As for Iraq, etc., I offer this piece of advice from the late, great, DNA:



[Shortly after it is revealed that the people of the planet Krikkit are out to destroy the universe, and only a group of dedicated individuals (sorely lacking, and in whose stead stand Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, and Slartibartfast)]

"Yes," said Ford, with a sudden and unexpected fireceness, "I've understood it all perfectly well. That's why I want to have as many drinks and dance with as many girls as possible while there are still any left. If everything you've shown us is true . . . "

"True?" Slartibartfast asked, "Of course it's true."

"Then we don't stand a whelk's chance in a supernova."

"A what?" said Arthur sharply again. He had been following the conversation doggedly up to this point, and was keen not to lose the thread now.

"A whelk's chance in a supernova," repeated Ford without losing momentum. "The . . . "

"What's a whelk got to do with a supernova?" said Arthur.

"It doesn't, " said Ford levelly, "stand a chance in one."

[ Insert discussion of whelks, supernovas here ]

"The point is," Ford said, "that people like you and me, Slartibartfast, and Arthur - particularly and especially Arthur - are just dilettanti, eccentrics, layabouts, fartarounds if you like."

Slartibartfast frowned, partly in puzzlement, and partly in umbrage. " . . . "

"We're not obsessed by anything, you see," insisted Ford.

" . . . "

"And that's the deciding factor. We can't win against obsession. They care, we don't. They win."




Also, this may be an interesting insight, from about 40 years back:



"They will kill a great many of us. We will kill a few of them. They will tire of it first."
--Ho Chi Minh, when asked how Vietnam could possibly wage war against the West.

Not that I recall. They are very green there, with extensive recycling programs and a huge gasoline tax that feeds into public transit.

Oh, and You're fired^TM

Whoa... has anyone seen that MiniGo Commercial with he Bear? Messed up...

But hey... I guess the US does get something back for its "investment":

Analysis: US 'emulates' Israeli tactics

US involvement in Israel has always been messed up. Usually the US hands out money and arms for reasons that somehow seem more legitimate than appeasing lobbiests at home. From what I can tell it wasnt always that way... they didnt really get involved with Israel until they started pissing of Arab countries over oil and were looking for some friends in the Middle east. That plus the Soviets decided to support the Arab countries and then it became a good ol' ideological campaign and not just economic. These days the US still hands out unreal amounts of money to Israel... which they use to buy US weapons... which seems more like just giving them the damn things anyways.

So, like you were saying it really does show that US is being partial to Israel. Especially with Bush recently endorsing Sharon's "disengagement plan". I think both the US and Israel do not see a viable, credible Palestinian state forming with Hamas around, seeing as Hamas' goal is the destruction of Israel.

I have to agree with Paras in that blowing the hell out of people is not really a solution. I can try and understand why they make the decisions they do... but I really cant understand the hatred fueling the whole thing. I guess thats one of the plus's of growing up in Canada. I dunno... I wish the the UN and international community would become more involved.

Anyways here's the Balfour Document... a tiny letter which is said to have really spurred on the Zionist movement. Most people note that no where does it say that Israel is going to get its own "state".


Foreign Office
November 2nd, 1917

Dear Lord Rothschild,

I have much pleasure in conveying to you. on behalf of His Majesty's Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet:

His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.

I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation.

Yours,
Arthur James Balfour

hey Par, when you were in Germany, did you see a lot of these around?

Well, Ed, while I do agree that it would've been nice to have seen that article about Canada's environmental losses written by a Canadian, or with a Canadian perspective, it's good to get an outsider's viewpoint too. This guy has been living in Canada and travelling in Canada for years, so he knows something about what's going on too. It's not like he just picked up a report and wrote his own review. It's also nice to get that outside opinion instead of all the regional breakdowns or the greenwashing done by our governments/industries. Just something to help us put our attitudes into perspective.

It's like thinking Canada's multiculturalism is kickass, and that there are no race problems here, when, after listening to Stephen Lewis speak on the treatment of our native peoples, you know that it's definitely not the case. There's always an upside and a downside to other opinions, but I think we need to hear more of them. It'll give us a more balanced idea of what's really going on.

McDonald's CEO dies of apparent heart attack
Last Updated Mon, 19 Apr 2004 16:03:21

http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/04/19/business/mcdonalds_040417

Please, for Dave's sake (wendy's) don't make any unruly Big Mac jokes.

oh yeah, i'm not in any disagreement that these tactics are viable to Israelis' (and clearly not viable to Palestinians), nor that Israelis don't have a vested interest in looking out for themselves. i do however take offense to the one sided and hypocritical criticism coming from the United States concerning Palestinian support of "terrorist" activities when what the Israelis engage in is no less internationally illegitimate. further more, correct me if i'm wrong but the state of Israel does not produce its own helicopters no? the question becomes who is profitting from these means of "security" ? but it should be little wonder that the United States has nothing to say about the attacks, they are after all the number one supporter of Pre-Emptive assult. in no means should my statement about "muthafuckin helicopters" be taken to mean that i support terrorist/suicide bombings. i do personally deplore such actions. i also deplore the state of desparateness imparted on a person who considers this the only option. let's look at facts: 1) suicide bombings are a "relatively" recent phenomenon, whereas United States supported Zionism in the form of weapons and arms has been there from the beginning (post wwII) 2) looks to me judging by these types of assassinations that the Israelis are holding all the cards when it comes to negotiations. both sides obviously have a vested interest to maintain, but it seems to me one side has more means than the other- which means it comes more down to them what ends up being done.

Edo's weekend in review


• "challenge Israel to take concrete steps to support the emergence of a viable, credible Palestinian state"
  
  Maybe using muthafuckin' helicopters to blow the shit out of Hammas Leaders actually does seem viable to the Israelis seeing as they are looking out for themselves as well.
  
  
• edmontonjournal.com
  
  I used to go to this site daily. Then they reformated everything and the site looks like ass. Not only that, but they charge money for it now. Maybe it had something to do with me laughing at the guy on the phone when he tried to get me to subscribe to the Edmonton Journal. I told him I read it everyday online for free.
  
  
• Hamas is the only hope now for Palestine... Any way you look at it, the Palestinians are fucked. And the murder of Zionist pricks, however tragic, at least evens the score...
  
  Whoa... score?? teams? players? offense? play-offs? collectors cards?
  
  
• Canada uses more energy than the entire continent of Africa every day.
  
  Go Canada! Sorry, just kidding. Or rather j/k. It was an interesting article... too bad it was American (or just not Canadian) otherwise it might have touched on some of the politics behind some of the causes of the problems.
  
  
• ROTJRG
  
  Return of the Jedi... Really good? I'd like to think so.