Sometimes you just aren't allowed to call a spade a spade

Seems the Bushies stole the Florida election in 2000. How can this be??!?

After you read it come back here and buy the book.

Sometimes you just aren't allowed to call a spade a spade

Seems the Bushies stole the Florida election in 2000. How can this be??!?

After you read it come back here and buy the book.

Something that has always bothered me

Why is it that whenever somebody gets jammed up for pedophilia, it turns out that they are the chairman of a group that wants to protect children from pedophiles? Self-loathing? Hide in plain sight? What?

Greg complains about corporate radio

A few weeks ago the local radio station that broadcasts the baseball games started adding a 10-second delay, making it impossible to listen to the play by play while at the game. I wrote and complained (that complaint is at the bottom, the last paragraph of which I redacted before I forwarded this with an expression of my outrage to my useless right-wing congressional delegation). The announcers said the delay was because of HD radio, but that's not quite right. Read their reply...

Greg


-----Original Message-----
From: KRLD Web Site [mailto:KRLDWebSite@cbs.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 3:50 PM
To: girkin@[redacted for privacy]
Subject: RE: Contact Us

Greg
Thanks for the email. Recently because of the increase in fines by the FCC (to $325,000 per offense) CBS corporate in New York has decided that all stations must broadcast with a 10 second delay at all times...even during baseball. So every CBS station in the country that broadcasts any kind of sports now must run in a delay just in case an offensive word would be said we could dump it so nobody would hear it.
I am very sorry for this and believe me you are not alone. I am gathering all the emails and phone calls to send to CBS so we can get this changed.

Thank you,
Ryan McCredden

-----Original Message-----
From: krld@intertechmedia.com [mailto:krld@intertechmedia.com]
Sent: Friday, September 22, 2006 3:40 PM
To: KRLD Web Site
Subject: Contact Us


Contact Us

1. Your Name:: Greg Girkin

2. Your Email:: girkin@[redacted for the same reason as above]

3. Company::

4. Comments:: Your 10 second delay on ball games has caused me to do two
things: stop carrying my radio to the game and stop listening to the radio commentary (as I used to do) when I'm watching on TV. I know on-air guys said this would not change back, but surely this will kill your ratings. I mean, you're doing all this to satisfy all 14 people who have HD radio? Come on!

One actual benefit of the delay is that now I don't accidentally turn on my radio after a game and hear the right-wing nutjobs who make up the rest of your programming day. My radio just won't be on that station any more.

5. Where would you like your information sent:: News/Programming

6. Would you like to receive emails from KRLD about upcoming events, contests and breaking news?: No

Chuck says science is cool

and sends along the url for this exceptionally cool site.

Sweet, sweet science

I'm too old to take up a new serious academic interest but I really wish I had discovered geology and paleontology as serious fields of study when I was 25.

Olberman has alread called for Bush's impeachment

But this is just wonderful, high dudgeon.

But it won't matter. The mainstream press, and don't kid yourself that MSNBC has enough of an audience to be mainstream, will continue to accept that there is a "war on terror" and that were all in terrible, terrible danger from "islamofascists" who hate America because of our freedoms.

They, the mainstream media, will never acknowledge that the fascists are in power in Washington. They will never acknowledge that the president has committed a score of offenses that are more than sufficient grounds for impeachment.

The Democrats will not make the necessary acknowledgements either. They cannot see that a 30% approval rating means there are 70% of the people looking for someone to tell them the truth. Harry Truman, where are you? "I'm just telling the truth and they think it's hell!"

Where are the great populist orators of the previous century? Why aren't there Democrats making speeches that are so long and angry that halfway through they take off their coats and ties? The crowd goes wild and with a big, sweaty grin the orator starts in on their moral deficiencies.

Monica be damned. Getting blowjobs is *nothing* compared to buying and selling influence and votes and lives. Yes, lives. Do you think that the young men and women of the US armed forces and the countless Iraqi civilians have died for anything other than profit? If you do, you're deluded.

All together now: there were no weapons of mass destruction and the CIA said so before the war. FEMA did nothing in anticipation of Katrina and the president was briefed on the breaking of the levees before it happened. It is against the most basic and fundamental aspects of our system of government to conduct wiretaps and e-mail taps without a warrant. *AND* there were provisions to allow it that, while they may not have ultimately passed Constitutional muster, they did exist. It is against everything that this country has stood for since 1775 to torture anyone. Americans don't torture. Filth tortures. The enemy tortures. Not us. America does not build secret prisons and hold secret trials and convict with secret evidence. My god, why do we even have to have this conversation?

The environment is being destroyed in the name of profits. It would cost too much money to take care of the earth, they say. Where the fuck do they plan to go? And don't get me started on the right-wing religions. That's another rant for another day.

The economy is not good. Sure, people who trade stocks and bonds are making money. They always make money. Hell, there were people making money out of the Crash of '29. Today, this minute, there are people who are working at minimum wage jobs and trying to support a family. And that won't work. And they can't get better jobs. Not only are they not qualified for them, they don't exist. We gave away the manufacturing sector of the economy. Over half the GDP is from real estate, finance, and insurance. Jesus Christ, NONE of those things add one fucking penny to the *economy*. It only adds to the wealth of the wealthy.

There is not decent healthcare available for any but the rich in this country.

Why are we not down at the Federal Building DEMANDING redress of our grievances? We've got what we deserve.

IMPEACH THE MOTHER FUCKER ALREADY.

Black guy kills white cop in Mississippi

This oughta be open and shut, right?

But, my god, there's so much going on in this article that it's difficult to incorporate it all into a coherent analysis.

Let's see, first off, it's a conservative/libertarian web site. Okay.

The governor of Mississippi doesn't *believe* in pardons or clemency? What?? That's part of his goddamn job. I'll bet he had to take an oath to uphold the laws and constitution of Mississippi and I'll bet it says the governor is the last-ditch, no-hope-left, get-me-out-of-this appeal.

The guy they were after has never been charged?

I know it's Mississippi but I've learned a lot in the last 6 years and I no longer accept claims that officials are racists without some supporting evidence. Analysed evidence. Not even in Mississippi.

And then there is the whole thing about the militarization of the police and the war on drugs. I wish that James Ellroy would write one more "LA Quartet" novel so we could see the early days of the LA SWAT team.

Don't think that Bush will *ever* tell the truth

This is your notice that they will continue to lie and expect you to believe it. They think you're stupid. They think they can say one thing today, its opposite tomorrow, and you'll never notice and if you do, they'll just deny that they said anything yesterday.



ITMFA

So now they want to oppose contraception?

Where will this end?

Is there not enough misery in this overpopulated, under-resourced world that they want to start excoriating people who have trouble feeding what they've got for trying their goddamnedest to not add to their own burdens?

I'm sick and tired of hearing from these people about Christianity as a religion of tolerance and love. The only thing that opposing artificial contraception can be about is hatred and repression. Somebody explain to me how this position they're preparing to take can be anything positive?

I don't know if it's worse than what they're doing to the Constitution...

...but it's just as profound.

I'm going to wear out that Invader Zim link

Seems it as hot as it's been in 12,000 years, which, apparently, was the hottest it had been in a million years.

Doomed.

One of those anonymous, mail-around things but still laser-like in its accuracy

Things you have to believe to be a Republican today.....

Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and the Clintons.

Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's daddy
made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him, and a bad
guy when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion.

Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is Communist, but trade with
China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.

The United States should get out of the United Nations, and our highest
national priority is enforcing UN resolutions against Iraq.

A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body, but
multi-national corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind
without regulation.

The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in
speeches, while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay.

If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex.

A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our long-time allies, then
demand their cooperation and money!

Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy, but providing health
care to all Americans is socialism. HMO's & Insurance Companies have the
best interests of the public at heart.

Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but
creationism should be taught in schools.

A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense,
but a president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die
is solid defense policy.

Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution,
which include banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet.

The Bush/Cheney Government is the exception to the limits of the
constitution and has the right to conduct warrant less wire taps to keep
track of their political opposition and dissenters.

George Bush is the decider as to which parts of the Constitution he will
honor and which he will disregard.

A dictatorship is only good if it is run by George W. Bush

The public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades, but George
Bush's driving record is none of our business.

Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a
conservative radio host. Then it's an illness and you need our prayers for
your recovery.

You support states' rights, but the Attorney General can tell states what
local voter initiatives they have the right to adopt.

What Bill Clinton did in the 1960s is of vital national interest, but what
Bush did in the '80s is irrelevant.

The "compromise" that was worked out on detainees and torture and whatnot

We've known all along that there was nothing to prevent the president from designating US citizens as enemy combatants but the new legislation, worked out as a compromise with the Moderate Three, prevents anyone from seeking to have their status clarified by a court. Your status is what the president says it is with no appeal possible.

ITMFA.

Why are the Democrats not running on a platform of "Let us have a majority in the House and we'll impeach him. Let us have a majority in the Senate, as well, and we'll remove him."

Oh. Wait. I know why. Nancy Pelosi as president of the United States. Hrm. That's a problem. Do you think that the Democratic Caucus in the House will have sense enough to select a different Speaker?

Dr. Seuss influenced my way of thinking a lot

Just as, no doubt, he influenced the artistic sensibilities and sense of humor of everybody aged 50 or less.

I wish these were affordable.

It's hard to tell who the black hats are sometimes

But apparently, the professional, non-political appointees at the CIA aren't going to violate the laws of the US without something resembling legal orders. Good on them.






ITMFA

The finest health care systeim in the world

What excuses are left, really, for opposing "socialized" medicine? I know that Daniel may see it differently but I recommend that those of you who haven't go spend a few hours in a hospital. Walk around. Look. Listen. Then read reports like this one or read a newspaper article that summarizes the report and tell me why we don't need to reformo our health care system (insurance included) from top to bottom. Radically.

We do seem to have, at least, the judicial branch

You would expect it be a Californian judge who decides to stop the Bushites from raping the national forests.

For the record, federal magistrates aren't appointed by the president; they're selected by the federal circuit court judges of their districts to hear civil cases and non-felony criminal cases. So, her appointment in 1997 doesn't indicate that she's a shameless, liberal activist judge.

A "Day of Anger"??

The West coddles these people too much.

Oh, hell, no, we couldn't possibly have protected people against terrorist attack

And we can't now. In a day or two they'll realize what they've said and try to put some counter-spin on it.

Human paleontology is really, really fascinating

I'd like to visit a site like this one day.

President Gore

We let them steal the election from the man who knows what's happening to us.

Oh, and by the way? Doom-ed.

The things about math and language that fascinate me are the same things

What a wonderful sentence. Too bad that I'll never get a chance to use it in ordinary conversation.

They want to torture whomever they choose

And they're trying to do it "legally."

Oklahoma City and the Middle East

I know this stuff was batted around the tabloids for a few weeks after 9-11 but I didn't realize that there was real investigative work behind it.

Oh, lordy, lordy

I've been trying to win an election and so I didn't buy it when it came out but I bought it last night and I've listened to it four times now.

This is Bob Dylan's greatest album since "Good as I Been to You." This is a brilliant work. Genius. I'm in awe.

How does he not choke when he says stuff like this?

"On another anti-terror matter, with Osama Bin Laden still at large five years after the 9/11 attacks, Bush said he could not send thousands of troops into Pakistan to search without an invitation from the government. "Pakistan's a sovereign nation," Bush said. "

This was from today's Rose Garden press conference. What do ya think the Afghanis and Iraqis think about that?

Jesus.




ITMFA

4 cones instead of 3

That would make, like, a gajillion different colors.

If you don't like the facts, hide them

Or have them shredded. Either way.

Greg brought this to my attention. He thought was having too nice a day.

A fine, fine ad

I wish Dems all over the country would get tough like this.

At least the veterans in the Senate GOP are standing fast against evil

Warner, McCain, and Graham. Good on them.

I think I'll wipe my ass with the Constitution

That's all it's good for now.

I'd sign off with "ITMFA" but it just seems so hopeless.

It occurs to me...

...that some of you may never have actually heard the Doom Song. Listen.

I will now sing the second verse of the Doom song

No coral in our future.

Today's wallpaper

M33.

All cultures are of equal value

Sheeee-yeah. Right.

I will now sing the doom song

Doom-ed. That's what we are.

I've always maintained that cricket was a strange game

And, apparently, it is played by strange people.

Plastic model builders, note

This is such a fine, fine photograph of a beautiful relic.

I'm a winner!

I won the comic book cover challenge that is a regular part of Steven Grant's weekly column over on Comic Book Resources. And for anyone who is visiting as a result of my mention in said column, Hi!

This is mostly a link blog about politics and science but from time to time I have something to say on something or another. If enough people were interested, I'd write more about comics, into which I have invested my life, my fortune, and my sacred honor. I'm also a member of the Little Rock, Arkansas school board (for at least another week -- the election is 19 September, vote as often as the law allows!) so from time to time the subject of the moment is education.

Oh, and to be fair, a lot of my posts deal with religion, almost always in a negative way.

So. Welcome. I hope you find something in this olio that appeals to you.

I now have a favorite bluegrass gospel song

And soon you will, too, if you listen to this.

Objective study of religions

It seems that many left-leaning Americans are perfectly willing to condemn Christianity but want to give Islalm a pass, accepting the horse shit about Islam being a religion of peace. Why do we have trouble accepting that not all cultures are equal?

Nice article on linguistic stuff in the Koran.

Superstition and sentimentality looked at somewhat scientifically

The story is written upside down. It should start with the child's blanket. Then Einstein's pen. *Then* the serial killer's sweater. The way it runs now, there exist members of the audience that will immediately claim that they wouldn't have a problem putting on the sweater. if you lead them to it via the blanket and the pen, they're far more likely to be honest with themselves.

This was a man who *really* wanted to make a phone call from prison

I don't think I've ever wanted to call anybody that bad.

For the record, I tried several times to get the image to load here. It wouldn't. So you'll have to go to the link to see it.

Ditchweed? The things I don't know about drug culture

Apparently the DEA has been hellbent on eradicating plants that don't hurt anybody and grow wild. I had to go here for a completely unbiased analysis of what the numbers meant.

But, it seems to me that we do spend an inordinate amount of capital on drug law enforcement. Why? Drugs are bad, m'kay? Not cigarettes and alcohol, of course. Those aren't drugs, they're lobbys. The sheer size of the drug exonomy is such that it cannot be eradicated without having a profoundly negative effect on the rest of the "legitimate economy." So the government doesn't want to eliminate drug traffcking. It wants to *look* like it wants to eradicate drug trafficking. Gack. What a filthy, filthy thing this whole issue is.

The insanity of the TSB truly boggles the mind

Take a gander at this list. Roll on down to "personal lubricants."

Jesus christ on a stick.

Astronomy is cool

It is thought that we might never have developed the obsession we have with time and that we might have been very slow to develop mathematics and science if we didn't have a great big moon. Plus, it just happens to be the right angular size to make solar eclipses pretty spectacular events.

And when you consider that none of the inner planets have any moons (Mars's are captured asteroids that are really just pebbles) and that ours is almost certainly the result of a collision between the earth and another planetesimal, we're astonishingly lucky.

Plus, it's amazingly beautiful.

I've been interested in these mass murders for a long time

My fascination with crime is probably unhealthy but this is a really interesting case.


Here to order it from Amazon in English. Here to order it in Spanish if that's your language of choice, Alma.

We're sooooo much safer under Bush than we were under Clinton

The Republicans in the US Senate in the mid-90s should be prosecuted for treason.

I guess the right-wing whine that "She wasn't *really* a spy will quieten just a bit

It seems that Valerie Plame was just about as James Bond as you can get.

How many laws to they have to break before somebody says, "Y'know, they're criminals and need to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law."





ITMFA

Newsweek seems to have noticed that not everyone believes in God

Or at least they're noticing that there are people who write books about not beleiving in God.

Here we have Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris.

This is the link to Dawkins's The God Delusion.

And here's the more scholarly of the three, Daniel Dennett's Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon.