Rants, Articles, Reviews, and Other Thoughts

This is home to a collection of opinion articles, book reviews, short stories, complaints, and miscellaneous intellectual fodder that is otherwise known as "Rants." I try to keep cool about the world around me, but sometimes things seem so messed up that I feel the need to blow off steam and draw attention to some things that I feel really need healing. These articles are the result of such moments (Ok, there are a few random quips and quirks in here, too).

Op/Ed Articles

Public Transportation in Los Angeles -- getting around the city and the traffic.
Boobs -- my little rant about the insanity of obsessing about Anna Nicole Smith.
What Global Warming Might Look Like -- I spent some time brain-storming about all the effects that were possible with a warming planet.
Being Un-American - My response to the hate mail I've gotten (published in the Johnstown Breeze, 5 Jan. 2006).
America the Terrorist - I tried to examine how other countries view the United States: often as a terrorist. I'm frustrated with some of the things the US has done to foreign governments and I think it should stop this kind of foreign policy and work to make ammends.
The Emperor's New Clothes - I'm tired of pretending that the US is going to war for good and honorable reasons. Bush is a terrorist in his own right.
Guilty of Apostasy: Wal-Mart- Article published by the Johnstown Breeze, Thanksgiving, 2005.
The Cult of Microsoft - How can we take Microsoft Seriously when they enter the market of Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware software? Isn't that like the fox offering henhouse insurance?
Campaign Shenanigans - An op/ed article written for the Johnstown Breeze examining the problem with those intrusive TV ads.
An Oil War - An op/ed article written for the Johnstown Breeze discussing America's ravenous consuption of petrouleum and the irony of shedding foreign blood for it.
Critical Patriots - Another op/ed article, this one examining American responsibility for terrorist actions and the need to support constructive criticism.

Humor

Toilets of the World - A collection of pictures and experiences gained while conquesting global lavatories.
The Peep Sandwich - What I did last summer and some strange recipes I learned.
My First Heart Attack - Michael's latest... not for the faint of heart.
Michael's Newsletter: The Pine Wood Derby - More wit from Michael about the rigged Pine Wood Derby.
Michael's First Newsletter - My roommate's witty commentary about the beat here in Lawrence and evidence that once again, I seem to have moved into some sort of ghetto.

Book, Movie, and Album Reviews

Book Review: The Aquariums of Pyongyang - by Kang Chol-hwan and Pierre Rigoulot. The book is a first person account of a young man's coming of age in the labor camps of North Korea and his harrowing escape into China.
Billy Bragg: Workers' Playtime - Review of a lovely little album by a feisty Brit with pointy lyrics.
Review of "The God Who Wasn't There" -- a very poor film by Brian Flemming.

Other Items

OS X Hardening - A guide for hardening a Mac OS X install, including some handy commands and techniques for admins.
Tornado - Photos of a tornado in Lawrence, Kansas on 8 May 2003. Photos printed in the Lawrence Journal World, 9 May 2003 page 5A.