Something else

I've been bitching about forever and now people are beginning to take notice. I'm beginning to wonder if it's my writing and because I usually do it in a blind rage, stream of consciousness thing and people just think I'm a nut. Here's a far more articulate take on the situation:

[. . .]

We use oil because it is by far the cheapest and most convenient form of stored energy many times over... and production is peaking while consumption climbs. The consensus among those in the Petrology Community is that global oil production will peak within five years or so, maybe less, while world oil consumption, fueled largely by the insatiable US addiction and the burgeoning economies in Asia-India, continues to grow steadily. Production Vs consumption. Those lines will cross next year. What happens then?

What happens then is that the price of oil begins a sustained long term move to record levels, and where it will stop nobody knows. The surge in oil prices seen in the middle of this year was the first leg of that.

[. . .]

And think about this. How many nations would see the interruption of the flow of oil (or exorbitantly high prices) as a threat to national security? China? India? The oil, or the lack of it, could be the spark that ignites what has the potential to turn into a nasty, global conflict.

Get mad

From Wolcott:

I recognize that most elected Democrats, stunned by the election results and feeling the need to sound responsible on such a tragic occasion, feel compelled to adopt this more-in-sorrow-than-anger tone that was one of Tom Daschle's less attractive traits. But look what good it did Daschle shaking his head with weary regret over the latest Republican outrage--he was still vilified as some sort of rabid obstructionist.

Republicans belch fire all the time without suffering repercussions, yet Democrats behave like some meek choir.

Couldn't we have at least one irresponsible, intemperate off the reservation loose cannon willing to say he is "mad" at Bush, indeed is furious with the whole lying lot of them (Cheney, Rumsfeld, Powell, Rice, Wolfowitz...the list goes on and on)? Because this engulfing fiasco is their fault, and the fault of those unwilling to stand up to them in the first place.

[. . .]

Entire post.

Testicles, people. Note to the Dems: Grow some!!!! More from the dog:

[. . .]

You're going to be tarred for this shit anyway-- have the God damned balls to stand for something. You know what? I don't really like the idea of two men getting married-- but our laws have so many benefits applicable to married couples at this point, that its UNFAIR to deny a same sex couple similar benefits, and if gay marriage is the only way to do it... well, then God damn it, SO BE IT. And you know what? I AM going to raise your God damned taxes-- because I'm not going to put our economy into a cocked hat next year, or the year after that, or saddle our children and grandchildren with debt, because WE ARE IRRESPONSIBLE. AND TAXES AREN'T SOME GOD DAMNED FANTASY: THEY PAY FOR THE GOVERNMENT. You don't like it-- you tell me which spending I can cut, o.k.?

[. . .]

Don't let it hit ya in the ass

Lata, Bern, you miserable scumbag. Rudy kissed him off soon enough, didn't he? Thing is, the NY media has gotten a hold of this and they're looking into Rudy's dealings now, and why an incompetent thug like Kerik made it to the heights he did.

Clusterfuck

Via Melanie:

WASHINGTON — For the first time, a major U.S. contractor has dropped out of the multibillion-dollar effort to rebuild Iraq, raising new worries about the country's growing violence and its effect on reconstruction.

Contrack International Inc., the leader of a partnership that won one of 12 major reconstruction contracts awarded this year, cited skyrocketing security costs in reaching a decision with the U.S. government last month to terminate work in Iraq.

[. . .]

Story.


Does anybody besides me believe that the situation in Iraq will deteriorate to the level Afghanistan was after the Russians split?

Epiphanies

[. . .]

As for Bush, 49 percent of respondents said they approved of the job the president is doing. That number is down from his November approval rating of 55 percent. Bush is the first incumbent president to have an approval rating below 50 percent one month after winning re-election. The question had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

[. . .]

When asked how the United States has handled Iraq during the past year, 47 percent said things have gotten worse. Twenty percent said the situation has improved and 32 percent said it is about the same. The differences fell outside the question's margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

[. . .]

Story.

So what was the deal in November? The same shit was happening then. Hopefully, a few more moderate Repubs in Congress grow some balls and try to curtail some of Chimpy's crazy bullshit. Kudos to Chuck Hagel and Susan Collins who have.

Fannie

No, not the maid who . . . never mind. I'm talking Fannie Mae:

WASHINGTON Dec 22, 2004 — Fannie Mae, the nation's second largest financial institution, forced out two top executives as it struggles to deal with an accounting scandal which will likely force it to wipe out $9 billion in profits over the past four years.

Fannie Mae chief executive Franklin Raines and J. Timothy Howard, the company's chief financial officer, stepped down Tuesday after lengthy negotiations between the Fannie Mae board and the company's chief government regulator, the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight.

In a statement issued late Tuesday night, Raines said he had decided to leave to fulfill a pledge he made during congressional testimony in October that he would take the blame if serious accounting problems were found at the company.

"By my early retirement, I have held myself accountable," Raines said.

[. . .]

This is the culture that's been fostered under the Bush administration. The only reason this asshole is leaving is 'cause he opened his big mouth before Congress and his pledge is part of the public record. You can bet, if there was any room for him to weasel out of it, he would. Wonder if his pension or his severance was affected? Puh.

[. . .]

A review by the Securities and Exchange Commission determined last week that Fannie Mae must restate earnings back to 2001 because it violated accounting rules for derivatives financial instruments used to hedge against interest-rate swings and for some prepaid loans.

That restatement of earnings is likely to wipe out $9 billion or about one-third of Fannie Mae's profits since 2001.

[. . .]

The Enron/Bush mindset, cheat until you get caught, and then negotiate your way out. I wonder if there will be a country left when Bush's term is up. On many levels.

I'm just an idiot

See, when you're a mechanic, people think you're a moron. I said this a couple months ago:

Bush and his Cabinet should be turned over to The Hague to face war crimes charges. I know, Americans should deal with this, but if there's one way to regain our credibility and respect in the world, this is it. Hell with Bush's lies and ineptitude, he is a mass murderer, no better than Saddam, no better than Osama. Though it would never be done, Chimpy Inc. should be living in 8x8 cells somewhere in . . . France.

Now, Matt Yglesias and others are all over this Laura Rozen piece yesterday:

[. . .]

It is not at all inconceivable that some day not too many years off Rumsfeld and Bush will face arrest if they travel abroad for command responsibility for war crimes, like Pinochet. Update pertaining to comments at Matt's site on this issue. I am not saying there's moral equivalence between Pinochet's crimes and Rumsfeld's. I am saying, it seems likely to me that the lawsuit launched against Rumsfeld now in Germany and others potentially to follow against Rumsfeld and other US leaders are likely to take on a life of their own, and it's totally conceivable to me that Rumsfeld will not want to travel abroad at some point in the not-too-distant future without serious consultations with a lawyer, and maybe even then.

[. . .]

It would do a lot to restore our credibility in eyes of the world if we turned Bush & Co. over to The Hague for war crimes trials after he's out of office. An apology in front of the U.N. by the next President would help too. I told you so. Ha!

He gets letters

WHAT IF SANTA ANSWERED HIS LETTERS TRUTHFULLY?

Dear Santa

I wud like a kool toy space ranjur fer Xmas. Iv ben a gud boy all Yeer

yer Frend, BiLLy

Dear Billy,

Nice spelling. You're on your way to a career in lawn care. How about I send you a friggin' book so you can learn to read and write? I'm giving your older brother the space ranger. At least HE can spell!

Santa

. . .

Dear Santa,

I have been a good girl all year, and the only thing I ask for is peace and joy in the world for everybody!

Love, Sarah

Dear Sarah,

Your parents smoked pot when they had you, didn't they?

Santa

. . .

Dear Santa,

I don't know if you can do this, but for Christmas, I'd like for my mommy and daddy to get back together. Please see what you can do?

Love, Teddy


Dear Teddy,

Look, your dad's banging the babysitter like a screen door in a hurricane. Do you think he's gonna give that up to come back to your frigid mom, who rides his ass constantly? It's time to give up that dream. Let me get you some nice Legos instead.

Santa

. . .

Dear Santa,

I left milk and cookies for you under the tree, and I left carrots for your reindeer outside the back door.

Love, Susan


Dear Susan,

Milk gives me the runs and carrots make the deer fart in my face when riding in the sleigh. You want to do me a favor? Leave me a bottle of scotch.

. . .

Dear Santa,

What do you do the other 364 days of the year? Are you busy making toys?

Your friend, Thomas


Dear Thomas,

All the toys are made in China. I have a condo in Vegas, where I spend most of my time making low-budget porno films. I unwind by drinking myself silly and squeezing the asses of cocktail waitresses while losing money at the craps table.

Hey, you wanted to know.

Santa

. . .

Dear Santa,

Do you see us when we're sleeping, do you really know when we're awake,
like in the song?

Love, Jessica


Dear Jessica,

Are you really that gullible or are you just a blonde? Good luck in whatever you do. I'm skipping your house.

Santa

. . .

Dear Santa,

I really really want a puppy this year. Please please please PLEASE =
PLEASE could I have one?

Timmy


Timmy,

That whiney begging shit may work with your folks, but that crapdoesn't work with me. You're getting a sweater again.

Santa

. . .

Dearest Santa,

We don't have a chimney in our house, how do you get into our home?

Love, Marky

Mark,

First, stop calling yourself "Marky", that's why you're getting your ass whipped at school. Second, you don't live in a house, you live in a low-rent apartment complex. Third, I get inside your pad just like theboogeyman does, through your bedroom window.

Sweet Dreams, Santa

God I love the holidays. Thanks to Mrs. Indian for the email.

My problem with Jesus freaks

Go here and read.

I give a shit if you worship some big hairy ass Yeti motherfucker, just don't force me to. If you want to convert folks, go to Africa and preach to them. Ain't that what the Europeans did? Do some good and feed 'em while you're there. I don't wanna hear it anymore.

Torture

From the ACLU via Bubba:

A document released for the first time today by the American Civil Liberties Union suggests that President Bush issued an Executive Order authorizing the use of inhumane interrogation methods against detainees in Iraq. Also released by the ACLU today are a slew of other records including a December 2003 FBI e-mail that characterizes methods used by the Defense Department as “torture” and a June 2004 “Urgent Report” to the Director of the FBI that raises concerns that abuse of detainees is being covered up.

[. . .]

Bush, Dick, & Rummy had an end in mind, and reverse engineered the legal system to justify it. This is criminal, ladies and gentlemen. This regime is criminal and so are their policies.

Yay!!!

My new computer came today, so my power surge woes are finally over. Now all I need is the check from my homeowner's insurance. At their leisure, I'm sure. This is my 1st post from the new PC. BFD, right. A surprise, seems a 17" flat screen monitor came along with it. Cool. Merry Christmas to me. Now to get all my peripheral shit hooked up and my software loaded. Maybe tomorrow. Oh, a note to Melanie at Just a Bump in the Beltway: I downloaded Firefox right off, as soon as the damn machine was up and running. Only opened IE once, to get to the Mozilla site. I'll be up later. Gotta get the Mrs. from the train.

See Ya Later

Well, folks, Mrs. G and I are off to the coast to visit her family for a few days. I'll be back probably next Sunday. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas. For my Shinto and Wiccan friends, enjoy the Winter Solstice.

Maybe I'll post something while I'm there if I can con my sister-in-law out from in front of her keyboard.

Merry Chrismahannukwanzakka.

Bush yesterday

[. . .]

Now, I would call the results mixed in terms of standing up Iraqi units who are willing to fight. There have been some cases where when the heat got on, they left the battlefield. That's unacceptable. Iraq will never secure itself if they have troops that, when the heat gets on, they leave the battlefield. I fully understand that. On the other hand, there were some really fine units in Fallujah, for example, in Najaf, that did their duty. [my emphasis]

[. . .]

Transcript.

Unacceptable? They had a good role model, didn't they? Bush never let himself get near the battlefield 35 years ago (neither did Rummy and Dick) and he left early too. Fucking asshole.

Anal

Light blogging today because I'm fucking anal. I can't help it. It's my German side, and from building hotrods for two thirds of my life; always takes over when I'm doing things like carpentry, or wiring. As you know, I had electrical problems, through no fault of mine (here, here). Well, the last thing that has to be replaced is the computer, which is on its way. Today, a box from Gateway came, big box. Thought it was the computer. Nah, it was the sound system for the fucking thing. Who knew? I didn't realize it when I ordered it. I usually keep the volume muted anyway.

I told you (here) about the entertainment center I have, and the changes I had to make to fit the new DVD/VHS recorder I bought. My office is the same way and it adjoins the bedroom, well . . . it's part of the bedroom. It's a big bedroom. Built my desk and all the peripherals had a place, or a shelf. Well, the new computer, with this new surround sound (buncha speakers, big subwoofer) means I gotta more shit to add.

Like I said, I'm anal. So there can't be a bird's nest of wires under my desk. No, not here. All the wires have to be in harnesses, you know, like the wiring you see under the hood in your car. You wouldn't believe the amount of wire ties I go through in a year. I buy 500 at a time in assorted sizes and colors. When it comes to wiring I'm insane. Each time I add another device to my system, I cut the all the wire ties off and add the new wires into the big harness. Every time a wire enters or leaves a harness, a wire tie goes on either side. Like I said, anal. Neat as hell though. That's how I spent my afternoon and evening. Also had to paint all the new shelves I built. Oy. Hopefully the computer will be here tomorrow so I can finally finish up. That's after I buy a new, longer printer cable so I can tuck it where nobody can see it. And after I shorten the cable line to the modem because now it's about 5 feet too long. Heaven forbid there's and excess loop of cable hanging there. I gotta get more wire ties too.

Irrelevance

Via Pandagon, by Tim Dunlop. Think about it:

Last night I had an interesting conversation with a friend who works on Capitol Hill. He was recently part of a Congressional delegation that went to India. The delegation was mainly Republicans.

They spoke to a lot of Indian government people and the message from them was very clear, and in a nutshell it was this: We don't much care about America. He said they were very polite but almost indifferent. Maybe matter-of-fact is a better description. The conversation went something like this:

We consider ourselves as in competition with China for leadership in the new century. That's our focus and frankly, you have made it very difficult for us to deal with you. We find your approach to international affairs ridiculous. The invasion of Iraq was insane. You've encouraged the very things you say you were trying to fix - terrorism and instability. Your attitude to Iran is ridiculous. You need to engage with Iran. We are. We are bemused by your hypocrisy. You lecture the world about dealing with dictators and you deal with Pakistan. We are very sorry for your losses from the 9/11 terror attacks. Welcome to our world. You threaten us with sanctions for not signing the non-proliferation treaty, but you continue to be nuclear armed and to investigate new weapons. You expect us to neglect our own security because you want us to. We don't care about sanctions.

[. . .]

We're gonna be left behind soon enough. Our inept leadership had put the American Century soundly to bed. It's downhill from here.

Yo wasup, my dog

The talking dog asks, "would you rather Saddam Hussein were still in power?"

[. . .]

While Saddam's regime was clearly brutal, it was orderly and staunchly opposed to, say, the theocrats of Iran, and hence, useful to us (at one time, of course). By Middle Eastern standards, it was a secular state, women had rights, gas was cheap, and people didn't routinely get blown up while attending funerals.

Well, they do now.

[. . .]

While Saddam was no saint, his people, sadly, were better off with him than us. This administration can fuck up a wet dream.

Fly your Nazi flag

From the Reno News & Review:

It is useful to remember that one of the ways Nazism came to power in Germany was through efforts to suppress it. Driven into dark corners, it thrived on the fringe and then worked its way into the mainstream. The point is worth making in the wake of a dispute over the display as a teaching tool of a Nazi Youth flag in a Washoe County middle school classroom. The flag should upset the upcoming generation as it has the last generation. While it's great that the parties reached meeting of minds, it's also important that an enduring lesson is learned--sometimes it's important to use upsetting symbols because they are upsetting.

It is not difficult to understand the legitmate anguish of Jewish members of our community about this incident. One of them told the Reno Gazette-Journal, "We take this symbol to be as serious as a heart attack. This is a symbol of someone who wants to kill Jews."

Exactly. Which is why the use of the flag serves as a learning tool in helping teach students the evils of Nazism. Nazi Germany's history is supposed to disturb people, including middle school students.

Would we want instruction that does not? If we drain the horror from the history of Nazism to make it palatable to students, we will also drain it of its power to teach. The teacher who hung the flag is doing exactly what his critics want him to do--impart the dread of that terrible time. The flag will, if the teacher does his job, inspire the heart attack-style feelings his critics lament.

The school district and the teacher's critics have focused attention on how long the flag was displayed. But it's the teacher who's actually in the classroom. Critics and the school district shouldn't second guess those on-the-scene decisions. The omnipresence of Nazi indoctrination was a part of classroom life in Germany, and keeping the flag in place for an extended period is a reasonable way of showing that.

"I approach the lesson as to how Hitler manipulated children," the teacher says. "He gave them their own flag. He gave them their own uniform. He gave them their own songs. ... Then we talk about the death camps under that flag. We talk about Hitler sending children to war under that flag."

It sounds like this teacher has his head screwed on right and deserves the support both of the school district and of his critics. Part of "Never again!" is understanding what happened before.

In a famous 1890 case of an economics teacher who exposed his students to the tenets of socialism and therefore faced loss of his job, the regents of the University of Wisconsin announced, "We must therefore welcome from our teachers such discussions as shall suggest the means and prepare the way by which knowledge may be extended, present evils be removed and others prevented."

Methinks the current administration does not want people to remember the Nazis, particularly their very effective indoctrination and propaganda techniques. They do, however, want to see children indoctrinated their way. Keep 'em ignorant, they won't question lies later. They'll work on that pesky First Amendment too.

Thanks

I've had Sitemeter installed here for the last month and, looking over the statistics, we've had nearly 1,700 hits since it went up. Far exceeded my expectations when I first started blogging. Couldn't have done it without Gord and KR. Thanks guys, and great thanks to our readers who believe we have something to contribute to the debate over our nation's future.

Tales from the Christ-weary

The Rude Pundit has stories:

It just seems appropriate that as we edge closer and closer to the false date of the birth of Jesus that we spend more time with the weary among us. And, Lord, sweet, sweet Lord, how the people are sick of having whacked-out interpretations of the Christ myth shoved down their throats and up their asses. A few weeks ago the Rude Pundit asked you to send your own tales of the creedal and the damage done, and you have continued to respond, crying out (or sighing out) in agony to evangelicals, "We get it, we get it - you love you some Jesus - now step the fuck back." . . .

[. . .]

Unbelievable. The last one especially.

Heh . . . ACME

Stole this from Ol' Rook, who stole it from the 12th Harmonic Blog:



Also ran across this in the wee hours:



You can buy a whole bunch of reality-based stuff here.