31 July 2006
An unpleasant truth
This is something that needs to be thought about and talked about and explained to a lot of people. The GOP is a collection of people of like interests. The Democrats are supposed to be a collection of people who support ideals, regardless of the costs to themselves. That is the historical difference between the two parties.
30 July 2006
So how do you apologize for anti-Semitism?
It seems that saying something like, "I'm sorry about what I said. I don't believe it and it was way out of line" is insufficient.
But, in point of fact, the Anti-Defamation League's real target should be Gibson's father who is a full-going nut.
But, in point of fact, the Anti-Defamation League's real target should be Gibson's father who is a full-going nut.
29 July 2006
I need a sign like this lady's
It would go with Ojo's reaction to "It's Christians, Ojo! Christians!"
28 July 2006
Capitalism is just a license to steal, right?
Red Lightning by John Varley
I've always liked the science fiction of John Varley but I'll quickly admit that his work of the first ten years or so of his career impressed me more than the last ten years or so.
His latest Red Lightning, is a sorta sequal to Red Thunder but there's nothing that happened in Thunder that is required in Lightning. Where Thunder was a somewhat charming Heinlein juvenilve-esque "let's build a spaceship in the old barn," Lightning is an absolutely devestating satire on our current fascisto-military-industrial-security state and the lengths they will go to in order to control energy resources. Also throw in the ineptitude of how the world's richest state deals with enormous natural disasters.
It's Voltaire satire, not Swift so you won't cut yourself but it's worth the read.
His latest Red Lightning, is a sorta sequal to Red Thunder but there's nothing that happened in Thunder that is required in Lightning. Where Thunder was a somewhat charming Heinlein juvenilve-esque "let's build a spaceship in the old barn," Lightning is an absolutely devestating satire on our current fascisto-military-industrial-security state and the lengths they will go to in order to control energy resources. Also throw in the ineptitude of how the world's richest state deals with enormous natural disasters.
It's Voltaire satire, not Swift so you won't cut yourself but it's worth the read.
26 July 2006
Science remains cool
Writing on the surface of water. Not sure of the applications, but it's damn neat. If anyone sees/hears of a video of this I'd like to see it.
Impeachment -- why and how
Impeachment: Why and How
By David SwansonTue Jul 25th, 2006 at 01:52:18 PM EDT :: Bush
WHY
Many previous presidents and vice presidents have committed one or two of the following crimes. Never before have any approached this total level of assault on the Constitution. If we do not impeach now, we never can again, and the legislative branch will not maintain power over the executive or judicial. We will be unable to end the war, stop global warming, fund education, challenge stolen elections, win elections, or accomplish any of our other goals.
Impeachable Offenses by Bush and Cheney:
Illegal spying in violation of FISA and the Fourth Amendment, openly confessed to, openly promoted in signing statements, known to involve phone calls, phone records, internet use, bank records, and observation of legal nonviolent activities.
Illegal detentions in violation of the Fourth Amendment, international law, US law, and a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Rounding up of thousands of citizens and legal residents for detention or deportation.Torture, maintenance of secret camps, and extraordinary rendition, in violation of the Fourth Amendment, international law, US law, and openly promoted in signing statement and administration policy papers.
Illegal war - launched illegally under international law, launched in violation of the US Constitution, which requires that the Congress declare war, and launched on the basis of feloniously misleading Congress and the American public.
Use of a variety of illegal weapons.
Illegal targeting of civilians, journalists, and hospitals.
Illegal seizure of another nation's resources.
Illegal use of funds in Iraq that had been appropriated for Afghanistan.
Leaking of classified information in order to mislead the Congress and the public, and in order to punish truth tellers.
Leaking of the identity of an undercover agent.
Retribution against whistleblowers.
Use of signing statements to reverse 750 laws passed by Congress.
Production of phony news reports at home and abroad.
Dereliction of duty in neglecting global warming, hurricanes, hunger, AIDS, and warnings of 9-11 attacks.
Obstruction of investigations by 9-11 Commission and Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald.
Stealing elections.
HOW
Read, print, copy, distribute, post on bulletin boards, hand out on sidewalks, these flyers.
Realize that you are in a majority, and act like it.Wear this T-shirt every single day. Buy it in various colors. Buy some for gifts. Buy some to resell at a profit. You will make a lot of friends and receive a ton of compliments. Talk to people who compliment you on your shirt. Give them a flyer. Tell them about all the following things that they can do.
Get impeachment bumper stickers and yard signs too.
Meet with people in your local area to work on the following: Collect signatures on a petition, and urge your town, city, or county to pass a pro-impeachment resolution and/or to put impeachment on the ballot this November. You'll be helping them boost voter turnout, and while putting something on the ballot costs a city money, so does leaving Bush president.
Urge your Congress Member to sign H. Res. 635. Even the most hopeless Republican members needs to know what you want of them. Many of them are already refusing to appear at events with Bush or Cheney.
If you live in California, Vermont, or Illinois, lobby your state government to pass the impeachment resolution that has been introduced already, and which will initiate impeachment proceedings in the US House. There is nothing more important than this. If you do not live in one of these states, please help those who do.
Thank Congressman John Conyers for what he is doing.
Urge Nancy Pelosi to back off in her opposition to impeachment, which is based on utterly baseless Republican claims that impeachment is good for Republicans. These polls suggest otherwise.
Thank Republican Congressman Ron Paul for speaking out for impeachment, and urge him to do something about it: sign onto Congressman Conyers's bill or introduce your own articles of impeachment.
Contact your friends in other districts, cities, and states, and urge them to act. Help them.
Give every dollar you can spare to a PAC funding pro-impeachment Congressional candidates.
Sign up at After Downing Street to stay informed.
Get books and DVDs and hold events. Then submit reports on those events, including photos and videos, to After Downing Street, to inspire others.Here's a good book and DVD.Another good book.Watch for forthcoming books by Liz Holtzman, by John Nichols, Howard Zinn and others.
Write letters to the editor urging impeachment in your own words, and phone radio shows, following revelation of each new piece of evidence of impeachable offenses. There's one every day.
Ask your local radio stations to air these public service announcements.
Employ the Bush Chain Gang.Freeway Blog.
Do what they do in civilized nations. Take over your nation's capital. Come to the impeachment encampment at Camp Democracy.
By David SwansonTue Jul 25th, 2006 at 01:52:18 PM EDT :: Bush
WHY
Many previous presidents and vice presidents have committed one or two of the following crimes. Never before have any approached this total level of assault on the Constitution. If we do not impeach now, we never can again, and the legislative branch will not maintain power over the executive or judicial. We will be unable to end the war, stop global warming, fund education, challenge stolen elections, win elections, or accomplish any of our other goals.
Impeachable Offenses by Bush and Cheney:
Illegal spying in violation of FISA and the Fourth Amendment, openly confessed to, openly promoted in signing statements, known to involve phone calls, phone records, internet use, bank records, and observation of legal nonviolent activities.
Illegal detentions in violation of the Fourth Amendment, international law, US law, and a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Rounding up of thousands of citizens and legal residents for detention or deportation.Torture, maintenance of secret camps, and extraordinary rendition, in violation of the Fourth Amendment, international law, US law, and openly promoted in signing statement and administration policy papers.
Illegal war - launched illegally under international law, launched in violation of the US Constitution, which requires that the Congress declare war, and launched on the basis of feloniously misleading Congress and the American public.
Use of a variety of illegal weapons.
Illegal targeting of civilians, journalists, and hospitals.
Illegal seizure of another nation's resources.
Illegal use of funds in Iraq that had been appropriated for Afghanistan.
Leaking of classified information in order to mislead the Congress and the public, and in order to punish truth tellers.
Leaking of the identity of an undercover agent.
Retribution against whistleblowers.
Use of signing statements to reverse 750 laws passed by Congress.
Production of phony news reports at home and abroad.
Dereliction of duty in neglecting global warming, hurricanes, hunger, AIDS, and warnings of 9-11 attacks.
Obstruction of investigations by 9-11 Commission and Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald.
Stealing elections.
HOW
Read, print, copy, distribute, post on bulletin boards, hand out on sidewalks, these flyers.
Realize that you are in a majority, and act like it.Wear this T-shirt every single day. Buy it in various colors. Buy some for gifts. Buy some to resell at a profit. You will make a lot of friends and receive a ton of compliments. Talk to people who compliment you on your shirt. Give them a flyer. Tell them about all the following things that they can do.
Get impeachment bumper stickers and yard signs too.
Meet with people in your local area to work on the following: Collect signatures on a petition, and urge your town, city, or county to pass a pro-impeachment resolution and/or to put impeachment on the ballot this November. You'll be helping them boost voter turnout, and while putting something on the ballot costs a city money, so does leaving Bush president.
Urge your Congress Member to sign H. Res. 635. Even the most hopeless Republican members needs to know what you want of them. Many of them are already refusing to appear at events with Bush or Cheney.
If you live in California, Vermont, or Illinois, lobby your state government to pass the impeachment resolution that has been introduced already, and which will initiate impeachment proceedings in the US House. There is nothing more important than this. If you do not live in one of these states, please help those who do.
Thank Congressman John Conyers for what he is doing.
Urge Nancy Pelosi to back off in her opposition to impeachment, which is based on utterly baseless Republican claims that impeachment is good for Republicans. These polls suggest otherwise.
Thank Republican Congressman Ron Paul for speaking out for impeachment, and urge him to do something about it: sign onto Congressman Conyers's bill or introduce your own articles of impeachment.
Contact your friends in other districts, cities, and states, and urge them to act. Help them.
Give every dollar you can spare to a PAC funding pro-impeachment Congressional candidates.
Sign up at After Downing Street to stay informed.
Get books and DVDs and hold events. Then submit reports on those events, including photos and videos, to After Downing Street, to inspire others.Here's a good book and DVD.Another good book.Watch for forthcoming books by Liz Holtzman, by John Nichols, Howard Zinn and others.
Write letters to the editor urging impeachment in your own words, and phone radio shows, following revelation of each new piece of evidence of impeachable offenses. There's one every day.
Ask your local radio stations to air these public service announcements.
Employ the Bush Chain Gang.Freeway Blog.
Do what they do in civilized nations. Take over your nation's capital. Come to the impeachment encampment at Camp Democracy.
25 July 2006
I've always thought origami was cool
In fact, I think all the zen arts are very appealing: rock gardens, bonzai, blind archery. All that.
I think that this would produce a state very unlike satori. I think I'd probably have to punch someboyd when the fifty-six fold caused me to lose my grip on an imporant bit and the whole thing unfolds.
I think that this would produce a state very unlike satori. I think I'd probably have to punch someboyd when the fifty-six fold caused me to lose my grip on an imporant bit and the whole thing unfolds.
24 July 2006
23 July 2006
Below is the money quote from this AP story.
"AT&T cannot seriously contend that a reasonable entity in its position could have believed that the alleged domestic dragnet was legal."
That's from a federal judge's decision. What can't the Democrats in Congress see this? NO REASONABLE (read that as "sane") PERSON WOULD BELIEVE THAT IT WAS LEGAL.
Jesus.
ITMFA.
"AT&T cannot seriously contend that a reasonable entity in its position could have believed that the alleged domestic dragnet was legal."
That's from a federal judge's decision. What can't the Democrats in Congress see this? NO REASONABLE (read that as "sane") PERSON WOULD BELIEVE THAT IT WAS LEGAL.
Jesus.
ITMFA.
I like the phrase "trans-stupid stupid"
I think this is more than enough reason for impeachment. I know that the Framers would agree because, just like the right wing pundits told us for three years, the Framers saw impeachment as a method of dealing with political mistakes made by voters. Oh, yeah, they also knew that we'd need it for Nixon but mostly they figured that presidential elections would be decided in the House of Representatives and that about 1 in 4 presidents would be impeached. Just read about the consuls and whatnot of Rome on which they were modeling our government.
Why have Congressional hearings?
Go read this and then come back.
It is true that Congress can't determine how the executive branch enforces the law. I'll accept that that is implicit in the Constitution. But I will also accept that when the president directs his subordinates to violate the law then Congress has the right and duty to impeach the mother fucker.
I'm sick of hearing people who claim to be Democrats (are you listening Blanche Lincoln?) say that we need to investigate and find out if the NSA wire-tappping is illegal. What? Of course it is. It's warrantless searching -- forbidden. We need to be having Judiciary Committee meetings to draw up articles of impeachment. Whyowhyo won't this man just get a blow job so we can hound him from office?
It is true that Congress can't determine how the executive branch enforces the law. I'll accept that that is implicit in the Constitution. But I will also accept that when the president directs his subordinates to violate the law then Congress has the right and duty to impeach the mother fucker.
I'm sick of hearing people who claim to be Democrats (are you listening Blanche Lincoln?) say that we need to investigate and find out if the NSA wire-tappping is illegal. What? Of course it is. It's warrantless searching -- forbidden. We need to be having Judiciary Committee meetings to draw up articles of impeachment. Whyowhyo won't this man just get a blow job so we can hound him from office?
21 July 2006
From Greg
Our President is a moron. I mean, let’s just forget that the woman he sneaks up on here is the CHANCELLOR OF GERMANY, and instead think about what would happen if she were his secretary…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0tEQhaK4VM&search=bush%20back%20rub
It does, however, confirm one thing: George thinks he’s living in 1957.
Greg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0tEQhaK4VM&search=bush%20back%20rub
It does, however, confirm one thing: George thinks he’s living in 1957.
Greg
19 July 2006
What I've always loved about most preachers, ministers, priests, and holy men of all stripes
If there's a buck to be made, by god, they want it.
18 July 2006
A day late and a dollar short
Why wasn't the times running editorials like this in the last election? Or the congressional elections before that?
Oh, yeah. username: noregistration3
password: password
ITMFA
Oh, yeah. username: noregistration3
password: password
ITMFA
Skinheads and their body art
It's my understanding that celtic knots and such are big among neo-nazis, white supremacists and the like. Would you have thought that Little Rock would have this many tattoo places?
17 July 2006
When the US goes to hell, Britain will be our roommate
It seems that if the police just think you're a terrorist, it's okay for them to shoot you seven times in the head in Britain. We've got a snivelling, little weasel of a country for a main ally.
14 July 2006
12 July 2006
This strikes me as totally and completely cool
I wonder when the east-west streets in downtown Little Rock do this?
Our science fiction universe -- Part 783
I'd pay to stay at a Budget Suites in orbit. I probably never have enough money to afford it but if I had it, I'd pay it.
07 July 2006
Seems to me we now have identified all the culprits
And yet no one is in the dock. And whyowhy has none of the shit stuck to Robert Novak?
06 July 2006
A very cute little puzzle game
In the tradition of Zork and such "find the right stuff and you can win" games. It took me about 30 minutes to work out the damned snot monster.
Why is pigeon pate included?
Of course, that gets right to the heart of food prejudice, doesn't it?
http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=ourWorldNews&storyID=12757932
http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=ourWorldNews&storyID=12757932
I wonder if they glued him on?
The frog appears to be (and probably is) completely oblivious. The mouse looks extremely pleased to not be swimming anymore.
This is the sorta stuff that gets into my daydreams and won't let go
I think I might like to try this. Maybe I could teach math. But before ya'll start buying me Arctic gear, remember the title of this post.
Why is it always a "Christian" archaeology group?
Why doesn't a real group of scientists ever find the ark?
Truth in politics
Linda suggested this as an interesting website but mostly I suspect that it'll just make my blood boil. Gill hollers for something like this from time to time. I've got to warn him, though, it seems that Factcheck.org leans to the left somewhat. Oh, no! Wait! It just seems that way because the GOP is full of liars and thieves and the Democratic Party isn't. Wow. Who would have thought?
04 July 2006
And to conclude today's burst of blogging
It seems that not only will they violate the Constituion at a whim, they will not allow any court review of their violations either.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060717/ratner
ITMFA
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060717/ratner
ITMFA
Once I thought I liked Barak Obama as a national political figure
Now, I know different.
http://obama.senate.gov/speech/060628-call_to_renewal_keynote_address/index.html
Why does everything in our national life now have to revolve around religion? It didn't used to, y'know?
http://obama.senate.gov/speech/060628-call_to_renewal_keynote_address/index.html
Why does everything in our national life now have to revolve around religion? It didn't used to, y'know?
Something from one of the old timey-guys
I stole it from PZ Meyers who stole it from Tom Paine.
"All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.
"I do not mean by this declaration to condemn those who believe otherwise; they have the same right to their belief as I have to mine. But it is necessary to the happiness of man, that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving; it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe.
"It is impossible to calculate the moral mischief, if I may so express it, that mental lying has produced in society. When a man has so far corrupted and prostituted the chastity of his mind, as to subscribe his professional belief to things he does not believe, he has prepared himself for the commission of every other crime. He takes up the trade of a priest for the sake of gain, and in order to qualify himself for that trade, he begins with a perjury. Can we conceive any thing more destructive to morality than this?"
"All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.
"I do not mean by this declaration to condemn those who believe otherwise; they have the same right to their belief as I have to mine. But it is necessary to the happiness of man, that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving; it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe.
"It is impossible to calculate the moral mischief, if I may so express it, that mental lying has produced in society. When a man has so far corrupted and prostituted the chastity of his mind, as to subscribe his professional belief to things he does not believe, he has prepared himself for the commission of every other crime. He takes up the trade of a priest for the sake of gain, and in order to qualify himself for that trade, he begins with a perjury. Can we conceive any thing more destructive to morality than this?"
How long will it be before they tell us *again* that bin Laden is a top priority?
How many times do they have to lie to the American people before we understand that nothing they have done since 9-11 has been about terrorists?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060704/ap_on_re_us/cia_bin_laden
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060704/ap_on_re_us/cia_bin_laden
02 July 2006
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