ForenameSurname's blog

I don't care about the politics of petroleum. No. That's not it. I care, but I also look at it pragmatically: war or no war, the oil will be there, if not obtained through convoluted military operations to fight UN sanctions, then through legitimate business dealing, probably from where we've always gotten it: Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, and Saudi Arabia.

I don't care much for universal loving and hand-holding. Some Greek once said that peace is the interruption of war, and while I prefer the Romans, I do appreciate that slice of wisdom. Who needs peace, anyway? Peace doesn't sell newspapers. People go stir-crazy. If the hoi polloi isn't out advertising its positions, it's got nothing to do. It starts to get Ideas, starts to think up stupid shit to sell or televise. War, in other words, keeps people busy, and I'm all for that.  Read More »

Let's just get one thing straight: eighteen-year-olds should thank the US Government-cum-Army for the Vietnam War, because of which we are now granted voting rights. Without the chicken, see, the egg would've had a lonely childhood and would've died of sadness. Eighteen-year-olds would have never given a shit about the privilege of cognizant citizenry, had it not been that this privilege decided where they were going to be for the next four years.  Read More »

There was an article a few months ago in a more or less reputable source (okay, the USA Today of Russia, but whatever) that attempted to address the resurrection of fascist ideology in a country where such a resurrection is not only inappropriate, but downright rude. On a more universal scale, Nazism has been coming back for a while now, from the dreaded German resuscitation of the culture to the RaHoWa bullshit. So, why?  Read More »

"Nightline" made a segment a few years ago concerning border towns in light of the impending ten-year anniversary of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). For those of you who don't know what that is, here is a five-second summary: NAFTA is a document that ensures the free movement (no tariffs) of goods, services, and capital. Funny: no labor. For those of you who do know what that is, do not post angry comments describing the various other corollaries of the agreement.  I'm talking basics, here.  Read More »

I used to fight feminism with all my arsenal. I used to refuse it entrance into my brain, not because of some underlying misogynistic theses in my world view or anything, but because I knew it would depress me to think frankly on the subject.

When my liberal education (I started taking college classes with nigh radical professors) tore down the barricades, my prophecy came true. Knowing that Society (and I mean the vox populi, not the boys and girls of liberalism and progressivism) writes me off as incapable of cognizance, as deserving of less pay, as somehow more inadequate than the other forty percent of the planet does depress me.  Read More »

My ability to withstand improper grammar has evaporated. I go through swings of this, sometimes rigorously enforcing the standards of the English language by correcting speech as a person is talking and sometimes ignoring the issue wholly. However, I can take it no more. How difficult is it for you, my glorious, American children, to learn the language of the country in which you live?  Read More »

I'd like to pull a Newsweek. I did watch the wrong video, and I still stand by my recent falling out with Jon Stewart.

But Stephen Colbert! Stephen motherfuckin' Colbert. Jesus Christ. Jeeeesus. I can imagine him coming home to his wife and saying, "Honey, your husband is a genius." And I would agree. To pull off such a slap in the face, such a kick in the nuts, to the president, when he's sitting ten feet away, with gravitas! With humor! With incision! So incisive was it that my eyes split into a thousand pieces! So sharp was it that I could part a thousand tomatoes with it without swearing like I usually do when I am confronted with the problem of my dull household knives! So bold was it that the wit could enhance the titles of a thousand college essays, MLA format, without fading or losing  the eel!  Read More »

Chickens, meet Ratko Mladic. He is the least popular man in Serbia, at least now that the European Union is backing out of talks of including Serbia into the organization. The deadline to turn over the General for the Tribunal in Hague (why? So that he can breathe fresher air while he's on hotel-arrest? Bitches, please) was April 30th, and Serbia did not deliver.

What now, then? Now, the doors are shut, and fuck you, Belgrade. That's what's now.  Read More »