Taking sides on Iraq

Pretty much everyone I know in the U.S. has a strong opinion one way or the other.

I am solidly behind the activities currently taking place in Iraq because while we are far from perfect, we offer the Iraqis much more than Saddam did. Additionally, we have a moral obligation to fight anyone whose modus operandi includes the sawing off of the heads of those they disagree with.

The war in Iraq was the first phase of what will be a long-term war against fundamentalist Islamists who do not value human life. It is a just war, and a necessary war. It will be full of mistakes because it is being run by flawed human beings. However, I think that when it is over millions of lives will be improved.

I have nothing but contempt for all the nonconstructive naysayers. I would tend towards isolationism if it were a realistic methodology, but this world is smaller than it was during the times when isolationism was a viable way to stay uninvolved. The savages know where we are on the global map, and if we don’t go to them, they’ll come to us. I used to think differently, but time and reality have changed my opinion.

Read my friend Stan Pope’s comments on Iraq, they’re well worth it.

Flying with assholes

I fly much more often than I want too. When I’m lucky, I’m on a private plane. I like flying on private planes because I don’t have to worry about the moo cow security hassles and the overabundance of humanity that are both omnipresent in modern American airports.

Last night, I had the privilege of flying with a highly irritating group of corporate America’s finest sales assholes. The group, who was seated about 5 rows behind me, seemed to consist of about six males and two ladies. The ladies had voices that reminded me of metal being dragged against concrete. They spoke at a decibel level loud enough to ensure that the captain’s announcements could not be heard and laughed at their own jokes.

Apparently (and I couldn’t verify this for myself), they had really large mammaries or some other endearing quality, because the male members of their little group would laugh raucously every time they made an overly loud comment. The comments were not funny, and not even interesting. For instance, the conversation centered around boasting about how little they knew about their company infrastructure for a while.

Then they started talking about getting frisky with one another and randomly laughing together at volumes that vastly exceeded the noise of the plane’s engines.

What I wouldn’t have given for a taser and a badge last night. That was one three hour tour I don’t ever want to repeat. Friendly skies my ass.

In Dallas

I’m in Dallas for the weekend, and I’m reminded that I don’t enjoy traveling all that much. It’s tolerable but certainly not appealing, especially when you are traveling on behalf of your employer. Las Colinas, the suburb where I’m at is way too new, way too artificial and way too busy. This place represents the best and worst aspects of what modern America has to offer its citizens.

It feels kind of dead and artificial to me.

They’re not just friends, they’re “porn buddies”

“What is a porn buddy?

Simply put, a porn buddy is someone you meet, late at night, for the exclusive purpose of viewing pornography. “Exclusive” is the key word here. If you have sexual contact with your porn buddy at any time, he or she immediately forfeits special status and becomes a fuck buddy.”

One of the dumbest articles I have ever read is entitled, “A Shoulder to Sigh On” by author Rachel Shukart.

A Shoulder to Sigh On is a wordy paean to the little practiced art of watching porn with a member of the opposite sex, getting turned on and then switching the channel to PBS for Antiques Roadshow. New Yorkers are weird.

Apparently I chose the wrong career

According to this quiz, I should be living the high life as a White House staffer. I’m going to put in my job application via e-mail and let you all know how it turns out.

You are a SRCF–Sober Rational Constructive Follower. This makes you a White House staffer.

You are a tremendous asset to any employer, cool under pressure, productive, and a great communicator. You feel the need to right wrongs, take up slack, mediate disputes and keep the peace. This comes from a secret fear that business can’t go on without you–or worse, that it can.

If you have a weakness, it is your inability to say “no.” While your peers respect you, they find it difficult to resist taking advantage of your positive attitude and eagerness to take on work. You depend on a good manager to keep you from sinking under the weight and burning out.

Of the 80976 people who have taken this quiz since tracking began (8/17/2004), 7.8 % are this type.