As the General Assembly debates global warming and the death penalty, [Republican delegate LeRoy E. Myers Jr.] has something else on his mind: the outsized plastic testicles that truckers dangle from the trailer hitches of their pickups.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Nuts to you ...
There's a place we do business with called Al's Hubcaps and their motto is "Cover Your Nuts". From the Dept. of Don't Our Lawmakers Have Better Shit To Do, otherwise known as Shakes:
Greenness
I've been on a project around the Fixer household to replace the old fashioned incandescent lightbulbs with the energy-saving flourescents. I changed the ones we use regularly, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and office and the others (there are rooms in this house I don't go into for a month at a time) I'm replacing as they burn out. The Aussies are doing much the same thing:
Australia is set to become the first country in the world to stop using the cheap standard light bulb, with the federal government expected today to announce a commitment to phasing out inefficient incandescent light within three years.
...
Up a notch
Barack just moved up a notch in my book, though he still creeps me out in some way that I just can't put my finger on.
Another 'Dixie Chicks Moment'
SEATTLE -- Modern hunters rarely become more famous than Jim Zumbo. A mustachioed, barrel-chested outdoors entrepreneur who lives in a log cabin near Yellowstone National Park, he has spent much of his life writing for prominent outdoors magazines, delivering lectures across the country and starring in cable TV shows about big-game hunting in the West.
...
As I've said many times, I'm not a hunter (don't believe in killing anything that doesn't try to kill me), but I do believe in the right to keep and bear (try breaking into my house and find out about that). I also have a big problem with the NRA and the guys who, many in lieu of military service, have to feel like Sgt. Rock by owning the latest military hardware. Seems this experienced, nationally recognized hunter has been thinking along the same lines. Unfortunately for him, just like the Chicks, he earns his living from these folks.
...
"Excuse me, maybe I'm a traditionalist, but I see no place for these weapons among our hunting fraternity," Zumbo wrote in his blog on the Outdoor Life Web site. The Feb. 16 posting has since been taken down. "As hunters, we don't need to be lumped into the group of people who terrorize the world with them. . . . I'll go so far as to call them 'terrorist' rifles."
...
I'm sure a lot of others feel this way too, but you're unAmerican, in the eyes of the NRA, if you actually say that in a national forum. This poor bastid, an icon of the hunting community has gone from penthouse to pavement in mere days.
...
His top-rated weekly TV program on the Outdoor Channel, his longtime career with Outdoor Life magazine and his corporate ties to the biggest names in gunmaking, including Remington Arms Co., have been terminated or are on the ropes.
The NRA on Thursday pointed to the collapse of Zumbo's career as an example of what can happen to anyone, including a "fellow gun owner," who challenges the right of Americans to own or hunt with assault-style firearms.
...
Excuse me, but assault weapons are just that. They are made to kill people in a theater of war or in police operations. The day I see deer armed with RPGs and bear with AK-47s is the day I'll give my blessing to private citizens having better armament than the local cops.
The NRA is nothing but a wingnut organization whose leadership lives on the far right and are enabled by the gunmakers. Thanks to the NRA and their influence, gun control laws are mostly ineffective in states that have them. I give a fuck what you do in your state, but when these things are bought there (because you don't give a fuck and your reps are scared of the NRA) and trafficked on the streets of NY, I got big problems.
The NRA, gunmakers, and 'enthusiasts' have gotten away with far too much for too long and it's about time one of their own called bullshit. Unfortunately, the poor bastid's ruined.
Update [Sunday morning ... early]:
Our pal (and resident scholar of the American Patriot Institute) Scroff said it quite well a while ago, as he alerted me to in comments (ya old blogwhore ... heh):
... it should be perfectly reasonable for me to own a nuke. I wouldn't use it... I just want to have it, and it's my right as an American Citizen to have one ...
War by proxy ...
Telegraph:
I'm sure a lot of thought and debate will go into making that decision.
This should be an all out mess the way Lebanon was last year and the blowback will hit us in a big way.
Israel is negotiating with the United States for permission to fly over Iraq as part of a plan to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.
To conduct surgical air strikes against Iran's nuclear programme, Israeli war planes would need to fly across Iraq. But to do so the Israeli military authorities in Tel Aviv need permission from the Pentagon.
...
I'm sure a lot of thought and debate will go into making that decision.
...
"The only way to do this is to fly through US-controlled air space. If we don't sort these issues out now we could have a situation where American and Israeli war planes start shooting at each other."
...
This should be an all out mess the way Lebanon was last year and the blowback will hit us in a big way.
You are guilty ...
Of blogwhoring in the 1st degree. It's Saturday and that means another chapter of my novel The Captains is up at The Practical Press.
Conservapædia
Patrick Yelladog clued me in to this the other day via email and I've seen blog posts ridiculing it. I still think it's a parody (hard to tell anymore since Bush and the Rethugs took over) of Wikipedia but everybody seems to believe it's a genuine effort. If it is, bwa-ha-ha-ha, boy are conservatives idiots.
I'm not one for dicking with other people's sites (you don't like what they have to say, don't go there) but these folks are allowing edits (encouraging them), just like Wiki. As you can see much of their information (they're peddling it as fact) is ... suspect.
Update:
Heh ... and they dissed PZ:
I'm not one for dicking with other people's sites (you don't like what they have to say, don't go there) but these folks are allowing edits (encouraging them), just like Wiki. As you can see much of their information (they're peddling it as fact) is ... suspect.
Update:
Heh ... and they dissed PZ:
"Silly and unsupported"? Moi?
Friday, February 23, 2007
Wilfred Owen
In one of the comments, our pal Badtux left a poem by Wilfred Owen about disabled soldiers. Mr. Owen is known for his poetry about the horror of war, and also for being killed in action one week before the end of World War One, The War To End All Wars, which apparently was not an accurate prediction.
Here are his War Poems & Manuscripts. They are as apropos today as they were then. Start anywhere. Liquid alert - it'll be comin' out of your eyes in sorrow and rage.
Here are his War Poems & Manuscripts. They are as apropos today as they were then. Start anywhere. Liquid alert - it'll be comin' out of your eyes in sorrow and rage.
Oregon Senator has 61/73 yo women arrested
Daily Kos
And your point is...? I coulda guessed that.
From one of the newly minted misdemeanants:
I like those kinda gals too, Kathleen, and I've met quite a few in our coed county clink, but don't get to likin' jail too much! The novelty wears off after the first coupla times.
This wasn't actually done by the Senator, but by his staffers doing it in his name, so he gets the responsibility for it. We better hear an apology.
Much more at the link.
2 women, yesterday, wanted to speak to their imperial senator; obviously, a senator is above that kind of 'wallowing in the masses' kinda thing.
Imagine the gall of these women! Expecting someone as important as a Senator to speak with old, female constituents who obviously can't contribute much money to his re-election is just un-American!
Naturally, a Senator that would have elderly women arrested for exercising their free speech rights is a Rethuglican!
And your point is...? I coulda guessed that.
From one of the newly minted misdemeanants:
The receptionist asked us to leave, Dot and I refused - and 3 regular police officers came to arrest us - soon joined by 3 bicycle officers. Dot and I must appear awfully dangerous to require 6 police officers - even though I am only about 5'4" tall and Dot's head barely came to the height of my shoulder. (I'd guess Dot is slightly less than 5' tall.) Neither Dot nor I would make a very convincing Amazons, but I felt honored. Each police officer who Dot and I encountered today were courteous, polite, and even apologetic; some seem amused - a few seemed shocked. I feel that they should be commended for their warmth and courtesy - I think Dot would agree that we felt we received better treatment from the hands of PPD than we did from Sen. Smith's office.
Of course I spoke to all my fellow prisoners as well - and urged them to vote. They all expressed shock that two old ladies were arrested for attempting to talk to their senator. (I think I should have been a politician or a preacher cause proselytizing comes so naturally. :-D)
Let me encourage you - I had a great time meeting all the other women. I begin to think that some of the most interesting, independent and intelligent women are not necessarily "model little housewives" or entirely respectable ones from society's viewpoint, though more than a few have had very difficult lives and backgrounds. I must say that I liked Daniel, Monica, Katrina, a beautifull young 18 year old, and all the other women I met "behind bars".
I like those kinda gals too, Kathleen, and I've met quite a few in our coed county clink, but don't get to likin' jail too much! The novelty wears off after the first coupla times.
This wasn't actually done by the Senator, but by his staffers doing it in his name, so he gets the responsibility for it. We better hear an apology.
Much more at the link.
Army Shortchanging Troops - Again
Army Times
Well, what did they expect to happen when we were led to war? That the only injuries were going to be thorn scratches from all the garlands of roses?
They should have decided it was going to cost too much before they sent the troops into harm's way and put it on the recruiting posters: "Get hurt, shit outta luck. A grateful nation will drop you like a hot rock."
No pull trigger, no get food. See ya, chump. Gotta save money on you to give to Bush's pals.
Please read the rest.
The Army is deliberately shortchanging troops on their disability retirement ratings to hold down costs, according to veterans' advocates, lawyers and service members.
"These people are being systematically underrated," said Ron Smith, deputy general counsel for Disabled American Veterans. "It's a bureaucratic game to preserve the budget, and it's having an adverse affect on service members."
The Army denies there is any intentional effort to push wounded troops off the military rolls. But critics say many troops being evaluated for possible disability retirement accept the first rating they are offered during their first informal board - but that if they were to request a formal board, and then appeal the decision of that board, they would receive higher ratings.
Those who try to navigate the process beyond their initial evaluation - to include hundreds of combat veterans in limbo at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington - face long waits, lost paperwork and months or even years away from home as they try to complete the process. If they receive a rating of above 30 percent, they receive disability retirement pay, medical benefits, and commissary privileges. Those rated under 30 percent receive severance pay and no benefits.
Many eventually give up and take their chances with the Department of Veterans Affairs, which may give a higher rating for the same disability.
But under the separate disability payment systems of the Defense Department and the VA, a higher VA rating does not necessarily translate into more money - and forgoing military disability retirement also means giving up lifetime commissary and exchange privileges, military health care and other benefits.
The system "has become less friendly toward service members with compensable decisions on disability" in the past few years, especially since the war in Iraq began, Waple said.
Well, what did they expect to happen when we were led to war? That the only injuries were going to be thorn scratches from all the garlands of roses?
They should have decided it was going to cost too much before they sent the troops into harm's way and put it on the recruiting posters: "Get hurt, shit outta luck. A grateful nation will drop you like a hot rock."
"I think there is a definite bias on the physical evaluation board to medically separate service members with a zero-, 10- or 20-percent disability rating when it … should be medical retirement."
No pull trigger, no get food. See ya, chump. Gotta save money on you to give to Bush's pals.
Please read the rest.
Big Surprise
Politico.com
Like we haven't seen this coming for at least a year. He's a Repug in everything but name. Get it the fuck over with.
David Sirota is a little more thoughtful than I am. I think he gets paid by the word:
If you need reasons, I guess those are good ones. Cruelty to animals is a Repug deal anyway.
Note to Holy Joe: Don't threaten us, just do it. We goddam sure don't need you any more. We'll get by.
Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut told the Politico on Thursday that he has no immediate plans to switch parties but suggested that Democratic opposition to funding the war in Iraq might change his mind.
Like we haven't seen this coming for at least a year. He's a Repug in everything but name. Get it the fuck over with.
David Sirota is a little more thoughtful than I am. I think he gets paid by the word:
So, to sum up: I hope Lieberman switches because A) it would be advantageous for Democrats in the long-term B) it wouldn't hurt Democrats or progressives in the short-term, if Senate Democrats developed the spine to filibuster horrible nominees (admittedly an "if") and C) while he already is politically irrelevant in terms of actual power, Lieberman's switch would, finally, make him widely perceived as irrelevant, meaning that he would cease to have any effect on the national debate and that his melting, Emperor-from-Star-Wars face would stop appearing on my television set and freaking out my dog, Monty.
If you need reasons, I guess those are good ones. Cruelty to animals is a Repug deal anyway.
Note to Holy Joe: Don't threaten us, just do it. We goddam sure don't need you any more. We'll get by.
Quote of the Day
60 Minutes
"Just because we volunteered for the military doesn't mean we volunteered to put our lives in unnecessary harm and to carry out missions that are illogical and immoral."
Marine Sgt. Liam Madden
Twisted Message
This is from a post in a private usenet group (Thanks, Pierre) can't find it on line so I'm posting in toto here. Not much that I can add, it pretty much speaks for itself.
Leader from the crikey.com.au newsletter today:
[QUOTE]
If the current verbal confusion among the Allies in Iraq is an indicator of their military performance, you can see why this has not yet been recorded as one of the great textbook warfare successes of modern times…
Leader from the crikey.com.au newsletter today:
[QUOTE]
If the current verbal confusion among the Allies in Iraq is an indicator of their military performance, you can see why this has not yet been recorded as one of the great textbook warfare successes of modern times…
"the situation in Iraq makes it possible for Denmark and Britain to reduce their numbers of troops."
—Danish PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
"We are planning to pull out the troops because the British and the
Danish are doing so."
—Lithuanian Defence Minister Juozas Olekas.
"At the present time the level of violence is totally unacceptable, and
until the Iraqis are able to contain it to a reasonable level we should stay."
—Australian PM John Howard
"There is no such thing as victory in Iraq."
—Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson
"I will settle for nothing less than complete victory."
—US
President George Bush (November 2005)
"The American public will be quite perplexed by the President adding forces while our principal ally is subtracting forces."
—US Senator John Warner
The history of military incompetence is littered with reasons for failure on the battlefield, but when political leaders can’t even agree on the basic objective of whether they are pursuing victory, it’s clear the battlefield isn’t the major problem here.
[/QUOTE]
We might be enlightened ...
But you'd better watch where you dance. Serious:
As two who do break into spontaneous dance, Mrs. F and I should be doing 25 to Life in Attica shortly. Heh ... Late for work, bye!
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A state court is upholding the city's Prohibition era law that bans social dancing in bars, restaurants and certain clubs.
...
As two who do break into spontaneous dance, Mrs. F and I should be doing 25 to Life in Attica shortly. Heh ... Late for work, bye!
Institutional usury
Over 50 million Americans have no health insurance. Hospital corporations, pharmaceutical houses, and HMOs are recording record profits while dumping the destitute on the street. It is far past time to institute a single-payer national health insurance system and take the profit out of making people well. When the most vulnerable among us are being treated, basically, like dogshit on the bottom of your shoe, we've got real problems. When:
There is seriously something wrong with this nation. Our healthcare industry wrings everything it can from patients and when they can no longer pay, they are left on the street or allowed to die. Is this America or sub-Saharan Africa? It seems, if you don't earn more than 6 or 7 figures, your life ain't worth shit.
...
The total number of people directly affected by medical bankruptcies in the U.S. has risen to more than two million annually, according to an article published online today in the journal Health Affairs.
...
There is seriously something wrong with this nation. Our healthcare industry wrings everything it can from patients and when they can no longer pay, they are left on the street or allowed to die. Is this America or sub-Saharan Africa? It seems, if you don't earn more than 6 or 7 figures, your life ain't worth shit.
Our rights are eroding drip by drip . . .
. . . and all that interests most of the mainstream media is dead or dysfunctional white girls.
From N. Y. Times via truthout
"A disturbing recent phenomenon in Washington is that laws that strike to the heart of American democracy have been passed in the dead of night. So it was with a provision quietly tucked into the enormous defense budget bill at the Bush administration's behest that makes it easier for a president to override local control of law enforcement and declare martial law.
The provision, signed into law in October, weakens two obscure but important bulwarks of liberty. One is the doctrine that bars military forces, including a federalized National Guard, from engaging in law enforcement. Called posse comitatus, it was enshrined in law after the Civil War to preserve the line between civil government and the military. The other is the Insurrection Act of 1807, which provides the major exemptions to posse comitatus. It essentially limits a president's use of the military in law enforcement to putting down lawlessness, insurrection and rebellion, where a state is violating federal law or depriving people of constitutional rights."
All we need now is one major calamity and all of our rights will be gone. Few in Congress and few in the MSM seem to care.
R.
From N. Y. Times via truthout
"A disturbing recent phenomenon in Washington is that laws that strike to the heart of American democracy have been passed in the dead of night. So it was with a provision quietly tucked into the enormous defense budget bill at the Bush administration's behest that makes it easier for a president to override local control of law enforcement and declare martial law.
The provision, signed into law in October, weakens two obscure but important bulwarks of liberty. One is the doctrine that bars military forces, including a federalized National Guard, from engaging in law enforcement. Called posse comitatus, it was enshrined in law after the Civil War to preserve the line between civil government and the military. The other is the Insurrection Act of 1807, which provides the major exemptions to posse comitatus. It essentially limits a president's use of the military in law enforcement to putting down lawlessness, insurrection and rebellion, where a state is violating federal law or depriving people of constitutional rights."
All we need now is one major calamity and all of our rights will be gone. Few in Congress and few in the MSM seem to care.
R.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
From the Dept. of Good Ideas
Booman:
I'd take Hagel in a heartbeat if we could kick Holy Joe over the side.
...
I think we should start working on flipping a Republican Senator. Does Olympia Snowe want a committee chair? How about Chuck Hagel? Anything is better than putting up with this blackmail from Lieberman.
I'd take Hagel in a heartbeat if we could kick Holy Joe over the side.
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