Shabbir's Diary

My flag rant

I've always been particular about treatment of the flag. All the time I protested the first Gulf War, I could never get into the idea of disgracing the flag by burning it, or otherwise desecrating it. Perhaps it came from my time in the Boy Scouts, or perhaps it's because I appreciate symbols. After all, you're likely to get yourself imprisoned if you desecrate an equivalent symbol in a less enlightened country.

That's why I've finally snapped, and need to point out that since September 11, large portions of the country seem to be under the impression that flags are entriely abusable. Sure, people put those little flags on their car antennae, but when they fall off, they end up in the gutter. They get rained on (even when on your car), and they end up being displayed in the dark. These are not really the ways I'd treat a symbol of freedom, ya' know. (And don't tell me it's because they're plastic. Check out one of the many tattered cloth flags that well-meaning people have put out by the highway sometime. They're in sad shape.

So, it is with great hope that suggest you check out recommendations on how to treat the flag.

Gearheads by Brad Stone

Why haven't you bought your copy of Gearheads yet, from Amazon? Buy it now. And then go to your nearest bookstore and place a few prominently on the front shelves and tables. If Brad doesn't hit the NYT best seller list, then the terrorists will have already won.

24/7: Living it up and Doubling Down in New Las Vegas

Yes, it's time for another book about my current obsession, gambling! 24/7: Living It Up and Doubling Down in the New Las Vegas is the story of Andres Martinez, one month in Vegas, and $50,000 advanced by his publisher to be blown in the casinos.

What Should I Do With My Life?

I'm a big Po Bronson fan, and unbeknownst to me, it turns out I was only two degrees of seperation from him while I was enjoying his work. So it was a pleasure to see him come out with What Should I Do With My Life? after he traipsed all around the country looking for people who were in the process on answering that question. I read a few of the stories when I had my hands on a galley one morning, and they were great.

From the "You won't believe this" department

Recently read on the Humane Society report:

Pennsylvania Ave. SE, 3900 block, Feb. 25. Fifteen Airedales and Welsh terriers and 87 parakeets and canaries were impounded after humane society officers executed a search warrant at a residence. The warrant was issued following a report alleging that a man was shooting a BB gun at dogs when they barked.

Several days before the search, the man had allegedly refused to allow society officers to see the animals. During the search, officers found that the dogs were dirty and being kept in crates throughout the house, according to the society. The birds, some of which were injured, were reportedly living in overcrowded, filthy cages. The owners were breeding the animals but lacked permits to have so many on the premises, according to the society.

Police arrested the man after marijuana plants, four loaded handguns and a BB gun were allegedly found in the home.