He Who Cast the First Stone Probably Didn’t
By DANIEL GILBERT
"Research shows that while people think of their own actions
as the consequences of what came before, they think of
other people’s actions as the causes of what came later."
NY Times bit
My darling 'daughter,' as her deceased mother, my good friend Carol, called her, did another one of her "I'm coming home" things last night. Cried a little bit, got 'yelled' at a bit - not nearly covering all the items I meant to cover, as I planned this rant, went to sleep, got dropped off on Mission, and. . . . She has a full 24 hours sober she says. But she's not coming home tonight.
a "'diplomatic move' by the Bush administration." Isn't that an oxymoron
Monday, July 24, 2006
Saturday, July 08, 2006
15 minutes- stretched
"Most of all, it was the kind of fame -- that peculiar blogosphere kind of fame -- that made Congdon's fans feel they knew her intimately" (Not that I'd ever heard of this person til I read the online CNN bit).
OK, that explains it. Why I have always felt the bloggers I read regularly are personal acquaintances. Perhaps they 'get it.' I'm sure they get emails from tons of people who address them as tho they were brothers, sisters, sons, daughters. Oh BTW, tylenol can kill you. Violent video games w/Christian message. CNN again. I need a cigarette.
Ah ha - it's those gosh darned "Left Behind" folks, again. Reading one of those books (well, the small part I was able to consume before becoming 'full' of babble)remind me strongly of Ron Hubbard's pretense at sci fi.
"The people came out of a very large building, with multiple windows on the ground floor, and a variety of balconies above. Balconies which were variously made of concrete, different kinds of wood, such as pine, maple, mahogany, oak. These people were young and old, fat and thin. The young children were walking more slowly than the adults. A parent sometimes had to stop and wait for the child to catch up. Some of the people had red hair, some were sporting long black hair; some with blonde hair, which might have been long or short. They wore multiple colors; some were in blue, some were in green, some were in pink, some- - - -" etc. etc.
etc. Using every possible word that could be used, inflating the text to cover the maximum pages, with really very little substance involved. Hmmm L. Ron Hubbard, heh heh, the man who told a Sci Fi convention in the 1920's that the ideal way to make as much money as you could would be to set up your own religion.
And so he did. The rest, as they say, is history.
I was thinking, last night, of how extremely screwed up our government is these days. Industry insiders being appointed as overseeing regulators of their own industry, courts packed by right wing nuts ruling against our very own Constitution; president 'w' (small 'w') with his evil twin executor (the anti-Christ, Cheney)- all beginning to remind me very much of a couple of Robert Heinlein books written in the 50's. One in which the trend toward total minority employment in government offices led to a society ruled by the 'bureaucrats' who were all of colour, and loftily condescending toward all the fairer folk they oversaw: a simple extrapolation of the times. (ad.)At least three other books (one was a trilogy - can one say that?) which posited a far flung starry Empire ruled by or being attacked by a People of MiddleEastern Muslim heritage. Since they were always the villians, the most radical form of Sharia played a part in at least one of these imagined universes (universi?) IIRC, these were spawned in the late '70's, when the West was experiencing its first oil shortage, ie., gas prices skyrocketing, wide spread shortages. Who else could we vilify? Amazing isn't it, the human animal, either individually or in nation wide groups, can always find the "other" to blame for what every ill visited upon it.
Other books less clearly remembered, paint pictures that merge in my musings with the current events in our government.
OK, that explains it. Why I have always felt the bloggers I read regularly are personal acquaintances. Perhaps they 'get it.' I'm sure they get emails from tons of people who address them as tho they were brothers, sisters, sons, daughters. Oh BTW, tylenol can kill you. Violent video games w/Christian message. CNN again. I need a cigarette.
Ah ha - it's those gosh darned "Left Behind" folks, again. Reading one of those books (well, the small part I was able to consume before becoming 'full' of babble)remind me strongly of Ron Hubbard's pretense at sci fi.
"The people came out of a very large building, with multiple windows on the ground floor, and a variety of balconies above. Balconies which were variously made of concrete, different kinds of wood, such as pine, maple, mahogany, oak. These people were young and old, fat and thin. The young children were walking more slowly than the adults. A parent sometimes had to stop and wait for the child to catch up. Some of the people had red hair, some were sporting long black hair; some with blonde hair, which might have been long or short. They wore multiple colors; some were in blue, some were in green, some were in pink, some- - - -" etc. etc.
etc. Using every possible word that could be used, inflating the text to cover the maximum pages, with really very little substance involved. Hmmm L. Ron Hubbard, heh heh, the man who told a Sci Fi convention in the 1920's that the ideal way to make as much money as you could would be to set up your own religion.
And so he did. The rest, as they say, is history.
I was thinking, last night, of how extremely screwed up our government is these days. Industry insiders being appointed as overseeing regulators of their own industry, courts packed by right wing nuts ruling against our very own Constitution; president 'w' (small 'w') with his evil twin executor (the anti-Christ, Cheney)- all beginning to remind me very much of a couple of Robert Heinlein books written in the 50's. One in which the trend toward total minority employment in government offices led to a society ruled by the 'bureaucrats' who were all of colour, and loftily condescending toward all the fairer folk they oversaw: a simple extrapolation of the times. (ad.)At least three other books (one was a trilogy - can one say that?) which posited a far flung starry Empire ruled by or being attacked by a People of MiddleEastern Muslim heritage. Since they were always the villians, the most radical form of Sharia played a part in at least one of these imagined universes (universi?) IIRC, these were spawned in the late '70's, when the West was experiencing its first oil shortage, ie., gas prices skyrocketing, wide spread shortages. Who else could we vilify? Amazing isn't it, the human animal, either individually or in nation wide groups, can always find the "other" to blame for what every ill visited upon it.
Other books less clearly remembered, paint pictures that merge in my musings with the current events in our government.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Beam Me Up
I find it beyond incredulous that NASA cannot develop or find a foam product that will not crack with minor temperature variations. {{ok I get it - much more than 'minor' temp differences what with the liquid nitrogen/oxigen.}} How can this be? Was it contracted out to one of Cheneys co-conspirators? The miniscule variations on the planet shrink in comparison to the difference between here and Space. I keep shaking my head and trying to form a different question here, but it is what it is. A piece of insulation with 30 years of research behind it's composition and deployment, which curiously enough, never failed in 10 or so years of flying that bird - till over Texas, Feb. 1 of 20??. What's really going on here?
I'm tired, and leaning toward conspiracy theories tonight. Gavin Newsome trots out Gay Marriage just in time to bring all the right wing nuts out of their states of denial to vote the Shrub back in, (or rather 'in' for the first time legally)(that's a whole 'nother conspiracy). Of course, Rove kick started anti-gay marriage initiatives in several states - 4 or 5 IIRC. Plan for The New American Century. They're serious, folks. Read it and weep - or get active!
I gotta go off and find the Analog Boards- someone there may have a perfectly sane explanation of that :?)
I'm tired, and leaning toward conspiracy theories tonight. Gavin Newsome trots out Gay Marriage just in time to bring all the right wing nuts out of their states of denial to vote the Shrub back in, (or rather 'in' for the first time legally)(that's a whole 'nother conspiracy). Of course, Rove kick started anti-gay marriage initiatives in several states - 4 or 5 IIRC. Plan for The New American Century. They're serious, folks. Read it and weep - or get active!
I gotta go off and find the Analog Boards- someone there may have a perfectly sane explanation of that :?)
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Ongoing Gitmo situations. I would really, really, like to know which of these diametrically opposed scenarios is true.
"Former detainees at Guantanamo have alleged in the past that military personnel at Guantanamo have intentionally mishandled the Quran. The military has repeatedly denied the charges.
Durand said Wednesday that when a Quran is handled, it is handled by the detainee himself or by a Muslim translator.
"We have consulted with numerous Islamic leaders on the subject and have been informed that our procedures far exceed the accepted standard that only requires that the Koran (Quran) be handled with respect and dignity. We do this in deference to the detainees religious beliefs and to affirm our respect for Islam," Durand said."
Oh, and they finally "terminated" al Zarqawi in Iraq. CNN: "Optimism on the street in Baghdad is really hard to find."
"Former detainees at Guantanamo have alleged in the past that military personnel at Guantanamo have intentionally mishandled the Quran. The military has repeatedly denied the charges.
Durand said Wednesday that when a Quran is handled, it is handled by the detainee himself or by a Muslim translator.
"We have consulted with numerous Islamic leaders on the subject and have been informed that our procedures far exceed the accepted standard that only requires that the Koran (Quran) be handled with respect and dignity. We do this in deference to the detainees religious beliefs and to affirm our respect for Islam," Durand said."
Oh, and they finally "terminated" al Zarqawi in Iraq. CNN: "Optimism on the street in Baghdad is really hard to find."
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Bears!
There is a guy somewhere in Minnesota or Iowa (will check CNN again) with a license - a LICENSE! to breed wild animals - hence a black bear's painful trip through a suburban house (wife!) They have other bears, Coyotes, big cats, !racoons! no doubt to stock the many commercial establishments who collect big bucks from the the big $$ small ' ' guys who just gotta kill something to feel manly. It's really a shame there are so many of 'them' with big $$, spawning the next generation of self-centered, amoral spoiled brats, eg., GWB
Sunday, May 21, 2006
law of the jungle
"What happens when technology meets accidents?" {scene of guy stepping back too far on a scaffolding, falling three stories or so, and massive numbers of medium sized air bags sprouting from his heretofore unseen harness.} Want to know what Really happens? We begin to breed stupid people. Better these types are dealt with before contributing to the gene pool. Oh yeah, I AM a population nazi. I admit freely I believe in natural selection - if I were Goddess, I would arrange for mass die offs on a regular basis. Oh wait, She is! Bigger better tsunami, hurricanes, earthquakes, and we seem to be getting closer every day to the 'pestilence' aspect of the End of Days. Humans do, indeed, need to rearrange their paradigm of 'how things work to make me richer and move on to how we can help one another
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Prez Shrub will sign the new budget bill. It extends into the future the existing tax cuts on capital gains, and investment credits. In a (n hysterical) nod to budgetary concerns, it will cut tax breaks for college tuition, and certain deductions for income earners under $50K. The Repubs are propagandizing that "MoveOn.Org" is trying to 'regulate' the internet. Um - no - there's a beautifully written discussion of the "regulation"(actually a bill before congress) at WINXPnews.com, May 9th edition The means of exchanging ideas freely among all the peoples of the world is seriously in danger here. Call your representatives.
There was another crazy mixed paradigm thingy on the news just now, but I'm brain dead and must sleep.
There was another crazy mixed paradigm thingy on the news just now, but I'm brain dead and must sleep.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Jack Abramoff ha ha
"These are the men that fleeced the tribes that paid the
money that made the bribes that purchased the Congress that
Jack built."
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/opinion/31seely.html?th&emc=
that's pretty funny.
money that made the bribes that purchased the Congress that
Jack built."
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/opinion/31seely.html?th&emc=
that's pretty funny.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Operation "Swarmer:"
oh my,haven't we killed enough of the poor Iraqis. Very few of the liberal professional people are still there. I feel like I need to write an apology to every Iraqi blog I've read. The only way they could establish a representative and secular, government is a mass return of Iraqis. I know many (I feel I know them) are very pro-active, and seeing the "(gag) Coalition " get out of Iraq immediately is the only thing they can see. The Iraqis are losing the chance to reclaim their own oil rights. Permanent US bases (garrisons?) are under construction. They want US out, every one.
Now the 'operation' is n/e of Samarra. Another of the oldest cities in the world. "The largest air assault operation since the initial invasion." I'm pretty sure CNN didn't use the word 'invasion,' probably a euphemism. or "NewsSpeak."
hmmm, my bad, CNN did/is using the word.
Did you guess? Yes, this event WILL be televised.
Now the 'operation' is n/e of Samarra. Another of the oldest cities in the world. "The largest air assault operation since the initial invasion." I'm pretty sure CNN didn't use the word 'invasion,' probably a euphemism. or "NewsSpeak."
hmmm, my bad, CNN did/is using the word.
Did you guess? Yes, this event WILL be televised.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
NY Times Editorial snippet
Mr. Roberts is trying to stop an investigation into Mr. Bush's decision to allow the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on Americans without getting the warrants required by a 27-year-old federal law enacted to stop that sort of abuse.
Mr. Roberts had promised to hold a committee vote yesterday on whether to investigate. But he canceled the vote, and then made two astonishing announcements. He said he was working with the White House on amending the 1978 law, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, to permit warrantless spying. And then he suggested that such a change would eliminate the need for an inquiry.
Stifling his own committee without even bothering to get the facts is outrageous. As the vice chairman of the panel, Senator John Rockefeller IV, pointed out, supervising intelligence gathering is in fact the purpose of the intelligence committee.
Mr. Roberts had promised to hold a committee vote yesterday on whether to investigate. But he canceled the vote, and then made two astonishing announcements. He said he was working with the White House on amending the 1978 law, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, to permit warrantless spying. And then he suggested that such a change would eliminate the need for an inquiry.
Stifling his own committee without even bothering to get the facts is outrageous. As the vice chairman of the panel, Senator John Rockefeller IV, pointed out, supervising intelligence gathering is in fact the purpose of the intelligence committee.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Out Loud?
"The U.S. and Israel are discussing ways to destabilize the Palestinian government to produce a Hamas failure and new elections." topic of a NY Times article today.
Apparently, my country only supports Democracy if it happens to support us.
Happy Valentine's day. We love you. If you do everything our way.
Apparently, my country only supports Democracy if it happens to support us.
Happy Valentine's day. We love you. If you do everything our way.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
State of Dis Union
From an article in (on?) BBC on line, asking various Americans (North) what they thought of the SOTU speech. I have snipped this a bit, for space. Original available.
(Right after I figure out how to insert a link. snerk. I am the most likely to post ad nauseum late after work (that'd be early morning in the real world), when I'm brain dead as far as following instructions is concerned.)
"Name: Shankar Iyer
Age: 55
Lives: Fairfax, Virginia
Last year, the president viewed his re-election as giving him political capital and confidently boasted about using it to fix established social programmes such as social security and Medicare.
He also vowed to continue with his policies favouring the well-heeled and to establish democracy in Iraq.
A year later, with the blood of thousands of dead US troops and Iraqi citizens staining his presidency, along with corruption and scandal in his administration and legislature and the revelations of extra-constitutional civilian and military activities in fighting terrorism, the president began in a more conciliatory tone.
The president seemed comfortable, as always, shaping and distorting the facts.
THIS IS THE ORIGINAL -THE REST ARE MINE this is a smoothly inserted knife blade. Bravo!
He lumped the elected government of Iran in with the dictatorships of Burma, North Korea, Syria and Zimbabwe, while assuming the mantle to "deliver the oppressed and move the world toward peace".
** "The president seemed comfortable, as always, shaping and distorting the facts."
In the president's view, the ever-so-modest loosening of the dictatorial reins in Egypt and Saudi Arabia called for celebration.
**"The president seemed comfortable, as always, shaping and distorting the facts."
The electoral victory of Hamas in Palestine did not. Iran became a country "held hostage by a small clerical elite".
**"The president seemed comfortable, as always, shaping and distorting the facts."
He continued with his push to reform social security and to make his tax cuts for the well-to-do permanent.
**"The president seemed comfortable, as always, shaping and distorting the facts."
His reference to Hurricane Katrina offered a more positive picture of ongoing relief efforts than have been reported.
AND AGAIN
**"The president seemed comfortable, as always, shaping and distorting the facts."
( In sum, the president's State of the Union continued "the world according to me" view held by this administration, where rhetoric replaces realities and terror is used to justify compromises of core democratic values."
One of my mother's rules of life: A true lady or gentleman never insults anyone, *UNintentionally.* I think she may have cadged it from Winston Churchill
next day -still seething at the temerity of "them" in DC- from the NY Times , today:
"Mr. Bush threw out a dizzying array of misleading analogies, propaganda slogans and false choices: Congress authorized the president to spy on Americans and knew all about it ... 9/11 could have been prevented by warrantless spying ... you can't fight terrorism and also obey the law ... and Democrats are not just soft on national defense, they actually don't want to beat Al Qaeda."
(Right after I figure out how to insert a link. snerk. I am the most likely to post ad nauseum late after work (that'd be early morning in the real world), when I'm brain dead as far as following instructions is concerned.)
"Name: Shankar Iyer
Age: 55
Lives: Fairfax, Virginia
Last year, the president viewed his re-election as giving him political capital and confidently boasted about using it to fix established social programmes such as social security and Medicare.
He also vowed to continue with his policies favouring the well-heeled and to establish democracy in Iraq.
A year later, with the blood of thousands of dead US troops and Iraqi citizens staining his presidency, along with corruption and scandal in his administration and legislature and the revelations of extra-constitutional civilian and military activities in fighting terrorism, the president began in a more conciliatory tone.
The president seemed comfortable, as always, shaping and distorting the facts.
THIS IS THE ORIGINAL -THE REST ARE MINE this is a smoothly inserted knife blade. Bravo!
He lumped the elected government of Iran in with the dictatorships of Burma, North Korea, Syria and Zimbabwe, while assuming the mantle to "deliver the oppressed and move the world toward peace".
** "The president seemed comfortable, as always, shaping and distorting the facts."
In the president's view, the ever-so-modest loosening of the dictatorial reins in Egypt and Saudi Arabia called for celebration.
**"The president seemed comfortable, as always, shaping and distorting the facts."
The electoral victory of Hamas in Palestine did not. Iran became a country "held hostage by a small clerical elite".
**"The president seemed comfortable, as always, shaping and distorting the facts."
He continued with his push to reform social security and to make his tax cuts for the well-to-do permanent.
**"The president seemed comfortable, as always, shaping and distorting the facts."
His reference to Hurricane Katrina offered a more positive picture of ongoing relief efforts than have been reported.
AND AGAIN
**"The president seemed comfortable, as always, shaping and distorting the facts."
( In sum, the president's State of the Union continued "the world according to me" view held by this administration, where rhetoric replaces realities and terror is used to justify compromises of core democratic values."
One of my mother's rules of life: A true lady or gentleman never insults anyone, *UNintentionally.* I think she may have cadged it from Winston Churchill
next day -still seething at the temerity of "them" in DC- from the NY Times , today:
"Mr. Bush threw out a dizzying array of misleading analogies, propaganda slogans and false choices: Congress authorized the president to spy on Americans and knew all about it ... 9/11 could have been prevented by warrantless spying ... you can't fight terrorism and also obey the law ... and Democrats are not just soft on national defense, they actually don't want to beat Al Qaeda."
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
And checking it twice
Multiple fraud investigations in progress in Katrina areas. They're investigating the little guys, of course!!, individuals who've filed false FEMA claims over 2K- not much news about Halliburton hiring scores of undoc Mexicans to do clean up and then not paying them in many cases. N.O. has 70% unemployment iirc. Not much news about the fraud investigation into the original non-bid letting of recovery projects. Every thing is fixed and you can't change it. Oh please, let that become history as individuals take up the good fight. Amazing grass roots progressive movements going on on-line these days.
what did he know and when ...
Now it comes out that Bob Woodward heard the Valerie Plame story from ("source" who he refuses to name but=Cheney iirc). Then later, Libby leaked more of it to Judith Miller, and the Time guy. Can't you just hear it: (Cheney to Libby): Well, I dropped it by Bob Woodward a couple of weeks ago, and it looks like he is not going to go public with it, so I guess you need to drop it to a few other people, so it gets published." Which then brought us to the bottom feeder guy from CNN (senior moment) who was happy to run with it. Novak. I cannot imagine why no one is asking HIM who he got it from. "With all those people at the deposition, are you afraid that one of Them might leak?" (Larry King to Woodward) answer skirted direct response, of course.
What is wrong with you people (Sen. Biden now)? There is NO WINNING gonna happen in this occupation/war
As long as Cheney says the Emperorr IS wearing clothes, I supposed we should believe him. Not. He's telling us the Dems are lying about the lies they (Admin.) told. Rummy is saying 'he' didn't make any errors in judgment- it was the CIA that told them the wrong stuff. I bet the CIA is seriously demoralized at the grunt in the field level, probably on up to the Dept. head level. Rummy failed to answerer the question about DOD having its very own intelligence service.
What is wrong with you people (Sen. Biden now)? There is NO WINNING gonna happen in this occupation/war
As long as Cheney says the Emperorr IS wearing clothes, I supposed we should believe him. Not. He's telling us the Dems are lying about the lies they (Admin.) told. Rummy is saying 'he' didn't make any errors in judgment- it was the CIA that told them the wrong stuff. I bet the CIA is seriously demoralized at the grunt in the field level, probably on up to the Dept. head level. Rummy failed to answerer the question about DOD having its very own intelligence service.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
White phosphorus
A quote from some general or other denying anti-human use of white phosphorus:
"go into Fallujah. We were trying to ensure we had perfect targeting so that we could limit the damage. There was the ability to surround the city to allow no one to escape that was considered hostile" An awful lot of really telling pictures of the white phophorus victims. Not to mention comments from a grunt on the ground that the stuff was ignited in the air when used for lighting, but this group was firing directly at the population. I logged on to rage at some insanity just reported on CNN. There are just so many-heh heh senior moment. but it will be on again, if I stay awake that long.
Yesterday they reported that US had captured a bunch of "insurgents" in whatever Iraqi city they're pounding now - among them, the "deputy mayor, Two police captains, (a couple of other citizens in high places)" Gee, that certainly sounds a lot mmore like 'rebels against the occupation" to me.
World markets are all down - as is oil, amazingly. I've got to dump those mostly worthless stocks I spent 6K on in 2000 sigh. I'll be lucky if I get $1K, with fees.
Musharaf barely had his "we don't have terrorist attacks" out of his mouth (one day?) before a - guess what -terrorist bomb of some sort blew up 20 or 30 people in Karachi.
"go into Fallujah. We were trying to ensure we had perfect targeting so that we could limit the damage. There was the ability to surround the city to allow no one to escape that was considered hostile" An awful lot of really telling pictures of the white phophorus victims. Not to mention comments from a grunt on the ground that the stuff was ignited in the air when used for lighting, but this group was firing directly at the population. I logged on to rage at some insanity just reported on CNN. There are just so many-heh heh senior moment. but it will be on again, if I stay awake that long.
Yesterday they reported that US had captured a bunch of "insurgents" in whatever Iraqi city they're pounding now - among them, the "deputy mayor, Two police captains, (a couple of other citizens in high places)" Gee, that certainly sounds a lot mmore like 'rebels against the occupation" to me.
World markets are all down - as is oil, amazingly. I've got to dump those mostly worthless stocks I spent 6K on in 2000 sigh. I'll be lucky if I get $1K, with fees.
Musharaf barely had his "we don't have terrorist attacks" out of his mouth (one day?) before a - guess what -terrorist bomb of some sort blew up 20 or 30 people in Karachi.
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Gen. %$#@ Casey
Under pointed questioning by George Stephanopolus (?) he adheres firmly to the neocon party line on our "helping" the Iraqis and is
STILL using the words "war in Iraq" and "preventing another 9-11" in the same sentence. Makes me wanna puke.
Now interviewing Supreme Stephen Breyer. I'm kinda liking him.
My dear friend Ijaz Q. was picked up by the Feds and taken off to Marysville, where I presume is a Federal Prison. Guilty of being Muslim; and some minor immigration snafu. Student Visa means you can't work. I'd forgotten that one. The Pakistani Community came up with the 10 grand needed to bail him out, it seems. Raif Dentkas, Turkish guy, Long long time YC driver, had written to the Univ. on Ijaz's behalf to sponsor him for his last year of Doctorate studies. I called Tariq. He'd told me in a phone conversation on my way from the Symphony to work Thurs. nite,that I. would be out 'tomorrow or the next day.' When I got to work, there was a taped shut note for me from "Raheel" (or Raheef?) informing me that "driver I. will be bailed out tomorrow." One Hundred Thousand Dollars bail. My goodness, gracious ! You would think he had hurt someone or something.
So, I send Ijaz an email - forwarded, damn my eyes, of the exchange with Raed. On 9-25, Raed posted on his blog for the first time in weeks. And lo, he and Nikki are HEre In SF! I whip off an email, inviting them to lunch, and describing Ijaz, Mort, and Mariana, which friends I think would be very interested in meeting R & N and they, them. Forwarded to Mort and Ijaz, thinking I. would have M.'s email. Forwarded. Dear Sweet Jesus. I send Raed another email on Wed. telling about the I. arrest thing. It bounces back immediately.
Permanent Failure: Other address status
Delivery last attempted at Thu, 29 Sep 2005 16:37:17 -0000
<
22: you cannot work with just a Student Visa. That way we only get
rich folks children, apparently. I don't recognized my country
any more. Marianna, who is out of the country, I just learned,
would certainly be raving mad and calling her contacts. Another
Pakistani friend, Tariq (the rest of his peers like to joke that he
is Musharif's brother-in-law), an older man -my age- 60 or so, is
"calling his people" as they say in Hollywood. I picture Ijaz on a
concrete floor, with ice water being poured over him twice a day.
This is Guantanamo style. Maybe that hasn't made its way to
California, yet. Much as I was imagining Khalid being tortured.
And yet this news story about a judge denying the gov't. request to
kill the lawsuit against Ashcroft, et.al. by two Muslim guys
detained somewhere for some lengthy time, not charged with anything,with no reason other than their religion. Altho, to be fair, the each had some minor little peccadillo crime on record.
Maybe there is some hope fo r us after all.
Thank you for listening. Sorry to be a pain. Usually I cry to Faiza
about these things, and she always sends me strength. Your Mother is
a Force of Nature, you know.
Adios
Marian Z.>>
Maybe I'll send one more 'test' email before I panic completely that I've caused some unknown harm to R. & N. Maybe it was just that he finally posted after so long, and got so much email his mail box exploded?? Yes, that has to be it.
STILL using the words "war in Iraq" and "preventing another 9-11" in the same sentence. Makes me wanna puke.
Now interviewing Supreme Stephen Breyer. I'm kinda liking him.
My dear friend Ijaz Q. was picked up by the Feds and taken off to Marysville, where I presume is a Federal Prison. Guilty of being Muslim; and some minor immigration snafu. Student Visa means you can't work. I'd forgotten that one. The Pakistani Community came up with the 10 grand needed to bail him out, it seems. Raif Dentkas, Turkish guy, Long long time YC driver, had written to the Univ. on Ijaz's behalf to sponsor him for his last year of Doctorate studies. I called Tariq. He'd told me in a phone conversation on my way from the Symphony to work Thurs. nite,that I. would be out 'tomorrow or the next day.' When I got to work, there was a taped shut note for me from "Raheel" (or Raheef?) informing me that "driver I. will be bailed out tomorrow." One Hundred Thousand Dollars bail. My goodness, gracious ! You would think he had hurt someone or something.
So, I send Ijaz an email - forwarded, damn my eyes, of the exchange with Raed. On 9-25, Raed posted on his blog for the first time in weeks. And lo, he and Nikki are HEre In SF! I whip off an email, inviting them to lunch, and describing Ijaz, Mort, and Mariana, which friends I think would be very interested in meeting R & N and they, them. Forwarded to Mort and Ijaz, thinking I. would have M.'s email. Forwarded. Dear Sweet Jesus. I send Raed another email on Wed. telling about the I. arrest thing. It bounces back immediately.
Permanent Failure: Other address status
Delivery last attempted at Thu, 29 Sep 2005 16:37:17 -0000
<
22: you cannot work with just a Student Visa. That way we only get
rich folks children, apparently. I don't recognized my country
any more. Marianna, who is out of the country, I just learned,
would certainly be raving mad and calling her contacts. Another
Pakistani friend, Tariq (the rest of his peers like to joke that he
is Musharif's brother-in-law), an older man -my age- 60 or so, is
"calling his people" as they say in Hollywood. I picture Ijaz on a
concrete floor, with ice water being poured over him twice a day.
This is Guantanamo style. Maybe that hasn't made its way to
California, yet. Much as I was imagining Khalid being tortured.
And yet this news story about a judge denying the gov't. request to
kill the lawsuit against Ashcroft, et.al. by two Muslim guys
detained somewhere for some lengthy time, not charged with anything,with no reason other than their religion. Altho, to be fair, the each had some minor little peccadillo crime on record.
Maybe there is some hope fo r us after all.
Thank you for listening. Sorry to be a pain. Usually I cry to Faiza
about these things, and she always sends me strength. Your Mother is
a Force of Nature, you know.
Adios
Marian Z.>>
Maybe I'll send one more 'test' email before I panic completely that I've caused some unknown harm to R. & N. Maybe it was just that he finally posted after so long, and got so much email his mail box exploded?? Yes, that has to be it.
Friday, September 23, 2005
The Mother is Speaking
A burned out bus full of aged, ill, evacuees from somewhere in Texas, ahead of Hurricane Rita, -fire then explosions -they carried oxygen - 14 people escaped; 30 or so died. If this series of storms is not a culling of the herd, I've never seen one. Those people were *supposed* to die. N.O. is flooding again, already. Two nursing homes full of people died in N.O. well, one - only 1/2 of the other one. I AM a population nazi, sorry.
Gas is $3+ a gallon and due to rise sharply right after Rita whacks the Texas refineries. 18 of 26 in Gulf area already closed.
Bush finally said a true thing: "We cannot imagine our Country without New Orleans." or words to that effect.
If you were to review all the imperialism and worldwide manupilation of other governments, and misc. other atrocities, you would have to say the U.S. is way overdue to pay some massive kharma debts.
Gas is $3+ a gallon and due to rise sharply right after Rita whacks the Texas refineries. 18 of 26 in Gulf area already closed.
Bush finally said a true thing: "We cannot imagine our Country without New Orleans." or words to that effect.
If you were to review all the imperialism and worldwide manupilation of other governments, and misc. other atrocities, you would have to say the U.S. is way overdue to pay some massive kharma debts.
Friday, September 02, 2005
Godess is trying to tell me something
Goddess is trying to tell me something
Red Cross may not need my tiny lil' $10. Of course, they need about 10 million $10.
First I try to click through MoveOn.org. Resulting page accepts minimum of $25. For 'different' amounts gotta call an 800 number. So I figure PayPal will probably have a link, and that would be easy. PayPal seems to have forgotten me. I go through the rigmarole of security questions, I get to 'send' and the cable connection takes a peak time dive. I now appear to be on line - not a problem getting Here. PayPal 'submit' gives me the same error message about not being able to access. I clear my cache - twice- same 'you can't get there from here' message. Expending my angst here heh heh
Complete social chaos rules in New Orleans. Nwarlins. Same story as yesterday. CNN has been broadcasting live as things get worse. Officials say 'we had no idea these people were here, or ' no one told us, snivel' about Convention Center, Super dome etc., when all they needed to do was watch CNN. This is frelling insane that 5 days have passed and nothing has happened for about half a million people. Official : "We're going to get there." yeh a Federal Public Health Emergency. I hear France and Germany were the first to offer aid. "Old Europe" heh heh heh. Don't recall seeing anything at all about world aid offers. Maybe cuz they're so embarrassingly few? The Mother is trying so hard to wake people up to the overburdening of Her capacities.
What does it say about the mental condition in Iraq that a thousand people killed themselves/each other in a stampede during a pilgrimage. In fact, this is a recurring theme in such crowds. Does no one take a message from that? Fanaticism kills?
Red Cross may not need my tiny lil' $10. Of course, they need about 10 million $10.
First I try to click through MoveOn.org. Resulting page accepts minimum of $25. For 'different' amounts gotta call an 800 number. So I figure PayPal will probably have a link, and that would be easy. PayPal seems to have forgotten me. I go through the rigmarole of security questions, I get to 'send' and the cable connection takes a peak time dive. I now appear to be on line - not a problem getting Here. PayPal 'submit' gives me the same error message about not being able to access. I clear my cache - twice- same 'you can't get there from here' message. Expending my angst here heh heh
Complete social chaos rules in New Orleans. Nwarlins. Same story as yesterday. CNN has been broadcasting live as things get worse. Officials say 'we had no idea these people were here, or ' no one told us, snivel' about Convention Center, Super dome etc., when all they needed to do was watch CNN. This is frelling insane that 5 days have passed and nothing has happened for about half a million people. Official : "We're going to get there." yeh a Federal Public Health Emergency. I hear France and Germany were the first to offer aid. "Old Europe" heh heh heh. Don't recall seeing anything at all about world aid offers. Maybe cuz they're so embarrassingly few? The Mother is trying so hard to wake people up to the overburdening of Her capacities.
What does it say about the mental condition in Iraq that a thousand people killed themselves/each other in a stampede during a pilgrimage. In fact, this is a recurring theme in such crowds. Does no one take a message from that? Fanaticism kills?
Now Who has refugees?
Watching Alfred E. Newman er Bush while he listens, and only listens, to several disaster relief folk give him a synopsis of their work so far. The three of them talked fast and non-stop, no way for the pres. to speak. Do we think they were instructed on that, so jr. had no opportunity to do his duh routine?
New Orleans is a science fiction movie now. Complete break down of civilization as we know it. Can't help but imagining the rest of the world we've thumbed our political noses at having a quiet satisfaction. The U.S. has it own, personal massive, refugee problem. not as many as we have "created", but many. Around half a mil, I guess. And on day 4 of this disaster, still thousands of people stranded somewhere with NO food, water, medicine, no help of any kind. Don't mess with Mother Nature. Fourth day in the AsstroDome for 30,000 peeps, no - - any thing. Tishia Walters, calling CNN from her cell phone. Oh my. Can't find a link to her call on CNN, but doubtless, they'll replay it - it's pretty surreal. Girl Scouts in Long Island selling hemp bracelets to donate to Red Cross. Reality is for people who can't deal with drugs. This is beyond a bad trip. the name of the book about a city in total anarchy is "Dalhgren" I think. In a minute I'll remember the author.
The only hospital in N.O. has 200 pts. and and staff- snipers fending off rescuers, no electricity - or anything else- for 4 days. Beyond comprehension why they - some "they" could not have choppered in a relief drop or 10.
We'd all be SOL if some sex starved sufi dropped a dirty bomb that devastated a similar area. Emergency response sucks.
New Orleans is a science fiction movie now. Complete break down of civilization as we know it. Can't help but imagining the rest of the world we've thumbed our political noses at having a quiet satisfaction. The U.S. has it own, personal massive, refugee problem. not as many as we have "created", but many. Around half a mil, I guess. And on day 4 of this disaster, still thousands of people stranded somewhere with NO food, water, medicine, no help of any kind. Don't mess with Mother Nature. Fourth day in the AsstroDome for 30,000 peeps, no - - any thing. Tishia Walters, calling CNN from her cell phone. Oh my. Can't find a link to her call on CNN, but doubtless, they'll replay it - it's pretty surreal. Girl Scouts in Long Island selling hemp bracelets to donate to Red Cross. Reality is for people who can't deal with drugs. This is beyond a bad trip. the name of the book about a city in total anarchy is "Dalhgren" I think. In a minute I'll remember the author.
The only hospital in N.O. has 200 pts. and and staff- snipers fending off rescuers, no electricity - or anything else- for 4 days. Beyond comprehension why they - some "they" could not have choppered in a relief drop or 10.
We'd all be SOL if some sex starved sufi dropped a dirty bomb that devastated a similar area. Emergency response sucks.
Monday, August 01, 2005
United What?
There he goes again -what part of United NATIONS does he not get? "The United Nations needs his firm hand to reform." bah humbug. They don't call it the "united states united nations' because IT'S NOT !! And so we have Joihn Bolton as UN ambassador - almost difficult to use the term ambassador for this bad tempered suck up. And a new King in S.A. Still one of the major Bush Family long time buds.
And the good news: Khalid is free!
And the good news: Khalid is free!
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