The idiotology of ideology?

[id·i·ot·all·o·gee]

Compare: Between 2003-2010, the U.S. spent $21.3 billion on rebuilding Iraqi security forces.
Contrast: Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, better known as the Stimulus Bill, 
$1.3 billion went for the construction of military hospitals, $6 billion for the cleanup of radioactive waste (mostly nuclear weapons production sites) & $600 million for hazardous waste cleanup at Superfund sites (EPA). 

When I read that $6 billion was allocated for the cleanup of radioactive waste, my first thought was "where is it & how long has it been there?" 

Why did it take a so-called stimulus package to address the issue of nuclear waste in this country?
Nuclear Waste Stalemate: Political and Scientific Controversies (Paperback)

...perspective...

Iraqi Soldiers in Baghdad, Iraq (April 2005).

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to visit Myanmar?

FACT: 14 countries physically border the People Republic of China.

Most Americans are unaware of China's unresolved border dispute with India and how this specific issue continues to impact the balance of power in Asia. Read More...

Additionally, in the view of this blogger (shared by an army of journalists and diplomats who actively pay attention to the extremely diverse regional dynamics of Asia), two of those countries, the DPRK (North Korea) and Myanmar are PROXY states of the CCP and the PLA. Any serious discussion or analysis regarding the economic or political future of Burma begins and ends within the gates of power in Beijing.
Read More...

While Clinton's upcoming diplomatic mission to this isolated state is a positive, regional development, folks need to remember that in 2000, then Secretary of State Madeleine Albright undertook a similar journey to Pyongyang. With that said, unlike the DPRK, the people of Burma actually hold a wild card in the geopolitical game. Her name is Aung San Suu Kyi.

‎"It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it."
~ Aung San Suu Kyi
Letters from Burma


State Visit Update:
(December 3, 2011)
Clinton allowed to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi
Read More...

...perspective...

Image from interview on CCTV 9 (September 2008).

Konduz, Afghanistan (June 2004)

A real crisis is when you can't say "let's just forget the whole thing".

A well-adjusted person is one who makes the same mistake twice without getting nervous.



Program or Be Programmed: Ten Commands for a Digital Age (Paperback)

Panorama of Sacramento Mountains, Highway 54, New Mexico (December 2009).

The worst prediction in history?

When asked by reporters about the newly invented telephone, President Rutherford B. Hayes said, "Who would want to use it anyways?"

The History of the Telephone (Droid Ebooks)

Prairie Homestead Milepost 213 on I-29, South Dakota (May 2010).

You know you're in DEEP trouble when CNN & Faux News quotes your latest Twitter?

“You're excited? You should feel my nipples!”
~ Leslie Nielsen
Airplane! DVD




How many ways can the vast army of television script writers, movie directors, radio announcers and network news reporters work the word Facebook into a program?

A Simple Conversation?

When I landed at Kabul International Airport in early July 2003, I witnessed a conversation between two NATO officers. Speaking to one another in English, a German officer & a French officer were discussing a security issue regarding the airfield. After this brief interaction was over, the French officer walked away.

The German officer (still speaking in English) then turned to a Dutch soldier and said quite clearly, "the French never listen."

OBSERVATION: There may be those who believe this blogger wrote this post because I harbor some negative feelings towards the French. Granted, political relations between our two nations have seen much better days. However, while I am an American, the story goes much deeper than it first appears.

You see...my father was born in France (now an American citizen).

Think about it...
How do fathers & sons talk to one another?
I've spent the last 40-plus years trying to figure out my dad.
Need I say more?

...perspective...

Photos taken by Peter Rimar in Kabul, Afghanistan (July 2003).

"To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place. I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them." ~ Elliott Erwitt

Vintage Photos from a Family Album

Thomas A. Worrall (seated right) on a business trip to Shanghai, China (Circa October 1926)

Two important world events shaped the destiny of the Rimar Family. Shortly after the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, Thomas Worrall helped smuggle Peter's grandfather and great-grandmother out of Russia. After leaving Russia, he married my great-grandmother. Later, sometime during the short period before the Nazis crossed the border into France (April 1940), he relocated the Rimar family out of Europe.

"The Hall of Supreme Harmony" 太和殿

Original photograph taken by Thomas A. Worrall

(Peter's Step- Great Grandfather)

Circa October 1926

The Forbidden City, Beijing (Peking), China

French Army

Medical Evacuation Exercise

Circa 1935

Original Vintage Photo by Eugene Rimar

(My Grandfather)

What if F.D.R. wasn't elected President? It's amazing how certain moments in history impact the destiny of the common man. In the summer of 1934, Peter's Grandfather (George Mullenix) traveled to Panther, West Virgina as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). It was during this period that he met and eventually married a young college student named Darcus Bailey (my grandmother).

Xepon, Laos (July 2004).

...it IS what it IS...

"Life is like an ice-cream cone, you have to lick it one day at a time." 
~ Charles M. Schulz





Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book

...wanderlust...

"Writing and travel broaden your ass if not your mind and I like to write standing up."
~ Ernest Hemingway

GOP Flavor of the Month: Newt Gingrich?

Back in June, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann first captured the hearts and minds of the Christian Right. Then, Texas Governor Rick Perry rode onto the national stage only to quickly fall off his unsaddled horse. After drinking a six pack of Lone Star Beer while watching Faux News, hungry GOP voters ordered up a $9.99 pizza from Mr. Herman Cain.

Three political love affairs later (pun intended), the ANYBODY BUT MITT parade continues with former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich taking center stage. Seriously? Newt Gingrich? This blogger has two simple questions: who is answering the telephone when one of more than a dozen pollsters call? Do folks actually believe this man could get elected President?

Even the conservative sage George Will is shaking his political head,"Gingrich’s is an amazingly efficient candidacy, in that it embodies almost everything disagreeable about modern Washington. He’s the classic rental politician."
Read More...

At what point will Republican voters sober up, change the channel and take a serious look at Jon Huntsman or Buddy Roemer?

Gingrich Update:
November 27, 2011
Evidently, this blogger is completely out-of-touch with the winds of political change. The New Hampshire Union Leader, the only "Live Free or Die" state-wide newspaper, endorsed NEWT for the top of GOP ticket. NEWT?
Read More...

...Americana...

Cowboy Intersection, Gene Autry, Oklahoma (May 2010).

Pulp Fiction [Blu-ray]

[ih-lip-sis]

The Dog Days Are Over?

Whether or not this blogger agrees or disagrees with any or all of the specific issues being echoed by the #Occupy Movement itself is not important. One thing is clear, something is seriously wrong in America. What do WE AS A PEOPLE truly value as a country and as a society? Read More...


"I never knew daylight could be so violent
A revelation in the light of day
You can choose what stays and what fades away."
~ Florence + The Machine from No Light, No Light


In case you missed it...
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
~ First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Lord of the Rings:The Motion Picture Trilogy [Blu-ray]

When was the last time somebody sat down & wrote an old fashion letter?

“Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it.” ~ Bill Cosby
I Started Out As A Child (MP3 Download)








Political Quote of the Week:
"Gingrich has so much baggage his baggage has baggage." 
~ Larry Sabatao on MSNBC

Murphy's Law?

Tell a man there are 300 billion stars in the universe and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint on it and he'll have to touch it to be sure.

Sign photo taken in Socorro, New Mexico (October 2009).
Murphy's Law and Other Reasons Why Things Go Wrong (Paperback)

Stimulated Numbers?

Compare: This FY (fiscal year), DoD will receive approximately $126 billion for sustaining military operations in Iraq & Afghanistan. How does this dollar amount compare to added domestic spending under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009?

Contrast: It included $53.6 billion in direct financial aid for local school districts to prevent massive layoffs & cutbacks, with the flexibility to use Stimulus Funds for school modernization and repairs (State Fiscal Stabilization Fund). Basically, it was the Federal Government's 50 State BAIL OUT in order to keep PUBLIC SCHOOLS across this country OPEN for business.
READ MORE...

In 2009, while GOP candidates hammered the Obama administration on the auto industry bail out, ZIP was said regarding the school district BAIL OUT. IF you're a school teacher or auto worker, ask yourself, "does the GOP really care about protecting my job?"
READ MORE...

Economics 101
Until Americans start voting with their wallets, it'll be almost impossible to create new manufacturing jobs in a tight global marketplace.

Toyota BUILT a billion dollar Tundra assembly plant in San Antonio, Texas because market research shows a large segment of the American truck buying public actually values where a product is manufactured.

Corporations like IBM, Microsoft, GE, Apple, GM, BP & Exxon-Mobil ONLY salute one flag: PROFITS!

It's time for Americans to start making informed decisions about the products they buy. IF consumers value products "Made in the USA", corporations like Target & Wal-Mart will respond to the economic benefits of stocking more home grown products. Small changes in individual buying habits will eventually send a loud dollars & cents message to the world's multi-national corporations.

Once again, IF American consumers don't value the country of origin of a product or service, why should a corporation? Free Market? What Free Market? Read More...

Photo of Portable Toilet by Peter Rimar, Baghdad, Iraq (March 2004).
A Year Without "Made in China":
One Family's True Life Adventure in the Global Economy (Paperback)

Maybe it's time for a digital UPGRADE?

Does anybody know how to load Windows 2.1x on a Commodore 64 w/ an 8-track tape external drive?

This message is for the inventor of HEATED leather car seats: "Thank you!"

"Thank you!"

Photo of Blogger's Dashboard in North Dakota (January 2010).

Fun Fact: The heated car seat was invented in 1951 by Robert Ballard while working at General Motors. Although Ballard invented the warmer in 1951, he was not granted a patent for his invention until 1955 (patent #2,698,893).

Possible definition of the word COLD [kohld]?

Wintry weather view from Peter's living room window in Mayville, North Dakota (January 2010).

"What Big Knockers!"

“Politics: Poli a Latin word meaning many; and tics meaning bloodsucking creatures.” ~ Robin Williams

Photo of sign taken in Hong Kong, S.A.R. (July 2009).
Jokelopedia:The Biggest, Best, Silliest, Dumbest Joke Book Ever (Paperback)

Before you start "burning bridges" make sure you know how to swim...

“When I was born I was so surprised I didn't talk for a year and a half.”
~ Gracie Allen







Photo of Boston Terrier puppy two minutes after birth, San Antonio, Texas (November 2006).
Women and American Television: An Encyclopedia