In Plain Sight

My New Bianchi Milano Bike

Lifestyle changes are always a good thing - and I'm cleaning house, nixing old habits, reconnecting with what I consider to be my core integrity - living in peace and a rejection of materialism.

I recently stopped driving so much. Partly because my work leaves me very preoccupied and I really do not pay the attention I should to the road. A car accident in May, which was not entirely my fault, gave me pause. So in selecting a new place to live I chose a place close to the CalTrain. I live in Sunnyvale but I am now effectively a short walk from the Stanford campus - where I plan to spend some of my time this coming year.

And so to continue the theme of lifestyle changes I bought myself a bicycle - a nice new 2006 Bianchi Milano, very retro and very "about town and campus" I've had it for a couple of weeks now and I am really enjoying it.

I feel better already.

Clinton Kills

I rather startled a lady in a book store at San Jose's Valley Fair Mall in 1999 by walking up to a life size cutout of President Bill Clinton, saluting and proclaiming "Thank you Mr. President, what's good enough for you is good enough for me!" It was a humorous observation aimed at the ridiculous obsession that propagandists had at the time with the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

In fact, subliminally, that propaganda could be the real reason that I began smoking the occasional premium cigar a few years later. I'll have to think about that.

Anyhow, as you know, I hate politics but I liked Bill Clinton - and that visceral intuition is important - and it seemed to me that he did a lot of good things for this country. He moved toward more open government, he reduced government. It's shocking how quickly that good work was undone.

OK, I was really pissed with Janet Reno over the David Koresh and Branch Davidian thing - unforgivable behavior on the part of the government regardless of how nasty we all thought Koresh was - but Clinton never really attracted my wrath. And the Lewinsky thing was a disgrace - but it wasn't Clinton's.

It has been a few days now since I watched the Fox News interview with former President Bill Clinton and while I generally agree that he has cause to fight back against the Bush propaganda and the current Administration's treasonous behavior, something has been troubling me.

And just so that we are clear on our allegiances here, I fully believe that the preemptive removal of the Bush administration is entirely appropriate ... necessary even ... so, come on, arrest me.

There is, however, just something very distasteful about any President, in office or out, saying "We tried to kill him and I'm sorry we didn't."

Bill let me down. What happened to us? When did we descended into this terrorist mentality - so that even the pacifist that I am is willing to advocate the overthrow of a government?

Whatever happened to the notion of bringing a man to justice, the right of dissent, and a just hearing?

That, BTW George and Bill, is the true definition of democracy - the right of dissent and a just hearing. Even Osama Bin Laden has that right.

Time Flying By

Man, writing a book is like being sucked into another time dimension.

Pope Right

Must we all watch our words for fear of violent oppression? Should we accept threats to any life because of views expressed, no matter how offensive? Should we accept a call for the death of a person because they have caused offense?

The Pope argued, rightly enough it seems to me, that the a call to Jihad (holy war) is against the nature of God. Whatever you conceive God to be, a call to provoke such violence is against humanity.

The call by Islamics for the death of the Pope - or any other - is simply not OK, no matter what he said. But that he spoke against violence and for dialogue between religions makes it appear that the muslim clerics deliberately misinterpreted, using his words as a pretense for conflict.

Shame on them, and shame on their religion.

Today, I am an American

You may not remember this, but five years ago today people around the world were proud to show their solidarity with us by using the phrase "Today, I am an American." It was a very moving experience to both witness and receive.

Well, we need to ask ourselves quite seriously how it is that in the interceding years we managed to loose not only the sympathy but the respect that was shown to the USA then.

Here's what happened: George W. Bush betrayed the nation and the people.

Bush Administration Propaganda

Is the ABC miniseries scheduled to show this weekend Bush Administration propaganda? It sure sounds like it. It sounds like a blatant attempt to place the blame for the current mess on the previous administration.

The Disgrace of this Nation

Just a brief note to express my dismay at the revelation today from George Bush that the rumors are true. The government of this nation has keep secret prisons and denied individuals the right of due process.

When this government acts, it acts by the consent of the people. It is and it must be bound by the laws of this land wherever it may act in the world. To claim any exception is a betrayal of public trust. We have been so betrayed.

The use of religious language by the president is also to be condemned as contrary to constitutional objectives, inciting prejudice and exploiting ignorance.