Friday, November 17, 2006

Einstein Was Right!

So Einstein may have been right, even when he doubted himself. New photos and data from the Hubble Space Telescope reveal that much of the universe is filled with what some call "dark energy" and that, in a way, justifies Einstein’s Constant that has given physicists so much to debate for years.

Way too technical to get into here, but this article in the Houston Chronicle explains it pretty well.

America Defeats Hunger – At Least In Double-Speak

According to the Bush Government Hunger is no longer a problem in America. The numbers don’t bear this out but who cares when you are a neocon you can lie about anything. The numbers? 11.9% of Americans had trouble feeding themselves in 2005, but today only 11%! Nice drop, but no hunger? Well actually the government has eliminated the word hunger, people who go to bed at night without having eaten during the day are now no longer "hungry", they have "very low food security".

Genius! Don’t call it hunger and it’s gone! And now we just have to stop calling Bush President and he will be instead, "impersonator of a world leader". I hope a democrat is ready to step in and clean out that office so we can have a real president again.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

I'm In Atlanta Today

Attending the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions convention and trade show. Kind of like a big carnival of carnivals and park people. I used to be involved in this business and was invited to attend with friends still doing that line of work. The interesting thing is that the Park business is a barometer of the countries economy and attitudes.

Other than the big companies monopolizing the industry, the prevailing attitude is still good and the show keeps growing. More later and maybe pictures for all your ride junkies.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Rush Limbaugh Finally Over The GOP

Rush Limbaugh may finally be over his affliction with the GOP disease. On his show last week after the elections he made the following remark:

"…people have been asking me how I feel all night long. The way I feel is this: I feel liberated, and I'm going to tell you as plainly as I can why. I no longer am going to have to carry the water for people who I don't think deserve having their water carried. "

Sounds like Rush has finally seen reality and understands that the Bush administration and the Neocons do not have a clue beyond their own nearsighted ideology. Creating his or her own reality has been a miserable failure and now that the fog is lifting even someone as right wing as Rush can see it. The Emperor Bush is naked as a JayBird and it’s time we threw him a towel.

My prediction: Cheney will step down within a year to allow a possible Republican Presidential candidate to have the benefit of incumbency. Karl Rove will be gone in a year and so will most of his Neocon goons.

The rats are leaving the sinking ship of state and it’s about time. Now all we have to do is keep whoever takes the help honest and accountable and firmly based in reality. That will be quite a job in itself.

Fidel Castro In Ailing Health

Fidel Castro will turn 80 next month if his health holds out. Experts suspect he has some sort of cancer that will prove to be fatal in the near future. While the speculation about Cuba’s suture is high, I think it is important to look at their past.

Cuba is a nation that has inflamed American’s since the late 1800’s. There was talk after the Civil War of annexation of the island and after the Spanish-American war it was to become a US protectorate for a period of 20 years. President McKinley abandoned this plan and Cuba gained its independence in 1906.

From that time forward, the US occasionally meddled in Cuban affairs until 1925 when the island nation finally established a stable government. Again in 1933 a military coup changed the islands government again and in 1934 General Batista gained control with the help of the Cuban Army. Later he ran for president and won with broad support from many including the communist party who sought land reforms.

By the 1950’s Batista was loosing power and after it seemed he was destined to loose he next election he initiated another coup and installed himself as President through the use of force. Fidel Castro entered the picture in the early 1950’s with a group of idealistic rebels who sought to overthrow Batista. The ensuing revolution led to Castro being installed as Prime Minister of Cuba in 1959.

He has held onto that position as the leader of Cuba until this year when he temporarily handed over power to his brother for medical reasons. As of 2006 he is the world’s longest-ruling current head of government.

Why is this interesting? Well US presidents from Eisenhower to Bush II have railed against Cuba and it’s policies. We have embargoed and rattled our sabers and to no avail, with the notable exception of getting Russian missiles removed during the "Cuban Missile Crisis".

Today, Cuba trades with most Latin American countries and the European Union. Still the US refuses to deal with one of our closest neighbors. I can only hope that should Fidel Castro die, hat farsighted politicians in the US will seize the opportunity to once again make attempts to normalize relations with Cuba. For too long Fidel has been used as the boogieman to instill fear of negotiations with Cuba. Besides, I hate having to go out of the country to buy fine Cuban cigars.