Pablo, You Still Doin Alright Man????

I was just thinking earlier today that I regret not having more to write about on my blog. It seems like being stuck on this little base in the middle of nowhere Iraq has drained me of any worthwhile conversation. It also seems that every time I don't have any gems to verbally exhort to the world through my blog portal, I find one just waiting to be explained through the eyes of an "insider lookin out". Hopefully that last comment makes sense to you. Usually, I find myself to be the contrarian whether it be for the sake of my own amusement, or the true expression of a heartfelt conviction. However, after my latest astonishment by way of perusing the headlines I think I am going to side with the vast majority of rationalists who seek to save the helpless throng from stupidity. This is something I don't normally adhere to because while I love science, rules, boundaries, and the like, it always seems that there is something majestic about being human that defies the expectations of "smart people" and science alike even if it is only a smile.

Thankfully Mr. Pablo Falcon, with the help of National Geographic, has given me an idea to ponder for hours on end. Pablo is a dope smokin space cadet Native American healer who accepts cash money for his great spiritual advice and services. He caters to desperate people who don’t know where to turn for real answers all walks of life offering good health and a sound mind. Fortunately for Pablo the answer to the fountain of youth doesn’t have all the overhead costs of gadgets, gizmos, and creams, made in the coastal factories of China. Pablo doesn’t have to worry about resellers, global supply chains, and worker health benefits in order for his business to thrive. Why, you ask? The answer is you make the product in his business. That’s right, all you have to pay for is the spiritual consultation, and as soon as Pablo can convince you to drink you own urine you are AOK…… Pablo buddy, I’m just going to tell the people who read my blog that I think you are a JACKASS. Furthermore, the fact that National Geographic has given you a global platform only convinces me that science and those who support it are just as confused as the rest of us. Doesn’t National Geographic understand that you are a real world loony tune. This entire scenario could fit perfectly into an episode of South Park.

My heart really goes out to the two women in the video (click here to watch the video on National Geographic), that succumbed to drinking their own pee in front of a world audience. They will forever be known as buffoons to anyone who watched this video with a rational outlook on life. The only thing that I can give them credit for is defeating the intellectual pillar that excrement is unneeded by the human body, which by the way has been a long standing idea of great thinkers throughout the ages. One of the ladies being interviewed for the video on “urine therapy” even said, and I quote, “It is Mostly your head that gives you the problem”. The same woman also jokingly recited the old saying, “through the lips, and over the gums, watch out stomach, here I come”, before she imbibed her first dosage of golden nastiness.

In conclusion I will have to encourage the parents of college age kids to not worry too much about keg parties and all the drinking their children are probably doing. Look at it this way. Your kids are in college, learning, studying, and creating a better future for themselves. What you need to be thankful of is that someday your kids will grow out of their stupidity and assimilate to the world of adults. Hopefully; they will not regress to a state of intellectual retardedness that predates their infatuations with beer, otherwise they could end up turning their toilets into a fountain. But just in case I am wrong, which happens often, sorry Pablo for being such a jerk. I just had to go with my gut on this one.

Making the World Flat for Iraq

The story of Coalition success in Iraq is not a very popular topic in part because it is highly debatable as to how much has actually been achieved, and then there is the whole WMD fiasco. Where you fall into the political spectrum should be inconsequential when you look at the present state of conditions in Iraq. Your approval of the president doesn’t matter to Iraqis living in a dangerous country where electricity, water, and safety are most likely the main concerns of the day. What Iraq needs is politic-free solutions to problems, and genuine concern for their future.

In the 1990’s the political systems and economies of China, India, Russia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Central Asia all began to open up to the rest of the world. There are all kinds of reasons why these countries and regions have improved so much in the recent past, but one of the main factors to improvement was technology. The most important thing to note is that people anywhere always have something to offer others if they have the tools to do so.

Does “Made in China” ring a bell? Many people try to avoid that statement whenever they buy merchandise, however; to do so is foolish in the name of saving American’s jobs (you may be doing just the opposite). The globalization of economic systems is already here, and just as “no man is an island”, neither is any nation. If outsourcing and off-shoring had no value to America and or Americans then American companies would have never started doing it.

Many of these countries have benefited from the needs of Western society. We are enormous consumers with a whole lot of money, and we are willing to part with if it makes our lives easier. Before you can offer something to someone you must first be able to communicate.

The point is Iraq can benefit from the needs of the world, but they must understand what is out there first. People say that knowledge is power. I say give power to the Iraqi people, not just politicians in Baghdad, by the way of information. You may laugh, but what they need is easy access to the rest of world through the internet. Granted Iraq has a long way to go, and the internet will not “fix” anything. However, having access to the rest of the world will open up business opportunities and new ideas.

Cell phones were a huge hit for the Iraqi people, and many companies have established networks here, but the internet is still a scarce commodity, and very expensive. In my opinion the internet has a way of letting average people everywhere see the world from a similar point of view. For example, I can buy new albums released the same day you can in the US even though I never leave my desk in Najaf, Iraq. Accountants and doctors in India can file your taxes, look at an X-ray of your broken arm, and then give them back to your accountant or Doctor before you even knew the world was vastly different than it was 15 years ago.

The thing is “terrorists” and “extremists” will find it much harder to survive in a world of innovative, well informed people armed with Johnny Cash, The Black Eyed Peas, Britney Spears, Lost, 24, Survivor, Google, Oracle, Microsoft, and all the obvious benefits the internet brings to the table.