Rantsfromtheedge is moving to a different site and a different name. The reason for this is because I want to have more control over the site. The new location is www.theunrulyone.com
Tobacco Tales has also moved. It can be found at www.smokerstories.theunrulyone.com
Please follow these links over there.
I’m watching the Sharks season Home Ice opener, and they are down 1-0. Have been since the 1st period, then with a great assist from Joe Thornton to Michalek tied the game with thirty four seconds left. Then, with about eleven seconds left on the clock, ex Shark Marcos Sturm scored the game winner for Boston, after the puck bounced off of a referee.
This is a game the Sharks should have won. After the first period they dominated the game. They won at least seventeen more face-offs than the Bruins, and out-shot them by an insane number, at one point the Sharks had twenty four shots on goal after the first period, compared to Boston’s three; and Boston had no shots during the second period.
The story of this game, without a doubt was Tim Thomas, Boston’s goaltender. The man was solid tonight, swallowing up shots like they were nothing, all the while allowing very few rebounds. The Sharks should have won this game, but Boston deserved to win because they played hard, and just got the better luck tonight because really, it could have gone either way.
The only thing the Sharks could have done better this game (aside from winning) would have been to score on the power play. They did not allow any power play goals, but they had at least three power play advantages and they could not get the puck in the net, and for the most part it was due to lack of trying. The Shark’s power play can be great, but they tend to move the puck around too much. They wait for the perfect shot to open up rather than firing away, creating chaos on the ice, and coming up with a sloppy goal. It is still early in the season, but this is something that they need to work on to be the best competitors in the league.
With the recent actions of Blackwater USA and other security companies operating in Iraq, it is easy to forget that mercenaries are not the only ones involved in horrendous incidents in Iraq; our military men and women are. And this is tragic on so many levels.
First of all, our soldiers are there as an extension of the US people. Unlike contractors, these people have pledged themselves to represent and uphold the ideals of America. What kind of message are we sending when these men and women kill and brutalize civilians. My friend recently sent me an opinion article by Ted Rall wherein Mr. Rall quotes an article from East Bay Express.
The article Rall refers to describes horrific actions taken by members of the US military in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The actions described include the rape of a fourteen year old, her subsequent murder, as well as the killing of her parents and seven year old sister. The soldiers implicated in the rape cut a plea bargain that allows for them to be released on parole in twenty years. Rall makes the point that the same crime here in the States is punishable by life in prison without the chance at parole, or the death sentence depending on the state. Other actions described in the Express article included soldiers photographing bodies of dead Iraqis, and then posting them on a pornographic website for the world to see.
Rall’s point in writing this piece, and I can totally see, and agree, with where he his coming from, is that while the US military may have accountability, in reality there is little to no accountability governing our soldiers. One of the reasons for this is simply that investigating civilian deaths is not high on the list of military priorities. In effect, this gives soldiers the ability to behave as they wish–and unfortunately this sometimes includes the wild west attitude previously only attributed to security contractors working in Iraq.
So it seems that, yes the military has accountability, but that accountability means little. It means that sometimes a soldier who has acted illegally will be punished for his crimes, but mostly it just makes the empty promise that someone is watching these guys and making sure they are acting in lawful ways.
So if accountability does not even work for the US military, what makes us think that it would work for private security firms. After all, if we choose not to enforce existing laws, why should we even bother creating new laws? Just to make people happy, and to give us a new set of laws that we can ignore? Well, that may happen, but that possible result does not lessen the need for accountability and oversight in both military and private security sectors.
Just because people are ignoring the law, does not mean that the law should not exist. And this is a serious issue that potentially affects every Iraqi civilian in Baghdad, but also the appearance of the US in Iraq. If we look like we play favorites, especially by turning a blind eye to these tragic actions taken on our behalf, then there is no way we can gain the trust of the average Iraqi. Stricter regulation is not a sure fire way to win the support of Iraqis, nor is it the only action that needs to be taken before the chaotic and violent situation in Iraq is resolved, but it is a first step.
Still, it is disheartening to hear that even when it has the opportunity and obligation to take legal action, our government still lets people get away with (literally) murder.
Here is the link to Rall’s opinion piece
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ucru/20071009/cm_ucru/scapegoatingblackwater
Maybe, but it sure looks like it is a real possibility. The State Department is currently conducting a review of private security practices in Iraq, with a specific focus on Blackwater. Blackwater, the largest security company in Iraq with almost 1,000 employees, has been under intense scrutiny since September 16, 2007 due to an incident that resulted in the deaths of 17 Iraqi civilians.
Blackwater claims that their guards acted appropriately and in accordance with their mandate. This claim is hard to swallow, though, at least entirely. It is no secret that security companies–Blackwater especially–take a gung-ho, cowboy mentality attitude toward their work, and with some reason. Iraq is a war zone, and it is the job of the contractors to ensure the security of US diplomats and assets.
That, however, does not mean they should be allowed to act with impunity. US military soldiers are also in Iraq, and they are performing similar duties to those of the contractors, but with one significant difference: they are accountable. If US soldiers can be punished for crimes they commit in the line of duty, why can’t private security companies?
Well, they do not count toward the total military force in Iraq, and they are considered private citizens so military law does not apply to them. When he was the US Envoy to Iraq, Paul Bremer issued Directive 17, which protected security companies from being tried under Iraqi law, and it is in their contract that they are not to be held accountable in US courts. How something like this comes to pass, I really do not know. I only know that it hurts my soul that this ever sounded like a good idea.
And now the US is paying for it in several ways. One, whatever progress we had made with the Iraqi people is quickly dissipating. When we have people associated with America gunning civilians down on the street, how can we hope to show the Iraqis that we are there to help them when our employees are killing them without reason? Is it any wonder that the Iraqi government has called for Blackwater to leave within six months and stricter regulation of the industry as a whole?
Now, it finally looks like the State Department (the branch of the government that hires the security contractors) is taking notice of the wild-west attitude and has decided to do something about it. Or at least, they’ve decided to start thinking about how security for State Department officials in Iraq is handled.
The first step in this was Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice ordering a probe into the incident in September. Then she ordered that a federal agent accompany all Blackwater missions, and that video surveillance cameras be added to all of Blackwater’s vehicles. Now, amidst outcries from the Iraq government, the State Department is considering cutting ties with Blackwater and moving them out of Iraq. This is a drastic measure, to be sure, and has many implications for how America will operate in Iraq, but it does seem like the best idea.
Of course, if Blackwater were no longer in Iraq, there would be a vacuum of security contractors, and that would have to be filled by someone, whether it was another security firm, or agents of the US government. Pulling Blackwater out is not the only option on the table, though, and it is highly unlikely that this would actually happen. Other options include cutting ties with Blackwater, but then hiring the ex-employees as temporary government workers. Another option considered was turning security concerns over to Iraq security personnel.
At the moment, though, Blackwater’s future in Iraq is uncertain, and there is no telling what the outcome will be, but this is a start., albeit a late one. It is time for our government to send the message that it will not tolerate war profiteering, nor will it tolerate a wild west attitude among its employees. Chances are nothing will really come out of this, but there is always hope that change is finally one the way.
I admit it, on more than just rare occasions I like to imbibe of the potent potables, and I am always willing to try something new, at least once. That was how I discovered that I knew I did not really enjoy the three wise men (Jose Cuervo, Jim Beam, and Jack Daniels all mixed into one deadly shot), but that it was a real quick way to loosen up. So, whenever I go to a liquor store (or any place that sells beer and booze) I am always on the lookout for something new. Well, tonight I found it: Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale. The Sierra Nevada Brewing company is probably most well known for its location (Chico, California) and its flagship beer: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (of which I am not a very big fan). Come to think of it, I don't enjoy most of Sierra Nevada's beers. The Pale Ale is too hoppy for me, and has a weird lingering aftertaste that I don't care for at all. Their Wheat Ale is a nice light beer, but again it has that hoppy flavor shared by all of their beers. Sierra Nevada Best Bitter is delicious, and not bitter at all, and the Summerfest is okay, but again not one of my faves.
The Anniversary Ale has the signature Sierra Nevada taste (strong and hoppy with that strange aftertaste), and it is not my new favorite beer. However, it is more than drinkable. The strong flavor of the hops found in a beer like their Pale Ale is muted, and the beer has a little bit of a sweet flavor, which was a nice surprise for my palette. You may be asking why I chose to buy a Sierra Nevada beer when I am not the biggest fan of their products. Well, like I said I enjoy trying new things, and I knew that I would be able to drink it as long as it did not taste too much like the Pale Ale. It does taste very similar, but it is different enough for it to be a different beer, and not just have different name. Also it has one of the things I look for in my beer: a high alcohol content, 5.9% by volume.
Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t just go for the high alcohol content. If I did, I would drink nothing but 311 Steel Reserve and hard liquor, but I also care about taste, and when I can find a beer high in alcohol that tastes good, I am happy as a clam. Lucky for me the Anniversary Ale does taste good (not as good as Sierra’s Best Bitter–but you can only find that on tap so I guess I’ll just have to deal), and it seems like it would be a good beer for any weather. It is a little heavy, but not too heavy, so it would be fine to enjoy on a nice summer day, and it is heavy enough to be appropriate for a cold winter evening as well.
Overall I give this beer a 7.5 out of 10.
In the latest of a series of tragic incidents involving security contractors in Iraq, two Christian Iraqi women were killed in their car as they drove down the streets of Baghdad. It is unclear which company the contractors were working for, but Iraqi Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh has said that they do not believe Blackwater USA, the company allegedly responsible for the shooting deaths of as many as seventeen Iraqis on September 16, 2007. Blackwater has denied any part in this latest incident.
At the moment details are unclear as to why the guards opened fire on the women, but it is almost certain that the guards belonged to a Western security firm. According to a police officer at a nearby checkpoint, three white gray SUV ’s and one gray one were part of a convoy that had stopped about 100 yards from the Oldsmobile belonging to the women. One of the guards threw a smoke bomb at the Oldsmobile, apparently in an attempt to get the car to stop. The officer said that it looked like the driver attempted to stop, but before she could two of the guards opened fire, riddling the car with bullets and killing the two women. Then the convoy sped away, leaving the clean-up for Iraqi police.
This is yet another example of what is wrong with the unchecked aggression exhibited by security contractors in Iraq, and it only serves to enrage Iraqis: “These are innocent people killed by people who have no heart or consciousness. The Iraqi people have no value to them,” said a man who was part of a group of relatives gathered with a Christian priest at the local police station.
How can you argue with that? It is not hard to sympathize with the man, nor is it hard to see his point. At this moment in time, this act of aggression just seems like murder. It does not seem justifiable in a ny capacity, and since the alleged contractors sped off so quickly, it is unlikely that answers to who did this and why will come anytime soon.
The women were identified as Marou Awanis and Geneva Jalal. Awanis had three daughters who now face the terrible fact of living the rest of their lives without their mother. “May God take revenge on those killers,” Anahet Bougous, Awanis’s sister in law said, asking who would take care of her children.
Undoubtedly, there will be people who recognize that this incident was tragic, but will still try and defend the mission of contractors in Iraq. They will say that these people are needed and essential. Security supporters will say that the guards over there perform vital work and duties and that America will not stand a chance of winning in Iraq if contractors’ roles are reduced. There might even be some people out there who claim that this was not the work of security contractors, but insurgents dressed up as contractors.
There may be some validity to that claim (at least it is worth the proper authorities looking into) but it is too conspiracy theorist for me. In order for insurgents to pull this off they would have had to come across American made armored SUV’s somehow, and while that is possible, I find it unlikely that it would have happened without anyone knowing. Besides that, though; it would not really matter if this was the work of insurgents. Sure, the anti-American sentiment-ism aimed at contractors might be a little misplaced in this case if it was true that insurgents were responsible, but it would not change the fact that these companies need oversight. They need to be regulated. Authorities need to know who is in Iraq, and what they are doing there. Until this happens, the Iraqi people will continue to pay the price with civilian casualties, and America will continue to pay in terms of mistrust by the Iraqi people, and it is only a matter of time before that mistrust turns even more hostile.
If you’ll recall, the siege of Fallujah in 2004 was sparked by the brutal slaying of four Blackwater security contractors. Those men were killed, beheaded, and hung from bridges as a warning to other contractors. A few days later the US military moved into Falluja and began some of the most intense fighting the war had (and has still) seen.
If the US government does not do something to reign in the cowboy contractors, the insurgency will only have more fuel for its fiery rhetoric. Hopefully they will take this tragedy and implement real, purposeful legislation that will make contractors liable and accountable for their illegal actions.
I am pretty excited about the new Radiohead album that comes out tomorrow. It is titled In Rainbows, and will only initially be released on their website www.radiohead.com. It is called Rainbows, and the band has truly done something different with how they are selling the album. At its initial release, the album will only be available via download. There is no set price for the album, users who wish to download it can pay whatever they want.
This decision came as the record industry is still having difficulty dealing with the impact digital sales have had on the music industry, albums sales in particular, which have been steadily declining. Studios blame pirates, but I blame high prices. This release is going to be closely watched and scrutinized, and if it is successful look for more and more of your favorite artists to release material exclusively on-line. For those who prefer to hold a physical cd case in their hands, do not worry. Later this year, the band plans to release a special boxed set with all kinds of goodies. It is supposed to retail between thirty and forty dollars (I think) but it should be worth it. Finally, they plan to release a regular priced, standard cd early 2008, which probably means that this on-line sale thing is only, temporary–just a way to gauge how successful this kind of venture can be. For my own part, I hope that it is very successful so more ventures like this can occur.
All right, so I really liked the first season of NBC’s Heroes (even if the writing did get sloppy toward the end) but I am having a really hard time getting into this season. It seems even more scatterbrained than the first season, and is throwing characters and situations at us like wildfire. There are the South American twins Maya and Alejandro, whose powers seem to work off of each other. They have gotten significant screen time thus far, probably close to thirty minutes (at least) and yet they have gone nowhere. Trying to get to America, they are on the run from the cops and wanted for murder. Each time they get in trouble, Maya’s eyes go black and people die. I might find this story line compelling if the actors weren’t so annoying, and if I felt like they were going to play an important role in the story. I am sure they will, but for now their progress is painstakingly slow, and not very rewarding.
Peter has been hijacked into a gang of Irish thugs (in Ireland) who are interested in money. He does not remember who he is, but the leader of the group has a box, which contains Peter’s license and other personal affects. They promise the box to him if he helps out. Of course he does, even though he has discovered that he can shoot electricity (probably the low emp burst that Ted used in the first season) out of his hands. Soon, he learns that he can read minds, heal, and use the power of telekinesis. The kicker: he doesn’t open the box. Now I know this is in keeping with Peter’s character (especially since he has amnesia), but it is once again a case of the writers of this show drawing things out too much. I am sick of those Irish thugs, and I am sick of all the pouty and whiny acting–this show has always had a bit of melodrama, but this season really ups the ante in the first three episodes.
Speaking of melodrama, that stupid West guy (the one in Claire’s class who can fly) is really getting on my nerves. He is obviously an attempt to put yet another spin on the outsider with powers archetype, and in this case the spin is that this guuy may be a little weird and way creepy (he’s been hanging out at night outside Claire’s house, spying on her) but he’s really not all that bad. Really, he’s just the stereotypical high school male misanthrope, except he can fly. Oh, and he knows Claire’s secret.
The one good thing about this episode is that Sylar finally showed up. Any fan of the show has been waiting for this guy–the master villain from season one–to show up and wreak some havoc. Well, the true havoc will have to wait, but he does return to form quite quickly. It was not enough to make me say I liked this episode, but at least it was something.
Hiro’s story continues to be the only one worth really caring about, and even that one is getting a little long in the tooth. I mean really, how much time do we need to spend with Hiro trying to get his idealized hero to be the hero he idealizes? I know this is a television show and there are twenty one or so more episodes, but thus far things do not bode well for Heroes season two. I know the first season went slow, but at least it felt like things were happening, and there was a true sense of suspense and excitement. I’m still waiting for those things to happen in season two.
And the cameo by Nichelle Nichols was kind of fun too. She plays Micah’s grandmother, and he and Niki travel to New Orleans to find her. Now if they could only get William Shatner and that fat Scottish guy–then this season would truly be epic.
Episode rating 6/10
So I have another blog here at WordPress. The link is http://smokerstories.wordpress.com/. The reason for the new blog is explained over there, and not to worry, I am not abandoning this one. I just think that the material that Tobacco Tales has is not appropriate or right for this page. So, if you’re curious as to what is going on at the other blog zip on over there and check it out. Leave me a comment, too, so I can see what you think all of this.
Thanks for reading and checking in.
Well, that is not entirely true. I just hate the Colorado Avalanche, though. Since I got interested in hockey several years ago (I am a Sharks fan. I do live in the Bay Area, after all) I have seen the Avs dominate my team and other teams in the west/central division. I have an avid dislike of Peter Forsberg, Joe Sackic and others. Adam foot and Patrick Roy come to mind as being part of the group of Avs players who have irked me in my hockey watching career.
Today was just another reason for me to dislike the Avs. They jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, with a goal by Sakic (how I loathe him). Then, for a brief moment in the second period it looked like the Sharks were ready to stage a comeback (they got a goal early on in the second and put some pressure on), but they fell apart in the third, allowing one goal within the first minute, and another goal shortly thereafter. This was too much for me, so I had to change the channel. I could not watch anymore. Watching your team lose is never any fun, but to watch them lose on television to a team you cannot stand is too much to bear. Especially when they look like they are just getting out played and out hustled the whole game. And that is the thing, in past years the Avs may have been the better team, but this year that should not be the case. The Sharks have a young, fast, and big team–and when they used that size and strength against Colorado, the Avs stood no chance–but the Sharks seem to forget that they are big, strong and fast. I know it is still early in the season (they’ve only played three games, but they are 1-2: not a good sign for the season) but if they do not start playing with some intensity (and for the entire 60 minutes) all their size and talent will not matter. There is no reason for a team with this much talent (Joe Thornton, Johnathan Cheecho, Patrick Marleau,, to name a few) should be manhandled as much as they were today.
For now all that Sharks fans can do is sit back and hope that they will get their act together, and that when nexy they meet the Avs, they will kick some Colorado behind, and not lose 6-2 like they did today.
This page is all about things I find fun an interesting. No subject is really off limits, and I welcome comments and suggestions. So, if there is something you want me to write about just send me a comment and let me know. And be sure to check out this site’s sister blog:
http://smokerstories.wordpress.com/ It is a silly blog wherein I toy with an idea that has been brewing for some time.
