Charles Allen, the senior intelligence official at the Department of Homeland Security, has recently decried using the term “War on Terror” saying that it creates “animus” in Islamic countries.

According to Financial Times: 

“[It] has nothing to do with political correctness,” Mr Allen said in an interview. “It is interpreted in the Muslim world as a war on Islam and we don’t need this.”

Allen is a CIA veteran who has spent most of his 50 year career fighting terrorism.

Michael Chertoff, the Homeland Security secretary, disagrees that the term, coined by President Bush in the wake of the September 11 terrorism attacks, is suggestive of a war on Islam.

Peter Hoekstra, the top Republican on the House intelligence committee, on the other hand, agrees with Allen calling the phrase “dumbest term…you could use”. He has urged the Bush Administration, especially Stephen Hadley, the national security adviser, not to use the expression.

Financial Times also points out that military personnel often use the same vocabulary as the President:

While the military in general tends to echo the langauge of the president, Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the joint chiefs who recently met with moderate Muslim leaders to hear their concerns, tries to ensure his language does not create the perception of a war against Islam, Captain John Kirby, his spokesman, said.

“The chairman is aware of the concerns voiced by many in the Muslim community about the phrase ‘war on terror’,” Captain Kirby said.

“He is committed – when speaking of it – to focusing his language and efforts on the violent extremists we are fighting. This is not a war on Islam. It’s a war against lethal enemies who are using a warped view of that faith to justify killing innocent civilians.”

While the Admiral might be using the term in a way that he feels is “focusing… on the violent extremists we are fighting” individuals in the Muslim community might not feel the same way. The terms “War on Terror”, “Islamic Terrorists”, and “Islamo-Fascists” tend to bear negative connotations for Islamic people by equating the religion itself with terrorism.

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The music video for Weezer’s new Billboard topping single “Pork and Beans” was initially released on the video sharing website YouTube and features many of the sites stars including Chris Crocker, Gary Brolsma, and Judson Laipply.

If you recognized even one of those names then you are sure to enjoy the video which contains references to 24 of the most popular YouTube videos of all time. The intro of the video, for instance, references the video One Man Band which has been viewed 1,160,872 times and counting.

If there is one thing that is undeniable throughout Weezer’s long and storied history it is that the band knows geeks (probably because they themselves are considerably nerdy). So its no wonder that they know that referencing viral videos would make “Pork and Beans” more popular in the internet community.

This internet popularity, unlike Presidential candidate Ron Paul’s, has actually translated well into the real world. The single is currently sitting at the top of the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks charts for the 3rd week in a row. It is also Weezer’s fastest rising single, reaching the #1 spot in just three short weeks.

The song will be present on the band’s upcoming self-titled album which has been referred to as The Red Album because Weezer has multiple self-titled albums. It will release on June 3.

The viral videos referenced by Weezer in “Pork and Beans” include One Man Band, Numa Numa, Diet Coke and Mentos Experiment, The Evolution of Dance, Crank That Soldier Boy, Afro Ninja, Chocolate Rain, Dramatic Gopher, Leave Britney Alone, The Most T-Shirts Worn at One Time, How the Dramatic Prairie Dog Was Born, GI Joe Gay, All Your Base Are Belong to Us, Popozao, Miss Teen USA South Carolina, Star Wars Kid, Charlie the Unicorn, Daft Bodies, Daft Hands, Its Peanut Butter Jelly Time,Shoes, and Will it Blend.

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Well, its official, the LP has selected former Republican and Patriot Act supporter Bob Barr as their presidential candidate.

Bob Barr might be a Libertarian (in the sense that he is a member of the party), but he is not a libertarian. This is one of the reasons I’ve stopped paying attention to the Libertarian Party. They’re not even a major party and they still manage to stray away from their principles. Shame shame *wags fingers*

They should have picked Ruwart. I’m fairly appalled by this decision, but I’m not really all that stunned. The LP has been moving farther center every year and for what? Just to gain a half of a percentage point? It’s a pathetic development from the “Party of Principle.” And too think I was once actually a member.

Now theres not even a third party for those who believe in small government to vote for. Whats a true conservative to do? I guess I could write in Ruwart, but what kind of difference could that possibly make. Sorry to rant here, but I’m finally starting to get sick of the whole voting “process”. Every election seems more and more like a scam.

A couple things to remember.  First, Barr supports the War on Drugs, and second he voted for the Patriot Act.

Honestly, this is one of the most upsetting pieces of news to come out of the LP in years. They picked Barr for the little bit of media attention that he will produce and its really kind of sickening. I’m honestly starting to believe that voting and working inside the system will no longer achieve political change. Civil disobedience from the grassroots might really be the only way to go.

Theres a popular campaign sign out there that reads “Ron Paul Cured My Apathy”, but this decision from the LP has certainly brought mine back. The LP used to be the home for disenfranchised Republicans, but now where do the disenfranchised Libertarians go?

The Onion is just absolutely hilarious:

Yours truly has ventured into the arena of sports commentary writing an article about the Pittsburgh Penguins current playoff run for digitaljournal.com.  Check it out here it you are interested.

This cop basically makes a fool out of himself:

AssociatedContent.com has published my article on the current healthcare situation and how the problems can be solved in the free market.  Check it out here.