Flashbacks

Sometimes when I'm in the shower, I have crazy brainstorms. Many of my blog posts originated somewhere between soaping my big toe and shampooing my hair. Tonight I had a sudden flashback to a number: 2036997.

It's a strange number to have pop into one's head without warning. 2036997. In the span of a quarter-second, I thought the number, realized how absurd it was for this to happen, and identified it's source.

2036997 was my ICQ number back when I first got hooked up with internet access in the 9th grade. I've not used it since the end of my freshman year of college in 1999. That's when I switched to AIM because that's where all my friends were.

I tried to log in, but it was no good. Looking up the number in the ICQ member listings shows that I've been recycled. 2036997 now apparently belongs to a Russian man by the name of Skazochnik. It makes me a little sad to know my first ever instant messaging account isn't there anymore. Treat it well, Mr. Skazochnik.

Coulter's Clueless

Here we go again. Same C-SPAN2 BookTV program with Ann Coulter from earlier:

Ann says, "If you want to live in a state that sells porno at the corner market, that allows naked dancing, and that let's people drive at 80 miles an hour, then you can live in that state. And if you don't like it, you can move. And at the end of the year we'll compare venereal rates." Well, Ann, I don't particularly want to live there (the 80 miles an hour part wouldn't be too bad), but I do want to live in a place where schools are sensibly funded. I want to live in a place where everyone can get healthcare without worrying about it. I want to live in a place where the general citizen can't own a gun, where two people who want to can get married can, and where the government doesn't get to tap my phone without some good quality oversight.

The problem for me is that that place doesn't really exist at the moment. Perhaps someday, but not now. Until I do have the option of moving to that state, what should I do? I should stay where I am and work through the existing political system to effect a change. That's what democracy is about. Democracy is not moving to where you agree with the laws; it is changing the laws where you are.

Democracy is about the collaborative process of improving the area you're in. People will disagree about what direction to take change, but that's the nature of human collaboration. It defeats the process to say, "If you don't like it then move." For someone who screams about democracy as much as she does, Ann ought to understand that.

Ignorance is Bliss

I've been watching C-SPAN again. Today C-SPAN2's BookTV is replaying Ann Coulter's Q&A session at the National Press Club. Someone asked her a question about becoming a conservative political writer just like Ann. Ann's #1 advice was to avoid law school. She says law school is a liberal waste land and a waste of time.

Ann, let me rephrase that to make sure I understand you correctly. If you want to be a conservative law commentator, avoid learning about the law. If you want to talk about the constitution, then make sure you as clueless as possible, lest your judgment be clouded by facts. Perhaps this explains why Ann Coulter's drivel makes so much sense.

Truth and (No) Consequences

I've been watching a lot of CSPAN/CSPAN-2 lately. This morning they have Gina Cooper, organizer of the YearlyKos Convention for newblogs, answering questions. One self-identified conservative Republican called in to say that Goerge Bush would go down in history as the most selfless and compassionate president ever in the White House. "I think he didn't always tell the truth, but thank God for that," he said. Ms. Cooper naturally expressed some dismay at this, but her response was hardly eloquent. Here's what she should have said.

When the President lies to the American people, it is like the CEO or board of directors of the largest company in the world lieing to their shareholders. They keep the people happy and in the dark while doing what they please over what would undoubtably be overwhelming objection from those from whom their power originates. This happened recently when the lies of Enron executivies Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling resulted in thousands of people losing their retirement investments. They were both recently convicted and will likely spend the rest of their lives in prison. When President Bush lied to the American people about the intelligence supporting an invasion of Iraq, thousands of people lost their lives. I leave you to decide the appropriate consequence for this offense.

Suggested Viewing: Zomething

A weekly comic strip by someone in my mom's office. Check it out. It's funny.