War, Porn and Bacon

I once read that three of the most important aspects of the economy of the United States are armaments,adult entertainment and meat. If any one of these three industries vanished overnight, the damage to our economy would be catastrophic.

In other words, America simply can't afford to stop killing people, masturbating or eating steak.

I think that's hilarious.

So this blog is just a random tally of stuff that I find interesting. Enjoy.

Turkey

You have to wonder why the United States isn’t making a big production out of being best buds with Turkey. This is a country that is about 90% muslim, but I might as well be in Bethesda, Maryland. There is a very real and profound seperation between church and state here. Islam is “something” instead of “everything.” My hotel is about a block away from Ataturk Square, right on the Aegean Sea. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was the founder of modern Turkey, which is democratic and, more importantly, secular. The results speak for themselves. Islam is a matter of personal and not national identity. Or, as Omar the jazz drummer told me when we were getting loaded last night, “Religion ess not dat eemportant here.” Word. Look what happens when people start worrying about the here and now rather than what the cosmic space daddy is going to think.

But I have a feeling that a big part of the Islamic world probably views Turkey in the same way that folks in the Bible Belt view New York City, San Francisco or Los Angeles. To them, Turkey is probably just one big pit of sin, blasphemy and vice.

Personally, I’m rooting for Turkey. I wish them continued success.

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