2007

Was a year of...

Not much. In 2007, Yours Truly:
Had a business crash.
Made new friends.
Lost some old ones.
Got a nephew.

I have no idea what I'm doing in 2008. Aside from school and working...which is all I ever seem to do. :P

But, I do hope to post more than half a dozen times. Who knows? maybe I'll post half a dozen times a week....If I can ever finish these projects.

Your Opinions for the Week

World News:
Bhutto was assassinated. This is a tragedy for Pakistan.

U.S.:
On the rapacious right, we have a few columns from the ardent, august, and everaccurate WorldNetDaily:

It seems Joseph Farah has never heard of a little group called Citizens Against Government Waste. If he is aware of them, he should know that Ron Paul earned a 95 rating from this austere watchdog group. Yes, Ron Paul put in earmarks. If he didn't, his district would not be able to recoup the tax-dollars already being stolen from them. Then, of course, he'd lose re-election, and then we'd have no voice of liberty in Congress. Most of Ron Paul's supporters have known about the earmarks for months, anyway; it doesn't dissuade us because we're not idiots. His earmarks are hardly anything as outrageous as, oh, the grand Bridge To Nowhere in Alaska. And he does vote against the earmark bills. He's actually doing his job: the people he represent wanted him to put the earmarks in, so he did, but he couldn't in good conscience vote for them. Part of the appeal of the Paul campaign is that it isn't so much about Paul, as it is his message. Of course he's not perfect--he is human, after all; last I heard, only certain rabid fans (and enemies) have accused him of being the Second Coming.

Last I heard, Farah's Favorite candidate, the grand Huckster lobbied for some 44 tax increases in Arkansas. Hmm. But he's a preacher, and preachers in the public eye never, ever lie.

Of course, in far more vitriolic prose, comes this little gem from another totalitarian, which claims that Ron Paul is engaging in fearmongering. Maybe some of Paul's supporters are. In fact, I know they are, but sometimes scaring the crap out of people is the best way to deal with them. Thankfully, Ron Paul's message itself isn't scary. It's quite the opposite. It's liberating to know there's a man out there who understands the Rule of Law, who understands Federalism, and who wants to return us to our national roots. As for not being a conservative, Mr. Williams is right: he's not one who wishes to conserve the status quo--he's a traditionalist, a paleo-conservative in the mold of Pat Buchanan. Like Thomas Jefferson, Ron Paul is a Classical Liberal. In any case, we should not give much credence to a column written by a man whose page is festooned with emoticons.

This brings us finally to Ben "Chickenhawk" Shapiro's latest column on how we need a wartime president in 2008. Would Farah fire this sycophant? Please? He writes like I did when I was twelve. Kyle Williams at 15 wrote better than Ben Shapiro at 23. The fact that he graduated from UCLA isn't exactly something I'd be proud of if I were on staff at WND. Nonetheless, I shall deign to respond to some of his pathetic column:

Black is Shapiro, Red is Moi:

***

On May 7 and May 8, 1945, the Nazis surrendered to the Allies in Europe. The single man more responsible for that surrender than anyone else was British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Quit being pedantic, this isn't a research paper: use only one date. As for the second sentence, you can say the same thing like this: "British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was mostly responsible for that surrender." (11 words for 17.)

Today, the Bush administration has pulled the Iraq situation from the fire. Gen. David Petreaus has led a remarkable restoration of security in Iraq. The troop surge has dramatically lowered violence, providing a powerful rebuke to the anti-Bush administration naysayers.

A "powerful rebuke" rendered impotent by your insistence upon the passive voice.

For nearly a decade, Clinton ignored the rising threat of radical Islam. Sept. 11 was a partial consequence.

How can anything be a partial consequence? It either is, or it isn't. Don't pussyfoot, chickenhawk.

America cannot afford to take its eye off the foreign-policy ball. There are other threats on the horizon. Despite the rosy outlook of the National Intelligence Estimate, Iran will not simply discard its dreams of nuclear glory. Russia remains an antagonistic influence in the Middle East and elsewhere. China continues its military buildup and economic warfare. To elect a "peacetime" candidate could be a profound mistake with long-lasting ramifications.

I, for one, welcome a nuclear Iran, a self-interested Russia, and an economically strong China. A nuclear Iran will prevent further U.S. Imperialism by offering the same deterrent as the Russians. Volodya was doing a great job in Russia; he was not an evil man, he was just putting his country's interests before our interests. May his successor never run out of vodka. A strong China will counterbalance an Imperial U.S. in Asia. The Chinese have never, ever engaged in imperialist wars. It's not part of their culture; their culture is to be Chinese and to remain unmolested by the devils outside the walls. If you want to understand why China is not a danger today, I recommend Dr. Paul Linebarger's "East Asian Politics," if you can find a copy. The man lived much of his early life in China: he was Sun Yat-sen's godson. His 1956 book on Asian politics is refreshingly relevant, and offers keen insight into how the Chinese think.

Britain's Atlee mistake did not result in tragedy. America may not be so lucky in 2008. If Americans opt, myopically, for domestic government-sponsored swaddling over tough foreign policy, they may be re-opening the door to the forces of terror.

Ooh. The Forces of Terror. That sounds like something from a 1960s horror movie. You know, it'd sure be nice if this poltroon of a neocon would go overseas and fight the wars he so loves. Even the liberal Hemingway put himself in the line of fire. Alas, Ben Shapiro is too important a columnist to risk life and limb for his cause; the worst enemy he faces is carpal tunnel.

***

Feh

My project is taking longer than I anticipated. C'est la vie. So no Christmas gift for j00.

Hope my three readers had a great Christmas! I know I did.

It's been so busy the past few days, so enjoy another piece of poetry by yours truly:

Hauntress of Dreams

Ian Mcleod

What is your name, oh hauntress of my dreams?
I've never seen you in this life,
yet in my sleep you're rather rife.

You walked up to me on the street and
simply said, "Pleased to meet you,"
whilst extending your hand.
Then you walked on ahead
before I could speak,
yet for you my heart bled.
I chased you and introduced
myself to you,
having been reduced to
gelatinous goo.

You told me your name,
but oh I've forgot.
Your eyes, though, I shan't.
They looked like the product of
the Spice melange of Dune fame,
or was that a mere mirage?

Your hair was rather light--
lighter than I usually like,
yet it was a lovely sight.
Your face--a construction
of perfect proportion;
skin clean and clear
without distortion.

You were a pretty thing,
oh hauntress of my dreams.
The interest you showed
intrigued this lone
soul enough to
write of your gracious
interception of my
REM-realm perceptions.

Alas, you don't exist:
but if you wish,
you may persist.

test

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August affecting an august Augustinian

I wrote this free-verse back in August. No, it doesn't reflect my actual beliefs or my mindset (even at the time), but it really was fun to do. I enjoy many forms of poetry; I've some metered verse around somewhere, but I enjoy free verse because of "thought-rhyme."

August affecting an august Augustinian
Ian McLeod

Da mihi castitatem et continentiam, sed noli modo.

"Give me virtues,
but not yet," said he.
Augustine, in situ
in Romana,
in Afrika,
in Alexandria,
was a soul
not dissimilar
to my own.

I find him odd,
though his thoughts
on life and God
inspire us
to perspire
towards His ends.

Aurelius,
palladus equus
of Roman wisdom,
despite his pessimism,
also inspires freedom
from the besetting foes
as we walk,
shod in mortal shoes.

Benri dewa nai
is no excuse
for lax
asphyxiation
of the spirit
and the Spirit.

I am without righteousness,
without hope,
unjustified,
unsanctified,
unwashed,
marked like Cain
whose visage was marred
by God's strange
scar to prevent
his own murder.
I wonder what it was?
A tattoo?
Perhaps a tetragrammaton
on his forehead as reported
of some golems.

Cain, a golem
without justice,
without mercy,
without some soul to
strike emet into meit,
Truth to Death.
Always walking East,
settling in Nod.
He died...not like that
lucky son of the sod
Enoch.

I look East, too,
for
paradoxes,
peace,
prosperity.
The West is dead,
the East is the city,
and their candle isn't
under the bushel like mine.

I'm not unsaved,
but woe to this undone
soul!
I, man of unclean lips,
lieutenant-of-sinners,
thank You.

Cor ad cor loquitur.
Merci.

My insanity of late is not
caused by unablated
unabated lusts
of eye, flesh, and pride.
Or is it?
Am I just that unright?
Am I some Unman to
the Ransoms of the world?
Am I a temptor
or the tempted?
Do I lead you astray,
or am I blind following blind,
falling into ditches?

Donna nobis pacem, Iesu Christe.

I wonder if Jesus
ever needed a stiff
drink?
He was human, after all.
I wonder if he ever imbibed
for the sake of imbibing?
Not to excess,
maybe unto buzz.
Would he offer me a light?
I'm not right, maybe, but
I think He was more human
than we give him credit,
not sinful,
just human.

I wonder if Jesus fished on Sundays?
I guess it wouldn't matter,
it not being the Sabbath.

"I then heard a voice,
said 'Son, you have a choice...'"
Brilliant lines from
haunting music.
I, too, am in chains.
Mine, self-wrought of orihalcon
pretty like forsythia,
hang from my neck
like the barnacles
on the wrecked
Bismarck.
I have the key,
and Father, I know
I've the choice.
You gave it to me.
But it's so hard,
the key is
fluid neutronium.
Can't lift it.
Can't get a hold.

She put me on hold again,
sister Wisdom did.
She told me to come home.
"Love is Blue" is playing
as she keeps me waiting
for whatever it is she
has to say.

Mauriat was right.
Love is blue,
and so am I,
"so lonesome
I could cry,"
tears indefatigable,
fears inconceivable,
my life is like fighting a land
war in Asia.
I wish the Great Dungeonmaster
would let me reroll my stats.

We're sorry,
the number you have
dialed is no longer
in service.
Please check your number,
and try again.

I do miss you.
Do you miss me too?
Doubtful.
If Faulkner was right,
I'm so full of the "old verities"
that my life
is the only one worth writing about.
The "heart in conflict against itself."
A house divided.
Invalid integer.
Cannot divide by zero.

Help me get
even with the
real
enemies.
Why is
envy
green?
Or why is
reality
organized
under such stringent
natural Laws?
Do you know the answer?
This is confusing to me,
heck, I don't know how to stop
everything from racing,
panicking in my
rebellious twelve-lane mind.
If you walk with kings...
calm yourself.
Keep it quiet.
Leave me be,
you evil
Prince of
earth
and air,
roam elsewhere.

Dominus Deus,
salva nos.
I can relate,
dear Saint Augustine.
Give it to me,
just not yet.
'Cept I'm not getting
the other, either,
so it's all moot.
But if you're right,
it's just the thought that
counts.
Counts as a black mark,
a /strikethrough
in The Book of Life 2.0.

Thank You,
because it's not really
that bad. I just
get this way sometimes.

The True Return of Ian McLeod

It's been a hectic, kind of bad year. I'm actually quite sorry I didn't -really- come back, but I'd thought I would.

But the good news is, I have much new material from which to blog. My first big project is in progress, and I hope to have a nice Christmas present for y'all--the first installment of a fictionalized retelling of a major historical event. It will be factually accurate (complete with extensive citations); only the date of one person's death is ignored, and a little technology is added in to make the telling of the story more amusing. I don't know how long the project will take to complete, but I want it to be accurate, fairly concise, and entertaining. It will rock your worlds and blow your minds.

In the meantime, I need to revamp some features and reinstall Haloscan.

The nature of the blog is going to be a little different. I plan to have a weekly format after the first of the year. The blog will be changing to reflect my eclectic interests. If you used to read me, you'll remember how much I dealt with politics and theology. I'm shifting away from politics and towards theology, but also other more...oh, I don't know, interesting things like photoblogging, poetry, culture, etc. I'll have a podcast, and maybe a Youtube thing coming up.

There will be ads. And a tip-jar. I ain't cheap. ^_--

Have fun, y'all. Look forward to getting back into all this.