Purge

I have just deleted numerous links on the sidebar. I had originally posted the links as they had appeared in past entries. I felt they were not representative of my personality or interests, so they are gone. You probably won't miss them anyway.

No Fire From Above

Ever wonder why the United States of America has been so adamant about getting Canada to fund their new Star Wars program? I have a theory.

For the uninitiated, this is a reborn attempt to put satellites into orbit with powerful lasers on them to neutralize an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) before it can reach its' target. Knowing the success rate of the US Patriot Missile (which was used in the Iraq wars to neutralize SCUD missiles), this makes me quite leery.

Studies have shown that Patriot missile system often did not neutralize the intercepted missile. They often missed completely, or at best, managed to knock the missile out of the sky. The intended target might have been missed, but then a live warhead fell to the ground, often striking a civilian target.

What does this have to do with the Missile Defense Program? Well, just about everything. You see, there is no such thing as 100% effectiveness when you are dealing with objects in motion, and targets that are thousands of kilometers away.

My next point is also crucial. If a nuclear assault were to be launched on the United States of America, the missile trajectory would almost certainly be across the north pole. If a missile defense satellite fired at such a missile, and only managed to knock it out of the sky, instead of neutralizing it entirely, where to you think the missile would fall? Surely, on Canadian soil. Sure the USA might escape a nuclear assault, but that doesn't prevent Canada from becoming the next Hiroshima or Nagasaki.

I do not want to be a target. Say no to missile defense.

Last Grease(y) Post

Last night was the final banquet for the production of Grease. About three-quarters of the cast and crew attended. The party was a little bittersweet, but at least there were no tears.

The president of the theater production company said a speech around dinnertime, thanked us for all our hard work and informed us that out of 44 Musical Theatre productions, ours was the most successful in history. The play not only sold-out, it sold out in seven days at 104% capacity. This production has raised the bar in standards of quality of entertainment at the local level. Of course, we were all gloating.

It may be the end of the show, but that doesn't mean that it will be the end of friendships. I know I will lose touch with many of them, unless we all coincidentally get cast in a future production. There are some friendships that I gained that will continue, and some that may develop into future business ventures.

I am specifically referring to a few of the members of the band. Some of us have enjoyed each others' playing to a degree where we feel that it might be advantageous for us to form a cover band. I brought up the idea to one of the guitar players and the bass player of the Grease band what they thought of this idea. They were both very receptive to the idea of forming a three-piece power rock band to make a few bucks on the side.

I have been getting the itch to play gigs again, and I have been biding my time to find the right guys to get back in the local music scene. My vision for this venture is little more than playing a few pubs around town. I am not thinking about writing songs, recording an album, going on tour, or the pursuit of stardom to any degree. I just want to have fun, and sing a bunch of songs for the local party animals.

I am excited about this little endeavor. I am already thinking about what kind of songs I'd like to learn. Yours truly will likely be doing a lot of lead singing -- something I am really excited about.

If I hear from the guys this week, than perhaps this little vision of mine might become a reality. I will keep you all posted about this little endeavor. Of course, if you have any song suggestions, by all means, drop me a line.

Sometimes the Best Solution is to Use What's Available to You

I shouldn't have to explain to you how much I enjoy my new computer. There is one major problem it has (actually all computers fall into this category), which is inferior sound.

I am a self-admitted audiophile. I like my music crisp, clean, and detailed. I on occasion, like it loud. My new iMac has these tiny little speakers built into the display, but they sure don't put out any volume, nor is the fidelity exceptional. Sure, there is lots of treble, but no bass.

So I was considering investing a lot of money into multimedia speakers for my computer. It has a digital output, so I should be able to run my computer using Dolby Digital 5.1. While doing numerous searches on the web, I just couldn't find any products that were going to satisfy my needs. It wasn't a money issue; I was quite prepared to spend a hefty sum for my ear-candy.

There was one other issue that was eating at me. Many of these 5-speaker (or 6-speaker) systems designed for computers use inferior products. Again, I did not want to front the money for a system I would be unhappy with in the future.

Furthermore, in the near future, I want to be able to do digital recording on my new machine. Mixing an album on little satellite speakers is no way to record. Again, I am faced with having to purchase expensive studio monitors for my workstation. The speakers I am specifically referring to (Mackie HR 824s) run about $2000 per pair.

I wanted to listen to my iTunes the way there were supposed to be listened to -- and I could not wait any longer. I managed to find the solution to my problem with items already in my possession.

A few months ago, while frequenting a few of my favorite pawn shops, I found a pair of Bose 201 bookshelf speakers for about $100. They are high-quality speakers, and studio monitors are similarly designed. In recent months, I haven't been using my fancy speakers. So today, I bought some monster cable, put my Bose speakers on my computer desk, and wired everything into an amplifier. Now I am in musical bliss. The sound quality is exceptional; better than any cheap multimedia speaker system could offer.

The next step will be in invest a few bucks into either an MBox or the Digi 002, both manufactured by Digidesign. Then, I will have my happy little recording studio.

Music School Dropout

Friday night was the second-last performance of Grease. After the show, the cast, band and crew retreated to the Green Room for copious amounts of alcohol, and a special event called "skit night".

Skit night is an opportunity for members of the cast and crew to poke a little fun at themselves. It was a great way for us to unwind and have a few good laughs. There was also special thank-yous and awards given out to a few special people who put in an exceptional amount of heart, dedication and time to make Grease such a success. Yours truly even got a special gift: A T-shirt with the Grease logo on it, signed by the directors and all the members of the cast. I nearly cried.

The band members were a little sluggish in putting together a skit. It seemed that they were more interested in conjuring up some pranks to be delivered on the evening of the final performance. One of the saxophone players suggested we could do a parody of Beauty School Dropout -- aptly entitled Music School Dropout. Some members pondered the possibility of doing such a performance on skit night, but little action was taken.

I ended up spending one late night working on my own rendition of Music School Dropout. Time constraints prevented me from producing a fully workable piece of literature, but it was enough to show the guys in the band the next night. They loved it.

To just sing a song is a bit of a half-baked performance of a skit. We needed a gimmick that would make the performance memorable. The other sax player appeared Friday night with some costumes. We quickly changed prior to our performance. The guys were wearing horrific dresses that even Dame Edna would not be caught dead wearing. They also sported jester hats complete with jingles. They looked terrible, but my costume was worse.

Spandex. About three sizes too small. It was a one-piece body suit that looked like fifteen turkeys had to be destroyed to make it. I looked like an acrobat who had no idea what color-coordination was. The suit was so tight that it left nothing to the imagination; my twig and two berries could be easily identified -- from across the room.

We sought refuge backstage for a few moments before making our entrance to the green room. While ducking behind stacked chairs, old props, music stands and scrap pieces of wood, the performers found some props -- paint rollers. I have no idea why they chose those items over anything else, but at this point I was more worried if Mr. Happy was going to make a surprise appearance while I was in front of everyone singing this little number.

Upon entering the green room, we were met by laughter of unsurpassed volume. They were of course, laughing at our outrageous costumes. I climbed the makeshift stage, and explained that we (the band) were jealous that they (the cast) got to do all the singing, and we did not. So, this was the band's turn to sing a little number. The lyrics are displayed below:

Music School Dropout
(To be sung to the tune: Beauty School Dropout)

Your story's sad to tell,
A talent ne'er do well,
Most messed-up alcoholic at the bar!
Your vision's so unclear now,
You're even out of beer now,
Can't even get a trade-in on your guitar!

Music school dropout,
No gold record here for thee,
Music school dropout,
Missed your scales and flunked harmony!
Well at least you could have taken time, to wash and clean
your clothes up,
After spending all that dough to have the cocaine burn your nose up!

Baby get grooving,
Why keep your feeble hopes alive?
Where are your groupies?
You've got the dream but not the drive.

If you go for your diploma, you could join a Broadway show.
Turn down your guitar amp and go back to rock school!

Music school dropout,
Hanging around the music store.
Music school dropout,
It's about time you wrote a score.

Well they couldn't teach you anything,
You think you're such a looker,
But now you're poor as dirt and you can't afford a hooker!

Buddy don't sweat it,
No musician can hold a job.
Better forget it,
Even your girlfriend thinks you're a slob!

Now your guitar is tuned, your band is swooned, the
world is yours to rule,
Wipe off that distressed face and go back to rock school!

Buddy you blew it,
You put my good advice to shame.
Buddy you knew it,
Kalan Porter would say the same!

Now I've drank my shot; I've smoked my pot, and now I'm really high,
Gonna be singing: 'scuse me while I kiss the sky!

Not just laughter; mass hysteria. My backup singers were "painting" my body with the paint rollers amidst my performance. Every line I sang erupted in ear-shattering laughter, hoots, hollers, and whistles. People were wiping tears from their eyes from laughing so hard. And all I could think of (besides my manhood) was how I didn't think my song parody deserved the response it received.

After the performance and the standing ovation, we quickly retired to the dressing room to put on some less-flattering clothing.

Oh yes, there were numbers camera bulb flashes during the performance. I fully expect that these pictures of me will wind up on the web sooner or later.

It's Over...

Last night was the last performance of Grease. The experience was beyond my expectations and dreams. The show became something bigger than I had expected -- and certainly bigger than the patrons expected.

Realizing the show is now over, the depression is starting to sink in. I was blown away with the camaraderie expressed by all members of the cast, band, backstage crews and directors. We became a family, and I grew to love them all. In a way, I feel like I have lost them. In a sense, that is not the least bit true.

There is a final banquet for the cast and crew next weekend. Everyone in the cast and crew has been saying they will be there. Even though it's less than a week away, it's going to feel like I haven't seen them in years. That will be a tough night, as that is the "real" goodbye party.

I know there will be other shows. There will parties, reunions and other similar ilk, so I will see most of them again. But this the last time we all will be together at the same time. And there is no show quite like this one.

It's been an incredible ride.

Cluttered Thoughts From A Sleep-Deprived Mind

[ed note: I have been quite unhappy with this post in the past days. I have noticed numerous grammatical errors, and I have taken the time to edit this post to a point where I feel I am communicating my ideas a little more effectively.]

It has been many days since I have written a post. The musical Grease is in full swing, and we have performed half of our sold-out shows. This is making it for a very sleepless week. I was not so lucky to get any time off work (I didn't expect I would get any anyway), so it is pedal to the metal for another five days or so.

I have to be at the theater two hours early to get into my costume, makeup, hair, and warm-up my cold hands. The performance is nearly two and a half hours long. There is a period of time of at least a half-hour that it takes for me to change out of my costume and chisel all the makeup off my face after the show. There are after-show parties ("Green Rooms" we call them) that I like to partake in, but as of late I find myself sucking back one drink in about fifteen minutes and then heading home to crash. Put all these things together, and it makes for a very long night. It's like running a marathon every day. The effects of all this energy exertion is beginning to take the toll on the cast.

The show is a runaway success. There are close to no bumps in the show at all by this point. It is very smooth, polished, and professional. Even I am amazed at the size and scope of this show, as well as the attention to detail. The costumes are authentic; the punch lines are well-timed, the music is tight, and the props are, well, authentic. They even have a classic convertible car and two classic motorcycles on the set.

I have taken a number of photos, and I will post them once I have access to a scanner. Many of the shots were so large, I had to take multiple photographs. This means I will have to make composite images using an image editing program. I imagine the Gimp will do a fine job.

November is National Writing Month. I wish I wasn't so busy, then I could dedicate some of my time to some creative writing. I wanted to post some snippets of prose on here to see what you all thought. After Grease has finished, I may have the chance to do some writing. What samples I choose to publish on here will mostly be quickly-written, half-baked ideas. I suppose that what I might write on here will not be more than a few hundred words at a time.

I thought I might take the opportunity to tell you a little bit about someone I have known for about seven years. She also happens to be the most strong-willed, sexiest, beautiful woman I know. Her name is Nina Bennett. She also doesn't exist.

You see, I created her. She was meant to be the protagonist in a novel I began writing in 1997. She's a complicated character; just as we are complicated people. As much as I know about her, a lot remains a mystery.

Nina [pronounced Nine-ah] has many admirable qualities to her. She is smart, independent, attractive, witty, and moral. She is a bit of an activist, and feels that she has the power to change the world for the better. Conversely, Nina also has many equal negative qualities. For example, she is a chain smoker and an alcoholic. She's non-committal, especially where relationships are concerned. I really don't know the details of why, but she's never been in any relationship with any man for any substantial length of time. It is likely that she's been in bad relationships in the past, but then, she has never told me.

Nina is the kind of girl that you dream of. She's tall, thin and curvy; the air is a bit sweeter when she walks past. Her hair is straight yet full, dark and shoulder length. She dresses professionally, and shows as little skin as she needs to. In fact, she doesn't need to wear tight or suggestive clothing to attract a member of the opposite sex. The way she carries herself is attractive enough.

Nina is intelligent, and is well-versed in the dating game. She knows being an attractive woman has its perks, and she uses them to her advantage. Conversely, Nina hates being a fox in a room full of hounds; she can't stand the chase. She is the hunter; the Black Widow. Any man that has ever come on to her has been shot down. She's not just playing hard to get; she would rather be perceived as impossible to get. This of course, is the source of a great deal of anguish and frustration with her male counterparts, as the only thing men want more than anything in the world is the one thing they can't have. These men are the ones who get off easy; those who have been subjected to her kiss fare far worse.

Nina is the kind of person who knows what (and who) she wants. She chooses her mates, just as she chooses the direction of her career. She chooses her "boy-toys" for mild amusement, often for the moment. They are often discarded for frivolous reasons. Some men have been so swooned by her that they immediately wanted some sort of long-term commitment from her -- something she was unwilling to give up, as her freedom is Nina's most precious possession.

The most important thing in Nina's life is her career. She learned early on in her life that there would be no guarantee that someone would be around to provide for her. She has never told me why, but I have reason to believe she has little or no family. She went to University and got a degree in journalism, where she eventually landed a career as a reporter for a major newspaper. She makes a decent living wage, though she often writes into the late hours of the night at home. Being a reporter also allows her to get herself into a bit of trouble. Not unlike Lois Lane, except that Nina does not have her Superman to bail her out of otherwise compromising situations.

Being a reporter, Nina has a moral conscience about her. She is often depressed about the social injustices she often has to report. This could contribute to her alcoholism, though sometimes she feels empowered, and if she rants and raves long enough, and if she screams loud enough, that she might reach enough people to instigate social reform. Nina wishes the world was a better place, and she believes that she has the job, the means, and the ability to do so. I admire her in that respect.

I think of Nina often. I wonder what she's up to, and what she might do if she were in my shoes. She sometimes talks to me in dreams, her personality unlike mine, yet very much a part of me.

Funny. All that being said, I could never spend my life with such a person.

Awakening

Screw Lucas; screw Spielberg. Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 is the single most important film ever made in motion picture history. Period. I give all credit to Moore for having the cajones to undertake such a risky endeavor.

I know I'm late in reporting such news. This movie has been out for months, and I haven't been able to muster the time to watch it. My excuses are that I'm cheap and lazy.

Frequent readers will know that I have been reading a lot of material that is changing the way I think and feel about my life. The time is near, where I will have to change my life -- and change the world.

Now, watch this drive.

Yet Another Karaoke Bar

On my way to work a few weeks ago, I noticed a sign in front of Orleans North that they would be having Karaoke every Friday night. This is obviously a ploy to drive more patrons to the bar. In the last ten years, this bar has undergone numerous name changes, and despite its fair size, cleanliness, and classy decor, it can't seem to develop a patronage of any sorts.

I actually wanted to check out this Karaoke evening a few weeks ago, but I have been ill with this nasty cold, and my voice has been shot. I am still coughing a bit, and my voice is still not 100 percent, but I thought I was well enough to check it out.

We made it to Orleans North shortly after 10:00pm. My predictions were correct; the place was empty. There were a couple people singing -- no more than three; the pool tables were vacant, and the only area that was busy was the Video Lottery Terminal area. Not one of the dozen or so machines were vacant. This would explain how Orleans North manages to stay open despite having an empty club. I needn't say that the VLT patrons were the least bit interested in anything else that was happening around the bar. A bomb could have gone off in the parking lot, and those gamblers would still be plugging quarters into those machines.

My thoughts about gambling (and problem gamblers) will have to wait until another post.

Getting up to sing a song here was no problem at all. In two hours, I managed to sing about a dozen songs, as the "competition" wasn't terribly fierce. The DJ called me up to sing my first song about 30 seconds after I submitted my first request -- Steppenwolf's Magic Carpet Ride. I figured that I should still stick to some easy songs to get a feel for how my voice is healing. My voice was still quite shot at the previous night's Grease rehearsal.

Once I got used to the Karaoke system (and their hot microphones), I nailed the song. I kindly thanked the "crowd" -- the two or three people clapping, and the DJ then said something about me "making it to the finals".

Apparently in December, they want to have a "finals" competition with all the best karaoke singers who manage to wander into Orleans North -- complete with cash prizes for the top three contestants. I wonder what kind of competition this is going to be, given the low attendance. How will they choose a winner? I was snickering under my breath at the fact at how easy it was "making it to the finals".

This young girl sitting in the front promptly asked me if I could sing duets. She was specifically referring to Grease's Summer Nights. The question was of course, serendipitous given the fact that I will be starring in the play next week. I accepted her offer, and we were singing the duet in about fifteen minutes.

I did sing a bunch of my old "tried & true" numbers over the course of the evening. It has been years, but I sang Skynyrd's Sweet Home Alabama, as it's bloody easy, and I don't have to read the lyrics, as I sang this song three thousand times during my tenure in Legacy. I tried a few numbers that I have been itching to sing, but either the songs weren't available in the Karaoke database, or I was too chicken to try singing them in front of a large crowd. Example, to get up and sing Prince is a risky operation in Redneck Central. I gave When Doves Cry a shot. Though the song is not terribly high pitch-wise, it is much tougher to capture the nuances. The song that I was most pleased with my performance was Cheap Trick's Surrender -- those who know me also know how much I like the song.

My overall thoughts regarding Orleans North is mixed. I like the fact that I don't have to wait long, and I can sing as many songs as I please. On the other hand, I do miss the fan appreciation. I have spent so many nights playing and singing in dead clubs that it can get depressing. It plays mind-games on you. You start thinking that people don't like your music; or that people are ignorant and don't care for live entertainment anymore.

I may attend these rumored karaoke "finals" if my time permits it. I gave it a bit of thought this morning, and if I happen to win a cash prize, I will donate the winnings to the local food bank.

You Gotta Read This

If you have a few minutes, I highly suggest you read this entry by Matthew Good. It might just get your blood boiling.

What? The Land of the Free? Whoever told you that is your enemy.

"Know Your Enemy" -- Rage Against The Machine

Sold-Out!

It has been brought to my attention at last night's Grease Rehearsal that all 5000 tickets to the musical Grease have been sold in one week. It has been the fastest-selling play in the history of Medicine Hat Musical Theater. My apologies are going to those who haven't managed to get tickets. I have been secretly hoping that the show will be held-over for additional performances, but that doesn't seem like the possibility will come to fruition. If I manage to get reviews or photographs, I will be sure to publish them on this blog for your viewing.

We (the Grease cast and crew) move into the theatre tomorrow, where we will be putting the final touches on the performance. It is coming together quite nicely. I can't wait to see the set tomorrow; I have been told that the set and the stage is just breathtaking!

May The World Survive [Another] Four Years

Four years ago, in my final year of university, my friends and I were discussing the 2000 US Presidential Election Campaign over many weeks. Our many discussions focused on who was the better candidate for the Presidency, though we agreed there wasn't much to choose from. Al Gore or George W. Bush; who is the lesser of two evils?

Our observations of "Dubya" concluded that this man was a ticking time-bomb, much like his father, but even more volatile. We knew, if elected, this man would send the United States to war. We even figured that this man was maniacal enough to "push the button" himself. Even though we were not US citizens, we were sure that if elected, Dubya's actions would affect us north of the 49th parallel.

On the eve of the 2000 presidential election, we prayed long and hard that Al Gore would be elected president. Sure, Gore wasn't much of a candidate, but we felt that he would be a safer choice for the world community. You could imagine our dismay when we learned that the George Jr. called a re-count of the ballots in Florida, and found his way into the Oval Office. We immediately began repenting our sins.

I knew, as many others did, that all George W. Bush needed was an excuse to turn some foreign country into a moonscape. It didn't take long. When I woke to the destruction of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, I was convinced that World War III had begun, and Armageddon was nigh.

It didn't take long to see that the President, as well as the citizens of the United States were seeking revenge for the attack on US soil. A scapegoat was sought, and when none could be found (or evidence eradicating any reasonable doubt), Dubya took the next best thing. Afghanistan was invaded on a whim, because "The United States makes no distinction between terrorists, and the countries that harbor them". As we have seen, the war in Afghanistan was not much of a victory on the War on Terror. Al Qaida was not dismantled; nor was Osama Bin Laden captured.

Then there was the Patriot Act, intentionally ratified to provide protection/safety to the citizens of the United States, but it was nothing more than a bill to take away the human rights of the peoples of Islamic faith/descent. Pure racism. This legislation somehow makes it legal to arrest and detain anyone the government sees fit, and deny them access to a lawyer, among other things. These prisoners [arrested under the Patriot Act] may have well been arrested in Syria.

Then there was the invasion of Iraq, against the objections of the United Nations. The Iraq war was called an unjust war, as no evidence of Weapons of Mass Destruction were ever produced. Saddam Hussein may have been captured, but this has done little to quell the political unrest in the country. The United States military is targeted and attacked on what seems like a daily basis. It appears that the US occupation of Iraq is going to be a long and bloody one.

It is no wonder that international polls have cited George W. Bush as the number one contributor to geo-political instability, and the leading hindrance in the pursuit of world peace.

Now, the US occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq is nothing more than Neo-Colonialism. This is a rather long topic, and I will have to reserve my discussion of it for a later entry, but this is no different than the occupation of the Americas by European Empires, and the systematic destruction of the Aboriginal American culture and peoples. It seems apparent that we (as a species) have not learned our lessons the first time around.

It seems apparent that George W. Bush has done little in the way of US foreign policy. After Mad Cow Disease was discovered in a single Canadian bovine, the United States border has remained closed to Canadian beef for eighteen months now -- with no sign of it re-opening soon. Bush has made no effort to establish negotiations with Canada to re-open the border.

As for the US domestic policy, Bush has done little in the last four years. The US economy is still in the tank, and the only thing the president has done is cut taxes for the wealthy and rack up a record-breaking deficit.

The 2004 election was the time for the civilians of the United States to raise their voices and elect a leader. John Kerry ran a good campaign, but in the end the outcome was the same as 2000. George W. Bush has squeaked into the Oval Office for four more years -- much to the chagrin of the international community.

I understand George Bush Jr. has a certain type of appeal to many citizens of the United States -- actually, it is more like the "Divided States of America". If you looked at a demographic map of the United States, you would see the two coastlines are Democratic; while a large red (Republican) rift ploughs through the central plains and the southern states. Knowing a bit about population density would make it easy to see that the areas of highest population density are polarized to the Democrat ideology, while the areas of lower population density are polarized to the Republican ideology. There are many other conclusions that could be made about voter ideology and demographics, but without access to a powerful GIS program and the raw data of the election results, I really don't want to make arguments I cannot substantially defend (I probably already have).

The re-election of George W. Bush is, in my opinion, bittersweet. I was rooting for John Kerry; crossing my fingers for a change in leadership, and perhaps a change in the domestic and foreign policies of the United States government. It looks like I am going to have to wait another four years -- if we are still around by then.

Long-time readers of this journal know that I am a bit of a history fanatic -- especially when it pertains to ancient civilzations. I am a firm believer that the past is the key to the future. The industrialized nations we live in today are not that much different than the Empires of times past. All the greatest dynasties have fallen, and they usually fell at times when they were in the lap of luxury. In my lifetime, I have witnessed the demise of the Soviet Union. In the last few centuries, the British Empire and the Ottoman Empire had fallen. Even Greece, Rome, Babylon, and the Egyptian dynasties have met untimely deaths.

If we examine the demise of the Roman Empire, it wasn't as catastrophic as historians make it out to be. The Roman Empire had conquered most of the known world, and Rome's armies were spread thin throughout Europe, parts of Asia, the Middle East and some of Africa. The Romans lived luxurious lives full of Gladiator games, concubines, and excessive food and drink. A full third of the Roman calendar were holidays. Soon, trade began to slow due to diminishing resources and great distances. It took a number of generations, but eventually, the Roman Empire was financially bankrupt. Without the financial backing, the Roman armies did not march. Trade between the colonies of the Empire soon halted. The once-powerful Roman Empire essentially died with but a whimper.

The debt load of the average American citizen is higher than it has ever been before. Each year there is a record number of personal and corporate bankruptcies in the US. Citizens are stretched to the limit financially, and they are further encouraged to spend more due to falling interest rates, and mass advertising. The US government's track record is not much better than the publics'. The Bush Administration has racked up the highest debt-load in history. I think it is quite possible that Dubya himself could outspend the United States so fast that it would be impossible for the United States to ever recover. Thus, much like the Roman Empire, the United States could collapse under their own debt. With no money, the US war machine would be rendered impotent, and a once-powerful nation could develop into one of the world's poorest. Civil war would be likely, and the USA could break into two (or more) nations.

First lesson in economics: There might not a better way to jump-start a dead economy than with a war, but wars are incredibly expensive. The costs of the war on Iraq and Afghanistan have far outweighed the economic benfits (if there were any).

Perhaps I am looking forward to seeing Mr. Bush's accomplishments in the next four years. It may have taken generations for Rome to fall; George W. Bush might be able to accomplish the same in eight years or less. Maybe I will get my wish for an upset in the balance of (world) power.