August 9, 2004
Groan
All I've gotta say is:
Freedom from pornography? There is no such thing as establishing a freedom from any voluntary activity without eradicating a freedom to act in some way.
Okay, so pornography ain't good. But if you buy this line of thought -- that pornography should be outlawed -- think about it: you're not that far off from sanctioning someone else to take away all your ability to choose and decide for yourself how to run your life. After all, if you allow me to free you from your own bad choices, then you also allow me a degree of control that, for whatever the scope of the issue, amounts to obeying my command.
I happen to believe that the case against indulging in pornography is a good one. The stuff pollutes your mind. But to allow the state -- or the church, or whoever -- the control to decide for you what is good and bad for your mind and body, is tantamount to selling out real freedom for the pseudo-freedom that we all had as children. You gain the freedom from being a responsible adult, but what you lose is the dignity as a fully formed man.
Posted by Matt at 12:39 AM
August 7, 2004
Cached Out
This week exhausted me. I work a six-day week lately -- with two days running from 8:30 am to 9:00pm back to back -- so needless to say, by the time Friday rolls around, I'm drained.
I'm doing very little of anything that would qualify as energy-intensive this weekend, so I'll have time to recharge and just have some time alone. I need it.
Posted by Matt at 7:00 PM
August 2, 2004
Oh my god, Yes, YES, YES! YES, YES, YES, YES, YES!!! Yes Yes yes yes yes yes YES!!!!!!!
Posted by Matt at 7:38 PM
Unconscionable?
So evidently the White House is really pissed off about this. It's a movie -- from South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, starring puppets -- about America's war on terror.
The White House needs to chill the Forbes out. It's from the South Park guys. The same guys who shocked the entertainment industry several years ago by outing themselves as Republicans. Don't believe me? Here's a bit from the trailer:
Alec Baldwin...Note anything, um... striking, about the people on that list? No? Well here's a hint: cross-check it with this one. (Note, I don't agree at all with the title of the list, but you get the idea.)
Sean Penn...
Tim Robbins...
George Clooney...
Liv Tyler...
Susan Sarandon...
Martin Sheen...
Janeane Garofalo...
Michael Moore...
George W. Bush...
John Kerry...
and Kim Jong-Il...
are all going to be really, really mad...
when they see...
Team America!
Could we please cut out the ridiculous right-wing histrionics? Yes, there's a war on, but these Utes are your allies, guys...
Posted by Matt at 2:07 AM
August 1, 2004
Bad joke of the day
"I know, the weather is beautiful, and I'm sitting out here having a fantastic time just relaxing and doing my own thing out in the middle of the Atlantic, and I know-- I have every reason to be happy... But I just can't seem to get myself out of the doldrums. In fact, I think this funk I'm in is only strengthening."
-- anon.
Posted by Matt at 5:18 PM
Signs that your Presidential campaign isn't going as well as you might have hoped, continued:
#334.) When the most effusive praise to be found about the biggest speech of your campaign is provided by a fictional character.
#334a.) When Glenn Reynolds links to said fictional character's praise, thereby alerting the whole world to the fact.
Posted by Matt at 5:12 PM
