Sunday, March 9, 2008
Yeesh ...
I hate the 'time change'. Throws me all out of whack for a week. The bright side is, the clock in my car is the correct time again. Heh ...
Saturday, March 8, 2008
With Strength, With Wisdom, With Solidarity
Reflections On International Women’s Day:
Well, there's certainly going to be no civilized society until we can do away with the horrific side effects of testosterone that make men feel the need to dominate.
Remember, 'macho' is a Spanish word for 'mule' with all the good sense and brains that suggests.
As women throughout the world gather to observe International Women’s Day on this, the 100th anniversary of the New York City Bread and Roses March, they do so in the face of a seemingly intractable culture of impunity that enables increasingly horrendous acts of violence against women.
In Kenya, women are being gang-raped in refugee camps. In Afghanistan, young girls are forced into marriage. In Mexico and Guatemala women continue to disappear, the victims of brutal rapes and murder. In Iraq, women are being indiscriminately killed in the name of male honor. In the U.S. military, women are more likely to be assaulted by their fellow soldiers than by any enemy. The list, truly, is endless.
This must be a day when we name and acknowledge the atrocities that are daily perpetrated against women throughout the world. It must be a day to honor our strength and wisdom and renew our commitment to ending these assaults on our lives.
As you observe International Women’s Day, please hold a special place in your hear for women who will be gathering despite the grave danger of doing so, particularly the women in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan who are planning a march and the brave women celebrating in Iraq who tell us, “There will be no civil society without liberated women.”
With strength, with wisdom, with solidarity.
Well, there's certainly going to be no civilized society until we can do away with the horrific side effects of testosterone that make men feel the need to dominate.
Remember, 'macho' is a Spanish word for 'mule' with all the good sense and brains that suggests.
Morality. Heh ...
It's nice when you can fuck your own:
Yup, the party of 'moral values' spits up another one. And I love the people who say McCain would be their second choice to Obama. Are you masochists? Are you that gullible? Are you that stupid?
Regardless of Hillary's baggage, her nasty campaign, anything you want to name, either Dem in the Presidency is better than McCain, period. We cannot take another four years of Republicans like this. America can't withstand it.
Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., allegedly defrauded dozens of pro-life organizations for hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund his first congressional bid, according to an analysis of the recent indictment against him, a state insurance claim and an interview with an insurance lawyer involved in the case.
Yup, the party of 'moral values' spits up another one. And I love the people who say McCain would be their second choice to Obama. Are you masochists? Are you that gullible? Are you that stupid?
Regardless of Hillary's baggage, her nasty campaign, anything you want to name, either Dem in the Presidency is better than McCain, period. We cannot take another four years of Republicans like this. America can't withstand it.
Quote of the Day
Our pal Creature:
You know what I would like? A day or two in this primary season where nothing happens and no one says dumb things.
Women's Day
As Gord pointed out below, da wimmens don't get enough credit for what they do. Were Mrs. F not Jewish, she'da been nominated for sainthood already for putting up with me. There are a group of women though, suffering directly as a result of our actions. Over at Gorilla's Guides, they bring the story of four of Iraq's war widows, doing what they have to in order to eke out some sort of existence.
Our hands are permanently stained with these people's blood. Our faux Christians here like to talk a lot about sin. What we've done to Iraq is one of the biggest sins we, as a nation, have ever committed.
Eighty-two percent of the 2.4 million people displaced inside Iraq are women and young children under the age of 12. Many mothers have lost their husbands in the sectarian violence that has torn the nation apart. But in the face of adversity, they are proving to be true heroines.
These stories, collected by women’s organisations in Iraq ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, give a rare insight into how Iraqi widows are helping their families survive while retaining their dignity in times of extreme suffering.
...
Our hands are permanently stained with these people's blood. Our faux Christians here like to talk a lot about sin. What we've done to Iraq is one of the biggest sins we, as a nation, have ever committed.
Saturday whorage
The next chapter of Thirty Days at Zeta is up at The Practical Press.
Sam turns 19.
Take a vacation in a Frank Lloyd Wright house.
That's my stuff. Let us know what's happening by you. Leave a link in comments.
Sam turns 19.
Take a vacation in a Frank Lloyd Wright house.
That's my stuff. Let us know what's happening by you. Leave a link in comments.
International Women's Day Musical Tribute
Today is International Women's Day. This video by up-and-coming country music singer Elizabeth Cook is hereby dedicated to all youse wunnerful broads. I'll leave the song title as a little surprise. You'll figger it out.
Friday, March 7, 2008
More on arms trade
Expanding on Fixer's post, for what it's worth:
Cursor
The title of the NPR post is, "Merchant of Death, Lord of War". The Bush administration is the largest arms dealer in the world and has no room to talk. They do have more guns and power than anybody else.
That's what they used to say about Al Capone, too.
Cursor
The arrest of notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout is apparently "fallout resulting from escalating tensions in South America," but the Los Angeles Times notes that the prospect of a public trial is complicated by his "controversial role in supplying the American military effort in Iraq," an aspect of his career that elicits surprise on NPR.
The title of the NPR post is, "Merchant of Death, Lord of War". The Bush administration is the largest arms dealer in the world and has no room to talk. They do have more guns and power than anybody else.
That's what they used to say about Al Capone, too.
I'm pissed! And it ain't just me...
I've been trying to stay out of the Hillary/Obama deal, but Senator Clinton is starting to righteously piss me off. Her desperate tactics are filthy and despicable. Character assassination as temper tantrum is not helping the effort.
1) Hillary Lieberman Clinton sided with McCain over Obama. My God Almighty! Has she lost her fuckin' mind?
2) Her stooge Wolfson invoking Obama as Ken Starr. That's a fuckin' minefield fulla exploding dog shit! Yeah, blowed-up and stinkin' is my idea of a day at the beach!
3) It's lookin' like the Clinton campaign actually did the Canuckistan NAFTA-gate deal themselves and some clown in the PM's office tried to pin it on Obama. It looks as well like it's backfiring right in her face.
4) The Rovian 3AM fearmongering. What a buncha shit. The White House operator who actually answers the phone will notify her supervisor who will call everybody on Earth to try to find somebody who can make the decision and has balls enough to actually wake the President. 3 AM? Shit, the way that joint works, the news'll probably get to the Prez during his, yes, it's lookin' like his is going to be the right word, second cup of coffee anyway. Just how fuckin' scared and stupid do you think we are anyway? Put it on hold, sister.
5) Making Obama blacker in an ad. That's just scummy racism. Clinton should just plain know better than that.
6) Claiming the delegates from MI and FL as-is. Go read what Brother Jack says about this one. This is a pistol and a 'must read'. Read the 'comments' too:
I ain't the only one who's pissed-off.
C'mon Hil, knock off the cheap shit while we've still got an opposition party to try to get rid of the damn criminals in high office! Better yet, concede now. Too bad about yer supposed 'entitlement' to the Oval Office not workin' out as easy as it was supposed to, but it ain't about you, ya Sacred Cow, it's about whatever future this country's still got.
I will vote for Hillary in the increasingly unlikely event she gets the nomination, but now I will have to hold my nose.
1) Hillary Lieberman Clinton sided with McCain over Obama. My God Almighty! Has she lost her fuckin' mind?
2) Her stooge Wolfson invoking Obama as Ken Starr. That's a fuckin' minefield fulla exploding dog shit! Yeah, blowed-up and stinkin' is my idea of a day at the beach!
3) It's lookin' like the Clinton campaign actually did the Canuckistan NAFTA-gate deal themselves and some clown in the PM's office tried to pin it on Obama. It looks as well like it's backfiring right in her face.
4) The Rovian 3AM fearmongering. What a buncha shit. The White House operator who actually answers the phone will notify her supervisor who will call everybody on Earth to try to find somebody who can make the decision and has balls enough to actually wake the President. 3 AM? Shit, the way that joint works, the news'll probably get to the Prez during his, yes, it's lookin' like his is going to be the right word, second cup of coffee anyway. Just how fuckin' scared and stupid do you think we are anyway? Put it on hold, sister.
5) Making Obama blacker in an ad. That's just scummy racism. Clinton should just plain know better than that.
6) Claiming the delegates from MI and FL as-is. Go read what Brother Jack says about this one. This is a pistol and a 'must read'. Read the 'comments' too:
If Hillary Gets To Claim Michigan And Florida, Denver Will Burn
I'm gonna say this much. If she gets to claim those delegates as-is, it's over. If its thug politics you want, then that's cool, just let me know, because I can bring out the thug. You want to destroy my candidate with dirty politics? Fine. You want to hide behind "35 years of experience," go ahead.
But you do not get to fuck with my vote. Ya hear me!? YOU DO NOT.
I ain't the only one who's pissed-off.
C'mon Hil, knock off the cheap shit while we've still got an opposition party to try to get rid of the damn criminals in high office! Better yet, concede now. Too bad about yer supposed 'entitlement' to the Oval Office not workin' out as easy as it was supposed to, but it ain't about you, ya Sacred Cow, it's about whatever future this country's still got.
I will vote for Hillary in the increasingly unlikely event she gets the nomination, but now I will have to hold my nose.
L'il Fat Denny's Seat...
Tony Peyser
Well now, there's a 'Bleach Alert' if ever there was one! Never content to leave well enough alone, I ran across a map of IL-14. I was struck by two things - 1) It looks just like the county I live in, except they got I-39 instead of the spine of the Sierra Nevada, and 2) Anybody who can't make a, er, limp attempt at their own scurrilous, off-color, innuendo-ridden punchline AKA 'cheap joke' ain't tryin'!
A Talking Points Memo headline says, "Can The GOP Hold Onto Hastert's Old Seat?" Feel free to come up with your own scurrilous, off-color, innuendo-ridden punchline.
Well now, there's a 'Bleach Alert' if ever there was one! Never content to leave well enough alone, I ran across a map of IL-14. I was struck by two things - 1) It looks just like the county I live in, except they got I-39 instead of the spine of the Sierra Nevada, and 2) Anybody who can't make a, er, limp attempt at their own scurrilous, off-color, innuendo-ridden punchline AKA 'cheap joke' ain't tryin'!
White House Blues
Expanding a little on Fixer's post just below this one about Froggy's post:
20 years, shit! More like 80...
This video is courtesy of a Canuckistanian who goes by 'lewdite'. Heh.
...when bad things have happened to the economy over the past 20 years, guess who was in office?
20 years, shit! More like 80...
This video is courtesy of a Canuckistanian who goes by 'lewdite'. Heh.
Rethug economics ...
Froggy notices that when bad things have happened to the economy over the past 20 years, guess who was in office?
Just sayin' ...
Off to work. TGIF!
Just sayin' ...
Off to work. TGIF!
One down ...
A lot more to go:
Personally, I think this soulless scumbag would do better spending the rest of his life (whatever that amounts to) in a Thai jail.
The United States is to seek the extradition of fugitive Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, arrested in Bangkok and charged Thursday with conspiring to sell millions of dollars' worth of weapons.
...
Personally, I think this soulless scumbag would do better spending the rest of his life (whatever that amounts to) in a Thai jail.
So?
How's that 'surge' thing going?
... And John al-Hagee McCain thinks the Iraqis should have another 100 years of this ...
Taxes? We don't pay ...
No steenking taxes:
I gotta set up a shell company in the Caymans and make the Mrs. and me consultants to our respective professions. Have our bosses mail our checks to the shell company and they can pay us, thus obviating the need for us to pay U.S. taxes (let alone NYC and NYS taxes). Hell, I'll even buy a building and a phone to make it look really legit. Why should the filthy rich get all the breaks? Oh yeah, they're Republicans ...
CAYMAN ISLANDS - Kellogg Brown & Root, the nation's top Iraq war contractor and until last year a subsidiary of Halliburton Corp., has avoided paying hundreds of millions of dollars in federal Medicare and Social Security taxes by hiring workers through shell companies based in this tropical tax haven.
More than 21,000 people working for KBR in Iraq - including about 10,500 Americans - are listed as employees of two companies that exist in a computer file on the fourth floor of a building on a palm-studded boulevard here in the Caribbean. Neither company has an office or phone number in the Cayman Islands.
...
I gotta set up a shell company in the Caymans and make the Mrs. and me consultants to our respective professions. Have our bosses mail our checks to the shell company and they can pay us, thus obviating the need for us to pay U.S. taxes (let alone NYC and NYS taxes). Hell, I'll even buy a building and a phone to make it look really legit. Why should the filthy rich get all the breaks? Oh yeah, they're Republicans ...
Great thanks to Maru for the link.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
The 7th Slice
The first six were slices of pizza. I had an ophthalmologist appointment today to measure my right peeper for parts to replace a cataract. Soon. I can barely get enough 'text size' out of this thing to read the internets.
Anyway, after the appointment I decided to treat myself to lunch at a local pizza joint. I snuck up on 'em so they didn't have time to get the "all-you-can-eat-one-low-price" sign down. Heh.
I like to do that once in a great while. It's cheaper than buyin' a pizza, and every slice is different. I can always eat enough pizza to get my money's worth.
The 7th slice was a rare slice of life. While I was chowin' down, in walk three Marines and a high school kid. It was pretty obvious out here in the middle of effin' nowhere that these were recruiters with asucker hostage potential victim recruit.
Two of the Jarheads sat at a table with the kid. The third Marine sat at a nearby table between the kid and the door. Heh. He's the one that went and ordered their lunch and took it to the table, so I think he was new and gettin' some OJT. They were wearing tanker jackets with no rank insignia, which means they weren't officers, but I could see from the blood stripes on their trousers that they were NCOs.
it's an indication of how the services are struggling to get warm bodies. Nobody ever bought me no fuckin' lunch before I signed on the dotted line! And not much of one afterward unless you count the bus station spaghetti, which was about all an issue meal ticket would cover.
Now, I wear a 'U.S. Marines' ball cap most of the time. This is both to express my pride of service and to give anybody who sees my bumper stickers and wants to call me a traitor time to rethink that a little. I was going to have to walk right past these guys to leave the restaurant. Should I say something? Should I not? I decided on a 'Semper Fi' as I went by just to be polite and that to be it.
My plans be damned. On my way out, the youngest Marine at the separate table saw my cover, rose to his feet and extended his hand, which I shook. I kinda thought he was going to drop me like a bad habit before I could holler "Run fer yer life!" to the recruit, but I beat him to it.
"I'll shove the kid off the edge for ya," I said in my best drill field whisper, "If he don't do it, he'll never know."
The Jarhead smiled at me and just said "Thank you".
Do I feel bad for saying something that might tip a kid into joining the Marine Corps in this time of a really bad war?
Hell no. Most of the Marines these days and hopefully from here on out are going to go to Afghanistan. That was the right war, so I'm in accord.
Besides, if a young man is going to join the Corps, nothing on Earth can stop him. If it could, they wouldn't want him. I wasn't the fool who sat that kid down with the recruiters. He was.
Best of luck, kid. We've all been where you're going. Maybe when you're an old fart like me, and still a Marine, you can pass it forward and screw over some other kid like I did to you. Trust me, you'll enjoy it.
And lest I forget, Semper Fi.
Anyway, after the appointment I decided to treat myself to lunch at a local pizza joint. I snuck up on 'em so they didn't have time to get the "all-you-can-eat-one-low-price" sign down. Heh.
I like to do that once in a great while. It's cheaper than buyin' a pizza, and every slice is different. I can always eat enough pizza to get my money's worth.
The 7th slice was a rare slice of life. While I was chowin' down, in walk three Marines and a high school kid. It was pretty obvious out here in the middle of effin' nowhere that these were recruiters with a
Two of the Jarheads sat at a table with the kid. The third Marine sat at a nearby table between the kid and the door. Heh. He's the one that went and ordered their lunch and took it to the table, so I think he was new and gettin' some OJT. They were wearing tanker jackets with no rank insignia, which means they weren't officers, but I could see from the blood stripes on their trousers that they were NCOs.
it's an indication of how the services are struggling to get warm bodies. Nobody ever bought me no fuckin' lunch before I signed on the dotted line! And not much of one afterward unless you count the bus station spaghetti, which was about all an issue meal ticket would cover.
Now, I wear a 'U.S. Marines' ball cap most of the time. This is both to express my pride of service and to give anybody who sees my bumper stickers and wants to call me a traitor time to rethink that a little. I was going to have to walk right past these guys to leave the restaurant. Should I say something? Should I not? I decided on a 'Semper Fi' as I went by just to be polite and that to be it.
My plans be damned. On my way out, the youngest Marine at the separate table saw my cover, rose to his feet and extended his hand, which I shook. I kinda thought he was going to drop me like a bad habit before I could holler "Run fer yer life!" to the recruit, but I beat him to it.
"I'll shove the kid off the edge for ya," I said in my best drill field whisper, "If he don't do it, he'll never know."
The Jarhead smiled at me and just said "Thank you".
Do I feel bad for saying something that might tip a kid into joining the Marine Corps in this time of a really bad war?
Hell no. Most of the Marines these days and hopefully from here on out are going to go to Afghanistan. That was the right war, so I'm in accord.
Besides, if a young man is going to join the Corps, nothing on Earth can stop him. If it could, they wouldn't want him. I wasn't the fool who sat that kid down with the recruiters. He was.
Best of luck, kid. We've all been where you're going. Maybe when you're an old fart like me, and still a Marine, you can pass it forward and screw over some other kid like I did to you. Trust me, you'll enjoy it.
And lest I forget, Semper Fi.
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