Fire the Shrub

Bush spoke today, refusing to allow his employees to testify under oath.
Unless he plans to have them lie- there's no reason to allow an interview and not allow them to speak under oath. Called it a fishing expedition. What an asshole.
The gauntlet has been thown.

The irony of the fact he'll go to court over this, the same branch of government he's being accused of "fixing" politically- and then will say, see, they said we're cool.

I really, really, really really, reaalllyyy hope the pansy ass democrats finally grow a spine, pick up the gauntlet and whack him upside the head with it. At this point it is plain, either Bush is the King of America, answerable to no one, or we should all just drop this silly pretence of democracy and admit we now live in a one-branch governmental bureaucratic dictatorship.

Watch the News Conference

It's true, US Attorneys no longer serve at the pleasure of the President.
Guess what assface.
You serve at the pleasure of us.
30% approval or less.
WE DON'T APPROVE!!!!!!

FOX SUCKS- ROLLCALL

A nice listing of examples of why Fox News should be called, "Fox- The News Station for Morons."

Shocking- The FBI Overreaching! Ann Coulter manages to shove her foot further down her own throat.

As linked a couple of days ago, Ann "I'd like to call you Cunter" Coulter has trying to extricate herself from the shitpile she ended up in when she publicly felt the need to refer to Jon Edwards as a faggot. She says, hey, using the term "faggot" isn't a derogatory slander of gay people. It's just meant as "wussy" as if, equating a derogatory term for gays and the definition "wussy" wasn't homophobic at all- which it clearly is.
A distinction she clearly doesn't get.
Also, she's tried to clarify that she wasn't calling Jon Edwards a faggot- that if you look closely at her words, she wasn't calling him anything. Which is true- technically. But that one reminds of Talladega Nights, where Ricky Bobby says, "I said, 'with all due respect' before insulting someone- as if that phrase "I would call him X" served the purpose to say anything. So she didn't call Jon Edwards a faggot- she just wanted to- terrific. Using that logic, I wouldn’t be remiss in saying, "I'd like to call you a stupid money grubbing whore who'll say any fucking thing to get some press because I'm a lonely bitch shitheel with no soul and only the vaguest hint of an intellect- but I won't because it's not nice."

Also, The FBI is up to it's old tricks. Why does America feel more like the 70's everyday?
Some highlights:
The Justice Department's inspector general looked at the FBI's use of national security letters (NSLs), in which agents demand personal and business information about individuals -- such as financial, phone, and Internet records -- without court orders. Civil libertarians have slammed the practice.
In "many instances," it said, the FBI "improperly obtained telephone toll billing records and subscriber information from three telephone companies pursuant to more than 700 'exigent letters' signed by personnel in the FBI's Counterterrorism Division without first issuing NSLs. ... These actions were compounded by the fact that the FBI sometimes used these exigent letters in nonemergency situations."

Oh This Is Too Good!

Well, it's been a rough couple of days if you are a right wing moron wacko. All of this would be really fun if it wasn't for the wars still raging because of these same idjits.

1) Scooter "The Leak" Libby is convicted on 4 of 5 counts. Nice. Cheney's next, until then, I just feel like Scooter is sucking the drain pipe for the whole administration.
2) Ann "Cunter" Coulter talks about faggots. It's not so much that she feels the need to talk this way in public- I mean, big surprise, she's a homophobic jackass- it's more about (for me) the assholes that buy this chick's books and watch her on TV and how they reveal themselves for the jackasses they are as well.
3) And finally, and most deliciously, the guy who's been on all the right wing talk shows this week, Cpl. Matt Sanchez, is an ex-porn star. Which again, I don't care if the guy's a porn star, but I bet all the conservo-monkeys that have been lapping up his complaints, are once again facing what is surely, for them, a fairly ironic state of affairs. (Not that they can understand complicated concepts like irony.)

Keith Olbermann Gives Condi a History Lesson-

Yet again, Keith Olbermann has taken the administration to the woodshed and told them what's what. In this edition, Keith explains to Condi:
1) Why she is a disingenuous moron- bordering on criminally dumb
2) Why she is terribly, horribly lacking in a basic understanding of some of the most massive events in US history (A small thing known as WWII). This is particularly sad considering she's supposed to have a Doctorate in History.
Watch/Read the comment: HERE

Lost- My Theory as to what's happening to Desmond

This theory comes after viewing the Desmond-Centric Episode "Flashes Before Your Eyes"

I think Desmond keeps getting caught in a series of time loops- and what we saw in the episode was him jumping from one loop to another by finally exercising his free will over the fate he'd accepted up to that point.

Loop 1
Over and over Desmond lived the loop between waking up after falling in his apartment, meeting with Mr. Widmore, deciding not to marry her, joining the military, joining the yacht race, ending up on the island, meeting the Losties and turning the key.
This loop went on for who knows how many repetitions- until he finally decided he was going to change things and ask Penny to marry him.

Transition from Loop 1 to Loop 2:
This transition starts when Desmond meets the weirdo-woman in the ring store. I think on all other occasions of the loop, Desmond almost buys the ring and then decides not to. By trying to actually buy the ring he "breaks" the loop. Maybe this has happened before- the fact the woman is there to push him back on his familiar track seems to indicate it has. But from this point onward- we know Desmond isn't going to just keep spinning his wheels in the rut he's created for himself.
After meeting the woman however, Desmond has fooled himself into thinking he's still stuck. Then, when he is in the bar the second time and he sees his soccer precognition coming true- he decides he can in fact change things. His last words before the altercation starts are exactly that- "There's still time for me to change things" Then he gets whacked in the head and his consciousness skips out of Loop 1 and pops into Loop 2.

Loop 2
Loop 2 starts with Desmond post hatch explosion and goes to some as yet revealed point in the future- probably Charlie's death. In Loop 2 new things are in the works that have never happened before (Or at least haven't happened outside of what I think is now a second loop). Penny actually finding Desmond may be part of this loop- or maybe she won't be able to actually find him again until he successfully negotiates his way through Loop 2 in the same way he couldn’t experience Loop 2 until he did Loop 1 correctly.

Why Desmond is seeing the future:
Loop 2 has probably happened to Desmond a few times and so he's saved Charlie before several times in the same way and he gets flashes of it just like he got flashes of the future when he was in Loop 1. Under this theory, every time Charlie dies- Desmond hops back to the part where he's naked next to the hatch and tries again.

But since the point of this whole plot line is to illustrate the fate vs. free will argument. I figure Desmond is going to have to keep pulling Charlie's butt out of the fire until he can click into a new Loop 3- or stop the time looping entirely.

Overhaul of www.williamhrdina.com

Whenever I finish a book I like to take a small hiatus, write a few short stories (I'm working on one about how cats and dogs are only interstellar creatures who inhabit the bodies of pets as a form of vacation and another story about a guy who discovers a group of middle-aged men that battle each other with clubs) and try to catch up on the "business" of trying to find a publisher for my writing. Since I understand the biggest difficulty in getting that first manuscript published is proving profitability- I do my best to maintain as big a profile on the web as I can manage without the use of cheating. (bots, etc.- not that I'm tech savvy enough to use them even if I had the inclination.)

In this vein, I spent the weekend overhauling my website www.williamhrdina.com a project I've been trying to get the time to accomplish for 8-9 months now. Please, go visit and take a look around. The old page was far too "busy." It was loaded with text and even I had a hard time finding things in the jumble as I went from offering just text stories, to the addition of art, then video, then audio short stories in addition to excerpts of all 6 novels without changing the format in a major way. Now every category has it's own page and I think it's much easier to use.

I still have to do a second overhaul draft on Exodus Enisode till it is in "try to find a publisher form"- so that excerpt won't bill up till April-May.

PS-
On a political note, I watched on TV this morning as the right wing noise machine again tried to hoist the old chesnut that Iraq had links to AlQueda at the exact same time they were using the administrations new "Proof" that Iran is helping the anti-occupation and civil war forces in Iraq. So see, since they didn't lie the last time, it proves they're not lying this time since they're not lying this time and therfore not lying the last time. You understand don't you?
Man, such assholes.

EXODUS ENISODE FINISHED!

10 months after finishing The Music of Dreams I am happy to say I've just finished my 7th Novel, Exodus Enisode. I made a couple of video's about it, they can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=william+hrdina&search=Search
It's really terrific because this book is really a culmination of something I've been unconsciously working towards for a very long time. I've come to realize that, in a way, my novels are not totally unlike the Marvel Universe. By this, I mean I've slowly been creating the "Incarnations of the Americas" Universe. Except instead of using comic books, I'm using entire novels. Six novels (Rain, Ialtaboath, Portal, The Music of Dreams, The Clearing at the End of the Path and the still unwritten, Bang) that introduce characters who all stand up just fine on their own, but are then meshed together in Exodus Enisode. Sort of like when Spiderman and Batman show up in the same comic book together. I also see it as a novel television series in the sense you learn more about what is going on from the different complimentary storylines. I've also already had the seed ideas for the 2 novels that are going to stem out of Exodus Enisode- neither of which have a title yet- which means I have 3 more books to write (actually it'll probably be alot more than that before it's all through) along with 3 short stories I'm working on, a screenplay I plan on writing based on the comic book The Invisibles by Grant Morrison, and then there's the whole 9-to-5 job so I can eat thing. 2007 is going to be a busy year.

Via Atrios:

Man of the Year
I've grown to detest all year-end lists and accolades and whatnot. They all just seem to trivialize what has already been trivialized enough.Still, in the alternative universe where I edit Time Magazine the Man of the Year is (drum roll):
The Dirty Fucking Hippie
-Atrios

On behalf of dirty fucking hippies everywhere:
I accept.

For those that don't read Atrios, this is in reference to his repeated recognition of the fact that the only people who predicted the TOTAL FUCKING FAILURE that is the Iraq war before the first boot stepped down in the sand were people me, the dirty fucking hippies who insisted it was a corrupt war being fought for oil. For our trouble we were called traitors. We were told we hated America. We were called cowards and peaceniks and red-necks gave us even more harsh glares than normal.
We were right. The rest of America was dead-ass wrong.
Hate to have to say "Far out man, we told you so." but we did.

Now, years later, time to listen up to another truth no one wants to hear.
We lost.
We cannot win.
Supporting the troops means bringing them home.
NOW.
Not soon.
Not tommorrow.
RIGHT THIS VERY SECOND.
But as usual, we hippies will be ignored. I just hope it doesn't take another 4 years for you to figure our we're right about this too. But it probably will. Morons.

Iraq Study Report

The following is the only important part of the Iraq Study Farce released today. Of course, it is buried on p. 57 of 84.


RECOMMENDATION 63:
• The United States should encourage investment in Iraq’s oil sector by the international community and by international energy companies.

Now let's keep in mind, Baker is saying that the recommendations aren't to be seen as piecemeal- but all one thing- which means somehow, letting Amoco into Iraq is crucial for its future. What a bunch of shite. Assmonkeys. Between this and saying we should stay in for 12 more months- ARGH is all I have to say.

The Making of the Novel: Exodus Enisode- Episode 1

The first in a series of video podcasts created to give the viewer a behind the scenes look at the ideas and thoughts behind the writing of William Hrdina's 7th science fiction novel, Exodus Enisode. The first episode includes: why I decided to created these podcasts, my definition of alt-sci fi, a comparison of writing with your head vs. writing with your gut, and a discussion of the seed idea that inspired the novel.

The Making of the Novel: Exodus Enisode- Episode 2

The second in a series of video podcasts created to give the viewer a behind the scenes look at the ideas and thoughts behind the writing of William Hrdina's 7th science fiction novel, Exodus Enisode. The second episode includes: an updating on the writing of book 7 and an exploration of the first book in the Incarnations of the Americas Series- Portal.

FUCK RUSH LIMBAUGH AND KATIE COURIC

Rush Limbaugh is a fucking moron and we all know it, so there was no reason to be particularly surprised when he started saying some of the most unbelievably stupid shit of his whole career about Michael J. Fox. He's faking? Fuck you Rush, take another pill.
But Katie Couric is SUPPOSED to be a journalist. Now I certainly wouldn't put her in that category, but that was she's supposed to be. Watch the interview she has with Fox HERE
He's shaking uncontrollably- its painful to watch. And this fucking bitch has the nerve to question him OVER AND OVER AND OVER about whether or not Rush has made a point worth hearing. I wonder Katie, how you would've reacted to someone telling you your beloved husband who died was faking his cancer. Huh Bitch? No response?
I didn't think so.
I hope both of your dreams are visited by the demons that clearly dwell in your souls.
And on behalf of humanity, I apologize to Michael J Fox. Some people are still goddamn gorillas.

Yet Again

Once again it is Keith Olbermann who has moved me to post here, if only to once again link to a remarkable commentary he gave yesterday, on the 5th anniversary of 9-11.
Mr. Olbermann is quickly becoming the modern Edward R. Murrow- it is a shame he lacks the enormous stage Murrow stood on. One cannot help wondering if the media was set up the way it is now back in the 50's- if we ever would've knocked McCarthy off of his perch.
Watch it and tell your friends.

Keith Olbermann

I've never actually watched this guy before, but if this is how he always reports- I'm gonna start. If you are an Amercian who is afraid not of terrorists overseas, but of those holding the yolks of power here, you must watch this and ponder it deeply.

http://movies.crooksandliars.com/OlbermannBlastsRumsfeldOnFacism.mov

In case you missed it, here's what Rumsfeld said and what Olbermann is reacting to:

http://movies.crooksandliars.com/TSR-Rummy-Fascists.mov

WHOO HOO HOO!!

I just finished the first draft of my 6th 'alt sci-fi' novel. It's called "The Music of Dreams." I pride myself on the fact my novels don't summarize well, but the story is based on the idea of a society where Music is treated the way religion is- and different types of music are like different religious sects. The story starts out with a little girl named Sarah who's dog runs away. Sarah lives in the Bluegrass town called the Folken on an isolated island peninsula. This simple act sets her on a path to be exiled from her home with her brother and set out into the world. Sarah starts to have dreams about music unlike anything she's ever heard and she follows the path her dreams set out before her- even when it brings her great tragedy. This book is the 3rd "official" book in what I'm calling the "Incarnations of America" series. The 4th will be started after I take my requisite 2-3 week hiatus during which I plan to write a short story about this freaky photograph I have in my kitchen from a Dead show in 86 when I was 8 years old- yet you can clearly see me in the photo as I look now as a 30 year old. Even my own mother pointed me out in the picture and asked if it was taken last year. Anyway, the best part is I've got that fantastic feeling of relief and satisfaction that comes at the end of a long writing project where you finally know that your doubts you had 1/2 way through that there wasn't enough story to carry you through were wrong. I'm also amazed at how each book I write gets easier as I learn to feel comfortable in my own style.

Booknotes

I've just realized that the entire cycle of novels I'm currently writing are in large part a response to my use of deux ex machina through the character Rain in my first novel of the same name. It always bothered me- I wanted to know where this weird character with her big backpack and her curious ability to ward off mutual destruction with a few choice words came from. It wasn't that she was odd and powerful- it was that I didn't know how she became that way. Music of Dreams and Exodus Enisode will answer my question and take away my guilt.

Boston Legal

I don't actually watch this show regularly, but if this clip is any indication, I'm really missing out on a hell of a show.
James Spader sums up the Bush years quite nicely in 3-4 minutes. PLEASE! Check it out.

HERE

The Year in Review

Jib-Jab, the people that brought us the great send up of John Kerry and W in 2004 now brings us the 2005 year in review. Hearing everything at once really does make you say, Wow, I'm glad this stupid year is almost over. Seriously- how much can a guy fuck up in one year and still get out of bed in the morning?

In other news,
The question on everyone's mind regarding the ILLEGAL WIRE TAPS OF US CITIZENS boils down to one thing- has his stupidness FINALLY gone too far to the point where the media isn't going to let him go- has Teflon Bushy FINALLY screwed the pooch for good.

We'll see.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

The FBI has a list of activities you should be on the lookout for- apparently we should be looking for someone we already see...

Thanks to Bob Harris for being so damn funny.