06T11:25:00.000-05:002005-10-06T11:27:12.403-05:00Iran, EU, China wrestle for control of the InternetI really don't like the idea of China, or Iran having any say about how things work on the internet. The only thing that the US really has control of is the Root DNS servers, although these are technically controlled by a private company, ICANN. DNS is what resolves the names that we use (i.e. www.google.com) to their internet address (Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1128540636835113702005-10-05T14:29:00.000-05:002005-10-05T16:07:42.036-05:00British going in too:Britain has accused Iran of responsibility for explosions which have caused the deaths of all eight UK soldiers killed in Iraq this year. A senior British official, briefing correspondents in London, blamed Iranian Revolutionary Guards.Thanks to John for the connection.Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1128528301505128252005-10-05T11:02:00.000-05:002005-10-05T11:05:01.510-05:00Iran is NextAccording to the Calcutta Telegraph:Top-ranking Americans have told equally top-ranking Indians in recent weeks that the US has plans to invade Iran before Bush’s term ends. In 2002, a year before the US invaded Iraq, high-ranking Americans had similarly shared their definitive vision of a post-Saddam Iraq, making it clear that they would change the regime in Baghdad.On the last day Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1128445273965533082005-10-04T12:00:00.000-05:002005-10-04T12:01:13.973-05:00Maybe you should check out my photo gallery from Japan!Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1128396565319165222005-10-03T22:01:00.000-05:002005-10-03T22:29:25.406-05:00Well, I'm currently barred from playing guitar, but I figure I can post one of my songs that I was working on for you to listen to. It's unfinished (well as finished as anything I do!), but I think it sounds pretty good. I was working on the lead and drums for 2nd section, I guess it will have to wait.Well here it is:September.mp3Last month John and I went to Fermi lab to watch the "The Sting," Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1128104787407447142005-09-30T13:04:00.000-05:002005-09-30T13:26:27.460-05:00Doc's OrdersI have a new doctor. She seems nice enough. She sort of speaks musically - it's interesting. Anyhow, so she has ordered me to not work on the computer for more than 6 hours a day, taking 5 minute stretch breaks after each hour. I gave the note to my boss yesterday, which went surprisingly well. I also have to sleep on my back now, with my arms outstretched. This turning out to be Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1126312865191010002005-09-09T19:34:00.000-05:002005-09-09T19:41:05.196-05:00Getting Life In OrderI mentioned to someone once that life after college is "difficult to manage." It's like a fulltime job to deal with all the bills cleaning the place you live, etc. Instead of dealing with it, I had been ignoring the problem - well not completely - but for the most part.I'm by no measure out of debt - but I'm getting a lot closer than I ever was for sure.My biggest frustrationBenjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1126130698549287972005-09-07T16:33:00.000-05:002005-09-07T17:04:58.586-05:00Multiple SclerosisA few months ago I was going for physical therapy at Edwards Hospital in Naperville. I had the great pleasure of having a very attractive physical therapist. A nice looking woman who had roots in India. In any case, it was sort of an odd joy going to physical therapy, even if it was painful. After a few visits, we got along pretty well.On my third or fourth visit (and my last, Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1124147229738912282005-08-15T17:44:00.000-05:002005-08-15T18:07:09.746-05:00Triple Phase Bone ScanThat's what I had done to me last Thursday. Of all the tests that have been performed on me, this one wasn't too bad. Just a lot of sitting still when a giant machine is an inch from your face.I think I'm burned out at this job. I'm pretty sure that this place is evil. Or at least helping evil survive in some sort of fashion. Either way, I'm feeling none-too-happy about it. Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1121984947767066502005-07-21T17:16:00.000-05:002005-07-21T17:29:07.776-05:00These are prayers that the monks have hung around the sacred tree at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. The Emperor Meiji and his wife were enshrined here in 1920, after his death in 1912. Meiji was one of the most important Emperors in Japan's history as he was principally involved in the 'modernization' of Japan. This modernization was forced by the United States when Commodore Mathew Perry took 4 Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1121672136989508662005-07-18T02:33:00.000-05:002005-07-18T02:36:30.346-05:00I think now i'm sure that I am truly lost.But I've been up all night thinking and well here's the song i'm currently working on.Its called ichi-go. Japanese for "one time"Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1121644684209334942005-07-17T18:43:00.000-05:002005-07-17T18:58:04.216-05:00This is the Kinkaku-Ji (Golden Pavillion). There isn't quite anything like just sitting in a Japanese garden. There isn't anything quit e as serenely beautiful. I know it's something that I'll forever miss when I'm not there. This is one of the most famous places in Japan, and especially in Kyoto. It was built in 1397, and was burnt down by a crazy monk in 1950. Kyoto was one of the orginal Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1121643456402548532005-07-17T18:02:00.000-05:002005-07-17T18:37:36.430-05:00Well I've been asked on many occasions two questions: When are you posting pictures of your trip? And did I meet any cute girls. Well, I suppose I'll discuss both now. This picture was taken from one of the art studios in Kyoto-Seiko University in Kyoto City, Japan. We were visiting to take a look at their art program, specifically they're computer art. However, I was more interested in their Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1119535565418167532005-06-23T09:04:00.000-05:002005-06-23T09:06:05.420-05:00Here is me at a mini-shrine at the hotel in Tokyo!Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1119534747564998482005-06-23T08:43:00.000-05:002005-06-23T08:52:27.573-05:00Im in an internet cafe in Kyoto. It is a little hard to type cause it wants to auto-insert a bunch of Kanji! Which I really dont know and Im sure that you dont either!Anyhow, im sad that my trip is about up.But Ill leave you with some stories.We were in Shiboya district of Tokyo (Tokyo is HUGE btw). This is where are the teenagers hang out and shop and what not. We at this McDonalds-like Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1118988292947551142005-06-17T01:00:00.000-05:002005-06-17T01:04:52.953-05:00Japan.Leaving today in about 10 hours. I'm a little nervous-tired. Trying to stay up as long as I can so that when I get on the plane I'll just pass out. I really, really don't want to spend 18 hours on a plane.but we'll see.I won't have my phone, but if you wanna talk to me you can email me at my gmail account....I've got some stories about Miami/Florida, but maybe another time.Cya in 10 days.Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1117517899093555412005-05-31T00:31:00.000-05:002005-05-31T00:38:19.106-05:00jesus doesn't hear me drowning in the sea i've felt it before and I always swore i wouldn't let it in but here it is again lurking beside me haunting me i want you to know i'll not give ini think she's there to save mebut she doesn't believethe stars always spoke to meshe always found a reason to leavejust another wishi'd dream about those eyes againand you'd never let me inbut it Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1117209512837883082005-05-27T10:54:00.000-05:002005-05-27T11:19:42.216-05:00 Government Wants to See You Naked Get ready for electronic portals known as backscatters, expected to be tested at a handful of airports this year, that use X-ray imaging technology to allow a screener to scan a body. And yes, the body image is detailed. Let's not be coy here, ladies and gentlemen: "Well, you'll see basically everything," said Bill Scannell, a privacy advocate and Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1116908324297896282005-05-23T23:18:00.000-05:002005-05-23T23:18:44.303-05:00you'll save meyet still i don't believethis is how it all startswith no starsjust the black skyi could be blindbut how would i tell?i dont know me as wellas i'd hoped you couldyou'll forget meyet you still don't speak to meshould I have told you?maybe i just didn't noticeas you grinded my heartinside those teethbut its a good startBenjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1115827101574852172005-05-11T10:43:00.000-05:002005-05-11T10:58:21.666-05:00The Secretary of Homeland Security Can Murder At Will And the Real Id Act (or how I learned to hate the Congress of the United States).This according to a law that the Senate passed 100 to 0.Section 102(c) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 … is amended to read as follows: “(c) Waiver. — “(1) In general. — Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1115090825489117582005-05-02T22:20:00.000-05:002005-05-02T22:27:05.490-05:00Bad week and its only Monday. So my grandfather is in the hospital...they're not sure what it is but they think its cancer in the lungs pretty far gone...ironic since he hasn't smoke like 25 years. I guess life always catches up with you, eh? My mother is a mess apparently, popping pills and driving the hospital staff nuts, in fact they asked her to leave. So she drove home at like 3am only to Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1114754747178074012005-04-29T01:02:00.000-05:002005-04-29T01:05:47.180-05:00So I'm up late working on a song. Wanna hear? I finally figure out this new recording program which lets me do a bunch of things - like mix audio a lot more easily.This isn't finished yet - in fact barely started.Appreciate the comments as usual!Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1114065360660789532005-04-21T01:09:00.000-05:002005-04-21T01:36:00.660-05:00I Want A Famous FaceI'm not even sure what to feel about this show. I saw it on MTV tonight, this girl Kelly wanted a makeover to look like Jennifer Aniston. So she had liposuction, nosejob, boobjob, and god knows what else to make her look like her.Honestly, I'm rather speechless about the whole thing. The first thing that came to mind was what a waste of money it was - the $23,000 spent on her Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1113582789327338212005-04-15T11:18:00.000-05:002005-04-15T11:33:09.330-05:00This won't be news to most of you - the collusion of government and corporations to screw the general populace of the United States under the guise of protecting them.Such things include: Unencrpyted RFID tags in your passports. RFID is a chip that transmits information when it comes in close proximity of a reader (10-30 meters). The chip will contain your personal information that someone could Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1113203441112559852005-04-11T01:54:00.000-05:002005-04-11T02:10:41.113-05:00I don't know why I'm still up. I still look at the phone wishing to hear from you, to say the words I know I won't hear. I still want to believe in it all, I still want the dream to be true, but everyday that passes it fades farther way - further out of reach - or maybe it just feels like it? It feels like the walls of my heart being torn down piece by piece.A revised version of one of my songs. Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1112982150702001692005-04-08T12:37:00.000-05:002005-04-08T12:42:30.703-05:00Something just occured to me. Maybe I was wrong about this war with Iraq. Suppose all of the nations in the middle east actually believed the propaganda that the president speaks, and want the US to take down their governments - would we even do it? Could we even do it? Or is this another Bush I with Iraq - an empty promise - we'll leave them out to die.If Bush is sincere he has to help them - Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1112937864591938432005-04-08T00:24:00.000-05:002005-04-08T00:24:24.593-05:00Well, here I am working late again, not sure why. I got confirmation that I was accepted to the DePaul overseas program, so looks like I will be heading to Japan if everything else goes through.I've been thinking a lot about someone lately. Sometimes its hard to get something out of my mind. I was caught off guard by a few phone calls, unsure what to say - so much I wanted to say - so much that Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1112742024215428972005-04-05T17:55:00.000-05:002005-04-05T18:00:24.216-05:00WEP (Wireless Encryption Protocol) has been hacked for quite a while. Well, apparently the feds learned how to hack it too.Wireless networks are easily the easiest way to remain anonymous. Want to break into the Department of Defense without getting caught? Just hitch a ride on someone's wireless network...It would be nearly impossible for anyone to ever trace you (if you took enough smart Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1112740791481246292005-04-05T17:31:00.000-05:002005-04-05T17:54:31.016-05:00So I've been asked to update, multiple times. Apparently people read this stuff :).Lately, I've just been feeling both angry and sad, for various reasons. Well, I try to make my music but my brother always wants me to turn it off, I sort of snapped at him. Oh well. I think I'll buy an extension cord so I can use my headphones, I hope that will be a sufficient compromise.So I've been wearing the Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1112044895003560632005-03-28T15:14:00.000-06:002005-03-28T15:21:35.003-06:00This is going to be a hard post to type, now with only one working hand. It sort of feels like my tendons are on fire. I'm here at work again, although i dont know why, since I can barely do anything. I must admit this is rather depressing, feel pretty useless. I wonder how it got this bad? How did i not notice?Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1111878738979381502005-03-26T17:07:00.000-06:002005-03-26T17:12:18.983-06:00It seems every passing month and year brings new challenges.Earlier, this thursday, I started experiencing some pain in my right hand/wrist, with shooting pains up my arms - so much so I had to leave work. Looks like I'll be visiting the doctor on tuesday, so I don't know what the problem is yet, but it sure sounds like "carpal tunnel," which be no good. Heh, I was told several times these past Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1111558505833326042005-03-22T23:53:00.001-06:002005-03-23T00:15:05.836-06:00To live in America, is to never cease to be amazed.A highschool student in Minnesota shot dead 9 people yesterday. That got second billing to Terri Shiavo. You know I think I figured out why there is so much coverage of her. People stopped watching the war, and the media needed something else to get excited about between their reports of the Jackson trial and death counts from Iraq. So here we goBenjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1110653073455159442005-03-12T12:41:00.000-06:002005-03-12T12:44:33.456-06:00So a miracle happened - I found a away to get the money! It looks like I'm going to Japan now!! I'm really excited. I'm going home today to get my birth certificate. I'll be sure to let the few of you that actually read this know what happens when I leave. So, I wonder if it's going to be a problem that I don't know how my official name is spelled? I might have to get my name changed, or my Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1110396933003687162005-03-09T13:32:00.000-06:002005-03-09T13:43:22.450-06:00Anyone want to loan me three grand? I'd forever be in your debt...This looks like so much fun...I've always wanted to go to Japan...so much. But the trip is a little expensive. I've emailed a couple people hoping that they can help me out here, but I'm sure they can round up enough people without me...So if there is anyone rich, or just wants to donate to me 3000$ US, I'd forever be in your debt!Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1110351062008579472005-03-09T00:40:00.000-06:002005-03-09T01:05:53.010-06:00My friend got fired on last Friday. No one was quite expecting it. I guess I know I'm not boss-type material. I don't know that I could fire anyone. She's probably better off, cause I'm sure she could find herself a better job. I feel sort of bad, cause I had actually suggested they hire someone else. I suppose it worked out better this way...I did get everything turned in at school, despite my Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1110240407009084212005-03-07T17:57:00.000-06:002005-03-07T18:06:47.013-06:00What a weekend. Nothing like non-stop work and homework to drain you. So I started on Thursday worked from 5 until 2am, then went to work at 9am, then worked until 2am, then worked saturday until 4am, and finally finished on Sunday at 12:30. Now this last assignment had to be turned in by hand to the instructor. So I would have to drive to DePaul in the loop and drop this thing off. On my way Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1109488366459928842005-02-26T23:48:00.000-06:002005-03-01T20:58:23.803-06:00I meant to write more this past week, but I've been uninspired. Actually, that's not entirely true. Perhaps just relectant.Anyhow, past week was better than the one before. Work, work, work, seems to be my calling lately. I start to worry about all the time I spend in front of glowing boxes like computers and televisions. Living my life in this virtual reality. I spend at least 40% of that time Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1108623168994598222005-02-17T00:45:00.000-06:002005-02-17T00:52:48.996-06:00Here is one of my latest songs. Although at a 1:20 its kind of pushing it to call it a song...This was the first song that I used my ebow on. You can hear it kick in the second measure. It's this little device you use instead of pick to get infinite sustain.I'm currently try to think of words for the song, but it certainly comes from a place that I think I can describe. It's sort of that feeling Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1108530017877734062005-02-15T22:50:00.000-06:002005-02-15T23:00:17.880-06:00I was bored and thinking too much so I picked a random book off my shelf to read. It happened to be a familiar one: "The Teachings of Rumi." I had gotten it as a gift, but it had made me sad to see the book on my desk. So there it sat on the shelf for the past few months.Anyhow, the irony of the first line of the poem, where I had left my book mark: "Love has robbed me of sleep; that is what loveBenjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1108508911032520332005-02-15T16:56:00.000-06:002005-02-15T17:10:05.100-06:00Over the course of the last several years I think I've developed some kind of anxiety disorder. A lot of it seemed related to the 'relationship' I was in which was - complicated to say the least. (PS I'm not blaming anyone! Just a statement of fact...) Everyday brought something new and complex, And I never knew what to expect around the corner - slowly making me paranoid and constantly nervous. Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1108396278490776782005-02-14T09:46:00.000-06:002005-02-14T10:00:56.440-06:00Watch out for the love police..... The Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, Saudi Arabia's powerful religious vigilantes, have banned shops from selling any red flowers in the run-up to February 14.I'm sorry but this is the height of ridiculousness!Are people moral when they are forced and coerced into acting moral? Would it not be more moral if they were moral because ofBenjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1108360042494398482005-02-13T23:32:00.000-06:002005-02-13T23:47:22.496-06:00The torture continues...Bush continues to deny what is now obviously true: The United States deports suspected terrorists to place like Pakistan to have the tortured in horrible ways: Mr. Habib said that when he refused to confess to being part of a 1995 terror plot, one man turned on the current. He lifted his feet to avoid the shock, he recalled, and he was suspended from the wall. "I Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1108233580424997472005-02-12T11:40:00.000-06:002005-02-12T12:39:40.426-06:00I think last night I figured out for sure that bars aren't the place for me. I went to go meet someone at this place called cactus on state street in chicago. I felt like a foreigner in a different land. Well, maybe that's because I didn't know anyone, and she seemed to know everyone. The whole night was sort of surreal.We talked at the bar a bit, about her cooking (which is apparently Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1108139206891207402005-02-11T10:25:00.000-06:002005-02-11T10:26:46.893-06:00The Outsourcing of Torture:On January 27th, President Bush, in an interview with the Times, assured the world that “torture is never acceptable, nor do we hand over people to countries that do torture.” Maher Arar, a Canadian engineer who was born in Syria, was surprised to learn of Bush’s statement. Two and a half years ago, American officials, suspecting Arar of being a terrorist, apprehended Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1108137283377393392005-02-11T09:15:00.000-06:002005-02-11T09:54:43.376-06:00Waking up early sucks. Now, I think just about everyone thinks that. I hear the alarm ring, over and over. I just lay there, hoping its a dream and not my real alarm. Then I roll over and shut it off, trying to get the will power to get out of my bed.Apparently, there was a Fake Reporter with a Fake New in the Whitehouse Press Corps. How'd this happen? The Secret Service does background checks onBenjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1108069438211357252005-02-10T14:30:00.000-06:002005-02-10T15:03:58.210-06:00Been way too long since I've lasted updated.
There's been an election in Iraq, a presidential inauguration, senate confirmation hearings....more terrorist attacks! Oh yeah, North Korea says it has Nukes.
So basically - more of the same. Except for the election of course. Seems to be quite a concern all of a sudden that the elected government of Iraq may end up like Iran - that is an islamic Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1106292645753638422005-01-21T01:16:00.000-06:002005-01-21T01:33:33.090-06:00
Suicide and the Golden Gate Bridge...
My dad used to be the Chief Engineer for the Golden Gate Bridge back in the '80s, and one of his duties was to walk and inspect the bridge regularly. This played havoc with his vertigo when he had to walk up the main cables to the top of the bridge, but that's neither here nor there.
The first suicide he came across was simply sitting on the railing, Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1105026548885899302005-01-06T09:46:00.000-06:002006-11-09T12:01:56.816-06:00Abolish the FCC.
I'm for the abolishment as long as the media consolidation rules stay in effect. (Which they should now that it was an act of congress that upheld them).
The only thing that the FCC does now is censor our television and radio - uselessly by bleeping out words that we already know what they said. And by fining stations that accidently have curse words or show a nipple! It's Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1104966019933189002005-01-05T16:53:00.000-06:002005-01-05T17:00:19.933-06:00An interesting article about Theo Van Gogh's murder:
Some choice quotes:
In the week following the murder, politicians showed signs of panic. The justice minister, Piet Hein Donner, who is a Calvinist of the old school, suggested that a rather archaic law against blasphemy should be applied, something that had not been done since 1966, when the novelist Gerard van het Reve was prosecuted for Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1104963825352350252005-01-05T16:19:00.000-06:002005-01-05T16:23:45.353-06:00If you can, you should donate for the tsunami relief.
I donated to Care...as they seem a reasonably able.
Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1104868241123969602005-01-04T13:40:00.000-06:002005-01-04T13:50:41.123-06:00I've been pretty sick lately. I've had a cold followed up by something by which I'll save you the description. I'm going to go get a test tonight, for other things. Maybe I'll explain that later.
Lately, just feeling like all the colors have been drained out of my life. Not depressed so much as just...numb and cold to everything. I think I dislike that feeling more than being sad.
Although, i Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1104112201586239062004-12-26T15:55:00.000-06:002004-12-26T19:50:01.586-06:00The worst disaster I've ever heard of....
At least 11,000 dead in India, and Indonesia.
From the BBC:
My family and I are residents of a seaside village called Muttukadu, about 30 kms. south of the Marina Beach at Madras, India. This morning just before the Tsunami struck (most unexpectedly since the sky was blue, calm waters, no clouds, no tell tales signs of disaster in the pipe line) we Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1103439888743744992004-12-19T01:04:00.000-06:002004-12-19T01:04:48.743-06:00fallen dreams don't remember where they're going
the last was the snow falling
it melts away revealing what was always there
never really alive but love lies near
to her heart, she always knew
the sounds that dance for you
Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1102610751574842162004-12-09T10:42:00.000-06:002004-12-09T10:45:51.573-06:00Will it ever end?
Schoolgirl bomber? The charges allege that Captain R fired two rounds at her from close range after Iman had initially been shot close to the watchtower. He then began to walk away, before turning around and firing at her again. Witnesses have claimed that he emptied the magazine of his rifle into the girl's body. "According to the evidence, the officer Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1101280276273139792004-11-24T01:09:00.000-06:002004-11-24T01:11:16.273-06:00faithless angel dives alone,
lost but right at home
rythmless angel on a roll,
smiles and hides what she stole.
she knows the song,
but the words are gone
she can only feel them all
through her fingertips, fall's
leaves always find you
no matter which way throughBenjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1100808769994584632004-11-18T14:11:00.000-06:002004-11-18T14:12:49.996-06:00Robot cockroaches:
IT behaves like a cockroach. It smells like a cockroach. It is accepted by other cockroaches.
But it is not a cockroach. It is a robot and scientists say its invention is a breakthrough in mankind's struggle to control the animal kingdom. The robot, InsBot, developed by researchers in France, Belgium and Switzerland, is capable of infiltrating a group of cockroaches, Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1100236386469056032004-11-11T23:11:00.000-06:002004-11-11T23:13:06.470-06:00An interesting read on why the current voting systems do not work...
Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1099983513009486582004-11-09T01:13:00.000-06:002004-11-09T00:58:33.010-06:00
Global Warming is here to stay. I may be one of the few that believe this, but the most important issue facing the world today is the global climate change. Terrorists and Nations won't have anything to fight for if we're all drowning in sea water, or freezing to death.
I don't understand how Global Warming has become a political issue - it is science, and the science proves that this planet Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1099818582720321972004-11-07T02:49:00.000-06:002004-11-07T03:09:42.720-06:00An Imperfect Unity
All that we are - the very atoms of our body - came from this universe as matter expelled from ancient stars. So we are all made of stars. I used to tell a friend of mine that she was a star, because she was made of them. I think she just wanted to be a star on television though - she did get that wish partially granted as well!
So in a sense we are all the same - made from Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1099124524647973482004-10-30T02:41:00.000-05:002004-10-30T03:23:16.233-05:00Funny how Bin Laden appears just in time for the US presidential election.
If it is real - it proves that Bush has failed us. That his prosecution of the war against Iraq was a distraction from the real danger - another attack by the terrorists on the US.
In the tape, Bin Laden speaks directly to the camera in a quiet, calm
voice, making small gestures with his right hand. He appears in good Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1099047657301158942004-10-29T05:28:00.002-05:002004-10-29T06:00:57.303-05:00Great. The terrorists now tell us they don't want Bush or Cheney in power. That really sucks. Couldn't they have asked "please no no no, not kerry!". No, they dont want Bush - which means he'll probably be elected. I mean, it nearly makes me want to vote for Bush, the thought of those idiot terrorists attempting to change the outcome of our election.
I don't think who's in power will matter muchBenjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1099008525652145862004-10-28T18:37:00.000-05:002004-10-28T19:08:45.653-05:00Is there a Difference between human rights and another nation's "way of life."
Are the basic human rights (such as freedom speech and religion), not universal? Should they be?
One such issue, for Turkey, is adultery. Turkey would like to be admitted to the EU (for some reason), and one of the requirements was that they dropped a law against adultery. The EU can, of course, make any admittance Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1098775241759546012004-10-26T02:00:00.000-05:002004-10-26T02:20:41.760-05:00
For those who don't know and random strangers that read this depth of solitude, i got accepted into DePaul for graduate school for Computer Science, although I do wonder if this is what I want to do....and in a way it isn't.
What do I want to do? In a word: everything.
This was the problem that presented itself to me at the end of high school. There isn't any one thing, and the more i live Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1097708185462447922004-10-13T17:53:00.000-05:002004-10-13T17:56:25.463-05:0017 seconds of compassion
17 seconds of peace
17 seconds to remember love is the energy behind which all is created
17 seconds to remember all that is good
17 seconds to forget all your hurt and pain
17 seconds of faith
17 seconds to trust you again
17 seconds of radiance
17 seconds to send a prayer up
17 seconds is all you really need"17", Billy Corgan/The Smashing Pumpkins
Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5683861.post-1097628530709672092004-10-12T19:27:00.000-05:002004-10-12T19:48:50.710-05:00well, I've had better weeks...
But it's time to make the rounds on the internet.
You can participate in round-the-clock praying for the president for the 3rd debate! Considering how well the President performed in the 1st and 2nd debates...he may need the help.
I think that when a man pours coffee on a little girl cause she accidently sprayed him with her soda, that this whole world is Benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04613903256666163823noreply@blogger.com1