With only 4 months until votes were cast in the first primaries for the presidential election of 04 retired General Wesley Clark entered the race. He entered the battle field without a campaign manager without funding and honestly… without a hope.

Despite his numerous position papers, strong grassroots campaign, remarkable fundraising and his direct straight shooting demeanor Clark just could not muster the support needed to win him the Democratic nomination. He entered the race too late and he & his supporters paid the price. The momentum and bandwagon appeal the other more established candidates had built was too large of an obstacle for Clark to over come.

Thankfully however, Wes Clark is a smart man and has learned from his prior mistakes.

I think it was clear that I got in too late last time

the retired general and former NATO commander told The Associated Press in an interview on Nov. 28th.

It’s one of several mistakes that if I were to run that I would hope I wouldn’t repeat.

he continued. And indeed its one mistake many of his supports are hoping he doesn’t repeat as well.

“Clarkies” (as they are called online) on the grassroots level and higher up are waiting for an official announcement. While spring is a more traditional time for such a decision many hope that at the very least Clark will announce a Presidential Exploratory Committee that would pave the way to an official candidacy.

Regardless of official announcements or lack there of, one thing is for sure, Clark is gaining support and making headlines. Here are just a few recent stories featuring the biggest missed opportunity of 04 and our best chance for sound leadership in 08.

Clark urges diploymacy, stresses China’s future strength - 11/28/06
MSN/CNN Finally Recognizing Clark as Possible Candidate - 11/28/06
Next Move in Iraq, Americans (& Clark) want a new approach - 11/21/06

So this weekend I finally got my vehicle here on the island. I had been using my roommates 95 Jeep Wrangler and bumming rides off of my coworkers when that was not available.

I have been searching for a car for the last month or so and was not having much luck. Most of the SUV’s that I found were either

A) not worth what they were asking (even after adding the “this is an island and things cost more here” premium) or
B) they were falling about and would not last for more then a couple weeks

I had been keeping in contact with a local dealer and just happened to stop in this past weekend when a gentleman was attempting to purchase a new 2007 GMC Colorado (a pick up truck) while trading in a 96 Honda Passport. Obviously the dealership was not going to give him as much as he thought it was worth and someone how I came into the picture. I ended up being called yestarday (monday) to come in and and test drive the vehicle. Its an automatic, V6 with 4WD and CD player and while it seems that the rotors need replacing and a control arm or sway bar bushing has worn out, it ran pretty well. The engine was strong and quiet and the transmission was smooth. Obviously the salesman had told the folks what my limit was (3k) and the private seller was asking exactly that.

I decided I like the car and that it was the best deal I had seen so far so I talked him down 200 so I could afford to get the rotors done and we came to a price of 2800. While that may seem alot, the good news is it only has 57k miles and even back in the states I found them going for the high 3’s low 4’s depending on condition. Also as a frame of refrence I had test drove an 88 Jeep Cherokee that had 159k miles on it that the owner was asking 2300 on it and refuse my offer of 1500 saying it was worth no less than 2000 2100ish just a few weeks after testing driving an 89 Montero (that was burning oil badly) for the same price. For 800 more I got a car with 100k less miles on it and one that is 8 years newer.

Anyway - Overall and so far I am happy with the deal. It seemed to be a win win for everone, the guy got 2800 from me and was able to close his deal on the new truck and I got a fair price on a decent car here on the island (not the easiest task!)

On a side note I was thinking about painting the car in a camo style with spray paint from Homedepot … think that will hurt my resell value?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9A_vxIOB-I&eurl=

While I am sure the vast majority of our armed forces are good upright people this video is a bit disgusting. Would they drive down the road in New Orleans after Katrina and pull that crap? Hell no… so why the hell would you do that to these poor children? These soldiers (the one with the water was reffered to as Sir, so I’m assuming hes an officer) deserve to be court martialed for such a selfish and unkind act.

I played in a poker tournament tonight. Its a weekly 55 dollar buy in game held on monday evenings at a local sports bar ( Sharkys ).

It was the 4th time I’ve bought for the tournament. Two finishes where unremarkable, however I’d made it to the final table the game before last, only to be pushed out on the bubble (which is the spot before payout begins, in this case it was the 7th spot)

The evening started pretty slow, I wasn’t able to pick up any chips while the blinds where still low and I bled away about 60% of the stack I started with.

I was somehow able to stay alive until moving to the final two tables where I caught a decent hand (I dont remember what it is at this point) and was able to doubled my stack up to about 4500. Which actually, was still a pretty small amount when those to the left and right of me were sitting with 10k, 20k + in chips.

The two hands that finally pushed me over the top and gave me a good run were hands pushed “All in” preflop. I sat on JQ suited with two more to act, with the blinds at 500, 1000. I decided to push and hoped everyone would fold. I had little money and needed to make a move. It turned bad for me quickly when the big blind called my all in with KQ. I was dominated for sure, I needed to hit a J and avoid the rest of the face cards! Somehow I was able to do just that and I pulled out a win when the J hit on the flop.

After a few more hands and after I had lost about 3k in the blinds and bad flops I was sitting with 9 10 with one more person to act. I believe I had roughly 6k in front of me and the blinds where 600, 1200. I pushed again pre flop hoping that the blinds and the one limper would fold, but AGAIN things turned bad after the small blind played his acting game and called after a several minute self debate. I was hoping he would flip over a small pocker pair which would give me two live cards. Instead I was greeted with two red Aces. I was behind and bad! The dealer burnt out the first card and slowly turned over the first - An 8, o.k not to bad I thought, then a 7 came…. NICE! I had picked up the open ended, then the third card BOOM a 6!!! I Had sucked out and pulled the nut straight, 6 7 8 9 10.

I couldn’t believe it… on the FLOP I had pulled out of last place and flopped a monster hand. The turn however scared me and gave Mr. Aces his outs. A 7 came on the turn. If a 7 or an Ace came on the river I was toast since either would give him a full house. Someone I dodged another bullet and a 5 greeted me on the river. I was ESTATIC and did the single clap of the hands, then realizing my excess of emotion quickly cooled down and returned to my seat (I had somehow found myself in a standing position through the course of the hand)

With a smile and a handshake for the man I had sucked out on I continued the game. The next several hands found were un eventfull until I hit a run of cards, AQ, QQ and a few others that put me far ahead of the remaining players (we had arrived at the final table at this point). I enjoyed a reasonable easy run until it was down to 3 players left.

I got bluffed out of a big pot when I had raised 5k with A10 in the small blind and the button called me with J8, the flop came 4K10 and I checked my 10’s, the button pushed for about 15k and while I still had about 30 in front of me I decided he must have hit his K on the flop and foolded. After showing my A10 he showed his J8 and I was a little bit upset to say the least.

He had bet big and I should have realized he was trying to push me out, but I took the cautious road and moved on. (incidently I took him out 3 hands later when he called another of my 5k dollar raises) I was on the big blind and he had just completed, with no other players. I had about 40k in front of me and bet out 5k with 410. He called and the flop came 479, he bet all in and I thought about it for a moment and then called, he flipped over 24, I flipped 4 10 and took the hand down.

From there it was heads up with about 80K chips in my stack and about 15k in the other players. We battled back and fourth for a bit before he pushed with JQ and I called with KQ. My King held up and the game was over.

I had out lasted 44 players, eliminating most of the final table and bought home the win. It was really a nice feeling. Its also nice to know that I’ve made it to the final table now Twice out of my 4 games.

Next week I’ll have the bounty on my head (the extra 5 from each buy in goes into a seperate pot that goes to the player that takes me out of the game) However if I am able to pull another win out that pot would go into the 1st place prize amount. When a bounty is at a table though the dynamics change a bit, people are gunning for him and that extra pot (normally about 200 bucks!) We will see how I do with that extra pressue. If I can combine the luck, good calls, and good pushes I had tonight, into the right combination next monday it would make for a sweet little winning streak.

so you won’t flounder
balance
so you won’t sink
balance
so you won’t fall away into the emptyness that consumes the right
and the wrong
in the end its all the same
only you can change the path
the field
the time and direction of your journey
it won’t hurt
but it may scar
stay towards, stay wondering in the path that keeps you moving towards where you came and where you’ll go
stop
its the end

So I guess theres a number of ways to skin a cat, baked a cake or make fun of George W. Bush.

I think this method is rather effective, don’t you?

http://www.liegirls.com/flash.html

Wes Clark seems to be everywhere right now. He’s online, he’s on TV, he’s even on myspace.

I think its awesome that Clark has embraced the age of myspace and created a profile. We all know that the youth turns out to vote in little numbers - probably because the candidates all seem so stuffy and far away. If Clark can break through some of that I think it will push him in the winning direction. The people he has on his staff are making the right suggestions.

Here is a clipping from the myspace bulletin Clark posted yesterday. It urges people to get out and vote…

At long last, the time has come to cast our votes — and with the future of our country at stake, Election Day couldn’t come soon enough. As Americans, it is our duty to hold our elected leaders accountable for their performance, and we do that at the ballot box.

In my short time in politics, I have learned many new clichés — one of the most notable being, “This is a critical election.” This year, it is dramatically true. The Bush Administration and this Republican Congress seemingly can not, or will not, make the right decisions about the most important issue ever to face government officials: war and peace. The only hope for a change of course in our misguided foreign policy is a Congress that will serve its Constitutional role as a check on this power of this reckless executive.

…These next 36 hours are a critical time for our country. I urge you to take an hour or two to volunteer with a local campaign or call Democratic voters in critical Congressional districts. And please forward this to everyone in your address book.

This is the time for us to stand up and be counted. Together, we will help Democrats take back Congress on Tuesday, bringing the change that our troops, our families, and all Americans so desperately need.

Sincerely,

Wes Clark

Funny Funny stuff. This guy has major skills. Just Some Comic relief to counter the depressing stuff I wrote below.

Your driving slowing looking for you exit at the end of a 12 hour drive… DAMN you miss it. But instead of driving to the next one and looping back you floor it out of frustration. You blow past the next exit, and the next, the next and then another - you seem to have lost your mind your on the edge - then along side you speeding too is a minivan…. you slow down… you take a breath and get off on the next exit. You head back from the direction you came, slowly, calmly until you reached your missed exit, but now… the exit is different … you can only hit that exit going north, going south its different.. it wont let you off.. your Irate … you loose it, your eyes bulge, fingers turn red with the pressure you squeeze the wheel with. You feel flooded with lose and anger. You give up, you slam on the break and see the cars sliding towards you.. you hesitate.. you choke and slam on the gas… but… its to late… the BMW SUV slides into you, you slide into your steering wheel and you both hit the cement wall — it all goes blank but not before a flash of red… distant sounds fade away and you sink into the emptiness that you always knew was waiting for you

Originally Posted Dec 23rd 2005

To the tides of darkness I submit
slipping away for all eternity
not in peace nor rage
but uncontested pain
with unknowing expectation
I am only to be summed again
rising as the rays burn
and into another pain I fall
knowing that here it does not end
but starts anew with an unrelenting call

Originally Posted on March 28th 2006

The Mid-term elections are tomorrow (Nov 7th) and this ad is one last push towards a win for the canidates opposing the war in Iraq (namely democrats & those endorsed by Wesley Clark). While I think its an excellent and truthful ad, I think it would have been better served if they included a few sentences about why the war has caused America to be less secure.

To many the reason is obvious, our presence in Iraq and specifically our lack of proper reconstruction plans for the country has fueled more anti-america hatred. Are some Iraq citizens happy we are there? Probably, but the truth is that the good will we have imposed there slumbers in the shadow of the ill-will we have breed. That ill-will and hatred runs far deeper and is more of a threat than the goodwill that does exist can counter.

Lets get our boys and girls home and soon.

So before I blogged here at mental dribble.com I use to blog on my myspace page.

there are a couple blogs that I would like to bring over, so I am just going to do a little blast from the past repost of them. I will probably bring 2, maybe 3 over and I’ll spread it out over the next week or so. Here is the first… enjoy

I just feel lost sometimes.. and I don’t know what to do about it. Everything seems so difficult. On the surface and deeper everything almost seems to take super human abilities to get by. I just wonder; has it always been this way, or is it not that way at all and I am just warped? I try to stay ahead of the gang but the gang just seems like its 3 meters ahead and gaining. There are times when I curse my consciousness… I wish I had no view of reality and went through life with a smirk of ignorance and was happy for it. How does one cope with these issues? Its not like I can go sign up for one on one time with mr. 120 an hour. I can’t jump in my boat and clear my head. If you realize how you view the world causes yourself unrest can you really truly change the way you see it? Or is that like deciding you should eat liver and even though you hate it you suddenly transform your taste buds into liver loving fools? I just dont have any answers… I feel as if I am not even asking the right questions.

So apparently this guy (Bernard Weber) believes that we need to do away with the orginal 7 wonders of the anciet world and pick 7 new ones!

Only this time around instead of just one man picking the 7 (Philon of Byzantium picked the first group back in 200 B.C), he wants the world to vote on it. He plans to reveal the New Seven Wonders on July 7, 2007, or otherwise know as 07/07/07.

I guess part of his reasoning is that only one 1 of the orginial 7 is still standing (the great pyramids). According to his website Bernard wants to raise awareness of the destruction of nature and our man-made hertigage through the new 7 world wonders foundation. 

If you want to vote on the “new 7″ you can do so at the foundations website.

I’ve been posting on ask.metafilter.com since Feb 28th, 2005.

I’ve asked 20 questions and have posted 166 answers during that time. There really is no rhyme or reason to the postings. I answer when I feel I have insight and I ask questions when I am either to lazy to try and figure it out myself or just have no earthly clue were to look for the answers.

A few days ago I read a question on that site that delt with the idea Free Will (or our lack there of) and it reminded me of a question that has bugged me since I’ve consciously started contemplating what exactly my beliefs are and how I came to believe them.

Is belief a volunatry action, an involuntary action or a mixture of both?

If you would like to read the question in depth and read the metafites responses here is the direct link. (I’ll also be posting the best responses locally)

Now on a lighter note… if you have time, here are a few of my favorite posts at Ask.Metafilter

• Missing Pants
• Hello Nurse!
• Appropriate Clothing
• Cool internet clips
• Shipping to Nigeria