Vitriol

Vitriol

© 2003 by Andersen Silva (3-2-03)

Last updated 6-28-2022  


Generals gathered in their masses,
  Just like witches at Black Masses,
Evil minds that plot destruction,
  Sorcerers of death's construction...

Dubya has shown himself to be hellbent on invading Iraq, regardless of what happens in the world around him. No matter what the inspectors report, no matter what the UN Security Council resolves, no matter what millions of protesters around the world say, he wants war. I find that sad for him, and dangerous for the rest of us.

I didn't take part in the demonstration in New York on February 15th, as I already had other plans during the day. But we did drive past thousands of them on the streets, and I flashed a peace sign at several. Later that night, as I waited on line to get into the Sleater-Kinney concert at the Roseland Ballroom, some people were handing out free buttons commemorating the protest, and I gladly accepted one and wore it. I've also written an anti-war poem for the National Day of Poetry Against the War on February 12th, and there's an International Day of Poetry Against the War scheduled for March 5th.

So, yes, like many other Americans and many other people all over the globe, I am, for the moment at least, opposed to U.S. forces invading Iraq. That doesn't mean that I don't think there should be a war no matter what; I am a pacifist by nature, but I recognize that there are some situations, with some who will not listen to reason, which can only be resolved by force. I can't imagine the world stopping Hitler any way but through war, for example. But I don't see that we've got that kind of situation here. Yes, Saddam Hussein is an exquisite and a dangerous asshole. The same could be said of the leaders of many other nations, and of past American presidents. Without proof of the Iraqis' intent and ability to attack another country, overtly or otherwise, there is no justification for attacking them. It's an ugly situation, but if we want to live by the rule of law, then the law applies to us as well. If Hussein openly defies the sensible demands of the UN Security Council, then by all means let the UN resolve to strip him of his weaponry, and back that up with action. So far, though, he seems to be slowly bending under pressure, as the ongoing destruction of the al-Samoud 2 missiles demonstrates. As far as 'regime change' goes, it's not our business. If the Iraqi people want to continue to put up with him, that's their problem. No nation invaded American territory to 'liberate' the Native Americans or the black slaves here during the 18th or 19th centuries, despite the crimes against humanity perpetrated against them. The problems were eventually dealt with internally. If there had been an intervention, Americans and their leaders would have been furious. The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait are to be commended for urging Hussein to step down in order to avert war, but I don't think anyone believes that he'll do so, and I'm not even convinced that that would stop the war machine.

It's frustrating, too, that Dubya and his camp are trying to paint anyone who's not with them as 'the old Europe' or confused or blatantly hurting America. I'm still an American, and I seek a solution that's fair to America and to the world. That's the only way to prevent such ugly situations from arising again. And while France and Germany are indebted to the United States for helping them become what they are today, that does not mean that they're obligated to follow an American president into whatever foolhardy venture in which he decides to partake. Dubya's behavior will only serve to alienate the Europeans, whose money he will need if an invasion and subsequent rebuilding does take place. I don't know about you, but I'm loathe to have my tax dollars go towards first destroying and then reconstructing Baghdad. If we're going to engage in that kind of rebuilding, let's try Los Angeles instead. Even Turkey has decided to obey the will of its people against the lure of American dollars, making an invasion that much more difficult.

OK, I'm going to try to stay off that topic for a while. Dubya's made it very clear that he doesn't care what anyone, outside or inside the U.S., thinks of his plans, so all I can do is hope that he digs a grave for his political career. If he fails to get the world community behind him, yet he invades Iraq anyway, it's going to cost Americans a lot, and not just in money. Eventually, others will realize this...

Someone stole an original Dalí sketch from the prison at Riker's Island. Go figure.

So, I've been on a concert-going kick lately. Since September, I've seen Les Paul, Aimee Mann (twice), Tori Amos, the Martin Rivas Three (two or three times, I forget), and Sleater-Kinney, and over the next few weeks I'm going to see They Might Be Giants, the Martin Rivas Three again (at CBGB this time!), and Def Leppard, again. Live music is a real kick, when done right. Heh-heh...

I'm also gearing up to get back into my own music. I have to finish this album of mine this year; I've procrastinated on it, but the fact is, if I were to die tomorrow, my only regret would be not getting the recording done. So I intend to get it done, starting with finishing up "Swingin' in the Park (After Dark)" this month. Jon and I haven't worked on any Not An Exit stuff in quite a while, either, though it'll be much easier once we've found an apartment. Anyone know of anything in north Jersey?

I've added another computer to the collection, a Silicon Graphics Indy; I think I'm going to call her Mindy.  ;)   At the moment, though, she's not in use, because of incompatible video ports. Got to order an adapter and do some tinkering...

Goddamn, I am sick of snow. Maybe Jon and I should move to a tropical island... Well, no, if I were going to move to a tropical island, I'd much rather do it with a woman. No offense, Jon... But, really, we've had a lot more snow and much colder weather this winter than in the six that preceded it.

Lastly, I know I haven't updated the gift shop since first setting it up. I'm going to, though frankly I'm not in a rush. It's not like you people have ordered anything yet anyway. Maybe once the Andersen Silva lunchbox hits the Web...
  - A


April 2004 - The real final Vitriol, Howard Stern, Dubya, etc.
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March 2004 - Dining out with my baby, Virtual PC, and the end of Vitriol... or is it?
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February 2004 - Two weeks between jobs, three new songs, grabbing Panther by the tail
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January 2004 - Ice skating with Gina, sushi at my sister's wedding, war-riding, the pink slip
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December 2003 - Moving pains, goin' places with Gina, Christmas bells
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November 2003 - The looong month of October, finding an apartment, Ozzy's gone
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October 2003 - I'm in love with her and I feel fine, Boston, the Dalai Lama, apartment for rent?
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September 2003 - Andy, happy? it could happen!, taking time off from work, Ringo Starr, "Discworld," the blackout
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August 2003 - (W)here (M)ight (D)ose WMDs be?, gay marriages and the people who fear them, '80s metal bands, Computer Man to the rescue, Philadelphia freedom
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July 2003 - Boondocks.net is back!, rudeness on public transportation and elsewhere, "Hole in the Wall"
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June 2003 - Science fiction movies, where is Boondocks.net?, still no weapons of misconstruction...
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May 2003 - How 'bout them weapons of mass distraction, huh?, Def Leppard, Michael Palin, another Silva, wireless networking, and a damned good raspberry margarita
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April 2003 - They're still French fries, dammit!, a new guitar for Andy, music-music-music
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March 2003 - The buildup for, and the protesting against, war
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February 2003 - The destruction of the Columbia, the National Day of Poetry Against the War, hard and soft atheism, Pete Townshend, and the gift shop
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January 2003 - Christmas loot, "Swingin'," more war talk
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December 2002 - The year in review, moving again?!?, moving world leaders around, too
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November 2002 - "Scarlet's Walk" and Tori's penguin, jackasses, and killing in the name of...
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October 2002 - Boston, Aimee Mann, and Palpatine/Bush
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September 2002 - George Darius Bush and George Xerxes Bush
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August 2002 - Movin' out of Paisan-town, and far away from the Regal Beagle
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July 2002 - Church and state: you gotta keep 'em separated, Dubya still doesn't want to play nice with the rest of the world, John Entwistle's gone
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June 2002 - Movin' on from town to town, Dave Barry and the Rock Bottom Remainders
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May 2002 - Science fiction movies everywhere!, jail time for virus creators, Dubya finally learns to pronounce 'occupation,' Andy gets a promotion?!?
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April 2002 - Terrorism on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, people who don't interact with me or the Web site, "For Dana" to be released on a compilation CD
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March 2002 - Chip implants, the children of God and the followers of Christ commit murder in His name, ultranationalism American style
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February 2002 - Dubya says, "These pretzels are making me- ack!" Sharon continues playing Napoleon, and... the return of Foogar?
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January 2002 - Rob Zombie, Ozzy Osbourne, and other Christmas-related items, stealin' cars, karaoke!
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December 2001 - George meets his sweet lord, terrorists EVERYwhere!, Tomb Raider II finished finally, and the Segway, finally!
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November 2001 - Anthrax (the band), WSOU rocks - but for how much longer? and a minute of silence?
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October 2001 - Osama bin Laden and anthrax and the women who love them
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September 2001 - Five days after the 9/11 attacks
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September 2001 - Governments and armies and the assholes who love them, more misspellings, and a large lack of feedback
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August 2001 - Dubya's isolationism, the Macedonians and Albanians search for peace the Israeli/Palestinian way, 2004 Olympics in Beijing
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July 2001 - Not the Sexiest Geek Alive, war (what is it good for?), murdering citizens American-style
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June 2001 - A dead hitchhiker, the Taliban, and an independent Senator Jeffords
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May 2001 - Joey Ramone's dead, and "Joey Ramone's Dead"
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April 2001 - Brazil (not the Terry Gilliam film), Dubya and carbon dioxide, Yugoslavia begins coming to its senses, Israel and the Palestinians still haven't come to theirs...
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March 2001 - New look for the Web site, upcoming vacation in Brazil!, the pig-headed Taliban, "Hannibal"
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February 2001 - Tomb Raider II, Dubya plays with his new toys, nature plays with El Salvador and India, and the inevitable Chechnya and Israel/Palestinians references
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January 2001 - Snow, a new year/decade/century/millennium, screen resolutions
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December 2000 - The iBook, "The X-Files," the Grinch, the pathetic turn of events in the U.S. elections...
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November 2000 - Got the iBook! the Village Parade, trouble still brewin' in the Mideast, the upcoming U.S. elections...
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October 2000 - Andy turns 30, the Middle East, the anniversary of the invasion of Chechnya...
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September 2000 - A random act of kindness, Great Adventure, new music, new iBooks?
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August 2000 - Palestine and the Israelis, Milosevic, Speight, and breaking the speed of light!
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July 2000 - Israel & the Palestinians, the missile defense shield, and (who'da thunk it?) Chechnya
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June 2000 - Um, Chechnya again, gun-totin' Charlton Heston, misspellings, and xenophobes
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May 2000 - Communism on the last May Day of the twentieth century, and Andy's life ("Don't talk to me about life...")
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April 2000 - Hold on, it's more Chechnya rantin', and an appeal on behalf of a friend caught behind red tape
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March 2000 - Hey, hey, Pinochet, Russia and China won't go away, "The X-Files," the American presidential race, and a prelude to vacation
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February 2000 - Again with the Chechens, and Elián, Pinochet, mp3.com vs. the recording industry, and snow
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January 2000 - Made it through January 1st, Syria and Israel, public transportation, and, er, Chechnya
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December 1999 - Indonesia comes apart, Chechnya (no shit), Seattle's burning, 'n Happy Xmas
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November 1999 - Halloween, my bad knee, Russians? in Chechnya?!? Buchanan and the Reform Party, NIN
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October 1999 - Hurricane on the East Coast, earthquakes in Taiwan, Turkey, and Greece, and Apple Computers
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September 1999 - I'm not getting you down, am I? I'd hate to think I was getting you down...

- - - the Dark Ages (reprise) - - -

April 1999 - the return of Vitriol, Kosovo, a foreshadowing of the Russian invasion of Chechnya (!), and Libya

- - - the Dark Ages - - -

September-November 1995 - the Underground Press Conference, a co-worker bites the dust, Rabin really bites the dust, Remington Bond, Win95, and the Sex Pistols
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August 1995 - the death penalty, the V-chip and violence in pop culture, and "TV Nation"
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June 1995 - Oklahoma City, 'zines, "The X-Files" and "V.R.5"
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March 1995 - I'm sick!, the space program (ha), alt.zines, "Star Trek" and "Voyager"
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February 1995 - the very first Vitriol! Newt Gingrich, political correctness, media overkill, Howard Stern, the Apple goon squad?
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Last updated 6-28-2022