Paul's Down-Home Page

Loved this Washington Post story: Rumsfeld Remarks Upset France, Germany. Apparently Germany and France are angry at being labeled “old Europe”. From the story:

When asked in Washington on Wednesday about growing European opposition to war with Iraq, Rumsfeld replied, “You’re thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don’t.” He added: “I think that’s old Europe. If you look at the entire NATO Europe today, the center of gravity is shifting to the east. And there are a lot of new members.”

Naturally, the French and Germans are angry. In fact, the French ecology minister almost used a bad word on the radio! Good heavens; we can’t have the ecology minister getting upset. I mean, look at all the power the US EPA wields when it comes to war planning and diplomatic negotiation. Nope, wouldn’t do to have them mad at you.
In fact, I’ll take it a step further: Schröder’s statement that the Iraqis should be disarmed by “peaceful means” (and Chirac’s agreement with it) is just what you’d expect from the two countries who sold Iraq most of the banned stuff they’re not supposed to have– not to mention two of the countries who have the most to gain if economic sanctions against Iraq are lifted.

I already sent a letter to the boys of Co F 2/23, but I don’t want to neglect anyone. Accordingly: Cpl Blondie, Godspeed and Semper Fi.

So, I got this in my mailbox from my alma mater‘s College of Computing, announcing a lecture in their Distinguished Lecture Series:

Starting in 1995, Allan Fisher and Jane Margolis engaged in an interdisciplinary program of research and action in response to this situation. The research effort has been to understand male and female students’ engagement with computer science. The action component’s goal aims to devise changes to encourage the broadest possible participation in the computing enterprise. In part as a result of those efforts, the entering enrollment of women in the undergraduate Computer Science program at Carnegie Mellon rose from 7 percent in 1995 to 42 percent in 2000. Fisher and Margolis report on their experience in their recently released book, Unlocking the Clubhouse: Women in Computing.

A cynical person might ask why this research is interesting or useful. After all, as far as I can tell no one is forcing college-age women to avoid their local computer science departments. (One Amazon reviewer said this book attempts to answer the question “why don’t people spend their lives the way I think they should?”)

Continue reading →

This one goes out to my homies Brandt and Dan.

Any Marine
Company F, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines
Box 555425
Camp Pendleton, Calif., 92055-5425
Dear Leatherneck,
I saw the recent article about F 2/23 in the Salt Lake Tribune, and I was inspired to write to you. Even though I don’t know who this letter is going to, it doesn’t matter, because it’s going to a Marine.
I had the privilege to serve in the Marine Corps Reserve from 1986 to 1992 with HMA-773, which became part of MAG-70 during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. I know what you’re going through right now is very difficult: the separation from your family is hard, and the uncertainty about where you might go or what you might do wears on you. I left behind a good civilian job, a new car, and a very worried fiancée to fly out to Pendleton and start gearing up for deployment.
I remember it vividly, and so I sympathize with the mix of emotions you’re probably feeling right now. Excitement at getting to do what Marines do, love and brotherhood as you work side by side with your fellow Marines, anxiety about what the future holds, loneliness as you miss your family and friends back home, and frustration at having to do everything the way the Big Green Machine wants it done.
I can tell you this with authority, though: you are a Marine, and when the time comes, you will know what to do. Whether you’re LDS or not (I was baptized in 1997), I believe that God watches over the men and women who preserve the freedom of this country, just as he did for Moroni when he carried the title of liberty. Ask an LDS buddy to tell you the story if you don’t already know it; it’s in the Book of Mormon in Alma 46. Trust in His protection; work hard to prepare yourself, and never forget the generations of Marines who have gone before you and those who will follow. May God watch over and bless you and your fellow Marines as you do what is right for our nation.
Good luck, and Godspeed.
Semper Fi,
Paul Robichaux
SSgt USMCR

Company F, 2/23, is ready to go. Godspeed, boys.

It’s hard to avoid the suspicion that a significant number of America’s worst social problems would be alleviated by summoning the insurance industry’s top managers to an economic summit, and then setting packs of wild dogs on them.