Stud or Dud

Viggo Mortensen

Thank You Mr. President

Because of you I became a United States citizen... While people were saying stupid things like "if Bush becomes President, I'm moving to Canada," I listened and watched what was becoming of this country. I, unlike some others, decided not to turn my back on the US, but instead to embrace it.

Some people out there on the left will think that you were a terrible president. I'm not one of them.

Below are some facts that may go unseen by the mainstream media of the US, but instead were put together by the British online newspaper... The Telegraph.

1) US aid to Africa. President Bush has overseen more than $15 billion in Aids relief for Africa's poorest nations. Mr Bush dramatically increased the amount of aid President Clinton had pledged during his tenure. Many lives have undoubtedly been saved by offering advanced medical help to the impoverished.


2) Immediate response to 9/11. Even President Bush's greatest detractors will admit he has faced taxing times in office. The 9/11 attacks left America reeling, and Mr Bush's strong and courageous response set an example for the rest of the nation to follow. It also signalled his highest approval ratings by far.

3) No Child Left Behind. Mr Bush's education reform policy, labelled "No Child Left Behind," sparked great optimism when it was introduced in 2001. The legislation aimed to improve America's education system while bridging the gap between minority and white students. Since its introduction, the test results of American children have markedly improved.

4) Marine life protection. One of Mr Bush's last decisions will be seen as one of his best. The president created three marine national monuments in the Pacific Ocean, an act that will protect 195,280 square miles rife of aquatic life. By the time he leaves office he will have protected more ocean area than any other president in history.

5) Military surge in Iraq. In the midst of an unpopular war, Mr Bush made an unpopular decision: he increased military presence with a 30,000 troop surge. This resulted in a dramatic decrease in violence and a surprisingly positive turn of events in Iraq.

6) Removing the Taliban from power. Afghanistan's Taliban regime was both oppressive and dangerous. President Bush's success in unseating the Taliban from power was essential due to their close relationship with Osama bin Laden and other known terrorists.

7) No major terrorist attacks in America since 9/11. While it is nearly impossible to gauge how responsible President Bush is in preventing terrorist plots, he has endured seven years since 9/11 without an attack on US soil. Mr Bush has repeatedly insisted that keeping the people safe is the paramount duty of a leader.

8) Restraint with Iran and North Korea. Criticised for being prone to waging unnecessary pre-emptive wars, President Bush has shown restraint with the other members of his "axis of evil". Mr Bush's exclusionary tactics may prove to be a shrewd move.

9) Moderate immigration policies. Although Mr Bush's immigration reform never came to fruition, his plans showed a more compromising side to "the decider". Criticised by the Right as an amnesty bill, and by the Left for penalising immigrants, the president's rejected bill could have been a turning point in the nation's immigration debate.

10) Medicare Prescription drug benefits for seniors. George Bush signed a radical Medicare bill into law in 2003 that attempted to ease the financial burden of buying prescription drugs for the elderly. Sometimes criticised for being too costly, the reform signalled Mr Bush's awareness of skyrocketing health costs for the nation's senior citizens.

Music Monday - Bush

Bush - Machinehead

Bush was formed in 1992 in Shepherd's Bush, London when grunge was at the zenith in the United States. They had hoped that their sound would bring grunge to the UK, but they never were as popular in UK as they were in the US. The band features lead singer Gavin Rossdale who just happens to be married to Gwen Stefani. I wouldn't call them grunge, but if you got to give them a tag it fits.

Bush is a guitar heavy alternative rock band has been widely successful with such hits as The Chemicals Between Us, Swallowed, Glycerine, and this video Machinehead. I couldn't get the official video to embed so you're stuck with the video with the lyrics.

The song was inspired by a the poem Howl by Allen Ginsburg. The poem contains the line: "Machine says I saw the best minds of my generation." Lead singer Gavin Rossdale is a big fan of Ginsburg. Good luck trying to figure out what the song means as there are vague references to anything from Star Wars, motorcycle accidents, tuning a guitar, and slowing down and stopping to smell the roses.

Lance is Back

I see that Lance Armstrong has made a comeback.

I think that's great, the sport needs him badly as no one really cared to much about the Tour de France last year.

Lance finished in the middle of the pack in the prelude of the Tour Down Under (Australia).

Hot or Not Hot

Alexis Bledel

Stud or Dud

Keanu Reeves

My Year in Review

You may be curious to know how I fared with last years resolutions....

I'm afraid to say it, not so good.

1. Read a book from cover to cover.
Started several but didn't finish any of them.

2. I will contact an old friend that I haven't talked to last year and do something with them.
Nope didn't do that

3. I will play D & D with my friends at least once a month.
Check

4. I will spend a weekend alone with my wife.
Sorry Norm, I didn't follow up with this

5. This year I mean to show up to work on time (or dare I say it.... early) at least 10% of the time. Check

6. This year I am either going to buy or build bookcases for my home office.
Still could not find any I liked.