Ya know, sometimes while wondering about what this life is all about and how human passion functions within it, thoughts of what little I know of string theory drifts back to mind. The notion that there are dimensions, separate layers of perceptibility, where activity levels vary drastically. Previously I’ve likened it to the contrast between the vibrations of string instruments from a micro perspective and the quiet, less active realm of the listening audience. You could also compare devastating battles breaking out in one particular region to the relative calm observed from outer space. Both are true simultaneously; it’s just a matter of perspective. Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for January, 2009
Taxes and Credit
The W-2 from a former job arrived yesterday, ushering in tax time Having created a small business nearly a year ago, I’ve been reading up on what business expenses can be claimed, such as computing standard mileage and figuring up the advertising and office supply costs. Fun fun. Read the rest of this entry »
A Time to Cook
Just have to share that last night’s ribeye with sides of steamed green beans and organic, steak-cut potatoes came out magnifique. 
Gotta love the George Foreman grill.
On the menu today: crockpot chili. It’s currently simmering and will be ready in about 4.5 hours. The recipe used is basic and familiar, so this batch should hopefully turn out pretty good.
Former CIA station chief target of rape inquiry
By Kevin Bohn / CNN / January 28, 2009
WASHINGTON (CNN) — A former CIA station chief in Algeria is under investigation by the State and Justice departments after being accused of raping at least two women while he held the post, a source confirmed to CNN on Wednesday.
The women told investigators that they think date-rape drugs were used in the assaults, which are said to have occurred at the officer’s official residence, according to the source.
The story was first reported by ABC News.
The allegations were made in the fall, when the unidentified officer was still serving as station chief. In October, soon after the allegations were made, the man returned to the United States for a previously scheduled trip and was ordered not to return to his post, the source said.
A senior U.S. official confirmed that the case is under investigation but refused to comment on the details.
State Department spokesman Robert Wood issued a brief statement in response to a CNN inquiry, saying that “the individual in question has returned to Washington and the U.S. government is looking into the matter,” and referring reporters to the Justice Department.
The women, who are Algerian citizens, brought their allegations to a U.S. government official, and federal authorities then launched an investigation.
A search of the station chief’s residence in Algeria was approved by a U.S. District Court judge after a request from the Justice Department. The search found pills believed to be of a type commonly used in date rape, the source said.
In that search, authorities also found about a dozen tapes that are thought to show the officer engaged in sexual acts, the source said, including some in which women are believed to be in a semiconscious state. CNN’s source had not seen the tapes but had been briefed on their content. Some of the tapes include date stamps indicating that the recordings happened when he would have been serving in Cairo, Egypt, before his tenure in Algeria.
The investigation includes his time in both posts as well as other locations where he traveled.
The identity of the officer could not be learned, and CNN was unable to reach a representative of the officer. It is against the law to reveal identities of covert officers.
When the allegations surfaced in the fall, they were viewed as “tremendously explosive, no doubt about that,” the source said, especially because Algeria is a Muslim country.
The Justice Department and the CIA would not comment on the allegations or any investigation.
“I can assure you that the agency would take seriously and follow up any allegations of impropriety,” CIA spokesman Mark Mansfield said.
The officer has not been charged, the source said. The source would not speak for attribution because the investigation is ongoing and the source was not authorized to speak publicly.
One federal law enforcement source said that no developments or activities relating to the case are “imminent.”
A station chief heads the CIA’s office in a foreign country, establishing a relationship with its host intelligence service and overseeing agency activities in the country.
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Ugh. What an asshole. Why are so many serial rapists inclined to keep photos and paraphernalia from their “escapades”? Thankfully they do since that’s usually what it takes to convict their asses and to convince the public.
I wonder if the greater Muslim community is going to come unhinged over this. Wouldn’t blame them if they did. We would if Algerians came over here, especially working in high-ranking positions, and pulled shit like that.
This story was originally aired on ABC News and is also up on Fox.
Date rape drugs…horrible concoctions…abused by a CIA official seeking to exploit women against their will. Damn.
Did I tell you the story…
…about the one and only time I’ve ever been bitch-slapped? Not sure if I’ve written about this on the blog before. It relates to the topic of evolution, oddly enough. Read the rest of this entry »
Speaking of Evolution and Religion…
Here’s a link to Part 1 (47 minutes) of Richard Dawkin’s television documentary “The Root of All Evil?” where he argues that the world would be better off without religion.
And here’s the link to Part 2 (47 minutes) subtitled “The Virus of Faith.”
I do own and have listened to his audiobook “The God Delusion” and agree with many of its points, although atheism isn’t the belief system I personally subscribe to. He does make excellent arguments against organized religion (as with the indoctrination of children) and Christianity in particular (pointing out its many contradictions and inhumane portions of scripture), but I wouldn’t go so far as to deem all religion and faith as harmful and/or ludicrous. From where I sit there appears to be at least a smidge of truth on all sides in this argument. The trick seems to be in sorting the metaphors and literal interpretations from their deeper value and meaning.
I’m not convinced the secular era to follow won’t wind up manipulating and misusing science to further powerful agendas just as religion is used now and in the past. The psychology/psychiatry field springs to mind.
What I do know is the day the debate over Creationism being taught in schools is finally put to rest will be one of celebration over here, assuming I’m still alive then (not likely).
This is similar to Ayn Rand’s question “what is the root of all money?” and I’d reply in kind: religion in and of itself is likely no more responsible for “evil” than money is. The problem lies in us; and while religion absolutely does impact our thought processes and cultural norms, if it were absent people would likely only find something else to lean on (for example a political ideology). Yanking theology out from under people won’t force them to think for themselves if they’re determined to be led like sheep. Might help, but then again it might also lead to widescale moral breakdown as disillusioned people rebel, believing morality to be nonexistent without a religion to base it on.
Seems like there are potential benefits and consequences either direction we turn.
On Mike Jones
Prior to tonight I had never heard of Mike Jones and only knew of Ted Haggard by name. Never knew of him being exposed as a hypocrite either, not that it surprises me anymore. Keeping up with evangelists isn’t my bag, but I happened to stumble across this MSNBC interview from 2006:
After watching that I did a search for more information and found this article on TheStranger.com. My response is copied and pasted below:
“You were paid for sex, Mike. The most important rule you can follow when taking people’s money in exchange for sex is that—no matter what—their lives stay their own and whatever passes between the two of you remains private. Period. Your leap from paid crotch monkey to gay-rights crusader certainly doesn’t impress your fellow sex workers.”
Bullshit. Mike Jones impressed this female sex worker. While I absolutely believe in protecting the privacy of my clients and do tolerate their hypocrisy to a wide extent, there is a line drawn somewhere and Ted Haggard most definitely crossed it. Behind that line includes the particularly heinous and immoral crimes and deceptions, like homicide, rape, child molestation, and yes, religious hypocrisy for clergy/preachers. You think preachers spreading hate while living a double-life aren’t doing tremendous harm to communities? They absolutely are! Intentionally, PUBLICLY, misleading people in matters of faith and morality supersedes any discretion clause.
Your personal beliefs are your own to tangle with ’til you stand up at a pulpit and tell other they’re going to burn in hell for living a “life of sin” that you yourself secretly partake in. That goes beyond cruel and anybody with a conscience would struggle in Mr. Jones’s predicament.
By coming forward, Mike Jones sacrificed his own livelihood, some of his friends, and his privacy. This did not come without a cost. And to Gary: hasn’t he been judged enough already? If his motives had been malicious he could have sued the church, but he did not. It appears now he’s mostly trying to make ends meet.
My hat’s off to Mr. Jones. He showed integrity in that he didn’t allow his role as an escort or fear of exposure and harassment to deter him from speaking the truth where it counts.
That’s my take on it. (Oh, and btw, yes I realize my comment was posted multiple times on their site and already let the webmasters know so they can be removed. My bad. I’m an idiot. 
)
Having just learned of this story (living under a rock without cable), it appears Mike Jones did the right thing in speaking out against hypocrisy of that magnitude. We’re not talking about a small town preacher here but a high-profile evangelist with a following numbering in the thousands. That’s not small dice.
Here’s a recent article on the Denver Post site discussing how Ted Haggard’s former church essentially paid another young man who came forward with an “overwhelming pool of evidence” in exchange for silence. That’s so sad. Trying to sweep the truth right under the rug, like it ought to have no real bearing on the church and its followers.
Sure, we’re all hypocrites on some level or another, but there is a line where those who cross aren’t only wrong, they’re corrupt. And that corruption spills down on to the rest of us and poisons our relations with one another, dividing us into combative factions and turning innocent people into victims. That’s not fair. It is not.
With power and a pulpit (or a boardroom for that matter) comes grave responsibilities and serious moral considerations. People are trusting in you.
Oh wow. Here’s an excerpt clip from Richard Dawkin’s film “The Root of All Evil?” where Ted Haggard behaves like a complete asshole.
And during my search I realized he’s the evangelist leader of that megachurch featured in the “Jesus Camp” documentary. Huh.
What a raging hypocrite and bully. What little sympathy I had for him just waned.
In a better mood
This afternoon I spoke with a couple of other escorts on the phone, which helped vent out some of the irritations from earlier in the day. Read the rest of this entry »
Self-Inquisition
At my work location last night we watched MSNBC news before I conked out early, waking at 6am today and now am unable to go back to sleep. Probably for the best in sorting out this wicked sleep schedule, which periodically revolves all the way around and has to be checked via sleep deprivation. Read the rest of this entry »
Keeping busy
Yesterday and today have been productive and busy. Read the rest of this entry »
Working on the new site
It’s Sunday evening and I’m chilling at home, munching on a salad, working on my website as I’ve been doing for almost two days straight. My Mexican acquaintance invited me out for drinks tonight but no can do. I’ve got a one-track mind right now and little can shake me off of it. Read the rest of this entry »
Saturday Night Thoughts
You know, things aren’t bad right now. They’re really not. For as much drama as there is in my life, past and present, overall things have been looking up. Friendships dissolving with little warning hurts of course, but where I’m standing now is far from rock bottom. Not only could life be worse, I’m actually feeling pretty content right here in my own skin.
In re-acquainting myself with escort forums and blogs, lots of thoughts and memories have come flooding back. Some negative but many positive. Read the rest of this entry »
Time to jump back in the saddle
Yep, it’s time. I’ve been out of the public light for over a year now, with the bulk of my ads and reviews removed two years ago. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be ready to come back… Read the rest of this entry »
Newsvine
