Category: Politics & government

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[127] Of overrating, drilling and Alaska

Currently, two unexpected teams are running up high in Big Ten basketball Conference, attaining the first and the second rung at the Big Ten Conference respectively. Iowa and Michigan are proving that rating is nothing without performance. Currently, both are not rated. Even the highly rated Illinois is trying to find some firm ground to step on.

thought we suck but I guess the others suck more but frankly, I think Michigan is a pretender but we’ll see sooner or later whether I’m right or wrong. I don’t know about Iowa though but for Illinois, like what USC said to Notre Dame, ‘OVERRATED!’

Now, lets move on to a more serious matter.

The Republicans are trying to pursue permission from the Senate to drill Alaska all out.

Alaska is the last frontier state. Wilderness roams free here and there with minimum Human interference. The only city that I know exists in Alaska is Anchorage and the size is pathetically small relative to some other continental cities.

Being the last frontier means a backwater state without much development. Nevertheless, what makes Alaska in the spotlight is its oil and gas reserve. According to statistics, there is about 6 to 13 billion barrels worth of crude oil. Of course that figure looks big, especially for Bush. Unfortunately, comparatively, that figure is nothing and would only provide the US energy worth only for a very short term. For comparison, the UK has 15 billions barrel of crude oil. Imagine, 15 billion barrels for so small an area. Now, imagine, the possibility of 6 billion barrels worth of crude oil scattered all over Alaska – it’s simply defined-stupidity to dig up an area with the size of Alaska for such a small supply. Check this out if you don’t trust me on the figures.

For the Greens and to whole lots of other people minus Bush and his allies, it doesn’t make any sense to dig up the whole Alaskan soil just for an oil supply worth perhaps not even a decade. In addition, there are a lot more in Texas after years of digging. Why does Bush need to dig more?

One could that the world is currently facing oil supply shortage. The current situation in Venezuela and Iraq doesn’t help in engaging the problem. But again, the problems in Venezuela and Iraq are caused by the US itself.

In my opinion, just let the OPEC nations increase their production rate. There is no need to kill Alaska just for the sake of oil.

Bush, you suck, period.

p/s – below is one of the best posts I’ve ever read in a forum. It’s short but it makes sense. The post concerns the first Israeli in space.

Human idiots
by: claudiagiraffe (F/Orlando) 01/19/03 08:09 am
Msg: 2763 of 2776
7 recommendations

Why do these new astronauts insist on taking earthly problems into space? Space should be the new frontier, not just one more place to use for someone’s personal agenda.
That he’s an Israeli shouldn’t even be news. All that should matter is that he’s an astronaut.
At least he’s focused enough on his job that he forgot about his attention-getting little show for now. Too bad he didn’t get up there and realize what a fool he’s being and see that some things are bigger than what humans do on earth.

Categories
Humor Politics & government

[124] Of the President gives his two cents about Michigan’s case

Bush has just announced White House’s opinion on University of Michigan’s case. He is against affirmative action, or seems like it.

Bush is a polluter. So, seeing his popularity going down is good.

At the same time, the Democrat’s presidential candidate for 2005 is a Michigan graduate.

What an interesting coincidence.

Nevertheless, from my point of view, affirmative action is wrong. Affirmative action is simply a way of fighting one wrong with another wrong; much like realpolitik. Concerning Malaysia’s affirmative action, well, that’s a different case. It is simply the rights of the Malay. Whatever but here is a joke on Bush that I found while reading a forum concerning Bush’s stance on the issue. Enjoy but if you are a Republican, sorry for being too harsh.

I’m a Green remember?

Anyway, enjoy:

While visiting England, George W. Bush is invited to tea with the Queen. He asks her what her leadership philosophy is. She says that it is to surround herself with intelligent people. He asks how she knows if they’re intelligent.”I do so by asking them the right questions,” says the Queen. “Allow me to demonstrate.”

She phones Tony Blair and says, “Mr. Prime Minister. Please answer this question: Your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or sister. Who is it?”

Tony Blair responds, “It’s me, ma’am.”

“Correct. Thank you and good-bye, sir,” says the Queen. She hangs up and says, “Did you get that, Mr. Bush?”

“Yes ma’am. Thanks a lot. I’ll definitely be using that!”

Upon returning to Washington, he decides he’d better put the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to the test. He summons Jesse Helms to the White House and says, “Senator Helms, I wonder if you can answer a question for me.”

“Why, of course, sir. What’s on your mind?”

“Uh, your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother or your sister. Who is it?”

Helms hems and haws and finally asks, “Can I think about it and get back to you?” Bush agrees, and Helms leaves. He immediately calls a meeting of other senior senators, and they puzzle over the question for several hours, but nobody can come up with an answer. Finally, in desperation, Helms calls Colin Powell at the State Department and explains his problem.

“Now look here Colin Powell, your mother has a child, and your father has a child, and this child is not your brother, or your sister. Who is it?” Powell answers immediately, “It’s me, of course, you dumb ass.”

Much relieved, Helms rushes back to the White House and exclaims, “I know the answer, sir! I know who it is! It’s Colin Powell!” And Bush replies in disgust, “Wrong, you dumb ass, It’s Tony Blair!”

Categories
Politics & government

[105] Of war on terror

Who says there’s no adventure in today’s life

I am one of those persons who are in love with history, especially about war. Nevertheless, falling in love with history of wars doesn’t make me to be a nasty person who demands war each and every time chance crosses my path (like Bush). In fact, learning the dates and the factors that started wars makes me falling more and more in love of peace and hence, in the end, resulting me more or less believing in the Green doctrine.

Certainly, the tall tells in ancient battles inspire most of us to a new height. The Peloponessian War, the Napoleon War, the Second World War and lot of others gave birth to many changes. The Peloponessian War were important to the ancient Greek, The Napoleon War redrew the European border drastically and the WWII foreseen the end of Imperialism. War is important but going through it is not very pleasing.

As you guys have predicted, this argument brings us to the present time.

The current war against terrorism seems to have taken a new twist. It started the 11th day of September 2001. It was a day that shocked not just America, but also the very foundation of the world as we now see. Immediately after that fateful day, America declared a war against Afghanistan and quickly overran the Afghan authority without much problem. Later, President George W. Bush declared the members of a so-called Axis of Evil. Now, the war maniac is threatening to topple Saddam Hussein.

The war against terrorism has brought us a new concept of fighting a war. A conventional war will involved at least two entities, two countries with defined borders, much like the Vietnam War or the Korean War. That kind of war has significantly decreased due to United Nations’ Charter that prevents any country from invading another country. Unfortunately, the war of terrorism is a subtler war. It is impossible to declare a war against an enemy that does not have a defined border. Moreover, the enemy is ever hiding in the modern world.

The problem of trying to identify and eliminate terrorism has brought some countries, the US in particular, seeking a revision of the United Nations’ Charter. The main change that they are demanding is the permission to commit pre-emptive strike. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that pre-emptive strike goes directly against the very values that the United Nations is built upon. The world doesn’t need Winston Churchill to rally itself against this suggestion save the US.

The latest advocate of pre-emptive doctrine is the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard. His words agitated Australia’s neighbors and strong words had already been exchanged between Australia and four of ASEAN main members. As usual, the only one that kept his mouth quiet was Singapore.

Although I believe the four ASEAN leaders have overreacted over their Australian counterpart comment, nevertheless the development is interesting. Leaders of the four countries made strong statements but Dr. Mahathir had gone one step further by saying it will be an act of war if Australia’s force set its foot on Malaysian’s soil.

Imagine a war where Australia is up against combine might of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. The war will surely hurt the world economy by bringing the most dynamic economies to a standstill. In addition, the Japanese economy will be dragged down even deeper because Japan in one way or another relies on ASEAN’s economy performance. A downward trend on the Japanese shore in turn will bring the already in recession American economy to a worse condition.

If the war came to a reality of which I doubt will, certainly there will some other war here and there and finally bringing a collapse to the United Nations. Iraq on the other hand might exercise its might and Al-Qaida without doubt will be seeking revenge. Russia will step up its authority in Chechnya, war will be omnipresent in Afghanistan, trouble might arise in the Korean Peninsula, Pakistan and India will surely be against each other, and Israel goes without saying. In other word, the Third World War.

Unbelievable but hey, I was arrested by the state police for throwing a snowball.

Categories
Politics & government

[93] Of criticizing the government of Malaysia

Out of rare events, this entry will criticize the Government of Malaysia.

I am one of the persons who believe that the current Government of Malaysia is doing the right thing for the country. Barisan Nasional or the National Front if you may has been in power since Malaysia achieved its independence back in 1957. In fact, it has monopolized the country’s politics even during the pre-independence period.

After all those years, they have brought a lot of improvement the country. They drove the country from a backwater third world nation to a technological savvy one. No doubt, the local populace needs to be thankful.

However, currently the top leaders in Malaysia are engaging immature political maneuvers. I could not believe what kind of craps they are doing at the moment (but this of course, minus Dr. Mahathir himself. I still fail to see why people hate him so much after all he had done for us).

My first complaint is concerning the national service issue. I would say that enlisting in the army is one of the best ways to enforce nationalism. However, forcing the civilian to join the reserve corps is certainly not the best way to inspire the spirit of nationalism. If the youth are going to suffer from this suggestion, Malaysia could say goodbye to the word patriotism.

Patriotism is not something that could easily be planted into one’s soul. If one tries to force a CD into a floppy drive, one will never be able to read the content of the CD. Worse, if applied sufficient force, one could break the CD into two. The same goes with loyalty.

“All along when S’pore was doing this, M’sia have insisted that they will not do N/Services. Why now? Are they losing ground on the political grassroots? Why the N/service when the school should do this. You guys were from there and don’t tell me you’re not loyal to your country!”

The above are Mr. Veera’s words and they echo my own view.

Secondly, I just read the headline “Two Barisan reps face action over PORR motion” in The Star. All I could say after reading the content of the article was “WTF?” These representatives, who are the members of the ruling party is going to be punished just because they did not support the party proposal. What is this? Where is the freedom of expression? Where is the freedom to decide, the freedom to choose?

These reps did what they did because the people in their respective constituent are against the motion. They need not to agree with the motion just because the party says they must.

Of course, unity in the party is important but when it comes to the good of the society, the need of the people comes first rather than the party. They need to decide what is best for the people, not for the party in this particular case.

If the two reps are going to be punished for what they did, then freedom is seriously threatened. If this is going to happen, I suggest we change the name Malaysia to Oceania.

Finally, the dreaded water supply issue with Singapore. The leaders in Malaysia have acted very immaturely in handling it. All I heard for the leaders and the papers were accusations rather than constructive ideas. The same goes to the island across the narrow straits (Come on man, you want to declare a war against Malaysia? Yeah, you could do a surprise attack but the shock won’t last as long as you want. Instead, the outcome of the war may result in Malaysia gaining extra land!)

Nevertheless, whatever the accussations and the counteraccusations are, Singapore has agreed, more or less to meet Malaysia’s earlier demand. Why must we need to drag the issue further? I say we accept the offer and keep quiet. There is no need to be a kiasu.

After all this, quoting Mr. Veera again,

“This is politically motivated and a waste of tax payers money.”

EOM.

p/s – you guys do know what EOM means right? Do you guys ever heard the word brb? I mean COME ON!!!