optimism

One says to the other, "Are you an optimist or a pessemist?" and the other answers, "I'm an optimist, of course. I am certain that today will be better than tommorrow."
- Tom Friedman, From Beirut to Jerusalem

evolution and conversion

"The difference between George Washington And George W [Bush] makes a fool out of Darwin, so now I have become a creationist."
- Gore Vidal

knowledge

The only true authority stems from knowledge, not from position. Knowledge engenders authority, and authority engenders respect—so if you want respect in an egoless environment, cultivate knowledge.
  - Gerald M. Weinberg, The Psychology of Computer Programming

Hades Below Zero

science unceasing
with xenotransplantation
flapping pigs will float

Ray McGovern Reveals the Non Sequitur

"And I suppose the good news is that finally someone had a chance to ask Don Rumsfeld -- if I were in Washington, I never would have got into a session where Rumsfeld spoke. I have to give him credit that he took questions and answers. But, you know, it's really interesting that when I walked into the place, I wrangled a ticket very surreptitiously. I was met with this little blurb on Donald Rumsfeld, and as I read it, I had to chuckle. It says, “There’s going to be a question-and-answer period, but please adhere to these guidelines. Refrain from using the word ‘lie’ in relation to the war in Iraq. Do not question the secretary’s personal responsibility for torture. And please don’t discuss first use of nuclear weapons against Iran. If you violate these guidelines, you'll be immediately removed from the auditorium, flown to an undesignated prison location somewhere in Eastern Europe and tortured. Thank you for your cooperation. The World Cannot Wait.” A wonderful, wonderful group. Those were the folks that spoke up and tried to brace Donald Rumsfeld with the lies and their charges of him being -- and he is, arguably -- a war criminal. And we shouldn't shy away from saying that. " - Ray McGovern on a Q&A with Rumsfeld

view here
listen here

hijacked
the white house hijacked
nine-eleven for a war.
who's hijacking who?

What is Life?

" 
  "What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is a breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow that runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset." - Said by Chief Crowfoot, Blackfoot Indian Chief.

  This last entry was written in red ink and decorated with a border of green-ink stars; the anthologist wished to emphasize its "personal significance." "A breath of a buffalo in the wintertime" -- that exactly evoked his view of life. Why worry? What was there to "sweat about"? Man was nothing, a mist, a shadow absorbed by shadows.

  But, damn it, you do worry, scheme, fret over your fingernails....

" - Truman Capote, In Cold Blood.

celestial zenith
also gone at noon
that lost little shadow that
runs across the grass

Cool Views of Baby Blue

View Here

Sino-US Relation

shaking fists over
Taiwan, while holding hands to
fight the Terrorists