A Smokers Bill of Rights - A brain dump

Cruel World,

When you see us in the corner lighting up why do you give us that beaming stare. Have I wronged you in anyway? Then you have the nerve to give me one of those fake, crocodile coughs. Big deal. My lungs are filled with this shit, and I can still function.

Now I am not invincible and I know its bad for me, but please consider my experience. I grew up in a country with no laws on tobacco to minors. I smoked hookah when I was probably 12 in an establishment down the road from my modest 2 bedroom in Karama, Dubai. Oh I remember the days! Get on the terrace of the building, we used to bring cans of coke and quality tortilla chips. We strategically also bought with us some reserve deodorant. And for the creme-de-la-creme, a 20-pack of either Luckies (AED 4.50), Charms (AED 2.00), L&M (AED 4.50), Marlboro (AED 6.00), Gold Flake (AED 3.00), Peter Stuyvesant (AED 5.00) or Phillip Morris Menthols (AED 4.50). Oooooh the menthols...the first time was the best I've ever had.

Oh and it was convenient as well! Cafeteria's used to sell them for 50 fills (15 cents) a cigarette. I even had 'my special place' - it was my smoking alley, where no one could find me...no uncles, no aunties, no family. I even helped the watchman/doorman write the English address on a letter he was sending to India. And ever since, we've always met up when I go back to the alley. My friends have frequented the alley as well. It's a testament to my paranoia. In Hindi, it is my 'adha'!

Before I digress anymore, I'm pissed at paying $8.75 a pack. Little runts like me who smoke from an early age are fucking limited in numbers these days man. Increasing the price doesn't affect them because the U.S. has fucking tobacco laws.

I don't really mind the price increase, helps me cut down, but shit man... And for all you ladies out there that don't dig smokers...do you know what one of the reasons is that we took up smoking?? It's 'cool', yes...and you loved that shit. Not anymore apparently, you now like crooning hipsters with tight jeans and "figure me out..I'm deep but disturbed" little weed who has lived in the comfort of suburbia!! God damn it man, these punks spend more time on their hair than I spend on reading the 'Wealth of Nations' and the Bible.

Let me focus again. "Oh my god...that is so disgusting", "Quit or it will kill you" and "You stink" doesn't cut it man. I'm really really pissed. Please be sensitive, my situation is not that I'm a victim or a smoker by choice. i am a spectrum between the two. I didn't start in grad school or college....I started in the fucking 7th grade because I was a bored tool who didn't like video games. I'm hooked. When anyone asks a smoker whats that smell....we should reply.. "It's the fragrance of fucking death".

Oh and we do pay for it! It's tax dollars going to Medicare and Medicaid. And it is a multi billion dollar business. Where do I sue, and lawyers who read this, please advise? I need the sue both the public and private sector and make a shit ton.

When you see a smoker thank him...he/she is actually saving lives. We also keep folks employed in big tobacco American jobs - blue collar - raise taxes and they loose out, thanks to dead weight loss. You can't ship those jobs overseas man. You can ban smoking in the bars and I can take it....but if I'm outside the bar, please don't give me that look. I would much like to watch the scenery around me rather than waste my 5 minutes of reflection in accommodating you. I beg you...please don't judge me...I'm actually a good person. Smokers are a misunderstood bunch, they are either the villains or the anti-heroes in media. You must be thinking now...wow this mofo thinks he's really special. Yes I am, I'm like any non-smoker and I'm like any human being who despises type casting and discrimination. Dig yourself out of that one.

Phew! That felt good! I just justified my habit.

Big shout out to all the people who feel this way....wear a shirt saying "I fund your social welfare programs bitch". We don't need respect, we don't really need anything except an open air space. It isn't government property. And oh ya...fuck Heathrow...a real BIG HAZARD we were...fucking labor party socialists.

Dear New York

"Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen"

Beastie Boys - An Open Letter to New York

Thank you New York...

A reflection on 'The New American Realism'

This Saturday I read Madame Secretary Condolezza Rice's essay on the journal Foreign Affairs. This is one of the most comprehensive summaries on the Bush Administration's foreign policy. The essay reveals the strategy of initiating a unique blend of realism and idealism into nation building and the sustained importance of it. In the post-Cold War era and after the 9-11 attacks, supporting despotism to primarily advance the cause of the national interest is not the proper way of advancing the new world order of democracy and free-markets. Key examples of this are the strategic arrangements that gave rise to Saddam Hussein and the Taliban, two entities which 'betrayed' the Americans.

With all the talk about the legacy of the Bush presidency, this paper tries to shed light on how the Administration would like to view itself in the history books in terms of foreign policy. She makes a fascinating argument that democracy is not unique to culture. That the right of people to choose its leaders is not a matter of the history of a nation. While it is true that new democracies take time to incubate and incur losses in the short run, it justifies itself in the long run in the realization of global stability It cites the examples of India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and South Africa. These examples are very important because they stand for the apparent success (with great hardship) of the great experiment in democracy and free-markets.

The Bush administration's strategy with Iraq is a reflection of the future of American foreign policy. I am not speaking in terms of war, but in terms of the installation and support of democratic solutions throughout the world while balancing the American interest. This of course does not mean the forceful application of these ideals, but an aggressive diplomatic course of action, the culmination of which was seen in Pakistan, with General Musharraf stepping down as head of the Army and taking the role of the civilian President of Pakistan.

In the 20th century American idealism succeeded in Europe and Japan after World War II. Russia has somewhat gone astray from the ideals of democracy, while Africa's success story is seen in South Africa. The key to global stability now, according to Secretary Rice, is the resurgence of this effort in Asia the Middle East for the 21st century. We see the progression of a global trend which will probably end with Africa.

However efforts in Africa have not gone too well, with multiple instances of the defaulting of democracy in places like Zimbabwe and the events in Sudan. The international community, despite all their efforts could not respond soon enough to quell these threats. If the future of democracy is to be sustained, it is integral that the nations of Africa become a part of the international community to fulfill Rice's vision. This should accelerate over time with the competition of resources between the powers of the world. It is important that South Africa, India and the United States play a vital role is competing with China for both resources and ideals.

Even though I don't agree with the means that America has gone through with, we are at this juncture now. And Rice's comments are pretty enticing. It substitutes the indifference and realpolitik of the 70s and 80s for a more idealistic implementation of American foreign policy which we hope will lead to long term global stability.

FUCK IT! We're doing it LIVE!

This is probably the funniest thing I have seen in a while!

"Papa Bear" at his Finest

The Talking Heads

Psycho Killer - Qu'est-ce que c'est?

Pundits, pollsters, authors, partisans, retired generals have sounded the battle horns. It’s been one heck of an election season. The circus has just gotten vicious. Hillary is going ‘Scorched Earth’, Obama has all but lost his shine and McCain is just getting started with the low blows. We love every sumptuous bite the media feeds us and we’re getting fatter by the second.

Political consultants – the Karl Roves, the Lee Atwaters and their heirs are once again formulating the dynamics of the election. Wedge-issues are carefully crafted to split voter bases. The issues – controversial and divisive in nature – carry a ton of weight at the polling booth.

They somehow work under the assumption, that people, whether stupid or not, are carnal when it comes to politics. Their main weapons are their reams of historical candidate quotes and fuck-ups and we love it!

Distractions Include:

Jeremiah Wright, Tax Returns, Bowling, Shots of Whiskey, Elitists, Guns, God, Big Government, Blue Collar vs. White Collar, Main Street vs. Wall Street, Gas Tax Holiday

But really, whose fault is it? Pollsters and political consultants orchestrate this dirty business for a reason. It’s because we watch with baited breath, for the next verbal jousting match over nothing. Who is going to deliver the knockout blow?! Ratings are based on our demand, however unethical the media may be in the portrayal of any issue or wedge issue.

To be fair, there is nothing of substance to talk about when it comes to the race for the Dem nomination. The policies of both Clinton and Obama are fairly similar. They only thing they can fight is a personality war.

My recommendation is to get basic cable and watch PBS from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM for some class. Get rid of the other fluff – CNN, Fox, ABC, MSNBC, NBC, etc. They can take their ratings and shove it. I also think John Stewart’s appearance on cross-fire was something I have tried to articulate but got lazy. Click here for the video(s).

Looking forward to graduation

So why did I do it? I could offer a million answers, all false. The truth is that I'm a bad person, but that's going to change, I'm going to change. This is the last of this sort of thing. I'm cleaning up and I'm moving on, going straight and choosing life. I'm looking forward to it already. I'm going to be just like you: the job, the family, the fucking big television, the washing machine, the car, the compact disc and electrical tin opener, good health, low cholesterol, dental insurance, mortgage, starter home, leisurewear, luggage, three-piece suite, DIY, game shows, junk food, children, walks in the park, nine to five, good at golf, washing the car, choice of sweaters, family Christmas, indexed pension, tax exemption, clearing the gutters, getting by, looking ahead, to the day you die.

-Trainspotting

God damn it!

Good Opinion on International Olympic Protests

Opinion Link

I disagree with the manner of the protests going on. The locals (not Tibetans) of London, Paris and San Fransisco should take into account the Dalai Lama's views. He is after all, described as the leader in exile of the Tibet people. Also factor in the views of billion people who are experiencing a once in a lifetime event, in which the nations of the world are supposed to 'come together'. This has the potential to be a 'transcendent' experience for the Chinese people. They could incorrectly view it as the Tibetans sabotaging their moment which may lead to more violent crackdowns in the PRC.

I do not justify what the Chinese have done or are doing in Tibet.

This is an article on the Dalai Lama's public view

I also do not agree with the 'efforts' by Indian authorities to ban Tibetan exile protests when the torch passes through the country.

There is also an article on the BBC about the history of Olympic protest. Its called 'Power Games'.

People might look at this and call me an armchair critic.

I don't care.

Increasing Scruitiny of Chinese Policy

Hello Everyone!

I know its been a long time and apologize for the delay.


Now for the story...

Breaking news on BBC and other Western media outlets indicate that Hu Jia, a 34 year-old Chinese human rights activist and dissident, has been arrested and possibly sentenced by Chinese officials.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7327718.stm

The actions of the Chinese government are reprehensible. I hope that the officials release him as soon as possible, if he is truly innocent. Even if he is not innocent, the sentence of 3-and-a-half years is too much. However, let us explore something else - the Western media's sense of moral authority.

The West of course claims the moral high ground. Following the faint screams of their hippies and "Free Tibet" wannabes, we have a media frenzy. Tibet, Dissident, Torture, Human Rights, Arrested, Detained, Repression - these key words for headlines on China have gleamed in the past few days.

It boils down to this: maximize damage against the Chinese system during their most vulnerable time - the Olympics. The frenzy does not have the appearance of a genuine attempt to reform China. It seems like an exercise in the strategic or the subconscious propagation of the idea to be suspicious of the competing East.

The people, have gotten used to reading stories about China and have been drilled (Orwellian style) to think, "Oh no! those Chinese are up to no good again!". Why don't you question the media? Why is China the big bad red?

What if Mr. Jia was actually espousing lies? If he was, how do you feel about the 'good Christians' at Fox News? I know the left would figuratively enjoy Bill O'Reilly' s head on a platter.

Has anyone heard of Sami Al Hajj - an Al Jazeera journalist held at Guantanamo Bay (since December 15th 2001) by the U.S. Government?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_Al_Hajj
http://www.prisoner345.net/

Compare this to the massive campaign to free Alan Johnston - who was detained by the Army of Islam in Palestine, and released on the insistence of Hamas.

I'm not saying this is a conspiracy but I do think skepticism is healthy.

Gavin