Brian Gongol
![Aviation News](http://gongol.com/pics/fly.gif)
Take a closer look at one of the weapons of war that has kept our freedom alive and well
![The United States of America](http://gongol.com/pics/usa.gif)
Memorial Day is an excellent reminder that we should thank those who have served, both living and dead
![News](http://gongol.com/pics/news.gif)
Wouldn't you, too? Cuba should probably be our first choice next time we add some new states.
![We All Need a Little Humor](http://gongol.com/pics/haha.gif)
I have written more words about this page in this sentence than you will find on the entire site. It's still funny.
![Socialism Rears Its Ugly Head](http://gongol.com/pics/commies.gif)
Ford's European division already losing hundreds of millions of dollars a year
![Socialism Rears Its Ugly Head](http://gongol.com/pics/commies.gif)
Socialized medicine means not having decent enough health care nearby that you can count on
![News](http://gongol.com/pics/news.gif)
Could there be a greater honor than that nickname?
![We All Need a Little Humor](http://gongol.com/pics/haha.gif)
The Internet is full of things you'd never have found before
![Socialism Rears Its Ugly Head](http://gongol.com/pics/commies.gif)
Since the Communist flavor of totalitarianism was responsible for even more deaths than the equally-reprehensible Fascist flavor, this seems a decent endeavor. Not sure if the Communists were (are?) bad enough? Visit the Museum of Communism and see what you think. You can contribute to the memorial effort here.
![News](http://gongol.com/pics/news.gif)
Enough uranium to create 10 nuclear bombs is floating around two dozen old reactor sites in the former USSR, and we don't need it falling into the wrong hands
![News](http://gongol.com/pics/news.gif)
70,000 police will patrol the Olympic village
![The United States of America](http://gongol.com/pics/usa.gif)
Half of those degrees in 2001 went to foreign-born students, but the 9/11 impact means fewer of those students are getting in. Without lots more native-born Americans getting into these fields, we're in serious trouble.
![Science and Technology](http://gongol.com/pics/sci.gif)
Culturally, Ireland is little more different from the US than, say, the Midwest is from the West Coast or the South
![The American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/$.gif)
Arthur Laffer must be pleased: A reduction in the tax rate from 23% to 19% brought in 50% of the year's expected revenues in just four months
![Computers and the Internet](http://gongol.com/pics/comp.gif)
The law may have legitimized junk e-mail enough to create more of it rather than less. Some expect that 80% of all e-mail traffic this year will be spam. 40% of spam is now for drugs like Viagra, while 38% is for "hot stock tips" and the like. Porn e-mail now accounts for less than 5% of spam.
![Business and Finance](http://gongol.com/pics/biz.gif)
Heaviest users are people with camera phones
![Aviation News](http://gongol.com/pics/fly.gif)
The irony speaks for itself. The pilot ran out of gas. Helpful motorist swerved back and forth across lanes behind it to clear a path for the landing.
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
Abu Hamza, possibly also known as Mustafa Kamel Mustafa, accused of hostage-taking, conspiracy, and support of Al Qaeda
![Election 2004](http://gongol.com/pics/vote.gif)
Declares now -- NOW! -- that terrorism would be his main foreign-policy objective. He's been campaigning for a year, and it took him until now to acknowledge that the safety and security of Americans should be his top foreign-policy objective? How long did he leave his finger in the wind to figure out public opinion on that one? Sen. Kerry couldn't pass up the chance to call for more "international consensus," either. As if waiting for Algeria or Angola to agree with us on the UN Security Council is the best way to conduct our foreign affairs. Domestic "consensus" causes things like the Macarena craze. We need leadership more than consensus.
![Science and Technology](http://gongol.com/pics/sci.gif)
Researcher says 10% less sunlight is falling on the planet than did 50 years ago. Much of it may have come from Asia. The special irony is that it may have reduced global warming.
![The United States of America](http://gongol.com/pics/usa.gif)
The suggestion is that, rather than engaging the enemy directly in Iraq, the US should follow its own model from fighting in El Salvador or the British model used in India. A small number of military "advisors" would guide the use of a much larger indigenous force. This was, in part, the subject of a July 2003 article in the The Atlantic Monthly.
![The American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/$.gif)
Drop whatever you're doing right now and read this interview on the The Atlantic Monthly's website. Niall Ferguson, in a short (five page) interview, does a phenomenal job of putting perspective on why America is already an empire and why it needs to be more so: "If we don't extend our civilization, an even worse empire may emerge -- see the Cold War." Outstanding. Make some time as well to read this counter-argument.
![Business and Finance](http://gongol.com/pics/biz.gif)
Des Moines sells naming rights to the arena at the new Iowa Events Center to Wells Fargo for $11.5 million over 20 years. Just as long as they don't pull an Enron.
![We All Need a Little Humor](http://gongol.com/pics/haha.gif)
WordPerfect launches commercial campaign (link goes to video stream of one of those commercials) ripping on stupid MS Office features that annoy more than they help. WordPerfect used to be the best word processing software around, but then it started to slip. Will version 12 be good enough -- or even perfect? I'm not so sure.
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
One report does not a convincing argument make. I still think the good done by toppling a madman in control of a rogue state with chemical weapons probably outweighs the harm, but objective evaluation requires hearing many arguments. I will submit, however, that it's time to stop using the phrase "winning hearts and minds." It's not a significant stretch to conclude that any rational human being using his or her mind should logically conclude that systems encouraging liberty under the rule of law are mankind's natural right. What we need to do instead is act in a manner intended to win over the less-rational people who decide based on emotions. I don't like it one bit -- it's terrible that more people aren't rational -- but the case for swinging the rest of the world over to a Western way of life is a sales pitch, and it's one that we now must make with the kind of gravity we should reserve for life-or-death issues. Because this one is.
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
Analysis of last month's tape suggests that the paranoiacs who think corporations are out to get them are the kinds of folks Bin Laden & Co. are hoping will crumble
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
Major events include the quadrennial political conventions, 4th of July events, and the dedication of the new WWII memorial. After Spain got wobbly knees from the Madrid train bombing and elected government of pussyfooting leftists, Al Qaeda may think it can get the same thing out of the United States.
![The American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/$.gif)
Insull was a major industrialist in the early part of the century, but his empire was destroyed during the Great Depression. Some say his fall was a precursor to the Enron scandal, but this article counters that he was in fact brought down by regulation, manipulative bankers, and crooked politicians.
![News](http://gongol.com/pics/news.gif)
13,000 people homeless with hundreds still missing
![The Looming Water Crisis](http://gongol.com/pics/water.gif)
Forest Service says 33 aerial tankers are unsafe to fly, but Southwestern Members of Congress aren't exactly pleased with the decision
![Aviation News](http://gongol.com/pics/fly.gif)
Pilot, photog couple is trying to photograph the entire coastline of California. They'll never get the chance to photograph Vandenburg Air Force Base because of legal restrictions, but the courts said they can take pictures of Barbra Streisand's home, whether or not she likes it.
![News](http://gongol.com/pics/news.gif)
Photos alleging abuse of Iraqi detainees by British soldiers weren't true, even though they were published in London's Daily Mirror. It cannot be repeated often enough: We are all responsible for evaluating the truth behind everything we read, see, and hear. If it smells fishy, that goes doubly. One of the soldiers involved in faking the photos in this case has been arrested. The BBC has a very good article detailing past hoaxes, including some performed by people who do this kind of thing semi-professionally.
![Business and Finance](http://gongol.com/pics/biz.gif)
Why put someone who's "not a radio man" in charge of a radio network? Whatever happened to knowing your product? Count on Air America to fall apart by February.
![News](http://gongol.com/pics/news.gif)
See shots of flooding on the Raccoon and Walnut Creek
![News](http://gongol.com/pics/news.gif)
Weighed over 200 lbs.
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
60 others injured, including the British ambassador. Blast happened at a Muslim shrine.
![Science and Technology](http://gongol.com/pics/sci.gif)
When followed well, it can mean quick weight loss...but most people don't stick to restrictive diets very well, and side effects include things like bad breath and constipation
![Socialism Rears Its Ugly Head](http://gongol.com/pics/commies.gif)
It's pretty difficult to believe that they're going to be a "fiscally conservative" party as their leader promises. On a side note, isn't it a little ironic that the Green Party, an avowedly leftist organization, is one of the only international political parties? Aren't leftists the ones always opposing "globalization"?
![News](http://gongol.com/pics/news.gif)
Liberal Party is polling ahead right now
![Aviation](http://gongol.com/pics/fly.gif)
New cracks now being reported
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
Six children killed
![The American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/$.gif)
Reward for progress toward reinstating democracy
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
Some good news, though: Fighting in Karbala may be over
![The United States of America](http://gongol.com/pics/usa.gif)
Evaluate for yourself whether we're achieving the intended goals
![Aviation](http://gongol.com/pics/fly.gif)
Website allows you to see traffic almost-live at JFK, LAX, Logan, and other airports (from eDodo.org)
![Socialism Rears Its Ugly Head](http://gongol.com/pics/commies.gif)
Stupid lawsuits are really only good at taking more choices out of consumers' hands, and that's not a good thing
![News](http://gongol.com/pics/news.gif)
Results: "Solutions" imposed may not have had any relation to reality, and the gravity of real assaults becomes diminished
![News](http://gongol.com/pics/news.gif)
Conflicting evidence over what was actually there before 45 people were killed
![News](http://gongol.com/pics/news.gif)
Small Iowa town was essentially destroyed by a tornado on Friday (May 21)
![News](http://gongol.com/pics/news.gif)
The Raccoon River has risen enough that the Fleur Drive bridge was closed this afternoon. More rain is in the forecast.
![Election 2004](http://gongol.com/pics/vote.gif)
The network news anchor, interestingly, is really not interested in being covered by the media
![Computers and the Internet](http://gongol.com/pics/comp.gif)
Because there's no better way to express your eternal affection than on a public message board that, among other things, regularly highlights links to half-naked women
![Aviation](http://gongol.com/pics/fly.gif)
Unions can be a pain, but isn't that going a little overboard?
![News](http://gongol.com/pics/news.gif)
See video footage of tornadoes and flooding damage
![Business and Finance](http://gongol.com/pics/biz.gif)
Per-capita income isn't rising here as fast as in the rest of the country. Getting smart about the businesses we encourage here could change that.
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
They threw a sack of colored flour that hit Prime Minister Tony Blair. If it had been something other than flour, like a chemical weapon, it could've been a very serious incident. Not to mention there's no clear line of succession in the UK.
![Science and Technology](http://gongol.com/pics/sci.gif)
It was basically the center of the scientific world 2,000 years ago; was probably destroyed by Julius Caesar after Archimedes, Ptolemy, and Euclid had finished their work there (from eDodo.org)
![News](http://gongol.com/pics/news.gif)
Beijing hates it, local papers don't entirely think he went far enough
![Science and Technology](http://gongol.com/pics/sci.gif)
Multiple vortices can be developed from the same tornadic storm, and it can raise wind speeds by 100 mph on the ground
![We All Need a Little Humor](http://gongol.com/pics/haha.gif)
As you should expect, the pictures in the link above are not exactly safe for work. If you thought a tabloid news story on 82 Britons riding a roller coaster in the nude was going to be safe for work, then you're an idiot. No surprise: They're a bunch of students. No surprise: People took photos. Surprise: The pictures were taken to raise money for charity.
![Aviation](http://gongol.com/pics/fly.gif)
It shut down flights for 20 minutes. Whoops.
![Aviation](http://gongol.com/pics/fly.gif)
In all probability, the Prime Minister of New Zealand isn't packing explosives. An old story, but who reported it in the US at the time? It's still funny.
![Business and Finance](http://gongol.com/pics/biz.gif)
I'm really in the wrong line of business -- lots of these people charge $50,000 and up per speech. Shoot -- I do it for much less than that.
![We All Need a Little Humor](http://gongol.com/pics/haha.gif)
Dr. Ruth -- the world's best-known sex psychologist -- was a Holocaust orphan and fought in the Israeli militia when she was 16
![News](http://gongol.com/pics/news.gif)
Their product isn't very good, and now they have serious money troubles
![Aviation](http://gongol.com/pics/fly.gif)
Six men stole a van and crashed it into a warehouse storing cash and precious metals; 100 officers of the Metropolitan Police showed them to their new lodgings behind bars
![The United States of America](http://gongol.com/pics/usa.gif)
80 to 90% of the country being run by local governments. Of course, there's still the high likelihood that more terrorist attacks on the US are expected. Also of note: Vehicle accidents are the leading non-combat cause of death among servicemembers in Iraq.
![Aviation](http://gongol.com/pics/fly.gif)
Imagine: It's so competitive that some tickets go for less than $2
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
Six killed when a bomb hit their vehicle. Israel says seven Palestinian Arabs killed in an air assault were about to plant more explosives. Now, are Israel's demolition of Palestinian settlements in Gaza a smart move that will stop the flow of weapons from Egypt or an inappropriate attack on innocent civilians? I don't have that answer. 20 people were killed on Tuesday: Some were gunmen, one was handling explosives, but others were children.
![The United States of America](http://gongol.com/pics/usa.gif)
One general will read them all
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
Two US troops treated for exposure. Iraq had chemical weapons.
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
Four police killed when their vehicle hit a land mine; eight soldiers killed by a second mine and rebel gunfire when they went to help
![The American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/$.gif)
Singh appears to be universally respected. The priority issue is whether he's going to keep up the same economic reforms that will keep India from spinning its wheels without moving forward. A related article points out that growth depends on the rule of law and whether traditional underclasses get the chance to use reforms to their benefit. His public pronouncements so far suggest he'll stay with a moderate reformist agenda, but will stick with some of the old protectionist policies like nationalizing major utility industries. Fortunately, he also says he'll pursue peace with Pakistan.
![Computers and the Internet](http://gongol.com/pics/comp.gif)
As well as where you read it and whether they forwarded it on; I anticipate that someone will respond quickly with a filter or block for this system; I don't want spammers following me or thieves pinging my inbox to see if I'm home (with a nod to Marginal Revolution for the link
![The American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/$.gif)
Manmohan Singh was finance minister in the early 1990's; the stock markets viewed his ascension very favorably
![The American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/$.gif)
The Beeb says he's a fan of mixed governments (generally free-market, with a large public sector influence), but in a 2001 interview, he said he was not a Keynesian but rather a believer in smaller government. Either way, it's hard for developing nations to resist the urge to mimic the South Korean model
![The United States of America](http://gongol.com/pics/usa.gif)
He's probably right, but only if you replace "terror" with "al Qaeda." Terrorism is a method. Al Qaeda is a movement. We cannot eliminate terrorism as a practice any more than we can enforce the brushing of teeth, but we can reasonably seek the defeat and eradication of a particular movement.
![News](http://gongol.com/pics/news.gif)
Now if only more of them would say that about attacks anywhere
![The Looming Water Crisis](http://gongol.com/pics/water.gif)
The tragedy of their commons: Anyone sitting on top of groundwater can use as much as they want
![Aviation](http://gongol.com/pics/fly.gif)
Scans for water droplets in clouds that can lead to icing, since ice on the wings can destroy a plane's ability to fly
![Science and Technology](http://gongol.com/pics/sci.gif)
University of California develops strap-on bionic legs that can help regular people carry huge loads
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
It belonged to the plane that crashed with the presidents of Rwanda and Burundi aboard in 1994. The crash led to fighting that left 800,000 people dead. The people accused of shooting down the plane are now running Rwanda. The UN lost the black box for a decade, stalling any investigation. But who says the UN is useless?
![News](http://gongol.com/pics/news.gif)
It was never commercially distributed, but friends and neighbors may have been fed the contaminated meat. Death penalty, anyone?
![We All Need a Little Humor](http://gongol.com/pics/haha.gif)
Of course, Forbes has a "Best Places to Go to Prison" list attached
![Socialism Rears Its Ugly Head](http://gongol.com/pics/commies.gif)
When the defeated party had brought about tremendous economic reforms and the new government has to talk to the Communists in order to create a coalition, one could reasonably say that the cause of capitalism just took a step backwards
![The United States of America](http://gongol.com/pics/usa.gif)
Lieutenant emptied his own M16 and 9mm pistol into a group of attacking Iraqi soldiers, then took rifles from two dead Iraqi soldiers and emptied those into more Iraqi soldiers, then used an RPG launcher to kill a few more. Wow.
![We All Need a Little Humor](http://gongol.com/pics/haha.gif)
She shouldn't have been allowed to graduate, but not for her dress: "I don't think nothing was wrong with the dress," eighth-grader Dannielle Fuqua said. "I wouldn't have came to school if I thought something was wrong with the dress." Someone should ask for her tuition back.
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
The question now: Who will condemn the attack?
![Socialism Rears Its Ugly Head](http://gongol.com/pics/commies.gif)
The party that lost had brought huge economic growth by privatizing businesses and opening trade; the new government promises jobs, jobs, jobs; it's bad news for everyone
![The American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/$.gif)
It's imperative that we sell the American ideal to the rest of the world
![We All Need a Little Humor](http://gongol.com/pics/haha.gif)
Fark Photoshop contests are usually good for a laugh (some may be inappropriate for work)
![Business and Finance](http://gongol.com/pics/biz.gif)
Money would be better spent on improving their job skills, not artificially inflating a handful of wages
![Aviation](http://gongol.com/pics/fly.gif)
Downside: Hub-and-spoke system generally stinks
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
Kuwaiti, Jordanian media at least condemned it; Syrians ignored it altogether
![Election 2004](http://gongol.com/pics/vote.gif)
Wears see-through dress at Cannes film festival (photo included, so you might not open this at work)
![The American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/$.gif)
Sent 200,000 lbs. of food
![Socialism Rears Its Ugly Head](http://gongol.com/pics/commies.gif)
There's some big fight over what should or should not be included in an obesity document; clearly these people need real jobs
![The American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/$.gif)
Saddam didn't let most of them use e-mail, so this is a big step forward
![News](http://gongol.com/pics/news.gif)
Parliament gave him the boot, but the courts put him back
![Computers and the Internet](http://gongol.com/pics/comp.gif)
Blocking chips could be the answer
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
Lots of starving people and the world's fifth-largest army
![We All Need a Little Humor](http://gongol.com/pics/haha.gif)
Do you really want his ghost looking over your bride?
![We All Need a Little Humor](http://gongol.com/pics/haha.gif)
Who says "ultra-modern" any more? Shouldn't someone?
![Socialism Rears Its Ugly Head](http://gongol.com/pics/commies.gif)
It should be pointed out, though, that the levels in the bottled water were lower than the levels allowed in tap water
![Socialism Rears Its Ugly Head](http://gongol.com/pics/commies.gif)
The article may be worth reading just to see the word "snogging" in a serious news report
![Science and Technology](http://gongol.com/pics/sci.gif)
"Ride of the Valkyries" named most dangerous song to hear while driving
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
Read the story again, then review the list of attacks that have happen worldwide since then
![The Looming Water Crisis](http://gongol.com/pics/water.gif)
Forest fires started early this year
![We All Need a Little Humor](http://gongol.com/pics/haha.gif)
Mexican woman who gave herself a C-section (seriously) took three shots before the operation; mother and child survived
![Business and Finance](http://gongol.com/pics/biz.gif)
Those huge parking lots become serious pollution problems
![The American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/$.gif)
"We could be better. The rest of the world could do much, much worse."
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
The American was a good guy; the terrorist probably responsible for dozens of attacks
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
Bin Laden puts a price on Kofi Annan, too
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
Putin vows to get "revenge"
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
Sunni Muslims suspected of attacking Shia Muslims
![Socialism Rears Its Ugly Head](http://gongol.com/pics/commies.gif)
Surprise! He says the fact that it's free means people show up for even the smallest health incidents, making the system break down for those who actually need medical attention
![Aviation](http://gongol.com/pics/fly.gif)
He crushed it, cut it into pieces, and spread the remains into different garbage cans. Sounds fishy, doesn't it?
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
1700 people being held hostage
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
Is there really a punishment harsh enough for people who would murder children?
![News](http://gongol.com/pics/news.gif)
Rising violence adds $25 billion to cost of war
![Aviation](http://gongol.com/pics/fly.gif)
Lots of anxiety over terror threats
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
100 days to the Olympics
![Aviation](http://gongol.com/pics/fly.gif)
ABC-affiliate helicopter rolls tape as NBC-affiliate helicopter crashes; no serious injuries
![The United States of America](http://gongol.com/pics/usa.gif)
Task force director says it won't be the "Office of Colonial Affairs"
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
Is it rational to not attack militants in "holy sites" when their terrorist compatriots have no reservations about doing the same to Americans?
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
A long but very good reminder of why action is necessary today
![Election 2004](http://gongol.com/pics/vote.gif)
It's his second foray into politics lately; last time, he helped Schwarzenegger get elected
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
No surprise: 16 radical Islamic militants arrested
![Threats to the American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/threats.gif)
Is there even a suitable revenge available?
![Science and Technology](http://gongol.com/pics/sci.gif)
Should a doctor be held liable for not catching a disorder for which the parents would have requested an abortion?
![Computers and the Internet](http://gongol.com/pics/comp.gif)
Make sure you've updated Windows software recently
![Aviation](http://gongol.com/pics/fly.gif)
The only thing better would be a supermodel in the cockpit
![Aviation](http://gongol.com/pics/fly.gif)
They relayed blood platelets and skin grafts cross-country when all other air traffic was shut down
![News](http://gongol.com/pics/news.gif)
Canada lost two dozen ships to the Battle of the Atlantic
![The United States of America](http://gongol.com/pics/usa.gif)
Doesn't think attackers knew who he was
![We All Need a Little Humor](http://gongol.com/pics/haha.gif)
On favoring cheap beer and hating pretentious films
![Socialism Rears Its Ugly Head](http://gongol.com/pics/commies.gif)
Socialism grows, growth stops
![The United States of America](http://gongol.com/pics/usa.gif)
Whether the work is being commanded well, it's important and will result in long-run good
![The United States of America](http://gongol.com/pics/usa.gif)
Devaluing some people's labor can have serious negative consequences
![The American Way](http://gongol.com/pics/$.gif)
James Lileks hits great points throughout his website about the classical spirit of American optimism