perjury

The ACLU today released a memo signed by Lieutenant General Ricardo A. Sanchez authorizing 29 interrogation
techniques, including 12 which far exceeded limits established by the Army’s own Field Manual. More specifically,
it points out that Gen. Sanchez committed purjury when testifying before Congress.

From Sanchez' testimony of May 19, 2004:

U.S. SENATOR JACK REED (D-RI): General Sanchez, today's USA Today, sir, reported that you ordered or approved
the use of sleep deprivation, intimidation by guard dogs, excessive noise and inducing fear as an interrogation
method for a prisoner in Abu Ghraib prison. Is that correct?

SANCHEZ: Sir, that may be correct that it's in a news article, but I never approved any of those measures to be
used within CJTF-7 at any time in the last year.

That is absolutely refuted by the newly released memo, which says:

"Presence of Military Working Dog: Exploits Arab fear of dogs ...
Sleep Management: Detainee provided minimum of 4 hours sleep per 24 hour period, not to exceed 72 continuous hours.
Yelling, Loud Music, and Light Control: Used to create fear... (Sanchez's wording.)

death as christian porn.

forgive me, jesus, but some of your followers are making a fucking clown parade out of the death of a woman who is in need of release. How can anyone look at mrs. schiavo as a mirror of what they could be and not be horrified at the horror, raw nakedness of her death. from my experience of being able to hold the hand of a dying loved one, and watched the process of how they died and how i went through dying with them. If some journalist had touched me or even talked to me i would have hurt them. really. i respect mr. schiavo's control, if he is maintaining it.

the smell of grass.

earliest memories:
1. The smell of fresh cut grass and the hot plastic of our blow up swimming pool. The pool was turned upside down and I was under it. My father was cutting the lawn. A rock flew out of the lawn mower and hit the house. 1972?

2. A rock-covered riverbed with Mom, Dad, Matt and Maria. Maria was a baby. We had a picnic.

3. Stone fireplace in winter, steaming underwear after coming in from the snow. House on McCloud Rd.

Words of Wisdom

derived from some smaltzy inspirational message sent out by some thumper @ a past job. This piece has been worked over by teh man himself over at NateBoxer.net.


10 powerful ways to expand your life this year
1. Refine your past.
Describe the life you’d like to have lived. The past you see defines the person you could have been. Identify the traits and qualities you wish you’d acquired. Don’t give in to self pity. You were undoubtedly capable of more than you ever dreamed was possible for you. Don’t worry that you never tried. Rewrite history!
2. Give just enough to get by.
Nothing advances until somebody does more than they are paid to do. It’s not worth it. Always deliver just enough value so that others won’t be able to point out your flaws.
3. Kill time.
If you don’t live fully, you can watch more tv. Try playing solitaire more at work. Your "play" sometimes contributes as much as your "work." What you don’t do reveals the value you bring to the world.
4. Reduce your Inner Circle.
We define ourselves through our key relationships. Try reducing these. It’ll make things simpler. Release those who limit your tv watching and connect with those who can deliver pizza, who always bring a six-pack and in general, make life more enjoyable.
5. Put off your unfinished business.
Say your apologies, face the facts: you’re never going to do anything anyway. Don’t let yesterday drain value from today and tomorrow. Break out of the limited world of your past and don’t try to start anything new.
6. Rethink existing habits and routines.
Describe your typical day and then reconsider every aspect of it. Try this over beer and nachos. Use lots of paper. Make lists (during commercials). Change or expand the ways you kill time, the people you watch on tv and the things you don’t do. Try to avoid new things. DON’T try to find out what your possibilities really are.
7. Lighten up and light up.
Stop stressing over things. When life isn’t fair to you, think about getting even. Try this over beer and nachos. Use lots of paper and make up elaborate, payback schemes (during commercials). Or, try taking a toke for each of your “misfortunes.” This may take a while so think of calling in sick for a few days.
8. Loosen up.
Sloppiness in life allows more variables to creep in and helps avoid making or executing plans. Keep clear from goals, increase your apathy, master the art of self-deprecation. Keep lots of lists of details everywhere on every conceivable form of paper. Don’t ever clean up because you might lose your lists!
9. Ignore yourself.
Have a talk with yourself once a year just to make sure you’re still around. In fact, try to convince yourself that you are someone else. Read Kafka (or at least keep a book of his around that you might read someday). Look for patterns in your daily inactivity that reveal how you could be one of the millions of deadbeats just like you (but not you)! Maybe you aren’t who you seem to be. Be cagey. Assume nothing!
10. Invest in lottery tickets.
Set aside a portion of each year’s income to acquire lottery tickets. Better yet, whenever you have cash in hand, spend it immediately on lottery tickets (and the usual munchies). Remember, money is your only true asset. Spend it today in hopes of helping the person you might actually be. If you lose it, it’s ok. It’s not your money anyway!

blustery.

and I am about to brave the elements. I hope some of this weather lasts through the weekend. Linda and I are joining the g's on Indian Summer for an excursion over to Port Orchard for some cruise or another with CYC. There may be a new navy ship on display, but I view the whole thing as an opportunity to play outside and avoid staring at a monitor. Playing the expansion pack w/ Carcassone for the first time with Russ and Barb. Pictures to follow.

catch up.

Photo updates: Check 'em out Sorry if I have been remiss about posting. Work been getting the better of me and Seattle winters without sailing is bleah. I guess not all that bleah as you can see from the photos, but kind of dreary none the less.

Home is happy. After a torturous saturday, the garage and shop are finally cleaned out and ready for Nate to covert to a metal shop. There goes the neighborhood.

me in 1992