Category: anti-blog Page 8 of 12

35,000 people got together at the Minnesota state capitol in St. Paul yesterday to remember the people who lost their lives last Tuesday. From the article:

Rabbi Morris Allen of Beth Jacob Synagogue in Mendota Heights told the crowd that the terrorists cannot hide behind a veil of religion.

He also said that America must be sure of its target when it responds, stressing that it must make sure it doesn’t unjustly target the wrong people. It was a theme throughout the ceremony and one that drew consistent applause.

‘We must be clear not to let outrage devolve into mere rage and victimize Americans of any religion or ethnicity or from a different country of origin,’ he said.

These days are so difficult.

It was obvious after Tuesday—after terrorists declared war on America—that it was going to be much harder to go on. But it’s one thing to realize that the world is about to change, and another to actually live in it—minute by minute, conversation by strained conversation. I am aware that I have anger and frustration and deep sorrow lying just underneath a numb, shocked exterior. And I know I’m not thinking as clearly as I would otherwise be.

It’s just so hard to concentrate on almost anything. Even in the best of circumstances I’m an easily distracted person. The news of further developments and leads and clues and accusations and promises of justice and rescues and the disheartening news of not enough rescues are both compelling and wearying. I have the strong desire to stay informed and to find out news as soon as I can… but it’s so hard to continuously hear it. Being reminded of the horrors of September 11th amplifies the pain.

And it’s horrible to think that there were more attackers. It chills me to know that still more inhuman monsters exist that would literally do anything fueled by hatred. At least all other planes were grounded on Tuesday in time to stop the other terrorists in New York from doing the same thing. The frightening thing is that something like this—or, God forbid, worse—really could happen anywhere, at any time, and the people that planned these attacks still live.

I believe that no one has the right to take other people’s lives. No person, no group of people, no institution, no government, no corporation. That’s why it hurts so much to know how many thousands have been snuffed out so callously. I don’t believe in the death penalty. I find that belief tested knowing how terrorists take advantage of it.

The effects of the attacks are so far-reaching and profound. So many people who yet live have been hurt: physically, mentally, emotionally. We, as a country, as a people, as a culture, and as a world, have lost so much. We have lost friends and family. We have lost our sense of security, which may have been false to begin with.

Does this mean we should lash out at who we believe did this? Maybe. Is this the time for prudence? Maybe. I don’t know. I don’t have the answers.

I called the blood center around 4:30 pm today, and they said it’d be better to come in tomorrow morning since they still had a lot of people waiting to give blood tonight (they just closed, at 7). So I’ll probably go first thing in the morning (and I’ll make sure to eat a good breakfast). I realized the last time (i.e., the first time) I gave blood, I had basically failed to eat dinner the night before (a rare occurrence in itself). I won’t be making that mistake again.

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A couple of articles stood out a bit to me from the rest of the massive coverage today: one from Salon.com warning against a backlash, and John Nichols’ “Online Beat” on thenation.com (text of two articles in new window; source URL, which doesn’t stay permanent).

The shocks are still coming. The investigation continues. Life goes on.

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Locally, our potential strike and the negotiations that will precede any job action have been postponed. I think it was an extremely prudent move.

What a horrible, inconceivable thing. This morning, at about 8:46 am EDT and 9:04 EDT, two planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York. It’s almost entirely certain that both crashes were intentional and undoubtedly coordinated. The buildings—both towers—now have gaping holes in them and are billowing smoke.

It really fills me with deep dread and sorrow that something like this can happen in our world.

I just happened to turn on the television before getting ready for work, and saw this. President Bush just made a brief statement, in part: “Terrorism against our nation will not stand.”

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9:44-10:04 am EDT: Reports are pouring in, via CBS News on television: There was an explosion at the Pentagon in Washington, DC—either a bomb or a helicopter exploded in a heliport, or a plane crashed there as well. No confirmation. The White House, Pentagon, Treasury, and Capitol, in DC, have been evacuated. A Palestinian group has reportedly claimed responsibility for the plane crash, met with some doubt when reported. All airports, tunnels and bridges in the New York City area have been closed. Two planes were hijacked—one out of Boston—one was American Airlines, one was United. No word on which one (if either) crashed into the World Trade Center. The FAA has grounded all aircraft nationwide.

These incidents look like war.

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5:51-6:04 pm CDT, my time: The immediate terror is over, but the aftermath has just begun. Most of the early reports were pretty accurate.

Of course, since I last posted: Both towers of the World Trade Center have collapsed, as has another part of the building. It’s gone. Destroyed forever. There were four commercial jets successfully hijacked, two of which plowed into the World Trade Center, one of which indeed hit the Pentagon, and one which crashed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, not far from Pittsburgh. Explosions in Kabul, Afghanistan are not linked to the attacks, as might be suspected. There are still people trapped, and clouds of smoke, in New York City.

Who knows when we’ll know just how many people were killed, how many people were injured, how much damage was done. The trickle of names of people killed has just started: Barbara Olson, wife of Solicitor General Ted Olson, was on a plane that was hijacked, and reported to her husband via cell phone (before presumably dying in the crash) that it was hijacked by men with “box-cutters” and circled before hitting its target (via ABC News, on television). What could be more tragic?

Jason Kottke and Camworld have lists of weblogs based in New York City that are covering the horror. I haven’t bothered with links to news stories because, well, it’s pretty much everywhere on the web.

I pray for everyone involved. I am so saddened. These attacks make everything else seem incredibly insignificant. The course of human life on this planet has changed because of the machinations of the worst of us—the execution of their evil plans, and the manifestation of our worst fears.

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Personally, I don’t know anyone who lives in Manhattan. My mom and step-dad, however, are in Brazil at the moment, having flown there Sunday 9/9/01 and arrived there Monday morning 9/10/01. (It’s my mom’s first time out of the country.) Thank God they didn’t leave two days later. I haven’t talked to them yet, but it seems they are checked into their hotel (since the front desk there, when I called, knew who they were, but said they were out). I’m sure they’ll be fine. The only worries I have for them are that they won’t enjoy their visit as much as they would have under better circumstances and the off-chance that, for some reason, they won’t be able to fly back… but I assume they will.

I’ll be giving blood tomorrow.

6:20 pm CDT: Just announced on ABC News: Anyone with information on these crimes should visit www.ifccfbi.gov. Family or friends of victims should call 1-800-331-0075.

I can’t believe I just wasted an hour on Brunching Shuttlecocks. I should have put in my laundry.

Nothing, really. Ran across another site (via Joe Clark) by some guy who just moved to France, from Canada: Cardigan Industries, and his weblog, Textism.

WordSpy—a site devoted to neologisms, one of my obscure interests—is also an amusing site I visit from time to time. The person who runs the site (Paul McFedries) also has one of them there new-fangled anagram makers: family fun for everyone. Some of the better rearrangements of the letters in my full name (Jason Lee Gohlke) are:

• Shaken ego Jell-O
• Leno’s Helga joke
• Jangle eel hooks
• Joe’s elk halogen
• “Galleon,” he jokes.
• etc.

Me, on May 2nd, 2001, to myself: “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, weblog.” While it may not be true, it is worth considering.

Announced at 2:00 pm: MAPE, my union, representing 10,500 state employees, voted to strike. 84.2% of members who voted rejected the contract, 15.8% voted to accept. Read the press release and the Pioneer Press article.

What’s next? Well, there’s still a chance a strike can be averted. The union and the state will start negotiating again a week from tomorrow, probably nonstop until Sunday, September 16. The high total mentioned above gives negotiators a pretty decent position to bargain from. The MAPE Executive Board will meet that day and decide whether the state has improved its offer enough to say, “No, we won’t walk.” If the Board votes to reject, we’ll be on strike starting at 6 am on September 17th.

To compound the problem for the employer, AFSCME Council 6 (representing 19,000 state employees) also voted to strike last week. There is the possibility that over 30,000 state employees will walk off the job in 10 days.

This situation might get ugly—uglier than it already is.

* * *

Speaking of ugly: If you subscribe to the aphorism, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all,” then please skip this entry.

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is the most self-indulgent, ill-conceived, “wink-wink, nudge-nudge,” mugging-for-the-camera, crude, pointless, plotless, excuse for a movie I’ve seen in a very long time. Perhaps ever.

Which is not to say it didn’t have a few (very few) amusing moments. I think Ben Affleck’s self-parody was pretty much right on. [spoiler, if you care:] The parody of the filming of Good Will Hunting 2: Hunting Season took way too long to develop, but the idea was mildly amusing. And, oh, yeah, the casting of James Vanderbeek and Jason Biggs (and their acting, actually) was particularly inspired.

What a waste of 2 hours and $4.50. My Kevin Smith tally now is: three movies that suck (Clerks, Chasing Amy [mostly for the ending], and Jay…) and two slightly good movies (Mallrats, Dogma).

Today’s discovery: Wil Wheaton (of Stand By Me and Star Trek: The Next Generation fame) now has a weblog. Before you start snickering (I know, too late), he’s actually a decent writer and a pretty funny guy. I think he’s got his head screwed on straight. Turns out he cringed at the lines they made him say on ST:TNG as much as we did when we heard them….

Incredibly great news: My brother was hired today as a police officer! This is his first (real) job after getting his 2-year degree and 6 months of certification training in North Carolina. I’m extremely proud of him and happy for him.

Earlier this evening, someone put a condom on the handlebar of my bike, which was locked up right outside my apartment building. Upon discovering such a wonderful gift (the gift of latex [and it’s not even my anniversary]), which did not appear used, by the way, I did the only sensible thing possible: I carefully removed it with my housekey and gingerly deposited it in the nearest dumpster. This, 3 or 4 weeks after I find my (broken) bicycle seat (and [non-broken] post) stolen. Why me, people? Why me?

(Maybe it’s because I use nested parenthetical statements [multiple times, even].)

* * *

After the aforementioned condom removal, I rode my bike to the 7th St. Entry to see the Minders tonight. Damn good show. I spoke very briefly with the lead singer Martyn Leaper after the show and all I could really get out was, “I wish you guys could have played longer.” What I really meant to say was, “Your songs are beautiful, you are brilliant musicians, and you really know how to rock.”

Overheard at the concert (names are made up because I didn’t know them):

Tyler (introducing Greg to Frieda): [Greg] plays in a rock band.

Frieda (earnestly): Rock’n’roll?

Greg (deadpan, the bastard): No, just rock.

If it were fiction, my next line would have been:

Tyler: Yes, Greg says the rolling part can get tricky.

And the name of Greg’s band would be Chris Price and the Krackels.

If it were bad fiction, that is.

* * *

This coming Tuesday I find out whether I go on strike or not. Judging from the tenor of events, and the momentum that seems to be building, I’d be very surprised if we accept this contract. (If we reject it, I’ll probably canvass again, in addition to participating in job action activities [e.g., picketing], till the strike ends.)

Hey there! A couple recommendations:

1. Go to your nearest independent comic shop, or visit Fantagraphics online, and pick up Dan Clowes’ Ghost World, a compilation of stories about two teenage girls that have appeared in his brilliant Eightball series.
2. Then go see the movie he co-wrote with director Terry Zwigoff, of Crumb fame. Ghost World the movie was, well, worth the wait.
3. Wow, and on the Ghost World movie site (Flash), check out Steve Buscemi‘s selected filmography. What a great, underrated actor. I especially love his work with the Coen brothers. [Sheesh, that’s a whole lotta links.]

I saw the movie Friday night with Amber, who originally introduced me to Eightball. It was nice to see it with someone else who could really appreciate it.

Anyway, comics can be art. They can contain interesting and incisive social commentary. Clowes’ work—amusing, affectionately mean-spirited, and sardonic as hell—satisfies both conditions. Funny thing is, of course, only now that Ghost World has become a movie does Clowes get the publicity he’s always deserved.

* * *

This is great: competitive Photoshopping, or Photoshop Tennis^TM, by Coudal Partners, Inc. and company. Very clever stuff.

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Happy 13th anniversary, Mom and Rich! Hope it was a good one.