Vitriol

Vitriol

© 2000 by Andersen Silva (11-27-00)

Last updated 6-28-2022  


Hellooooo, blondie! I'm not really sure how the Warner Brothers' "Hellooooo, nurse!" mutated in my mind, but it did, and now every time I see a blonde... well, no, I don't actually say it, but I do think it. ;)

Yes, my iBook is still doing well, thanks for asking. I've got to get a USB audio input device so I can start recording my music directly to Dana (and the 256MB of additional RAM I'll soon be purchasing will also help in that department), but in the meantime I can do everything else I need to with no difficulties. I've gotten several compliments, questions, and envious stares while using the computer on various buses and trains... In fact, I'm writing this Vitriol on the New Jersey Transit route 127 bus!

All right, Doggett is slowly starting to grow on me. "The X-Files" started with a bang this season (of course, it generally does), but like every long-time fan of the show, I'm rankled by the lack of Mulder. The 'new guy' is quite capable, but of course he's no Fox Mulder, so it's going to take a while before he's fully accepted, by Scully and Skinner and by us. In the meantime, Fox is still out there, somewhere...

I saw "Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas'" yesterday with my friend Dawn, and I must say I was quite impressed. Jim Carrey managed to keep his own personality in check most of the time, and he did a wonderful job portraying the Grinch as a Who who was really just lashing out at the town and the holiday that had broken his heart. I won't go into any more detail, but I think that Ron Howard and the rest of the crew fleshed out the story very well and kept it true to the feel of Mr. Geisel's original story. The visuals were spectacular as well; of course the Grinch's and the Whos' makeup jobs were incredible, but Whoville, and all the musical instruments, and Mount Crumpit, and, well, just everything was well done. I especially liked the scene where the Grinch is providing Max with his motivation as a reindeer; take a look not at Max's headgear, but at the Grinch's.

This election has been pathetic. Really. As much as I don't want Dubya in office, and I really really don't want him in office, this situation must be resolved, and the lawsuits must end. The initial demand for a hand recount was warranted, certainly, but all the legal wrangling over individual counties and dimples and disqualified overseas ballots has gotten out of control. In any case, whichever man becomes the next President of the United States of America will be well aware that he didn't get the job by any huge majority. Should tell you something, guys...

Peru's president's status has changed suddenly, for the better. Bye-bye, Fujimori! A shame that Milosevic is still going to be visible and active in Yugoslavian politics... Um, I know there have been other global events to focus on of late, but there's still a pointless war going on in Chechnya! Seems like Putin may be gently, quietly back-pedaling a little on his earlier hard-line stance against the 'bandits.' Kinda late for that, sir; you're still going to be a hypocrite when finally you pull the troops out without decisively defeating the rebels as you'd promised to do. And as I'd predicted you wouldn't do. Politicians...

As horrified as I am by the situation between Israel and the Palestinians right now, I suppose I'm somewhat relieved that it hasn't erupted into a full-scale war or dragged other Arab nations into it. Not that it still can't... But I still believe that both Yasser Arafat and Ehud Barak want peace. I also firmly believe that Barak is the Israeli politician most likely to bring that about, and if either side waits too long and Barak is replaced, it's going to be that much tougher to clinch a deal. Grit your teeth and do what needs to be done, gentlemen.

I'm going to finish this edition of Vitriol with two things: firstly, the real end to the second millennium is upon us. ;P Look up the facts on the subject and accept it, or else follow the herd that can see naught beyond those pretty zeroes. The rant I wrote on the subject last December is still up on my Writing page... And speaking of writing, the second item is a novel, "Duck Egg Blue" (Prometheus Books), by science teacher and author Derrick Neill. To be honest, I haven't gotten around to reading it yet, but I received an E-mail from the author explaining that the book deals with the fight against creationism being taught as gospel in the classroom, and the fight against discrimination by the Boy Scouts of America, two fights he's actively engaged in. As I agree that these are both noble efforts, I promised him I'd mention the book on my site, and so I have. :) Buy it. Makes a great holiday gift... - 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