Blog Master G

Back to Iraq 2.0 is the excellent blog of Christopher Allbritton, an independent journalist covering the war in Iraq. It’s also a great example of the power of quality content for which people are willing to pay. To date, he’s raised more than $10,000 for his efforts. Impressive.

I’m all for independent reporting and any unbiased (non-Fox, non-MSNBC) accounts of the war, so this is one site I’ll keep an eye on. I’ve stumbled across it twice in two days now, so I’m sure its popularity will only continue to grow.

Christopher also has some vivid first-hand photos of the September 11 attacks as they were happening.

Even major newspapers like the San Francisco Chronicle‘s online counterpart SFGate have jumped onto the blog bandwagon:

SF Gate: War On Iraq: War Blog: No ethical quagmires for Ollie

What’s interesting to me is the use of semantics in this blog. To me, a blog or weblog is the overall thing — the collection of all content into one unified entity. I consider each part of the whole a post or an entry — a chapter or section in the ever-evolving book. In the SFGate blog, author Jeanne Carstensen refers to each individual column or entry as a blog (“I just had to write the following blog”).

Many people ask me (or Jen, since her email address is in the domain) what Cougar Books is all about. The mystery is solved. May all your questions be answered.

On Sunday Jen and I went to our favorite Mexican joint in Berkeley, Juan’s Place, for an early birthday celebration with my parents. My Dad took these photos, which I think are excellent — and a couple of the best photos of Jen and me that I’ve seen in a while.

Jen and I recently took a drive to the top of Yerba Buena Island, adjacent to Treasure Island (where we lived for 3 years). We went all the way to the top, where there’s this Coast Guard tower (yes, we drove right past the “Authorized Vehicle Only” signs during this time of war). We were surprised at what we found at the top of the island: The real commanders of Yerba Buena Island and its Coast Guard station are 4 black cats running the show. This is no joke. Drive to the top of YBI some day and this is what you’ll see:

photos by Jen

Twenty-six today
Working man and husband soon
Life is so precious

Another birthday
This year is less glamorous
Already drive, vote, and drink

The day of my birth
Three-hundred sixty-five days
Times twenty-six. Woah.

Blessed by wonderful
Family and friends I am
Thankful for this life

Two dogs, city life
Beautiful soon-to-be wife
How can I complain?

It’s time to party
Another year has gone by
One year is now less

Yes, life is too short
Yet magical for sure. I
Say: La Vita è bella

I love squirrels. So when I saw this image strangely placed in the signature file of a fellow member of my WRX_MODS email group, I just had to snag it.

Today’s Idiot Pundit of the Day is Wilson C. Lucom, who has written a poorly-argued right-wing piece of propaganda called Anti-war Protesters Border on Treason. What? How does he figure?

The thing that enrages me about most of the conservative garbage I read (which is, sadly, the trash that the masses tend to digest as truth without question) is all the sweeping statements not backed by facts or even persuasive arguments. Take, for example, this snippet from our Idiot Pundit:

Some of the anti-war protesters are unpatriotic and disloyal, and their actions border on treason.
…
The protesters are supporting Saddam Hussein, who forbids protests and even kills protesters. They are being led and manipulated by the Old Left Communist helpers from the Vietnam War.

What are you talking about, man? Did you even bother to look up the definition of treason?

1 : the betrayal of a trust : TREACHERY
2 : the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance or to kill or personally injure the sovereign or the sovereign’s family

Since when are peace protesters trying to overthrow the government or to kill the president?

And no, we protestors do not support Saddam Hussein. Rather, we disagree with the method by which the U.S. government has chosen to exact its power over this enemy. It’s not so much about what the president has chosen to do; it’s how he’s chosen to do it. Or is that type of thinking too complex for you? Have you even bothered to speak to a protester, Lucom?

Hats off to our Idiot Pundit of the Day. Keep up the ignorant work.

Operation Iraqi Freedom at its finest:

2108: Seven Iraqi civilians – all women or children – are killed by US troops firing on their vehicle after it refused to stop at a check point near Najaf.
– BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Iraq latest: At-a-glance

Gabe and Jen’s busy weekend in a nutshell:

Friday: Adopt-a-plant party at Katie’s house…adopted two plants…home by 11:30 to watch Bill Maher.

Saturday: Brunch at All You Knead in the Haight with friend Tim who works for a different division of my company…afternoon in Golden Gate Park to work on details of wedding service…Happy climbs a tree…launched dogs section of site…dinner with Ben and Jess at Alamo Square Cafe (yummy French fish place)…episode of Buffy season 4…girls go out drinking and clubbing…guys stay in drinking and watching movie and TV.

Sunday: Work on wedding Web site…look at open homes for sale (Noe Valley and Bernal Heights)…Jen runs into invitation store to review final changes…on to Bed Bath & Beyond to finish up work on registry…pick out fine China…such a strange social custom, but I’m really happy with the pattern we picked…meet my parents for early birthday celebration at Juan’s…back home to watch my favorite show, Six Feet Under.