American Morning

I've alluded to my unending love for Soledad O'Brien on this page before. That love expanded today when she openly ridiculed Under Secretary of State Karen Hughes. I'll line it up for you so you can imagine it perfectly. Karen Hughes was asked why the US was not rushing to a cease-fire and Hughes said that the need was urgent, not immediate. According to Hughes, America absolutely wants to have a cease fire, but the need was urgent, not immediate. An immediate cease-fire, again according to the Bush Administration, would result in giving in to the terrorists. Soledad looked at her exactly like you would look at someone if they just took a leak on your leg. Mrs. O'Brien let the Under Secretary know that the entire world supported an immediate cease-fire, and the US was the only nation holding back the potential cease-fire. Karen Hughes's answer to this was that the US was deeply concerned about the loss of life, but stopping the fight now would be quitting half way. It's looking more and more like the theory that the pace of US diplomacy over the last week and a half has purely been a method of letting Israel have its way before international pressure forced a cessation. One last thing, besides being noticably angry and demeaning during the entire interview, Soledad commented on how Under Secretary Hughes still hasn't come close to completing her task since she was appointed. Hughes was brought in to help improve Bush Administration approval ratings across the globe, in order to help lubricate international buttcheeks. Thus far, O'Brien pointed out, approval ratings are down in every major country, including France, UK, Spain, Italy, Germany, Russia, China, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and all across South America. Soledad O'Brien can be seen every morning on American Morning on CNN, opposite evil twin Miles O'Brien; and in my dreams every night.

The 5 Most Important Albums of My Life

Before I dive into this little list there are a couple of things you should know. Although I may try to sound like it, I really know nothing about music. I mean that statement alone is pretty pretentious because it implies that there is a right and wrong here, and that I may have the answer to it. Another thing, this is not the five best albums of my life, or the five most important albums to other people during my life. This is more like a personal decision, kinda like having butt sex with your wife. That was wildly innappropriate; on to the list.

5. Busta Rhymes- "When Disaster Strikes"
So I probably turned about 85% of the people reading this away already. But seriously, it's a really good album. It's also the album that really brought me into rap, and away from late 90's grunge rock..and that is an important event in anyone's life. This album also features two of the greatest rap songs ever, "Dangerous" and "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See." This album is sick with it, and it is worth a good listen. I don't listen to this album anywhere near as much as I once did, but it is still super important in my musical life.

4. Nirvana- "Nevermind"
Speaking of grunge rock, here they are, Nirvana. The first band I really loved, and the first album I ever bought. Some people would argue for In Utero being the better album, and Unplugged in NY is probably my personal favorite album, but as far as importance, it's all about "Nevermind" and Smells Like Teen Spirit. The album also has the first studio cut of "Polly", and that song is legendary. It's extremely cliche to put this album on a list like this, but I don't care. I love it and it has a special spot with me.

3. Elliot Smith- "Either/Or"
Top to bottom one of the three greatest albums I have ever listened to. I'd be hardpressed to find a bad track on the album. I feel a little dirty putting the album on my list because I just picked up the cd a few months back in December, and it is still in my constant rotation. The reason that it's on here though, is because I associate it so much with my trip to England. If you haven't listened to this cd, I suggest you should, it is aural crack. The one bad thing though is that you will constantly remember that you can't see this guy live anymore, and that is reallly depressing.

2. The Streets- "Original Pirate Material"
Well, if you know me at all you had to know one of The Streets' three albums was going to make this list; it's definitely not "Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living." I really chose this album over "A Grand Don't Come for Free" purely because of one song. "Turn the Page" is my single favorite song ever. I have listened to it probably over 300 times. That is a sickness, a disease. I know there are some great songs on "Grand", and I don't listen to Turn the Page the way I used to. Still, this album did a few things. It opened me up to British rap/grime; began the newest and most recent phase of my musical life; and was probably a little more of the reason I went to England than I'd like to admit. Great album, if you haven't listened to it and you're reading this than I definitely don't know you personally; regardless, listen to this album.

1. Radiohead- "OK Computer"
This may surprise a few people I know. It doesn't have the massive amount of listens that some of the albums on this list have. I don't talk about it as much, and I definitely don't gush over it like some of the other stuff I listen to. All that said, because of this album I am listening to quality music today. If I never heard this album, I would probably still be poo-pooing some great stuff because it wasn't popular enough, or 'hood' enough for me. They made me understand good rock, good music really, and for this I thank them. I would actually have no qualms with this being number one on a greatest albums ever, favorite albums ever, most important, etc. If you haven't given this album or Kid A a listen to...well I'm not sure I want to know you then.

Got Rings?

For the second night since Saturday I had to deal with douchebag Yankee fans mouthing off. Two days ago I had to hear two guys start a 'Pelfrey Sucks' chant, and today I had to deal with someone yelling at me for my Cubs jersey. Can Yankee fans please worry about themselves. If you are a Yankee fan and you read this, please do all of us a favor and stop being a complete douche to the rest of society. You were around for 3 rings, not 26, so don't brag about all of them. You probably have no idea on the significance of Babe Ruth, so don't try to discuss him with me. The Chicago Cubs haven't played competitive baseball in nearly 100 years, so stop bothering their fans. And the New York Mets are better than you, so deal with it. Stop booing the best player in baseball, get over yourselves. Theres a reason people love to watch your team lose, and it has nothing to do with the players and everything to do with the people in the stands. If I could declare Jihad on one group of people, it would be Yankee fans.

Lebanese Viagra

It has been 14 days since the Lebanese-Israeli conflict began. Two weeks. It took two weeks for a real peace proposal to hit the table. While hundreds of Lebanese are dying, Lebanese civilian infrastructure being destroyed, and any attempt at Arab-Israeli trust being obliterated; the world dragged its feet to come to a solution. Almost everyone agreed, everyone except the US and Israel, that an immediate cease-fire was necessary. Once again, the US proved that it doesn't have to take anybody's guff and continued to support Israel's defiance of international pressure. The world said stop, and the US said no. It took less than 12 hours for US approval of expediation of a shipment of laser-guided missiles to Israel. It took over 12 days for Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice to step foot in Beirut.

What does the international peace plan call for? First it allows for $30 million in humanitarian aid to Lebanon. Easily eclipsing all other totals from every other government except the Saudi's, who have agreed to send $1.5 billion. Second, it calls for an 'international force' to be deployed into Southern Lebanon. Please notice that the words, 'peacekeeping', have been left out of here. There is a reason for this. This force is meant to destroy the remnants of the Hezbollah militia. This is definitely a good thing. Hezbollah need to get in line with the other serious Islamic political parties, adhere to UN Resolution 1559, and disband the military. This is a group that has a lot of resonance with Islamic Shi'a and it would turn a messy situation messier, if Hezbollah leadership was destroyed. The 'international force' would be made up of 10,000 Egyptian and Turkish troops, and 30,000 international troops. A majority of the international troops would most likely be made up of French army. The groups would be lead by a NATO and UN military command. This all sounds like a quality situation but there is just one problem, how is this a peace settlement?

How can you have a peace settlement when there is nobody to negotiate peace with? There is obviously no shot of Americans turning on the tv to see President Bush and Hassan Nasrallah having a discussion on the peace process. The United States refuses to negotiate with terror groups, and Hezbollah is on the US Terror List. The US hasn't had diplomatic relations with Syria in a year, since the assasination of Prime Minister Hariri. The more it becomes apparent that Syria is the main link to Hezbollah, the more this decision looks foolish. Finally, we are definitely not talking to Iran, because they have a man in power who still doesn't believe the Holocaust happened, and refuses to cease enriching uranium. Furthermore, we know that Lebanon has no control over the southern region of their country, and there are many doubts as to whether or not Lebanon has ever regained control over any part of their country. When all is said and done I think we will look back at the current Lebanese government as more impotent than Bob Dole after a bottle of Jack Daniels. These guys have no power at all. So again, who is the US and Israel negotiating with?

What is the solution here? I think the current plan on the table is a solid place to start. I agree with basically everything that it calls for. The most important thing that must be established, is the rehabalitation of Lebanon. The 'international force' must help the Lebanese government get control of its own region, which is its main objective. Syria absolutely must be brought to the table, and any sort of peace discussion must include them. The further the US alienates Syria, the closer the world comes to having to deal with this problem again in a few months. If Hezbollah is rooted out, and Syria is not involved, make no mistake, there will be another Hezbollah before long. Speaking of Hezbollah, it must be demanded of them that they drop their military capacities. If they want to contribute to the Lebanese government as a legitimate political party, that absolutely must be allowed. However, if they refuse to disarm, they will have to be dealt with. I personally do not see Hezbollah as a terror organization (I will expound on this concept in another blog), but that does not mean they should not be dealt with as a rebellious group of they remain armed.

Last, but of course not least, we have Israel. Israel, O Israel. Can someone please tell me why Israel can continously get away with this? Are they paying someone off? Do they have lawyers that are really just that good? Obviously it is because the state of Israel has basically served as the United States's little brother, and are protected as such. Nowhere else in the world can a government commit such atrocities without being absolutely and positively condemned. This nation continues to recieve intense international support from the US and her allies, despite the fact that they are responsible for some of the worst humanitarian atrocities of the last 50 years. Chalk up the rape of Beirut, right next to the Palestinian Diaspora, and the massacres of Sabra and Shatila (again I will post on this third incident in depth soon, if you want to look it up on your own you should, it is Ariel "Bulldozer" Sharon's lifetime achievement.) Lebanon has been completely dismantled, despite the fact that the IDF is fully aware that the Lebanese government has no control over the actions Hezbollah committed. They have created a brand new Lebanese diaspora, displacing nearly 1 million people! All this because two IDF soldiers were kidnapped? All this, and Ehud Olmert and George W. Bush have the nerve to come on tv and say that there has not been an imbalanced use of force? Now Olmert and Bush say that this use of force is in self-defense of rocket attacks launched on Haifa. This is all said in full knowledge that IDF military officials were on television 12 days ago saying, "If one Israeli soldier is killed, we shall raze Beirut to the ground." They made good on their word, and now its time for the UN to make good on theirs. Force Israeli officials responsible for the brutality to submit to UN laws, force them to submit to the Geneva Convention. Israeli bombs have been dropped containing the phosphorous chemical, on civilian structures! The atrocities of Israel cannot continue if the Arab world is to ever trust the UN or the US. If George W. Bush wants to win the war on terror, this is how it will be done. Not with bombs but through an actual process of trust.

Thank you to CNN.com for the pictures provided, facts and news provided by CNN.com and BBC.co.uk.
The first picture is Beirut in 1970, the second picture is Beirut on July 24, 2006.

The Most Blogged War

So I finally came around to the blog scene. I avoided it for a long time, seems a little ridiculous to me. But the ridiculousness took an entire new life today when CNN reported that the current Israeli-Lebanese conflict is, and I quote, "THE MOST BLOGGED WAR EVER!" Really? This is worth reporting? Despite the fact that this is the most annoying statistic ever (how does that stat even get compiled, is the Elias Sports Bureau on that?); it did the job in getting me to look a little deeper into the blog scene.

First stop, Cigarboxes and Guitars. What a blog. I can't believe I even wrote that sentence just now. Anyways, it is an intensely interesting blog if you enjoy reading about obscure music references and top 5 lists. I love the humorous pretentiousness of the writing, and suggest it to anyone and everyone. It is my inspiration and guiding light...ok, that is a bit much, but it's a good read and you should check it out.

After that, I got suckered into signing up with some website that promised to pay me for my writing. Now I was absolutely sold on this blogging thing. If I can get paid to write that means they must think I'm somewhat important, right? No, it just means I'm a foolish sucker. It had some whole advertising spiel, and I do not have the time for advertising spiels. Thank you, but uhh no thank you.

That brings me back around here. I figured the site worked so well for Cigarboxes, who am I to change things up. So I've set up shop on blogger.com, and I hope everyone enjoys it. The title of the site is Rear Window, and it serves two purposes. One, it is a reference to one of the five greatest films I have ever seen. Two, I intend to comment on just about anything and everything I have any interest in, so it works as a pun as well. Watching from the Rear Window...Hitchcock would love this blog.

I'll come up with my first real post of substance tommmorow. It will almost definitely be about the conflict going on in the Middle East. By the way, the cutie at the top of the post, thats Soledad O'Brien; a.k.a. the real reason I watch CNN in the morning. Someday down the line we can credit the vixen of Beirut with my writing.