Thursday, May 25, 2006
Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Perhaps We Are Asking The Wrong Questions
Just saw the trailer for Oliver Stone's World Trade Center. It's billed as "a true story of courage and survival". Fine. Looks very good, actually.
But it got me thinking. And I've seen thoughts similar to this expressed in the blogosphere lately, but I just have the need to put mine here.
The real tragedy of 9/11 is how easily it allowed small, selfish men to make cowards of us.
This film celebrates the courage of the NYPD and FDNY. And we, as a nation, will watch it and beat our collective chest and say Yeah, thass right. That's America.
Except it isn't any more.
Those twenty guys on those planes scared the hell out of us, by showing how vulnerable we are to desperate and clever men. And then our own government has spent the following five years keeping us scared, to distract us from the evil they've done to the country.
Our Constitution is being savaged; our military is stretched to the breaking point; our treasury is being emptied; our rights are being eroded; our population is being segregated and downgraded and categorized.
And we're still quite, quite vulnerable to desperate and clever men.
I ask, in all seriousness: Do you really feel safer than you did Sept. 12, 2001? Do you feel we, as a nation, are doing all right? Is this, the path we're on now, what America is all about?
Discuss.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
You Are The Lucky Ones. You Are Going To Serve God And Country. I Pronounce You Handmaids.
Gilead, here we come.New federal guidelines ask all females capable of conceiving a baby to treat themselves -- and to be treated by the health care system -- as pre-pregnant, regardless of whether they plan to get pregnant anytime soon.
Among other things, this means all women between first menstrual period and menopause should take folic acid supplements, refrain from smoking, maintain a healthy weight and keep chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes under control.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
My God, I Haven't Been Fucked Like That Since Grade School
Virginity pledges, in which young people vow to abstain from sex until marriage, have little staying power among those who take them, a Harvard study has found.Ms. Crouse... sweetie, buhbie, dahlink.
More than half of the adolescents who make the signed public promises give up on their pledges within a year, according to the study released last week.
The findings have raised the ire of Concerned Women for America, a prominent conservative organization that advocates adolescent sexual abstinence.
"The Harvard report is wrong," said Janice Crouse, a fellow at a Concerned Women for America think tank.
"This study is in direct contradiction with trends we have been seeing in recent years," Crouse said. "Those who make virginity pledges have shown greater resolve to save sex for marriage."
Never mind that many of the kids who've taken that pledge don't count oral or anal sex.
Just... do you really think that the ones who've broken the chastity vow are going to tell you?
I swear to Cthulhu, these people are dumber than urinal cakes.
I've Flown This Route Before -- It Was On The Wings Of A Demon
President George W. Bush said on Sunday he gained a glimpse into German Chancellor Angela Merkel's soul when they met in Washington last week.Hey. Why not? After all, it works for John Edward.
Bush told ARD television that Merkel had described her youth in communist East Germany at a White House dinner on Wednesday.
"She spoke of her childhood, of her father who was a pastor, of the (communist youth group) young pioneers, of her school life. And I have to say I got a glimpse into her soul, into how she feels," he said.
Reuters translated his comments from a German transcript of the ARD interview, due to be broadcast on Sunday evening. ARD could not immediately provide original English quotes.
Bush called Merkel "authentic, open and direct."
His comments echo ones he made about Russian President Vladimir Putin five years ago. "I was able to get a sense of his soul, a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country," Bush said then.
His relations with Putin have since soured as Washington has grown increasingly critical of the Russian leader's record on democracy, human rights and press freedom.
Oh, wait. He's a charlatan.
Maybe it's just mutual recognition of another sociopath.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
"And Who's My Best Buddy In The Whole Wide World?" "Rooby Roo!"
Friday, May 05, 2006
Look! A Four-Legged Aeroplane!
What's the big story on CNN.com? Rep. Patrick Kennedy, who crashed into a traffic barrier while apparently under the influence of some pills, is going into rehab.
He was stoned, he was wrong, and he needs help... but, ah, CNN? The frickin' head of the frickin' C.I.A.. Just resigned. Suddenly. Under a cloud. No replacement named yet, so it's not part of the big "shake-up".
We don't have a C.I.A. director. And there are going to be hearings for the new one, which I promise you will be an amazing mess.
But you have to focus on the traffic infraction and the drug use of the scion of a storied political family.
THE FUCKIN' HEAD OF THE GODDAMN C.I.A.
Priorities.
Update: Well, after 7:00 EDT they finally made Goss' resignation the lead story at CNN.com, mentioning that there might've been problems with John Negroponte (oh, that's a surprise). Still took 'em frickin' long enough.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
No, No, No -- Rage REALLY Taking Over
Several people have pointed out Dubya's own particularly odious attempt at humor in March 2004.
But I haven't noticed too many pointing out something which I'd like to rub in Rep. Hoyer's fucking face:
Lying us into war, destroying our economy, fouling our environment, trashing our reputation, torturing people, spying on our own citizens, slashing taxes for the rich at the expense of the poor, breaking laws hither and yon, violating civil rights, disenfranchising voters, and abandoning the fucking Gulf Coast to a hurricane are perhaps in slightly worse taste than a comic actor calling our spineless, bullying, illiterate moron of a president an asshat to his face.
Just a thought. You shithead.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
The World Isn't Run By Weapons Anymore, Or Energy, Or Money. It's Run By Little Ones And Zeroes, Little Bits Of Data. It's All Just Electrons
Net neutrality means, basically, keeping the Internet as it is now. As opposed to the big telcos, who are trying to ramrod through legislation that will allow them to create a second tier of privileged content, or block content at their discretion. As the NY Times puts it today:
One of the Internet's great strengths is that a single blogger or a small political group can inexpensively create a Web page that is just as accessible to the world as Microsoft's home page. But this democratic Internet would be in danger if the companies that deliver Internet service changed the rules so that Web sites that pay them money would be easily accessible, while little-guy sites would be harder to access, and slower to navigate. Providers could also block access to sites they do not like.Find out more and sign the petition.
That would be a financial windfall for Internet service providers, but a disaster for users, who could find their Web browsing influenced by whichever sites paid their service provider the most money. There is a growing movement of Internet users who are pushing for legislation to make this kind of discrimination impossible. It has attracted supporters ranging from MoveOn.org to the Gun Owners of America. Grass-roots political groups like these are rightly concerned that their online speech could be curtailed if Internet service providers were allowed to pick and choose among Web sites.
Monday, May 01, 2006
The Power And The Glory Of Me
Like this:
Loyalty Day, 2006
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
Our Nation is blessed and bound together by a creed of freedom and equality that is entrusted to all Americans. Preserving the ideals of our founding requires the service and sacrifice of every generation, and on Loyalty Day, we celebrate the gift of liberty and remember our own obligation to this great Nation.
The dedication and selflessness of America's soldiers and their families inspire us all. Some of our Nation's finest men and women have given their lives in freedom's cause. By their sacrifices they have given us a legacy of liberty and brought honor to the uniform, our flag, and our country. The American people are grateful to the brave men and women of our military for their service and we will always stand behind them. I encourage all Americans to learn more about opportunities to thank and support our troops, from sending a care package to writing a message, by visiting www.americasupportsyou.mil.
Loyalty Day is also a time for us to reflect on our responsibilities to our country as we work to show the world the meaning and promise of liberty. The right to vote is one of our most cherished rights and voting is one of our most fundamental duties. By making a commitment to be good citizens, flying the American flag, or taking the time to learn about our Nation's history, we show our gratitude for the blessings of freedom.
The greatest strength of America is in the heart and soul of its people, and every time a volunteer reaches out to a neighbor in need, our Nation grows stronger and more hopeful. Thousands of Americans are serving a higher calling by mentoring, coaching, serving in Senior Corps, and by participating in many other programs that enrich lives and help build a better tomorrow. The light of freedom shines brightly because of compassionate people who care about others. Their dedication to a cause greater than self gives all Americans confidence in the future of our Nation.
The Congress, by Public Law 85-529, as amended, has designated May 1 of each year as "Loyalty Day." I ask all Americans to join me in this day of celebration and in reaffirming our allegiance to our Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2006, as Loyalty Day. I call upon all the people of the United States to join in support of this national observance, and to display the flag of the United States on Loyalty Day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirtieth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Where do we start?
Okay, first things, first, shithead. We've got Flag Day and the Fourth of July and Veterans Day and Memorial Day and however many other damn days we've got. And pretty much everyone who's loyal to the US (which group, believe it or not, Chimpy, does include me -- rather more loyal than you and your cronies, I daresay) is loyal all the time. It's not a weekend thing.
You want to reinforce the word "loyalty". That's a big word for you, and not merely because it's three syllables. Loyalty to you and to your family is the overarching trait defining your presidency. Those loyal to you are rewarded; those disloyal, or who you perceive to be disloyal, are punished.
You really have it in your sad little head that being loyal to America means being loyal to you, don't you?You shmuck, all you are is a civil servant, and a fairly incompetent one at that. Not only is it not all about you, it never was.
I'm serving my loyalty to the troops you so callously use by supporting efforts to bring them home. I demonstrate my loyalty to the United States of America by upholding its spirit and working to get your bumbling, lawbreaking ass out of office and, ideally, into a war crimes tribunal.
Loyalty Day. Feh.
