U.S. Constitution

With the Pentagon's blessings and assistance, apocalyptic evangelists are proselytizing US troops in Iraq. (AlterNet)

What the hell is my country coming to? I suppose I should say "Hell." The Feds are sending copies of the "Left Behind" video game to the troops (that's the one where you have to kill or convert the 'non-believers' - gosh, sounds like Muslim extremism, as well) - along with an apocalyptic group of live entertainers to make sure their End of Days scenario is hammered into the soldiers' little heads. One Two Three Four, what are we fighting for? Not our Constitution, that's for sure. Just to be on the safe side, they are sending a 'highly rated' (by the evangelistas) text -printed in English/Arabic, to explain the whole 'come to Jesus and live, or don't and die' thing so allegorically presented in Revelations. That will give the local ME's (Muslim extremists) a whole 'nother reason to kill Americans.

STS118

Watching NASA TV covering the shuttle to ISS mission. Thought it was in real time, for a minute there, but now is hard to tell. Well! Bloody amazing, I say. "Crossing eastern pacific ocean approaching the equator" Space walk to rearrange fittings for new module, attach said module, etc. They have electric wrenches that calibrate torque and how many turns it took to get there. The sort of feature you need to work on a Subaru, heh heh heh. Frequently, I could see the earth past the equipment the camera was focused on. How - tragic, that that is as far as we've gotten in 30+ years. Never been back to the moon, barely planning for Mars.

Another night of 'shoulda gone to work' but didn't. I cleaned up - mostly, the growing shuffled pile of "to do" items, some of which are a month past due. There has to be a drug to cure this. Pulled a few weeds, cut flowers, made a bunch of bouquets; made some butterscotch brownies, ate a lot of them smile

NASA does seem to be showing Houston Control live, with no sound, or nobody is talking. They scoot back and forth between monitors, or stare fixedly at one. Some one sporadically stands up and moves a few steps.
(now my very own Satellite aka Dish Network, is doing its daily 'checking for important system upgrades' ' don't touch me' thing)
Means it's time for me to go to sleep. 04:00

fox-in-the-henhouse statuette

"Across six years, the Bush administration has mocked all standards of conflict of interest by choosing private industry zealots for high regulatory posts — where they worked to roll back hundreds of rules on transportation, workplace and mine safety, the environment and other issues. The latest in this subversive chain must surely take the fox-in-the-henhouse statuette: President Bush has nominated Michael Baroody, lobbyist for the powerful National Association of Manufacturers, to lead the Consumer Product Safety Commission."


The article goes on to point out how very, very, many industry insiders are regulating their own industry.

I just started reading a Sci Fi (not so much!!) story about some poor scientist (35 or so years down the road - Pres. Jenna, VP Barbara, former Pres. Jeb) trying to convince them all that a new method of extracting energy from the vacuum will precipitate a galaxy wide explosion. But there are no real scientists left in govt, of course, because the real ones wouldn't lie for the govt. He finally convinces them he's telling th truth when he explains that the Tau Ceti intelligence warning us had taken 5 years of bureaucratic snarffle before they decided to risk contact with us.

The 'most trusted man in America' Walter Cronkite, being profiled on CBS right now. My first speaking part! 4th grade: the boy picked to play WC on the Columbus Day "You Are There" play in my class called in sick. I guess he must have called in the day before, because I remember I was wearing a nice little 'girl' suit my Mommy had made. I was the only one in class who could read well enough to read it cold. I was a little ham.

Fascist America, in 10 Easy Steps

An article on/in AlterNet by Naomi Wolf describes the process we have begun under the Shrub and company. I actually sent it to my sister, for whom I still hold hope for enlightenment. Usually I leave her out of my political ravings, knowing her Republican bent. And bent it is, IMHO. Unfortunately her every political leaning is tied directly to RTL. Supporting that seems to give them a pass on everything else. I'm afraid there are a fair number of Americans in the same circumstance.

The following is a bit from a link from the above listing provisions of a bill signed last year by jr. shrub. 1800 years of common law gone to hell.

" Habeas corpus, or the Great Writ, is the legal procedure that keeps the government from holding you indefinitely without showing cause. When you challenge your detention by filing a habeas corpus petition, the executive branch must explain to a neutral judge its justification for holding you. It’s been a pillar of Western law since the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215."


"The last Congress passed the Military Commissions Act (MCA) of 2006. . . . the MCA revoked the right to habeas corpus for anyone detained at Guantanamo Bay, as well as for any foreigner the government detains anywhere and labels an “enemy combatant,” including legal residents of the U.S.

"• Allows for evidence obtained through torture and coercion to be used in military commission prosecutions;

• Retroactively immunizes government officials and private contractors for their involvement in torture and abuse; and

• Strips Guantanamo detainees, and potentially all non-U.S. citizens, of the right to challenge their indefinite detention through a writ of habeas corpus. "

The Internet may very well be the salvation of us all. (Do I need to reiterate my long ago prediction that this would be so? Well, probably not, but it feeds my ego.)

Riverbend

"There are moments when the injustice of having to leave your country, simply because an imbecile got it into his head to invade it, is overwhelming."
All the stomach acid I've generated over the months worrying about this girl! She vanishes from the blog for long periods, from time to time. I restrain myself from querying the Family in Bagdhad folks, cuz I know they're fielding questions. But she always turns up, as J #4 said. Or maybe it was J#3? It's occurred to me that her Publisher, for pete's sake, shoulda coulda musta tried to get her out. Having been a faithful reader of her "Bagdhad Burning" blog for 3 or more years, I did buy her book, but gave it as a gift.

To say the least. The collective guilt I feel a part of - my wonderful country did this to other human beings. Faiza posted a UTube link showing her "Beautiful Bagdhad" being desecrated.

More on law of the jungle

New Jersey governor moved from intensive care

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine was injured April 12 in a crash on the Garden State Parkway.

New York (CNN) -- New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine is no longer in critical condition .

His left thigh bone was broken in two places, with the femur bone popping through the skin, and he had several broken ribs, a broken sternum, a broken collarbone, a slightly fractured lower vertebrae and a deep cut in his face.

He was sitting in the front passenger seat of an SUV being driven by a state trooper and was not wearing a seat belt, a violation of New Jersey traffic laws. {emphasis mine}

The vehicle was traveling about 90 mph


Well, he probably has already reproduced. Too bad. This is surely a herd culling event.

Law of the Jungle again

What happens when technology overcomes (clumsiness, stupidity, lack of attention-don't remember) brought to you by Zurich. Shows three guys on a high scaffold on a billboard, when one of them steps back too far and falls to the ground, where his personal body air bag inflates and cushions his landing. My answer is always: too many stupid people live to pass on their stupid genes. (now I see I've blogged this one before - still irritates me!!!)

Moving on to another Law: just read a really scary psychiatric evaluation of GWB and how he may still plunge us into WWIII. By father and son shrinks, no less from a New Zealand online news and commentary site called "Scoop." The 'no less' comes from the focus of the article on GWB's inadequacy feelings vis a vis his father. It leads me to think george may well be the first US President to commit suicide.

42% of WHO??

Just when I get to thinkin' CNN is on the side of the angels - figuratively speaking koff koff - Kitty Pilgram (love that name) is sitting in for Lou Dobbs, posting an answer to some kind of poll - 42% of someone (certain NOT the Iraqis-) thinks things are better in Iraq now than they were under Saddam. That just HAD to be a poll of illiterates in Red states. I know the average IQ is this country is a pretty scary 100, but really! 42% of the country has been on Mars for 4 years??
They might, possibly, get a similar answer in Iraq if they only asked in the Kurdish region.
I'm gonna have to research that one, before I spout off any more.

The Supremes just ruled that a high school student had no right to hold up a banner - off school grounds - saying "Bong hits 4 Jesus" while watching the passage of the Olympic Torch in some recent past. Drug related. So if you want to speak of drugs, your school can suspend you.

I did find this in a article about a poll of Iraqis. "Fewer than half in the country, 42 percent, said that life in Iraq now is better than it was under Saddam Hussein, the late dictator accused of murdering tens of thousands during a brutal regime." Again, Kurdistan! I think it's just Iraqis trying to be polite to the obviously US news person asking the questions.

But then, there's this from CNN:

Failing Grades

A startling number of Americans are functionally illiterate, according to a new study. The State Education Agency says one in five Americans cannot read maps, comprehend bus schedules or fill out job applications. We'll have a special report on the costs of this devastating discovery.

RIP Anna Nicole

More bizzare on top of bizzare. The lady died today. One wishes to send serenity and inner strength to the 6 month old baby girl- whose father has not been identified yet.

Not enough soul to go around for this poor little girl - the little girl that was Anna Nicole.

Remember those guys?

The whole
apocalyptic movement will result in "this."


Amazing how many Sci Fi writers envisioned this or similar scenarios. I've certainly seen it coming, and done the only thing I can do-bring up my kids to think for themselves.

Ding Dong,

The witch is dead. . . " tra la. The recent demise -by hanging- of Saddam Hussein moved that little tune to the forefront of my brain.

Why, oh why, do the NS, Mozilla, IE peeps find it necessary to hide so thoroughly the location of one's personal book marks and addresses. Every time I wipe and reinstall, they seem to be hiding in a new and different location. my 2nd (maybe the 3rd?) back up hard drive, seems to have lost track of an entire directory, *MINE* under "Documents and Settings." Arrrgh

stayin alive

From Alternet

speaks to my long held contention that Internet was going to change the world. Change the dialog, change the paradigm, of civilization as we know it.

Hopeful Signs For Global Justice

By Mark Engle

Thousands of similar campaigns stood up to local injustices, challenged corporate power, and provided the energy that ultimately unseated presidents. As we are reminded daily of the hard realities that persist in an era of executive excess and superpower militarism, their victories might seem disparate and few. But they have shown that they can accrete and build, gradually bridging the divide that separates us from once-distant possibilities: the death of neoliberalism, the political re-creation of the Americas, the end of extreme poverty, a democratic globalization. The quiet wins of 2006 together remind us that change is more possible than we might sometimes despair -- and that it is not entirely naive to invest hope in the promise of a new year.

Tagged as: globalization, neoliberalism, justice, bush, democracy

Mark Engler is a commentator for Foreign Policy in Focus. He can be reached via DemocracyUprising.com.

Stand and Wait

Here's a picture: four Major Generals, standing , fidgiting, behind a platform in front of which the Shrub will be speaking shortly. Fidgit fidgit

An inconvenient Truth

Just watched a rerun Oprah featuring Al Gore and a full hour of dire global warming warnings. Dire, meaning dire - not to denigrate the seriousness of the state of the climate. I was watching it on purpose, preaching to the choir, and all that, so I was free to pick it apart heh heh. About half way in I began to wonder what the drop out rate was going to be. Near that point, there came a recorded message from Leonardo Di Caprio to keep the girls looking, but it was quite serious, too, and maybe it kept a few feather heads tuned in. There was some information on how each individual could do just some small things, most of which save you money, to reduce CO2. If half the audience finished it, I'd like to think they'd tell their friends who'd quit watching. Pipe dreams, maybe. Oprah changes the world - again- smile.

I began to see that the 2000 election 'debacle' as I like to call it, may have been a blessing in disguise, leaving Gore free to focus on what probably IS the biggest threat to Mankind, with a capitol M.

Blog for a Change

(started on 102906)

On my "not read by anyone in the known universe" blog, the Moveon.org folks have requested I post a link to their latest attempt to bring "the Amerricun People" to their senses regarding the political process and those in control of it now. Let's see if it works. Go ">here Whoo hoo, it works! Now, if we could only get the election systems to work - can you say Diebold? With a CEO who has publically stated he would do anything within his power to se that "bush" et al win the election.

120806
right up to the minute I am.

Barbarians At the Gates

Or Bush in the White House, your choice. Another NYT amazing op ed piece kind of describes our current dilemma, politically, by looking at the precipitation of the Fall of the Roman Empire.

Anna Nicole

Her teen son somehow died in her hospital room, very shortly after she gave birth to a daughter. Maybe she only had enough soul for one child? How surreal. Tonight, her lawyer claimed to be the 'babydaddy,' while her publicist had previously claimed the spot. After all, is she not a wispy voiced, cuddly blonde, who has not really displayed great intelligence, past what allowed her to grab an 85 year old millionaire husband at Death's door, before he passed through it, making her rich? Naturally, she's still fighting his kids for it- but she has received a major chunk of $
Sad little girl; And here I've delivered an (other, no doubt) entirely mean-spirited little piece of drivel. No no - I reject that! (yes, you can disagree with yourself within a paragraph) The curious juxtaposition of new life and young death sent me seeking a cosmic truth of some sort. What if it's all random, and NOBODY gives a rat's ass about our virus-like existence?
Anna Nicole: will anyone remember her name in 1,000 years? Or mine, ftm. A most curious fact of early 21st Century Man: our ability to be fascinated by people who are famous just for being famous.

Ground Zero 9-11-01

5 years later, it seems to be making news that the folks -first responders, other volunteers- are sick from the toxic air they breathed for 2 to 3 weeks. Of course they're sick. At that time, the Feds and their honchos were announcing that "No, there isn't any danger - the air is perfectly fine." And 'they' the mass media, unwashed masses, believed it?? Oh. My. I said at the time- "My Goddess, you can SEE the air; they are breathing the 'weaponized,' if you will, residual atoms of multiple heavy metals, silica, human beings, firpete'sake. How could any reasonably intelligent, semi-educated, thinking person believe that was safe? Key word being 'thinking,' apparently.

From today's NYT - QUOTATION OF THE DAY -

"There should no longer be any doubt about the health effects of the World Trade Center disaster. Our patients are sick, and they will need ongoing care for the rest of their lives."
- DR. ROBIN HERBERT of Mount Sinai's World Trade Center Worker and Volunteer
Medical Screening Program.

And I ask again - what sort of brain-dead folks were questioning this in the first place??

A navel of a different sort

Another NY Times op\ed piece, here showed me a new perspective. By an Iranian Jewish woman who writes poetry in Persian. I'd love to ask "Another Irani on Line" about this. I hear much the same sort of remembrances from Iraqi's in so far as "We are ALL Iraqis!" I like to believe everything I read by women (my bad) and especially non US women, and I know I'm gullible. But I would also like to hear what Niki's perspective is regarding the poetry and music issues mentioned. I' believe I will write and ask her.

Navel Gazing

We have no security, just distance. Watching the Surreal News (CNN) Here's a list of all the landmarks, nuclear plants, shopping centers, in case you need to update your target list. Laughing hysterically. Earlier they were talking about a little known port (I don't remember its name he he) in Louisiana, which handles 1/3 of the US oil imports. And those coordinates are: 108.345 34.888 (don't try this at home, folks: {Poetic Lic.} I'm making a wild extrapolation based on my here and now #'s which I know) And how "they" could not very well use small aircraft/ports cuz a: not enuf bang for the buck, and b)small ports are clubbish, and wd recognize an outsider and rat him/her out. Not if 'she' had a fabulous body, and the willingness to use it. Is this so far outside the "Muslim" sensibility as to render it impossible? I dunno if a man would order it, but I betcha there are a whole lotta widows and orphans who would relish the role.

Can't recognize the difference between nuclear waste and cat sand. We're doing the Homeland Security Waste issue. Waste of $$, that is. Just a comment on a nuclear plant employee. They don't' have enough auditors to keep track of how their contractors are spending the $$. DHS bucks are pork barreled out. The 9-11 Commission recommended the pork be partitioned based on high visibility targets. That was 5 years ago. Do you think SF/Oak with it's multitude of targets has received any extra cash? NO, in spite of the Guv and the Mayor major pleading. Not to mention two strong Senators and the Democratic Congressional Whip, all women. Rep. Nancy Pelosi is pretty darned good, I think.