I'm done for the day, probably. The Mrs. and I are doing what we always do on New Years. We're just gonna be hanging out, probably watch a movie or two, and she's gonna cook all sorts of international dishes that we like. We also partake in the alcoholic products from whatever region's foods she's making.
This year it's French, caviar (she's making a French dish with it), escargots, buncha cheeses and pates, and a duck breast salad, the recipie she conned from one of the chefs aboard the QM2. We probably won't be awake for the ball drop (yes, some New Yorkers don't give a shit about Times Square), but we'll be up at our usual 4 a.m. and get the highlights. We'll start the party again too.
Not many reflections on the Old Year. I like looking toward the possibilities of the future. We took a hit in November, but hopefully we'll learn and hit back in the mid-terms and beyond. We'll do better.
I wish my partners, KR and Gord, and their families, all the best of luck, health, and good fortune. Also to my fellow bloggers of the Reality-based Community and the readers, have a happy and safe New Year.
Think twice about drinking and driving tonight. If it was just your drunk ass splattered against a tree it would be one thing. Think about the poor, innocent slobs you're gonna take with you.
Happy New Year everybody!
Friday, December 31, 2004
Snow Day
If you saw Fixer's post you know I have things to do, but I thought I'd take a break, have some coffee and a smoke, and share a little about life in Paradise. It has quit snowing for the moment and the Sun is shining brightly. How long it will last, I don't know, but right now it's beautiful. Reminds me of an old joke: "When I woke up this morning, it looked nice out. So I left it out."
I spent about an hour already this morning digging out the wife's pickup and blowing a path down the driveway for her. I cleared the driveway yesterday and today's snow was knee deep.
Now, like all locals, I have a snowthrower. However, my machine is in two parts in my garage since the augur drive gear setup did a world-class imitation of a hand grenade a couple of weeks ago. I ordered the parts on Dec. 13. I expected them to be here at least when I got back from my Christmas trip to the coast, but due to an incredible combination of human errors, it was not shipped as of this past Tuesday when I called the parts house, which is in Porterville CA, near Bakersfield. It's on the way now, but the irony is that since my original order, we had two weeks of sunny and warm (relatively) weather which would have been good for wrenchin'. Murphy is laughing his ass off somewhere.
Thanks to the good graces of my next-door neighbor Bill, I have the use of his machine whenever I need it. This is a life-saver. My driveway is eighty feet long, two cars wide, and sloped down to the street. If you stood looking at two feet of snow with a cordless snowthrower, aka shovel, as your only means of snow removal, you'd move to Hawaii. I cleared my driveway with a shovel about once before I bought my first machine, which threw a rod after fourteen winters. Shovels are very useful for detail work and I have an amazing collection of them.
Here's the rub: Since Bill has been so kind, I feel obligated to clear his snow as well as mine. He says I needn't bother, but I'd feel shitty if I didn't. His driveway is about the same size as mine, but steeper. It's also about twenty-five years newer than mine and ices up a lot worse. Picture me being chased backwards down a driveway by the snowthrower, head first, the snowthrower gaining on me all the way, and you get the idea. Also, I clear his mailbox approach from wherever the plow went by so the mail carrier can drive his right-hand drive Skibaru up to it and shove the mail out the window into it. Otherwise, no mail. This is Bill's pet peeve, and I do this so I won't have to hear about it. He'll rant at great length, with great volume, about how the plow driver should plow closer to his mailbox.
Speaking of snowplows, the saving grace the last couple of days is that the plow hasn't been by here. Those things leave a humongous berm across the driveway and I haven't wanted to have to deal with it, but deal with it I shall, of that there is no doubt. Sometimes ten feet wide and three feet high, of compacted snow, it's all a snowthrower can do to get through it, and shovel work is usually required.
Bill has a 6.5hp Honda. They must have bigger horses in Japan or something, because the machine is fantastic. The rule of thumb around here is that you need 8 horse minimum, but the little Honda works really good. When it's really eatin'("EAT, you sunofabitch! EAT!") snow, the engine starts pulling real hard, like a motorcycle going up a hill at speed. Let go of the drive lever until it pitches the accumulated snow out, it picks up revs again, and off you go. For a little sneezer, the rig's got heart, like "The Little Engine That Could".
The snow we've got now is not exactly powder, but it's not the wet, heavy "Sierra cement" either, which is good. The machine does most of the work, of course, but it gets physical, believe me. There's a lot of horsin' it around, jerkin' it hither an' thither. It's a workout, so you know why my ol' lard ass gets tired.
Point is, my next machine's gonna be a Honda. Gotta fix the old one or it's just so much junk, but Mrs. G has already suggested that I check out the payment plan. I think I'll go with an 11 or 12 horse model. Now, if they come with radio control....
There's a certain amount of cultural and social content to standin' around in the snow, too. This morning I got to chat with a neighbor that I don't know while he was taking a stroll. That was cool. I warned him that the Mad Lady of Indian Pine Road was about to come flyin' backwards out of the driveway and we shot the shit 'til the crisis was past. I also got honked at to get out of the way by a lady(?) in a Lexus SUV. Figures. But, to give her the benefit of the doubt, maybe she was just making sure I knew she was there.
Check out the Truckee Web Cam. The snow you see is all since Wednesday. The town is full of tourists and students on their holiday and most of 'em don't know whether to shit or go blind over our bountiful snow. What us locals like to do is get us some popcorn and go sit on the main drag and watch 'em try to drive around in it. $40K worth of SUV and they ain't got a clue. Entertaining as all get out, but then, it doesn't take much to amuse us simple hill folk.
That's all for now. Later, folks.
I spent about an hour already this morning digging out the wife's pickup and blowing a path down the driveway for her. I cleared the driveway yesterday and today's snow was knee deep.
Now, like all locals, I have a snowthrower. However, my machine is in two parts in my garage since the augur drive gear setup did a world-class imitation of a hand grenade a couple of weeks ago. I ordered the parts on Dec. 13. I expected them to be here at least when I got back from my Christmas trip to the coast, but due to an incredible combination of human errors, it was not shipped as of this past Tuesday when I called the parts house, which is in Porterville CA, near Bakersfield. It's on the way now, but the irony is that since my original order, we had two weeks of sunny and warm (relatively) weather which would have been good for wrenchin'. Murphy is laughing his ass off somewhere.
Thanks to the good graces of my next-door neighbor Bill, I have the use of his machine whenever I need it. This is a life-saver. My driveway is eighty feet long, two cars wide, and sloped down to the street. If you stood looking at two feet of snow with a cordless snowthrower, aka shovel, as your only means of snow removal, you'd move to Hawaii. I cleared my driveway with a shovel about once before I bought my first machine, which threw a rod after fourteen winters. Shovels are very useful for detail work and I have an amazing collection of them.
Here's the rub: Since Bill has been so kind, I feel obligated to clear his snow as well as mine. He says I needn't bother, but I'd feel shitty if I didn't. His driveway is about the same size as mine, but steeper. It's also about twenty-five years newer than mine and ices up a lot worse. Picture me being chased backwards down a driveway by the snowthrower, head first, the snowthrower gaining on me all the way, and you get the idea. Also, I clear his mailbox approach from wherever the plow went by so the mail carrier can drive his right-hand drive Skibaru up to it and shove the mail out the window into it. Otherwise, no mail. This is Bill's pet peeve, and I do this so I won't have to hear about it. He'll rant at great length, with great volume, about how the plow driver should plow closer to his mailbox.
Speaking of snowplows, the saving grace the last couple of days is that the plow hasn't been by here. Those things leave a humongous berm across the driveway and I haven't wanted to have to deal with it, but deal with it I shall, of that there is no doubt. Sometimes ten feet wide and three feet high, of compacted snow, it's all a snowthrower can do to get through it, and shovel work is usually required.
Bill has a 6.5hp Honda. They must have bigger horses in Japan or something, because the machine is fantastic. The rule of thumb around here is that you need 8 horse minimum, but the little Honda works really good. When it's really eatin'("EAT, you sunofabitch! EAT!") snow, the engine starts pulling real hard, like a motorcycle going up a hill at speed. Let go of the drive lever until it pitches the accumulated snow out, it picks up revs again, and off you go. For a little sneezer, the rig's got heart, like "The Little Engine That Could".
The snow we've got now is not exactly powder, but it's not the wet, heavy "Sierra cement" either, which is good. The machine does most of the work, of course, but it gets physical, believe me. There's a lot of horsin' it around, jerkin' it hither an' thither. It's a workout, so you know why my ol' lard ass gets tired.
Point is, my next machine's gonna be a Honda. Gotta fix the old one or it's just so much junk, but Mrs. G has already suggested that I check out the payment plan. I think I'll go with an 11 or 12 horse model. Now, if they come with radio control....
There's a certain amount of cultural and social content to standin' around in the snow, too. This morning I got to chat with a neighbor that I don't know while he was taking a stroll. That was cool. I warned him that the Mad Lady of Indian Pine Road was about to come flyin' backwards out of the driveway and we shot the shit 'til the crisis was past. I also got honked at to get out of the way by a lady(?) in a Lexus SUV. Figures. But, to give her the benefit of the doubt, maybe she was just making sure I knew she was there.
Check out the Truckee Web Cam. The snow you see is all since Wednesday. The town is full of tourists and students on their holiday and most of 'em don't know whether to shit or go blind over our bountiful snow. What us locals like to do is get us some popcorn and go sit on the main drag and watch 'em try to drive around in it. $40K worth of SUV and they ain't got a clue. Entertaining as all get out, but then, it doesn't take much to amuse us simple hill folk.
That's all for now. Later, folks.
Absolutely Disgusting
Since Bush has been in office, I don't disgust as easily as I used to, but this one takes the fucking cake. From Raw Story.
I'm not going to try to reproduce the actual article. It's in fonts and styles reminiscent (to me anyway) of old fashioned stuff. You owe it to yourself to go see this unconscionable tripe. Methinks this so-called minister got scared by a penis at some time in his life.
If we don't see any MSM coverage of this I won't be surprised. Even though this church is obviously on the leading edge of the lunatic fringe, our fearless media haven't got the balls to to take on so-called christians for any reason.
RAW STORY has discovered that the Westboro Baptist Church leaders known for picketing the funeral of Matthew Shepard, the young college student brutally murdered in Wyoming in 1998, have released the following statement regarding the tsunamis which hit Southeast Asia earlier in the week.
The statement, which was posted on their website Wednesday alongside dozens of other archived "press releases," thanks God for the tsunami and for the death of any gay Swedish vacationers who perished at the time.
I'm not going to try to reproduce the actual article. It's in fonts and styles reminiscent (to me anyway) of old fashioned stuff. You owe it to yourself to go see this unconscionable tripe. Methinks this so-called minister got scared by a penis at some time in his life.
If we don't see any MSM coverage of this I won't be surprised. Even though this church is obviously on the leading edge of the lunatic fringe, our fearless media haven't got the balls to to take on so-called christians for any reason.
Payback 2
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Dec. 30 - President Pervez Musharraf announced in a nationwide television address on Thursday that he would continue as the army chief despite his pledge last year to give up the post by the end of 2004.
"I have decided to retain both offices," he said. "In my view, any change in internal or external policies can be extremely dangerous for Pakistan."
He added that he was responding to "the voice of the majority."
[. . .]
NYT.
Amazing what you can do with a 'mandate'. I talked about this a couple days ago. Wonder why Bush isn't saying anything about Musharraf retaining power instead of moving Pakistan toward democracy? I mean, that's why we attacked Iraq, right? We wanted to build a democracy there. At least, that's the latest excuse. How come none of our Islamic allies in the region are democracies? Okay, maybe Egypt, though that's a stretch. We make alliances with kings and despots when it suits, but we'll force democracy on the one who 'tried to kill my daddy'.
Commonalities
Travis notices something:
Fucking incredible.
So I just went online to get the story on the resignation of all 700 employees of the Iraqi electoral commission, and I came across this:
The radical Ansar al-Sunnah Army and two other insurgent groups issued a statement Thursday warning that democracy was un-Islamic. Democracy could lead to passing un-Islamic laws, such as permitting homosexual marriage, if the majority or people agreed to it, the statement said.
Really, I am speechless. Here we are in the middle of a hideous war, and we find common ground between the Bush league and the terrorists. Strange bedfellows indeed.
Fucking incredible.
Where's Gordon?
If you're wondering why Gordon's posts have been few and far between lately, I got this email from him this morning:
Not that he has to explain his whereabouts to me, but the 'cam' he's talking about is the Truckee City web cam(Go look). I thought we got buried in the beginning of the week. I feel like a girly-man now.
I've been busy. 3 ft. of snow in the last 24 hrs. Check the cam.
Tired ol' Gord
Not that he has to explain his whereabouts to me, but the 'cam' he's talking about is the Truckee City web cam(Go look). I thought we got buried in the beginning of the week. I feel like a girly-man now.
A little late
A follow up to this two days ago:
This morning:
The standard Chimpy MO [modus operandi for you trolls]. Do as little as possible until someone calls you on it, then do as little as possible until you're off the hook.
. . . If Bush were a statesman, he would have flown to Jakarta and announced his solidarity with the Muslims of Indonesia (which has suffered at least 40,000 dead and rising).
This morning:
[. . .]
The president’s brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who has experience with extensive hurricane damage in Florida, will travel with [SECSTATE]Powell. A congressional delegation headed by Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa, a former U.S. foreign service officer, is scheduled to visit Thailand and Sri Lanka next week.
[. . .]
The standard Chimpy MO [modus operandi for you trolls]. Do as little as possible until someone calls you on it, then do as little as possible until you're off the hook.
It'll happen again
[. . .]
Set up an early warning or detection system against natural disasters? It looks good on paper, but who will foot the bill? Asia has weathered countless natural disasters that have claimed millions of lives. In the medium term, the odds of a tsunami disaster of this scale happening again are rather small. Governments certainly will pragmatically take their chances rather than devote resources to a project akin to an insurance policy against a natural disaster which may or may not happen again for many years.
There are many far more pressing problems on Asian governments' agendas. Natural disasters are perceived fatalistically as unavoidable. It's easier and cheaper to lose a few sheep from the flock to the wolves, than it is to go to the trouble of seeking new pastures free from wolves. Cynical as it may sound, that is the old way for Asia and last Sunday's disaster won't change it.
Story.
Until the value of human life goes up in that part of the world, natural disasters will continue to wreak havoc. The only reason we're (U.S. government) paying so much attention in the first place is because white, Western folk were involved. I don't see us show so much concern when thousands die in Bangladesh every year from the floods in the rainy season. If the Primate Proletariat hadn't been shamed into it, they'd have ignored the situation completely.
Thursday, December 30, 2004
BlogRolling
Just a word about the blog links in the sidebar. I don't make a big deal when I add to it. If they're on the list, it means that I read 'em. I think I'm the keeper of the roll anyway (though all of us have the power), and I stop by every page at least a couple times a week. Some a couple times a day. Just because I list you, don't feel obligated to do the same for The Brain. I'd like to think you list us because you enjoy reading our rants and diatribe, and maybe we get you thinking a little bit. The reverse is true. If your blog doesn't do something for me, I won't list it, whether or not you have us on your blogroll in 5 different places. If your blog isn't political and Left-leaning at the least, it ain't happening. So please, don't bother letting me know you listed our blog so I should list yours. To those of you who do list us, thank you very much. To those readers, and especially the other bloggers whom I respect, who leave your comments (good or bad) here, thank you very much as well. This is a wonderful community.
And I almost forgot. Congratulations to the team here at The Brain and all our fellow bloggers.
And I almost forgot. Congratulations to the team here at The Brain and all our fellow bloggers.
It's called a plea bargain
My partner Gordon will be happy to see this:
I hope old Tommy the Bug-boy didn't think Sears would put their ass on the line to protect him. They're covering their bottom line and they'll leave DeLay swinging in the breeze. Let's hope they got some good shit to 'cooperate' with. Link via Lambert.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Prosecutors agreed to drop an illegal campaign contribution charge against Sears, Roebuck and Co. in exchange for its cooperation in an investigation of contributions to a political action committee associated with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.
[. . .]
Under the agreement, Sears will cooperate with Texas officials in their prosecution and investigation of other people for any offense related to the corporate contribution that Sears made. O'Leary said Sears also will give $100,000 to the University of Texas for a campaign finance law awareness program.
[. . .]
I hope old Tommy the Bug-boy didn't think Sears would put their ass on the line to protect him. They're covering their bottom line and they'll leave DeLay swinging in the breeze. Let's hope they got some good shit to 'cooperate' with. Link via Lambert.
What it boils down to
Ezra's a smart guy:
That's what it is, after all. Bludgeon vs. Stiletto.
. . .Conservatives believe in America the fighter, America the country with the largest military and the most advanced bombing technology. Liberals believe in America the idea, the America of the Marshall Plan and the Declaration of Independence. . .
That's what it is, after all. Bludgeon vs. Stiletto.
The transformation is complete
Via Melanie:
Full story.
Now that the last of the dissenters within the administration have been cached or just plain run out of town, the bubble has been sealed with Bush inside. Lets see what they fuck up next. Syria? Iran? I wonder if the rest of the world will rise up against us, just as they did against Germany sixty years ago.
[. . .]
Republican elders who warned of endless war are purged. Those who advised Bush that Saddam was building nuclear weapons, that with a light military force the operation would be a "cakewalk", and that capturing Baghdad was "mission accomplished", are rewarded.
The outgoing secretary of state, fighting his last battle, is leaking stories to the Washington Post about how his advice went unheeded. Secretary of defence Donald Rumsfeld, whose heart beats with the compassion of a crocodile, clings to his job by staging Florence Nightingale-like tableaux of hand-holding of the wounded while declaiming into the desert wind about "victory". Since the election, 203 US soldiers have been killed and 1,674 wounded.
Full story.
Now that the last of the dissenters within the administration have been cached or just plain run out of town, the bubble has been sealed with Bush inside. Lets see what they fuck up next. Syria? Iran? I wonder if the rest of the world will rise up against us, just as they did against Germany sixty years ago.
Payback
WASHINGTON - Pakistan, the United States' premier ally in the "war on terrorism", has laid down the agenda for the Bush administration for the next four years on what it expects in exchange for continued cooperation to hunt down al-Qaeda.
On the menu is a slew of demands, ranging from continued economic aid to a generous flow of weapons. But above all is the expectation of a long-term relationship, especially in light of what Washington is building with India under the title of the "Next Steps in Strategic Partnership".
[. . .]
But what was noted by observers was the language he used to deliver the message. He sounded more like a teacher telling a pupil the level of performance he expected from the Americans, said diplomatic observers. He seemed to be drawing a clear parallel between payment and delivery, which led to questions whether the changes in policy that Pakistan has pursued post-September 11, 2001, have been made because they are good for Pakistan, or because they bring US arms and aid.
[. . .]
Even though the Bush administration has embraced Pakistan as a key and indispensable ally in its "war on terrorism" and publicly defended Musharraf on every issue - from the Khan affair to the re-emergence of the Taliban to his refusal to relinquish his post as army chief as promised - the US media and many congressmen and senators have repeatedly raised questions about Pakistan's commitment to the United States. Editorials in respected newspapers have questioned the reliability of Pakistan as an ally, and whether the US is giving Musharraf a pass despite the many problems.
[. . .]
From Asia Times.
We have to give the little cutthroat a pass, or he'll give bin Laden the run of the country. Or at least he can threaten that eventuality. See, the problem with Bush's foreign policy is that the Devil is holding too many of his markers. Musharraf is calling his in now. I mean, you didn't think Musharraf went along out of the goodness of his heart,did you? Wonder what more the Saudis will get out of Ol' Dubya since the Pakistanis appear to be able to dictate terms to him. In light of bin Laden's new threats against the Saudi regime, and the resultant effects:
Saudi security forces say they have killed seven suspected militants connected to two car bomb attacks in the capital Riyadh. The Dubai-based Al-Arabiya television station said the seven were suspected of involvement in the bombings against the interior ministry and a security forces camp which left several people wounded. Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, has been battling a wave of al Qaeda-linked violence.
We might be propping up the Oil Kings against their own people in the near future. If the Saudi street begins to rise up, it won't be long before our troops will be sent to support them. Hey, it's the 'War on Terror', right? Gotta mortgage the nation and squander the lives of its children. Fucking inept simpletons. We're being played and Chimpy Inc. is too stupid to notice.
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Bubbles
Been bitching about this too. Angry Bear:
Fannie Mae
Raines is finally out at Fannie Mae. The company seems to be in increasing difficulties, with recent investigations by regulatory agencies finding that Fannie Mae has hidden about $9 billion in losses over the past few years, basically by using the same accounting trick that WorldCom used a few years ago. It's unclear at this point how much of this Raines is to blame for, but it is increasingly clear that we'll be reading more bad news about Fannie Mae through 2005. And because of Fannie Mae's sheer size (about $1 trillion each in assets and liabilities), bad news for Fannie Mae could well mean bad news for the US's financial system in general.
The Reptile
Pravda:
After the Russians' long and bloody history, when they say shit like this, you gotta wonder.
So, the grandsons of Stalin look at us this way. How far have we fallen in four short years?
Donald the Reptile Rumsfeld
Tell us the truth about Fallujah, tell us the truth about Iraq
A war zone is a great filter for the truth and when the United States of America says it is sending in camera crews with the troops to record what is happening, after all the hype and spin and lies, the suspicions arise that there is in fact a cover-up going on, a massive cover-up, especially when one confronts the official version of events with the information circulating on the Internet.
Is it just chatter that the US Armed Forces sustained thousands of casualties in Fallujah? Is it just chatter that thousands of wounded are spirited out of the country at night-time? Is it just chatter that burials take place under cover of darkness? Is it just chatter that the whole campaign has been disastrously mismanaged from the beginning, that US troops are at the mercy of snipers, booby-traps and counter-offensives which kill and maim tens of soldiers every day?
[. . .]
After the Russians' long and bloody history, when they say shit like this, you gotta wonder.
[. . .]
Is it true, Mr. Rumsfeld, that you used a machine to sign your name on letters of condolences? Couldn't you even be bothered to put pen to paper? Not that this is in the slightest surprising. After the lies, after the torture scandal, after the illegal murders, what to expect from a reptilian man with cold blood cursing through his veins who is the personification of every reason why the United States of America of the Bush regime has the status of most hated nation in the hearts and minds of the international community at the end of 2004?
So, the grandsons of Stalin look at us this way. How far have we fallen in four short years?
Being smart
Which Chimpy and Co. isn't. Juan Cole:
Mighta cleared up a few problems in the Mid-East. Maybe nothing big, but we could have started to build some goodwill with the Islamic street but instead, every Muslim from Cairo to Lahore can say the word 'stingy'.
[. . .]
. . . If Bush were a statesman, he would have flown to Jakarta and announced his solidarity with the Muslims of Indonesia (which has suffered at least 40,000 dead and rising).
[. . .]
Mighta cleared up a few problems in the Mid-East. Maybe nothing big, but we could have started to build some goodwill with the Islamic street but instead, every Muslim from Cairo to Lahore can say the word 'stingy'.
Optimistic New Yorkers?
Not when I see this. Via Glen:
Here, lemmie just bend over and spread my cheeks. Especially when I read this yesterday:
I just love being dry-fucked. So, even though New York is a prime target, and they want to milk us for more taxes, heaven forbid we should get our share of Homeland Security money. You can bet Cheyenne, Wyoming gets more than its share.
As the Bush administration looks to revamp the tax code, New York officials say they are particularly worried about one idea being considered: eliminating the federal deduction for state and local taxes.
If the president pursues this plan, New York State would lose about $37 billion per year in federal tax deductions, more than almost any other state, according to Internal Revenue Service data. The change would affect about 3.2 million households in New York, three-quarters of which are middle- and low-income, tax records indicate.
"This change would be one of the worst things for New York to came out of Washington in a long time," said Senator Charles E. Schumer. "But if they take this route they can expect a serious fight."
With a 7.7 percent maximum state income tax rate, the second-highest in the country behind California's 9.3 percent, New York would be especially affected because its residents use those taxes to take large federal deductions. About 38 percent of households in New York file for some sort of federal deduction of state and local taxes.
New York City residents, who also pay city income taxes, would be especially hard hit as they could expect an 11 percent increase in the amount they pay the I.R.S., or an increase of about $3.4 billion, said Ronnie Lowenstein, director of the city's Independent Budget Office.
[. . .]
Here, lemmie just bend over and spread my cheeks. Especially when I read this yesterday:
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Homeland Security Department has allowed federal grants for improving security at America's ports to be spent on low priority problems rather than the most serious vulnerabilities, the agency's outgoing watchdog says.
[. . .]
I just love being dry-fucked. So, even though New York is a prime target, and they want to milk us for more taxes, heaven forbid we should get our share of Homeland Security money. You can bet Cheyenne, Wyoming gets more than its share.
Upcoming Legislation
Dan Greenburg of the New Yorker writes this article about "Expected Legislation From The President". Go read. It'll make your day. Samples:
The last two seem to be nearly accomplished. There are plenty more. If you didn't read the article, go back now and do so.
I think this Greenburg guy's a hopeless optimist, like all those New Yorkers!
The Healing a Divided America Act: Shocked and saddened by the divisive nature of the recent Presidential campaign, President Bush will attempt to reach out to and pacify the two warring cultures in our country. Accordingly, a twenty-foot-high concrete security wall, topped by electrified razor wire, will be constructed as a barrier between blue states and red. Democrats and Republicans will have thirty days to relocate to blue states and red states, respectively, or else they will be placed in attractive government relocation camps for their own safety and comfort.
The Tax Simplification Act: Beginning in 2005, all taxpayers in the top one-per-cent income bracket will pay a flat one-per-cent tax, taxpayers in the top two-per-cent bracket will pay a flat two-per-cent tax, and so on.
The Endangered Species Preservation Act: All endangered species will immediately be preserved by a national corps of expert taxidermists.
The Keeping Our Young People Out of Harm’s Way Act: All young persons age eighteen or over will be placed out of harm’s way in training facilities where they will be issued M-16 rifles and taught how to defend themselves in the event of an attack from a hostile power, or, if the country is not attacked, how to defend themselves when dropped off in countries desperately in need of regime change.
The Separation of Church and State Act: There will be no separation of church and state.
The last two seem to be nearly accomplished. There are plenty more. If you didn't read the article, go back now and do so.
I think this Greenburg guy's a hopeless optimist, like all those New Yorkers!
Directions
And just something to think about as I head off to the shop.
It seems I've gotten a hold of this Democratic leadership thing (below and here), or the lack of it, and I was wondering. Is it time to form a 3rd party? A party of the Left? Leave the Democrats in the Center to play the Georgetown Party Circuit while this new party concentrates on the grass roots? Would it be a conglomeration (i.e. Greens, Socialists, Independents, etc.) or a start-from-scratch type affair?
I don't have answers, just wondering. But it seems we've been at the status quo for far too long, especially if a corrupt, incompetent moron like the one we have gets elected once. I'm sorry, but we invented the process, it's time we realized it's broken.
It seems I've gotten a hold of this Democratic leadership thing (below and here), or the lack of it, and I was wondering. Is it time to form a 3rd party? A party of the Left? Leave the Democrats in the Center to play the Georgetown Party Circuit while this new party concentrates on the grass roots? Would it be a conglomeration (i.e. Greens, Socialists, Independents, etc.) or a start-from-scratch type affair?
I don't have answers, just wondering. But it seems we've been at the status quo for far too long, especially if a corrupt, incompetent moron like the one we have gets elected once. I'm sorry, but we invented the process, it's time we realized it's broken.
RIP
The poor woman had the misfortune to die during one of the greatest natural cataclysms in human history. TBogg says it well:
Update: 14:35:
Wolcott has a little to say too.
RIP
Susan Sontag
A dumbed-down America just got quite a bit dumber.
If that's possible...
Update: 14:35:
Wolcott has a little to say too.
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