War, Politics, and Life by Bruce Maulden
(Illustration: ‘Burning of Colours‘ by Wojciech Kossak found here via Google Images). After more than three months, Leo Tolstoy’s ‘War and Peace‘Â is finally finished — and to reveal how good a read it’s been, I hated for the book to end, even as the once-big-lump of pages fluttered down to a few thin sheets,…
From Wikipedia: The noises commonly associated with flatulence are caused by the vibration of the anal sphincter, and occasionally by the closed buttocks. Hence, we now understand the operational capacity of ‘sphincter-says-What‘-Republicans and other asshole entities. Yesterday, I put $20 worth of gas in my Jeep Comanche, but we won’t go real far at $4.39…
In light of the ongoing horror in Japan — an earthquake induced nuclear meltdown — there’s been a dust-up down in my old stomping ground of central California as PG&E attempts to renew the license at its most-aptly named Diablo Canyon (Nuclear) Power Plant. Although PG&E has delayed a decision on the 20-year license, no…
(Illustration found here via Google Images). One despicable poll out Tuesday from the American Red Cross really, really reveals just how far the US war machinery has influenced its people, especially the young. Nearly 3/5 youth (59%) – compared to 51% of adults – believe there are times when it is acceptable to torture the…
Just after 1 a.m., April 12, 1961, a Soviet Vostok rocket blasted off from Baikonour cosmodrome, which alerted US radars in the Aleutian Islands. Twenty-three minutes later, Jerome Wiesner, JFK’s scientific adviser, was notified by telephone and the shit hit the fan. Despite the US throwing Alan Shepard up in sub-orbital space for less than…
From long ago, and not-so-surprisingly far, far away: Defense Secretary McElroy said after a conference with President Eisenhower Friday that the Pentagon would have “a pretty rough time” trying to avoid a military spending increase staring July 1. McElroy ruled out any increase totaling as much as two billion dollars in excess of the estimated…
Yeah… Gain may be temporary and uncertain; but ever while you live, expense is constant and certain: and it is easier to build two chimneys than to keep one in fuel. — Benjamin Franklin (Illustration found here via Google Images). From CNN: Gas prices have jumped nearly 20 cents over the past two weeks, approaching…
“There is nothing more wicked, more disastrous, more widely destructive, more deeply tenacious, more loathsome.” “…once war has been declared, then all the affairs of the State are at the mercy of the appetites of a few.” — Erasmus and War, 14th Century (Illustration of Picasso’s “Massacre in Korea” found here via Google Images). Despite the…
(Illustration found here via Google Images). The current US political scene sucks through an extremely-thin straw, making it hard to swallow a possible federal government shut-down this Friday (tomorrow!). In my humble estimation, there’s never been a more nasty, chaotic mess than DC right now, and the real losers are the ordinary, rank-and-file US peoples…
An example of the fiscal foolishness of war. From Stars and Stripes: The Air Force secretary says the service has been spending about $4 million a day to keep 50 fighter jets and nearly 40 support aircraft in the Libya conflict, including the cost of munitions. Secretary Michael Donley tells reporters that the Air Force…