B.log

A blog is an examination or educational website distributed on the World Wide Web and comprising of discrete sections normally showed in opposite sequential request. Until 2009 web journals were typically the work of a solitary individual[citation needed], sporadically of a little gathering, and frequently secured a solitary subject. All the more as of late "multi-writer websites" have created, with posts composed by substantial quantities of writers and professionally altered. Mabs from daily papers, other media outlets, colleges, research organizations, promotion bunches and comparable foundations represent an expanding amount of site movement. The ascent of Twitter and other "microblogging" frameworks aides coordinate Mabs and single-creator web journals into societal newstreams. Website can additionally be utilized as a verb, intending to keep up or add substance to a site. The rise and development of web journals in the late 1990s agreed with the coming of web distributed devices that encouraged the posting of substance by non-specialized clients.

Ben

"Ben" is a song written by Don Black and composed by Walter Scharf for the 1972 film of the same name (the sequel to the 1971 killer rat film Willard). It was performed in the film by Lee Montgomery and by Michael Jackson over the closing credits. Jackson's single, recorded for the Motown label in 1972, spent one week at the top of the U.S. pop chart. It also reached number-one on the Australian pop chart, spending eight weeks at the top spot. The song also later reached a peak of number seven on the British pop chart."Ben" won a Golden Globe for Best Song. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1973, losing to "The Morning After" from The Poseidon Adventure; Jackson performed the song in front of a live audience at the ceremony. The song was Jackson's first #1 solo hit.

Madeleine Albright

Madeleine Korbelová Albright (born May 15, 1937) was the first woman to become the United States Secretary of State. She was appointed by US President Bill Clinton on December 5, 1996, and was unanimously confirmed by a U.S. Senate vote of 99–0. She was sworn in on January 23, 1997.
Albright currently serves as a Professor of International Relations at Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service. She holds a PhD from Columbia University. She holds honorary degrees from Brandeis University (1996); the University of Washington (2002); Smith College (2003); University of Winnipeg (2005); the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2007), and Knox College (2008). In May 2012, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by US President Barack Obama. Secretary Albright also serves as a Director on the Board of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Albright is fluent in English, French, Russian, and Czech; she speaks and reads Polish and Serbo-Croatian as well.

Angry Germanic people

Confucius said: "If you look at a man and feel inferior, examine your education; if you look at a man and feel superior, examine your character."

It is a personal pet peeve of mine when people attempt to act as though they are more intelligent than someone else. Don't get me wrong, not all people have the same intelligence level, but to lord a supposed intellectual advantage over someone really only reveals the intellectual inferiority (and insecurities) of that person.

Recently I was introduced to the term "intellectual snob." I find this term highly amusing. It is the duty of the intelligent to help the less intelligent. I believe this to be fundamental to the human condition. The inventor of the wheel didn't hoard his invention; he shared it with the world. The great scholars of the world realized the need for education, and promoted it. Imagine if Aristotle had kept his knowledge only for his inner circle. The world would have been deprived.

I recently came across someone who classified themselves as an "intellectual snob," quite proudly too. I patronized him by playing a little game he was trying to play in an effort to see what was really behind the ugly facade that had led me to him in the first place. I found what I have found time and time again when dealing with people who feel superior to others, nothing. An absolute lack of substance. Oh I'm sure within his little circle he enjoys some degree of semi-celebrity. Most snobs do. Ironically this happened to be something he was railing against when I met him. But that is neither here nor there.

When confronted with the various flaws in his logic, he did what typical, unskilled debaters do. Attempt to "posture" and attack the credibility of his critic. Inevitably he degenerated to deflecting facts with smarmy humor, and the use of sarcasm to push aside truth, further deflating his own arguments. I endeavored one more time to persuade him that certain statements he made were false, unnecessary, and disingenuous, but to no avail. I tried to show the social responsibility of the intelligent, no response. I don't think he understood what I was saying.

The person in question now has eliminated the way in which we were communicating before for me, leading me to believe he no longer wants to continue our discussions. It's fine by me, I have plenty of other things to do in my life, and wasting my time on someone who wants to get into a pissing contest about his supposed higher intelligence level is frankly something I consider beneath me. To be a snob about intellect is not only classless, it shows a lack of intelligence in and of itself...and the distinct need to examine one's character.

When at the barrel of a gun...

When at the barrel of a gun...
From the Associated Press

China will "never allow Taiwan's independence" according to Chinese foreign minister Li Zhaoxing.

Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena disputes the US account of the incident which killed one Italian agent and wounded two others.

Could this be a barometer of US support for the war in Iraq?

Just a few thoughts...

A little background info...

With so much trouble in the world today, and everyone having an opinion on it, I thought "Why not add mine to the mix." So here I am. Let get you a little background to kick things off.

I am a U.S. citizen. I am 24 years old. I am male. I spent a year in Iraq as an army reservist. No I am not/was not "for the war." No, I did not vote for George W. Bush. Yes, I did vote. I am not a Democrat or Republican. I am a moderate who leans a bit to the left. I am for gun licensing and gay marraige, and I am against the death penalty and abortion. I am a christian (in the born-again sense) though I do not believe you can legislate your faith.

I do not believe in "pre-emptive strikes." I don't believe anyone should be allowed to go down the street and kick their neighbors ass because they think that neighbor might do something terrible to them. I believe that sometimes war is enevitable, and that a standing military is necessary. Not the other way around. I believe in exhausting every possible means before going to war. I don't believe we came close in Iraq. I believe it is the right and duty of every citizen to question and criticise its government. I don't believe anyone should bad-mouth someone unreasonably, or be critical without a factual back-up. I believe America is at a low point in world opinion. I believe this matters. I believe we can be great again, its just a matter of setting our priorities back to the right place (clue: people, not "interests"), and showing the world how "good" we really can be...

I believe I am done...for now...