Trent

The success of a military operation in nabbing a bunch of bad-guys, or the opening of 5 new schools built by our corps of engineers, or the building of water and sanitation systems are "position pieces"? Just because it's put out by a government entity, doesn't make it not "news." Like the article said, if they're paying them to put in articles that are factual and observable in reality, then what's the problem? If it takes a few bucks to get them to print something other than "The Sky Is Falling and It's America's Fault!!"... then it takes a few bucks. You're saying that all those independant and unbiased papers in Iraq aren't subject to printing the BS they get from Joe-Cleric and Al Jazeera, regardless of its veracity or slant? You can't even say that about the media here. In a lot of countries, palm-greasing is the ONLY way to get things done. Even if it's something that is the RIGHT thing to do. I'd bet you'd have to pay any paper in Iraq to print ANYTHING from a US Military source. Oh, hello again!

Like someone else pointed out, why is it okay for people and groups to fun journalism projects to put out negative articles on the war, but not okay when the Whitehouse puts together a media package showing their positions and the stories they feel are ignored in mass media? The networks don't have to air them. Now paying journalists to report what you want is crossing the line, but you do have freelancers who are anti-war or anti-Bush who get paid by news agencies to dig up shit all the time... even if it is questionable at best. And the very fact that one dude was busted taking payments should shatter your image of reporters being fair and impartial. After all, if he'd take money from one side, who's to say others wouldn't take money from another side? As far as paying Iraqi papers to print positive articles about progress in Iraq by American and Iraqi forces... what's the problem? Leafletting and propaganda have ALWAYS been a part of wars we've fought. If 90% of what Iraqis hear is our own congressmen and senators shreiking about how BAD we are and how our government fucked up and how we're only in it to steal oil... then you can't blame the military for trying to combat that. Also having clerics who preach to their mosques that we are all evil and should be destroyed, count on the ignorance of the people to blindly accept what they're being told. Trying to show them differently is fair play, otherwise "the truth" would only be what the dude screaming the loudest said it was. As far as paying the Iraqi media, it's just another swipe at the military by people who hate just about everything about our current administration. Propaganda has always been, and will always be a part of war. Just look at all the propaganda the anti-war people spew... even people here don't agree with all that. You just can't have the voice of one side being heard, especially when it puts lives at risk. If paying to get the stories published is what it takes, then that's what it takes. At least we don't tell them to print it or die. Oh, hello again!

Oh no, they can't be Iraqis... because all Iraqis are innocent victims, and in this video there were quite a few dudes wearing flak or ammo vests. Someone else must have killed them since US soldiers only kill innocent civilians. Right? [/Sarcasm... for future Googlers.] Oh, hello again!

The last time I spoke to Antonio, I think he said they are still doing the March "Semana Santa" boogie... but I can't promise. You should come out in Dec. I'll probably be there! Oh, hello again!

They had an SDC otter last year, and will probably have that again or one from Chicagoland. I'm not 100% sure though, but it'll be an otter. I beleive the dates are from Dec 26 to Jan 3rd or so. They might go beyond that (they did last year). Oh, hello again!

If you contact Antonio Montano... he has some rooms reserved in Puerto Escondido for any gringos looking to get down there. I'd highly recommend it! Look for him on the Skydive Cuautla website. Oh, hello again!

Of course we'll take some of you guys! E-mail me or talk to me in Puerto this New Years and we'll see who's qualified. Either way, Skyfest is during that time, so it should be a good boogie regardless! As far as the coaching thing (for Nathan) we are planning on doing an "All You Can Jump" coaching day or weekend. It'll be a flat rate for the day and we'll jump with all participants as much as possible. Stay tuned for info on that. Oh, hello again!

As far as the oil companies sending consultants to an Energy Policy meeting, no problem. Can't hurt to have someone who knows what they're talking about. I don't see the need to be shady about it though. From the article, it looks like the CEO's probably didn't really know a whole lot about it since all the people in the meetings seemed like lower level managers. But hey, it could be part of THE CONSPIRACY. As far as Chavez's "humanitarian" aid to the poor people of MA... this is a purely political gesture by Chavez to make himself seem like a man for the poor of the world. Meanwhile his country is exploding with poverty and crime that wasn't seen before he came to office. This is a pure political punch to the US, and the fuckwits in the MA gov't have just fallen for it. They literally are "tools" now, being used for political hay for the most recent South American dictator. This offer for help should have been turned down just as his offer for bottled water and free Lasik (?) was turned down for the poor black folks from Louisiana. Oh, hello again!

I guess, you could say that anyone for, or against him is biased, right? But I didn't only mention ex-pats... dig around, check it out. Blogs are interesting, combined with what I know and what people over there say to me. (MSN is great, no?) He IS their asshole, but he'll be everyone's problem soon enough. Just pay attention. Oh, hello again!

How much do we owe you guys for those last 2 comments? Shit... this isn't a PM. Oh, hello again!

Holy crap, are you kidding?? The media here almost pays ZERO attention to what's going on over there. You want real demonization of the demon? Look for Venezuelan blogs and ex-pat websites. You want further demonization? Just look at what he's done to his country! Like they say sometimes, "You just can't make this shit up!" Oh, hello again!

Yes, he panders, but I STILL don't beleive that he could actually win in a free and fair election. You're taking for granted that he actually won the election. Want a pretty good sign that he faked the election results? Check this out.... If he gets re-elected next year, he'll be president until like 2025 or something. Of course, he's the one who made it possible for the president to have a term that long. WHY would he do that if he didn't KNOW he was going to win? Whoever monitors those elections is a paid stooge, starting with Jimmy Carter in the last one. And for Mike, I'm not advocating intervention... I just want people, and government officials to pay attention. Or maybe pat robertson should just put up money next time he shoots his mouth off about this guy. Oh, hello again!

Like Speedracer pointed out, most of the opinions in both of those articles that support Chavez are from people outside of Venezuela. Curious... It is funny that they focus on his "standing up" (grandstanding is more like it) to the US, than how he's fucked up his economy, thrown elections and term limits out the window, and led his country to RECORD crime levels and poverty since he came to power. And as far as your point about how the US slants trade agreements to its side... so what? Name one country that is poorer because of its trade with the US. If we work the deal and it's more 60-40, it doesn't negate the fact that both parties are STILL better off. Senor Hugo is a fuckin' wackjob. Ask a Venezuelan today. Oh, hello again!

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/11/19/venezuela.mexico.reut/index.html Ohhh, it just keeps getting better. Fuck the oil, this guy is insane enough to fuck the hemisphere if he could get some real power. Let's hope the world just takes him as he is, a fucking joke. Unfortunately, that doesn't the people in Venezuela now. Oh, hello again!

That was pretty good. But really, the concern should be more about this guy dragging Latin America into a cold war with the rest of the hemisphere. That and his loco-ness and growing ties with the Chinese... at least Americans should worry a little. Oh, hello again!

No, at the moment he's not a threat to anyone but his neighbors and his own people. But people need to pay attention, because if he has it his way... he's on the way up. Also of note, if he wins the election (by fraud approved by Jimmy Carter) again next year, he'll be the president for some ungodly amount of time. Like 15 or 20 years. Hmmmm... I wonder why he changed the presidential term limits if he didn't KNOW he was going to win the election. While many people have many other things to worry about, I don't think this tard should be overlooked. Oh, hello again!

People really should start paying more attention to this. I hope our representatives start to help the people of Venezuela. This guy is more than off his rocker and his megalomania might just start a few wars in Latin America. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051119/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/venezuela_plots_and_doubts Oh, hello again!

Besides being despicable and hurting feelings, is this wack-o talking about how he thinks the holocaust never happened physically, financially, or otherwise hurting anyone? Short of hurting himself by making himself look stupid, what has he done. Offending people isn't enough. But I have a feeling you're arguing just to argue now, so I don't expect you to make a point. Now I know you're just being obtuse. Your point is completely stupid here. I never compared Austria to the US. I compared it to what I thought of free speech. YOU decided for yourself that I was comparing countries. YOU told me to worry about the US before saying anything. YOU are started talking about the US from your own country. Get it? I never said anything about not being able to bitch about foreign countries, that was what YOU brought into it. If you beleive that, then don't bother worrying about my rights to free speech in my own country. I won't limit myself to that... because I can. Oh, hello again!

slan·der n. Law. Oral communication of false statements injurious to a person's reputation. A false and malicious statement or report about someone. li·bel n. A false publication, as in writing, print, signs, or pictures, that damages a person's reputation. The act of presenting such material to the public. So you think that making false claims that are actually injurious to someone is "free speech"? I don't. Would you also view things like assault and murder to be infringing on my freedoms, if I said I came from a free country? My love for free speech does not dictate that I think that speech that actually causes injury is acceptable. Just like my freedoms stop at my neighbor's nose and all. Is this too complicated? And what do you deem to be acceptable limits on free speech? Yep, it hasn't affected me at all... in fact, I've been to novelty stores where it didn't seem to affect them either. Just FYI, "It's illegal to 'wholesale promote' obscene materials or devices. Texas statute says an obscene device is a simulated sexual organ or an item designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs. The law allows investigators to assume that anyone with six or more of the items is intending to promote them." Not really too much about free speech there... just like drugs and alcohol, right or wrong, it's illegal. For someone who doesn't live here, and thinks that speech should be limited, you seem to care a lot about it. THAT's not hypocritical is it? Let's go with that logic... until you get all your shit sorted in Canada, how about keeping it quiet about any and all other countries' business, mmmkay? Oh, hello again!

Like people running through the streets with signs saying that our president is a murderer? Wait, that seems to be okay. Oh you mean the like in the national enquirer? Wait, that's okay too apparently. WAIT, you mean like accusing someone of a crime that leads to their arrest and prosecution, then having it come out as a lie... then expecting no consequences because you can say what you want? Nope, that's not okay. If I have to explain it... you'll never get it. Is it? Where? If you run around advertising that you do this sort of horrible thing, don't be surprised when you get busted doing something that is actually illegal... because people will pay attention and wait for you to fuck up. I'm in Texas, would you like me to explain dildos to you? I'd like to see the wording on that "infringement" because I'll bet it has to do with publicly advertising them as sex toys, not talking about them. 1. What the hell do you know about what I do? 2. Why should I have to justify anything to you anyway? Keep crying hypocrisy, then realize that YOU are the one being hypocritical. You never did answer my questions about your UNLIMITED free speech in Canada. Thought so. Oh, hello again!

I suppose where you like is the utopia of free speech then? Why don't YOU do what you asked me to do where you live? Yes, you're right there is some hypocritical bullshit and arrogance, and it's coming from you. Both you and Rhonda should read my post again, then tell me where I said that the US is the model for it. Go ahead. Just because I, or people like me, don't think that it should be a CRIME for this retard to deny the holocaust, doesn't translate to "The US is the BEST! YAY!" Get off your defensive high horse. Oh, hello again!

Hopefully they'll keep moving to the US! Oh, hello again!

Nothing exciting here. This wannabe Kim Jong Il is a joke. Just today he was spouting off about how Bush is destroying democracy... after being reinstated in his country's "Fair" elections... after increasing his term to ridiculous lengths... after supporting someone like Castro (of course, a BIG beleiver in democracy), and other dictators. The people of Venezuela will see how he sells his country to China and breaks all that was good in Venezuelan industries. Until then, don't buy gas at Citgo. Oh, hello again!

The laws in Austria once permitted the extermination of Jews, Gypsies, Mentally Ill, etc. Who are we to say that that is not okay... Someone said it, either you believe in free speech or you don't. Apparently, these countries don't. That's their problem, but we don't have to think it's okay, that's our prerogative. Oh, hello again!

You can still have a great dad.... who's dorky! I'm gonna embarass him bad for his 900th birthday, or whichever one is next... Oh, hello again!