I'm not a businessman. I'm a business... man.

It was hard in the past day or two not to feel slight embarrassment to call myself an American. For those that don't know, President Obama released the CIA reports regarding prisoner interrogation techniques in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanmo Bay. First off, President Bush lied to the American public. We tortured and tortured a lot. Here are just a few of the things are CIA agents did - Forced prisoners into tiny boxes and put live insects in the box. Forced prisoners to abstain from sleep for days. Slammed prisoners into walls. Chained prisoners into very uncomfortable positions. Waterboarded prisoners, including one prisoner they waterboarded 183 times in the month of March. That is equivalent to being waterboarded over six times a day for the month. I could continue but I think you get my point. What infuriates me even more is the reaction by Republicans. Karl Rove is angry because now Al Qaeda can better prepare against our "interrogation" techniques. Dick Cheney said on Hannity that Obama releasing these documents is disturbing. In addition, many other prominent Republicans like John Ensign and Peggy Noonan are furious at Obama. I could be sick to my stomach. As a Christian, the Bible is crystal clear regarding torture. We are to be opposed to it in every circumstance. Romans 12:19 comes to mind: Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. The fact these "Christian" Republicans claim to be the moral majority with half their face and then turn their cheek and encourage torture is beyond despicable. President Obama is in for a tough decision. He has been adamant that he does not want charges to be brought forth to the prior administration on these torture issues (which are war crimes). However, it is not necessarily up to him. Senate Democrats, led by Senator Diane Feinstein are doing their best to convince the Department of Justice to formally charge members of the past administration including Alberto Gonzalez, John Ashcroft, Don Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, Bush, and others with war crimes. As much perverted joy I would get by seeing them on trial, I tend to agree with President Obama on this issue. It is important for the world to see us come clean on our past mistakes, own up to them, promise to never repeat them, and move on.

1. Speaking of politics, I am tired of all this outrage by Fox News and Republican leaders that Obama shook hands with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Regardless of politics, there is nothing to be embarrassed about when the President of our country has meetings or is introduced to other heads of state. That is part of the job as President. As Obama eloquently stated, "It’s unlikely that as a consequence of me shaking hands or having a polite conversation with Mr. Chavez that we are endangering the strategic interests of the United States." Exactly. To be fair, President Chavez has said some insulting things regarding the United States. However, I don't think Newt Gingrich or Sean Hannity or any of these pompous idiots who are so "furious" about Obama meeting with Chavez had any problem with President Bush met with leaders of Uzbekistan, China, and many other countries with spotty human rights records that are far worse than what is going on in Venezuela.

2. I saw the movie 17 again. It is my first Zac Efron movie and he did better than I thought. The movie is pretty cheesy, predictable, and not believable... but it was also quite funny and enjoyable. I give this movie a B. It's not worth $10 in a theater but is definitely worth renting if you have 90 minutes for a fun laugh.

3. With it being 4/20 and all yesterday, were you ever curious what the legend started from? No surprise, the Grateful Dead are involved: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/20/what-420-means-the-true-s_n_188320.html

4. I see it was just another VEISHEA weekend at Iowa State this past weekend with 88 people getting arrested on Friday and Saturday nights. Ah memories.

5. Currently listening to "Oliver's Army" by Elvis Costello.