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12/17/2006 "Evil is the root of all money"!!!!In the tradition of all mindless populist catchphrases, the phrase "money is the root of all evil" stands out
due to its popularity. However, like most things economic, when you dig beneath the surface,
the truths in the subject are sometimes counter-intuitive, which of course the various brands of leftists
never ever understand (or care to). I thought it prudent to include the following amusing letter to FT (Financial Times)
How do you think the economist on board FT's editorial space answered? Or instead, how would YOU respond to the phrase if muttered in your presence? Suffice it to say I'm ashamed to think that I probably would have brushed it aside with an intellectually inconsiderate "Yup" even while thinking otherwise, because frankly "who cares" is a valid objection and so is trying to not sound pretentious and pompous. Anyway, lets just get to the economist's response.
Sweet, isn't it? 9/30/2006 the Israel Lobby (a.k.a. Mindless Conspiracism) For the intellectually bankrupt, morally repugnant, or hopelessly naive lot who believe in the lie that is the Israel Lobby (furthered by Walt and Mearsheimer's 'paper'), here is a devastating and easily understood, logical critique of one mentioned point : Israeli influence over the Iraq war: http://www.geocities.com/martinkramerorg... Martin Kramer needs to replace people who are entirely enamored with a 'Flat World' (yes, Mr. Freidman, you earn from your mediocrity) and flout spaces in esteemed national dailies. 8/19/2006 Zionists control the media, Don'tcha Knowww??? We infidels are inherently stupid, according to the Qur'an (literally we are "men who do not know"). Therefore we must believe everything that Muslim spokesmen and 'intellectuals' tell us as talking heads on CNN, MSNBC, BBC, etc. Since infidel stupidity is quite axiomatic, we do not need to be explained to, the reasons of our self-deception. Or perhaps, you see, its the Evil Zionist Designs ®© that have befuddled our senses, fooled our perceptions and have non-locally transformed a gentle Muslim gentleman treating infidels into a murdering ululating sociopath on the news.
According to recent polls, most famously, the one conducted by MSNBC, Americans' perception of Islam is the lowest it has ever been. Talking heads on the telly naturally gathered around this rather exotically strange and unexplanable development and informed their proletariat (that is, we the people) that this was indeed an alarming trend that must be curbed. They, in their majestic wisdom arrived upon the delectable truth that this development was most certainly the cause of the images media throws upon the wretched racist redneck masses of the evil Infidelistan that is the US. So, you see, its the media's fault. Don't they know that showing ululating psychopaths chant the kalimah (La ilaha il Allah, va Muhammad'un Rasool Ullah -- There's no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his Prophet) and behead infidels in some hinterland of civilization will fuel negative perceptions of The Great Noble Religion of Peace © ?!? How could they be so irresponsible so as to show things as they are?!? Folks, that is the question we seek the answer to in this post. So, you see, folks, they could be so irresponsible as they are controlled by the Vast Right Wing Neocon Zionist Redneck Racist Apartheid Nazis © These sub-humans are so wretched that they would show decent peace-loving Muslims as terrorists! You see Reuters was started by a Jewish man Paul Julius Reuter, hence its part of the the conspiracy. But wait....the fact that Reuters - a reputed newswire agency let blatantly amateurish doctored photos from Lebanon pass through the wire, even though a cursory glance by a competent photo editor would have caught the fraud skews our analysis doesn't it? Even though established by an international, usurious Jew, why would a member of the said conspiracy want to skewer world opinion against the Zionist Entity (Israel) ? Perhaps. But, if you are one who followed the trail of logical thought from the above analysis, you are part of the Zionist Enemy Number One, wallahi!! Why, you ask!?! I'll tell you why! As Arab Media has shown us, the sneaky, clever Zionists had used Reuters to doctor the photo to turn opinion against the Zionist Entity so that they could expose it and hence discredit all the atrocities that they have committed upon the helpless Lebanese and Palestinian souls! AHA! gotcha now, didnt they!?!?
*Sigh* I wish I was making this up.
To those who don't get it -- I hope you trip on a landmine.
Signing Out! 6/16/2006 Ministry of Love, Truth, and JusticeIt appears that the isles of those stiff-upper lipped Anglo-Saxons have not learned their lessons from 7/7 or the Cartoon Jihad demonstrators threatening genocide and destruction on the British populace. The latest from The Guardian:
Public policy these days, to put it mildly has 'gone to the wolves.' The biggest hole in the cruiseliner of democracy is spitting fountains up to starboard but alas, the captain and crew are blind or too worried about icebergs. As we have repeatedly seen, the so-called 'religious leaders' in the Muslim community are at the forefront of fomenting hatred against Infidel host societies. One wonders who these 'selected British Muslims' might be and who decides upon who these will be. If the likes of Inayat Bunglawala are chosen, it does infidels' confidence in their security apparatus no good.
I'm in no mood for commenting any further on the dhimmi policies of the Labour Government. The following comment by the poster 'Jesus Christ Supercop' in DhimmiWatch puts it all in perspective.
CAUTION: Must not be read with drinks in mouth. Spillage probable and this blog cannot take any responsibility if such results ensue.
Simply Brilliant! 3/23/2006 Cartoons and Political Labels'Bigoted provocations,''Fascistic intolerance,' etc, etc.
We live in a global village (yes I'm as cliched as they come). This is not so much a village due to anything but technology. If there weren't hi-def satellite transmissions of the most unworthy pieces of 'news,' there would not be a global 'village' to speak of. Which makes sense when discussing the whole Mohammad cartoon fiasco. Initially I had settled for siding with the proponents of freedom of speech as there was massive hysteria on the other side. However, now its time to ummm, analyze and scratch beneath the (yes thats right -- another cliche coming up) surface.
Ever since the advent of communists, common labels became hopelessly skewed. These included -- reactionary, progressive, right-wing, left-wing, and in India, communalism, etc. etc. Communists have over the decades perfected the art of ad hominem and a lot of other pseudo-intellectuals have borrowed their technique and used it to great avail. For the lazy masses hurling about in their modern-day mental drones consisting of layers of work, finances, work, children, and finances, this technique gets great results. This is because the faculty of critical thinking required an ever-acute eye for propagandistic rhetoric and verbiage and I believe people frankly don't have the time or the interest in following public debates on issues critically as a lot of it does not affect their lives directly. So in effect, if someone like Robert Spencer tries to open a debate on the 'real' causes of terrorism around the world today and how they might have something to do with core Islamic traditions, Ward Churchill and company will hurl the previously-mentioned labels the first time and in effect disparage Mr. Spencer's credibility. This might have nothing to do with the argument Mr. Spencer might make. It has all to do with circumabulating the real debate and instead hurl abuses to stay in power. This is exactly the sort of thing Romila Thapar, Irfan Habib and other 'eminent' historians in the Marxist academic halls of India do to defend their lousy outmoded so-called 'scholarship'.
So why did I mention all of the above? Simple reason: political correctness. It is the epidemic plaguing serious discussion today. Those who do not adhere to this monstrosity borne out of good intentions are labelled fascists and right-wing nuts instantly. It is a fact that people calling themselves 'liberal' or 'left-wingers' usually adhere to the scriptural doctrine of political correctness more than the so-called 'conservatives' or 'right-wingers'. This is not to say that all conservatives are free from the clutches of this dogma either. But the real point is the harm that this dogma causes in obfuscating open and honest debate. This is a top-down trickling of ideas. It's sort of common knowledge that a Middle American and a common man in India holds onto opinions and views that cannot be deemed 'politically correct', but often the ideology is forced from the top-down by media giants like Times and India Today.
So in purview of the above, if we were to see through the looking-glass (yes more cliches thank you), we would see an enormous amount of obfuscation and rhetoric on the issue of the Mohammad cartoons. It's true that the hysteria of the Muslim mobs was maddening and truly condemnable. But why exactly did it take them 5 months or more to put up their demonstrations? What purpose did it serve? Why did the Iranian nuclear issue get hidden in the process? One would find out from our great friend Google, that the Danish imam Achmed Abu Laban who went on a tour of the Middle East to publicize the issue of the cartoons after the Jyllands-Posten refused to apologize, carried in his portfolio the 12 original illustrations and also 3 fake ones which were way more offensive. He spread bile and vile propaganda against the Danish people and spread victimology. He wailed to the Egyptians about how being a Muslim is inviting harassment and persecution in Denmark. It is also said that at the Islamic summit at Makkah of the OIC was set the agenda of pursuing the agitation against Denmark to dilute the Iranian nuclear issue and to disparage Denmark's reputation which was to get a seat at the rotating temporary UN Security Council.
So began the campaign. Embassies were burnt, flags were torched, effigies of Western leaders were trampled and torn, Jihadi slogans were screamed out loud. Amid all the hysteria people naturally took sides. Some took to the freedom of speech argument, while mostly Muslims and some so-called liberals pursued the argument about 'responsibility' to be exercised while speaking freely. These people were, of course, an hour late and a dollar short as they were absent during the Piss Christ and other such controversies. So naturally people saw the hypocrisy. However, some of the commentators questioned the events and realised that it was all planned rage by the dictatorships of the Middle East and by tinfoil hat logic stated that we should not provide 'fuel' to the Middle Eastern tyrannies to use their people for political purposes. Absurd, indeed.
Among all the verbiage and sloganeering, I asked myself the above questions and arrived at various answers. SO yes, there was a conspiracy afoot. Yes, freedom of speech is absolute when it comes to mocking religious figures. Yes, there should be 'responsibility' in exercising freedom of speech but not when disparaging religious figures. Yes, indeed the hysterical murderous Muslim mobs were incited by the dictatorships. But, one must stop and ask how is it that these people are so easily provoked over cartoons? They say its cos Mohammad is a very respected and deeply loved character to them. They say Mohammad was the perfect man, he was merciful and peaceful. NOW WAIT A MINUTE....to show that Mohammad was a peaceful man you are committing arson, vandalism, murder and calling to genocide. We have to say that Islam is a religion of peace or we are to be killed. Is this 1984 yet or what!?! Orwell would be smiling in his grave (rather meekly). Who exactly are the fascists and racists? The people calling for genocide and mayhem and terrorism in the name of avenging cartoons or the cartoonists? Even that specious organisation - the United Nations had to get involved. A political poster of UN is posted here later. The UN Human Rights Commissioner takes time off from petty everday things like the genocide in Darfur or massive starvation in the rest of Africa or the unrest in Haiti and religious persecution in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and instead issues a strong worded statement to the effect of condemning Denmark. I know why Bush put John Bolton in there!
The racists, bigots, and fascists were calling the people questioning their behavior racists, bigots and fascists. It does NOT get more Orwellian than this. And within this devious and pathetic development, the establishment of political correctness served as the oxygen in a combustion keeping the false flickers of victimhood and grievance alive. All the while, the broker at Wall Street or the banker at HSBC or the grocer down the street doesn't give a fart and arrives at the conclusion that both sides must be equally responsible.
Conclussion: get rid of political labels...or use them carefully and if you know your argument is based on sound logic and facts, ignore ad hominem and rally on with it.
3/2/2006 Brilliant Piece in NY SUNThis article in the NY Sun takes the words out of my mouth (mind?)
Please have a read! 2/4/2006 TOLERANCE AND PEACE!!! WONDERFUL!A crime against logic
Deconstructing the protesters' message :
Say that Islam is a religion of peace....or you should be beheaded.
Now thaaaaat makes logical sense, eh?
PS - Updated....now THAT is my favorite cartoon!
Courtesy: http://thestudyofrevenge.blogspot.com 2/2/2006 Response to Reema!OOOh...Reeema! Whats up?
Yes interesting points but I beg to differ on your relativism. When Bibles and Gitas are shred in Saudi airports not one Muslim in the world raises his voice for a boycott. Hell Saudi, Egypt, Palestinians get hundreds of millions of dollars in aid from the US and EU.
Ever heard of Theo Van Gogh, Reema? He was murdered by a Moroccan Muslim immigrant in daylight on the streets of Amsterdam for making a 'blasphemous' movie about treatment of women in Islam. While in 80% Hindu India painting Saraswati nude and Durga humping a tiger gets a few streetlamps broken. Oh and not just that...do lookup on him mentioning the Prophet in some poetic verse and being threatened by Muslim organisations in India. Following that, he immediately apologized and retracted his Urdu (I think) verses. Not only that his works are showcased in Europe. It may not be 'nice' to publish those cartoons...but remember they do have the right to do it. Dont you even remember horrible cartoons in Arab news everyday depicting Jews as nazis?? I do not believe in moral relativism.
Remember my point is that there is full freedom of speech to 'blaspheme' in a modern secular society. Death threats and bullying are like temper tantrums thrown by a spoilt 5-yr old. In the modern world, you MUST and I repeat MUST be able to take an occassional snide remark and pictorial satire or perish with the world laughing at your temper tantrums.
You mention something about 'constructive' criticism. True but you simply cannot force people to come up with constructive criticism. Everybody can never toe a line. It should never be that way.
Piss Christ also was not the only 'blaspheming' thing. There are thousands of 'blasphemous' articles to christianity all over. In Denmark itself...a particular brand of jeans has a logo with an inverted cross...the owner of the company himself voiced the opinion along the lines ...Christianity is evil. There were no death threats or boycotts by the Danes.
My apologies for the factual error relating the award of Hussain and the paintings in a causality. But the point remains...he's alive, well...painting and has never apologized...were there death threats??
Also, I hope you are aware that in Islamic law, deriding the Prophet is a capital offence and a death sentence must be carried out on the offender. So the death threats make sense and I sure as expected them to make some.
1/31/2006 Support Freedom of Speech....buy Arla Food products!Alright.
So I had thought I would keep politics out of this pathetic little blog. But this issue enrages me like no other. I'm a very strong adherent of the principle of Freedom of Speech and Expression. I realise also that when it comes to securing a nation there is a minor clause for 'sedition' or 'encouragement of violence and war against the nation' which is criminalized speech.
But never, ever should religious 'sentiments' be given respect so as to put freedom of speech at peril. Case in point: Denmark's newspaper Jyllands-Posten published 12 cartoons of the Muslim Prophet Mohammad after a Danish author received death threats for trying to include a sketch of Mohammad in his book on 'Prophets' which included Jesus, Moses, et all.
No sooner that the cartoons were published, ambassadors of OIC (Organisation of Islamic Conference) which has 56 member countries wanted an audience with the Danish PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen to demand an apology for Jyllands-Posten's publications. What followed was more hysteria and mind-numbing silence from the self-professed crusaders of 'freedom of speech' across US and Europe. No one came to Jyllands-Posten or Denmark's help as Muslims as far across the world as Kashmir in India burned Danish flags and burned effigies to demand apologies from the country's government! Since then the cartoonists are living under security protection and many death threats have been released towards them.
The OIC then outrageously enough while not commenting on the Genocide in Darfur took up the matter of the cartoons to the UN Human Rights Commission. Human Rights Commission for cartoons??? You gotta be ^$^@*^@ kidding me. There are all sorts of perverse and sickeningly brutal acts of violence and mayhem being committed in the world and the UN Human rights Commissioner asks the newspaper to apologize for publishing cartoons!??! What is this some sort of sick joke!??!
It doesn't seem to end there. The Danish PM refused audience. The next move by the OIC was a call for boycott of all Danish products in the Middle East. Effectively, the biggest exporter of food products from Denmark to the middle east - Arla Foods Inc. was boycotted. Many Danish employees have been thrown out of ME countries and Arla Foods products have been removed from big supermarkets all over the Middle East.
Oh, the mania doesn't end there. As of late, Danish employees have reportedly been beaten up in Saudi.
All for what?? Let's remember: cartoons.
Let's take two other cases to contrast the Muslim response to satirical critique.
Now let me clarify my stand. Even though I may be offended with Hussain's paintings, I will debate to the end his right to paint them. It is absolutely unconscionable that these works be censored for fear of 'hurting religious sentiments'. Muslims claim that in Islam any pictoral depiction of the Prophet is banned and hence this is an outrage against Islam. Well, so be it. Do I give a damn??? Why should any non-Muslim give a damn? NO ONE should be saved from occassional satire and ridicule especially when Islamic terrorist rides the high waves of news reports of the day. I do agree that some restraint should be shown ethically to be respectful of people's identities. But ideologies (which include religions) should never be exempt from critical examination.
Please support Denmark and buy Arla Foods Inc. to support freedom of speech. It will be a lot more meaningful than debating the philosophy of 'The Matrix'. Let's defeat intimidation and bullying to defend what 10s of generations have struggled to achieve - Freedom of Speech and Expression. Here is a list of Arla Foods products in USA. Please consider switching to them when you do your grocery shopping! 1/24/2006 Idiot Management Theory So the other day (or so the story goes...) I was in Linear Algebra class. It was the first day of class. The material being taught was pretty much what I'd done many times in 12th grade in high school. It was getting really boring due to the repetitiveness of the professor. I dozed off for approximately 6 mins and when I woke up, he was explaining the same concept as when I dozed off.
Annoyed as hell, I was just going to doze off again when this kid who was always asking questions asked another one when the professor was discussion n-dimensional real space -- "How can there be more than 3 dimensions?." I was just shell-shocked. How can such people even reach a 300-level university Math course?!?!?!? How did they get through Differential Equations, Calculus 1, 2 and 3?!?!? What the hell is going on? We seem to be in a need of idiot-filter.
As for those who have already penetrated and passed through the system, I propose a idiot-management theory. All professors should have a handy list of responses prepared for the dumb questions. These can include statements like "I think it was covered in calc 3...you can check the book" while maintaining a inquisitive look. 11/4/2005 Unification Theory of Life?!?I was dozing off in Psych 101 class today when I suddenly heard the magical word "sex". Yes the topic was sex and it naturally jolted me awake to listen to whatever the professor had to teach us college kids. Then came the part about hormones acting as "switches" to literally "turn on and off" the sex drive. I remember reading in WIRED mag how a lifetime circuit analyst picked up a genetics textbook and found a plethora of information on genes that struck him as very analogous to circuit behavior. The point of all this is what?? I guess what I'm trying to say is that maybe there is a universal unification theory not just for quantum mechanics and general relativity (read string theory n beyond) but for all existence. I know the conclusion is very far flung from the premises that I have hereby laid down, but I would delve into 'em if I didn't feel like a geek enough already.
Which brings me to another point. Since when did it become 'cool' to not know something? I've always mused over the 'cool' culture among teenagers and college kids. Having a depth or breadth of knowledge automatically earns one the ever-ready labels of "geek", "nerd", etc.
Ah well
screw
Adios 9/7/2005 Differential Equations??
4/8/2005 My Research Paper dueAfter some introspective contemplation, I have envisaged a new hobby. Alright alright I can hear you moan and cry. I'll do away with the big words. Happy now? yeah now...as I was saying...after some deep thinking, I've decided to start my own blog. Admitted, I don't have much time needed to keep it updated regularly but I think it will help me with my writing skills (and of course to take out my frustrations on the web). So here's to a long and arduous journey! (I know no one's reading)
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