Although I've yet to hear it get much news coverage (Print), TV, or weblog), it seems obvious to me that one result of this war should be to provide autonomy to the world's largest ethnic people without a home nation. I speak of course, about Kurdistan. Plenty to read on Google.

P.L.A. - A Journal of Politics, Law and Autism has some insight into the hypocrisy of the Republican congress regarding the right to dissent.

This post on kottke.org nicely sums up much of what I'm feeling about the upcoming War, the President, and the state of our nation right now. Just one example, We have a major healthcare provider about to go belly up a la Enron, and no word on the major networks. 2004 might be the U.S.'s only chance to turn the nation around before we totally lose face to the rest of the world.

One more thought. I was watching a military analyst (ex-general) on one of the big three cable news channels this morning. When he started talking about how this war will be different than any other war ever fought his eyes lit up with an eerie sense of glee. I think I've figured out why we're going to war. It's not about removing Hussein, peace in the middle east, or even oil. Those are all just nice side effects. No, it's simply a chance for the U.S. to prove that our toys are bigger and better than yours. That our military might is so great that no one had ever even think about opposing our wishes or the same thing might happen to you.

Watched a bit of the Bill Moyer's NOW last night. He interviewed Joseph Wilson, the last US Diplomat to meet with Saddam Hussein (where he was asked what it would take for the U.S. to ignore Iraq's invasion of Kuwait). Wilson made the excellent point that the U.S. is dangling the wrong carrot for its goal of Peace, Stability, Freedom, and Democracy (in some form) in the middle east. The carrot we're using right now is "conform to our wishes or we will bomb you back to stone age" when it should be "we've just removed your number one complaint, so it's time to conform to our wishes." What's the number one complaint? Well it's the red herring of a Palestine Homeland, of course. Wilson correctly states that until that issue is resolved every arab state, terrorist group, religious iman, can always point at that situation and say the U.S. really doesn't have peace as it's number one concern.

Of course, this little bit of info from the Daily Kos is a real gem too. Like the U.S. has done on so many occaisions, looks like Isreal has made their bed and prefer to bulldoze the house rather than sleep in it.

I always like a good Gore Vidal interview. This one does not disappoint.

Thestory you don't want to read, but definately should.

This conversation contains some of the scariest stuff I've read in over a decade. Bill Moyers is possibly the only journalist right now who even cares to bring this into the light. All I can do is shed a little more light on the matter.

By far the best information on the Columbia Disaster I've seen in a blog -- Saltire by Steve MacLaughlin.

Tom Tomorrow, whose website I read regularly, posts a disturbing image of Japan's latest craze 'Nipple Scarves'. You have to see it to believe it.

I'm happy to announce that GalleryIndigo.com has been listed in Paypal.com's excellent shop list. I've already received a few visits from the listing as well. Look for a new artist in the coming week or two.

This weekend my step sister Kelly is coming to town with her hubby Steven. He is displaying some audio equipment at CES (which would be fun to explore!). I'll be sure to post a picture as it's been a long time since I've seen them (their marriage, in fact). That's one of the benefits of living in Las Vegas, eventually everyone comes here whether for vacation or business conference.

My brother David links to an article by Joan Didion. In the article Didion examines some of the issues with the Political manipulation of the post 9-11 landscape. She points out many of the illegitimacies of the arguments being made for war and shines a much needed light on a few of the hypocrisies the USA would be committing if we invaded Iraq. What she doesn't do is offer a tangible solution for the problems we are faced with. Nor have I really seen anyone coming up with an alternate stratagy to deal with Isreal, Palestine, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, all the -stans, Russia's unruly provinces, and the growing threat of Islamic extremists. To say we've made our own bed is certainly true. But sleeping in it will only cause a greater loss of American life.

How do we go back and fix mistakes made 50 years ago, what about mistakes made 500 or 1000 years ago (or more). We can't. We can, however, marshall our non-military forces of democracy for change (this would be education, infrastructure, industry, agriculuture, and arts) and start to work some magic where we can. The number one point of insertion for these forces of democracy should Afganistan. Too long has that neck of the woods been a playground for the Superpowers and oil-mongers. Now we have the opportunity to spend a generation or two doing good for the people of that country. When we're done, no children will be working to make bricks, no women's schools fire bombed, and commerce and democracy will flow from the region. Those who remember the age of Warlords and fighting for territory will be old and powerless against the ranks of educated and free citizens. Before we're done, a dozen countries will be lined up to ditch their dictatorships and enroll America's forces of change.

Until I see proof of its failure, this must be the model for change from now on.

Stacey and I had a great time and a great view for the NYE fireworks on the strip.



This view was just a few blocks from our house, which is nice. However, maybe next year we'll be able to afford a strip view at The Palms or Rio hotels. The parties were going for $100+++.

We also continued our tradition of the first photo of the New Year (and the first kiss too!).

Happy New Year's Eve everyone. I'm looking forward to this year's firework spectacular. However, we'll be viewing it from the very safe distance of Anthem. Too much craziness down on the strip.

I've started up a second blog that focuses on Las Vegas and Nevada. The plan is to link to many of the local journalists and weblogs rather than the local newspapers. My story today lists my top 5 best and worst events of 2002.

Two "Austin City Limits" broadcasts of note coming soon: Nickel Creek/Ralph Stanley - Dec 28, 11:00PM and Beck - Jan 4, 11:00PM. But Check your local listings.

I hope everyone has survived the holidays so far. I saw on the news that Dorothea and Linda got 30 some inches of snow for a very white christmas. Need any help digging out?

I've been working on GalleryIndigo.com quite a bit. Stacey is working on more eggs, David has some of his photos he plans to send my way, and beginning in January, I expect to have an amazing woodcarver with a variety of great items. However, I'm still looking for new artists. If you're interested please email me.

All you New York fans check this out. The Beast on the back of a business card.

Must. See. This. Before it's outlawed.

In lieu of a post today, we have a picture from our Honeymoon. This is Simba the lion from Disney's Animal Kingdom having just arisen in the morning.

Well, yesterday a mystery package showed up in the mail. It was a very nice gift for Stacey and I from the Pampered Chef. Alas, no hint of who the sender was could be found, nor could Pampered Chef determine the giver. All we know is that it was sent from 'overseas'. If you're the giver of this nice package, please drop me an email and identify yourself so we may send you our thanks.

Went to the post office today to see about shipping some items I've sold on ebay. However, the line was the longest I've ever seen it. Guess I'll be waiting until tomorrow morning to ship those items. The problem with our Post Office is that we share it with another zip code. It's also located in that zip code. I'd very much like to have one built nearby, but that's not likely since the USPS is hemoraging money at the moment and congress is looking at some serious internal surgery to stop the bleeding. I'd settle for a small 'in-store' USPS shipping center, at least that alleviate some of the crowds at the post office. I can't wait until we have to mail out everyone's Xmas gifts, the lines should be really pleasant then.

Alright, I've moved the website to it's new location. If it works, expect some changes soon.

Looking to redesign this website a little bit, move it to a new webhost (same one David uses), and get GalleryIndigo.com up and running. I am also busy listing a bunch of 'Star Trek' memorabilia on ebay. The auctions start tonight to take advantage of the rising levels of attention that should come with the release of the latest 'Star Trek' movie Nemisis.