......WOW!
JUST LOOK AT THE LINEUP!
omgidie
Although the lineup is good. I miss the Daft Punk.
Monday, January 22, 2007
COACHELLA!!!
......WOW!
JUST LOOK AT THE LINEUP!
omgidie
Although the lineup is good. I miss the Daft Punk.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Random thinkings...
If you don't own a guitar... you should.
If you play some other instrument, that is acceptable also.
Random quote from The Odyssey:
"Ah how shameless--the way these mortals blame the gods.
From us alone, they say, come all their miseries, yes,
but they themselves, with their own reckless ways,
compound their pains beyond their proper share."
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Pushing "Democracy"
In the midst of rising foreign weapon/arms sales, we as Americans--defined by our policies--would often laud that we only sell to democratic countries that are engaged in protecting democracy and other civil/human rights.
So is the lofty claim concerning the intended sale of weapons to Taiwan. We refused to sell our weapons to China, but we will more than happily sell our weapons to Taiwan. President Bush approved the package (which, to my knowledge, included things like submarines, missiles, and anti-submarine aircraft) back in 2001. The US, again as represented by our policies, was ready to make the sell; however, Taiwan was not. They still aren't.
I feel a few things need to be considered when initiating a transaction involving a LARGE amount of weapons. These are relatively simple criterion, but I feel they often get overlooked in the face of dollar signs.
1.) What is the need of the weapons?
2.) What are the anticipated reactions from nearby nations?
Let's start with the first of the criterion. Why does the US, think Taiwan needs weapons? Why does Taiwan feel they don't?
To answer the first question, the large weapons package represents a multi-billion dollar paycheck to companies manufacturing the package. It is a huge influx of cash into the American economy. That usually is not a bad thing. To me, the argument for it seems like this: (a) the Chinese military is growing, (b) this growth presents a threat to the democracy of Taiwan if at some point they are not able to defend themselves.
To take point a, it is true that the Chinese military is growing. See article here (it is basically a summary from this DoD report (the 2006 version is found here). However, does this growth posses a potential threat to Taiwan? Is it plausible enough to warrant the purchase of US arms?
Taiwan doesn't seem to think so. They have shot down the US proposal over 60 times. Neither does the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Military Balance: “Since the early 1980s China’s defence sector has been in serious decline owing to the steady fall in procurement orders.” The book further points out that over that same time period, 70 percent of China’s military factories have been converted to civilian use.
So the conflict of information and opinion (what to look at, and what to turn the other way for). To complicate matters further, the EU currently debates whether to lift (they might have already done it, not sure...) the embargo on the sale of arms to China. The US, being the major opposition to loosening the restrictions on this, with Russia tailing behind, being as they are the sole seller of weapons/arms to China (equals big loss of cash influx for Russia). The US, says allowing China greater access to weapons will only threaten Taiwan. True.
I think it is good for the US to encourage Taiwan to purchase materials to have enough clout to bolster the Chinese' desire for control of the waters around Taiwan. However, the goober salesman that we have in China is a fool.
Stephen Young, our top US official in Taiwan said, “Taiwan cannot allow its vital security interests to be held hostage to domestic partisan politics. We will be watching closely and judge those who act responsibly and those who play politics.”
This threat, and intimidation simply should not be tolerated. Send this guy home! First of all, what is partisan politics? Oh yeah... IT'S CALLED DEMOCRACY! So he is effectively saying 'don't let democracy stand in the way of buying our weapons so you can puff your chest at China'. As far as I understand the lifting of the embargo, I disagree with it. I think the sale of weapons to Taiwan is an equally bad move (little utopian views here). Especially trying to muzzle them into buying it, like Mr. Young. We can only push 'democracy' so far, and force by intimidation is not democracy.
So is the lofty claim concerning the intended sale of weapons to Taiwan. We refused to sell our weapons to China, but we will more than happily sell our weapons to Taiwan. President Bush approved the package (which, to my knowledge, included things like submarines, missiles, and anti-submarine aircraft) back in 2001. The US, again as represented by our policies, was ready to make the sell; however, Taiwan was not. They still aren't.
I feel a few things need to be considered when initiating a transaction involving a LARGE amount of weapons. These are relatively simple criterion, but I feel they often get overlooked in the face of dollar signs.
1.) What is the need of the weapons?
2.) What are the anticipated reactions from nearby nations?
Let's start with the first of the criterion. Why does the US, think Taiwan needs weapons? Why does Taiwan feel they don't?
To answer the first question, the large weapons package represents a multi-billion dollar paycheck to companies manufacturing the package. It is a huge influx of cash into the American economy. That usually is not a bad thing. To me, the argument for it seems like this: (a) the Chinese military is growing, (b) this growth presents a threat to the democracy of Taiwan if at some point they are not able to defend themselves.
To take point a, it is true that the Chinese military is growing. See article here (it is basically a summary from this DoD report (the 2006 version is found here). However, does this growth posses a potential threat to Taiwan? Is it plausible enough to warrant the purchase of US arms?
Taiwan doesn't seem to think so. They have shot down the US proposal over 60 times. Neither does the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Military Balance: “Since the early 1980s China’s defence sector has been in serious decline owing to the steady fall in procurement orders.” The book further points out that over that same time period, 70 percent of China’s military factories have been converted to civilian use.
So the conflict of information and opinion (what to look at, and what to turn the other way for). To complicate matters further, the EU currently debates whether to lift (they might have already done it, not sure...) the embargo on the sale of arms to China. The US, being the major opposition to loosening the restrictions on this, with Russia tailing behind, being as they are the sole seller of weapons/arms to China (equals big loss of cash influx for Russia). The US, says allowing China greater access to weapons will only threaten Taiwan. True.
I think it is good for the US to encourage Taiwan to purchase materials to have enough clout to bolster the Chinese' desire for control of the waters around Taiwan. However, the goober salesman that we have in China is a fool.
Stephen Young, our top US official in Taiwan said, “Taiwan cannot allow its vital security interests to be held hostage to domestic partisan politics. We will be watching closely and judge those who act responsibly and those who play politics.”
This threat, and intimidation simply should not be tolerated. Send this guy home! First of all, what is partisan politics? Oh yeah... IT'S CALLED DEMOCRACY! So he is effectively saying 'don't let democracy stand in the way of buying our weapons so you can puff your chest at China'. As far as I understand the lifting of the embargo, I disagree with it. I think the sale of weapons to Taiwan is an equally bad move (little utopian views here). Especially trying to muzzle them into buying it, like Mr. Young. We can only push 'democracy' so far, and force by intimidation is not democracy.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
I hate how sometimes my passion--borderline obsession--for good music abducts my supposed blog, and replaces it with music dump. Something of substance to come later... I promise.
Gear: Numark X2
This is the coolest thing since sliced bread. Vinyl + CD in one convenient package.
I am a bit skeptical as to how it will work out though.
Music:
Smash TV - Yellow Asteroids (Original Remix)
Look. I am not the biggest electro fan (to be honest it bores me for the most part). However, are we to discount an entire genre based on that fact? Tonde mo nai! This track is something I expect to hear from Zabiela, it's blurpy, bloppy, and bleepy. Straight up robot talk here! However, it would definately kill me on the dancefloor. I wanted it so bad I drove over to Dr. Freeclouds today to find it, but to no surprise (sarcasm) they didn't carry it, guess going to have to grab it on Juno, or Ebay...
p.s. Can you take anyone serious who has a link to Fox News on their website?
Gear: Numark X2
This is the coolest thing since sliced bread. Vinyl + CD in one convenient package.
I am a bit skeptical as to how it will work out though.
Music:
Smash TV - Yellow Asteroids (Original Remix)Look. I am not the biggest electro fan (to be honest it bores me for the most part). However, are we to discount an entire genre based on that fact? Tonde mo nai! This track is something I expect to hear from Zabiela, it's blurpy, bloppy, and bleepy. Straight up robot talk here! However, it would definately kill me on the dancefloor. I wanted it so bad I drove over to Dr. Freeclouds today to find it, but to no surprise (sarcasm) they didn't carry it, guess going to have to grab it on Juno, or Ebay...
p.s. Can you take anyone serious who has a link to Fox News on their website?
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Happy New Years!
Wishing all of you the best in 2007!
Hope everyone had a good time at Maximus. I am disappointed I couldn't heard Sashndiggers jam for a good 8hrs. Tis' unfortunate to say the least, especially after watching a few movies like this:
Wouldn't have been bummed to miss TAO at all this year, to go and finally see S&D perform (despite PvD playing at TAO again, and it seems they had a better lighting rig this year too...however, I wouldn't miss the teenage hoodrats bustin out scandalous fishnets and pacifier sucking kiddies!). Well I missed my new years dance therapy this year--depressing--but there is always next NYE. Here's a pic courtesy of Rukes from TA of TAO.
As an EDM 2006 tribute I uploaded all of my favorite tunes from 2006 into a convenient .rar file for every one's enjoyment. If you've paid any attention to EDM you probably have heard all of these canned by your favorite DJs. Regardless, here are my favorites!
Algarve - The Longest Journey (Sebastian Brandt's Stuck on Fiji Remix)
Arksun - Arisen
Simon Patterson - F16
Jonas Steur - Second Turn
Capetown - Proglifter
Boom Jinx - Come Play Perfect
Gui Boratto - Like You (Supermayer Remix)
Popnoname - On the Run
Hot 22 - I feel Love
David Ellesmere - Grid Variation
DOWNLOAD HERE
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