U.S. Diplomatic and Commercial Relationships with Iraq, 1980 - 2 August 1990

Yeah, oh yeah. Article here. If this is all true, I wonder how Saddam feels about the souring of his long-time business relationship with the United States.

toilet humour

I was barely sitting down when I heard a voice from the other stall saying: "Hi, how are you?"

I'm not the type to start a conversation in the men's restrooms at a rest stop, but I don't know what got into me, so I answered, somewhat embarrassedly: "Doin' Just Fine!"

And the other guy says: "So what are you up to?"

What kind of question is that? At this point, I'm thinking this is too bizarre so I say: "Uh, I'm like you, just traveling east!"

At this point I am just trying to get out as fast as I can when I hear another question.

"Can I come over to your place after while?"

Ok, this question is just wacky but I figured I could just be polite and end the conversation.

I tell him, "Well, I have company over so today is a bad day for me!"

Then I hear the guy say nervously...

"Listen, I'll have to call you back. There's an idiot in the other stall who keeps answering all my questions!"

(no subject)

I guess it's pretty challenging to find a middle path in approaching the impending war with Iraq. The truly equanimous one would simply observe it unfold without judgement and not feel compelled to entrench oneself so firmly on one side of the debate versus the other. Ultimately, no matter how many people die in that war, it will be less than the number of people who die of AIDS in Africa this year, and possibly comparable to the number of people who are living in poverty in the US, even. Who knows. There's bad shit going on in varying degrees all over the place, and it's always a challenge to figure out what should be done about it all.

I don't think there's anything I can do personally to avoid war in Iraq, and I actually don't know if there's anything I should even try to do. I'm not an American citizen, George Bush is not my president, and I don't know anyone who lives in Iraq. Any opinions I hold or express are solely those of an innocent, stakeless bystander who may as well be commenting on last night's hockey game.

True enough, I still think Dubya is crazy and that this war is based on misguided principles, but what is that to me? All I can do is retain my immediate focus on caring for myself and my family, and raising my children to be responsible, caring people who will hopefully make a positive contribution to themselves and their community. My locus of control is quite small, not extending far from myself. I dare not screw up what I do have a say over and what I can control. I must remain grounded in this moment and on what I can do from where I am right now.

I really appreciate having close friends and family nearby though, including anyone and everyone who might be reading this message right now. I appreciate the feeling of connection I have with everyone, and the unity I can see in all of us. Even Dubya. Maybe even especially Dubya. That crazy cat, he could really use someone to talk to right now. Or else someone to medicate him properly.