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Mar 23, 2003, 2:20pm
So what's the ultimate in stupidity?
Protesting against war, against violence, against death, and committing violent acts to show you're serious about wanting peace.
All over the world, people are protesting the war in Iraq. That's fine - myself, I'm a student of history and while I have absolutely no illusions about the real reasons the US is in Iraq (read: oil), I see so many scary parallels between Saddam Hussein and Josef Stalin, it's truly frightening. The parallels with Hitler are almost as close - if you look at how Saddam came to power, and look at how Hitler achieved it, there are mirrors in the actions.
So while I'm not crazy about the US acting as the world's Dirty Harry, I won't shed a tear if Saddam is killed and his "regime is changed". People in Iraq will die as a result of this action: many civilians, many more military, but the way I look at it is this way: Saddam was given an ultimatum - he could have reaped a worldwide publicity coup and would have made the US look like complete idiots if he publicly stated he would leave Iraq in order to save countless deaths. But he's a dictator, he believes he is above any law or human decency. His sons are rapists, murderers, and sadists. He is an evil guy, and he was an evil guy when the US supported him in the 1980s, and he's an evil guy today regardless of whatever propoganda the US has been spewing about him since 1990 and beyond.
So am I in support of the war? While it saddens me that many will die because of this, including women, children and innocent men, I also think that it isn't any worse than what the country has been going through under 20+ years of rule by a sadist, evil dictator. The benefit (hopefully) of the war is that this may all be coming to an end soon, and the citizens of Iraq will see brighter days ahead. What sucks is that some of them, because of the war, won't see those brighter days. So yeah, I support the war effort to rid the world of a sick, mad dictator.
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Mixelania Photos from Algonquin Park
Photos from my trip to Algonquin Park this fall with my Mom and two brothers. War Stories Making Snow for the Fortress
One of the worst jobs I ever had... till I got out. Webiffied Tools I Use
The tools I use to build websites and lead a tech life.
iPod and iTunes Offline iMark's iTunes and iPod isn't iPlaying anything right iNow. Most Recent Songs Fiddlers Green by The Tragically Hip Around The Bend by Pearl Jam Here With Me (Rollo's Chillin' With the Family Mix) by Dido With arms open wide by Creed truffle pigs by Matthew Good Band
In the News
Burundi and Beyond - NY Times
Great article by Peter Meehan - provided some background.
St. Petersburg Times
Side mention in an article about good machines
AP Story on Espresso
Background and information provided
NY Times - Grinders Article
Especially proud of this one - got the reporter to focus on grinders
Globe and Mail
LOL - showing bad reporting, dude says I'm an American-based site!
The Olympian, WA
Talks about my love for the El Sal Siberia Pacamara
Seattle Times - Clover
Interviewed for comments on the Clover brewer
NY Times - How it Works
Background and information for various espresso machines
Time Mag Article
Just a brief mention, article about roasting beans.
NY Times
Front page article about consumers getting into specialty coffee.
Washington Monthly
Quoted reference to what I wrote in an article at CoffeeGeek.
USA Today - Barista Jam
Intereviewed for my thoughts on what the epitome of espresso is.
WSJ Article
The Wall Street Journal has interviewed me 3 times. This is the first time my name got in a story.
Reuters Interview
Interview with Reuters, Jan 2 - this is the USA Today version.
My Other Stuff
CoffeeGeek
Launched Dec 22, 2001, this is THE online community for espresso and coffee fanatics.
CoffeeKid Website
It's all new, as of March, 2002. My personal coffee obsession site.
WebMotif Services
My company's site - needs an update!
Amazon WishList
Hey, if you feel the need to buy me something, check here!
Daily Visits
enGadget
Great gadget site run by the guy who used to do Gizmodo.
Google News
This is how I get my daily news fix.
DPReview Forums`
The most active forums for digital photography online today.
Daily Zen
Need my Daily Zen fix!
Jalopnik
A blog about car stuff. Vroom Vroom.
MoCo Loco
An industrial design blog. Very cool stuff.
Friends and Family Plan
Beata Blog
Beata's got her own blog! She updates it most days.
Riddla on Flickr
Matt Riddle's flickr account, updated regularly
Irdy Photos
Irdy, my friend from Jakharta, on Flickr
Recent Acquisitions
Canon EF 24-105 f4 L Lens
The best lens I've ever owned. Super sharp and quick.
Canon 5D
A full frame dSLR, with luscious colour reproduction.
Alzo Digital Lights
Some amazing florescent cold lights for product photography
Canon Xsi dSLR
Amazing technology and image quality in a tiny package.
Canon 40D
Latest prosumer camera from Canon - a much better upgrade than the 30D
Fujitsu P1610
Great 2.2lb computer that does most of my travel / writing needs
28mm f1.8 Lens
A great lens for closeup work and full picture photography
Foodsaver Advanced
Finally got the right tools for freezing green coffee.
Canon 50mm 1.4
Most amazing lens I've ever owned. Produces stellar photos.
Canon 10-22mm
Super wide angle (full frame fisheye) zoom for my Canon 20D
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