tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53848781470183415102024-02-20T14:35:27.313-06:00Loose GravelA nation of well informed men who have been taught to know and prize their rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins.
~Ben Franklinmatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-17546420528740887322010-01-25T21:23:00.003-06:002010-01-25T21:26:12.504-06:00The first time I've wanted to be a Hipster<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kwtlmwNLlN1qzzhzdo1_500.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 670px;" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kwtlmwNLlN1qzzhzdo1_500.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This <a href="http://www.latfh.com/">website</a> rocks (NSFW).matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-81505650010952129112010-01-23T18:59:00.004-06:002010-01-25T21:30:18.781-06:00Carol Brown Just Took a Bus Out of TownFinished both seasons of "Flight of the Conchords" a week or so ago and have been listening to this song ever since. I love how these guys can make an amazing song with a great sound but is also hilarious.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1cGoDns8wTA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1cGoDns8wTA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />Including dance songs... (NSFW)<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9Wl_uQOABxg&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9Wl_uQOABxg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-65336327901963230402010-01-10T21:51:00.002-06:002010-01-10T21:55:48.051-06:00Matt Damon on Sarah PalinSaying what everyone was thinking and puts it in terms so succinct and dead on it's scary. Ps sorry for all the Palin bashing as of late, I just feel like it needs to be done.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/C6urw_PWHYk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/C6urw_PWHYk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-69962308454805031732010-01-08T12:26:00.002-06:002010-01-08T12:29:06.979-06:00That whole 9/11 thing didn't happen.Rudy Giuliani is a prick. He'll <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=If0PVzsZMqg">say/do anything</a> to attack Obama and make himself look good.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-9859074286762951392010-01-06T18:56:00.003-06:002010-01-06T19:04:09.633-06:00Another win for WARFUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison's <a href="http://blogs.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2010/01/wisconsin-wins.html#more">"hard hiting intellectual property adjunct"</a> won a court battle today over a potential cholesterol lowering drug. I love that I attend a University that cares so much about intellectual property and making sure its researchers get what they deserve both in terms of notoriety and financial recognition.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-84913366495853831222010-01-06T18:46:00.002-06:002010-01-06T18:51:06.630-06:00And so it begins... again.I'll be resuming the blog here shortly with your normal balance of narrative, linking, and ranting. No real excuse for why I haven't been keeping it up, just been busy with the whole grad school/moving to Madison thing. I hope that you all will post criticism, corrections, thoughts, and anything else you want in the comments section and will forgive me my many instances of ignorance. Thanks for reading and stay in touch. Peacematthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-54170457585280069042009-06-09T13:11:00.000-05:002009-06-09T13:12:25.827-05:00Change in Iran?I love <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105143816&ft=1&f=1001">democracy</a>.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-10202376275493224912009-05-29T12:20:00.001-05:002009-05-29T12:21:20.677-05:00Catholicism at it's FinestThose Irish Catholics sure know how to <a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2009/0529/1224247670318.html">ruin a party</a>.... uh I mean Confirmation Mass.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-11225066655736764902009-04-15T20:06:00.001-05:002009-04-15T20:07:21.516-05:00Fox News Lurves TeabaggingSo <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i-OWDjOQfI&feature=player_embedded">Tongue-in-Cheek</a> it has to be posted.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-20534014565490360502008-08-28T14:08:00.002-05:002008-08-28T14:28:12.338-05:00Hippy Liberal D-bagsI have seen entirely too many people in my life just like <a href="http://www.culture11.com/node/31872">these protesters</a> at the DNC Convention in Denver. They come from privileged households and like to play protester and revolutionary in order to live out dreams of the 1960's and 70's. While I do not claim to be an expert in Che Guevara, I do not believe his thoughts and convictions blend necessarilly all that well with Starbucks Cappuccino and a MacBook Air. Money quote from the article:<br /><blockquote>Catching yourself in the act of small-time disobedience, only to scurry back to the bosom of the same middle class that made this miserable bout of free time possible, is a limp homage indeed to the era of blowing up the public pissers in government buildings. Yet the superficiality is strangely appropriate. </blockquote><br />People may perceive this as being hypocriticle on my part, but I do not pretend to be more than I am. I understand I am a blessed white boy from Iowa and not on the frontlines helping change America and the world. That being said, it won't stop me from reading Che's book. I just won't dawn birkenstocks and chant "Drop pants, not bombs."matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-40442471403985616682008-08-26T20:31:00.002-05:002008-08-26T20:36:05.164-05:00The DNC Drinking GameThe reason why I love <a href="http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=cfea4f2e-9b57-40bb-94c0-32f3e7d21320">The New Republic.</a><br /><br />Number 7: Take a drink if either Iraq or the environment are described as a "shitstorm."matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-44062801098805193582008-08-21T12:30:00.002-05:002008-08-21T12:33:00.161-05:00How Many Homes Do You Own?Bloody brilliant ad from the Obama Campaign.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vpmFd25tRqo&color1=11645361&color2=13619151&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vpmFd25tRqo&color1=11645361&color2=13619151&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Also note that I have just figured out how to embed videos on my posts!matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-38518837990966578962008-08-21T11:35:00.001-05:002008-08-21T11:36:47.866-05:00He's Gone Too Far ContdGoldfarb got <a href="http://obsidianwings.blogs.com/obsidian_wings/2008/08/quickpost-typep.html">uber pwned.</a>matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-42769404014880175142008-08-20T16:45:00.001-05:002008-08-20T16:46:56.266-05:00Barack and Mary Jane"I inhaled frequently. That was the point." Thank God for <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpBzQI_7ez8">Youtube.</a>matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-29580427560875469322008-08-18T18:27:00.002-05:002008-08-18T18:34:43.053-05:00He's Gone Too Far!John McCain's Deputy Communications Director disses <a href="http://www.johnmccain.com/McCainReport/Read.aspx?guid=181471d0-5456-4434-9f78-2f30ffc39459">Dungeons and Dragons</a> players in a blog post.<br /><br /><blockquote>It may be typical of the pro-Obama Dungeons & Dragons crowd to disparage a fellow countryman's memory of war from the comfort of mom's basement, but most Americans have the humility and gratitude to respect and learn from the memories of men who suffered on behalf of others.</blockquote>Not all players play in their mom's basement... only most!!! What's next!? WoW!?!? <br /><br />Seriously though, here's a link to <a href="http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/08/the-dirt-in-the.html">Andrew Sullivan's</a> take on the cross in the dirt story.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-14026315566038265922008-08-18T12:38:00.001-05:002008-08-18T12:40:51.250-05:00Confrontational Words from RussiaThey will crush us like a clam on their <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4557369.ece">tummy</a>! Literally, they almost said that. Don't worry though, they "have always been a peace-loving state."matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-40500926712608805882008-08-13T15:22:00.003-05:002008-08-13T15:25:53.315-05:00That's What She SaidGuantanamo Charges were <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN1337894520080813?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews">"spray and pray." </a> So not only do we torture our enemies, we also do not afford them the legal rights they deserve as human beings. Also, with the "spray and pray" method, there is a chance that some of these individuals could go free and continue to attack America. That is assuming of course that they are guilty, and it has been shown in the past that some are innocent or guilty of minor crimes.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-85339574795233992412008-08-12T11:01:00.005-05:002008-08-12T11:33:26.662-05:00Back Door LegislationThe Bush Administration has just announced a plan to drastically change the Endangered Species Act. The main change would be that federal agencies would not be required to carry out an independent scientific review of a project they are proposing. While I am all about overhauling an old piece of legislation (the Act has not been significantly changed since 1986), I am extremely wary of placing the welfare of our endangered species in the hands of economists and developers.<br /><br />The Response of the administration to these concerns is pitiful:<br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><blockquote><p> But Dale Hall, who directs the Fish and Wildlife Service, said the move would not apply to major federal projects and would give his agency more time to focus on the most critically endangered species rather than conducting reviews of projects that pose little threat. </p> <p>"We have to have the ability to put our efforts where they're needed," Hall said, adding that individual agencies will have to take responsibility if their projects do harm a protected species. "This really says to the agencies, 'This law belongs to all of us. You're responsible to defend it.' "</p></blockquote><p></p><p></p><p>Even minor federal projects affect our environment and threaten our wildlife. Every project needs to be carefully thought out from multiple angles with each party's wellbeing being considered. I understand the need to focus resources directly where they are needed, but every species should be considered and not just the most critically endangered.<br /></p><p>The second quoted paragraph tends to insinuate that the agencies will be forced to defend their actions after a problem arises. Shouldn't the goal be to prevent problems from arising in the first place? Instilling the fear of having egg on bureaucrats' faces should not be the method our government takes to preserve our wildlife for future generations.<br /></p><p>I don't know about you, but I hope to take my children and grandchildren hiking in Colorado. Hopefully we'll be able to see more than urban development and smokestacks when we go.</p><p></p><blockquote></blockquote><p></p><p> </p><blockquote></blockquote>matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-9506361628032717242008-08-09T12:24:00.002-05:002008-08-09T12:25:26.867-05:00The funniest Thing I May Have Ever SeenThat Barack Obama sure can <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBghD0XBN5M">dance and sing</a>!matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-49131830244441594122008-08-08T20:01:00.002-05:002008-08-08T20:04:24.105-05:00I Met The WalrusIn 1969 a 14 year old Beatles fan interviewed John Lennon about his views regarding peace and revolution. Here's the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmR0V6s3NKk">audio</a> (along with some amazing animations)!matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-89397940216203299492008-08-08T19:59:00.003-05:002008-08-08T20:01:35.566-05:00Back!Sorry for the hiatus. I just got a little too busy with work, trips, and studying for the G.R.E. For awhile there I was just posting interesting things on Facebook, but that just didn't do it for me the way my own blog does. Also, I think people get a little annoyed when you post something every single day on Fb! Thanks for reading in the past and I hope you continue to read in the future.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-14617775451404629762008-06-25T18:18:00.003-05:002008-06-25T18:19:57.760-05:00When Ninjas AttackThank God our schools have <a href="http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/104-06252008-1554393.html">contingency plans </a>in place in case a Ninja shows up on school grounds!matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-73036984197105076032008-06-25T16:06:00.002-05:002008-06-25T16:12:47.440-05:00A Good Thing to Think AboutJoe Klein, blogger from Time Magazine, makes a very interesting point,<br /><blockquote>Do you really believe the (Iranian) mullahs would stage a nuclear attack on Israel, destroying the third most holy site in Islam and killing untold numbers of Muslims?</blockquote>An interesting perspective that needs to be out on the table in this escalation of hostilities towards Iran. An escalation that reminds me of the rhetoric spewed at us by the administration five years ago.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hat tip: <a href="www.andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com">The Daily Dish</a></span>matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-5221102575705017702008-06-23T21:48:00.002-05:002008-06-23T21:53:31.778-05:00Big Brother is HereThere is 1 CCTV camera for every 14 citizens in the UK. God help us if the United States ever gets to <a href="http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91211-1319813,00.html?f=rss">this point</a>. The possibility of losing my civil liberties to CCTV truly scares me more than Terrorism, the energy crisis, or a nuclear Iran.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5384878147018341510.post-54751448939146845252008-06-17T20:53:00.005-05:002008-06-25T18:22:19.636-05:00Those Damn IrishEarlier this week The Republic of Ireland voted against the Lisbon Treaty, a series of changes to the European Union that many said would streamline the organization and make it more internationally relevant.<br /><br />This <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/16/AR2008061602040.html?nav=rss_opinions/columnsandblogs?nav=slate">Washington Post </a>Op-Ed Columnist points out a very interesting fact. If anyone in the EU should want to strengthen the group or aid it in anyway it should be the Irish. The tax breaks and greater fluidity with the continent have transformed a once lagging country into a global economic powerhouse.<br /><br />The fact that they soundly rejected the treaty speaks volumes to the culture of "Europeanism" right now. If the Euro-crats were unable to explain and defend a treaty to the most receptive audience, then maybe there is a deeper reason behind its failure at the polls.matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06307752746322084814noreply@blogger.com0