Rush-Mush

Be there!

2007-02-27T19:16:00.000-05:00

Last night

2007-02-16T12:43:00.000-05:00

The Burka Band

2007-02-10T20:39:00.000-05:00

- Of course it was a joke to sing in the burkas, but it was also necessary to wear them. If people in Afghanistan knew who the members of the Burka Band were, we could be attacked or killed because there are still a lot of religious fanatics here, says Nargiz, who hasn't told any of her friends that she has played in the Burka Band.

Meeting right here on Earth

2007-02-08T23:12:00.000-05:00

Tom Waits meets Shane MacGowan on the way from Minsk to New York.

I've got it

2007-02-07T13:31:00.000-05:00

The Bush administration is paying Haliburton to make it so cold out, so that they can deny the Global Warming

February Revolution

2007-02-02T12:24:00.000-05:00

February Revolution 2007

For starters, I'm doing a little residency at the Theater for the New City, in a show called Voideville ( http://www.voideville.com/about.html)
The show is produced by Gordon Bressack, who won three Emmy awards for my favorite cartoons, Pinky and The Brain, and Animaniacs. Which means it most likely will be good. The show will go on for three weeks, but I'm only in it three times:

Friday, February 2, 10:30
Friday, February 9, 10:30
Sunday, February 18, 6 pm
Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave (btwn 9 and 10), $15

Another big thing for me is playing a 30 minutes music set in Bar 169 in Chinatown. It will be the first time in a few years when I play a full set.

Thursday, February 15, 9:30 pm sharp
Bar 169
169 East Broadway
This is the one where in addition to my ususal funny little songs I will play some more serious musical material, using some new nifty equipment.

Chat

2007-01-18T21:20:00.000-05:00

chattin with cmr. Yaron

me: mah job wack krazy, yo
like a mothafuking monkey
krizazy
Yaron: That's ill.
me: ba isskool
for somebody wit ma attention span
Yaron: Do you have a handle on it?
Like on your job.
me: i try
i be pretty damn motivated
Yaron: Aight.
me: i give people shit
know whata mean?
i be hard ass on they ass
Yaron: I had a co-worker who was like that. He would yell "your code sucks!"
me: kuz i gots muthafukin reports to get out, bitch
so you betta fix yo sto proseejah
Yaron: Word up. Gotta lay down the law.
me: it's da nature od their bidnis to be wack like that
so it's all about fads
they gots to respond wit a quickness
Yaron: "Pass the bones/ let's get on this mission like Indiana Jones"
me: ???
Yaron: Some Wu-Tang wisdom.
me: hmm
Yaron: I have to make some stored procedures for my next project, actually. I hope I still remember how to do them.
Sent at 9:10 PM on Thursday
Yaron: How are your co-workers?
Sent at 9:12 PM on Thursday
me: cold blooded muthafackaz
Yaron: Aight.

Commenting on Michael Ledeen's article

2006-12-25T14:25:00.000-05:00

The Mask Comes Off the Mullahs

Great article, Dr.Ledeen.
It looks like the "intelligence community and the diplomats" (which is often the same people) is where we should look into. To be successful, to do a good job for them, often means to work out a "diplomatic solution" - which can be the opposite of success for the country.
It's a shame how poorly the US is fighting its propaganda war - compared to what we - the Soviets could listen to back in the 1980s. All we have in Iran is Radio Farda (whose stand seems to be rather moderate). Considering the advance in technology - and the number of people with satellite dishes - we could do much better. Especially if we concentrated on unmasking our enemies - instead of trying to make America look good.

Survey

2006-12-22T18:17:00.000-05:00

Who do you think is behind the murder of Litvinenko?

Genesis

2006-11-20T19:39:00.000-05:00

...and on the next day, God made alka seltzer.

Best News on Depression Ever

2006-10-26T22:24:00.000-05:00

Siberian scientists believe that addiction to alcohol and narcotics, as well as depression, suicidal thoughts and psychosomatic diseases occur when an individual loses his or her interest in life.
Genius! As James Taranto says, what would we do without the experts?

Doctor of Biological Sciences, Sergei Speransky, is a very well known figure in Novosibirsk. The doctor became one of the authors of the shocking whipping therapy. The professor used the self-flagellation method to cure his own depression; he also recovered from two heart attacks with the help of physical tortures too.

”The whipping therapy becomes much more efficient when a patients receives the punishment from a person of the opposite sex. The effect is astounding: the patient starts seeing only bright colors in the surrounding world, the heartache disappears, although it will take a certain time for the buttocks to heal, of course,” Sergei Speransky told the Izvestia newspaper.

This is what I've been saying all along: men love to be pussywhipped.

”People might probably think of me as a masochist,” Dr. Speransky said. “But I can assure you that I am not a classic masochist at all,” he added.

The revolutionary method may take the Russian healthcare to a whole new level.

So now we all understand why men pay such big money to all those dominatrix women: The effect is astounding: the patient starts seeing only bright colors in the surrounding world, the heartache disappears.

Thanks to Instapundit for blogging this story. I feel better already!

Great Questions

2006-10-25T04:05:00.000-05:00

The search engine worketh in mysterious ways, bringing me visitors with most inquisitive minds, capable of original, non-standard thinking. Welcom, komrades!

Why didn't anyone stop Ivan the terrible evil behavior?
Yes, why?

And here's the winner:
How do you grow armpit hair without buying anything?

One dog outsmarts four humans

2006-10-24T16:21:00.000-05:00

Simon says

Come root for me!

2006-10-17T16:08:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow, I will compete here.

MR LOWER EAST SIDE PAGEANT

bands, men's junk, old friends, new enemies.
21 and over
$3 "BONES"
WITH
special musical performance by THE NEW YORK HOWL

It's probably the craziest and most hilarious show I know. I've competed twice in the past, but didn't win - my rivals were really talented! And quite motivated, I should add. If you are a woman or a gay man, you get to vote. But even if you're neither, you should come - if nothing else, it will be something to remember.

Says the blog PAYOR
This annual audience-judged title comes with a crown, a custom bong, a slice of pizza and a six-pack of Budweiser. Yes, this is primarily a straight event. The Bud gives it away.

However, straight or not, it promises to be a real treat. The competition includes swimsuit, Les2 evening wear, talent, Q&A, best man boobs and the main reason to go? Best Nutsack.

Politkovskaya Murder

2006-10-08T20:42:00.000-05:00

Instapundit quotes this, titled "Putin grows ever more thuggish".

Sigh.

I am no supporter of Putin. I think he is a thug, I think his way of running Russia is terrible for the Russian people in the long run, and I have no reason to think he's above resorting to murder for personal gain of power.

The question with Politkovaksya murder, that I wish Glenn had asked himself before accusing Putin, is simple: What the hell does he gain from it? More chaos? More problems with the West?

To think that Politkovskaya was a real danger to Putin is laughable. Those who complain about lack of freedom of press in Russia (and I'm among them, I do complain about it) should remember that Kremlin inteference has been only one part of the equation. It's only one reason why there is no viable opposition to Putin. The other reason for that is the people who head the opposition: not unlike in Belarus, thet are either incompetent, or dishonest, or both: these people profiteer from their opposition work, while having no ability or intention to win any elections. All these parties like Yabloko and SPS have discredited themselves even before Putin came to power, and since then, they've done nothing but cry 'fascism'.

People like Yavlinksi, Hakamada, Kasparov, all these human rights activists have been acting like clowns: they have nothing to offer to the Russian people. They claim to stand behind the kind of principles I support (private property, liberty, human rights, bla-bla-bla) But the way they stand for these principles has not gone beyond talking. All anti-Putin journalists combigned can't do enough damage to Putin for this scandal to be worth it. So far, I've seen Putin's loud critics benefit more from this scandal than Putin himself. And to those who think that murder of journalists has been introduced by Putin, should remember Vladislav Listiev, who was murdered in 1995, and was a far more famous and powerful figure in Russia than Politkovskaya.

Those who ordered this murder were most likely politically motivated, and it's very possible they are pretty high up in Putin's administration. But this event is so much more likely to destabilize Putin's regime than strengthen it, I find it hard to believe Putin is behind this. It's a crazy world, especially in Russia, and anything is possible; but concluding flat out that he's behind this, to me seems like a really bad idea. It is very possible that that's exactly what the murderers wanted. The question we need to ask is "Cui prodest?", and Putin is very unlikely to gain anything out of it.

UPDATE: Welcom Instapundit readers, and thanks Glenn for linking, and for pointing out a language error in the post.

Look at me!

2006-10-05T19:35:00.000-05:00

You can say I look sad and ugly, but you can't say the picture is not beautiful.

UPDATE: NO, I don't really think I look ugly, thank you those who e-mailed :) It was just a plot to get compliments. "Pensive" is the word that the photographer used, and I agree.

Performace Blooging

2006-10-05T10:02:00.000-05:00

Rev. Jen's Antislam open mike has moved, at least temporarily, to Downeast Arts Center in the East Village, and I attended last night. After a pretty long break in performance, I went to sive my newly written motivational speecj, and sing a new motivational song.

I got a late spot - in fact, I got pulled out last. But I was determined. I went in and out buying beer and going for food (first I had pizza, and then sushi, believe it or not). There were some nice performances. My old-time friend Margaret Dodge told her story about being bitten in the face by a crazy rotweiler bitch. Go to her blog for pictures and testimonies. She managed to make this rather horrifying story quite hilarious - such is the power of Dodge. She's a master of dark humor, and you gots to appreciate.

There were other funny performances, some by people I'd never seen before. There was this supposedly Russian dude Vladimir - Vladimir Lenin he calls himself, no less. He was actually very funny, I thought he was smart and subtle.

There was also this girl who I hope is not reading this. She said she was an actress, and she had the most trite and ways of saying things. She said she was 26, but she looked more like 36, representing everything I don't like about aspiring actors. She was actually good looking, but her terribly unnatural facial expressions made her...well, whatever.

By the time I got to perform everybody was drunk and tired, including me. So I decided to skip the speech, and cut straight to the song. I was very satisfied. I must say, performing a set gives me energy for days to come, so here's to that.

Depression blogging

2006-10-03T17:59:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I blogged about depression. And there is a reason for that. And the reason is I no longer see myself as depressed.

Yes, I still take pills. Yes, I still get so down sometimes, I think my life is over. The last girl I was in love with once told me, "I think you'd be a dashing old man". And that's how I sometimes see myself: an old man, whose emotions have burnt him down, through all that "chasing women and drinking".

Papa was a rolling stone
Wherever he laid his head, was his home.

Sometimes I feel like there is nothing left in me. Sometimes I just want to give up, like, really really want to give up. And, as the last girl who was in love with me said, I have given up on almost everything. Well, not so fast.

I've decided, a few months ago, not to see myself as a sick, depressed man, even though it might be an accurate description. It's like in that drawing in which you can see either a young woman or an old woman. There is a lot of pain I have to deal with, but I also have a lot of blessings to count. You really have to count them and know what they are, because they are the points in the spacetime continuum of your life that you can lean on. Those are the only levers you can use to pick yourself up.

It's hard to identify them. It's hard to know what you want. It takes time, commitment, effort - just like about everything that's worth gaining. I still feel very confused. Clarity - that's what I'm after these days. I can't see exactly where I'm going, but I know I want to go there. I don't want to stand still or look back, so help me God - and give us more money.

When Whales Poo

2006-09-29T21:06:00.000-05:00

don't they pollute the environment?

Opinion Poll

2006-09-29T20:47:00.000-05:00

Would Janett Jackson make more money if she just made porn instead of trying to sing?

Heaven

2006-09-29T16:17:00.000-05:00

Little Girl: Mommy, where is heaven?
Ghetto Mommy: Right around the corner from my ass.
OiNY

You tell them, Borat!

2006-09-29T11:39:00.000-05:00

"If there is one more item of Uzbek propaganda claiming that we do not drink fermented horse urine, give death penalty for baking bagels, or export over 300 tonnes of human pubis per year, then we will be left with no alternative but to commence bombardment of their cities with our catapults," Borat said.

Amen!

Shame on Milinkevich

2006-09-28T06:26:00.000-05:00

I can't believe what this clown is saying.

«Перемены происходят, когда на улицы выходит намного больше людей. Тогда не надо идти к резиденции… Нужно просто стоять, и власть сама убежит»

We just have to stand there, and the government will run away. Yeah, right. That's what dictatorial governments do. They voluntarily run away when they see people gather. Maybe I took it out of context? Here's the full paragraph:

«Перемены происходят, когда на улицы выходит намного больше людей. Тогда не надо идти к резиденции… Нужно просто стоять, и власть сама убежит»

Changes happen when a lot of people gop out on the street. Then we don't have to go to the residence [of president Lukashenka]. We just have to stay there, and [those in] power will run away.

"Cама" means voluntarily. What a wonderful world does this man live in!

It's a big shame that the brave Belarusians who were risking their health, their freedom, and their very lives didn't have a better leader than this guy - and no, I don't think Kozulin was better as a leader, though it's a big shame he's in prison. It is obvious Milinkevich and Co weren't planning to take power. It is obvious that he's not planning it now, and even if he were, it wouldn't matter: nobody will follow him anymore. Neither him nor other professional "oppositioners", who make a living out of pretending to fight the regime.

Islam: Apostacy is the best option

2006-09-28T05:59:00.000-05:00

Dean is angry at some right-wing conservatives who don't make the distinction between Islamists and Moslems in general. In case my comment doesn't appear, I pasted it here, so it's not lost.

Dean,

My Grandfather was a Communist. Born and bred Communist, who had believed in Communism, and in the goodness of Lenin and Stalin. He was also a great human being, who fought bravely against the Nazis - so he too was a US ally in WWII, then he raised children, worked hard, and set an example for all in the family with his honesty and integrity. I loved him, and I would never want to disrespect his memory. He was anything but an evil person, and there were millions like him in the USSR.

But I am anti-Communist. I consider Communism an evil ideology.

Just because there are decent, good people among Moslems, doesn't mean Islam doesn't have a problem. Calling Islam evil is not the same as calling all Muslims evil. I can respect a Moslem, just like I respected my Grandfather, but I will go only so far in respecting his convictions.

According to Dean, accepting the statement "that Islam is incompatible with democracy... means we have to declare war on the entire Muslim world if we're to hope for human freedom to survive."

I disagree with that. Declaring war on the whole Islamic world does not follow from that statement. Saying that Communism is incompatible with democracy, or is evil, didn't mean going to an all-out world with the Soviets, did it? Defeating the Nazi Germany didn't mean killing all those who had fought on the Nazis' side, did it? I think Dean can do a better job distinguishing ideas from people. Throwing around such words as "enemy" and "traitor" is a sign of a Western urbanite who probably hasn't seen much action triggered by these words.

We should not declare war on the Moslem world, but we should advocate apostacy. We should openly say to Moslems: look, we understand that this is the religion of your ansestors, and we'd like to respect that, but this Islam thing that you've got really doesn't work for us. We can tolerate your mosques, but don't expect us to like them. We have not seen much good coming out of them. It would be best if you stopped this nonsense altogether, but in the meanwhile we would appreciate if you started considering giving us the same kind of respect you demand from us. Perhaps then you'll have to admit that what you demand is not respect, but submission.

Dasha Kostenko's diaries published in Moscow

2006-09-28T05:35:00.000-05:00

Sep. 27, Moscow - presentation of a new book called "Partisan Republic". It contains eyewitness accounts of those who participated in the protests of March 19-25, 2006, afainst election fraud in Belarus. Among the book's authors, talking to the journalists was Dasha Kostenko, famous for her "March Diaries" that she was publishing on the Interenet during protests.

She said, "I wanted to do something to make at least some people understand, that this is a development. Non-violent mass protest is always a development, and not just when it leads to something that people call a 'revolution', when it leads to change of government, to the triumph of new elites"

vis Salidarnasc.

What can I say? I'm very glad for Dasha, and for those who now have an opportunity to buy the book. In light of the recent protests in Poland, that make tent camp protests seem like entertainment for otherwise bored young people, it's important to remember how brave these young Belarusians were. They knew they would almost certainly get arrested and/or beaten - unlike their Polish counterparts. And, also unlike their Polish counterparts, they live in a country where voting doesn't matter. You're unhappy with your government? Don't vote for them next time around. That's what civilized people do. And when you don't appreciate living in a civilized country, you may lose that privilege. RDH just wrote brilliantly about it.

I've read people suggest that the recent protests in Hungary and Poland were instigated by pro-German-and-French forces that try to weaken pro-American governments in Estaern Europe. I don't know about German-French, but I'm sure there are plenty of anti-American Chomsky followers in Warsaw and Budapest. And I'm sure many of them are bored.

She is 14

2006-09-25T09:45:00.000-05:00

Anastasia Nikiforova won the internation child beauty peagent "Mini Miss Universe 2006"

Via lipkovich

Is there an appropriate way to comment on this picture?

Say No to misanthropy, or "It's not our fault!"

2006-09-23T10:36:00.000-05:00

Other prosimians, such as galagos and mouse lemurs, also hunt for insects, but they supplement their diet with different kinds of food, including lizards, bird eggs, fruit, and plant sap. This opportunistic approach to feeding is seen in the majority of monkeys and also in chimpanzees. Several species of monkeys, and chimpanzees, but not the other apes, have been known to attack and eat other monkeys. Baboons, the most adept hunters on the ground, often eat meat and sometimes manage to kill small antelope.

Primate

Russian Mushrooms

2006-09-22T08:01:00.000-05:00

Kizhi, via zen_77

Everybody's sick

2006-09-19T17:58:00.000-05:00

I'm sick with a cold, took a day off today, tomorrow probably will, too. One friend is going through a low depression period. And another friend got bit in the face by a dog; she had a surgery, but her face got infected, and she will be in the hospital for 4 days.

Today, I read about an adoption community in Russia, which has a huge number of orphans. It's great to know that there are Russian families who want to raise children, and I hope there will be more of them. Just look at them. Can you imagine what these faces would look like if the kids were never adopted? Scary.

I also read why Pokemon violates Muslim sensibilities and should be forbidden. The reasons include Darwin's theory, gambling, triangular shapes - symbolizing Jews and masons, and depiction of creatures that don't exist in the real world, which contaminates the pure minds of children. Allahu aqbar.

Yet another feminist Jessica

2006-09-18T22:41:00.000-05:00

Left a comment. Thanks for commenting, Jessica. I'll just post my reply to her comment, because it sums up mu thoughts on the whole thing.

Jessica,

Do you understand that when people are photographed with the most famous womanizer in America, their feminism can't be taken seriously? That she and others on that photograph look like a bunch of horny groupies around a celebrity?

I don't care about Jessica's breasts. I would rather she got over herself and felt better. I would rather she saw nothing wrong with wanting to be sexually attractive, and nothing wrong with showing off her boobs. I consider such behavior perfectly normal. Denial of it is what's abnormal, and that's why Jessica ended up looking so stupid, not because of anything I or Ann Althouse said.

I consider feminism a joke - and a sad joke at that, because it produces sad, belligerent, unhappy women. If feminism is about respect for women, then having a "movement" of angry, opinionated bitches who insult everybody they disagree with, is a really bad idea. Coming from a place where women have to endure more humiliation than most American "feminists" can imagine, I can't have respect for a movement of spoiled brats who can't get over their daddy issues, and take it out on men, on conservatives, on whomever they can safely scream at - while doing nothing to help women who really get victimized - women in Muslim countries, in Africa, in Russia. As much as I respect the women who started the feminist movement, I despise the modern "feminism". I don't hate anyone for being a feminist, but Jessica's example shows what this absurd "movement" really leads to - women making idiots of themselves.

Feminism and boobs: commenting on Dawn Eden's blog

2006-09-18T14:37:00.000-05:00

Dawn's post here. Comments here. Dawn is being nice to Jessica - perhaps too nice. I wish I could be nice all the time. Anyway, here we go again.

Commenter Jody:
Ivan,
I think you are possibly half correct - in that much of the ridicule hurled at Jessica started because she refused to self-mockingly admit her pose with the former president could be construed as a sexy strut.

But some of us who strongly objected to Ann Althouse's comments felt this was pretty low. It's an old trick to get nasty if a woman refuses to chuckle over your comments about the way she looks. I am absolutely with Jessica, Dawn and others here.

It also drove me crazy that Ann Althouse kept praising the stunning originality of one commenter who had come up with the pun "tempest in a C-cup" to describe the blog row.

Original? That's one of the tiredest cliches of the British rag tabloids whenever there is a "kerfuffle" about "breasts"!

Commenter Jill
"I think Jessica deserves to taste a bit of her own medicine: look at her blog, and you'll find nothing but personal attacks on those who don't toe the "feminist" party line."

Does she criticize their physical appearance? No. She goes after their politics, which is fair game.

The issue is that Ann Althouse criticized Jessica for having breasts, and for standing the exact same way as everyone else in the photo. Instead of dealing with Jessica's politics, Ann took on her chest. That's dispicable.

Lenin speaketh:

Jody,
"possibly half correct" -
thanks for giving me this much :) I'm gonna use it for my blog's subtitle.

I agree that Althouse went tabloid, and I wish she didn't take herslef so seriously. I'm not trying to defend Althouse, though I'm grateful to her for starting this - I'm saying that Jessica made herself fair game for tabloid-style ridicule.

Jill,
You don't seem to see the difference between "criticizing their physical appearance" and mentioning their breasts while criticizing their behavior. If you criticezed me for sexually harassing my secretary, and said, for the sake of mocking me, that I had a small penis, what would be the reason for your criticism: the size of my penis, or my actions? Wouldn't you say I was asking for indecent jokes?

In any case, Althouse got called ugly by Jessica's defenders a lot more than vice versa, and when it comes to insults, I don's see how calling somebody an a-hole is better than calling them ugly.

Jessica is ridiculous because, after posing, all smiles and excitement, with a famous womanizer, she came out as an angry feminist. That's how the boob jokes started. In other words, she got attacked because everybody saw that her "feminism" was complete BS.

If Althouse said that Jessica looks like Monica because she is a chubby brunette, you'd have a point. But the comparison was not based on looks. It was based on the male celebrity known for his "consumption of women".

Bottom line: you don't come forward with feminist rants after getting photographed with Bill Clinton.

Lenin to Jessica the feminist

2006-09-16T15:49:00.000-05:00

Did you or did you not stick those boobs into the camera?

Do you or do you not want to be sexually attractive?

Typical feminist behavior

2006-09-16T08:18:00.000-05:00

Ann Althouse says that she doesn't find Jessica interesting. Lenin comments:

Jessica might not be interesting, but talking about her boobs is interesting.

The boobs is exactly what Jessica wants everyone to talk about, and while her boobs are not particularly interesting, it is interesting that Jessica denies wanting everyone to talk about them, screaming "No! I want everybody to talk about how smart I am!" - which is not very smart, but kinda interesting.

The boobs is exactly what Jessica wants everyone to talk about, and while her boobs are not particularly interesting, it is interesting that Jessica denies wanting everyone to talk about them, screaming "No! I want everybody to talk about how smart I am!" - which is not very smart, but kinda interesting.

The typical pussywhipped kiss-ass response, of course is: "No, no, it's not because of your boobs that we like you! It's because you're so smart! You're a princess, and anyone who says otherwise is an ASSHOLE!" God bless Ann Althouse for starting this.

Feminism is a great way to talk about sex while pretending it's not funny. "The real question is: Is it possible to laugh while fucking?" - Frank Zappa

Deep Thoughts on Feminism

2006-09-16T07:24:00.000-05:00

I just realized that feminism is the best blog topic, because it contains the most comedic fodder, in other words - stupidity. The whole idea that one should be a feminist these days in America, is almost like campaigning for the rights of opressed Muslim men in Iran or Saudi Arabia - the difference being that feminists in America are not allowed to do things to us that Muslim men do to women in Asia and Africa. If they were, I'm afraid some of them would be happy to do that - humiliate, mutilate...After all, that's what they do to themselves.

This so-called "feminism" humiliates and mutilates a woman, because it says it's wrong to be a sex object. What man doesn't want to be a sex object? What woman doesn't want to be attractive? And this idocy that feminists try to force themselves to believe, makes them come up with all kinds of bullshit theory and long meaningless words. It makes them grow armpit hair and be mean to men. It makes them surround themselves with men without balls, and pussywhip those who have them - or at least used to have them. It makes these women lonely, unhappy, and fat.

Gosh, I could go on and on. This is a goldmine. In my next post, I should write how men want to be pussywhipped. Oh, we want it badly. Rob Shapiro is a genius. I'll tell you later.

Feminist Conversation with Jessica

2006-09-16T06:15:00.000-05:00

No, not the beautiful Jessica who plays guitar in our band. I'm talking about the not-so-beautiful Jessica of the blog called "feministing". There's a whole scandal going on, courtesy of Ann Althouse. So, there is this photograph with a bunch of horny cows surrounding Bill Clinton (just because some of them are male, doesn't mean they are not cows), one of them sticking her boobs into the camera's lense. When Althouse mentioned that, the girl came forward and went bananas. I pitched in, and hilarity ensued. Read the other comments for some hysterical ass-kissing, as well as the usual feminist idiotisms about "patriarchal line" and "perceived intentions". I've known some smart, good-looking feminists, but for the most part, feminism seems to be an excuse for a (usually) dumb, ugly female to be a bitch yet think she's a princess.

From Jessica's post:
What's worse is that this comes from other women, other progressives, and other supposed feminists. How are we supposed to move forward as a movement if we're busy bashing each other with this ridiculousness?

Lenin:
How are you supposed to "move forward as a movement" if you do exactly what you condemn - i.e., advertise yourself as a sexual object? Got hypocricy, baby?

Jessica:
How exactly am I advtertising myself as a sexual object?

Lenin:
Gosh, what a difficult question. Let me guess...
By using your boobs to attract attention?

Jessica:
You mean, by HAVING boobs? What would you like me to do, asshole? Bind them down so you're not distracted?

Lenin:
Jessica, your boobs are not that distracting. What's distracting, apart from your "asshole" thing, is your cluelessness. You rub your boobs in your readers' faces, which would be fine if you didn't deny it. You're a clown and you don't even know it.

Stop calling us murderers!

2006-09-15T11:55:00.000-05:00

...or else we'll kill you.

Pakistan’s parliament unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the pope for making what it called “derogatory” comments about Islam, and seeking an apology from him. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry also called the pope’s remarks “regrettable.”

“Anyone who describes Islam as a religion as intolerant encourages violence,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said.

via LGF

Brilliant strategy.

Are we all doomed? (Completion)

2006-09-13T20:06:00.000-05:00

On my birthday, the first thing that happened was my Grandma called all the way from Eastern Belarus. Guess whose Grandma is the coolest babushka in the world? Kind, sweet, wise, funny, honest, hard-working, - not enough words in the dictionary - she has always been particularly nice to me. She probably did spoil me a little when I used to visit her and Grandpa while he was alive, which I did every summer, But I don't care, because having such a babushka is worth a lot. Then my Dad called - hey Dad! He reads my blog sometimes. That my Dad is coolest in the world I think is pretty much obvious by looking at me. Then my friends from San Francisco called. Then I treated myself to nice food and vacuuming my apartment. Then I took a nap. Then I went to my birthday party.

And as I celebrated, surrounded by really good people, my beloved friends and comrades, some of my fears came into a different prospective. Thinking about politics and war makes you think about death - whether your own death in a terrorist attack, or deaths of innocents abroad. It is said that a samurai must think about death every day (or maybe even every second, I don't remember). I am not a samurai and I want to live a happy life. And the truth is that you are more likely to die in a car crash than in a subway terrorist attack, even if you spend two hours a day on a subway, and hardly an hour a week in a car. The thought of a dirty bomb or some WMD is a bit scarier, and chances of it happening are very uncertain. Uncertainty is a pretty scary thing - especially when it comes to scary events.

War creates a grim background noise in your psyche, and the more intense the war, the louder the noise. How much you want to handle is up to you: you can enlist and go to Iraq, or you can move to Montana. You can be a right-wing armchair general or a lefty self-righteous freak. You can ignore it all together, which is what most Americans seem to be doing.

But as I celebrated my birthday, I celebrated being alive. Every second of it. Despite the anti-depressants, the fears, and overeating for two days before my birthday and mixing beer with vodka at the party - ouch. I've been able to enjoy it so thoroughly because I had done certain things right - I had asked the right questions, I was determined enough to get the answers, I met the right people, and had enough desire to use what I'd learn as tools to become happier and stronger. I gots skills, motherpapa. I just really wanted to get happier, because I realized how miserable my life would soon become otherwise. Compared to my birthdays a year or two ago, I felt that I had made some progress - a feeling I had almost forgotten. Not a huge amount of progress, but tangible. Thanks to everybody who helped me keep my hopes up, and also thank everybody who attended the great party (and the evil ones who didn't make it) - I love you! And you better throw your birthday parties, too, so I can attend and bite your noses.

Are we all doomed?

2006-09-12T12:04:00.000-05:00

Glenn Reynolds has sparked an interesting debate. James Joyner says

It is simply inconceivable that the Islamists will defeat us militarily, let alone impose their culture on us.

My comment:

Militarily - yes, but imposing their culture on us - goodness, they've already done it. Danish cartoons is just the beginning, along with European politicians hugging Hamas, along with Khatami being a guest of honor at Harvard and National Cathedral.

Those who help them destroy our culture have been doing it since the 60s in our universities and media. If (or when, rather) we have more 9/11-type attacks, who will want to live in New York, LA and Chicago? And what then will happen to our economic might?

...
I understand Glenn being tired of all the bloggers saying we're doomed. I'm tired of that, too. I'm also tired of being afraid that the subway car I'm riding in will blow up. The most natural reaction is to go back to business as usual, as James Lileks put it:

The good news? We returned to our norm: cheerful industrious self-directed Americans who think in terms of fiscal quarters, not ancient grievances, and trust in Coke and Mickey to spread our message of tolerance and prosperity. The bad news? Same as the good. Or perhaps it’s the other way around.

To make yourself feel better, you sometimes have to stop thinking about this threat, and politics in general. But in my opinion, to combat this threat, a collective intellectual effort is required - and after all, it's exactly this kind of effort that makes the blogosphere powerful. So the challenge is to be aware of, and honest about the extent of the threat - while keeping your sanity. Which for me was hard enough before 9/11. Nonetheless, despite my fear of subway terrorism that I feel every day, I also celebrate every day - I celebrate being alive, being able to see the sun, and do all kinds of things.

Unlike the Cold War, when there was very little an ordinary citizen could do about it, this jihad war is all about what ordinary citizens do. Will we turn into beasts while fighting beasts? Will we let them enslave us? Will we keep our freedoms and our dignity? Perhaps the answers will vary from person to person, but I'm afraid there is a chance we will lose. Maybe not lose our lives, but lose freedom of speech, and the safety and prosperity that Americans have built for themselves - hell, we've already lost some of that. So the question is, how can we keep and defend all that? There is no easy solution, which is why complacency is not an option, despite all the neurosis that's caused by thinking about this "war" thing.

Russian "philosopher": 9/11 inspired anti-american movement

2006-09-11T16:26:00.000-05:00

In this post, an America-hating blogger from Russia says that the events of 9/11 inspired the anti-American movement for times to come. The most important conclusion from 9/11, he says, is that America is vulnerable, it can actually be blown up.

Then he goes on a rant about how he wouldn't mind doing it himself. While the idiot is pathetic in his impotent hatred, I actually agree with his points: America is vulnerable, and 9/11 did inspire a lot of anti-Americanism, both here and abroad.

More on Disagreement

2006-09-07T13:50:00.000-05:00

“Do we listen to those that we disagree with, and vigorously challenge them, or do we close our ears completely?" -

says the Dean of Harvard, justifying the desicion to invite an Iranian mullah to speak at Harvard. via LGF

It's not so much that I disagree with the mullahs. It's that they want me dead.

Which part of "Death to America" don't they understand at Harvard? Or at the State Department for that matter.

Steyn is hilarious

2006-09-07T13:11:00.000-05:00

... in his article about the Australian PM. Right on target, too.

Why would gazillions of American radio listeners appreciate a line from Howard? Because he says things that none of their own leaders ever quite say. Last week it was the stuff about Muslim immigrants needing to learn English and making sure they're cool with this equal-rights-for-women business. The soi-disant arrogant Texas cowboy rarely shoots from the lip like that. Instead, he says things such as: "Freedom is the desire of every human heart."

Look, I'm a supporter of the Bush doctrine to spread liberty throughout the Muslim world, but I support it on hard-headed grounds of national security. You only have to watch a couple of minutes of the lads in Gaza and southern Lebanon on the telly every night to realise freedom comes pretty low down on the list of their hearts' desires.

Go read it. I think Bush's approval ratings at home would be higher if he dropped the "every human heart" kind of talk about freedom: it makes him sound idealistic. It makes him sound like he's on a quest to spread freedon, whereas he needs to be on a quest to defend America. Democracy in the ME is a means to an end, and the Bush Administration doesn't seem to be clear on that.

The State Department's keeps trying to appease our enemies, letting Iranian mullahs into the country. Bush's "compassionate" stand on borders and immigration doesn't make it look like he understand how serious the threat is.

R.I.P. Julia

2006-09-06T16:42:00.000-05:00

Our comrade died, I found out today. It's sad news, and I find it hard to believe, remembering how full of life and energy Julia was. May she rest in peace.

Expropriation and Confiscation

2006-09-06T16:06:00.000-05:00

I am mentioned in Weekly Standard.

The last time Clements came here in vain, he made the trip worth his while by confronting Mayor Brian Wahler at a street fair with a camera and a Vladimir Lenin impersonator. Clements and Lenin tried to present Wahler with the "People's Award for Expropriation and Confiscation." The award was an old cheerleading trophy, the cheerleader's megaphone replaced with a hammer and sickle. Wahler wasn't in the mood to accept, telling them, "I'm going to give you exactly two minutes to get out of here."

When Wahler put a hand on him, Clements snapped, "Don't put your arm around me. You're not my friend. You're an enemy of property rights, you're an enemy of the Constitution, and you're a little dictator. And you're taking the Halpers' land. So we're going to be here all day. Lenin, you like cotton candy don't you?" Lenin never got his cotton candy. The Piscataway dictator's police force soon chased them off.

Read it all!

No Public Transportation For You Today!

2006-09-05T10:53:00.000-05:00

...in the town of Luban in Belarus.

agafon_bel reports:

All the buses are beimg used to transport citizens to rural areas so they can perform the infamous agricultural labor

They did it to us from the 7th grade on - back in the good old Soviet days. For Belarusians, the good old days are still on. Lenin is always alive! Long lives the Soviet Union!

Doesn't it?

Misunderstanding and Disagreement

2006-09-02T08:31:00.000-05:00

Oh, that was just a misunderstanding. I was like 14, and I was wit' ma man, and we was having words--like, we was having a disagreement--and I stabbed him, is all. It was just a misunderstanding.

via the fabulous oiny

Our peace-loving dissidents

2006-08-31T13:29:00.000-05:00

All War is WRONG

and if you don't agree with me...

I WILL KILL YOU!

via LGF, this great news:

The soldier was walking to a convenience store when a sport utility vehicle pulled up alongside him and the driver asked if he was in the military and if he had been in any action.

The driver then got out of the vehicle, displayed a gun and shouted insults at the victim. Four other suspects exited the vehicle and knocked the soldier down, punching and kicking him.

“And during the assault the suspects called him a baby killer. At that point they got into the car and drove off and left him on the side of the road,” Detective Ed Troyer with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.

On Role Models

2006-08-29T12:50:00.000-05:00

Bill Linskey, more commonly known as "Dartmoor Bill", who died on Tuesday aged 85, was the longest-sober member of Alcoholics Anonymous in Britain and Europe, having not touched a drink for the past 53 years.

Hey, he was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. Who leaked his name to the press?

James Taranto

Ann Althouse re: Rudy

2006-08-29T12:31:00.000-05:00

I commented on this post by Ann Althouse. I agree with most of what she says, except this:
Hawkins faults Giuliani for accepting some gun control and for taking a moderate position on immigration. These aren't my issues. I see other people getting fired up or manipulated over them. I just want sensible people to make sophisticated policy decisions.

So, here's my comment.

I like Rudy. In my opinion, his weakest point is illegal immigration - and I don't think that it's just the social conservatives or isolationists who take this issue seriously. I think for most Americans, it is their issue - just look at how Buchanan's book is selling. I don't see how you can be strong on national security and weak on illegal immigration. Btw, I think Bush's position on this issue contributes a lot to his low approval ratings.

Publius Pundit returns from Belarus

2006-08-29T03:46:00.000-05:00

...after a trip to Belarus and Ukraine.
Here is the first post in what I expect to be a big interesting series.

Dancing Lenin

2006-08-29T03:39:00.000-05:00

via Suzanne
What is it, anwyway?

I know the secret reason...

2006-08-29T03:33:00.000-05:00

...why Von Bek hates neo-cons. It's not the supposedly traditional isolationsism of the true American conservative.

It is David Frum's face.

Youth Forum

2006-08-25T18:39:00.000-05:00

According to the official site of the official Belarusian Youth Union (heirs to the Soviet Komsomol), this is a picture from the Congress of Youth Organizations of C.I.S., Eastern Europe, and Baltica.

vi papandos

Isreal gives up on disarming Hiz

2006-08-25T16:25:00.000-05:00

Commenting on Tammy Bruce article:

I very much agree with Tammy Bruce.
While I think Olmert is no worse than his predecessor Sharon, I do hope Israelis stop electing appeasers. I also hope they boot some of the IDF high brass, who have been B.S.ing both the Israeli public and the allies. The IDF needs to become stronger and smarter in order for Israel to succeed, and while I can say only good things about ordinary Isreali soldiers, the militery elites in Isral seem as corrupt and devorced from reality as Olmert and Co.

Hence the article notes that the only way to eliminate Hezbollah would be to evacuate the entire region.
I disagree with this. I think another way to eliminate Hizbollah is to prove that their cause is hopeless. No international force will do it, unless there is will to win: to cut off Hizbolllah from Syria and Iran, at any cost, even if it means war with Syria, and yes, with Iran. I wish the mullahs would go without a war, but I don't see how the opposition in Iran can overthrow the mullas. It doesn't seem to be in the cards. I think we should hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Commenting on JPost: You're on your own, Israelis

2006-08-25T15:14:00.000-05:00

I just read an article titled "Nation of know-it-alls" in Jerualem Post.

Before this last war, I'd given up on peace negotiations. I didn't think they were necessary anymore. Now, while I certainly don't believe in them like I did in the Oslo days, I think we have to consider them again. With Syria, for starters.

I left the following comment:

The author makes the same error he admittedly made before, which is the same sinh of which he accuses his opponents: he over-generalizes. Olso peace didn't work, so go IDF! Lebanon war failed, so DOWN with IDF! How about having a better IDF? As long as mullahs are in power in Iran, Israel will not know peace. Is the IDF capable of taking the mullahs on? I have no idea, but I know that diplomacy won't solve anythig, with the UN being on Hizbollah/Iranian side, along with the US State Department. You're on your own, Israelis.

Teens Defend Polygamy at Utah Rally

2006-08-25T13:40:00.000-05:00

I subscribe to Maggie Gallagher's Marriage News (don't ask why)

This week, they have an article with a wonderful title: Teens Defend Polygamy at Utah Rally

"Because of our beliefs, many of our people have been incarcerated and had their basic human rights stripped of them, namely life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," said a 19-year-old identified only as Tyler. "I didn't come here today to ask for your permission to live my beliefs. I shouldn't have to."

I think Tyler has a point. It is possible that polygamy indicates some sort of emotional problems with the people involved. But the more the "normal society" harasses such people, the less we'll know about both dangers and benefits of polygamy, and the harder it'll be to distinguish between abusive polygamists and those who harm no one.

They said they spoke voluntarily. They gave only their first names, saying they were protecting the privacy of their parents.

They shouldn't have to.

Impressions from Landmark Forum

2006-08-23T09:32:00.000-05:00

Last night, I went to this event at Landmark Forum, , where I was invited by my comrade Andy, you prolly remember him. It was too much like Herbalife and Tuppaware party, so I left. Boy, am I angry at him!

The history behind this stuff is very interesting. Historically, this is the secular version of Scientology (the founder guy, Werner Erhard, was supposedly friends with Scientology founder, and then they fell out).

These Forum people have some interesting ideas and techniques, but when I think about their Transformation (a concept copied from Zen's enlightenment), taking place on an industrial scale (four hundred of people in the friggin hall) in a matter of three days, I get more than sceptical. I don't believe in quick fixes, or in transformation that is initiated and managed from outside. And when I look at that French lady who conducted the seminar - who wasn't bad, but... when she started talkin about how "we" don't know what it means to be human, I just thought "transform my ass"

I understand why people want a different life from the one they have. I am one of them. But profoundly changing your life is not something that can be packaged and then swallowed and digested in a matter of three days. It is something that has to be built by yourself, and it takes years. A bootcamp like that could be a catalyst or a boost, and I admit that for some people this education, as they call it, really is helpful - possibly. But for me personally, the hyped atmosphere and the dehumanizing size of the congregation are enough to turn me completely off.

My authoritative opinion on Perelman

2006-08-23T08:08:00.000-05:00

I think that Perelman's refusal to accept the Field's medal for his mathematical discovery is his peculiar way of being nasty, whether he realizes it or not.

It's not a big nastiness, because the only thing being hurt here is the feelings of mathematicians - and who cares about the feelings of mathematicians.

Of course, maybe he's afraid that once he gets the million dollars, he'll get robbed - then ofcourse it's not nastiness, it's OK.

But if it's true that his excuse is that he has nothing to say to the mathematical community, then I, as True and Only Leader and Teacher of the Civilized World, disapprove of his desicion.

Insomnia

2006-08-23T07:21:00.000-05:00

With all the emotional problems Lenin has to deal with, I must say I remain positive. It may seem to you sometimes that I'm being negative or nasty and depressed, but on the inside, Lenin is always positive. Hurray for Lenin and hurray for positivity!

Being a genious inventor, I have introduced the concept of loops into the field of self-understanding, self-knowing, self-loving, self-being, self-actualizing, self-making, and self-representing. A loop is, as anybody familiar with electronic music may tell you, is a piece of something taking place in time in a repeated manner. As the artist currently known as Prince correctly formulated, A loop is a loop is a loop is a loop is a loop.

In our so-called brains, loops are recorded by our environments: our parents, teachers, friends, lovers, cultures, countries, religions, advertising. Our loops are recorded by our mom who wasn't there when we needed her, by the heartbreaks we embrace, and by the world telling us what's good for us.

The world will tell us we need to be successful in our careers, make money, and have a lot of fun; or that we need to be a creative, preferably suffering artist; or that we must bang a lot of chicks or have a nice romantic boyfriend. Driven by these stereotypes, we follow our past and our outside circumstances, instead of following our hearts.

And here comes the Big Question: how do we know how to follow our hearts? How do we know how to stop living someone else's life? How do we know what life is really ours? Who is the real "me"?

Perelman's Proof

2006-08-22T12:03:00.000-05:00

The text in Russian says: from this it follows => therefore => stick your million up your butt

by LJ user ellustrator

WaPo:
They received their awards from King Juan Carlos to loud applause from delegates to the conference. But Perelman was not present.

"I regret that Dr. Perelman has declined to accept the medal," Ball said.

news
A UK newspaper, The Sunday Telegraph, reported on 20 August that it had tracked down Perelman to a flat in St Petersburg, where he reportedly lives with his mother. The mathematician is quoted as saying: "I do not think anything that I say can be of the slightest public interest. I have published all my calculations. This is what I can offer the public."

Do Jews belong in Israel?

2006-08-21T17:25:00.000-05:00

It is exciting to see Judith of Kesher Talk, who has followed Lenin developments since the glorious CFK days, comment on this humble blog. Welcome, Judith! In response to this post about Jews having to prove they are the same Jews the Bible is talking about, Judith says:

Actually Ivan, they can. DNA testing shows that Jews (of all branches) and Palestinian Arabs can trace their ancestry back to Judea/Israel/Palestine.

Also there's a genetic marker which most people who claim cohain ancestry have, which dates back to that time and place as well. Being a cohain (priest) is hereditary through the male.

The genetic aspect of this is indeed interesting, and I should know more about it. Here is, however, my comment, that I'm reproducing here:

I've heard about the DNA proof. I guess my point is that it doesn't matter. If you need such proof to begin with, there's no way it will be enough. You'll come up with another reason why Jews don't belong in Israel.

The reason I think Jews do belong in Israel is because wherever they go, they are told "Go back where you came from". They are told that in Israel, too, but Israel is the only place where Jews can settle and say "We are not going". They love that land, they care for it, they build a civilized state on it - and to me, that means they belong there.

New song posted at MySpace

2006-08-19T08:11:00.000-05:00

It's not exactly new - I wrote it about three years ago, and you may have heard it live.
Anyway, here it is - "Unwanted Man"
I recorded it at home, and played all the instruments by myself, including drum machine, fretless bass, acoustic guitar, electronic keyboard, and bongo bongos. I also sang with my mouth.
Enjoy :)

Wisdom #-34968

2006-08-18T19:07:00.000-05:00

Womanizing is not always fun, but it is always interesting.

Baby here I come

2006-08-17T15:10:00.000-05:00

More here

History links

2006-08-17T11:29:00.000-05:00

So, I've been talking about Americans' readiness to fight the war against isalamists, and what they are and aren't willing to sacrifice.

Here's a WaPo article on the topic.

And here's a paper by a Princeton historian Harold James, Lessons of History. Highly recommendo.

Solzh's speech

2006-08-16T17:11:00.000-05:00

Pajamasmedia links to a post at The Belmont Club that has the full text of Solzhenitsin's speech at Harvard in 1978. Before I write about the speech, I want to say what I think about Solzh.

I think he is - or at least was - a brave, honest human being, concerned with Russia and her fate. I also think he is arrogant and narcissistic, the way Russian writers come prophets get, and ungrateful to America for giving him a refuge from the Soviets. Finally, I think his prose is mediocre and boring.

Now that we got Solzh's persona out of the way, let's examine his speech, which after decades got so many people thinking and talking. He makes several point that are indeed worth discussing.

Contemporary worlds - here Solzh talks about the West not understanding other cultures, including those it conquered in the past.

How short a time ago, relatively, the small new European world was easily seizing colonies everywhere, not only without anticipating any real resistance, but also usually despising any possible values in the conquered peoples' approach to life. On the face of it, it was an overwhelming success, there were no geographic frontiers to it. Western society expanded in a triumph of human independence and power. And all of a sudden in the twentieth century came the discovery of its fragility and friability. We now see that the conquests proved to be short lived and precarious, and this in turn points to defects in the Western view of the world which led to these conquests. Relations with the former colonial world now have turned into their opposite and the Western world often goes to extremes of obsequiousness, but it is difficult yet to estimate the total size of the bill which former colonial countries will present to the West, and it is difficult to predict whether the surrender not only of its last colonies, but of everything it owns will be sufficient for the West to foot the bill.

On this point I pretty much agree. Most of Western colonial expansion was motivated by opportunities to get rich, and backed by the self-righteousness of the Christian doctrine, which basically says that only Christians go to heaven. People from former colonies keep coming to Europe, and we how some of them are destroying it from within.

Then he talks about "blindness of superiority" in the West, and the westerners' tendncy to measure other cultures by their own yardstick. Wich I think is funny, considering this passage:
When the modern Western States were created, the following principle was proclaimed: governments are meant to serve man, and man lives to be free to pursue happiness. (See, for example, the American Declaration). Now at last during past decades technical and social progress has permitted the realization of such aspirations: the welfare state.

What we have here is a superficial understanding of American and Western values. Anyone who has read J.S.Mill can understand how much Solzh is missing in his understanding of what liberty is - and liberty is just one of the Western values, though probably the most important one. So, here we have a bearded sage who accuses the West (which had saved his freedom if not life) of not understanding other people's values - and ten seconds later, he does just that: demonstrated the shallowness of his own understanding of others' values. Then he talks about how the West lives a "legalistic life" - Any conflict is solved according to the letter of the law and this is considered to be the supreme solution.

Agains, there is some truth to that, as we can see from all kinds frivolous lawsuits which serve anything but justice. But Solzh again demonstrates the shallowness of his understanding of Western values. Yes, our administration of justice has been over-formalized. But it doesn't mean that we in the West care more about the letter of the law than we do about justice. Justice - a latin word - has been a cornerstone of Western civ since Rome. And the reason that our legal system, inherited from the Romans, has worked for so long, is because we attach value to the principle of justice itself, not its formal representation (a sin, that according to historians, destroyed Rome) This is something that the separation of Church and State allows for: while the State is busy with the mechanical aspect of justice, people still gather in their churches and aspire justice as a principle, divorced from the formalities of civil law.

to be continued

Commenting on SITWSM

2006-08-16T11:05:00.000-05:00

Something in the way she moves is an excellent blog, mostly about world affairs. Some of the posts there seem more insightful to me than what I read in The Weekly Standard.

TaliaXianne says:
Many analysts whom I've recently listened to think that Olmert is on his way out. I am kind of bummed about that because I rather like Ehud Olmert. I think that he showed more will than many of the PMs before him.

Lenin comments:
I think your point of Olmert possibly being the best PM lately is well taken. But I think there is a contradiction between knowing what's at stake and trying to be a humanitarian.
It's not the time for Israel to try to be popular. I think a clear understanding of that, and of what's at stake, has been lacking in Israel, and especially among Israeli politicians, who in my view, have been practicing treason for the sake of political gain.
The roots of it, I think, have to do with leftism, or rather, with the double-dealing that Islael gov't has engaged since Ben-Gurion. With the tradition of fearing internal opposition more than the enemy (see Altalena_Affair)
With counting on America (instead of the IDF) to save Israel.
Olmert failed and the IDF failed because of a long tradition of bad politics in Israel, not because of Olmert's persona.

Tehran fashion popular among CIS leaders

2006-08-16T10:29:00.000-05:00

Summit in Sochi: Ties are for wussies.

Tammy Bruce heardbroken

2006-08-15T16:50:00.000-05:00

I console her by saying that things are even worse than she thinks, here.

Lenin speaks:
I share your disappointment, but I'm not sure if it's Rice, as opposed to Bush, is responsible for all those decisions to do nothing.

I don't see how the previous Secretary of State was doing a better job. I think the problem is not so much with Rice, but with the whole institution of diplomacy: Western diplomats's aim these days seems to be their own personal or institutional empowerment - as opposed to welfare of their nations.

So if diplomacy fails, and the government admits it, that means war - not the GWOT that Bush keeps talking about, but a real war, with diplomatic relations going down the toilet, and stock markets too. Is Bush ready for this? Is the US as a nation ready for this?

The State Department seems to be the worst US government agency, in terms of how much damage to the country they cause. But the underlying problem, I'm afraid, lies with the government as a whole, and the American public. We are still not really prepared to fight this war. We're prepared to complian about our politicians - often with good reasons, but we're not prepared to lose our jobs and give up our comfort. Most of us don't realize the magnitude of the danger, and we'd rather believe in democratization of the Middle East and other miracles that will get the job done without much sacrifice on our part.

Stupid ass white people don't know shit about livin' in New York

2006-08-15T12:36:00.000-05:00

The right-wing Republican thin-lipped b*tch' Ann Coulter is ugly, but goodness, Sandra Bernhard is just a lot uglier. Somebody with her looks shouldn't use the word "sexy" so much. Women who are oblivious to how crappy they look - that's really opposite to sexy, but I'm sure they think it's cute. Sandra Bernhard's commercial reminded me of a great movie, What ever happened to baby Jane

P.S. I stole the title from here

Commenting on LGF

2006-08-14T23:59:00.000-05:00

Should Olmert go?

Olmert almost certainly will go. If you poll Israeli soldiers and their families, I'm pretty sure they despise Olmert for this failure. Bibi is not perfect, but there aren't many good politicians in Israel.
Unfortunately, the problem with Israeli politics and the IDF are much deeper than Olmert or Sharon or whoever will get blamed most.
Uri Milstein, one of the most respected military Israeli historians, described similar failures in Israel's previous wars, that were made look like successes.
Israel's political problems are very similar to ours in the US: we have plenty of politicians who fight their political opponents much harder than they do our country's enemies.
I think that very few people, even Bush supporters, realize how serious the jihadi threat is. Few people believe that jihadis really hope to win - and ideologiocally, they are winning. Too many Americans are serious enough about fighting this war, and too few believe it is really being waged on us.

Lost war: lessons for Israel and the world

2006-08-14T11:29:00.000-05:00

When I read the news that Olmert was accepting the ceasefire that had nothing good for Israel, rendering all the war effort with all the dead civilians pretty much useless, I asked myself - what's wrong with the guy? And why do the Israeli people keep putting such politicians in office?

Coincidentally, the same day I started reading the book by Uri Milstein about Itzhak Rabin, in Russian translation, and as I finished it over the weekend, the answers became much more clear, though in a frightening way.

Before reading the book, I didn't know much about the internals of Israeli politics. The Israeli government elite have always seemed at least as corrupt as in the West, and, not unlike in the West, there seemed to be a fondness for socialist values, which undermined Israeli economy and security, just as it does elsewhere.

What I didn't know is where the roots of this leftist tendency were, and the extend to which the Israeli society was crippled by this tendncy - and by the politicians who have been using this ideology to advance their power. The truly tragic result of that is that the IDF and Security Forces in general became inadequate. This is something I would not have believed before the Lebanese campaign, because like many people in the West, I believed that the IDF was the among the best trained, best equipped, best motivated armies in the world. In part this is true - just look at the photographs from the current campaign: these guys and girls know what they're fighting for.

What the Israeli public needs to look at, beyond the persona of Olmert & Co., is the whole mythology of lies that have been central in Israeli politics. Bullshit war heroes, bullshit victories, and bullshit "peace process", that were supposed to serve Israel and its survival, instead served the politicians who were more afraid of their opposition inside Israel, than of the outside threat. The army's purpose, therefore, has become not defending Israel, but keeping politicians in power.

to be cont.d

More on the Republican primary dbate

2006-08-11T12:30:00.000-05:00

Here's the coverage from AP. There's one point that I forgot and the AP article doesn't mention.

Both candidates were asked, If you lose the primary, would you support your opponent? Spencer said no, and McFarland said yes, she would always support a Republican nomenee. I liked her answer better, even thogh in my previous post I imply that party loyalty is not such an important thing. But in this case, I think McFarland's answer had more class and made more sense.

Commenting on AN, again

2006-08-11T12:17:00.000-05:00

Karol's blog is known for it's comment section. There's always heated debate there, and unlike most heated debates, the ones on Alarming News often contain interesting points. It's a lot of fun reading Karol argue her point. So, here's my comment to her post saying Libermann should not run - as Karol said in the comments, it would be "beneath him".

By the way, why is his name spelled "Lieberman"? That's just wrong. It's not pronounced Lie-berman? It's pronounce Lee-berman. So, out of protest and indignation, I will spell his name "Libermann", with an extra "N", which stands for "Wrong spelling". Hello, my name is Lenin, I am from the former Soviet Union, and I am here to teach America how to speak proper English.

OK, here's the comment:

* * *

I was talking to a guy last night who's always been a Democrat, but said he was frustrated that the party has gone too far in the Daily Kos direction, but he would never vote Republican. The angry senator from Georgia and his speech at the Republican convention in '04 also comes to mind. Finally, people like Glenn Reynolds have been entertaining the idea of a third party for a while.
"Republican" has been a curse word for many people, for a long time ("and he called her a bitch, a slut, and a Republican"), and with Dems being practically useless for the country, I think there's going to be more demand for a third party. After all, the two that we have are arguably the most corrupt institutions in America, so I think it would be good for the country if people like Lieberman, as pathetic as he may seem, put some heat under the big two's behinds. He's decided to run, and I'd rather see him win than this Ned guy.

Comrade's B-day and NY Howl's show

2006-08-11T09:49:00.000-05:00

I don't go out often these days, but this week has been an exception. The other night I saw a political debate at Pace University, between two Republicans who want to run for Senate against Hillary Clinton. The debate got personal and confrontational from the start, and it was fun to watch. I may register and vote in the primary for KT McFarland, she seems like a sharp, tough lady who knows about foreign policy, and who I think is more likely to defeat comrade Hillary, though I'm not overly optimistic about that.

So, last night I attended the 29th birthday of my friend and Wifebeaters veteran Yaron Makaron at a newly opened huge bar in Park Slope. Seeing Yaron and his beautiful girlfriend is always a treat and a great conversation. Then, I went to Bowery Poetry Club, where the band New York Howl played their debut CD release show.

Man, that was great. It was so rock'n'roll, unbelieavable. The opening act, Jason Trachtenburg's experience, was all fun and cuteness. My friend - and also Wifebeaters veteran - Jessica kept cracking up at Jason's opening remarks that went like "And this song is from my country period, which was 88-89, because that's where the industry was heading..."

By the time the Howl started, the club was packed. The show was all out, pure rock-n'roll. The Doors meet Sex Pistols, or something along those lines. The crowd went nuts. Rock stardom! Amazing. You can hear their songs here.

French people are silly

2006-08-08T11:54:00.000-05:00

According to sitemeter, my blog has recently been visited by people from unusual places like Paris, Berlin, Boulogne-Billancourt, Ile-de-France, The Hague, Geneva, and Tehran (the Geneva hit comes from the United Nations office, no less). My Self and the entire Sovnarkom is pleased to know that the UN's awareness of Lenin is on the rise.
However, all you Irano-European people e-mailing my post to each other should stop being pussies. Instead they should on click the link that says "Comments", and say "Hi" to Grandpa Lenin.
Come on guys. Don't be afraid to show your love.

Introduction

2006-08-04T04:04:00.000-05:00

Hello!

My name is Ivan Lenin.

Ivan is my real first name, and my last name is Leonov. I call myself Lenin because you idiots love Lenin, and because I look a lot like him.

American Liberalism

2006-08-02T19:43:00.000-05:00

The history of American liberalism consists of two parts. Part one is before Trotsky, and part two is after.

I'm with the one that was before (in case you're wondering)

Muslims: just like the US

2006-08-01T11:24:00.000-05:00

Some guy mocks people who believe that jihad is a real thing, using a trory that says,
Seattle Muslim American was a Christian

Lenin responds:

What James Joyner chooses to ignore is that the guy is a result - or victim, if you prefer - of Islamic indoctrination. The problem is not any political group or "organized movement".

The problem is ideology. Since childhood, millions of Muslims are told that it's OK to kill for the sake of Allah. Are James Joyner and Co going to deny that? I won't be surprise if they do, because their denial seems to go far enough.

It's not an organization that is seeking to destroy us. It's an ideology that people believe - they believe it enough to kill and die. They don't have to belong to Al Qaida. They don't have to attend a mosque. They just have to believe it.

So yeah, bringing up your children to blow people up is "just like murders committed in the United States." Nothing to see here. Just those paranoid conservatives looking for excuses to kill people.

Commenting on Publius

2006-07-31T16:37:00.000-05:00

What Dean said.

To many people around the world, it seems more "about installing pro-West regimes." That's what the media say, and the whole concept of democracy being installed by another country seems hypocritical to many people ("if you want us to choose our government ourselves, why do you intefrere?")

I don't agree with such logic, but it is persuasive, and we need to remember that when we spend money on promoting democracy. I think the main problem is that America wants results quickly, while democacy takes generations to develop, and promotion of democacy from abroad is not a short-term project. It's hard to have policies that are sustained regardless of who's in the White House, etc., which I think is the way to go.

How is this for Iraq exit strategy?

2006-07-29T11:32:00.000-05:00

STRATEGIC REDEPLOYMENT TO IRAN
via hopma

Images

2006-07-28T19:10:00.000-05:00

United scum

2006-07-26T19:32:00.000-05:00

UN spying for Hezbollah?

If they are so nice to Iran, why not be nice to these "freedom fighters"?

Commenting...

2006-07-26T17:39:00.000-05:00

on Alarming News

Re: criticizing Israel.

A lot of Jew haters use that as a veil for their judophobia, no question about that. And what makes criticizing Israel different from crirticizing Brazil is that nobody questions Brazil's right to exist.

As for the money we give to Israel, most of that money goes not to promoting Judaism, but to fighting our common enemies. I think the islamist threat to America would be much greater, if not for Israeli soldiers and dead civilians who've been keeping jihadis busy. I mean, does anybody think that the ME would be a peaceful place if there were no Israel? People use Jew-hatred as an excuse to deny their inadequacies, but if the islamists didn't have that excuse, they'd find somebody else to blame, and I bet it would be the US. So, I don't think this is foreign aid, let alone promotion of Judaism. I think it is self-defense, and I'd rather pay with my tax dollars than American lives.

As for the cartoons, people were outraged not because their religeous sensibilities were offended, but because again, Israel's right to defend itself - and therefore, to exist - is under attack.

Letter to Indian embassy

2006-07-21T13:26:00.000-05:00

Hi,
I'm writing to express my disappointment regarding the Indian government's decision to ban web sites that are critical of Islam. I thought that India was on its way to joining the civilized world, where free speech is a fundamental right. The desicion to ban weblogs tells me that the Indian government thinks that Indian citizens are too stupid to have access to information. If the Indian government doesn't respect its citizens, who will respect the Indian government?
Furthermore, this ban will encourage Islamic thugs in India and around the world. It will encourage them to dictate to people what they can say and what they can read. This desicion is a disgrace for India, and a big step back. Back to barbarism and ignorance, away from civilization and freedom.

Background here

Jews must prove they are Jewish

2006-07-19T09:08:00.000-05:00

Before the Ashkenazi Jews can have Israel, they must prove that they are descendants of the ancient Jews who lived in Israel thousands of years ago. And since they can't, they must realize that Israel was a big mistake.

That seems to be the point of some idiot who was published by WaPo, of all papers. So, down with Israel, and let all the Jews be killed. They are not even the real Jews, so who cares - though I'm sure if they were the real Jews, they would deserve even more punishment.

Ann Coulter: the Michael Moore of the Right

2006-07-19T08:51:00.000-05:00

They look kinda different. But on the inside, they are very much the same. Their wight problems are opposite, but they look equally disgusting, and they do equally disgusting things.

Michael Moore reinforces the stereotype of the Left as a bunch of whiney, treaterous, self-righteous idiots.

Ann Coulter reinforces the stereotype of the Right as a bunch of cruel, narrow-minded, self-righteous idiots.

Michael Moore helped George Bush win the 2004 election. Ann Coulter is helping Hillary and the Democrats win in 2006 and 2008.

Michael Moore, it turns out, secretly own Haliburton stocks. I won't be surprised when it turns out that Ann Coulter secretly eats Barbra Streisand's pussy - and together, they laugh at the stupid conservatives who make Ann rich - just like Michael Moore has been laughing at his audience. Losers!

Comments

2006-07-16T22:34:00.000-05:00

Dear People,
There has been misunderstanding with comments. Turns out, I had comments moderation on without having a clue about it - and so the comments didn't show up.

I turned comment moderation off (hopefully that won't cause all sorts of spam), and so now - hoopefully - if you have something to say, the whole world will see it.

Thanks for reading my blog, yo.

Awesome music

2006-07-14T20:27:00.000-05:00

Ukelele

Hat tip commander Djin

Mushrooms vs Depression

2006-07-12T10:36:00.000-05:00

This news seems to be all over the place.

There is a lot I could say about the subject, as I am familiar with both the substance and the condition. I mean, Lenin IS a mushroom.

All I can say is be friggin careful. I know people who actually got very depressed after taking mushrooms - and stayed depressed for years. In general, self-medication is rarely a good way to deal with emotional problems - I mean, I should know. So again, be careful. If I were yo mama, I would certainly tell you not to put those things in your mouth.

Perhaps I'll write more about mushrooms and other psychodelia later on. In the meantime, feel better. Even if you're already feeling good.

Posting's been light

2006-06-29T11:13:00.000-05:00

New task at new job is rather challenging. For a few, I was really depressed because I felt inadequate. I got over it now, and hopefully hard work and persistance will help me get through this.

I've been netweorking with people who suffer from depression and other emotional and mental problems. Last night, I went to a Depression Meetup in the East Village, and it was very interesting. I had a great time and saw faces I want to see again. I've gone a pretty long way dealing with depression, and I feel I have things to share. Last night confirmed that. People seemed very appreciative of what I had to say, and I want to keep telling my story hoping that it can help people.

It was also great to hear other people's stories. It gives me a perspective on where I am and where I want to go.

Where is the sunshine?

2006-06-24T14:32:00.000-05:00

I wanna go to ~~Miami~~ the beach!

This would be funny

2006-06-23T05:13:00.000-05:00

...if it weren't so sad.

Hello kids

2006-06-19T10:13:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone is doing well.

I got a job offer on Friday, and accepted. So looks like that situation is one the way to normal.

I just wrote to a friend: In my area, everybody's a Brazilian these days. It's like St.Patrick's day, only with yellow.

Last night, my comrades took me out to Brighton Beach. The number of people there was very impressive for a Sunday night, and there were no outside tables available in any of the restaurants on the boardwalk. Fortunately, the seatings inside were plentiful, and we spend an awesomenight at Winter Garden. Great food, great waiters, surprisingly nice - for a Russian restaurant - live entertainment, the works.

This is not a joke

2006-06-15T19:17:00.000-05:00

Attention Citizens!
Due to the celebrations dedicated to the opening of the National Library of the Republic of Belarus
on June 16, 2006 from 08.00 to 16.00, for your own safety, don't open your windows that overlook
the Independence Avenue in the direction of the Library building.
from this forum

Career news

2006-06-12T16:04:00.000-05:00

How have you been?

I've been OK. The biggest news is that I lost my job, but this time, through no fault of my own, it's just my project is being suspended, so there goes my contract. That being said, if you know any SQL Server / OLAP / C# opportunities in NYC, please let me know: ivan(at)ivanlenin(dot)net.

The news was somewhat shocking to me, but this dosn't feel bad like getting fired does. I'm actually still working, while looking for a job. It's stressful, but not much more stressful than most days at work have been: they really make you work your ass off at my current place.

I was going to take voice lessons, but it looks like that will have to wait - as well as the VOX guitar effex unit, and an Alesis mixer with Cubase recording software.

Happy End of the World

2006-06-06T09:38:00.000-05:00

Dear People,
On behalf of myself and my Party I congratulate you with the end of the World. I hope y'all doing okay and representing.
I was celebrating last night and I didn't get much sleep. Respek.

I'm a bad blogger

2006-06-01T09:37:00.000-05:00

...and I don't have much to say. My dad went off to Colorado and then back to Minsk. I'm kinda sad, and a bit tired, emotionally. I look forward to get back to my physical training routine, that really helps with all kinds of mental issues.

Last week, I saw a band called The Walking Hellos - consisting of 4 nerdy females, who played and sang quite beautifully and looked very cute while doing it. Very different from the rest of female bands I've seen. I bought their CD, and the song "Proxy" keeps playing in my head.

Political update

2006-05-25T12:14:00.000-05:00

Update
In Belarus, people are being sued for using Skype. According to the current law, all communications must go through the state provider, Beltelecom. Original in Russian.

It's hard for me to follow politics lately, because I've been busier than usual, but even more because political scum all over the world make me mad.

I'm mad at Congress Republicans - read Instapundit if you don't know why.

I'm mad at the dictator Lukashenka, who's been whoring Belarus independence, and I'm mad at the madmen in Russia who want to annex my home country.

I'm also mad at stupid journalists like Natalia Gevorkian, who are spreading rumors that the issue has been decided in Kremlin to go ahead with the takeover. Phrases like "I've heard this from people who know what they are talking about" are written for idiots, by idiots.

I'm mad at the Iranian mullahs and those who whitewash them.

And I'm mad at - or disgusted with, rather - about everybody who's on Drudge report today. Im' so sick of these politicians and journalists who think they are so above ordinary people - while making the lives of these people worse, in most cases. House Speaker Hastert, ABC, Al Gore, Nansi Pelonsi, Madonna... F. you - that's all I have to say.